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Meristem Design

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Meristem Design is an award-winning design company creating bespoke green solutions for business, public, and residential areas.

Meristem is a design-led greening company, creating bespoke green solutions for commercial, public and residential spaces. We are a team of designers and horticulturalists who are driven by a passion for plants. We are on a mission to bring more green into your world, whether at home, in the office or on your commute, we are committed to turning the grey, green. Meristem offers a 360 degree service to cater for all stages and all sizes of projects. From design conception through to installation and maintenance visits.

14/10/2026

Did you know Great Britain has around 3,694 km² of hard road surface? 🌧️

It’s , the annual campaign led by the Environment Agency , so let’s talk about how we can turn these hard, impermeable surfaces into green spongy places that support people and climate resilience.

Across our towns and cities, roads, pavements and other paved areas prevent rainwater from naturally soaking into the ground, increasing the amount of surface water that needs to be managed during heavy rainfall.

But what if we reworked these spaces? 🌿

By replacing sections of hard surfacing with rain gardens, nature gardens, SuDS planters and other green infrastructure, we can create spaces that capture and store rainwater, reduce surface water runoff and support urban biodiversity.

From transforming grey, paved areas into vibrant pocket parks to embedding planting into our public spaces, integrating greenery shows how we can work with nature to build more flood-resilient places.

13/10/2026

Is this the most flood resilient school? 💧

We worked with Cheshire East Council to bring a variety of SuDS interventions to Lindow Primary School in Wilmslow. After suffering from a series of flood events, particularly in the wet winter season, the school was identified as a site in need of flood mitigation.

After analysing the school, we designed, fabricated and introduced an array of tailored SuDS features to help manage surface water:

🔹 3 Hybrid SuDS planters
🔹 5 large-scale SuDS planters measuring between 3-4m
🔹 A rain garden measuring 40m²

These interventions combine to capture direct heavy rainfall as well as runoff from nearby surfaces and the school roofs. Combined, they are able to store up to 20,000 litres of water, enhancing flood resilience and making the playgrounds safer and more accessible during the winter.

Interactive and educational signage was incorporated into the design to encourage learning about sustainable drainage, the water journey and the importance of planting in urban spaces.

Not only is the playground now more flood-proof than ever but it functions as a source of interactivity and learning for years to come.

07/10/2026

How can you intercept surface water runoff on a steep gradient?💧

We worked alongside Lewisham Council and Civic to deliver a Hybrid SuDS planter scheme in Trinity Lewisham . Swipe through to see how we did this ➡️

The school sits as the bottom of a steep playground gradient which previously had no grass or natural turfing to absorb rainfall, meaning surface water would quickly run downhill and contribute to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.

Hybrid SuDS Planters were tailored and stepped to accommodate the gradient, with the units installed in a shallow excavation. This allows them to function more like a rain garden, capturing both surface runoff and direct rainfall.

Aco channel drains run alongside the planters, capturing runoff from the playground and directing it into the planters’ attenuation base.

The stored water is then gradually released, while also helping to support plant growth through capillary action.

8 months later and the planting has survived the brutal UK heatwaves and is looking amazing.

06/10/2026

Introducing Spongy Schools 🌧️ 🌱

Do you know how to make schools more flood resilient?

Join us on Thursday 10th December at Building Centre for our exclusive SuDS event, ‘Spongy Schools’, an afternoon exploring how SuDS can be designed, funded and delivered in school environments.

We’ll be bringing together experts from across the SuDS sector to explore:

🌱 SuDS design - from different solutions to the key considerations when designing for schools
💧 Funding - understanding the opportunities available to support SuDS in schools
🏫 Engagement - making SuDS meaningful and engaging for pupils and communities
📋 Policy & delivery - exploring the policies, regulations and processes shaping SuDS in schools

Visit our events page on our website to find out more and sign up.

05/10/2026

It’s World Habitat Day! 🌎️ 🐞

One way we’re boosting local wildlife and providing nesting and shelter for pollinators is through our range of habitat features.

