AUTUMN 2025 ISSUE 4
INCLUSIVE DECISIONS
How can we maximise public consultation accessibility?
BENCHMARKING SUCCESS
Leveraging personal experiences with Vicky Hill
RESPONSIBLE LIGHTING DarkSky on safe and thoughtful street illumination
VICTORIAN JEWEL Gillespies and Wright Landscapes breathe new life into Rochdale Town Hall
Planting more trees is important to make and keep our cities healthy and climate resilient. Helping trees thrive within a built environment is where TreeTank comes in. It lets them flourish and prevents roots from damaging roads; providing the ideal environment for root growth with sufficient minerals, water and air. Thanks to TreeTank, people can reap the rewards of living in greener surroundings too.
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What happens when the spaces we’re told are good for us, are the very spaces we feel unsafe in? Growing up, my mum would always tell me to avoid dimly lit areas (though now we’re learning, through DarkSky, that irresponsible lighting can be just as unsafe p25), and to avoid being outdoors after sunset. At the time, as a mildly rebellious teen, I scoffed, believing myself invincible, but now I know this was a cautionary tale spun from years of mistrust in our public realms, and the notion that these spaces were not built for us to traverse at certain times.
However, that narrative is now changing as we move towards more responsible placemaking, creating spaces with everyone – including those mildly rebellious teens who, as Christopher Martin reminds us on p20, deserve a place to call their own too.
We continually explore the importance of wildlife habitats and making space for our nation’s critters, but what about the spaces for us? As John Little and Susanna Grant say on p23, investing in people is a priority to ensure our public realms are built for genuine, and authentic use.
Now, I’m not saying all this will mean we can go gallivanting at night, but it is a step in the right direction to getting more voices and experiences (as advocated for by Vicky Hill on p11) involved in the future shaping of our public realms and beginning to wear down that cycle of fear and dejection.
Discover what’s waiting for you at this year’s Public Spaces Expo 23 CARE OVER CONCRETE
How can we make sure public consultations are maximised for inclusivity?
Benchmarking success and leveraging personal experiences
How Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is championing women’s safety 36
Redefining
Christopher Martin on creating
John Little and Susanna Grant on the importance of investing in people
Rochdale Town Hall rejuvenation with Gillespies and Wright Landscapes 25
Balancing public safety and wildlife protection with DarkSky
RHS Design & Build winner on creating a new community driven garden
SPACES
Hilliers top UK trees for pet-friendly landscapes
Fosters + Partners is reimagining St James’s Park into a memorial fit for a Queen
42 PORTFOLIO: THE LUSH LOW LINE
Macfarlane + Associates green makeover for London’s Holyrood Street
Edgware town centre transformation plans have received planning permission including 11.9 acres of green and open space in the London Borough of Barnet.
Secured by property companies Ballymore and Places for London, the £1.7bn redevelopment plans feature 3,365 new homes delivered by master planners Howells, commercial and leisure space and improved transport connections.
Landscape architects Gustafson Porter + Bowman will introduce new greenery, street planting and improved pedestrian access, including the new Deans Brook Nature Park.
The park will be fit with wild planting, nature trails, play areas, seating and a new link between Edgware, Mill Hill and Burnt Oak. With 1.8 hectares of new planting, also includes planting of 400 new and retained trees to support biodiversity. All public spaces within the new green and open space have been designed with inclusivity in mind, in partnership with charity Make Space for Girls.
Graeme Craig, director and chief executive at Places for London says he is “proud to contribute to a renewed, sustainable future for Edgware”.
The development will also aim to generate zero operational emissions by using air source heat pumps, solar panels and green roofs.
Sa neighbourhood location in Oslo, Norway, SLA reveals its plans to create a highly connected, green and liveable urban district.
The plans mark a step in the development of Oslo’s Hovinbyen, while Bryn stands as a new regional hub for people, nature, and mobility.
SLA reveals green plans for Norway city
Consisting of 600 homes, 5,000 workplaces and a mix of commerce and more than 20,000m2 of accessible public realm with green parks, plazas and commons.
The plan centres around nature including a new ‘Brynsallmenningen’, which will be a multi-green corridor
connecting Bryn to the ancient forest of Svartdalen and the Alna River.
With direct access to trains and four metro lines, Bryn Sentrum intends to be one of Oslo’s most important public transport nodes.
The project will be in partnership with JM Norge AS, Entra ASA, Grape Architects and Multiconsult.
ands has announced its plan to build a $8bn ultra-luxurious resort in Singapore, with views across Marina Bay, inspired by the island’s greenery and sustainable approach.
Designed by Safdie Architects and led by Marina Bay Sand’s designers Moshe Safdie, the new resort features a 570-suite hotel tower capped with rooftop and dining experiences, retail boutiques, gaming, meeting space, spa and wellness amenities and a 76,000 square-foot Skyloop.
Rotated at a 45-degree angle to frame views of Marina Bay and the Singapore Straight, the 55-story hotel tower will feature biophilic designs integrated throughout the building alongside green amenities.
The use of low-carb concrete and recycled steel will be practiced white a construction waste management plan will be set in place whereby at least 75% of construction waste will be diverted to reduce landfill disposal.
Construction is expected to finish in 2030.
eveloper TT Group has been given the green light for plans to redevelop the former Ravenscourt Park Hospital in Hammersmith after nearly two decades
The residential-led plans will feature 140 new homes, a 65-bed care home and community use spaces designed by London architecture studio SPPARC. Plans also include opening landscape gardens and new pedestrian routes in spaces that have never been usable to the public before.
Landscape architects Grant Associates have designed a new 4,120m² public square at Brabazon which includes the largest new urban park in the south-west for 50 years, Brabazon park.
Concentrating on street corridors and landscape-led planning, the masterplan has been approved by South Gloucestershire Council.
Commissioned by YTL Developments, the square will act as a central civic centre and arrival point for passengers arriving by train once the station’s construction is completed.
Built on the former Filton Airfield, the new city district of Brabazon will include 6,500 new homes, student accommodation and 86 acres of public space, parks and playing fields. There will be a range of tree planting and a seasonal garden, too.
Keith French, director at Grant Associates, comments:“The new civic square next to the station will act as a green gateway for rail passengers visiting both the Arena and the wider neighbourhood.”
It will take just 15 minutes from the new station on the train to Bristol Temple Meads.
Duncan Brisbane, development director at TT Group says this redevelopment is “long overdue,” adding:
“We now look forward to bringing the proposals to life, building on our track record for delivering much-needed housing on some of London’s highestquality brownfield sites.”
Acquiring the Hammersmith site back in 2022, TT Group is expecting to start construction next year, with completion by 2028.
Also check out the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Park from Foster + Partners on page 21, which explores the winning design plans behind the national memorial set for St James’ Park
TWO UNMISSABLE DAYS
WORLD CLASS
SECTOR-SPECIFIC EXHIBITORS
LEADING CPD-ACCREDITED SEMINAR PROGRAMME WITH EXPERT SPEAKERS
NEW FOR 2025: SPORTS AND ACTIVITY ZONE AND SUDS ZONE
The ultimate event for those who design, build and maintain public spaces. Public Spaces Expo is designed for local authorities, architects, landscape architects and commercial landscapers who are dedicated to creating beautiful, sustainable public spaces
Scan to register for your FREE TICKET
Taking place 7 – 8 October at the Excel London, this year’s Public Spaces Expo is not one to be missed. Here are just some of the unmissable stands you’ll find at the show
“Public Spaces Expo is back with a bang this year and we’ve created even more reasons for you to attend on the 7 - 8 October. As well as completely dedicated zones for Activities, Sports and SuDS; we’ve added even more features for you to explore, such as a Local Authority Lounge, a Keynote Stage and a Networking Cafe. We’ll have even more companies on offer for you to chat to and experience over the two days. The broad spectrum of exhibitors spans across play, sport and fitness, smart city and technology - all the way through to building materials, flooring and sustainability and biodiversity related services. We’ve gone ahead and hand picked just some of the exhibitors you have to go and see.”
Tom Proudley, FutureScape portfolio director
TURF Lindum Turf is a specialist
UK grower, offering premium turfs to suit every need — from golf greens to durable turf for landscaping projects and innovative solutions for soil stabilisation. We also grow beautiful wildflower turf, perfect for creating vibrant, biodiverse spaces that support pollinators and wildlife. We combine expert cultivation with eco-friendly practices to ensure every roll meets the highest standards, ensuring quality from seed to delivery. With a reputation for reliability, innovation, and exceptional service, Lindum Turf helps clients create unforgettable spaces. Visit us to discuss your next project and explore how we can collaborate. turf.co.uk
Teddy Padel is a kids-centric coaching programme designed to introduce children aged three – seven years to padel through playful learning - using music, storytelling, teddy bear characters, and specially designed equipment. We've engineered the world’s lightest padel racket, 230g — specially designed for little champions starting their padel journey. teddypadel.com
Safetyflex are a world leader in crash-rated solutions. Using our patented spring steel designs, to offer an aesthetically pleasing, slimline solution that doesn’t compromise on protection. Our range, which includes bollards, crash gates, crash fences, street furniture and crash blocks are all tested to PAS68, IWA-14 and ISO-22343 standards. safetyflexbarriers.com
Founded in 2009, Sports Equipment Supplies is now one of the most respected, forward thinking companies in the UK looking to develop with continued growth planned for the future.
Sports Equipment
Supplies are experts in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of sports hall and gymnasium equipment. We provide advice all over the UK and beyond to ensure you get the highest quality, affordable equipment. sportsequipmentsupplies.com
Commercial electrical and lighting services and sports lighting specialists working nationwide and founded over two decades ago. We are a familyrun business built on technical expertise, quality workmanship, value for money and, — customer satisfaction. We pride ourselves on delivering projects on time and within budget. Working with main contractors and end clients, our team provides end-to-end services: design, installation, testing and compliance, repairs
and maintenance. JHP Electrical is accredited by major industry bodies, ensuring the highest standards of health and safety. We're proud member of SAPCA and hold a supplier kitemark with ISBA, demonstrating our commitment to quality and compliance.
jhpelectrical.co.uk
Had enough of outdated cost estimating? You get eeziQS. This is a software solution created and founded by principal engineer - Ollie Marsh and chartered quantity surveyor Liam Shields to totally rethink how cost estimates and Bills of Quantities (BoQs) are produced. Built by people who’ve lived the problem first-hand, eeziQS removes the bottlenecks, endless spreadsheets, and error-prone processes that slow projects down. Just smart software that works the way it should. eeziQS –Calculating your construction cost in minutes.
eeziqs.co.uk
Bradley Manufacturing Ltd, located in Chadderton, Oldham, is a UK-based company designs and fabricates high-quality street furniture and public space metalwork. Operating from Junction 21 Business Park, the company produces benches, litter bins, cycle stands, railings, bollards, planters, and signage.
