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Parks & public space

Rain gardens for Lowther Primary, swales for Castelnau

1 min read
The Barnes Times newsroom
21 October 2026

Richmond Council is introducing rain gardens at Lowther Primary School in Barnes and plans permeable paving at Castelnau Community Centre and swales at the recreation ground.

Lowther Primary School on Rocks Lane, Barnes, where Richmond Council is introducing rain gardens to manage surface water runoff.
Lowther Primary School on Rocks Lane, Barnes, where Richmond Council is introducing rain gardens to manage surface water runoff. Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0

Lowther Primary School in Barnes is getting sustainable drainage systems, including downpipe planters and rain gardens, the council said in a blog dated 16 October. The work is part of Community BlueScapes, a flood resilience partnership between the council, Barnes Common Limited and WWT, which also includes the Barnes Green river restoration.

In Castelnau, the council plans to redevelop the grounds of Castelnau Community Centre with water butts and permeable paving. At Castelnau Recreation Ground, the games area is to be made permeable and swales added: spaces where water can drain into the ground. The blog gives no start dates or costs for the works.

Soaking up surface water where it lands is the sensible fix for streets that flood in a downpour, and a school playground and a recreation ground are fair places to start. Lowther is under way; Castelnau, for now, is still a plan.

The facts
  • Sustainable drainage systems, including downpipe planters and rain gardens, are being introduced at Lowther Primary School.
  • The council plans to redevelop the grounds at Castelnau Community Centre with water butts and permeable paving.
  • At Castelnau Recreation Ground the games area is to be made permeable and swales added.
  • The projects are delivered through Community BlueScapes, a partnership of the council, Barnes Common Limited and WWT, which also includes the Barnes Green river restoration.
  • The blog gives no start dates or costs for the works.
Sources and evidence

Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 21 October 2026.

  1. www.richmond.gov.uk/news/comment_spot/comment_spot_archive/council_blog_2026/flo (council blog)
Claim by claim (5 facts, 1 editorial judgements)
  • Sustainable drainage systems, including downpipe planters and rain gardens, are being introduced at Lowther Primary School. — council blog, 2026-10-16
    “At Lowther Primary School, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) – including downpipe planters and rain gardens – are being introduced.”
  • The council plans to redevelop the grounds at Castelnau Community Centre with water butts and permeable paving. — council blog, 2026-10-16
    “we’re planning to redevelop the grounds at Castelnau Community Centre, installing water butts and permeable paving”
  • At Castelnau Recreation Ground the games area is to be made permeable and swales added. — council blog, 2026-10-16
    “planned improvements include making the games area permeable and creating additional spaces – known as swales – where water can drain into the ground.”
  • The projects are delivered through Community BlueScapes, a partnership of the council, Barnes Common Limited and WWT, which also includes the Barnes Green river restoration. — council blog, 2026-10-16
    “These projects are being delivered through Community BlueScapes programme, a flood resilience partnership between Richmond Council, Barnes Common Limited and WWT”
  • The blog gives no start dates or costs for the works. — council blog, 2026-10-16
    “Flood Action Week: How greener spaces can help tackle flooding”
  • Judgement: Soaking up surface water where it lands is the sensible fix for street flooding in a downpour.

Photograph: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · licence