I’ve been following the fantastic work of visionary designer Nigel Dunnett, with his new project at the Tower of London to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
More than 20 million seeds have been sown in the moats around the historic landmark, which have just recently sprung to life and flowered. The naturalistic planting scheme is carefully planned to evolve into a riot of colour and scents over the summer.
A slide will transport visitors directly down into the flowers, for a fully immersive experience.
As the professor of planting design and urban horticulture, Nigel is well-known for his stunning Olympic 2012 meadows and the transformation of the Barbican planting scheme.
The meadow will flower until September, or maybe later if we have a late summer, and much of it will hopefully self-seed for future years. What an ambitious but stunning project.
Castlefield Viaduct opening at the end of July
Manchester’s new National Trust ‘skypark’ is set to open at the end of July, slightly later than first expected. The Victorian viaduct through Castlefield in the city centre is being transformed into a plant-filled oasis, much like the New York Highline park.
I’m really looking forward to this opening and it delivers much needed greenery to an urban environment, as well as preserving the city’s industrial heritage.
What have I been doing?
Perfect for a quiet moment…This bespoke timber bench was created for our client’s garden design in Aughton, Lancashire. It really sets off the wildflowers and Amelanchier tree beyond. It’s fantastic to see the plants settling in and filling out the space. This really was a fantastic project to work on so it’s lovely to see the homeowners enjoying yet another summer in their beautiful garden.
