An Urban Development Regeneration Case Study- Elephant & Castle, London
Location: Elephant & Castle, London
Product used: Wildflower Turf™ Bespoke
Project Size: 2,196m² Project Overview
Southwark Council alongside Lendlease, embarked on an ambitious project to regenerate 28 acres of land in the London borough of Elephant and Castle. The £2.3 billion programme would deliver almost 2,500 new homes, retail and restaurant spaces, new open spaces and improved ‘green’ streets. The regeneration project sought to establish Elephant & Castle as one of London’s greenest places to live.
The Solution
A part of the project included the establishment of a brand-new temporary park. Formally an empty plot earmarked for development, the new park was designed to enhance the biodiversity and aesthetic appeal of the area. In collaboration with Gillespies, the public realm master planner for the entire Elephant Park site, Wildflower Turf Ltd was tasked with creating a bespoke grown Wildflower Turf mix to feature in the center of the park. Working alongside award-winning landscape architects BD Landscape Architects in the creation of the meadow design, the bespoke mix was tailored to meet the specific needs of the site. The bespoke mix was carefully curated to include specific pink flora species that would complement the park’s pink street furniture.
Designed to capture the imagination, regardless of age, the space was brought to life through sculpture, natural play areas and places to rest, with a life-size elephant signifying a place to stop and wonder. The vision behind the wildflower meadow was to provide a playful landscape combined with a green oasis which would act as a shared sanctuary for people and pollinators within a dense urban environment.
Site-felled timber and surplus soil were creatively re-used for natural play trails and tilted landforms. At night, the space was transformed by glowing light installations (created by (Michael Grubb Studio) to mark the entrance of the park. Ribbons of wildflower meadow ran through the park, with perennials a key feature of the bespoke mix. The wildflower meadow installation supported urban pollinator populations but providing a crucial source of nectar and habitats for other wildlife.
The Challenges
Despite the original success of the project, several challenges arose throughout the developmental stages. When the turf was originally installed, it was later discovered that the turf was incorrectly laid. Against recommendations, the turf was installed directly onto subsoil which resulted in severe nutrient deficiency for the wildflowers. Compounded by limited watering during the COVID-19 lockdown, this almost led to the turf’s demise.
To address these challenges, Wildflower Turf Ltd’s senior consultants developed a plant to ensure the turf’s survival. Necessary remedial work was undertaken to rectify the installation mistakes and a comprehensive maintenance regime was established. Through careful monitoring and intervention the wildflower meadow was restored and thrived.
The Results
Despite facing significant challenges, the project successfully created a vibrant and sustainable green space in the center of London. In 2020, the meadow was shortlisted as a finalist in the Landscape Institute awards for ‘Excellence in Place Regeneration’. This project serves as a testament to the resilience of wildflower meadows and their ability to thrive in urban environments.
Photo Credits: Mike Massaro
