We helped develop and install a planter-type rain garden.

As part of the "Sustainable Society Based on Reconstruction with Watershed Flood Control at Its Core (commonly known as the Green Watershed Flood Control Project)," which is led by Kumamoto Prefectural University, Higo Bank, and Kumamoto Prefecture, Higo Bank announced that it would develop a rain garden at its Menda branch. Meanwhile, Nanryo High School, located close to the Menda branch, collaborated with the Green Watershed Flood Control Project to develop a rain garden in August 2022 and conducted a project to measure the effectiveness of the rain garden and promote its use, so Nanryo High School students will be helping to develop the rain garden at the Menda branch.

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After participating in workshops with Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Kyushu University, and Kumamoto University, students from Nanryo High School proposed a "planter-type rain garden" to Higo Bank. This would direct rainwater that falls on the roof into a planter, slowing the time it takes for the rainwater to run off into drains and rivers. After much discussion, Higo Bank, Nanryo High School, and others agreed to create and install a planter-type rain garden made from wood from the Hitoyoshi Kuma region, with the theme of "Kumamon's Rain Garden."

On Saturday, April 15, 2023, Higo Bank staff, Nanryo High School students, researchers from Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Kyushu University, and Kumamoto University, and companies that cooperated in the production of the planters participated in the event at the Higo Bank Menda Branch, where they assembled planters, planted plants, installed piping, and created and installed a planter-type rain garden.

Here is the completed rain garden.

A look at the work in progress.

We plan to verify the effectiveness of rain gardens together with students from Minamiryo High School and promote their use.