How can we ensure everyone benefits from outdoor spaces?
CREATING ACCESSIBLE SPACES
The Sensory Trust on breaking down barriers in public realms
THE BRENTFORD PROJECT
The 14-year journey to revitalise this London town
HALFPIPE, FULL BLOOM Amersfoort's new green skatepark by Nine Yards Skateparks
Even very difficult locations can be integrated into a natural greenery concept and contribute to a harmonious overall picture of buildings and greenery. The right choice of plants and professional green space management are essential for the lifespan of the project. Let us advise you.
Boom & Bonheur – because trees give life and bring happiness
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SPECIAL PUBLIC SPACES
Our public spaces have long been recognised for the role they play in improving city living, from mental wellbeing and physical health benefits to social engagement and connection opportunities; they are, as Jane Findlay discusses (page 18), “sanctuaries for urban populations”. On top of that, they are invaluable spaces for our nation's children to explore and engage with the natural world around them, there is immense value in creating and retrofitting these spaces to encourage active play, as explored by Adam White (page 22).
But what would we do if these spaces were inaccessible to us? For some, this is already the reality; in 2022/23 it was estimated that 24% (16.1m) of the UK population live with a disability – the charity, Sensory Trust delves into why a diverse feedback network is essential in delivering inclusive spaces (page 9). It would also be remiss not to mention the continued struggle faced by women in not feeling welcome or at times safe in our parks; Make Space for Girls is challenging the outdated norms that have led to this (page 15), and is continually pushing for women and young girls to have not just a seat at the table, but a whole skatepark.
I’m not saying our industry isn't already breaking down these barriers, but you and I both know this level of change, while fundamental, isn't something that can happen overnight, and it’s certainly not something we should ever be quiet about. The more voices heard from all walks of life are what will influence our future public spaces, and inevitably, the next generation.
Bethany
Bonheur share five trees that can thrive in a changing climate
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the value in reimagining public
41 PORTFOLIO: HALFPIPE, FULL BLOOM Skatepark Vathorst by Nine Yards Skateparks
From local streets to global cities, these in-progress projects are reshaping spaces for community life
PNew BREEAM cafe confirmed for Richmond Park
INTERNATIONAL
Abandoned Caribbean Island airport reimagined as climate-adaptive urban district
Tlanning permission has been granted for a new Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘Excellent’-certified cafe in Richmond Park.
Designed by David Morley Architects, the cafe is part of the Roehampton Restored project, funded by The Royal Parks charity. Its BREEAM certification comes as part of the long-standing method of assessing, rating and certifying buildings' sustainability performance.
Located at Roehampton Gate, its current cafe facilities are temporary structures from 20 years ago, after a fire destroyed the original buildings. A family-friendly part of the park, the cafe will offer a range of fresh produce.
“The new cafe at Roehampton Gate will be a vital social space for many residents and park visitors,” says Paul Richards, Richmond Park manager at The Royal Parks charity. A new car park entrance and cycling infrastructure are also planned for the project, with more project details expected soon.
he Arnos Vale Resilient City Masterplan reimagines an abandoned airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Addressing climate resilience, economic growth and community well-being in the reimagined urban district, the masterplan aspires to serve as a “replicable model” for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) looking at similar climate and urbanisation challenges.
The former airstrip will be transformed into a multifunctional central park combining open space, biodiversity and urban cooling. Designed for residents, workers and visitors, the park will include shaded gathering spaces, lush plantings and cooling water features to provide comfortable microclimates.
Features such as a double-sided canal boulevard will ensure flood management and stormwater retention, while the Warrawarrow river is designed to reduce erosion and improve water quality, and expanded mangrove systems along the coastline will strengthen biodiversity as well as provide storm buffers. With the goal of enhancing accessibility for all residents, the project includes a multi-model transportation network.
Pedestrian-friendly streets, bicycle lanes, and a forthcoming light rail connection to Kingstown via a planned tunnel are planned to reduce reliance on vehicular transport. New housing, live-work spaces, cultural and institutional destinations and tourism amenities are also planned in the reimagination.
Central Park plans approved for Australia’s first new city in 100 years
The two-hectare park, designed by landscape architect Aspect Studios and traditional custodians, will be located in Australia’s new Bradfield City Centre development. With plans to host community events, the park will feature a sky ring, providing shelter and directing rainwater to support irrigation systems.
The park embraces Dharug cultural heritage, whilst homing 550 mature trees and 70,000 species of native plants, providing a 65% tree canopy and chosen in collaboration with the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, First Nations nurseries and traditional custodians. Bradfield Development Authority chief executive Ken Morrison, says: “Iconic cities need iconic open spaces.”
Sitting atop Bradfield metro station, the park will link the new city to Western Sydney airport, scheduled to open in 2026. The 23km Western Sydney Airport metro line is also currently under construction and is due to open in April 2027 after being delayed. The park is planned to parallel the opening of the station.
With the new city providing 10,000 new homes and 20,000 new jobs, Morrison adds: “Thousands of people will pour out of the metro station directly into Central Park, which will become a gathering spot for people to live, work, and play for generations to come.”
Eagle Brewery Wharf to undergo nature enriched transformation
Improvement works to the Eagle Brewery Wharf along Kingston’s riverside will see a new play trail featuring a series of stepping logs, a climbing ropes, and a balancing beam. Additional public seating and new lighting are also included in the plans,
which are being carried out by principal contractor Blakedown Landscapes, in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and Kingston First. Other features include new metal railings along the riverfront. There will also be a focus on nature with trees, shrubs, and herbaceous beds to be planted. The landscaping and civil engineering specialists will take on the vision developed in 2023 by local residents, businesses, and community groups. The project echoes the council’s prior commitment to improve Kingston’s public spaces and facilitate accessibility to nature; Eagle Brewery Wharf is expected to reopen this summer.
Wandsworth Gasworks redevelopment to enhance biodiversity value
Bordered by the river Wandle, development on the site of the old Wandsworth gasworks plans to significantly improve the area’s biodiversity value. Led by master planners shedkm, in collaboration with BD Landscape Architects, the regeneration plans 9,000m² of riverside park, play park, gardens, and public realm space; as well as 6,500m² of biodiverse habitats. This will complete the missing 12.5mi Wandle trail from Croydon to Wandsworth. Receiving feedback from members of the public throughout the design proposals, it is able to offer a ‘significant’ biodiversity net gain (BNG) uplift, as well as a natural play space for local children. It will include a new bridge crossing, a riverside park, and overall improvements to the pedestrian permeability. Rob Beswick, founder and director of BD comments: “Our designs introduce a wealth of tree planting, set within high-quality public realm and play spaces – all inspired by the history and heritage of the site, setting a new benchmark for sustainable development in London.” The landscape led 620-home development was approved by Wandsworth Borough Council and coordinated by regeneration specialists Common.
Also check out The Brentford Project from Grant Associates on page 26, which explores the practice's 14-year journey to transform this West London town.
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AGENDA
Q: HOW CAN WE CREATE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE PUBLIC REALMS?
Creating accessible public realms ensure everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy the benefits of outdoor spaces. The awareness is growing and we’re seeing inclusive projects getting the green light, so what more we can do to ensure our realms are welcoming to all walks of life.
EVOLVE WITH CHANGING NEEDS
MANAGING
DIRECTOR, BLAKEDOWN LANDSCAPES
Creating accessible and inclusive public realm spaces is a challenge, particularly when working across diverse environments – whether historic, heavily constrained, or new builds. At Blakedown Landscapes, we believe accessibility should not be about minimum compliance, but about supporting spaces that are welcoming, usable, and able to evolve with changing needs.
While clients, designers, and public consultations often lead on accessibility, involving contractors early is key. It helps shape practical, buildable solutions from the start. At The Ness in Lowestoft, Blakedown took full CDP responsibility for the design and construction of a cantilever bridge linking a new play park to the sea wall. To achieve the required gradient for accessible pedestrian and wheelchair use, the bridge had to be extended to 25 metres, with integration of piling, sea wall connection, and surrounding landscape.
Accessibility is driven by more than compliance; it’s about creating practical, inclusive solutions that enhance spaces. Our role is to ensure these solutions are fully realised, keeping both the project’s purpose and its long-term functionality at the forefront.
DESIGN WITH GIRLS AND WOMEN IN MIND
CO
FOUNDER, MAKE SPACE FOR GIRLS
From the perspective of creating spaces in the public realm that work for teenage girls, young women and gender diverse young people, the biggest challenge is the fact that most people don’t realise that standard teen facilities (MUGAs, skateparks and BMX tracks) are dominated by (some) boys and young men. People assume that these provisions “work” for all teenagers and don’t notice that for most girls and young women, gender diverse young people and a significant number of boys, these facilities don’t work.
Once this is widely recognised, councils and developers will start to see the benefit (in terms of inclusion, social interaction, community cohesion and physical and mental health health) of providing a wider range of facilities for teenagers, including swings, social seating, hang out zones, shelters and play equipment to fit the bodies and meet the needs of teenagers. Facilities that are designed to signal that they are places where girls and young women are welcome.
WELCOME DIVERSE FEEDBACK
LANDSCAPE DIRECTOR, CAMLINS
Accessibility and inclusivity aren’t just about meeting standards or ensuring physical access – they’re about creating places where people genuinely want to be. The biggest challenge isn’t technical, it’s cultural: we need to move beyond compliance and embrace a design approach rooted in empathy and meaningful inclusion. That begins with listening. Not just consulting but truly listening to different perspectives – especially those we might not naturally consider.
I often think about a blind architect who once spoke about how every building sounded different, an insight that has really stayed with me and resonates when it comes to understanding different perspectives, those that you may not have previously considered.
Designing for inclusivity means inviting voices that challenge our assumptions and being willing to change course. Sometimes that takes courage. A proposal might be technically correct, but if it compromises the spirit of inclusion, we must be ready to say no. The goal isn’t to design for ‘different’ people –it’s to design with others in mind so the result is better for everyone.
IMOGEN CLARK
CHRIS WELLBELOVE
PAUL SHIRLEY SMITH
Sentinal Industries Ltd is a British owned company working within the field of security and connectivity, working with its manufacturer, who, since 2013, has been providing access control and security solutions to clients across the globe. With a service-oriented approach, Sentinal offers much more than products alone, thanks to their flexible production line, Sentinal is capable of manufacturing customised systems, which are specifically tailored to requirements for specialised projects.