Focused on craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability, Bradley Manufacturing works with architects and contractors to enhance urban environments.Its products use robust materials to withstand public use and harsh weather conditions, supporting long-lasting improvements to public spaces across the UK.
bradleymanufacturing.com
NAL NAL is revolutionising infrastructure with fast, flexible, and futureready solutions for highways, EV charging, traffic signals, and street lighting. Our solutions are renowned for innovation. NAL systems simplify installation, reduce disruption, and lower carbon impacts. From innovative retention sockets to low-maintenance foundations and passively safe bollards, every product supports long-term asset performance. This fieldproven performance is why NAL is trusted by local authorities, Tier one contractors, and urban planners nationwide. Our products play an essential role across the spaces you walk and drive through daily. Get in touch to build safer, smarter networks that last. nal.ltd.uk
At Haiduk’s Padel Company, our services include:
Hoben International Limited (a subsidiary company of Goodwin PLC) market, products under the Soluform brand name. The barnd provides, cost effective and environmentally acceptable range of prefilled concrete bagwork. Soluform MSE bagwork consists of soil filled geotextile bags and shear keys between the rows of bagwork with the goal to establish planting on/in the bagwork, to increase biodiversity to the bagwork structure. Our concrete bagwork products are prefilled with a 32N high strength structural dry concrete mix. The bagwork is supplied in a range of different liners. We also supply ancillary steelwork, to strengthen the finished blockwork, or place lined bagwork underwater. soluform.co.uk
Comprehensive services: Padel court installation, including consulting on architectural and design elements. Maintenance and support to keep courts in prime condition. Client-focused approach: We serve a range of clients, from tennis clubs and leisure centres to luxury resorts and private clients, customising our approach to fit each unique need. At the end of July this year, we’re proud to share our results in the UK: 37 new padel courts installed, maintenance and repairs completed on 90+ courts, and supporting over 30 Padel clubs and private owners.
Creating spaces that truly serve all walks of life is only possible when diverse voices are part of the decision making process – so how can we ensure consultations are genuinely inclusive?
In an evolving landscape of technology and communication, ensuring public consultations are inclusive demands more than traditional face-to-face meetings. While in-person events remain valuable, modern engagement now embraces virtual meetings, social media interactions, and web-based consultations. Innovative formats from short videos to virtual reality headsets can also maximise engagement from all ages of the community and bring proposals to life.
Flexibility in timing and location is equally crucial, particularly when engaging specific focus groups. On a recent park project, for example, we met key stakeholders such as the tennis and netball clubs during their regular training sessions and engaged the local volunteer group as part of one of their activity days. Meeting people in familiar, accessible settings not only increases turnout to such events through convenient timings and locations but also fosters more open, relevant conversations, demonstrating your dedication to engage and understand their needs and viewpoints.
By blending traditional and digital methods, tailoring approaches to community needs, and removing logistical barriers, consultations can move beyond simple informationsharing to genuine dialogue that is inclusive for all, build trust, encourage diverse voices, and ultimately deliver better, more representative outcomes.
A foundational principle of high-quality placemaking to optimise outcomes for both existing and new communities is early, effective, and proportionate engagement throughout all stages of planning and development. Whilst there is often a good appreciation of how statutory processes can be made more inclusive through targeted communications that reflect the strengths and needs of diverse groups – including marginalised and vulnerable communities – consultation efforts are often concentrated on early design discussions.
This can leave communities feeling that the relationship is one-way, and is simply serving the need for planning approval, rather than building a long-term relationship, fostering trust, exchanging knowledge and skills, and potentially leading to partnership and community delegation, for example community ownership of community assets and green spaces.
The Engagement Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work is an exceptional place to start when considering how to implement more effective strategies. From defining the need for a project and conceptualising the design to the final handover, each stage offers opportunities to support non-technical understanding and input from wider communities of interest, to coordinate and communicate between key stakeholders, and to identify routes for maximising social value. This open-source guidance document published by RIBA in 2024 should be a go-to approach for any built environment professionals looking to realise a community-centred approach to placemaking and maximise inclusivity in public consultations.
How Greenwood Hill’s Vicky Hill is leveraging her personal experiences to enhance the firm’s focus on accessibility and inclusive design
Disclaimer: This article discusses topics related to cancer, including diagnosis, treatment, and personal experiences, which some readers may find emotionally difficult or triggering. Reader discretion is advised.
There are those moments in our careers that make us stop, take stock, and think ‘yeah, this is why I do what I do’. For me one of those moments came when sitting down to talk with landscape architect, and founder of Greenwood-Hill, Vicky Hill. Discussing her journey to-date, we delved into everything from mental health, wellbeing, and the need for improved accessibility in our public realms – the latter Hill now advocates for on a personal level; but more on that soon.
Let’s start at the beginning; growing up with an artist for a mum and a dad who was good at illustrations, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, you’d think it was safe to assume landscape architecture was the goal from the get go, but it wasn’t until seeing the profession in a UCAS book at school that Hill discovered her passion, and the inevitable lack of information at the time; “you have to
understand, this was pre-internet”, jokes Hill. This love for landscape architecture, "Comes from the way nature nourishes the soul as it delights, surprises, inspires, heals, and creates a sense of wonder and joy — offering us the gift of creativity with nature
as the medium and the sky as the ceiling," Hill explains.
In the years that have followed Hill has gone on to do a Post Grad Diploma in landscape architecture, became chartered, and has gained experience across multidisciplinary practices. It wasn’t until May of 2022 that Hill decided to take the plunge and do something she says she always wanted to do – start her own practice. “It's been a big ambition of mine for a very long time, and I was just getting to the age and stage where it was either, I do this now or it's not going to happen.” For Hill, starting her own practice wasn’t a gamble, but a “calculated risk”.
Hill admits it took a “while to get going”, but then one of her first projects, in the heart of Islington, Angel Central –a shopping centre’s outdoor space turned urban oasis, gained recognition. It went on to win Islington in Bloom Gold Award
2023 and the London in Bloom Gold, Business Landscape of the Year 2024, and was nominated in the Commercial Project category at FutureScape Global.
At three o'clock in the morning, I was seen and the urologist said, there's nothing wrong with your bladder There's just a massive tumour crushing it
But it was in December 2022 the practice began building momentum, more projects were coming in and Hill brought on her first employee – Stefan van Zyl. It was also around this time that Hill began feeling unwell, “Something just wasn’t right.”
On Friday 6 January 2023 Hill was advised to get a bladder scan at her local A&E. “At three o'clock in the morning, I was seen and the urologist said, there's nothing wrong with your
bladder. There's just a massive tumour crushing it.” More tests and examinations later, Hill was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “That was a bit of a shocker”, she says, putting it mildly.
“A week later, I saw the gynae consultant, who confirmed it, but also said that this tumour rare and large. It was about 20 centimetres – it was huge. Then they said we need to look at your colon. There are some areas that were concerning. So, then I had a colonoscopy, found stage four cancer in two places.”
By the time Hill underwent her six-hour surgery on 20 February 2023 - in which doctors discovered the tumour had ruptured – she says the tumour had grown so large she looked pregnant with twins. “I woke up with 40 staples and a temporary stoma. After that, I then had to recover from the surgery and then wait for chemo to start.”
Throughout our chat Hill kept circling back to her incredible support system, from friends, family, “A very positive disposition, and a dark sense of humour.” But even with those around her, she still had a new business to think about; thankfully she had employed van Zyl prior, who Hill recognises was instrumental in keeping her business afloat. “He worked for me for about four months, and he really saved me at that point, and managed to keep [the business] going.”
From April through to August of 23, Hill underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, and as if that wasn’t all, her change in diet due to the stoma had led to gallstones, the steroids she was on for the chemotherapy had triggered steroid induced diabetes, and the total hysterectomy meant she was going through surgical menopause. That’s more than enough for one person to be dealing with, as Hill says, you can’t make this stuff up – only in much fruitier language.
“Then in August I found out my cancer count had gone up, and my oncologist informs me, I've got a golf ball sized tumour, which is the same type as the previous one.” Hill was once again on the operating table, this time for a 10-hour surgery, more
gruelling than the last, including HIPEC chemotherapy where they wash her insides with 40 degree chemo liquid for an hour and half as she recalls the surgeons calling it the “mother of all operations”; one that lead to a 12 hour medically induced coma, 80 staples, and a re-jigged stoma.
Even while recognising the recovery process and time for this surgery would be a much harder fight than the last, Hill was still aware of her business, which was relatively in its infancy at the time. She shares that one of the most vital things aiding her in lessening the mental burden of the whole ordeal was having critical illness in place at the business well before she got insurance. “I didn't have to worry about that, and I had income protection insurance. That was such a relief, it took the pressure off.
I didn’t have to worry about money, because without those insurances I would have lost my home”, which she says would have just been more salt in the already proverbial wound. Hill urges anyone who doesn’t have insurance in place to do so; figures from 2017 – 2019 show that there are more than 385k new cancer cases in the UK every year, this equates to more than a thousand every day1
In total Hill underwent 18 hours of major surgery, after which she focused on regaining her strength – a challenge her professional career and personal insight told her would be eased by spending time in the natural surroundings of her local park. “We can all talk a good game about biophilic design. But now, I think I've got a unique perspective and first-hand experience of its significance.” The healing properties of nature are arguably a popular topic of discussion, and something
many of us advocate for regularly; from mental wellbeing and stress reduction, to encouraging physical activity – all three and of which Hill used to her full advantage during her recovery.
“I'm fortunate to live next to a park, and in which there is a bench around every 15 metres. So, I would, one day get to the first bench and then back, and then the next day, I'd get to the next bench rest and come back. On and on, and now I'm walking around Richmond Park.”
Now, Hill is leveraging that personal experience and using it to influence her work, advocating for improved accessibility and inclusive consideration in public realm
designs; “it might sound strange, but benches in the landscape are a real thing for me now.” Noting that for those currently in recovery may be limited in where they can go due to a lack of seating; taking away a source of nature engagement and hindering their recovery in the process due to a lack of seating. “It's limiting, especially if you're recovering and you can only walk so far, you think, I might not be able to sit down, so I might not be able to go outside.”
And it’s not just seating, Hill says her stoma –which while has now been reversed, was once called Sylvie Side Bottom – has opened her eyes to the need for accessible toilets in our green spaces. “Once you have a stoma, or if you have had a stoma, you have to map out things like,
If you have a stoma, you have to map out things like, where can you go outside, where can you go for a walk, where is going to have a toilet nearby?
where can you go outside, where can you go for a walk, where is going to have a toilet nearby? It’s made me aware of the people with disabilities who may not want to go outside because they’re needs aren’t able to be met.”
In 2018 the BBC reported that public toilet provisions were in decline, and had been for a number of years, with at least 673 public toilets across the UK removed from major council maintenance remits since 2010, marking a 13% decline in just eight years, despite the UK
population growing2. In 2023 the House of Commons moved to improve the future of stoma care, citing that in the UK alone it is estimated that one in 335 people are currently living with a stoma3, which while a necessary and lifesaving formation, can come with complications and hindrances, which Hill says is only exacerbated further by a lack of accessibility in public spaces. “I have a whole newfound perspective on life, which is influencing our designs; making sure that we're putting enough seating in, and making sure there is enough toilets - it’s certainly something that we're going to apply pressure for, and make sure those facilities are available, because it is debilitating if you can't go out.”
Hill is actively looking ahead to the future, not just in terms of the designs she puts forward, but in how she plans to continue growing the company, a possibility she is grateful to now
have. “I started writing out a 10-year plan and then the next day, I had a moment when I went, wow, two years ago, I was planning my living wake, and now I'm writing a 10-year plan – it's an unmatched feeling and the future is bright for Greenwood Hill.”
