The RAIN Project (Resilience and Innovation Northants), led by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) in partnership with North Northamptonshire Council, has been awarded a prestigious International Green Apple Environment Award in recognition of its pioneering ‘SuDS in Schools’ initiative, which saw local primary schools adopt sustainable planters to capture and store stormwater.
Selected from over 700 global entries, the RAIN Project will be honoured at a ceremony at the House of Lords, London, in November, to celebrate its outstanding commitment to environmental improvement, flood resilience and climate education.
The award-winning project – delivered in partnership with Anglian Water Services and BioScapes – saw the installation of 32 Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) planters across seven primary schools in the Harpers Brook and Wootton Brook catchments of Northamptonshire.
These specially designed planters capture and store over 15,000 litres of stormwater, help reduce surface water flood risk, and feature integrated biodiversity habitats to boost pollinator populations and bring nature into school grounds.
Six of the planters, based at Oakley Vale Primary School, also feature smart sensors that collect real-time rainfall and water storage data, allowing for future predictive flood modelling and intelligent water release.
The project combines nature-based engineering with hands-on learning, supporting national STEM curriculum goals while engaging children in climate resilience. Pupils have taken part in planting sessions, named the planters (with one school opting for ‘Eco-Aqua’), and grown edible produce including herbs, strawberries and tomatoes.
The project was funded by Anglian Water’s Flood Risk Partnership Programme, with additional delivery support from BioScapes, whose innovative SuDS planters offer multiple climate and biodiversity benefits.
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Cllr Nigel Stansfield, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste said: “We’re incredibly proud that the RAIN Project has received international recognition for its innovative approach to flood resilience and environmental education. The SuDS in Schools initiative is a brilliant example of how we can combine sustainable action with hands-on learning, empowering young people to be part of the solution. This award reflects the strength of local collaboration and our commitment to building a more resilient future for West Northamptonshire.”
Alan Ryan, Programme Manager at the RAIN Project, adds: “We’re incredibly proud of the pupils, teachers and partners who helped make our SuDS in Schools initiative a success. I’d also like to thank our project officer, Rickileigh Edwards, who was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition alongside Anglian Water and BioScapes.”
As a result of winning the award, the RAIN Project has also been invited to become a Green World Ambassador – with the project to be published in The Green Book, the international reference guide for environmental best practice.
The International Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-profit group founded in 1994 to recognise, reward, and promote environmental excellence worldwide.
For more information, visit the RAIN Project’s website: www.rainnorthants.co.uk
