The project
We worked with Ainsty Timber Marketing on behalf of Swindon Borough Council, to source and plant trees, shrubs and perennial plants that will transform Fleming Way in Swindon Town Centre.
To support the vision for the regeneration works, 150 trees, 20,000 shrubs and perennial plants and 100 m of instant hedging were used, ready for planting over the winter. The planting sourced was designed by landscape designers Hyland Edgar Driver and was chosen to help reduce carbon emissions and encourage the wildlife to thrive in the town centre.
Plants, trees and shrubs used in the project
- Various multi-stemmed specimen trees, such as Tibetan cherry (Prunus serrula ‘Tibetica’) and Himalayan birch (Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’) providing new habitats for local wildlife
- Shrubs including Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ to capture carbon in dry conditions
- Autumn berries – the crab apple (Malus ‘Evereste’) and the bird cherry (Prunus padus)
- Betula (birch), Alnus (alder) and Salix (willow) trees to create a light canopy for pedestrians
- Prunus (ornamental cherry), Sorbus (mountain ash) and Tilia (linden) trees to provide interest to pollinators
- Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ elm tree, which is resistant to diseases such as Dutch elm disease
The Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ elm trees are grown by only a small number of licensed nurseries in the UK and Europe, and to find one that was 9 m tall, which had to be crane-lifted, was a challenge. However, in situ the tree is a strong feature in the new space.