Embracing Autumn in the Brecks
Our quick guide for enjoying autumn to the fullest in the Norfolk and Suffolk Brecks. More
In April, garden designer, Mia Witham and the BFER team have been visiting schools in Thetford to refresh their rainwater gardens.
During the BFER project, five schools in Thetford took on rainwater planters. These planters connect to an existing water downpipe and, when it rains, the water from the pipes (which would usually be wasted) is fed directly into the soil. This means less water run-off on the playground, and a lovely new, self-watering garden area for each school!
Mia hasn’t visited the planters since the Autumn of 2024, and the schools have been solely responsible for the planters throughout the winter and spring so far. Since BFER was granted an extension by the National Lottery Heritage Fund until October 2025, we decided to arrange a refresher visit to see how the schools were getting on. The planters looked great! The plants put in last year had not only survived the winter, but thrived, with the first already coming into flower.
Our refresher visits were a really good opportunity to meet with the students and teachers who have taken on responsibility for the planters. These groups ranged across all the years in the school and were supported by at least one teacher, so the planters are in safe hands. This was a great chance for Mia to answer any questions they had. First, she helped them understand how to monitor the waterflow into and out of the planters, and how they can change it to suit the weather and the time of year. She also showed them how to identify the common weeds that might try to take over the planters and how to remove them. She even brought a few new flowers to add. By the time the refresher sessions were up and we were all off to wash our muddy hands, the planters were looking even better and we’re sure they’re going to grow from strength to strength this summer.
For anyone interested in creating their own rainwater garden, Mia has created an amazing resource explaining how. The resource also includes suggested activities and lesson plans around the planters and troubleshooting for any setbacks or problems your planter may face. Download your copy here: Rainwater Planters Guidance
