CIWEM announces business partnership with Meristem Design

CIWEM is delighted to announce a new business partnership with Meristem Design.

They are an award-winning urban landscape design company known for delivering green infrastructure projects across the UK. Their area of expertise is designing, installing and maintaining nature-based SuDS schemes including Rain Gardens and custom-made SuDS planters.

Collaborating closely with local authorities, water companies, developers and community groups, their schemes focus on capturing rainwater at source and helping to alleviate flooding using nature-based solutions.

After a competitive tender, Meristem won the contract and received the prestigious Flood & Coast Awards as a member of the delivery team for the Climate Resilient Schools programme. The programme was developed and led by the Environment Agency, Greater London Authority, the Department for Education, and Thames Water. This contract involved the design, construction, and installation of 564 SuDS Rain Planters across London’s most flood-prone schools, significantly contributing to flood risk mitigation and providing valuable educational insights into sustainable practices and climate resilience.

This year, they already partnered with 14 schools in Newham, an area vulnerable to flooding. Supported by the Department for Education and Newham Council, Meristem Design and Regenerous led the design and implementation phases. The project aimed to enhance flood resilience and engage students in sustainable living through the installation of 109 SuDS planters with edible plant selections and converting 90m² of tarmac playground into permeable surfaces for better water management.

In addition to these educational initiatives, they have also been involved in numerous Rain Garden projects across London, including the award-winning community Rain Gardens in Waltham Forest, Lambeth rain gardens within the Lambeth Kerbside Strategy, the Royal Docks Corridor in Newham, and various school Rain Garden planting projects.

Habib Khan, co-founder and director at Meristem Design, said, "Becoming a CIWEM Business Partner is a major step for us. It aligns with our commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship, allowing us to expand our reach and showcase our leading projects more broadly.”

Marieke Muller, Senior Partnerships Executive at CIWEM, added: “We’re really excited to be working together with an organisation that places such a clear emphasis on community relations and development, while shoring up flood risk resilience across the country.”

For more information on Meristem Design’s innovative projects and their impact on urban sustainability, visit their website: https://www.meristemdesign.co.uk/projects