"I would like to mention that Marcello Napolitano joined GWH in 2024, who is a gifted technical landscape archhitect. Who has been an amazing support." She admits that throughout the whole journey, she has gained valuable insights into building a strong support network as well as an adaptable work approach that supports individual needs. And while admittedly there have been tough times – days of eating chocolate and basically completing Netflix - Hill says everything that has happened has given her a new perspective on life, taking more calculated risks and pushing herself to deliver more high-quality, community led projects.
“I didn't set up Greenwood Hill knowing that that was going to happen. It hasn't really changed the direction that we're going, but it has given us a fresh perspective on it. It's remarkable what having a positive disposition and a dark sense humour that almost walks around like Darth Vader can do.
As our catch-up
came to an end, Hill remarked that this would be the article she shares to let her online following know of her battle with cancer, a fact she has never tried to conceal, but we all know sharing personal information online can be a strange
I
started writing out a 10-year plan and then the next day, I had a moment when I went, wow, two years ago, I was planning my living wake, and now I'm writing a 10-year plan – it's an unmatched feeling and the future is bright for Greenwood Hill
avenue to walk down. But now, nine organs lighter (Hills joke, not mine, I promise), and 20 months in remission, Hill is eager to share her experience in the hopes it encourages other to take preventative steps, both personally and professionally, as well as underscoring the fundamental importance of creating spaces fit for all walks of life.
References
1 https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/ cancer-statistics-for-the-uk#heading-Zero
2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45009337
3 https://www.colostomyuk.org/information/what-is-astoma/#:~:text=The%20terms%20'stoma'%20and%20 ',a%20trauma%20to%20the%20abdomen.
Chair of the LLDC's Women’s Safety Board Naz Begum on how Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is reframing safety in public space
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is widely regarded as a benchmark for urban park design. The Park has held Secured by Design accreditation since 2014 and consistently scores high on public perception surveys. In fact, 91% of Park users recently rated their personal safety as 8 out of 10 or higher.
Despite these statistics, past studies have revealed a more complex truth: many women and girls reported feeling unsafe in specific areas of the Park, particularly after dark or when alone.
When women feel unsafe in public spaces, it reflects a deeper social injustice. Everyone has the right to access and enjoy public spaces freely and without fear yet, for many women, concerns about harassment, violence, or being overlooked in park planning and design can make these spaces feel unwelcoming or even dangerous.
This inequality limits the ability of women to fully participate in public life and reinforces broader patterns of exclusion. By prioritising women’s safety, we are working towards a more inclusive environment for all.
The disconnect between objective safety and perceived safety is a growing concern in landscape and public realm design. In response to this, we have developed a whole-system response to women’s safety in public space, ensuring an evidence-led approach to gender-inclusive design.
In 2021, we undertook a consultation –through surveys, mapping tools and in-person workshops – to understand how women and girls within the local community experienced Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The results, published in the 2022 Safety of Women and Girls
Consultation Report, highlighted that 70% of respondents reported feeling unsafe in some areas of the Park.
The most common concerns included limited lighting, long and empty pathways, groups of men congregating, and anti-social behaviour. Many women reported actively changing their routes, avoiding underpasses, or choosing not to use areas of the Park after dusk. This data clearly showed that even in a well-managed, award-winning park, the emotional experience of safety was falling short for women and girls.
The disconnect between objective safety and perceived safety is a growing concern in landscape and public realm design
One takeaway from the consultation was the role that nature and planting can play in creating or diminishing the feeling of safety. While access to nature is critical for mental wellbeing and daily quality of life – especially for those with caring responsibilities – respondents revealed that unmaintained or overly dense planting can evoke feelings of unease and avoidance.
To address this, strategies such as visible and regular maintenance, careful proximity planning with considerations for lighting, play areas and surveillance as well as integrating green infrastructure into wayfinding, can help ensure that biodiversity, beauty, and security coexist.
In 2024, we partnered with built environment consultancy, Arup, to launch Creating Places That Work for Women and Girls: A Handbook. It provides practical guidance to developers, designers, planners and policymakers on how to embed safety, comfort, and inclusion for women and girls.
While the Handbook centres on the experiences of women and girls, its design solutions aim to create better, more inclusive places for everyone, including gender-diverse people, men and boys, and all individuals with protected characteristics.
A few of the Handbook’s core principles include:
• Co-designing from the outset: Engaging women and girls from the earliest planning stages.
• Designing for visibility: Prioritising lighting, open sightlines, and active frontages.
• Inclusive layouts: Avoiding secluded or “dead” zones, ensuring clear and navigable pathways.
• Managing the social environment: Considering how spaces are animated and who uses them.
• Maintaining feedback loops: Gathering postoccupancy data and making continuous improvements.
The Handbook offers landscape designers and architects tested frameworks and design approaches that can be applied beyond east London. Whether designing parks, streetscapes, greenways, or civic squares, we have the chance to embed dignity, comfort and care into the landscape, not as an add-on, but as a design foundation.
For landscape professionals, it presents both a blueprint and a challenge: to design spaces that are not only technically safe, but intuitively safe, places where everyone feels welcome, visible, and secure.
As designers of public realm, while security audits and design codes are essential, they do not capture the full spectrum of safety, especially for women and girls
As designers of public realm, while security audits and design codes are essential, they do not capture the full spectrum of safety, especially for women and girls. Safety isn’t just about measurable risks; it is also about emotional perception. For this reason, these principles are already shaping the physical landscape at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Building on this, we sought to engage directly with the community
to ensure that their lived experiences and needs were fully considered. This approach led to our collaboration with local teenage girls in the design of Waterden Green, a new play area on the Park. Their invaluable insights influenced not just spatial arrangements but also more nuanced design elements, such as lighting levels, social seating clusters, and visibility between pathways and activity areas, all of which contribute to a safer, more welcoming environment. Additionally, to take further steps to improve the safety and perception of safety on the Park, we have convened more than 20 stakeholders and partners to sign the Women’s Safety Stakeholder Charter, which creates a shared commitment to:
• Appoint internal safety champions
• Provide training on responding to harassment
• Make women’s safety visible, accessible and embedded in communications
• Design, plan and build public realm with women’s safety at the forefront
One of the most powerful lessons from our work around women’s safety is the need to reframe safety as more than a technical requirement. Safety is an emotional, social, and cultural condition and should therefore be measured by both outcomes and experiences. When urban park design is done with this in mind, the benefits extend far beyond gender. Environments that feel safer for women tend to feel safer for everyone.
Our work at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is not finished, but it offers a powerful call to action. Landscape professionals are not solely shaping physical environments but are also shaping social futures. If our spaces are to be truly public, they must not only be safe but feel safe to everyone who uses them.
Naz Begum joined the London Legacy Development Corporation in 2016 and currently works as senior project manager. She is also chair of the LLDC Women’s Safety Board, where she advocates for safer spaces and gender equality. Her expertise lies in urban development, project management, and community engagement, with a strong focus on creating inclusive and sustainable environments.
As cities grapple with rising temperatures and new weather patterns, the conversation about urban greening has fundamentally shifted. No longer is it enough for public spaces to simply look pretty; they must now actively adapt to climate challenges, and in so doing, deliver tangible benefits to businesses and communities.
Business Improvement District (BID)
Better Bankside is the only BID in the UK to invest in a full-time urban gardener1 and along with a biodiversity pledge as part of its new five-year term, the BID intends to extend its green network by 2030. The BID is facing its climate-driven urban gardening challenges head-on across 22 green sites, setting a precedent for other public realm greening approaches.
Climate-resilient planting
Climate change is shifting the ecology and plants within UK cities, and this can also be seen in Bankside. A higher concentration of rainfall (often within a shorter period of time) and increased heat levels, further compounded by a largely built-up environment, have changed the plants that do well in the area. Drought-resistant and heat-tolerant mediterranean species such as Artemisia, Erigeron and Papaver have been introduced due to their ability to withstand higher temperatures and fluctuations in watering and are now growing alongside their native counterparts. This diverse mix ensures that plants can withstand the UK climate’s new normal while still supporting local ecosystems.
A neat case study from the BID, of climate-determined non-native species, can be seen outside the area’s Africa Centre, a charity dedicated to championing Africa through education, arts and culture. Here, plants native to South Africa have been planted more than 8,000 miles away, on Bankside’s Great Suffolk Street, and they are flourishing.
Plant propagation from cuttings of successful plants in the area is central to ensuring the resiliency of both native and non-native species. Seeds and cuttings are collected from plants that have successfully negotiated higher temperatures and fluctuations in rainfall. These hyper-local
Daniel
Better Bankside on how it is redefining urban greening for a changing climate
varieties have adapted to Bankside’s particular climate and conditions. This cycle of monitoring and proactively encouraging the plants tough enough to survive ensures that native plants, particularly are given the chance to continue in the area through selective evolution. It is a slow and improving process where the role of the human, hands-on gardener is critical.
Better Bankside is now looking at ways to connect its ‘green corridors.’ Up until now, these have been fragmented green habitats but closing these gaps are important for pollinating insects
The issue of drainage and water runoff is also an important element of Bankside’s climate resiliency work. Higher and more concentrated
rainfall is increasing the area’s flood risk which is already in the Thames Estuary alert area. The depaving of sections of Bankside, in favour of installing permeable surfaces, is very important in the mitigation of these potential flood risks. Better Bankside is maximising street planting opportunities in depaved areas to ensure any water run-off goes into planters rather than into overloaded drainage systems.
In Bankside’s Kepple Row, three large planters join the stretch’s permeable surface, and a shaded seated area encourages visitors to dwell and relax. Long term, the improvement district is exploring water collection in the area by utilising run-off from building infrastructure, including the maze of Victorian arches (the Low Line) that runs through Bankside’s streets.
Biodiversity and its deep area returns
Biodiversity is a central priority for Better Bankside’s urban greening work, and was a key deliverable in the BID’s manifesto for the area. Making sure there are enough spaces and habitats for pollinating insects, diversifying plant species and making sure the planting
strategy matches the new longer flowering period between spring and autumn have all been critical. We recently commissioned a survey of the pollinating insects in the area with Pollinating London. We found an excellent diversity of insects in the area and were thrilled to record Europe’s smallest bee, which is rare for an urban environment.
As a further investment in pollinators, Better Bankside is now looking at ways to connect its ‘green corridors.’ Up until now, these have been fragmented green habitats but closing these gaps is important for pollinating insects with limited flight ranges who rely on close networks for food sources.
Beyond ecological benefits, biodiversity delivers a measurable commercial advantage. Research shows that greener environments enhance mental health and wellbeing, leading to productivity and more time spent in the area. Businesses located near vibrant, biodiverse green spaces often experience increased footfall and a stronger community presence, while demonstrating visible commitments to sustainability bolsters brand reputation.
Bankside has already observed this dynamic in action. Its local business members, inspired by nearby green walls and planters, have introduced their own greening initiatives such as hanging baskets and facade plantings. This ripple effect underscores the potential of public planting to catalyse wider environmental community action.
Looking to the future, Bankside is exploring a range of data-driven and community-led approaches to further strengthen its green infrastructure. GIS mapping tools are being used to identify areas most at risk from flooding and heat, allowing targeted interventions.
New child-led initiatives, led by local business Invest in Nature, will invite children to identify urban spaces they feel could be greener or safer, incorporating their perspectives into future designs. This approach not only encourages civic pride but fosters early environmental stewardship, preparing the next generation to value and protect urban nature.
