Blue Heart SuDS for Schools in Eastbourne

Meristem Design worked with East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to deliver bespoke Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) installations across schools in the Eastbourne and Southern Wealden region. The initiative is part of the Blue Heart programme, supported and funded by Defra, Southern Water, Environment Agency, Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme (FCRIP) and the Department for Education. The goal is to mitigate the significant surface water flooding risk in the urbanised area while educating students on sustainability, water management, and climate resilience.

Scope

The Blue Heart: SuDS for Schools programme aims to install Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in a total of 32 schools across Eastbourne and Southern Wealden. These bespoke installations address each school’s unique environmental needs, while fostering student engagement and climate education. The project is being delivered in multiple phases over several years. Phase 1 is complete and we are currently delivering Phase 2.

Fun and playful planters

The SuDS planters include bright and engaging features such as rain clouds, colourful murals, and the pupil's artwork

Rainwater harvesting systems

The SuDS systems reduce runoff and encourage water conservation, teaching students the importance of reusing resources, reinforcing sustainability principles

Educational enrichment

By participating in the co-design process, students develop a sense of ownership over their new school's resilience solutions

Biodiversity and green spaces

The SuDS planters are filled with pollinator-friendly, hardy and native plants, enhancing biodiversity

Community engagement and empowerment

Engaging students and communities ensures that the principles of sustainability and flood resilience are integrated into daily life, inspiring future climate leaders in the pupils

Flood resilience

By diverting surface water from overloaded drainage systems, SuDS planters reduce the risk of surface water flooding. This protects school grounds and surrounding neighbourhoods from flood damage during extreme weather events

Improving sustainability awareness

By demonstrating the benefits of rainwater harvesting and sustainable drainage, the project promotes water conservation and reduces dependency on traditional drainage infrastructure

Environmentally focused behavioural change

The project encourages a shift towards more sustainable practices, inspiring students and their families to adopt environmentally friendly behaviors and contribute to climate resilience efforts.