Posted on:
08 June 2026
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Planting the Seeds for Nature-Based Solutions in St Mary’s
08 June 2026
Hands on learning
Pupils at St Andrew's Primary School in Dundee helped to create a new wetland area and plant over 30 trees at the school as part of the project.
New nature-based methods of managing rainwater have been installed at two local primary schools and a community centre in Dundee, ahead of a wider project focusing on flood reduction, active travel links and improved community spaces in the St Mary’s area of the city.
Through the Water Resilient Dundee (WRD) partnership, led by Scottish Water and Dundee City Council, works to install rainwater planters, new outdoor play features and a wetland at St Andrew’s and Craigowl primary schools have now been completed.
The Scottish Government-funded project has also seen the creation of a raingarden and water management features such as a smart water butt, new guttering and rainwater planters installed at St Mary’s Community Centre.
The work was planned and designed in close consultation with the schools and users of the community centre to ensure it met their needs, while helping to manage rainwater more sustainably and reducing the risk of localised flooding.
It is part of a coordinated approach, supported by Abertay University, to engage with the community about sustainable drainage before larger interventions begin in the area through the wider Strathmartine Connections programme.
Dom McBennett, catchment planner at Scottish Water, said: “We have really enjoyed working in partnership with the schools and community centre to install these sustainable water management features and start wider conversations with people about the larger-scale work planned with partners through Strathmartine Connections.
“Our aim is to create neighbourhoods that are resilient to the impacts of climate change, whether that is flooding or drought, while also creating useful, people-focused spaces that contribute to all round better well-being - and community partnerships are at the heart of that. We want people to be involved in the whole design process and to feel that sense of ownership of these projects.”
He added: “We hope that by demonstrating the benefits of these types of nature-based interventions on a smaller scale, that we can help build awareness and support among the local community for the more major elements of work that are planned here.”
St Andrew’s Primary P6 teacher, Sian Roberts, who leads the school’s STEM programme, said: “This has been a great opportunity for the school – being involved in practical examples, living examples, such as helping to create the wetland and plant trees means that they learn so much more. It makes it real and it makes them understand why the work is being done.
“It was fantastic to see all the pupils getting stuck in and involved – especially those who sometimes don’t normally engage in activities in the classroom. You take them outside and they thrive - and it’s all about having that practical, hands-on experience.”
St Mary’s Community Centre Community Engagement Worker, Justine Campbell, said: “This has been a very collaborative project and a lot of work was done to make sure it would meet the needs of the community. The groups that do come in are absolutely loving it, they say it makes such a difference to the space – it's a nice space for them to come and sit outside in.
“We get a lot more footfall since it has been completed, people just coming in to check it out, which is great – we're always encouraging people to come and ask questions as it is a chance to explain more about the purpose of it.”
Strathmartine Connections is a major, multiyear programme designed to improve drainage, enhance local greenspaces, reduce flood risk, and strengthen community resilience across the Strathmartine area.
Cllr Stewart Hunter, children and families convener, said: "I am glad to see that pupils are getting a chance to get experience and learn important lessons about water and their local environment.
"This has been an inspiring initiative to involve schools and the community directly in activities."
Cllr Steven Rome, city growth and infrastructure convener, said: “The St Mary’s project is a shining example of partners working together to provide local solutions to the climate emergency, while also delivering improvements to benefit the community.
“Efforts to prevent flooding will be accompanied by enhancements to green spaces as well as active travel routes, and I look forward to seeing how this develops."
Feedback was sought from the community on detailed designs for the Strathmartine Connections project at the end of 2025, with a planning application due to be submitted later this year.
If approved, it is anticipated that work will start in Spring 2027.
Through the Water Resilient Dundee (WRD) partnership, led by Scottish Water and Dundee City Council, works to install rainwater planters, new outdoor play features and a wetland at St Andrew’s and Craigowl primary schools have now been completed.
The Scottish Government-funded project has also seen the creation of a raingarden and water management features such as a smart water butt, new guttering and rainwater planters installed at St Mary’s Community Centre.
The work was planned and designed in close consultation with the schools and users of the community centre to ensure it met their needs, while helping to manage rainwater more sustainably and reducing the risk of localised flooding.
It is part of a coordinated approach, supported by Abertay University, to engage with the community about sustainable drainage before larger interventions begin in the area through the wider Strathmartine Connections programme.
Dom McBennett, catchment planner at Scottish Water, said: “We have really enjoyed working in partnership with the schools and community centre to install these sustainable water management features and start wider conversations with people about the larger-scale work planned with partners through Strathmartine Connections.
“Our aim is to create neighbourhoods that are resilient to the impacts of climate change, whether that is flooding or drought, while also creating useful, people-focused spaces that contribute to all round better well-being - and community partnerships are at the heart of that. We want people to be involved in the whole design process and to feel that sense of ownership of these projects.”
He added: “We hope that by demonstrating the benefits of these types of nature-based interventions on a smaller scale, that we can help build awareness and support among the local community for the more major elements of work that are planned here.”
St Andrew’s Primary P6 teacher, Sian Roberts, who leads the school’s STEM programme, said: “This has been a great opportunity for the school – being involved in practical examples, living examples, such as helping to create the wetland and plant trees means that they learn so much more. It makes it real and it makes them understand why the work is being done.
“It was fantastic to see all the pupils getting stuck in and involved – especially those who sometimes don’t normally engage in activities in the classroom. You take them outside and they thrive - and it’s all about having that practical, hands-on experience.”
St Mary’s Community Centre Community Engagement Worker, Justine Campbell, said: “This has been a very collaborative project and a lot of work was done to make sure it would meet the needs of the community. The groups that do come in are absolutely loving it, they say it makes such a difference to the space – it's a nice space for them to come and sit outside in.
“We get a lot more footfall since it has been completed, people just coming in to check it out, which is great – we're always encouraging people to come and ask questions as it is a chance to explain more about the purpose of it.”
Strathmartine Connections is a major, multiyear programme designed to improve drainage, enhance local greenspaces, reduce flood risk, and strengthen community resilience across the Strathmartine area.
Cllr Stewart Hunter, children and families convener, said: "I am glad to see that pupils are getting a chance to get experience and learn important lessons about water and their local environment.
"This has been an inspiring initiative to involve schools and the community directly in activities."
Cllr Steven Rome, city growth and infrastructure convener, said: “The St Mary’s project is a shining example of partners working together to provide local solutions to the climate emergency, while also delivering improvements to benefit the community.
“Efforts to prevent flooding will be accompanied by enhancements to green spaces as well as active travel routes, and I look forward to seeing how this develops."
Feedback was sought from the community on detailed designs for the Strathmartine Connections project at the end of 2025, with a planning application due to be submitted later this year.
If approved, it is anticipated that work will start in Spring 2027.
Connecting with the Community
A new raingarden has been created at St Mary's Community Centre, alongside the installation of new rainwater planters, a water butt and new guttering at the site.