Sentinal’s production line is not limited to, but includes:
• Control of pedestrian and vehicle access.
• To secure sensitive areas from terrorist vehicle attacks.
• To enforce traffic rules and regulate access.
• To improve radio and internet capabilities.
• To monitor personnel and vehicles via CCTV and ANPR systems.
• Monitoring devices such as face recognition and Ai software.
“SOMETIMES INCLUSIVE DESIGN CAN GET FOCUSED ON THE PHYSICALITY OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS LIKE RAMPS AND PATHS – THOSE ARE THINGS THAT YOU DO NEED TO CONSIDER, BUT THINKING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE IS IMPORTANT – DON'T
SEPARATE THAT OUT FROM THE DESIGN PROCESS, IT'S ALL PART
OF IT”
Green spaces are vital to our health and wellbeing, but only if everyone can access them. Sensory Trust’s Helen Rosevear explores the growing need for inclusive design and the steps needed to remove barriers
WORDS: BETHANY VANN
You’d be hard pressed to go a day without someone in our industry mentioning the importance of access to green space, and rightly so. More than just a buzz phrase, access to green space is continuously attributed to a great many benefits, and the need for those spaces has never been more prevalent, but they’re not a one size fits all.
The latest estimates from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey indicate that 16.1m people in the UK were living with a disability in the 2022/23 financial year; this equates to 24% of the total population (a six percentage reported rise since 2002/03). Living within 15 minutes of a park or a field is redundant if many of those spaces are inaccessible to almost a quarter of the UK. For over 30 years Sensory Trust (a national charity) has work with the health, care, and education sectors
and local communities to shape the way spaces are designed; to enhance health and wellbeing through sensory experiences and
INCLUSIVITY AT THE HEART
In the Design Council’s Principles of inclusive design report, the charity summarises the five principles of inclusive design as:
• Placing people at the heart of the design process and involve as many people as possible on in the design process
• Acknowledging diversity and difference and avoid imposing barriers
• Offering choices where a single design solution does not accommodate all users
• Provide in use flexibility with a design that can evolve to meet the changing uses and demands of users
• Create buildings and environments that are convenient and enjoyable for everyone to use designcouncil.org.uk
authentic connections with nature - “we act as advocates to increase inclusivity”, says Sensory Trust inclusive landscape architect and garden design specialist, Helen Rosevear. She notes that as awareness of the benefits of experiencing outdoor spaces rises, so do the number of people wanting to experience a wider range of outdoor spaces, “and in doing so, they often experience more barriers, and this can have quite a negative impact on people with disabilities in particular, because it creates a sense of concern when going to new areas.” Exploring new green spaces should, in my opinion, never be met with concern in regard to accessibility and inclusivity. While the need for these inclusive spaces has always been present, the awareness of this has certainly been on the rise; Rosevear agrees, noting that the Sensory Trust have seen a “greater desire” from clients to improve the inclusivity of their sites, adding that she
At times I find myself using jargon or descriptions that not everyone is going to understand, and I think that's a good example of designers and landscape professionals needing to think about how they communicate their ideas to people to get that feedback
believes there’s also been an increase in awareness and need to “reach everyone in [our] communities when conducting public consultations.” This desire has led to more “inquiries from project managers and designers wanting to identify inclusive advocates or champions as part of their design project teams”, says Rosevear. The Trust’s experience in cultivating that inclusive forum has, at times, fallen short and “aren’t always very inclusive”, for a number of reasons; “they're not perhaps experienced in reading plans or interpreting design briefs or understanding the common place jargon... At times I find myself using jargon or descriptions that not everyone is going to understand, and I think that's a good example of designers and landscape professionals needing to think about how they communicate their ideas to people to get that feedback.” She recognises that the Sensory Trust has seen success in using “sensory based techniques” in public consultations, enabling more people to express the potential barriers they’ve experiencing through to what they would like to see included in the master plans. We all know it’s great to look at beautifully designed plans and envision what they’ll look like brought to life, but for people outside of the design or build process those plans could quite easily be confusing - “there’s definitely room for how these things are delivered to improve.”
Now, this isn’t to say there aren’t spaces out there designed with accessibility in mind or even realms that have been retrofitted to accommodate varying walks of life, but as with most things, there is always room for improvement – but what can designers and decision makers do to ensure they’re projects are meeting these needs? “Thinking about the experience that you want people to have; sometimes inclusive design can get focused on the physicality of the nuts and bolts like ramps and paths - those are things that you do need to consider, but thinking about the
experience you want people to have is important - don't separate that from the design process, it's all part of it.” Rosevear notes that one of the things the Trust often comes across is the creation of “isolated islands”; referring to designers creating a sensory garden or an accessible play area in a park “but they're in a setting that isn’t very accessible”, which she says leads to less
people using the space. “Accessible and inclusive spaces shouldn’t feel like purely functional solutions, they should support positive, sensory-rich experiences, and they should just flow comfortably...Don’t just target specific areas, it needs to be across the whole approach.” When creating a new space “there shouldn’t be barriers at all, everything should be accessible; you wouldn’t deliberately create a set of steps at one entrance and then a ramp at the other, you’d meet in the middle and look for a more accessible approach.” Rosevear is quick to note that inclusive design is nuanced, and “sometimes there are specific responses to certain situations”, for example, she says a ramp would be essential for a wheelchair user, but on the other hand a person with low stamina considerations might prefer a set of steps;
TAKE TIME AND PRIORITISE TRAINING TO GET UP TO DATE WITH BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE
“you could look to have neither or you could have a gentle incline accommodates both.”
This isolation and need to consider nuanced approaches can be avoided and adhered to respectively through access audits early in the master planning stage - “they look at the whole landscape experience from a disabled persons perspective, flagging up barriers, that often can be experienced before they even get to the space...it needs to come in at the earliest stage of the design.” Inclusive access audits, though not a legal requirement, will help fulfil your responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, by ensuring environments are usable and welcoming to all people, regardless of ability, age, gender or background.
LANDSCAPE ACCESS SURVEYS ARE REALLY USEFUL TO FIND OUT WHERE THE ACCESS ISSUES ARE AND HELP PRIORITISE DESIGN SOLUTIONS.
ACCESS AUDITS AND REVIEWS
Our disability access review will help your venue welcome and engage visitors of all ages and abilities. We use our access chain survey to identify barriers to access and options for resolving them. An audit or review is an important first step for anyone planning a new venue or making improvements to an existing one. It will help identify priorities for site improvement works, from easy low-cost fixes to more substantial changes. A review can support funding bids and development plans and provide material for visitor information.
Our access reviews will:
• Identify barriers to access and recommend actions to remove, adapt or avoid them
• Recommend ways to enhance and diversify the visitor experience
• Prioritise low-cost improvements that can be made easily and quickly, as well as more significant capital works
• Help you avoid costly retrofits and remedial works
• Highlight what you are already doing well so that staff and visitors are aware of your commitment and what it means in practice sensorytrust.org.uk
DIVERSE SENSORY EXPERIENCES
“It’s really important that people become familiar with the best practice landscape specific guidance that exists”, says Rosevear, and that is truly the essential to it all. By familiarising ourselves with these guidelines and taking advantage of the resources, the designs that follow will surely be better informed and accommodating of the needs of people.
“We’re forever being encouraged to understand the different soil types, technical challenges or drainage, which are hugely important things, but I would say at the moment there isn’t a good understanding of inclusivity and accessibility, as a whole”, says Rosevear; adding that the clue is in the name, these public spaces are for the public, but how can they be when they exclude a large percentage of people?
We’re forever being encouraged to understand the different soil types, technical challenges or drainage, which are hugely important things, but I would say at the moment there isn’t a good understanding of inclusivity and accessibility, as a whole
“[Sensory Trust] advocates for making outdoor spaces accessible because they are for everybody; disabled people don't create the barriers they’re facing.”
Another method to creating purpose-built spaces is by “involving a diversity of people”, says Rosevear; noting that by involving more people from all walks of life, not only will the design be more diverse (not just in its accessibility), but it will also highlight the similarity in barriers
between people with different disabilities; “an obvious one is somewhere that's accessible for a wheelchair user is also beneficial for someone who is pushing a pram... Diverse groups of people are often very good at offering up solutions and examples of what works for them and there is often lots of similarities across different needs. Designers can then ultimately take inspiration from a vast number of different sources.” Another comes in the form of inviting feedback on proposed designs from people with disabilities; “we're all looking to learn and to understand more. We want feedback.”
The call for inclusive green spaces is not simply about compliance or checking a design box, it’s about understanding and addressing the lived experiences of the people who use them. As awareness grows, so too must our commitment to designing spaces that not only welcome but actively include people of all abilities, right from the earliest stages. By listening to diverse voices, embracing tools like access audits, and focusing on experience rather than just infrastructure, we can create outdoor environments that are rich, restorative, and accessible to all. Because true inclusivity isn’t a feature, it’s a foundation.
SENSORY TRUST
Sensory Trust is a leading UK organisation championing the creation of inclusive and engaging nature experiences. We bring inclusive, sensory-rich placemaking into residential and public environments. Key to our approach is responding to the diversity of people and understanding the barriers that limit the enjoyment of outdoor spaces for many. We see design as an opportunity to open experiences to the widest range of people.
INCLUSIVE LANDSCAPE DESIGN ISN’T JUST ABOUT HANDRAILS AND STEPS, IT’S THINKING ABOUT THE QUALITY
Sensory Trust offers landscape design and access consultancy led by Jane Stoneham, director, and Helen Rosevear, landscape architect. Our consultancy includes training for professionals and students, landscape access reviews, advising design teams and practices on inclusive approaches and developing strategies, design tools and guidance. We have extensive experience in all types of landscape projects, including heritage and restoration, rural, urban, learning, health and care environments.
Sensory Trust has worked for over 30 years with numerous organisations and design teams and co-authored leading publications including Outdoor Accessibility Guidance, By All Reasonable Means, and Easy Access to Historic Landscapes. Get in touch to discuss how we can assist you in creating inclusive landscapes. Contact Helen Rosevear at hrosevear@sensorytrust.org.uk
OF EXPERIENCE PEOPLE WILL HAVE
IT’S TIME TO
MAKE SPACE FOR GIRLS
For too long, public spaces have been designed without teenage girls in mind, Make Space for Girls is challenging this outdated norm and driving for more inclusive design, explains co-founder Imogen Clark
Make Space for Girls is a UK charity that works to make parks and similar public realm facilities work better for teenage girls and young women. Like many charities, we wish our work wasn’t needed – and our hope is that in 10, maybe 15, years' time it won’t be. But at the moment, many teenage girls in the UK are faced with the depressing fact that their local parks and green spaces don’t feel like places meant for them. Make Space for Girls wants to change that.