While vertical greening and green walls have been explored, these approaches have presented challenges due to high water requirements and long-term maintenance concerns. However, rain gardens have been successfully implemented, at Ewer Street Burial Ground, providing additional stormwater management capacity and habitat creation.
New child-led
initiatives, led by local business Invest
in Nature, will invite children to identify urban spaces they feel could be greener or safer, incorporating their perspectives into future designs
Ultimately, the work in Bankside exemplifies a new era of urban greening. Starting as ‘guerrilla gardening,’ its approach has now developed to help mitigate flooding, regulate temperatures, support biodiversity, and deliver health and economic benefits to local communities and businesses.
As cities everywhere confront the accelerating realities of climate change, Bankside’s approach offers a compelling model: a vision of public spaces that not only look good but actively work to protect and sustain the urban environment for generations to come.
References
1 Kensington BID have a gardener who is shared between the BID and design museum, but we are not aware of any other BIDs with a full-time urban gardener.
About Daniel Lea
Dan manages around 22 green spaces within Bankside’s public realm. As a full time, in-house gardener, Dan manages all the area’s horticultural needs, including developing new sites and enhancing existing spaces through careful interventions which increase biodiversity and pollinating insects. betterbankside.co.uk
Teenagers loitering in a park: a sight that sets off alarm bells in the hearts of some. But before we reach for the dreaded label of “antisocial behaviour,” let’s pause and ask ourselves – what’s truly at fault here? Often, it’s not the teens but the way we’ve built the world they inhabit.
Adolescence is not merely biology – it’s a headlong flight toward identity, autonomy and belonging. Yet public spaces are habitually designed for the “legitimate” user: families, adults with predictable routines, those whose behaviour we instinctively approve. Gendered norms mean teenage girls struggle doubly – spaces are often unsafe, unwelcoming, and little thought has gone into creating for them what they need. As Susannah Walker observes, public realm designs frequently reinforce male-dominated uses – skateparks, courts – that alienate girls and convey: “not for you.”
The antidote to hostile design is placemaking – not defensive architecture aiming to shoo undesirable bodies away. Hostile architecture treats public space like crime scenes
We treat public space like a museum: observe, don’t touch. But teenagers don’t want to hover politely – they want to hang out, experiment, test the city’s boundaries. As Herrington et al. argue: teens are a distinct “landscape user group with specific spatial needs,” yet they’re frequently excluded from design and policy, prevented from connecting with communities, civic life, even nature.
This omission isn’t innocent. We usher teens into nowhere – then scowl when they create a place out of thin air, even if it’s a graffitistained corner or a skate-worn plaza. Myra Taylor’s work on skateparks shows a recurring theme: adults cast skateboarders as antisocial deviants, and proposals for skate facilities are often shoved into quiet, out-of-the-way spaces. That drives a wedge between youth and the city, rather than bringing them in.
Loitering or left out? Placemaking over hostile design could turn our public realms into places of belonging, community, and connection observes
Christopher Martin
Scottish research echoes this: it’s boredom and a lack of open, affordable hang-out zones – not some intrinsic delinquency – that leads teens to roam or, occasionally, scruff things up. Worse, adults generalise: “all teenagers are antisocial,” the report says – even though, in truth, a vocal minority cause the bother, and prejudiced treatment often reinforces it. Teenage girls, in particular, feel unsafe unless in a group, and purpose-free spaces only contribute to a sense of disconnection.
The antidote to hostile design is placemaking – not defensive architecture aiming to shoo undesirable bodies away. Hostile architecture treats public space like crime scenes: “anti-loitering,” “anti-homeless” and “anti-skateboarding” features proliferate. These are intentional cues that readers of social behaviors will absorb as: “You’re not welcome here.” In contrast, true placemaking encourages copresence – mixing ages, groups, activities – through thoughtful layout, triangulated amenities, and flexible, inviting form.
Instead of reflexively calling teens antisocial, we should enable them to design the places they inhabit. Let them feel their town includes them, rather than writes them off.
So let’s use fewer lazy labels, and look harder at groups we don’t instantly understand. Teenagers aren’t the problem – we have simply failed them with barren, uninviting spaces. So before condemning teen hangouts as deviant, ask how your public spaces might instead amplify community, connection, and belonging.
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
RIn the heart of London, St James’s Park is being reimagined by Foster + Partners into a lasting memorial to Queen Elizabeth II to be enjoyed for generations to come
eigning for nearly 71 years, Queen Elizabeth II served as the monarch of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death in 2022, making her the longest-serving British sovereign and the longestreigning queen regnant in history. Her reign and service are now being honoured with a new national memorial, set in the heart of St James’s Park Lake in London.
The park as it exists today was designed in the 1820s by architect Sir John Nash, who sought to infuse the landscape with naturalism and romance – Nash is also known for designing Buckingham Palace which sits adjacent to the park.
St James’s Park got its name from the women’s hospital that resided on its grounds 470 years ago. The Leper Hospital of St. James the Less was a hospital for women suffering from leprosy.
Now the 23-hectare park located in the City of Westminster and bordered by three royal palaces, is set to get another grand makeover, this time at the proverbial hands of sustainable architecture practice, Foster + Partners - in collaboration with artist Yinka Shonibare and landscape designer Michel Desvigne.
A NEW BRIDGE, REPLACING THE EXISTING BLUE BRIDGE, WILL FEATURE A CAST-GLASS BALUSTRADE THAT RECALLS QUEEN ELIZABETH’S WEDDING TIARA
Exotic animals owned by King James I used to reside in St James’s Park, from camels to crocodiles, and even an elephant. The animals were later transferred to the – at the time – newly-formed Zoological Society in The Regents Park.
Reflecting the periods of change that took place throughout Queen Elizabeth II’s lifetime, the practice will be taking inspiration from Nash’s original design and combining stylistic elements of tradition and modernism.
“Some of [Nash's] principles have survived, whilst others have been lost and will be restored, creating a family of gardens joined by gently meandering paths”, says founder and executive chairman of Foster + Partners, Norman Foster.
The practice says the design looks to honour the late Queen’s ability to balance tradition and modernity; reflected in the two new gates and two new gardens that will reside on either side of St James’s Park Lake,
Some of [Nash's] principles have survived, whilst others have been lost and will be restored, creating a family of gardens joined by gently meandering paths
Norman Foster, founder and executive chairman, Foster + Partners
FOSTER + PARTNERS’ DESIGN CONCEPT FEATURES FIGURATIVE SCULPTURES
FOSTER + PARTNERS’ DESIGN CONCEPT FEATURES FIGURATIVE SCULPTURES
connected via a new translucent Unity Bridge – which will replace the existing Blue Bridge and will feature a cast-glass balustrade inspired by the tiara worn by the late Queen at her wedding to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. “[The Unity Bridge is] symbolic of Her Majesty as a unifying force, bringing together nations, countries, the Commonwealth, charities and the armed forces.”
As part of the redesign, a new space called Queen Elizabeth II Place will be established, located at Marlborough Gate down The Mall – the road that leads up to
Buckingham Palace. This new space will house a statue of the late Queen sitting on a horse, representing the monarch’s affinity to the animals.
A second entrance, located off Birdcage Walk, will open through the planned Prince Philip Gate, with a secondary statue nearby.
Winding stone pathways will line the memorial, leading visitors through a series of gardens – coined the ‘family of gardens’, which are dedicated to the Commonwealth and the communities of the UK. Dedicated seating areas will also be established to encourage reflection and provide accessibility. “Our design will have minimum impact on the nature and biodiversity of the park, and it will be phased to ensure that the precious route across it will never be closed.”
DID YOU KNOW?
King Charles II ordered French landscaper Andre Mollet to completely redesign St James’s Park after developing a love for formal Parisian gardens while in exile during the Civil War.
Foster + Partners will be collaborating with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee to continue developing its initial design concept. The final designs are expected to be announced in April next year, as well as a legacy programme to coincide with what would have been the late Queen’s hundredth birthday year.
horticulture. The aim is to pursue an ongoing exchange of knowledge in areas ranging from dry stone walling to sustainable urban drainage systems. Throughout 2025, Care Not Capital have trained 15 ‘modern gardeners’, as they’re labelled. The website states, “If we have more trained gardeners to look after new and existing spaces, we can have more biodiversity, more vegetation, more food and more climate-adapted green public space.”
If designers were assured of good maintenance, it would completely change the way they think and design public space
The modern gardener Grant, also known as the founder of planting design company LINDA, says, “Once you start upskilling gardeners, they're perceived as more valuable, because you realise that it can be a really nuanced job. These skills move that conversation on to looking at gardeners and how integral they are and how much better it is to put money into them." Next, they want to train NHS and council staff so public space can be enhanced for the people that need it most.
John Little and Susanna Grant discuss the necessity of investing in people to maintain public spaces as they wrap up the first CIC care not capital free training sessions
Founded at the end of last year, care not capital is a community interest company on a mission to invest in people rather than expensive infrastructure in public spaces. John Little and Susanna Grant met six years ago, conversing over the care (or lack) of public space. The pair are pushing for the upskilling and training of grounds maintenance gardeners who can consistently improve the space sat on the public’s doorstep.
The need for funding within public spaces is most prominent in social housing areas, argue Little and Grant. This is why they set up training sessions for gardeners in everything but
Down the line, this extra level of training would be a “game-changer” to the industry, says Little. Landscape designers, for example, would be able to concentrate on soft landscaping with the budget they’re given. This would be instead of using the money to put towards lowmaintenance hard landscaping elements. Not only does this contribute to biodiversity and wildlife habitats, but it is also more visually pleasing to the public eye. Especially for those with minimal access to green space.
There is so much potential within hospital and university grounds to actually make them beautiful places that bring joy to people and improve their health whilst giving the staff under stress in a hospital somewhere to sit and eat their lunch in a beautiful place
“If designers were assured of good maintenance, it would completely change the way they think and design public space,” says Little.
The impact of training a modern gardener could drastically i mprove a person’s quality of life, especially in social housing, hospital or university grounds, explains Little and Grant. “A lot of people living in social housing don't go to parks, but they do go through the piece of ground outside their house. Those are the bits of ground that never get funded and never get thought of. They are the most important places and they would change immediately if you just put a gardener in them without investing much capital.” Hospital grounds, too, can often be quite basic, according to Grant.
Public space to breathe
“There is so much potential within hospital and university grounds to actually make them beautiful places that bring joy to people and improve their health whilst giving the staff under stress in a hospital somewhere a place to sit and eat their lunch in a beautiful place. It's madness that we
don't have any focus on the places outside their doors," says Little.
Looking towards funding bodies with a community interest, Care
Not Capital also has a GoFundMe page open to the public, asking for donations towards the training scheme. The organisation plans to release next year’s training dates at the end of this year.
“It's not as if we're saying, stop investing in infrastructure. We're just saying that at the moment, the funding is skewed,” explains Little. Heavily invested-in projects, such as the High Line in New York City, are thriving whilst providing free access to public space for tourists and locals. Also a non-profit organisation, Friends of the High Line maintains the lush planting within the public park purely using donations.
Little is also the founder and director of The Grass Roof Company and its sister company, Green Roof Shelters, where he has been designing beautiful wildlife habitats in unlikely locations within public spaces, including the roofs of bike shelters and sheds. Whilst boosting biodiversity, Little makes the most out of the smallest spaces and turns them green.
