Sustainable Drainage Planters Minimise Flooding at Oxford School

The planting system from sustainable drainage specialist Sudsplanter Ltd was installed at New Hinksey CE Primary School, in a project funded by the Department for Education’s contribution to the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Oxford City Council, a scheme partner, worked with Sudsplanter to install a bespoke system of 11 planters, each with specially selected plants and flowers which will be cared for by pupils.

Lorna Davis, Sudsplanter director, was invited to a celebration at the school in October 2025, with pupils, parents, staff and city councillors. She heard how the SuDSPlanter® units are already having a positive impact on the school by reducing surface water flooding during heavy rain.

Tamsin Smyth, headteacher at New Hinksey CE Primary School, said: “The SuDSPlanters are making a real difference to our school and our community; improving drainage, reducing flood risk, and encouraging wildlife. They’ve turned hard surfaces into living classrooms where our pupils learn about sustainability first-hand. We’re proud to be helping create a greener, more resilient urban environment.”

Davis said: “It’s always rewarding to work in a school - but it's extra special when you learn the SuDSPlanters have already proved their worth, reducing the severity of surface water within the playgrounds and making accessibility easier for teachers and pupils. And not just that – the new green space will help plants, bugs, bees and pupils flourish for many years to come.

New Hinksey is in a river valley, which makes it susceptible to flooding from the River Thames and its tributaries. The area also experiences sewer flooding during periods of heavy rain when the drains become overwhelmed.

SuDSPlanter systems are designed to help prevent flooding on hard surfaces such as playgrounds, sports pitches, and car parks. They work by capturing rainwater runoff from roofs—redirected through a rerouted downpipe - and channeling it into the planters rather than directly into the drainage system. Collected water is absorbed by the plants and gradually released back into the drains, helping to reduce pressure on sewers and minimise the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.

The units are made up of a special series of layers, acting as both a sponge and a natural filter, slowing the flow and removing sediment as the water soaks through to the reservoir below. By capturing stormwater, the planters also build resilience to dry spells by storing water, then slowly releasing it into the soil when needed.

The New Hinksey project has created over 4.5m³ of water storage on site, incorporating 7,500kg of unique SuDSPlanter soil, providing attenuation, filtration, water storage and habitat. In addition, the planters have created 11m2 of greening within the school playground.

Councillor Anna Railton, deputy leader and cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford at Oxford City Council, said: “New Hinksey is one of the areas in Oxford that’s particularly vulnerable to flooding, so it’s great to see practical solutions like these SuDSPlanters making a difference locally. They don’t just help manage rainwater - they also bring more greenery and biodiversity into the school grounds. It also helps inspire the next generation to think about how we can adapt to climate change.”

Emma Formoy, Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, Environment Agency, said: “We are really pleased to work with the Department for Education to provide funding for this scheme, as part of their wider contribution to reducing flood risk in Oxford.

“The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme will reduce the risk of flooding from the River Thames, but it is important to consider all sources of flooding in the city. Initiatives like this, which help capture rainfall and reduce surface water flooding, are vital in urban areas.”

Schools can be particularly prone to flooding, due to their extensive hard-surfaced areas, such as playgrounds, sports pitches and car parks. In 2021, the UK government warned that nearly 15,000 schools would be at significant risk from flooding by 2050 due to anticipated climate change impacts.

Over the past two years, Sudsplanter has supplied systems for hundreds of schools, many funded through Department for Education’s SuDS in Schools programme or by water companies – including Yorkshire Water and Southern Water - as part of their flood prevention and storm overflow reduction strategies.