While 63% of teen boys and young men felt their local green spaces had something for them, only 26% of teen girls and young women felt the same
What’s going wrong? For decades, organisations have been producing supportive and constructive guidance to help built environment professionals to create parks and green spaces that work for their local communities. But despite this, the user statistics and lived experiences of teenage girls make it clear that, in practice, the majority do not feel these spaces are for them. Make Space for Girls research showed that 90% of the teams that use public sports pitches, provided by local authorities for
community use, are teams for boys and men. Our research showed that 92% of the teen users of multi-use games areas (MUGAs) and 84% of the teen users of skateparks are boys and young men. Working with researchers from the London School of Economics, we discovered that while 63% of teens boys and young men felt their local green spaces had something for them, only 26% of teen girls and young women felt the same. And Women in Sport and Yorkshire Sport asked nearly 400 13-15 years olds if they felt safe to exercise in the park: 74% of the boys did, but only 51% of the girls.
“My female friends and I constantly struggle to find places where we can relax and have peace... Boys have skateparks – although they are technically open to everyone, they are predominantly used by boys, and when girls use them, they often face unwanted attention [...] When they put in skate parks and fence pitches they think all young adults are the same”
Naomi, 17, talking about her experience in the public realm in South London
Dividing up the space makes room for more people – and the barrier itself can be a stage, or a seat or space for fun.
Of course, statistics don’t always win hearts and minds. Make Space for Girls has worked with over 270 teenage girls, young women and gender diverse young people over the last four years, and the stories they tell us shine a clear and compelling light on the issues...
“Often [the skatepark] will be dominated by big groups of boys. So, if you’re by yourself, especially if it’s later, the space doesn’t feel safe or welcoming”
Christa talking about her local skatepark in Trowbridge
“Even if I know some of the boys, it still feels uncomfortable going into the MUGA”
Martha, 15 talking about the fenced pitch in her local park in Frome
We have so many more stories from teenage girls and young women who tell us that, while they want to use parks, their local green spaces aren’t working for them.
And they are stuck in a negative cycle: teenage girls see that teen facilities in parks are dominated by boys; as a result, they don’t feel these spaces are for them, and unsurprisingly this means that they don’t use these spaces; the result is that there are fewer girls in the parks, which means when teenage girls visit the park, they don’t see many other teenage girls. As a result, their experience is that these spaces are dominated by boys and their perception is that they are made for boys, not girls.
“I was looking around, like where are the girls? I only saw like two to three girls and boys everywhere.”
her local park in East London
We need to create a positive cycle: girls need to see that there are facilities in the park that are designed for their use; spaces where they are supposed to be; spaces that are not dominated by boys and young men. We are not advocating for spaces designed to exclude boys, or separate boys and girls but for spaces that positively design for girls, using good design to create spaces that clearly welcome them.
How to create this positive cycle? One option sometimes suggested, is to turn the tide in the existing male dominated teen spaces, by “fixing” the girls so they will use the spaces. Local authorities could tell teenage girls they should learn how to skateboard (“look at Sky Brown”), they should join a football team (“look at the Lionesses”), they should take a ball onto the MUGA even if it feels uncomfortable – if they do it enough, they may feel comfortable; they should take self-defence lessons so they don’t feel unsafe. But there are obvious problems with this approach: what if MUGAs
We are not advocating for spaces designed to exclude boys, or separate boys and girls but for spaces that positively design for girls, using good design to create spaces that clearly welcome them
and skateparks don’t meet the wants and needs of the teenage girls? What if some of
The reality is that trying to “fix the girls”, expecting them to turn the tide in the existing male dominated teen spaces, isn’t going to make our parks and green spaces more inclusive. Instead, the answer lies in changing what we put in these spaces for teenagers. This doesn’t mean that there is no place for MUGAs or skateparks. But if there is money for a new teen facility in a local park or piece of public realm and the local area already has MUGAs and skateparks, let’s provide something else; something in addition; something that is designed with the specific aim of making teenage girls (and the teenage boys for whom the current provision doesn’t work) feel more welcome.
We’ve worked extensively with local councils – like Chelmsford City Council – parks professionals, developers, and our brilliant partners Julia King and Oliva TheocharidesFeldman at Social Place to explore these issues, and our conclusion is that if built environment professionals want to be part of the change, we would recommend the following:
parks have proved popular with teenage girls, as seen in both Einsiedler Park, Vienna and Hayburn Park, Glasgow.
Hammocks installed in
HAMMOCKS
RECOMMENDATIONS
Question your default approach and be led by the data. When funding is available to invest in green space for teenagers, consider the gendered dimensions of any proposals; what is already in the local area (to what extent does the data suggest the current provision is likely to be dominated by boys and young men?), and how could this funding be used differently to widen the pool of teenagers who feel welcome in the park. More of the same is unlikely to create greater inclusion.
Engage meaningfully with teenage girls and young women about what would help them feel more welcome in their local parks and green spaces.
Be willing to challenge what you know about what works in the public realm for teenagers. You probably “know” what a good teenage space looks like, based on your training, experience and perhaps even your conversations with your children and their friends. But, be prepared to take a step back, question the status quo and look for something different.
Take a broad view of safety in parks. Consider safety not just as the absence of violence but freedom from the fear of violence. For example, consider how creating spaces that are clearly intended to be welcoming to teenage girls may contribute to a busier park and reduce feelings of fear in that space.
Context is critical. The right equipment installed in the wrong place will not work. This means considering wider contextual factors that affect communities’ use and experience of a place. Consider the journey from home to park and wider park dynamics around teen facilities.
Small changes matter
Changing how young women, girls and gender diverse young people experience their local park will take time and will involve big and small changes. No matter the budget, incremental change is still change, and small steps towards creating better places for young women, girls and gender diverse young people count. Whether that is re-designing an informal teenage play area, a lighting scheme for a green space or simply putting in place one well-placed social bench, these steps will contribute to the change that is needed.
If there is money for a new teen facility in a local park or piece of public realm and the local area already has MUGAs and skateparks, let’s provide something else; something in addition; something that is designed with the specific aim of making teenage girls (and the teenage boys for whom the current provision doesn’t work) feel more welcome
If you want to know more about our work and the projects we have been involved with, please visit our website at makespaceforgirls. co.uk or contact us via our contact form at makespaceforgirls.co.uk/contact. And if you want to support our work, please make a donation at givey.com/makespaceforgirls.
About Imogen Clark
Lawyer and life-long feminist, Imogen Clark studied for a post graduate certificate in gender studies at Birkbeck, University of London. In addition to working for Make Space for Girls, she is a trustee of a number of local charities; and reckons that if we want to challenge the unfairness we see around us, we need to campaign for structural change. makespaceforgirls.co.uk
DESIGNING GREEN SPACES FOR HEALTH & WELLBEING PARKS AS PRESCRIPTIONS
Jane Findlay on how evidence-based design is turning urban parks into essential infrastructure for healthier, more resilient communities
City parks and green open spaces have long been sanctuaries for urban populations. Far from mere amenities, they are vital infrastructure that sustains public health, community wellbeing, and environmental resilience.
An international review by Kabisch et al. (2017), published in Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas, concluded that there is now robust scientific evidence demonstrating the significant benefits of urban parks for human health and social wellbeing, underscoring their growing importance in contemporary urban planning. Today, landscape professionals, planners, and policymakers in the UK are rediscovering that investing in high quality green spaces is not a luxury but a necessity for livable towns and cities.
A personal revelation in healing landscapes
As a landscape architect working on UK healthcare projects, I had a professional revelation early in my career. I had always sensed that gardens and views of nature could help heal patients, but I lacked hard evidence. That changed when I encountered Professor Roger Ulrich's pioneering research. In 1984, he demonstrated that hospital patients recovering from surgery with a window view of trees healed faster and required less pain medication than those facing a wall.
Ulrich’s study, published in Science (Ulrich, 1984) and later expanded in his 1991 paper in the Journal of Health Care Interior Design (Ulrich, 1991), laid the groundwork for evidence-based design in healthcare. Reading this research transformed my approach from intuitive to scientific. I began advocating that every hospital project include quality green spaces as a fundamental part of care. Ulrich’s work influenced billions in hospital investment and continues to shape design globally, providing patients with greater access to nature.
The science of nature and wellbeing
Living near nature doesn’t just feel good – it may help you live longer. Research by Natural England has shown that people living within 500 metres of accessible green space have significantly better health outcomes, including increased life expectancy. The proximity to parks and natural environments is associated with lower levels of obesity, reduced cardiovascular risk, and improved overall physical health.
Access to nature also plays a crucial role in mental health. The 2020 Public Health England report Improving access to greenspace highlights how green space supports recovery from stress, reduces anxiety and depression, and enhances social cohesion and community resilience. Numerous studies show that spending time in green environments lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), reduces blood pressure, and slows heart rate. These physiological effects help explain why contact with nature improves mood and emotional regulation.
Journalist Florence Williams, for example, in her acclaimed book The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative explores the vital importance of greenspace and our intrinsic, human
NINE ELMS, LONDON
ST JAMES PARK, LONDON
need to get outside. Studies consistently demonstrate that time in nature boosts our mood, creativity, and even cognition. Even brief encounters with greenery during the workday (a view of trees out the window or a lunchtime stroll through a park) have been shown to restore focus and reduce mental fatigue – an idea known as Attention Restoration Theory.
The implications for UK planners and decision-makers are clear: evidence-based design isn’t just for hospitals. Whether siting a new school, designing residential developments, or planning a town centre, we must consider the science. Parks, street trees, gardens, and natural elements should be treated as core design inputs that yield quantifiable benefits in mental health, productivity, and quality of life.
The 2020 Public Health England report Improving access to greenspace reaffirmed these connections, noting how access to green space can reduce health inequalities, improve wellbeing, and even mitigate the effects of air pollution. Prof Kathy Willis, in Good Nature, similarly articulates how nature isn’t just beautiful – it's functional, supporting everything from mental health to the air we breathe.