What’s next?
We want to put the gardeners on display beautifully. It'll be a dynamic spectacle
Not only are Little and Grant looking forward to the next round of training, but they also turn to the Royal Horticultural Society with the intention of applying for a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The concept of the garden is to spotlight a number of gardeners each day of the show. “A garden of gardeners”, says Little, which would have to be on Main Avenue. “We want to put the gardeners on display beautifully. It'll be a dynamic spectacle,” evokes Grant.
Whilst they wouldn’t worry about medals, the garden would showcase gardeners from all backgrounds who maintain social housing, wealthy back gardens, or hospital grounds. All they need is a sponsor.
Donate to care not capital Scan the QR code to go to The GoFundMe page Email: info@carenotcapital.org
How can we balance public safety and environmental sensitivity through lighting design in public realms?
In 1878, Paris, France became the first city in the world to illuminate its streets and pathways with electric lighting. By the early 20th century, this bright, glittering innovation had become the norm, with electric light firmly established as the standard for public illumination in urban areas.
As technology advanced and human settlements expanded, so too did the reach of artificial lighting. We have lit
If you can see the light sources in a lighting layout where you are, it's going to be difficult to then see people's faces
our way through the darkness to create supposedly safer, more convenient environments for ourselves – but have we paused to consider the consequences this is having on not just our own safety, but the wellbeing of wildlife in these areas?
Founded as the International Dark-Sky Association in 1988, DarkSky is a non-profit
organisation advocating for responsible outdoor lighting practices that minimise light trespass, glare, and skyglow, with the intent to better protect the environment and the public.
When considering public safety, it has arguably been the assumption that the brighter a space, the better – but lighting programme manager at DarkSky, James Brigagliano, says this isn’t necessarily the case; harsh flood lighting can actually have the reverse effect.
Brigagliano describes how when an area is flooded with unshielded light, our eyes are drawn to the light source, obscuring our vision in the process. But by adding a shield, the light spill is redirected, allowing for greater visibility. “The main thing is not having a visible source. The brightest part of a light is the LED inside... What we're trying to do at night is allow our eyes to adapt to a dark space. And they can adapt, if the light levels are reasonable.”
He explains that by flooding an area with unshielded, high-level light, we create a “glare bomb effect”. The LED is the brightest thing in your field of view, making it harder for our eyes to adjust or see anything past the glare. “If you can see the light sources in a lighting
A 2019 study of more than 80 locations in Melbourne, Australia, found that excessive urban lighting did not alleviate women’s fear when travelling at night.1
layout where you are, it's going to be difficult to then see people's faces.”
Brigagliano demonstrates how by attaching a lighting shield to the torch, the glare is reduced but the surrounding area remains illuminated. “When you shield that light source, you are just illuminating surfaces, which is really what you want to be lit, so that you can see where you're going. Now, your eye has enough range to expose for the dark and lighter areas, and your overall vision is going to be way more acute.”
As well as the impact on public safety, studies on the Artificial Light at Night Database show that light pollution has also had an adverse effect on ecosystems and wildlife.
“Anytime you have a light that's on your property and it's not shielded, that light is just going to travel. If it's coming out at
a high angle, like 80 or 90 degrees or more, it's going to travel until it hits something like trees for example.”
Many species of wildlife rely on natural darkness for navigation, feeding, and reproduction; birds could become disoriented during nocturnal migrations, insects can be drawn away from essential habitats, and mammals may alter their movement patterns to avoid illuminated areas. Over time, these disruptions can fragment ecosystems, interfere with breeding cycles, and reduce the availability of food sources, creating a ripple effect that potentially threatens the balance of entire habitats.
“There's also a lighting application part of this. This is where a lighting design professional would be involved because it also depends on where you put light fixtures. If you have a property, you put light fixtures right on the edge of your property border, right? But if you have a pond or a reserve or something next to it, you're going to have unwanted light spill”, which as Brigagliano says is going to impact local wildlife – “so you’ve got to put them in the correct spots.”
So, how can we combine functionality with environmental sensitivity? DarkSky and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) have produced five key principles to adhere to when incorporating lighting into a scheme. In order of priority, they are:
“Only use the light if it's needed...If you don't need it, don't put a light there.”
Targeted
“If you're trying to light a path, light the path. Don't light beyond 20ft on each side.”
Low Level
“Don't light [a space] brighter than necessary... Because what we find a lot of times is that installations go in and they're 10 times brighter than what the standard is, and that's a waste.”
“We're talking about lighting controls like timers and motion sensors, things that will make sure that the light is off if it's not being used.”
Warm-coloured
“Use warmer colour lights when possible. But it’s also specific to your project. If you're in an urban setting, you could probably get away with 3,000k no problem. But, if you're in a sea turtle nesting area then you probably need an amber light.”
These principles have also been incorporated into IES recommended practices, which Brigagliano believes is just the beginning – “in the future, there will likely be more DarkSky language in revised standards, and I would expect new recommendations/standards would consider and include DarkSky principles as well.”
Anytime you have a light that's on your property and it's not shielded, that light is just going to travel until it hits something like trees for example
So, while we’re continually looking for ways to improve our public realms, it is also key to remember that these spaces are not ours alone; they are shared with the natural world, and our approach to lighting should reflect that shared responsibility, with the added benefit of improving our own safety in the process.
References 1 https://theconversation.com/more-lightingalone-does-not-create-safer-cities-look-at-whatresearch-with-young-women-tells-us-113359
To find out more about the DarkSky movement, visit darksky.org
The
Community driven green spaces have increasingly been recognised for their mental and physical benefits, as well as their ability in many cases to encourage recreation, relaxation, and engagement with nature.
In a report published by the Mental Health Foundation in 20211, researchers coined the phrase ‘connectedness’ to describe the ideal relationship between us and nature, referring to the way we relate to and experience nature, highlighting the ways we can get the most out of our green spaces, and underscoring the importance of such spaces.
The winning design for the 2025 RHS Design & Build competition looks to provide one such space. Designed by Level 4 RHS Diploma in Horticultural Practice student, Lucy Stephens based at RHS Garden Wisley, The Glade has been brought to life at mental health charity, Dose of Nature’s Guildford site at the National Trust’s Dapdune Wharf. “I have responded to the brief [given by the charity] by aiming to create a welcoming and interactive space where anyone using the garden can feel immersed in nature,” says Stephens.
Dose of Nature is a national charity established to promote the mental health benefits of engaging with the natural world. Working with people with mental health conditions and the general population, encouraging everyone to connect with nature to support better mental health.
doseofnature.org.uk
Inspired by the visual of an unfurling fern, the new community garden has been designed with community engagement and environmental connection in mind. “In the brief fractal patterns were mentioned and I really liked this idea of these repeated patterns throughout nature being healing.” The sweeping and curved pathways, while took longer than a straight path would have to lay, were “worth it” for the end effect, adds Stephens.
Key areas of the garden include a craft coppice with hazels and dogwood to cut and use as weaving materials, a foraging area to
harvest edibles, a dedicated seating area for socialising and nature observation, and a yoga area. “These are all intended to encourage strengthening the visitor's connection to nature and helping them feel restored in doing so”, says Stephens. Dr Cat Huckle, lead psychologist at Dose of Nature adds “the imagery of a light clearing in the dark resonated with [Dose of Nature] and [its] work. [The Charity’s] clients will be able to seek refuge and peace here and access our group activities in a truly restorative setting.”
One of the garden's standout features is the newly established wildlife pond, created by
were mentioned and I really liked this idea of these repeated patterns throughout nature being healing
fellow diploma student Conor Craig to further encourage biodiversity and foster the site’s
ecological health. “A lot of materials, including old paving slabs and turf, were used to fill half the pond, meaning they didn't need to be thrown away.”
The garden was built over a period of five days by Stephens and the fellow members of her cohort, all led by landscape tutor, David Wallbridge. The team was also joined by Dose of Nature clients, volunteers, and staff to help in the build.
Stephens' own love for being outdoors and surrounded by nature is echoed throughout the area, with zones not only for community engagement, but with space also given over to the local wildlife as well. “The garden has a strong focus on encouraging wildlife, with large amounts of pollinator
friendly planting, a habitat wall and wildlife houses throughout.”
The planting palette is made up of cultivated versions of species commonly found along river banks and canals, and well suited to the shady conditions of the garden, such as lythrum salicaria eupatorium cannabinum and filipendula ulmaria – all of which can be found on the RHS’s recently updated Plants for Pollinators list, which now boasts nearly 10k plants, equating to almost 15% of all plants available to buy in the UK. Stephens notes the planting was also purposefully selected to “help the garden blend in with its surroundings”, harmonising the old and new to create a cohesive and vibrant environment.
The garden has a strong focus on encouraging wildlife, with large amounts of pollinator friendly planting, a habitat wall and wildlife houses throughout
The space is now in the hands of Dose of Nature, which will incorporate the gardens maintenance into the group activities it carries out as part of the charity’s nature-led prescription programme, for which the site is already being incorporated into continuing to fostering connectedness with nature.
References 1 https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/ research/nature-how-connecting-nature-benefitsour-mental-health
As traditional weed control methods face growing scrutiny, NaturaVolt shares how electric weeding is redefining vegetation management with high-voltage precision
In an era increasingly focused on environmental stewardship, traditional weed control methods, particularly chemical herbicides, are under scrutiny. Concerns over biodiversity loss, chemical residues in food and water, and the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds are driving a demand for safer, greener alternatives. Enter electric weeding –a groundbreaking technology which harnesses the power of high-voltage electricity to target the roots. It promises to revolutionise how we manage unwanted vegetation, offering a powerful, systemic solution for everything from urban pathways to vast agricultural fields, with profound implications for a healthier planet.
How does it work?
Concerns over biodiversity loss, chemical residues in food and water, and the emergence of herbicideresistant weeds are driving a demand for safer, greener alternatives
The magic of electric weeding lies in its ability to disrupt a plant's cellular structure. An electrode makes contact with the weed, sending a high-voltage current through the plant, usually in the range of several thousand volts. The circuit is completed as the current travels through the roots, into the soil, and back to an electrode on the machine. The plant's natural resistance converts the electrical energy into heat. Rapid internal heating causes water molecules within plant cells to vaporise, leading to high internal pressure which bursts the cell walls. No longer able to transport water and nutrients, the plant wilts and dies.
How does it compare to alternatives?
Electric weeding offers a compelling alternative to other methods:
• Chemical herbicides are highly effective and efficient in terms of application speed. However, their drawbacks include environmental contamination, harm to beneficial insects, the development of resistant weed populations, and potential risks to human and animal health.
• Mechanical/Manual weeding methods can be labour-intensive. In contrast to electric weeding, they involve physically disturbing the soil. This can disrupt soil structure, harm beneficial soil microorganisms, and bring dormant seeds to the surface, leading to new weed outbreaks.
• Thermal weeding (flame/hot water/steam/ hot foam) methods apply heat to weeds. Unlike electric weeding, they typically only damage the aerial parts of the plant, so the remaining roots can form new shoots. They can also pose a fire risk in dry conditions and also activate dormant seeds.
How long does it last?