These features have been designed and tailored to support insects, bees and other wildlife through:

🔸 A range of natural materials to attract different species
🔸 Elevated placement to protect nesters from predators
🔸 Plants like ivy to encourage late-season pollinators
🔸 Sunny orientation so morning sun can warm the nesting insects

We’ve integrated our habitat features into a range of landscapes, including rain gardens in schools, public realm planting projects and roadside spaces, helping to create more opportunities for wildlife across our urban environments. Our habitat features include:

🔹 Ivy posts
🔹 Bee posts
🔹 Habi-stacks
🔹 Bird Boxes

Alongside these features, we prioritise pollinator-friendly planting and layered landscapes, creating diverse habitats that provide food, shelter and nesting opportunities for wildlife.

As pollinators and other urban wildlife face increasing pressure, it’s important that we build habitat into the places we usually design for people. Let’s make biodiversity a part of our public spaces, too! 🐝

28/09/2026

How to make SuDS education in schools lasting and impactful 💧

Installing SuDS planters in schools can have a positive impact for years to come, both on the local drainage network and the school community. But ensuring that educational impact lasts requires more than just the initial SuDS installation.

To create a lasting learning opportunity, we incorporate signage and nature workshops into our school SuDS projects.

🪧 Signage that keeps teaching

Information explaining how the SuDS planter works is attached directly to the planter or the wall behind it. This means pupils, teachers and parents can continue learning about SuDS, rainwater management and the role of green infrastructure long after the project has been installed.

🌿 Hands-on nature workshops

Nature workshops give pupils the opportunity to get involved with planting and caring for their green spaces. By learning about the plants and how they interact with rainwater, children can develop a better understanding of how SuDS work and the role planting can play in managing surface water.

The aim is to make SuDS part of the school environment and the learning experience permanently to create something that continues to educate, engage and spark curiosity for years after installation. 💧🌱

23/09/2026

How do rain gardens change in the autumn season?🍂

Rain gardens really come into their own as the seasons change, they begin to do what they do best - manage rainwater and runoff.

After prioritising being drought tolerant all through the summer, their focus shifts towards managing increased rainfall and being resilient during wetter conditions.

Here’s what to look out for this autumn to get the most out of your space:

🌧️ More rainfall, more testing - as the weather becomes wetter, rainfall can reveal how well a rain garden is draining. Pooling or slow-draining areas can highlight issues that may have not been visible during drier months

🍂 Leaf clearing becomes a priority - fallen leaves can build up around inlets and and block the routes that allow water to enter the rain garden. Keeping these areas clear helps maintain effective water flow

🌱 Plants start to die back - as temperatures drop, many plants will naturally die back, leaving stems and foliage behind which can provide additional habitats for insects

🌿 It’s a good time for planting - autumn can be an ideal planting window to give your rain gardens a boost with many species using this period as a chance to establish their roots before growing season begins

Though rain gardens function all year round, autumn is when they really start to shine. Understanding their seasonal changes can help you get the most out of your rain gardens and keep them functioning year after year.

21/09/2026

Planting trees isn’t the same as creating climate resilient spaces🌳

New research from Kew and the London Gov suggests that up to 72% of London’s current public realm tree population could struggle under future climate conditions. So what we plant, where we plant it and how we look after it matters more than ever.

How can we give trees the best chance of thriving?

🌱 1. Choose the right species
Selecting trees suited to the conditions of their site and to our changing climate, can help improve their long-term resilience. We’ve used species such as Ginkgo biloba and Mediterranean Hackberry for their drought tolerance and heat resistance.

💧 2. Get the growing conditions right
A resilient tree needs a resilient root environment. Providing enough rooting space, suitable soil, drainage and access to both air and water can all support healthy establishment. Essential features to early tree establishment include aeration pipes and tree bags.

🌳 3. Keep looking after them
Maintenance is vital. Young trees need regular watering, monitoring and weeding while they establish, particularly during hot and dry periods. Our maintenance team carry out regular rounds, spotting signs of stress and giving younger trees the additional care they need to establish.

Trees can only provide the cooling and shelter we rely on if we give them the right conditions to thrive. If we’re going to bring trees into the built environment, we need to think beyond planting and start considering the species we select, the conditions we create and the care we provide afterwards.

Address

4th Floor, Holden House, 57 Rathbone Place
London
W1T1JU

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.meristemdesign.co.uk/

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Avery Associates
291 Mitcham Road