Science, history, and personal experience all reveal the same truth: humans need nature to thrive. As professionals shaping the built environment, we must champion evidence-based decisions prioritising nature
Lessons from the Victorian Park Movement
While modern science reaffirms the value of nature, the idea is not new. The importance of parks for public well-being was powerfully understood in the Victorian era, when the first great urban parks were established. In 19th-century Britain, rapidly industrialising cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and London were choking with pollution, overcrowding, and disease. Visionary planners and social reformers saw green open spaces as an antidote to these urban ills – the "lungs to the inhabitants of densely populated areas."
Victorian public parks were born out of a need to improve the quality of people’s lives as the Industrial Revolution took hold. Reformers such as John Claudius Loudon and Sir Joseph Paxton championed the creation of public parks to give factory workers access to fresh air, sunlight, and recreation. Their belief that green landscapes would lead to a healthier, more harmonious society still resonates today. They left us a legacy of parks as public health infrastructure.
Parks and the climate and biodiversity crises
Climate change and biodiversity loss make parks and green open spaces more critical than ever. Urban areas are grappling with rising temperatures, heavier storms, and ecological degradation. Parks are invaluable allies. Trees and vegetation cool cities, buffer against heatwaves, absorb stormwater, and sequester carbon. Parks also serve as refuges for biodiversity. Urban parks can act as hubs for ecosystem services, and we must treat them as such. When implemented locally, biodiversity net gain could fund improvements to our parks instead of offsetting habitat miles away from communities that need it most.
Green connections and the 3:30:300 Rule
Connectivity matters. Isolated parks are less effective than a wellconnected green network. The idea of green corridors linking parks, street trees, and pocket gardens is not new, but it remains underimplemented. Why should we get in a car to see nature when it could be just down the road? The principle of accessibility underpins the emerging 3:30:300 rule: everyone should be able to see three trees from their home, live in a neighbourhood with 30% tree canopy, and be no more than 300 metres from the nearest high-quality green space. It’s a simple but powerful benchmark.
Parks of the future
The parks of the future must do more than offer beauty and recreation. They should be multifunctional spaces that support public health, biodiversity, climate resilience, and community life. These places provide shade in a heatwave, social interaction to combat loneliness, biodiversity-rich habitats, and accessible, inclusive design.
As Nigel Crisp writes in Health is Made at Home, real health is shaped by our environments. Parks must be designed and managed as part of our health infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas.
UK parks can also be engines of civic pride and community empowerment. Co-creation and participatory design can ensure parks reflect local needs. In this way, green spaces become not only sources of ecosystem services, but of social capital and resilience.
Parks as essential infrastructure
Parks and high-quality green open spaces are not just a ‘nice to have’ – they are lifelines for healthier people, stronger communities, and a sustainable future. Science, history, and personal experience all reveal the same truth: humans need nature to thrive. As professionals shaping the built environment, we must champion evidence-based decisions prioritising nature. Let us manage and create the parks of the future: local, biodiverse, connected, inclusive, and resilient. In doing so, we invest not only in places of beauty but in the health and wellbeing of future generations.
About Jane Findlay FLI PPLI
Jane Findlay is a landscape architect, founding director of Fira, and former president of the landscape institute. With over 38 years’ experience designing and delivering high profile schemes, her projects can be seen across the UK and overseas.
Are pedestrian crossings the key to improving urban wellbeing? Christopher Martin thinks so, and here’s why
There’s something about walking a city. Not sightseeing or ticking boxes. Just walking – letting the place unfold around you, one block, one smell, one overheard conversation at a time.
That’s when you get it, and when a city tells you who it really is. Cities were built for this. For people. Not cars. Not algorithms. They’re messy, noisy, human places – full of contradiction and potential. So if you want to improve a city, make it better to walk or wheel. Make the short trip easy. Make it natural. Because when people are out walking in the public realm, face to face, everything changes.
Walkable places mean healthier people, lower blood pressure, less diabetes, and longer lives. Better moods. And if that’s not enough –fewer cars mean cleaner air, less noise, more sleep
You bump into old friends. You see something weird and beautiful. You stop for a drink you didn’t plan on. That’s the stuff cities are made for, that is society, and where community comes from – not from some policy or a boardroom. From the street, the design of that street needs to invite serendipity through walking.
Walking is also about survival. Our bodies aren’t built for sitting in traffic. Walkable places mean healthier people, lower blood pressure, less diabetes, and longer lives. Better moods. And if that’s not enough – fewer cars mean cleaner air, less noise, more sleep.
So, yes, make it easier to walk. But here’s something few want to talk about – the crossing. That moment when you're trying to
get to the other side, you’re walking, they’re driving, and all of a sudden, the city isn’t neutral anymore. It’s a choice about who gets priority, and this needs to be made based on what gives back more.
The crossing point, sometimes as simple as a painted line on the tarmac, it tells a story about values and if we get it wrong, walking becomes something you survive, not enjoy. But get it right, and people start choosing it. Happily. Again and again.
At Urban Movement, we've spent years thinking about this stuff, and not always because it’s glamorous – but because it matters.
In Clapham, we designed crossings that actually invite people in, and put those walking and wheeling first. They’re safe. They work. And yes, they look good. But above all, they change society for the better.
When thinking about this, it’s important to remember – not every street is a highway. On (very) high-traffic roads, fine – let the cars run for now. But in the places where people live, eat, argue, kiss –give the street back to walking and wheeling.
This isn’t anti-car, it’s way bigger than that: it’s pro-human. Designing for walkers is designing for life, because cities are stories that need to be lived, and the best ones, you walk.
About Christopher Martin
Christopher is an influential urban designer and planner working all over the globe to help communities improve their public spaces; as well as supporting cities and governments to develop strategy, change policies, and make great places possible. He is co-founder and managing director of Urban Movement; vice-chair of the UK charity for everyday walking – Living Streets; and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. urbanmovement.co.uk @ChrisCities
REWILDING CHILDHOOD
As the need for green space grows, Adam White explores why reimagining play in public spaces isn’t just about fun, it’s about equity, wellbeing, and a greener future
NATURAL HISTORY 101
The Natural History GCSE will need to deliver engaging, practical, and impactful educational experiences that prepares young people to be active, informed and responsible through three key areas:
Relevance to young people, including preparation for future challenges: It must address current and future challenges and prepare students to navigate and succeed in a rapidly changing world. This includes understanding environmental issues, technological advancements and societal changes. We know that ‘Green Careers’ are vital in the growth of one of the top five micro trends across global workforce planning (Future of Jobs Report 20252030, World Economic Forum); it is critical
for students to understand what career development across the green economies, of which horticulture is a key element, looks like and how that career pathway can develop across the further education and higher education landscape.
Real-world application, including practical skills: Integrating real-world applications into the new GCSE to help students develop practical skills that they can use in everyday life and future careers. This includes problem-solving, critical thinking and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world scenarios. Students coming through formative education now will face a career trajectory spanning many roles across multiple employers/ employment types. Experiential learning is vital to support this, as is the development
Iwas recently told that positivity breeds positivity. So, let’s start with some optimism. Earlier in the year, we heard the news of the new Natural History GCSE beginning in UK secondary schools from September 2025, a fantastic landmark moment in environmental education. Championed by conservationist Mary Colwell and supported for many years by Sir David Attenborough, myself, and many others, this qualification aims to deepen students’ understanding of the natural world, covering ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainability. By reconnecting young people with nature, it hopes to inspire the next generation to #chooselandscape
of growth and enterprising mindsets, supporting and aligned with broader STEM, Culture and Arts sectors.
Environmental awareness and empowerment: The GCSE needs to empower students to take informed actions that contribute to a more sustainable future. It should equip them with the knowledge, skills and values needed to make responsible decisions and advocate for positive change.
Nic Buckley, RHS head of learning, and Gemma Tandy, RHS head of professional programmes
Read more about the new Natural History GCSE in the May edition of Pro Landscaper
ELEPHANT SPRINGS, LONDON –GILLESPIES WITH MEL CHANTREY
This focus on nature could not come at a more critical time. Despite mounting evidence of the benefits of nature-rich play, we continue to see a troubling return to what can only be described as KFC playgrounds, kit, fence, and rubber carpet. These sterile, predictable spaces are the equivalent of battery-reared springy chickens. What we truly need are free-range children, young people who grow up exploring, imagining, and engaging with the world around them.
Despite mounting evidence of the benefits of nature-rich play, we continue to see a troubling return to what can only be described as KFC playgrounds, kit, fence, and rubber carpet
Public green spaces and community gardens are essential, especially for families without private gardens. These spaces should invite play, foster curiosity, and nurture a lifelong love of nature. Yet funding for play too often remains piecemeal and short-term. Local authorities, constrained by revenue funding, prioritise metal, rubber, and fencing for minimal maintenance. While capital investment in new facilities is welcome, long-term stewardship, maintenance, evolution, and community ownership are frequently neglected.
MAYFIELD PARK PLAY YARD –
STUDIO EGRET WEST
are thoughtfully integrated into the landscape, providing play opportunities beyond traditional equipment. Most importantly, they align with Play England’s Design for Play principles.
1. Well located
2. Natural elements
3. Wide range of play opportunities
4. Accessible and inclusive
5. Meet community needs
6. Different ages playing together
7. Experience risk and challenge
8. Sustainable
9. Allow for evolution
But there are promising signs of change. UK policy is beginning to catch up, with the government’s National Design Guide highlighting the importance of inclusive, playful spaces. Funding initiatives like the Levelling Up Fund and Sport England’s Active Environments programme recognise the role of parks and play in creating thriving communities. International frameworks, like UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities, further emphasise that every child should have access to safe, playful environments close to home.
The growing emphasis on green infrastructure and social value procurement is also creating opportunities to embed play into the heart of our towns and cities. Designers like us are champions of nature-based, inclusive, and bespoke play, moving beyond prescriptive equipment. These spaces are shaped to welcome all ages and abilities, recognising that play is as important for teenagers, adults, and older people as it is for toddlers.