The systemic action of electricity significantly reduces the chances of regrowth, particularly for annual weeds, and with skilled application lasts for many months from one treatment. For
perennial and deep-rooted weeds, multiple applications may be necessary, but weakening of the root system means that subsequent treatments are often less frequent and less intensive. Studies show that electric weeding can provide control comparable to, or better than, chemical herbicides, with results lasting for an extended period. In addition, no seeds in the surrounding area are disturbed or activated during treatment, which reduces overall growth.
No seeds in the surrounding area are disturbed or activated during treatment, which reduces overall growth
What areas are suitable for treating?
Electric weeding technology can be adapted for a wide range of applications:
• Market gardens and nurseries can benefit from precise targeting that doesn't harm their valuable plants.
• Public spaces and urban environments managed by councils and parks departments are increasingly adopting electric weeding, including sensitive areas like playgrounds.
• Waterways, where chemical use is restricted or undesirable.
• Hard surfaces, including paving, kerbsides, gravel, driveways, and similar.
• Sports grounds where it is highly effective on weeds in artificial turf and around pitches.
• Areas of invasive, deep-rooted species such as Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed, where a technology targeting the root is ideal.
What equipment is available?
The electric weeding market is growing, with a range of equipment available for
different scales of operation:
• Hand-operated and walk-behind: Professional-grade units built by companies like eWeeding, Zasso, Kersten and Ramm are available for small-scale commercial use, municipal spot-weeding, and sensitive areas.
• Larger commercial systems: These systems often use a PTO (Power Take-Off) driven generator from the tractor to supply power.
RootWave and Garford (UK) offer tractor-mounted systems.
Zasso (Switzerland) provides "Electroherb" technology, including tractor-mounted "XPower" systems.
Old School Manufacturing (USA) offers "The Weed Zapper".
Crop.zone (Germany) electro-weeding applicators are often used in conjunction with a conductivity-enhancing solution.
What technological developments could we see in the near future?
Electric weeders are rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements and demand for sustainable solutions. The next 3-5 years could see significant developments:
• Increased automation and robotics, with machines capable of navigating environments independently, identifying weeds with AI, and applying targeted treatment. This will drastically reduce labour costs and increase efficiency.
• Improved power efficiency and battery technology will reduce reliance on fossil fuels for generators.
• Combination technologies integrating electric weeding with other operations such as brushing to further reduce labour costs.
• A wider application range will make electric weeding viable for more environments, including challenging terrain, specific weeds and other sensitivities.
How can organisations adopt electric weed control?
For local authorities, landscape contractors, and large estates, integration into grounds maintenance requires a strategic approach:
Assess current practices and needs: Quantify the labour and cost associated with current methods, and identify areas where chemical use is problematic.
Develop an Integrated Weed Management Strategy: This should include preventative measures (e.g. mulching/ brushing) alongside electric weeding and other non-chemical methods.
Phased implementation: Start with pilot programs in specific, manageable areas to evaluate effectiveness, efficiency and operational costs. A phased approach enables learning and adaptation before widespread adoption.
Investment: Electric weeders can cost more than sprayers, but consider the long-term savings from reduced chemical purchases, decreased labour, and enhanced reputation. Invest in operator training to maximise efficacy.
Contract services: For organisations without the capital to invest in equipment up-front, contract services can be a viable option.
Public communication and stakeholder engagement: Foster positive community relations by highlighting your commitment to sustainability and the benefits of chemical-free weed control.
Performance monitoring: Track weed recurrence, treatment frequency, and associated costs. This data will inform future planning and demonstrate the return on investment.
Electric weeding is more than just a new tool; it represents a paradigm shift in how we approach weed management. As the technology matures and becomes more accessible, it promises a future where effective weed control goes hand-inhand with environmental protection, fostering healthier landscapes for all.
At
one of the UK’s busiest airports, a proposed wellbeing garden shows
how design and tech can reclaim even the greyest spaces
Once you step into Departures, it can be hours before you breathe in fresh air again. For airport staff working long shifts indoors, this is a daily reality. That’s why plans for a dedicated staff wellbeing garden at a major UK airport have been set in motion.
Budding Landscape Design, led by founder and lead designer, Christine Mulinder, was invited by a large international haulage and transport firm based at the airport to develop an early-stage concept for a staff garden. Far from the existing expanse of paving, sporadically-located picnic benches, and an unattractive smoking shelter nearby, the design reimagines this functional outdoor area as a calming, inclusive, accessible retreat.
Creating a restorative space in a highsecurity, complex, and irregularly-shaped site posed several design and surveying challenges. But with a smart approach to measuring and a strong vision for wellbeingled outdoor spaces, Budding Landscape Design delivered a proposal that rethinks how even the most utilitarian spaces can support health and connection.
The proposal focuses on transforming an underwhelming, paved staff area into a multifunctional wellbeing garden that promotes both relaxation and productivity. The brief called for inclusivity, sensory interest, and a clear ecological conscience.
“A colourful theme with lots of perennial texture planting was presented, to give sensory options for the wellbeing area, plus a rain curtain water feature for visual effect”, Mulinder explains. Accessibility is a key consideration in this space: the brief stipulates that the garden needs to accommodate neurodivergent staff, provide wheelchair access, and offer a choice of private and communal zones. Covered and open areas for outdoor meetings, discreet phone calls, and relaxed breaks must all be factored in.
Mulinder shares how she set about making the design accessible and safe for its future users. “I used my Moasure device to ensure the existing sloped paving was below the maximum recommended gradient for wheelchair suitability, as per the British Standard. I selected modular wooden blocks for seating areas and planters as they can be arranged to give wide
walkways, are ecologically friendly, and allow for smart, neat designs that can be arranged over the whole site.”
A colourful theme with lots of perennial texture planting was presented, to give sensory options for the wellbeing area, plus a rain curtain water feature for visual effect
Christine Mulinder
At the front of the building, poorly maintained beds and mismatched planters need an upgrade to tie in with the wellbeing garden and make the overall welcome more cohesive. To the right of the reception area, a utilitarian corner housing HVAC equipment has been earmarked for screening and seating, creating a far more inviting extension to the space.
One of the most unusual constraints is that the existing block paving cannot be removed. Any proposed garden features, including furniture, beds, pergolas and trees, need to be installed on top of the current surface.
“I have chosen a company that provides green roof pergolas for both the meeting area and the smoking shelter to give coherence to the design and provide ecological benefit,” she says. “In addition, umbrella canopy trees are incorporated in the reception area seating plan, underplanted to give colour and match the wellbeing area.”
By using elevated planters, modular seating and layered planting, Mulinder has been able to introduce greenery and structure without digging into the ground, a smart solution for a sensitive site with multiple restrictions.
With strict site access to this airside space, and limited time available to measure up, Mulinder needed a way to gather accurate dimensions efficiently, without the long-winded process and personnel required for traditional survey methods. “Given that the site was 1170m², Moasure was invaluable for being able to plot the site in context to show each element’s relation to the other parts”, Mulinder explains. Using a motion-based measuring device from Moasure, Mulinder was able to walk the site while generating a dimensioned 3D map live in the Moasure app, capturing perimeter, area, volume and elevation changes in real time.
The quick and efficient measurement process also benefited the client, as she explains “Due to the sensitivity and security of the site, the client needed to chaperone me, and Moasure allowed me to measure quickly and efficiently, without taking up too much of the client’s time.”
Once back at her desk, Mulinder exported the Moasure data in DXF format and imported it directly into Vectorworks. With no need to redraw or estimate dimensions, focus could switch straight to layout, planting design and structural features. The accuracy of the measurements meant that key relationships – such as how close the
smoking shelter should be to the rest area –were informed by data, not guesswork. “When deciding where the smoking shelter should be, Moasure allowed me to position it so that it was not excluded from the wellbeing area, creating a two-tier approach to leisure spaces, but also not too close so that those in the wellbeing area were surrounded by smoke.”
Mulinder also made full use of Moasure’s Layers functionality to map out the existing paved area’s notable features, enabling her to capture and label fixed site details like drainage covers and utility access points. “It would be no use placing benches over grids where access was needed, and Layers allowed me to plot these very quickly.”
While few projects are as high security as an airport garden, the principles Mulinder applied to this design are widely transferable, especially when working with tight access, complex geometry, and limited time. Her advice?
• Work digitally from the start of the project to minimise rework
• Choose tools that slot into your workflow (e.g. Moasure + Vectorworks)
• Take time to map site features and obstacles, not just boundaries
• Design with accessibility and multi-use in mind, not as an afterthought. The project has yet to break ground, but Christine’s approach shows what’s possible when measurement and design technology work seamlessly together, streamlining the journey from vision to polished proposal.
USE GAME-CHANGING TOOLS Devices like Moasure 2 PRO allow you to walk and record site data in 3D space, even in oddlyshaped or hard-to-reach areas.
MAP MULTIPLE ELEMENTS IN ONE DIAGRAM
Track not just boundaries, but key features – like manholes, planters, or machinery – on separate layers for smarter design decisions.
MINIMISE DISRUPTION
Efficient measuring protects your time and that of your clients, especially in locations where access is limited or security is tight.
EXPORT DIRECTLY TO CAD I exported in DXF format for Vectorworks, but you can also use PDF, CSV or image formats depending on your workflow.
THINK IN CONTEXT
Use measurement tools to understand how design elements relate to each other, not just the site boundary itself.
“I measured the space in about 15 minutes, and it gave me everything I needed to start designing in Vectorworks straightaway.”
Flash floods and hosepipe bans are two sides of the same climate coinand both demand a radical rethink of surface water management
We need to think differently about surface water management if we’re to bolster our urban communities against the worsening effects of climate change. While the UK has just experienced its hottest June on record, devastating flash floods in Catalonia underline the extreme rainfall events that come hand in hand with increasingly hotter and drier weather.
Grey infrastructure does still have its place, but it’s time for a broad shift to sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) that restore or mirror the natural water cycle
Paradoxically, flooding on the continent and hosepipe bans at home both make the same point: we’ve got surface water management wrong in our urban centres. Outdated drainage infrastructure, much of which dates to the Victorian era, is designed to funnel water out of town as quickly as possible and is ill-equipped to handle a future with
more rain, more people, and more buildings.
Grey infrastructure does still have its place, but it’s time for a broad shift to sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) that restore or mirror the natural water cycle, storing surface water then releasing it back into the environment at a controlled rate. Many of these are still artificial solutions, but they should be paired with ‘green’ SuDS that harness nature’s inherent talent for a superior level of water management.
Wavin is pioneering next generation SuDS, and is bringing its newest products, PolderRoof and TreeTanks, to the UK market for the first time. These have the power to transform a city’s underused urban spaces into smarter, futureproofed hubs for water management.
Going from grey to green was once the industry’s end goal in surface water management, but more decision makers are beginning to see that it’s not as simple as green equals good and grey equals bad.
Recent SuDS success stories
embrace forward-thinking grey infrastructure alongside green interventions that support drainage, biodiversity, and quality of life.
In Copenhagen, authorities have implemented a grey-green approach composed of expanded grey infrastructure including sewer networks and stormwater storage roads, and new green interventions such as green roofs and permeable pavements to combat damaging and frequent extreme rainfall.
Wavin has supported similar projects in Amsterdam and London, including smart technology that monitors weather conditions and adapts how sustainable drainage systems retain and reuse water as a result. Now, PolderRoof, its latest solution for smart rooftop water management, is available in the UK.
