Naturalistic Community Garden, Great Sankey, Cheshire, UK

Naturalistic community garden for traffic island

Naturalistic community garden for a triangular green which is surrounded by roads on all sides. Through plant selection and positioning of plants oncoming traffic is redirected along a particular route. A residential, naturalistic community garden with a wild feel and look, incorporates an avenue of Ornamental cherry trees and Silver Birches to add height to an otherwise flat landscape. Paths are mowed to create shapes and then grass is left to grow longer in the pre-defined spaces, which are adorned with wild flowers and bulbs for naturalising, as the seasons and years progress. In addition, a long Hornbeam hedge, excellent for wildlife, blocks the view across the space, while the Silver Birches form a small woodland to the north of the site. Benches placed around the green, face inwards so that the community can sit, socialize and personally reflect, for community health and wellbeing,  while gazing across swaying grass. Additional ornamental grasses have been strategically placed around the entry points, which will, in time, merge into the wild meadows – these define corners and edges. In time, this naturalistic community garden will become the centre of the village.