Our projects, such as Cuningar Loop Park in Glasgow and Hanwell Playscape in West London, alongside South London’s Elephant Park and Manchester’s Mayfield Park, demonstrate what is possible when imaginative design, community involvement, and strategic investment align. These spaces
Looking to the future, we must challenge the sceptics and champion these design principles. The landscape profession and its professional bodies must guide and influence decisionmakers, local authorities, housing developers, and funders to prioritise natural, biodiverse, and inclusive play spaces, not just as nice-to-haves but as essential public assets. To truly transform the public realm for children beyond the playground, we must ensure that all young people, no matter where they live, have access to playful, green, and inspiring places.
About Adam White
Adam White is an award-winning chartered landscape architect and director of Davies White Ltd. With co-director Andrée Davies, he has pioneered nature-based play space design and famously co-designed the RHS Back to Nature Gardens with HRH The Princess of Wales. A past president and fellow of the Landscape Institute, he is widely recognised for inspiring the next generation to #chooselandscape @davies_white
POPPY & LAVENDER PLANTING AT HANWELL PLAYSCAPE
HANWELL PLAYSCAPE, WEST LONDON – DAVIES WHITE LTD
In
HAPPY PLACES AND PUBLIC SPACES
a city facing economic pressures and
a
growing housing crisis, how can we make Londoners happier wonders Anna Odedun, head of knowledge at Future of London
We know that public space plays a critical role in supporting wellbeing, with access to quality green spaces reducing mental health issues by up to 30%, according to Public Health England. But access to these happiness and wellbeing benefits is not equal. Future of London has just launched a new research project called Happy London to address these inequalities in access to public space.
People living in affordable housing in London rate public space as poor, according to the Mayor of London's housing strategy. In its 2024 survey, Natural England found children from minority ethnic backgrounds are less able to visit nearby woods compared to white children.
a programme of events under the banner of “healthier and happier” that draws on Korean dance and Chinese medicine.
Too often, spaces reflect primarily White British, able-bodied, neurotypical preferences, which can limit access by other members of the community. That access can be physical, but there can also be psychological barriers.
My research with Dr Bridget Snaith shows that cultural preferences dramatically affect how different groups enjoy green spaces. What constitutes "relaxing" varies significantly across communities — yet the design of public spaces often reflects only mainstream preferences.
As part of the Happy London project, we are taking a trip to Beam Park in Rainham in east London, where this diversity point appears to be understood. For instance, Beam Park runs
When the sector lacks diversity, our public spaces reflect these limited perspectives of happiness and wellbeing
We are also visiting Tower Hamlets, where the council and partners have led on genderinclusive design initiatives, co-created with over 500 women and girls. The resulting design guidance; how specific interventions can mitigate risks to public health and child development.
Creating more equitable access to the happiness benefits of public spaces means focusing on two complementary areas: workforce diversity and ways of working
First, we must continue to diversify the sector’s workforce. Ethnic minority candidates will have to apply for three times more jobs to secure the same opportunity as White candidates, according to the built environment sector’s FIR Programme. When the sector lacks
diversity, public spaces reflect these limited perspectives of happiness and wellbeing.
Second, we must also change how we work. Urban placemaking claims to improve people’s lives, yet it often excludes communities from the process. We need to challenge this. Future of London advocates for a collaborative approach to design that recognises wellbeing is deeply personal and culturally specific.
Tower Court near Clapton Common is an example of this collaborative approach. The project was designed to reflect the cultural and religious practices of Europe's largest Haredi community. The award-winning scheme has been praised for its long-term community involvement. The NLA judges praised the development for “balances built and green space harmoniously, creating a place of real wellbeing and belonging."
Happy London will celebrate how inclusive design creates happier spaces for all. Through seminars and field trips, we'll better understand how public spaces can inspire happiness across our diverse city. All events in our series are free to attend thanks to our sponsors Countryside Partnerships, Potter Raper and Queen Mary University. Find out more at futureoflondon. org.uk/knowledge/happy-london
About Anna Odedun
Anna is head of knowledge at Future of London, a built environment membership organisation. With a background in research, strategy and landscape architecture, she uses collaborative approaches to create inclusive urban solutions.
anna@futureoflondon.org.uk
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ON THE DRAWING BOARD
THE BRENTFORD
Keith French from Grant Associates has been part of the transformation of the West London town for 14 years and is now starting to see the masterplan come to life
GPROJECT
WORDS: NINA MASON
rant Associates has been working on the regeneration of Brentford for more than a decade, turning its historic riverside, yards and lanes into a trendy urban quarter. More than that, though, it’s reconnecting the high street with the River Brent, the Grand Union Canal and the Thames Path to create a more cohesive community and environment.
The landscape architecture firm was first appointed to support developer Ballymore on the masterplan and the outline application back
in 2011, with the idea of achieving a placemaking approach for the West London town. It has also developed the landscape and public realm strategy for the first phase, including Workhouse Dock, which opened last summer.
Director Keith French has been involved from the start. “It was a former industrial site, about 4.7ha in size, that had become partially neglected and inaccessible to the public. So, there was an opportunity to try to find a way to help open it up and regenerate it to a mixed-use development –so for housing, retail and cinema, for example.”
There are now planted terraces, cafes and restaurants, and access to water for kayaking or paddle boarding. Workhouse Dock also hosted a ‘Summer on the Water’ festival last year, with a series of community events such as outdoor cinema screenings taking place. “You’ve got a new destination in London –a waterfront space with various amenity uses, and those connections from the high street have been really important. It’s part of the heritage and identity. We tried to trace the original layout of the yards and lanes that used to go through there but had been stopped over time. So, that was part of the inspiration to open up the area.”
people and how they used the area. There’s this great collection of makers and artists that live in Brentford, as well as pockets of boatmen and other marine side uses. So, it was using that as inspiration for our approach in terms of potential uses, but also the materials we chose.
You can see from the activity that people are really using and enjoying the spaces — it was fantastic to witness just how popular the first phase became with the local community last summer
Keith French, director, Grant Associates
Local heritage has been a huge focus for the first phase, informing the landscape and public realm strategy to “build a sense of place” and create a destination, says French. “We were very referential to the former industrial uses and the heritage of the
“For the hard materials, we tried to evoke a sense of heritage and the historic grain of the site. There’s some really lovely detailing of the use of the stone and the metal work and the large chunks of timber that would have been found in that area.”
It’s also expressed through the planting, with the use of “riparian characters” such as willow and alder. “You see these lovely weeping willows or pollarded willows, which bring a sense of the waterfront character but there’s also the associated ecological value as well, and they’re great feature trees for offering shade.”
Brentford used to be known as the fruit and vegetable garden of London for its thousands of acres of market gardens. “It was always
a place for growers. So, you’ll find, particularly on the podium gardens, a collection of fruit trees as a reference to the orchards that were growing in Brentford as well as providing a garden for foraging."
The town has always been a multi-layered landscape, says French. “You’ve got the edges of the waterfront, the public realm, the podiums and the rooftops – and we’ve been working hard to bring those edges and ledges to create a tiered, terrace approach for different habitat types and going back to that connectivity philosophy, not only connecting people but connecting wildlife and biodiversity. So, each time, these layers act as steppingstones towards bringing life back into the town and extending the habitats along the Thames and the Brent.”
It’s a careful balance to ensure the revitalised area suits both people and wildlife. Take lighting – “the after-dark experience is important for the nighttime economy at Brentford but also had to be respectful of the wildlife requirements for bats and Dark Skies. We’ve worked hard to find the right balance between safe lighting for the public whilst ensuring it’s sensitive to the needs of wildlife.”
Ballymore regularly engaged the community and kept it informed, and a local group – the Brentford Voice – was active and supportive, taking part in engagement events to ensure the needs of those who would be using it most often were front and centre to its approach. “You can see by the activity there that people are occupying it and using it, and it
was great to see last summer just how popular the first phase is with the local community.”
Phase two is now under construction, part of which is Town Wharf, another waterside destination that will be open to the public but with a different character, explains French.
You’ve got to build in flexibility; it has to be adaptable and responsive to future changes that you just can’t predict
Keith French, director, Grant Associates
There will be more residential moorings for narrow boats, with a new waterfront space adjacent to it that will feature playful fountains and waterside activities. Once it has been completed within the next couple of years, it will reconnect the whole site with the Thames Path to allow a continuation of the popular walking trail right the way through.
“What’s been really successful about the project is the reconnection and opening up the site, the waterfront, to the public in a way they didn’t have before. It sounds very straightforward, but making things happen is what I enjoy – enabling and facilitating that has been really good. It’s a privilege to be part of
these big, complex projects.”
Grant Associates is involved in complex urban masterplans across the UK and overseas. It’s working on Brabazon in north Bristol, for instance – a former airfield in Filton. “It’s on a very different scale; it’s about 142ha. Because it was an airfield, it is a big hole in the city, so one of the big challenges was how to restitch it back into the edge of Bristol.” The firm has been working on the masterplan since 2017 and is now starting to
deliver the first two phases.
Then there’s the Gilston Park Estate in North Harlow, which it has been involved in since 2008 and which will be “a new garden city”. Grant Associates has established a new strategic landscape framework plan for the site, which will deliver 8,500 new homes to the area.
The list seems somewhat endless, and some like the Brentford Project and the Gilston Park Estate have been in the works for more than 10 years, during which time there are changes to legislation to take into account.
“You’ve got to build in flexibility; it has to be adaptable and responsive to future changes that you just can’t predict. So, it can’t be too rigid. You’ve got to toggle through, trying to keep that future perspective of what you think may happen or what you should be bringing in for the future. There are obviously key themes around biodiversity now, which is great, so we’re making bold decisions to embed that into the plan and thinking about health and wellbeing as a really core principle. You can’t predicate the future, but it’s trying to be as bold as you can around the themes that you think are relevant for the future.”
The success of that is evident in the popularity of the Brentford Project’s first phase. Despite Grant Associates starting to work on it 14 years ago, the masterplan has adapted since to ensure the longevity and enjoyment of the public spaces for now and for years to come.
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Acer monspessulanum
A tough yet graceful small tree that brings beauty and resilience to any landscape. Drought tolerant and full of vitality, it thrives where others struggle. Its delicate, ornamental leaves turn a vibrant yellow in autumn, adding seasonal charm. Perfect for urban gardens or dry climates, this tree proves that strength and elegance can grow side by side.
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Sorbus intermedia
A rugged, reliable tree with a wild side. It stands strong in heat, drought, and heavy winds, perfect for tough urban or coastal conditions. Spring blossoms and bright berries not only add charm but also support local biodiversity. Low maintenance yet full of life, Sorbus intermedia brings strength, beauty, and ecological value to any green space.