PolderRoof consists of a horizontal attenuation layer that collects water, while sensors for water levels and weather conditions along with a platform with access to weather forecasts and hyperlocal rain data decide what to do with it. When the rain keeps falling, water can be used for plants, but also for evaporation or
building cooling, or retained and rationed during drier periods.
Implemented right, sustainable drainage systems offer more than protection from extreme weather – they offer the opportunity for developments to become healthier, more self-sufficient, and more sustainable.
High-tech interventions such as PolderRoof are best implemented at building level, but many of the most powerful SuDS programmes are those being implemented across whole communities by local authorities, and that means addressing surface water at street level, where space and opportunities for large-scale SuDS are in short supply.
This is where small injections of nature can make a difference, particularly if they’re augmented by artificial SuDS under the surface. Tree tanks are a perfect example –the Wavin TreeTank is a new solution that allows trees to flourish in urban environments while helping manage surface water and put it to use making the community a nicer place to live and work. The modular tanks are installed around a void where the tree will be positioned, collecting surface water to keep the tree healthy while helping prevent roots from destroying roads and pavements.
The modular design enables installation teams to design a specific solution for the space they’re working with, and makes these grey-green SuDS a viable and effective option for more communities. Having helped cool, beautify and decarbonise cities across Europe, TreeTank is now available in the UK market for the first time.
There is no perfect defence against the impact of extreme heat and rainfall across the UK and Europe, and long-term resilience will look different depending on the specific needs of each urban community.
However, we can be confident that, whatever the situation on the ground, a sustainable answer will be a grey-green patchwork of public and private sector interventions.
STo achieve this, industry leaders, policymakers, and installers all need better education on the opportunity offered by SuDS, but progress could also be helped with forward-thinking legislation and guidance that
prioritises sustainable drainage on new developments.
Wavin plays a key role here – not just as a manufacturer, but as a trusted partner in creating bespoke, complete solutions for urban centres. Whether it’s engineered attenuation tanks in in the form of AquaCell NG, smart rooftop water management with PolderRoof, or green interventions like TreeTank, Wavin creates the right solutions for maximum climate resilience. Through our expert StormForce service – an end-to-end SuDS delivery model – we help developers and local authorities integrate sustainable drainage seamlessly into projects at any scale. Backed by design expertise and a five-year installation warranty, StormForce ensures systems are resilient, compliant, and built to support nature for the long haul.
This expertise means manufacturers like Wavin are perfectly placed to help the industry not only meet today’s
There’s no doubt, both in the water industry and beyond, that our approach to surface water management needs to change. Outdated drainage infrastructure simply cannot cope with population growth and the worsening effects of climate change; upgrading this infrastructure is a long-term project, but the impacts are being felt now.
SuDS offer a real opportunity to change our relationship with water without costly and disruptive wholesale changes. The right approach is one that combines high-tech grey SuDS with natural ones that improve our cities across the board - and it’s an approach that must start now.
drainage challenges but also be fully prepared for upcoming regulatory changes. Legislation to this effect is in the pipes (if you’ll pardon the pun) in the UK –Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 would mandate inclusion of SuDS on new developments, but is still waiting for implementation. This would be a powerful step towards achieving consensus on SuDS as the government embarks upon large-scale housebuilding.
See PolderRoof and TreeTank in action at Public Spaces Expo and find out what they could do for your community at Wavin’s stand P71 from Tuesday 7 to Wednesday 8 October.
Martin Lambley
Senior product manager for urban climate resilience at Wavin
Scan for more information on Wavin’s urban climate resilience offering
Hillier's top UK trees for pet-friendly landscapes
Common Alder
Fast growing and naturally suited to damp areas, Common Alder is a champion of soil and wildlife health. Its nitrogen fixing roots enrich soil structure, while early spring catkins provide vital resources for pollinators. Non-toxic to pets and often found near rivers and wetlands, it's a great choice for dog friendly trails, flood prone areas, and sustainable planting schemes.
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Soil conditions: Moist to waterlogged or clay soils
Lucas Hornbeam
Streetwise Field Maple
This sleek, upright cultivar of the UK’s only native maple is perfectly tailored to the demands of modern public spaces.
Compact and hardy, Acer campestre ‘Streetwise’ thrives in tight urban settings like car parks, pavements, and verges, without compromising on visual appeal. Non-toxic to pets, it’s a safe and low risk option for dog friendly zones. Autumn brings golden tones, while its resilience to pollution and poor soils makes it a go-to for sustainable, biodiverse planting.
Position: Full sun to light shade
Soil conditions: Well-drained; tolerant of clay, chalk, and compacted soils
Silver Birch
Elegant and airy, Silver Birch stands tall with its striking white bark and light canopy. Non-toxic to pets, it suits community parks and naturalised schemes, where open shade and dappled light are needed. Though its pollen may trigger reactions in sensitive animals, it generally poses no risk and supports biodiversity through barkdwelling insects and bird nesting.
Position: Full sun
Soil Conditions: Well-drained; prefers light or sandy soils
A narrow, upright cultivar of Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus
‘Lucas’ is ideal for tight urban spaces, streetscapes, and avenues. It is non-toxic and considered safe for pets, making it a reliable option for public areas where animals roam. Its dense, columnar form offers structure and screening without encroaching on space. Tolerant of pruning, it thrives in urban conditions while maintaining strong visual appeal throughout the seasons.
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Conditions: Moist, well-drained; prefers clay or loamy soils
Common Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna offers dense, upright structure and vibrant ecological value. Safe for pets, its spring flowers attract pollinators while autumn berries feed native birds. Ideal as a standalone tree or hedging element in public parks, Hawthorn enhances shelter and visual texture year-round. Especially valuable in community gardens and nature focused landscapes.
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Soil conditions: Moist, well-drained; tolerant of exposed sites
The eWeeding roller treats the plant root so surfaces remain weed free for months. The side shift feature enables precision treatment for kerbs, edges or borders. The roller is quick and easy to set up and treat and its compact design makes it easily transportable.
Technical Specifications
• Fully battery powered
• Treatment width: 60cm
• Input power: 3,000 Watts
• Output: up to 10,000V and 2A
• 3-6 hours of
Designed by William H. Crossland and opened in 1871, Rochdale Town Hall in Greater Manchester stands as one of the most historically significant buildings in the country. Described by the heritage archive public body, Historic England, as being ‘rivalled in importance only by those contained within the Palace of Westminster’, the Grade I-listed building’s Gothic Revival style architecture and jewel-like interior “exemplify the apex of
High Victorian design”, says landscape architect, Gillespies.
Come the early 21st century, the building and its surroundings had unfortunately fallen into disrepair, rendering it unsuitable for the needs of the local community and the Rochdale Borough Council. With funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the council commissioned a comprehensive restoration project to restore this Victorian
jewel to its former graduer and reconnecting it with the community.
The goal? To sensitively restore and adapt the Town Hall’s interiors and historic fabric, transform the external environment into a welcoming, vibrant civic space, and open up the building to a wider audience.
Where public access to the building's grounds was once restricted, through the removal of surrounding grounds and parking
areas, and the installation of new paving, the space has been given over to the local community, creating an open, safe space for everyone to engage with the building’s history and surrounding landscape; it has been retrofitted to accommodate large-scale events, markets, and daily community life.
“The removal of surrounding roads and car parks has improved local air quality, reduced emissions, and encouraged active travel by making walking and cycling safer and more appealing,” adds Gillespies.
• Pachysandra terminalis
• Geranium ‘Brookside’
• Rhododendron ‘Percy Wiseman’
• Vinca minor ‘Alba’
When work began on the project, issues arose when the existing ground was found to be contaminated. To decrease costs incurred by removing the affected materials from the site, Wright Landscapes conducted a level survey to ascertain how far the contamination ran, determining how much of the existing tarmac and hard landscaping could remain in place and how much needed to be removed. It was found that much of the tarmac was suitable for retention, which Wright says ensured the scheme remained “financially viable”.
Throughout the project, several mitigation measures were taken to minimise the impact on nearby residents, as well as the scheme’s environmental footprint. These included the optimisation of delivery routes to reduce traffic disruption, encouraging car sharing amongst the team, and collaborating with lead contractor H.H. Smith, to adhere to strict noise and working hours to minimise noise disruption. While reclaimed York stone and HVO fuel were implemented to reduce carbon emissions.
Placing a strong emphasis on green infrastructure, the new public realm now boasts new lawns, tree-lined routes, and an extensive native planting palette – the latter
Project value £3.8m Build time 18 months
Size of project
Part of a larger Town Hall regeneration scheme to transform the Grade one listed building Awards National Landscape Awards 2024 Hard Landscaping Construction (Non – Domestic) – over £500k winner
designed to reduce urban heat island effects, support biodiversity, and manage surface water, with the support of permeable paving.
Using Root Space module structure, 35 semi-mature trees were planted within the hard and soft landscaped areas – with installation methods varying dependent on location; trees within the hardscaped areas were equipped with a RootRain inlet irrigation system and backfilled with a mixture of one part topsoil and two parts tree planting compost to encourage successful establishment and further growth.
Remaining sensitive to the site’s heritage was a key consideration throughout the project, implementing many features that complimented the historic architecture –ultimately bringing the space into the modern era though accessible reworks, while retaining
its recognised heritage and established presence in the city.
At the entrance to the building, a new warp and weft carpet of natural stone paving slabs create what is referred to as ‘The Rochdale Carpet’.
Drawing on the Town Hall’s historic interior, the paving slabs have been adorned with artwork by Doodhler, featuring symbols like cotton plants and the Lancashire Rose.
Bespoke glazed Global benches inspired by global textile fabric patterns have also been installed throughout the space to invite engagement and create accessibility, while new access ramps and steps, as well as a new wraparound terrace which provides access to all entrances have also been installed to open the space up to a wider demographic.
Given the substantial area of paving installed, Wright Landscapes implemented a series of contraction joints at each formation layer to futureproof the space and prevent future cracking or movement due to high foot fall.
Construction joints were strategically cut at 6m intervals in a grid system, providing flexibility for ground movement. Wider sections featured full expansion joints extending from the finished surface to the underside of the tarmac, completed with a pliable mastic joint to accommodate movement across layers.
The new granite walls erected complement the existing statue of actor and entertainer, Gracie Fields, which gained national recognition in 2016 as the first statue of a women unveiled in Greater Manchester in more than a century.
The project has also helped to deliver substantial social value, with over 3,600 volunteer, training, and job opportunities created, alongside a new heritage skills studio established to provide conservation training.
With increased event capacity, improved accessibility, and a dramatically enhanced public realm, Rochdale Town Hall has been reinstated s the civic and cultural heart of the borough. The revitalised space now fosters civic pride and community ownership and is expected to significantly support local businesses, boost tourism and skills development in the area.
