How to engage school children on the importance and benefits of nature

At Meristem Design, we are dedicated to nurturing the connection between children and nature through engaging and educational experiences. We strive to provide opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the world of plants, improving not only their wellbeing but the school’s environment.

HOW ARE WE ‘turning the grey green’ in schools?

  • Delivering SuDS planters in schools to reduce surface water flood risk

  • Conducting nature workshops to reconnect children with nature

  • Installing green screens to improve air quality

BENEFITS OF Nature on young people

Natural England reflected; “We’ve known for over a decade how important it is that children learn about nature, for their health, happiness and their success at school.”

Children who spend time outside with nature benefit from:

  • self confidence

  • responsibility

  • creativity

  • exercise

  • positive stimulation

With their vivid imaginations and keenness to explore, being outside and developing a relationship with nature will give them countless possibilities for fun, play and learning.


Reconnecting children with nature

We have developed our flagship workshop Reconnecting Children with Nature: Growing Seeds Workshop to help kids learn about the importance of plants, heighten their senses through touch and smell and get their hands dirty through some seed planting.

Highlights of the workshops

Practical exploration

Our hands-on sessions empower students to explore the vital role soil, seeds, and plants play in our lives. Through sensory integration exercises, students become active participants in their learning

Seed Selection and Planting

This helps to encourage a sense of responsibility and connection to nature as students personally select and plant their own seeds. This interactive element ensures a memorable and impactful experience.

Cultivating care

Witness the magic of growth! Students will observe and care for their chosen plants, learning valuable lessons about nurturing life and understanding the delicate balance required for successful cultivation.

Do you want to position your school as a leader in sustainable practices and empower your students to make a tangible difference? If you’d like to know more then please contact us.


Creating engaging ways for young people to explore and learn - GREENVALE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Working with London Borough of Croydon and funded by the Department of Education, we have installed four vibrant planters to help reduce surface water flood risk at local school, Greenvale Primary.

Our SuDS planters are a sustainable flash flood and stormwater management solution with an internal water reservoir and slow release drainage system. The installation features included rainwater planters, a gabion basket wall, channel drains and gullies.

These look amazing and really improve the look at the front of the school.
— Dan Bowden - Greenvale Primary, Headteacher

fostering an environmentally conscious generation

Focused on fostering an environmentally conscious generation, our planters are adding new green and engaging spaces to school grounds and teaching the students how to care for their environment in a sustainable way. 

Working with the school and involving them in the design process resulted in the pupils helping to inspire the designs, creating fun and thoughtful moments for them whilst also affording them a sense of ownership.

Everyone noticed the planters when they came into school today - they look fantastic and certainly create a lovely welcome to our school. Thank you so much!
— Naomi Smith - Greenvale Primary, Office Manager

what are the Benefits of our AquaPlanter?

  • Captures and stores rainfall 

  • Enables gradual absorption into the ground

  • Controlled release back into the piped network 

  • Manages water quantity and improves water quality

  • Provides amenity

  • Enhancing biodiversity