Position: Sun to partial shade
Soil conditions: Suitable for all soil types but grows best on calcareous soils
FIVE TOP TREES FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Boom & Bonheur shares its toughest trees built to thrive in a changing climate
Gymnocladus dioica
This striking bold tree is built for heat, with its rugged, irregular crown and elegant, double-compound leaves, it casts a soft, dappled shade perfect for hot summers. This heat-tolerant beauty brings structure and character to any landscape, blending toughness with a unique aesthetic. Choose Gymnocladus dioica for natural charm and summer-ready resilience.
Position: Sun
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Ginkgo biloba
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Parrotia persica
A true urban hero – tough, elegant, and full of surprises. It thrives in city climates, tolerates heat, drought, and pollution with ease. Early subtle blooms hint at spring, while its flaking bark adds year-round interest. Come autumn, it explodes in fiery reds and golds. For beauty that lasts and resilience that endures, Parrotia persica is the tree that does it all.
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Soil conditions: Suitable for all soil types
PARTNERING FOR IMPACT
From permeable paving to SuDS integration, Brett Landscaping on supporting large scale retrofit public realm projects with practical paving
Local councils are welcoming the benefits of close collaboration with manufacturers, delivering technical guidance throughout extensive public realm retrofit projects. Independent paving manufacturer Brett Landscaping has been working with two town councils where practical solutions were required to enhance the access and utility of large public realm spaces. In Wellington, a town in the West Midlands
overseen by Telford and Wrekin Council, Brett Landscaping supplied in-depth technical advice and block paving products as part of a £35m programme of work to keep neighbourhoods safe, clean and wellconnected. Telford and Wrekin Council had made a £450k commitment to residents in Wellington to make their town centre more attractive, accessible and safer for pedestrians. The major redevelopment of Market Street, in the centre of Wellington, included pavement resurfacing, widening the footpath, replacing all kerbs and installing new drainage which improved the aesthetics and accessibility while still maintaining a one-way street with parking and loading provision.
Brett Landscaping’s specialist team offered extensive advice on the
Our partnerships with local authorities are always satisfying as we are making a difference to the quality of life in those areas with product ranges that can dramatically improve the aesthetics of an area
Jamie Gledhill, technical engineering manager for Brett Landscaping
technical elements of the project in the planning stage and Telford Council specified Brett’s Invicta block paving for the project. Invicta’s unique ‘Aggtech’ surface layer provides a hard-wearing surface for the high volume of pedestrians that travel through the town centre while retaining its vivid colours. Invicta Peal (60mm) block paving was used in conjunction with Onyx 80mm paver. In addition, all of the Invicta colour schemes complement each
MARKET STREET, WELLINGTON
MARKET STREET, WELLINGTON
other and can provide demarcation for car park spaces. Jamie Gledhill, technical engineering manager for Brett Landscaping, says: “Our partnerships with local authorities are always satisfying as we are making a difference to the quality of life in those areas with product ranges that can dramatically improve the aesthetics of an area.”
In Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, Invicta was also chosen and specified as the permeable paving, along with swales and planters to be installed at three prominent sites in the town of Mansfield, including the Coal Authority building, Magistrates Court and the headquarters of Mine Rescue, as part of a multi-phase £76m Mansfield Flood Resilience Scheme.
The Brett team advised Severn Trent, while working with Metis Consulting and the main contractor Ground Control and subcontractor Mac Groundworks to develop the installation and detailing of EV charging bays, disability parking bays and motorcycle bays at these three busy sites that are open to the public. Invicta permeable block paving was used at the Coal Authority site with Invicta Flow block paving used at the Magistrate Court and Mine Rescue sites.
These commercial installations are the latest phase in the UK’s largest sustainable drainage systems scheme. Across the town of Mansfield surface water drainage systems that can hold 58 million litres of water have been installed to reduce flood risk throughout the town, as part of an investment package approved under the Ofwat Green Recovery Programme.
Severn Trent and local authorities are working on retrofitting a series of SuDS measures across the Nottinghamshire town including bioswales, detention basins,
raingardens, and approximately 50,000m2 of permeable paving. Part of the sustainable flooding resilience project involves retrofitting permeable paving, within highway land such as residential parking areas, to meet the access and parking needs of local residents while also capturing surface water to be taken back to the ground. The concrete block permeable paving has been designed as either infiltrating with a geotextile base or non-infiltrating with an impermeable liner with a return to the sewer system.
Collaboration with all partners at the design stage of a scheme can provide solutions in product selection, installation guidance and the development of implementations plans that keep disruption to the general public to a minimum
Jamie
Gledhill, technical engineering manager for Brett Landscaping
Brett’s Invicta system was selected due to the interlocking ‘male’ and ‘female’ nib feature on the blocks that provides additional structural interlock to prevent movement and deformation of the paving in the event of jointing material loss. Brett also supplied its Omega Flow permeable paving range, with the team of experts providing technical support and advice to the scheme’s design team - which included Severn Trent, ARUP, AECOM and Galliford Try - to assist with the design, construction and maintenance of the systems.
was well placed to advise contractors on the transition to the single commercial sites, providing Toolbox Talks on the installation, maintenance and detailing of the permeable paving for an effective long-lasting system.
Brett’s team attended pre-site meetings with the contractors and subcontractors on the scheme to discuss the challenges on site and devise solutions for the installation.
Brett Landscaping’s experience on the public realm elements of the wider scheme meant that the team
The scheme won the ‘Climate Resilient Built Environment Award’ at the 2024 Flood and Coast Excellence Awards. Jamie Gledhill adds: “While there is money for investment in large-scale public realm retrofitting schemes, this comes with pressure on local councils to put in place solutions that have longevity and require minimal maintenance plans to keep ongoing costs under control. This is where collaboration with all partners at the design stage of a scheme can provide solutions in product selection, installation guidance and the development of implementation plans that keep disruption to the general public to a minimum.”
About Brett Landscaping
At Brett, we are modern in our thinking. We’re a service-led company anticipating your needs, being proactive and having integrity in everything we do. The skills and experience of our team means we can offer the most up-to-date guidance on concrete block permeable paving and its installation.
LEADING CPD-ACCREDITED SEMINAR PROGRAMME WITH EXPERT SPEAKERS
HANDS-ON FEATURES AND DEMOS
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Made from strong 3mm steel tube construction with certified Akzo Nobel Interpon powder coating system
FRESH AIR FITNESS
Training Rig Price: £5,712
Functional body weight training rig, with six workout stations and more than 80 exercise options. Suitable for eight users at once, it provides a challenging full body, calisthenics workout, for beginners to advanced users. Build muscular strength, cardio fitness and tone fast!
• Features multiple pull up bars, ladder and dip station
• Various workout stations, such as sit-up bench, step-up and leg lift
• Set within an area of 46m², perfect for communities and clubs
• Anchor points for training straps, punch bags and battle ropes
• Installable on most surfaces. Surfacing options are also available e.g. rubber mulch.
Maintenance
Although this product has a very low maintenance requirement, regular maintenance checks are needed to keep the equipment safe for use and in good working order. freshairfitness.co.uk
Available in the standard colourway (pictured), with bespoke colour matching available upon request
POWER OF PLAY THE
PENTAGON PLAY
The Osprey Play Tower
Price: £26,394 inclusive of installation
The Osprey Play Tower is a dynamic, multi-level structure designed to inspire active play in public spaces. With climbing walls, slides, bridges, and lookout decks, it encourages physical activity, imaginative exploration, and social interaction. Built from robust, eco-conscious materials, it’s ideal for communal spaces seeking long-lasting impact.
• 15 year timber guarantee
• Suitable for children 3+ under the supervision of adults
• 6 challenges with different levels of difficulty, 2 bridges and a slide
• Size (L x W x H): 9365mm x 3939mm x 3384mm
• Critical fall height <1.5m
Maintenance Includes a 12 month installation warranty. pentagonplay.co.uk
Made from durable material and construction including; pressure-treated tanalised pine timber, to prevent rot and mold (15 year guarantee), HPDE panels, steel slide (or plastic if preferred), steel-cord rope, and steel feet on the timber
Customisation options are available including different colour ways and facias
Big energy meets big adventure – discover the outdoor gym and play equipment that’ll keep visitors moving and smiling
PROLUDIC
Inclusive Seesaw (J987)
Price: Available upon request
The Proludic Inclusive Seesaw (J987) is a major innovation in inclusive playground design. It supports six users, including two wheelchair users, with entry points on both sides and a secure wheel locking system. A spring and shockabsorbing system ensures smooth rocking, promoting shared play and social interaction among children.
• Accommodates up to six users from three years upwards
• Dual wheelchair access with a secure wheel locking system
• Smooth rocking with spring and shock-absorbing mechanism
• Ergonomic design with safety panels and metal handles
• Supports balancing, role play, socialising, and resting activities
Maintenance The product comes with a maintenance schedule of visual inspection proludic.co.uk
Made from laminated FSC timber, stainless steel fixings, HPL panels — all with up to 20-year guarantees.
PLAYDALE
Woodland Eco Towers
Price: From £12,995
A timber, natureinspired modular play system that blends physical challenge with social interaction. Designed to enhance public play spaces with timeless aesthetics and longlasting durability.