Gillespies is a diverse, free-thinking team of landscape architects, landscape planners, masterplanners, and urban designers. It is committed to designing intelligently with nature to build human stories while protecting the earth’s equilibrium. gillespies.co.uk
Wright Landscapes offer clients total project management from design to civils and landscape to maintenance operating from its purpose-built nursery in Knutsford. wrightlandscapes.co.uk
Client Rochdale Borough Council
Lead architect Donald Insall Associates donaldinsallassociates. co.uk
Landscape architect Gillespies gillespies.co.uk
Landscape contractor Wright Landscapes wrightlandscapes.co.uk
Main contractor H.H. Smith hhsmith.co.uk
Development manager Rochdale Development Agency investinrochdale.co.uk
Paving Marshalls marshalls.co.uk Hardscape hardscape.co.uk
Grout Instarmac instarmac.co.uk
Planting Pickmere Nursery (Wright Landscapes) wrightlandscapes. co.uk/project/ pickmere-nursery
Project value
Approx. £300k
Build time
Eight months
Size of project 130m2 Awards
Civic Trust Award in the Pro Tem category and shortlisted for 2023 AJ Architecture Awards
An initiative sparked by Southwark Council in 2019, a public competition called for ideas and operators to create an overall vision and masterplan for Holyrood Street, London, as part of the Low Line project beneath the tracks headed into London Bridge station. An area that was originally used as a bin store, the transformation project intended to
facilitate a cultural public destination.
Prioritised by the council in the New Southwark Plan and the London Bridge Culture Strategy, the unique destination has always had potential to knit together existing physical assets of London Bridge with the social fabric of the neighbourhood. Surrounded by a view of iconic
One of the main design objectives was to make the most out of the limited floorspace by utilising the blank wall of no 7 Holyrood Street as a metal veil trellis for vines to grow up against
buildings such as The Shard, City Hall and London Bridge station, the complex juxtaposition of character attracts a diverse crowd. The opportunities that lie beneath the tracks and hidden between the arches of London Bridge station fall on the Low Line project, which has created a community for locals and visitors.
Nestled between Gibbons Rent secret garden and Shant Street, no. seven Holyrood Street is a small space intended to boost biodiversity by filling the area with lush greenery using raised beds with roof plantings and a steel bar veil creating a green wall. “One of the main design objectives was to make the most out of the limited floorspace by utilising the blank wall of no. seven Holyrood Street as a metal veil trellis for vines to grow up against. The trellis is crowned by a large ‘HOLYROOD’ sign, with the aspiration to increase visibility and public perception of this section of the Low Line from trains arriving at London Bridge Station,” says Macfarlane + Associates.
1 Holyrood Kiosk creating a sense of arrival to the street
2 View of the kiosk looking down from Holyrood Streettowards Bermondsey street
3 Verdant planting surrounding seating benches
The kiosk has been designed as a temporary use building; to be fully demountable after its 10-year lifespan. A multi-sensory nature space, the kiosk also provides visitors with direct access to nature while mitigating pollution and rising temperatures. Every plant is set to be repurposed for other spaces within the business improvement district.
Visible from the Bermondsey Street tunnel, the kiosk gives Holyrood Street a strong sense of place identity with easy access and wayfinding. It has been designed to improve the quality of the public realm whilst striving to increase inclusivity and encourage spontaneous interaction. Occupied by restaurant and cocktail bar Low Line Louie last summer, the space helped boost the local economy. Planters from Gibbons Rest have
ZONE 1: GIBBON'S RENT AND SENSORY CLIMBERS
• Flowering climbers in public realm
• Shrub and tree planting to match palette in Gibbon's Rent
• Sensory planting to enhance experience within public realm
ZONE 2: BIODIVERSE AND SPORADIC CLIMBERS
• Plug planting on container roofs provide biodiversity benefits
• Low maintenance
• Creates colour interest
ZONE 3: HIGH PERFORMING VERTICAL CLIMBERS
• Climbing plants encouraged to grow onto webnet system and up vertical face on adjacent building
• Provide evergreen cover
• High performing vigorous climbing plants
been extended into the space as a means to navigate visitors into Holyrood Street. This extension of large planters also acts as protection for the kiosk, combining safety into the public realm.
The kiosk transforms the Low Line into a robust piece of green infrastructure; a biodiverse place that truly brings people together with nature in a dense, urban setting
Using a mix of sensory, sporadic and high performing vertical climbers, planting decisions were made to maximise visibility for passersby to create an instant impact. Separated into three zones, the first lies on the ground floor. Zone one planting is reflective of the existing palette along Gibbon’s Rent such as Chimonanthus praecox ‘Grandiflorus’ and Sambucus nigra. Zone two consists of mediterranean plants offering seasonal interest. Thriving with minimal water, intense sun and reflection
was key, according to Macfarlane + Associates, since occupiers of the kiosk may not be trained in specialised plant care. One challenge that Macfarlane + Associates encountered weighed on the climber support. Whilst the bar spacings were appropiate, they seemed too thick a slick for the climbers to be successful. The contractor attached trellis wire on some of the key veil supports as a form of mitigation.
• Chimonanthus praecox ‘Grandiflorus’
• Sambucus nigra
• Salvia officinalis ‘Atropurpurea’
• Knifophia uvaria
• A mix of Clematis
• Trachelospermum jasminoides
from surrounding buildings, plants such as Salvia officinalis ‘Atropurpurea’ and Knifophia uvaria have been chosen to survive all year round. Planted to grow vertically up the metal veil, zone three features a mix of Clematis and Trachelospermum jasminoides. Selected for a balance of quick growing climbers and evergreens for winter interested, they have filled out the veil and reached the base of the Holyrood sign after three seasons of growth. Low maintenance planting
The placemaking agency says, “the kiosk transforms the Low Line into a robust piece of green infrastructure; a biodiverse place that truly brings people together with nature in a dense, urban setting”. By improving the public realm, the once hidden space continues grows in potential.
4 The trellis crowned by a large ‘HOLYROOD’ sign
5 Planting to reflect Gibbon's Rent with al-fresco seating zones
6 Vibrant lighting adds drama and setting to the kiosk
7 The kiosk bustling with activity
Macfarlane + Associates is a placemaking agency delivering meaningful public realm design for complex urban regeneration projects, with a focus on sustainability, it provides client-focused design solutions through a highly collaborative approach. Macfarlane + Associates portfolio draws on 20+ years of experience creating that sense of place for award-winning landscapes in the UK and worldwide from large-scale master planning to local community projects. macfarlaneassocs.com
Project value
$1.2 million
Build time
Two years
Size of project
2.5 acres (includes the footprint of the building)
Awards
2024 AZ ASLA Honor Award in General Design, 2024 Arizona
Forward Environmental Excellence Award of Distinction
Originally opened in 1966, Arizona State University’s Hayden Library and its corresponding exterior spaces were no longer meeting the needs of modern students', and thanks to an unfortunate 1989 below-grade addition, it lacked a sense of cohesion with the campus’s pedestrian mall system.
The university tasked Trueform Landscape Architecture studio with a comprehensive reimagining of Hayden Library, one that would take the library from underutilised and uninviting to a vibrant oasis on campus. The direction from University Librarian James O’Donnel? “Transform the library from a place for books to a place for people.” Trueform’s priorities included “universal accessibility, greater connectivity, plentiful shade, outdoor study and social gathering spaces, desert gardens, circular resource systems, and low-impact permeable paving.”
The original layout posed a challenge. It featured a deep-set plaza with bridges that had been intended to conjure up images of the island of knowledge but in practicality felt inaccessible and cold. In contrast, the basement level’s own plaza seemed disconnected from the rest of the nearby bustling pedestrian malls, a key thoroughfare on campus that saw up to 15,000 students a day. In response, Trueform created a new library plaza at the main level and added 25,000 square feet of over-structure open space.
Another concern was brightening the library. Architecturally, ASU and the design team decided on a building envelope overhaul to significantly increase interior daylighting. This revision required the removal of numerous four-foot by 12-foot granite slab panels. Instead of heading for the landfill, these original granite slabs were repurposed throughout the project – fulfilling another one of the client’s desires: sustainability. Framing the desert gardens and holding the elevated plinth in the new library plaza, these would be cast-off granite slabs became an important signature of the new open space, linking the new reimagining of Hayden Library to its aesthetic roots. Lush and colourful greenery offers shaded alcoves to study, meet with friends, or simply enjoy the campus, replacing the sterile walkways of the previous build. The use of drought-friendly and native plants, permeable
paving to address stormwater challenges, and the repurposing of that stormwater within the landscaping has helped to reduce potable water usage and made the project especially resilient to the Arizona climate.
The reinvention of Hayden’s Library and the importance Trueform placed on the interconnectivity of the outside spaces mirrors the college experience, in which the pursuit of knowledge is not isolated and sequestered to just the classroom but takes place wherever students come together to learn from each other. The final result is a project that has come from the careful study of the client’s concerns, and a profound understanding of the benefits of outdoors access for emotional and physical wellbeing. The reinvention feels inviting and fresh, gives students vital access to outdoor space and a refuge from the demands of a rigorous course load.
TRUEFORM landscape
architecture studio collaboratively focuses upon creating meaningful and memorable places that connect people to nature. Our work exhibits a strong commitment to authenticity, utilising regionally appropriate and enduring materials that fit textually and cohesively within the desert south-west. The studio brings decades of experience working on numerous site-specific campus projects including student life, student services, and various academic specific programs while knitting into the neighbouring contexts that define the character of a specific campus. trueformlas.com ABOUT
Architecture Ayers Saint Gross ayerssaintgross.com
Furniture Maglin Site Furniture maglin.com
General contractor Holder Construction holderconstruction.com
Irrigation design Aqua Engineering, Inc aquaengineeringinc. com
Landscape contractor BrightView brightview.com
Planters and benches Kornegay Design kornegaydesign.com
Stone Ackerstone ackerstone.com
Trees for Cities senior development manager discusses the importance of trees for the environment, people and public spaces
How can trees protect the urban environment?
Everyone knows about the carbon benefits they bring, but their value goes far beyond that. They can reduce noise pollution by softening the landscape, slow traffic, and make roads safer.
Trees also cool the air through both shading and evapotranspiration – the very fancy term for how they move water from their roots up to their leaves and release it into the atmosphere. They can even help with flood protection by slowing the flow of water and reducing excess runoff from hard surfaces, especially when used in sustainable urban drainage systems.
How can public spaces incorporate trees?
One of the most important steps is incorporating trees from the start. It's much easier to get them in as early as possible in a project, as opposed to any kind of retrofit or
afterthought. A recently developed guiding principle in urban forestry, known as the 3-30-300 rule, states that everyone should be able to see three trees from the window of where they live or work; there should be 30% canopy cover in neighborhoods; and no one should be more than 300 metres from the nearest green space.
First and foremost, they give us oxygen –and if that isn’t reason enough to cut them some slack and look after them, I don’t know what is
Why do trees improve someone’s life?
First and foremost, they give us oxygen –and if that isn’t reason enough to cut them some slack and look after them, I don’t know what is. Beyond that, they boost mental health and have even been shown to reduce childhood asthma. One of the social benefits, which is sometimes a little bit harder to capture, is just the inherent togetherness which they can bring. We've got a scheme where residents of a street can sponsor trees outside where they live. Trees can become a form of rallying people together through planting as a community. In order to be successful, all urban tree projects should aim to engage the community at every level, from top to bottom.
Why does the urban environment need a charity like Trees for Cities?
Urban areas without trees are pretty lifeless. It could be that there is a need for a link between the community and the local authority or the planners. Urban forestry is both a “tree thing” that involves people, and a “people thing” that involves trees. I think it's important to prioritise people first, and make sure that whatever you're looking to do
includes the local community. We’re the UK’s urban tree charity, but there are still many towns and cities where we’d love to have a stronger presence and help more people connect with their urban trees.
Contact Trees for Cities
Email info@treesforcities.org
Phone 020 7587 1320 treesforcities.org
