More than 11,000 plants, shrubs and trees are set to grace the new seating areas currently being built at Riverhead Square in Grimsby this autumn as part of the regeneration scheme.
The design was created by national experts in the field, Arup design, and included the list of sustainable plants which worked with the harsh weather of the east coast.
The tree species selected for Riverhead Square have contrasting characteristics, including leaf shape, colour and canopy spread. Evergreens are combined with deciduous specimens for year round seasonal interest providing blossom in Spring, colour in Autumn and fruit in Winter.
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The existing lime trees were removed and will be replaced with semi-mature Field maple trees which have a reputation for managing tough urban conditions well. These will be installed in tree pits, and positioned to frame views through the square keeping open views of the shopping centre. They will also provide height and shading in some areas.
The plants include perennials, shrubs and bulbs as well as swathes of grasses and wildflowers with pops of colours and scents from different flower species. The shape of the flower beds and seating and the curved flow of the area leading to Frederick Ward Way have been designed to represent our coastal sand dunes.
The planting also includes a rain garden as part of the sustainable urban drainage programme, and plants have been chosen to represent the dune edge and give a natural feel.
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Chris Pulford, the Council’s Area Manager for Grounds Maintenance in Grimsby, said: “The plants chosen are mainly low maintenance varieties which will help increase biodiversity in the town centre. The planting scheme will complement the planting we’ve carried out in other areas, such as outside the municipal offices, on Cleethorpes’ sea front and in various roundabouts around the town.”
The scheme derives directly from the recent Masterplan, where people said that they wanted more places in the town centre to spend time in a nice open space.
As previously reported, the Riverhead scheme is one of the Towns Fund schemes to improve the look and feel of the town centre. Further work is ongoing in Freshney Place, the Central Library, Alexandra Dock Housing site, and additional work is being planned for the waterfront to complement the other schemes.
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