Available in green and brown tones to complement natural environments, with stainless steel or plastic slides
• Modular and expandable design
• Nature-inspired aesthetic blends into green spaces
• Multi-level play challenges for a wide range of ages
• FSC sustainable sources timber
• Manufactured in the UK
Maintenance
Annual inspection recommended; minimal maintenance due to robust materials.
playdale.co.uk
All-Terrain
Vehicle (J952) Price: Available upon request
• Inclusive play: Encourages interaction and cooperation through social and role-play elements
• Motor skills development: Activities like swinging, balancing, and handling enhance coordination and physical ability
• Sensory stimulation: Visual, tactile, and sound-based features engage multiple senses for enriched play
• Cognitive growth: Promotes thinking, problem-solving, and self-awareness through stimulating activities
• Creative expression: Role-play and imaginative elements
Maintenance The product comes with a maintenance schedule of visual inspections proludic.co.uk
Made from stainless steel tubes and highpressurised laminate (HPL) panels and floor decks
Available in the colours pictured, with additional colourways on offer for an additional cost
ADVENTURE AWAITS
THE ROYAL PARKS
PETERSHAM PLAYGROUND
RENOVATION
Since the 1940s Petersham Playground has been a cherished part of Richmond Park in London, providing children with a space to play and tire themselves out. In that time, it has undergone several renovations, but with its previous restoration being more than 10 years ago, some of the site was in need of a refresh. Designed by The Royal Parks and carried out by Blakedown Landscapes, this latest revamp sees a complete overhaul of the playground; from the enhancement of accessibility and inclusion to strengthening visitors’ connection with nature through of new life and added biodiversity. Following an in-depth site analysis and public engagement campaign, which included feedback from local school children,
PROJECT
Project value Funded by The Royal Parks and the Peoples Postcode Lottery
Build time 11 weeks
Size of project 3,080m2
The Royal Parks’ in-house Landscape Studio set out a clear vision for the revitalisation of the playpark to create a more welcoming, inclusive play area for all children and their carers. Enhancements made to the space see play value greatly improved with the diversification of activities expanded, including the installation of a new giant see-saw, play huts, a basket swing, tumbling logs, rope pull, log tunnel, stepping logs, trampoline and a new slide. As well as an extension to the existing sandpit, and a new water pump. Improving visitor concessions and accessibility was also a priority through the construction of a new access track and the resurfacing and
widening of existing paths, improving accessibility throughout the playground. “From the beginning our aim was to bring nature into the designs – from incorporating natural materials, the native planting palette, and working with an artist, Dan Cordell, on gorgeous wooden carvings to make this space welcoming for all families”, says Georgie Stretch- landscape architect and lead designer at The Royal Parks.
From
the beginning, our aim was to bring nature into the designs – from incorporating natural materials, the native planting palette, and working with an artist, Dan Cordell, on gorgeous wooden carvings to make this space welcoming for all families
Georgie Stretch, landscaper architect and lead designer, The Royal Parks
The new natural timber play equipment installed as part of this renovation is built to last over 30 years and uses only FSC-certified hardwoods sourced from responsibly managed forests. Park sourced timber has also been used where it was suitable to do, including the stepping logs found on one of the new grass mounds, and litter bins situated throughout the space were built by the charity using timber cut to size. Elements of the previous playground in good condition were reused and relocated to minimise waste.
Situated within Richmond Park National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the playground’s new planting palette was carefully curated with native species to reflect and support the surrounding parkland ecology. Tree species within the playground mirror those seen across the wider park, blending the space seamlessly into its environment.
The playground has been created to
inspire children to connect with nature through wildlife-friendly features such as sculptures, bird boxes and bug hotels and by using natural materials for the new playground equipment. The timber sculptures provide educational value with carvings to engage young people with nature and wildlife throughout the park; designed to decay naturally over time, the sculptures will eventually become valuable deadwood habitats for invertebrates. “We hope that hundreds and thousands of children will enjoy playing here and will be curious about the natural environment within and around the playground, inspiring them to learn about, and to protect, the natural world on
1 Overview of the playground on the open day
2 Timber play huts
3 Paul Richards, Park Manager, Richmond Park and Georgie Stretch, Landscape Architect, The Royal Parks
4 Timber animals within new sand pit
5 Giant seesaw
6 Shaped canopy for shade
REFERENCES
Contractor Blakedown Landscapes blakedown.co.uk
Play equipment Duncan and Grove duncanandgrove.com
Water pump and trays Timber Play timberplay.com
Log tunnel and den kits
Copper Beech Play copperbeechplay.co.uk
Coxwell Gravel
Grundon Sand and Gravel grundonquarries.com
Coloured tarmac Natratex natratex.co.uk
Canopy
Tensile Fabric tensilefabric.co.uk
their doorstep”, says Paul Richards, manager of Richmond Park.
We hope that hundreds and thousands of children will enjoy playing here and will be curious about the natural environment within and around the playground, inspiring them to learn about, and to help protect, the natural world on their doorstep
Paul Richards, park manager, Richmond Park
The space’s biodiversity has also been greatly improved through the creation of grass mounds and extensive tree, shrub, and grass planting –volunteers offered up their time to aid in the planting and mulching of the new beds, embedding community ownership into the space. Throughout the refurbishment, great care was taken to protect the park’s existing trees through the implementation of a no-dig construction method, using a Cellweb ground reinforcement system beneath the new access track. This approach is designed to protect root zones by preventing subsoil compaction, ensuring the health and longevity.
To celebrate the playgrounds reopening in spring of this year, The Royal Parks held a tree planting and activity day led by the charity’s Help Nature Thrive conservation team – joined by the Friends of Richmond Park. Activities on the day, which saw over 500 people in attendance, included nature-inspired crafts and games, with visitors invited to plant hundreds of saplings for a new wildlife-friendly hedgerow. Today the park supports the natural environment and children's curiosity, offering a space to learn, grow, and have fun outdoors.
The Royal Parks is the charity dedicated to caring for the most famous collection of urban parks in the world. Our role is to conserve and enhance this parkland for the permanent benefit of the nation, so that visitors now and in the future can enjoy these exceptional green spaces in the heart of London.
The Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, Richmond Park and St. James’s Park. We also look after other important public spaces in London, including Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens. royalparks.org.uk
HALFPIPE, FULL BLOOM
NINE YARDS SKATEPARKS
SKATEPARK VATHORST, AMERSFOORT, THE NETHERLANDS
What was once one of the largest skateparks in Europe, the original asphalt site in Amersfoort, Netherlands had sadly become a derelict space in desperate need of revitalisation. Years of weather exposure, vandalism, and steel corrosion left the area worn down, unsafe, and a far cry from today’s standards for public skateboarding spaces. In May last year, the Municipality of Amersfoort and Nine Yards Skateparks took on the challenge to bring this once hub of activity back to life, transforming it into a green, inviting and multifunctional space, where visitors can shred and ollie to their heart's content, and biodiversity can flourish.
Following its designation as the European City of the Year in 2023; an award that recognises the city’s urban development and sustainability efforts, the municipality placed a strong emphasis on developing inclusive public spaces that foster biodiversity, sport, play, and social connection. The new skatepark and its surrounding landscape was designed with this in mind and a collaborative community engagement process including local users, from skateboarders and inline skaters, to BMX riders and recreational visitors, and stakeholders.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project value
Size of project 3,000 m²
PLANTING
• Tilia mongolica 'Buda'
Selected for its climate resilient nature and rich fragrant summer flowering that attracts bees. Providing cooling canopy cover, as well as being tolerant to drought and pests makes it ideal for use above paving in urban environments.
• Sequoiadendron giganteum 'Glaucum'
A landmark tree for the project, chosen for its impressive stature and evergreen, bluish foliage. It offers year-round interest and is highly resistant to wind and drought, and stores significant amounts of CO2 while contributing to urban cooling.
• Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset'
Deliberately selected for its vibrant red autumn foliage, visually linking to the red-toned concrete of the skatepark. It also offers early spring nectar for pollinators, provides summer shade and thrives in both wet and dry conditions.
• Cryptomeria japonica 'Kitayama-dai'
Well suited for compact spaces such as courtyards and narrow zones. Its slender form, evergreen canopy and air-purifying qualities provide year-round climate benefits and habitat for birds in dense urban areas.
• Parrotia persica 'Vanessa'
This species offers exceptional climate tolerance and strong ornamental qualities. Its early bloom, spectacular autumn colours and decorative bark add seasonal interest, while its structure and pollen support biodiversity in the city.
The skatepark is the latest addition to the already active neighbourhood, with its layout and surrounding path network designed to establish strong connections with the nearby swimming
In skatepark design, every curve, texture and tree matters It’s about flow - not just in movement, but in how the place is used and shared
Jesper Kuipers, landscape designer, Nine Yards Skateparks
pool and sports field. Several of the paths serve a multifunctional purpose, accessible to skaters, cyclists and pedestrians alike. A key feature of the park is the skate path, offering a linear, open and accessible route with lightly spaced skateable elements, enabling movement through the site while inviting spontaneous use. “In skatepark
design, every curve, texture and tree matters. It’s about flow – not just in movement, but in how the place is used and shared,” says Jesper Kuipers, landscape designer at Nine Yards Skateparks. While Nine Yards led the landscape execution, the skatepark’s design was developed by Constructo Skatepark Architecture, whose experience in creating iconic European skateparks helped shape the park’s fluid layout, varied zones, and skateable features that integrate seamlessly with the site’s
geometry. Comprised of five distinct zones: a street area, a bowl, a pump track, a beginner’s zone, and a skate plaza, the space has been designed to flow seamlessly into one another to encourage free-flowing movement for users of all different skill levels. Accessibility across all skill levels was a key consideration, with the obstacles are intentionally modest and, in many cases, ‘traditional’ in form, inviting open-ended use, stylistic freedom, and progression in both tricks and confidence.
Materials for both the skatepark and the surrounding public space were chosen to reflect the local identity of Amersfoort, whilst also supporting the design's function. The concrete used in the skatepark include a red pigment that visually distinguishes it from adjacent areas, helping give the skatepark its own distinct character in the wider scheme.
In reference to the city centre’s commercial use of brick, the same material was used in this project to add texture and variation to the skatepark – while brick textures were also utilised across select features to reflect the urban environment where the sport began. The heritage connections don’t stop there; another key reference is Amersfoort's nickname, Keienstad (‘Boulder City’), which stems from glacial erratic stones deposited in the region during the Ice Age. These stones were reinterpreted in the design as a fully skateable and recurring motif.
