Rainwater Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) Planters

Our SuDS work like a rain garden in a planter allowing for stormwater to be managed sustainably. They effectively enhance the capacity of the surface water piped drainage network by capturing and storing rainfall, allowing it to soak into the ground, or release it slowly back into the main piped network.   
 

Section through our Larch SuDS Planter showing each component of the system

 

East of Eden Larch SuDS Planter in situ
 

Water from the downpipe is directed into the planter. The soil / compost mix absorbs and stores the rainwater for the plants to use. Excess rainwater filters through a separating Geotextile membrane, supported by a raised free draining floor, into the water storage cavity at the bottom of the planter. The water is then stored and released from the base drainage pipe at a controlled rate.

With both bioretention and additional internal storage, the planter is an innovative solution to property level retro-fit SuDS, and can work out a lot cheaper than most groundworks intervention.

 

 

East of Eden GRP SuDS Planter

These sizes are based on large, but manageable and movable sized units using a fork lift. This offers practical sized unit options to be used in combination to achieve the recommendation catchment areas stated above.

As well as the standard sizes, we can also construct all planters to bespoke requirements, but recommend a maximum length of 2000mm.
 

Larch Option Size (mm) Length x Width x Height	All inclusive Price ex VAT (£)	GRP Option Size (mm) Length x Width x Height	All inclusive Price ex VAT (£)
1000 x 650 x 900	1155.00	1000 x 650 x 900	1326.00
1200 x 650 x 900	1293.00	1200 x 650 x 900	1485.00
1500 x 650 x 900	1485.00	1500 x 650 x 900	1698.00
1800 x 650 x 900	1698.00	1800 x 650 x 900	1925.00
2000 x 650 x 900	1798.00	2000 x 650 x 900	2075.00

Prices do not include delivery.
(Please contact us for delivery to your site)

Bespoke sizes for different roof drainage volume requirements and site restrictions

Many of our clients require sizes to meet the specific roof drainage volumes and size restrictions of a site.
We have therefore developed a bespoke service for variations in width, length, height and linear shape
of the planters to suit the specific needs of each site and location. All our planters are made to measure and 
there is no extra cost for bespoke services. Please contact us for a quote. 
 

Linked SuDS Planters for Larger Roof Areas

For larger catchment areas we advise multiples of our standard or bespoke sizes, with each one fed
from a separate downpipe. Separate downpipes can usually be specified for new builds and extensions.

For situations where separate downpipes cannot be supplied, such as old buildings with cast iron downpipes,
we have developed the SuDS planters so that can be interlinked so that multiple planters can be fed
by the same drain downpipe connected via an overflow link between the planters.

   

SuDS Planter Storage and Flow Rates

 

The storage volume and retention and subsequent outflow rates will vary with the dimension of the planter to be incorporated into the scheme.

East of Eden SuDS Rain Garden planters are all based on the internal design features as recommended by South East Rivers Trust, which was founded on extensive trial studies.

The SuDS Manual states that typically the surface area of a bioretention feature would be 2-4% of the overall site area being drained, to prevent rapid clogging of the bioretention surface. Based on this guidance, the surface area of any planter (or combination of planters) should not be less than 2-4% of the roof area it is draining. Where possible, the size of the planter should reflect this recommendation.

As such, we offer a range of standard planter sizes to use from

1000mm L x 650mm W x 900mm H   to   2000mm L x 650mm W x 900mm H.

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Storage Layer

 

As mentioned, the storage value will depend on the dimensions of the planters. With a planting layer of 450 mm, this would leave approximately 400 mm for a sub-base water storage layer in our standard 850cm high planter.

A major advantage of our unique design is the suspended permeable Draintex geotextile lined floor with Delta dimpled sheeting providing a substate layer reservoir of water to sustain the plants during dry periods.

Importantly, this also means that the sub-base layer is completely dedicated to water storage, in contrast to most other designs where the water stored is part of the substrate layers, significantly reducing their water storage capacity.

With a dedicated water only storage area, our rain garden planters are able to hold almost twice as much water, which is critical during a deluge, which will then be released slowly.

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Outflow and Infiltration Rates

The standard SuDs raingarden planters are drained via a perforated drainage pipe running internally along the bottom of the planter. A number of factors influence the drainage rate, including drainage pipe diameter, soil mix and the density of the vegetation including root systems which all impact the infiltration rate.

We recommend using an open, free draining peat free soil mix of 15% loam soil or John Innes No.3 with 85% peat free multipurpose compost.

If planted with shallow, light rooting plants, the outflow rate ranges from 15 - 20 litres per hour (0.0042 - 0.0055 litres per second) depending on the head of water.

We recommend light rooting planting, such as small perrenials, grasses and flowering annual pollinators as the infiltration rate will be mostly impaired by the formation of a dense root network from more mature shrub-like plants.

Annual planting that can significantly enhance the BNG value of your SuDs planters can be replenished each year. Hence they are ideal for creating wildflower pollinators, long summer flowering and a minimum rooting system, that can be cultivated annually to retain a free draining soil/compost mix.

Please see the RHS guide to pollinators HERE

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Embodied Carbon

 

• Made from FSC sourced UK grown Larch – Carbon Neutral

• Internal graduated perforated drainage pipe system for controlled release with sealed storage area to reduce plastic (recycled)components. • Installation above ground to reduce installation energy impact.

• Plus linked directly to drainage system to reduce flash flood impact without being inundated with oil residues, wastes, pesticides etc often released into waterways following storm surges

• Supports permanent aerial plant growth, which in turn:-

• Promotes carbon sequestration

• Enhances aesthetic value of the site – Promotes wellbeing

• Supports biodiversity, including nectar feeders, thus adding Biodiversit Net Gain(BNG) value for the site

• Constructed in the United Kingdom by UK based craftsmen

• Unique SuDS planter design has been developed so that there is an additional internal overflow flow system so that in the rare occasion that the water  storage area fills to the top it will not inundate the separate soil/compost area.
  

• The enhanced design of our SuDS planters allows them to be used for any type of plants specific to the needs of the client, and local climatic conditions. As such they can significiantly contribute to an enahnced BNG for most developments. They are ideal for growing veg, pollinators etc.