Gone are the days of uninspiring and grey scale skateparks, now greenery and environmental consideration plays just as
Skate. Spray. Repeat
“Another concern was the potential for uncontrolled graffiti on the new skatepark. Amersfoort has a strong graffiti culture, and there was fear that the park would quickly become covered. Instead of excluding this community, graffiti artists were invited to contribute ideas during the design phase. By involving them early and creating space for their work (in the form of large, dedicated graffiti walls), the public place now fosters a sense of ownership within this group, which in turn reduces the need for ongoing management or clean-up efforts. This underlines the importance of building relationships with local user groups and using their input to enhance the quality and acceptance of public space”
Jesper Kuipers, landscape designer, Nine Yards Skateparks
important a role as the functionality of the space. For Amersfoort Skatepark planting was not treated as a mere visual addition but as an integral component of the overall concept. Seasonal presence and climate resilience were a key consideration when putting together the planting scheme, with trees chosen on their
ability to offer cooling, filter fine dust and withstand drought or heavy rainfall; evergreen species enhance the winter appearance, while flowering trees mark the rhythm of spring. While organic debris species were avoided due to the risk they posed to the skatepark user - standard (single-stemmed) trees were used where safety was paramount, while multistemmed specimens were positioned further away to allow for softer spatial transitions in the design; 25 trees were planted across the space, each supported by a sustainable drainage system, with rainwater runoff from the skatepark guided into the surrounding planting zones. “Built on collaboration, sustainability and safety, this skatepark is set to become a vibrant part of Amersfoort’s sports and social scene. It’s more than just a skatepark – it represents the future of urban sports,”says Jeroen van Eggermond, owner and project manager of Nine Yards Skateparks.
By interweaving nature, sport, public space and design, a coherent and future-ready landscape has emerged. One that offers Amersfoort a sustainable
and vibrant place to skate, meet and linger. Circularity was another guiding principle, with elements of the original skatepark, such as seating, salvaged, reimagined and integrated into the new design – some were upgraded to extend their longevity and improve functionality.
What was once a fully asphalted surface is now evenly divided between concrete and green space. This balance between hardscape and softscape not only supports urban ecology but also softens the microclimate. Nine Yards Skateparks says its ambition was to create a skatepark that offered more than sport alone, but an identifiable space with ecological richness, and resilience in the face of a changing climate.
Built on international collaboration, sustainability and safety, this new skatepark is set to become a vibrant part of Amersfoort’s sports and social scene. It’s more than just a skatepark - it represents the future of urban sports, here and beyond
Jeroen van Eggermond, owner and project manager, Nine Yards Skateparks
Nine Yards Skateparks has designed and built progressive urban sports environments across Europe for the last 15 years. From highend concrete builds to community-driven concepts, Nine Yards delivers skateparks that push boundaries in design, safety, and sustainability, always in collaboration with the user group and local stakeholders. nine-yards.com/en
Since its construction in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) held in Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower has undeniably become one of the world’s most iconic landmarks.
At 330 metres tall, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world at the time of its construction, until the Chrysler Building in New York was completed in 1930. It was originally intended to be dismantled after 20 years but was saved in part due to its usefulness as a radiotelegraph station. Over time it became a beloved symbol of Paris –nowadays around 30 million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year, with seven million of them ascending the monument for soaring views of the city of love.
GREEN HEART THE OF PARIS
GUSTAFSON PORTER + BOWMAN
OnE SITE TOUR EIFFEL
PROJECT DETAILS
Project value
€57 million
Build time
2019 – ongoing
Size of project
540,000 m²
The tower’s surrounding site is a victim of its own popularity, issues of overcrowding, impaired accessibility, lack of service, and overwhelmed gardens have in recent years impeded the experience of visitors to the Eiffel Tower and its encompassing landscape.
In May 2018, Gustafson Porter + Bowman and three other teams were shortlisted from 42 entries, all tasked with presenting a re-imagined landscape for the Eiffel Tower site. Titled ‘Site Tour Eiffel’, the international competition sought designs that would respond to the rubric - discover, approach, visit – and deliver a landscape that aligns with the City’s vision for a resilient, inclusive and environmentally-oriented future.
The central axis ‘landscape of power' serves to focus the sense of perspective of the Tower from both ends of the site
Gustafson Porter + Bowman’s ‘OnE’ winning design showcases a unified central axis that celebrates the Tower as the central point between the Palais de Chaillot at the Place du Trocadéro and the École Militaire at the Place Joffre. This backbone creates a readable landscape of re-greened spaces: an amphitheatre at the Trocadéro, extended public space at the Varsovie Fountains, the reincarnation of Pont d’Iéna as a green bridge, the creation of two new squares at either end of the bridge, a planted landscape beneath the Eiffel Tower and raised lawns for the Champ de Mars.
New views of the tower have been established alongisde points of interest from which to enjoy the site. The central axis ‘landscape of power ‘serves to focus the sense of perspective of the Tower from both ends of the site. Overlaying this is a second landscape, one that recalls the French ‘picturesque’ style and its history of gardens as places of artistic experimentation and an increase in biodiversity.
The human scale is prioritised, investing unique identities into the spaces. Intimate garden spaces frame the central axis with a rich mix of ornamental and native planting allowing space for temporary events and installations.
The first phase, which was completed in March 2024, is the historic landscape around the Fontaine de Varsovie and reinforces the architectural heritage of one of the most iconic
REFERENCES
Main contractor (civil) Cochery
Main contractor (landscape) Terideal Mabillon terideal.fr
Subcontractor (irrigation) Terideal Energie terideal.fr
Limestone seats and paving slabs Calminia Pierres Naturelles calminia.com
Granit kerbs/cobblestones Centre de maintenance et d’approvisionnement (CMA) of Paris (Bonneuil)
Granite elements (Gris Castelo / Blanc Cristal) Lahaye granits lahaye-granits.com
landscapes of the 20th Century. The renovation, which is part of a wider plan to remove vehicles between Trocadéro and the Iéna bridge, intends to enhance the experiences of the millions of people that visit the Gardens of Trocadéro to view the Eiffel Tower each year. Over 4000m2 of sloped lawns either side of the fountain have been re-turfed and new linear limestone benches at the bottom and the top of the slope provide seating for visitors and protect the historical lawns. The pedestrian promenades have been resurfaced, and the adjacent terraces have been planted with over 15,000 new shrubs and perennials. Twenty-six new cherry trees have been planted either side of the fountain
Société Paridu Letourneur DTE Ile-deFrance/Normandiev
Topsoil Richard et Fils richard-fils.ch
Compost and mulch Bio Yvelynes Services bioyvelines.fr
Sand Fibersoil fibersoil.eu
Trees
Chauviré Tree Nursery chauvire.fr
Ebben et Willaert ebben.nl/fr
Turf
Les gazons de Fontainebleau gazonsdefontaine bleau.fr
Seeds Barenbrug barenbrug.fr
Tree protection
Novagreen novagreen.fr
Rootball anchor system
Ancrest ancrest.com/fr
Irrigation
Hunter hunterirrigation.com
Fencing
Picardie Métallerie Services
picardie-metallerieservice.fr
reinforcing the perspective of the Eiffel Tower, and new lighting masts line the walkway with cast glass globes which have been fitted with sustainable LED sources, breathing new life into the space and modernising the area with respect for the existing aesthetic.
The completion of this initial sector marks the first phase of the wider landscape project, which is currently ongoing following the completion of the Paris Olympics in the autumn of 2024. The next stages include goals to re-green the city, enhance biodiversity and reduce pollution, and will also include the pedestrianisation of the Place de Varsovie and the Pont d’Iéna, together with the reduction of traffic lanes and the addition of shrub and perennial planting along the Quai Branly.
Lead designer and landscape architect (mandataire)
Gustafson
Porter + Bowman
Civil engineers
Ma-Geo
Urban design
Sathy
Mobility
Devillers et Associés
Architect
Chartier Corbasson
Heritage architect
Atelier Monchecourt
Structural engineers
Bollinger + Grohmann
MEP
Inex Sas
Cost Consultant
Vpeas
Security Cronos
Signage and urban furniture
Saguez Area 17
Brichet Ziegler
Art and culture Manifesto
Lighting
8’18
Financial planning
Deloitte
Accessibility and inclusivity
Burdus
Local landscape
architect
ALP
Acoustics
Avel
Event specialist
Duck Sceno
Traffic
CDVIA
Pedestrian movement
Movement Strategies
Sociology and urbanism
Alain Bourdin
Geotechnical
SEMOFI
Construction management
Planète Management
Soil expert
Sol Paysage
Gustafson Porter + Bowman is an international award-winning landscape architecture practice based in London. It has a team of landscape architects, architects and urban designers led by six partners. Over its 27-year history, it has sought to push the boundaries of what constitutes the field of landscape design. It is passionate about its work, with a strong commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for its clients, the environment and the local community. gp-b.com
TOP FIVE REASONS TO ATTEND THE
LANDSCAPING LEADERSHIP FORUM
Join us in London on 26 June for this key industry event, brought to you by Pro Landscaper Premium Plus that will bring together businesses engaged in the sector and the wider supply chain. The Landscaping Leadership Forum will help inform and identify where action may be needed to realise growth and initiate new connection and collaboration with existing and new stakeholders in the UK landscaping market.
Here are FIVE key reasons to make sure you secure your place:
1 3 4 5 2
Get the holistic view from within the landscaping marketplace and the sectors it intersects with to build a clearer picture of the market(s), factors, and strategic issues that will impact your business. This will include updates on policy and how this is shaping and influencing wider project investment.
Immerse yourself in the industry/business conversations that need to happen – understand strategies and approaches being taken by leaders on how they are managing growing cost pressures and risk. Is Biodiversity Net Gain driving the wider collaboration that will help it realise ambition and is how is this playing out in projects being planning through expert perspectives and case studies presentations.
Access exclusive industry research – what are the key focuses and priorities for the wider sector and how is it setting itself up for future growth? Join us on the day for access to the insight and commentary from industry leaders. Attendees will also get access to the full report in addition to key points, presentations and takeaways from the day’s programme.
Programme yourself to succeed – our programme concludes with a Masterclass on mindset, providing some key tips so that you can implement key actions from the day and help deliver optimal performance.
Make connections that can supercharge your growth – meet with peers attending from key stakeholder groups and the wider supply chain and develop existing and new relationships that can help realise your ambitions.
Who will you hear from?
• Julia Baker, Mott MacDonald
• Kevin Barton, Robert Bray Associates
• Andy Corcoran, Glendale
• Sam Grayson, Hyphae Learning
• Tim O’Hare, Tim O’Hare Associates
• Jack Potter, Wild Capital UK
• Chris Wellbelove, Blakedown Landscapes
• Joe Harris, WSP
• Nick White, Natural England
• Robert Cunliffe, Nurture Group
Check the website for the full list of speakers
Who should attend?
• Landscaping contractors in the UK
• Landscape architects
• Grounds maintenance contractors
• Local authority planners
• Developers, landowners and investors
• Estate and park management
• Industry associations and trade bodies
• Academia and NGOs
• Suppliers, industry consultants and solution providers
