Willerby Landscapes Ltd

Kings Cross Development

Completed: 13/04/2023
Location: Kings Cross NC1

This BALI 2016 Grand Award Scheme is a vibrant new city quarter being transformed from under-used industrial wasteland. The Development encompassing 26 acres of parks, squares and open spaces which individual parks, squares and gardens are created by different designers. Our scope of works so far has included the installation of a number of hard and soft landscaping schemes throughout the Estate. The installation of Handyside Gardens, Lewis Cubitt Park and the trees in Granary Square, 2 & 4 Pancras Square roof gardens, the installation of the Battle Bridge oak tree, the Plimsoll and Tapestry building roof gardens, Gasholder Park, The Triplets roof gardens previously known as Gasholders Nos. 10, 11 & 12. To date, around the Kings Cross Estate, this has involved us in the planting of over 440 different species of plants. Our work at King's Cross has involved working with garden designers Laurie Olin and Dan Pearson, along with the plan guardian, Robert Townshend

Canary Wharf 'Pop Up Park'

Completed: 20/12/2019
Location: 10 Bank St, Canary Wharf, London

The client’s requirement was to install an aesthetically pleasing public park for recreational purposes in an urban space which had been excavated and earmarked for development, but would not be developed for several years.

The 4,500 m2 park is actually 30 meters above the ground excavation and sits on flame retardant EPS blocks supported by scaffolding piles. The client’s brief required contemporary furniture; a modular, multifunctional design to suit future events which may be organised on the park and easily moveable. Our design team put forward its own recommendations which would offer the client value and presented a bespoke furniture design where a small fork lift truck could lift the platforms. We also put made a recommendation for a hardwood base constructed with Opepe, an extremely versatile, strong and attractive colour timber.

A perimeter boundary to the park was also requested and Willerby Landscapes put forward a unique furniture system designed by Cassidy Brothers of Co Donegal, Ireland. Another interesting part of the brief was the requirement to install 2,500 m2 Eden Artificial Grass with a 25mm rubber shock absorbing layer. The path through the park was installed using 70mm binder course finished off with a 30mm of Buff Ulticolour asphalt, providing a surface which is vibrant and very durable.

This unique bespoke park is another example where Willerby Landscapes, when called upon can offer its expertise in delivering a challenging and unusual landscaping installation. Constructed within the project timelines and with value engineering presented, Willerby Landscapes continues to be involved in development projects within Canary Wharf and has done since 1990.

Dreamland

Completed: 13/04/2018
Location: Margate, Kent

Dreamland Margate went through a complete refurbishment in 2017 to a tight budget and a challenging programme. The main contractor identified the need for a reliable contractor who could deliver a complex pricing, procurement and delivery service at very short notice. We were contacted early April 2017 to make this happen. Due to the time pressures, procurement was completed in tandem with the negotiation on price and over 26 days we had to collate and plant; 892 semi mature trees 36,000 shrubs 1700m2 of re enforced turf 1500m2 of standard turf all in readiness for the site handover! Due to the very tight programme schedule and because of the number of landscaped areas to be installed, we designated multiple "gangs" to the site and worked around the clock. We accomplish our goals in planting for the special opening at the Spring Bank Holiday 2017 and we continued to install the numerous beds within the design. The Trachycarpus trees are planted and look great and really gives the park that summer seaside feel. During the planting and If you were on site, you might be wondering why so many plant pots are upside down in the beds? Our lads came up with the great idea of putting the pot over the plant and then after laying the mulch, just lift the pot and the mulch spreads evenly and tidily around the plant!

20 Fenchurch St Sky Garden

Completed: 15/10/2015
Location: City of London

The Sky Garden sits on the very top three floors of the 37 storey Fenchurch Street building in the City of London. Affectionately known locally as The Walkie-Talkie because of its distinctive shape, the building is 160 m (525 ft) making it the fifth tallest completed building in the City of London. We are used to undertaking landscaping challenges on a grand scale, however, the installation of London's highest public garden was an altogether different challenge. We decided very early on that the success of this scheme would be down to careful and considered planning. It would be necessary to take time to select the plant material well in advance and monitor their growth regularly. Nursery visits would be required to Spain, Sicily, Italy, Holland, Germany and New Zealand. Some plants would be brought into the UK early; others would be held in Europe and brought to site on a "Just in Time" basis. Due to the complexity associated with the installation of the roof structure, the construction programme started to slip. In order to assist programme recovery, the landscape installation programme was cut from 18 weeks to 9 weeks. This necessitated working two shifts patterns day and night, seven days a week. As lift time was to be in high demand by all trades working on the scheme, we appointed a night crew to take delivery of materials and distribute them to the required work areas. Every manoeuvre was carefully timed and co-o

QEOP South Park Plaza Transformation

Completed: 28/07/2015
Location: Stratford London
Budget: £5,800,000.00

At the heart of 2012 Olympic Games legacy was the commitment to transformation the 55 acre Olympic Park, from a space designed to cater for vast numbers of spectators, to a multi-use urban parkland designed to cater for the needs of the five local boroughs. It became evident, early in the 12 weeks pre-construction studies, that to meet the 11 month construction period for the project, programme gain was required due to the late handover of key areas of the site. The decision was taken, by the construction team, for Willerby Landscapes to perform most of the works in-house as finding suppliers who would accept high tolerance and finish requirements for the various component parts of the programme proved to be extremely challenging. Therefore, opportunities for off-site fabrication were investigated to allow programme gain. A similar approach was taken for the water feature and the granite monoliths, where the design was reviewed and significant portions were pre-fabricated/machined off-site and dropped into place, enabling programme gain for the project. The tight programme covered the building of several key elements of the design, along with the planting scheme for the Pleasure Gardens. Incorporated into the scheme was a new Promenade, flanked by 100 mature trees leading into a series of ribbon beds planted with 64,000 perennial plants. This BALI Grand Award project was completed in time and on budget.

Design & build contract for hard & soft landscaping

Completed: 23/06/2015
Location: Guildford Business Park, Surrey
Budget: £4,500,000.00

This 10,000m2 area design & build contract for hard & soft landscaping project required Willerby Landscapes to completely de-construct the site and demolish existing hard & soft landscapes.

As principle contractor we were responsible of the installation of a deep drain, bringing in new gas & electric services to the site, installing new street lighting, highway works, and the erection of illuminated signage and security bollards. Key to the re-design was the installation of a new car park and laying 1,500 Kellen Breccia block paving along with 1,500 linear metres of kerbs and 2,500m2 of laid tarmac. 194 semi mature trees were planted, 1,172 pre-prepared hedges and 10,000 3LTR plants. 

Olympic Park, 2012 Gardens & pre, during and post Games maintenance

Completed: 30/10/2012
Location: Stratford, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Budget: £7,000,000.00

A public realm works incorporated the construction of soft landscaped parkland areas and hard landscaped concourse areas in this formerly contaminated brownfield site. Our client, the ODA (Olympic Development Authority) was the statutory corporation responsible for ensuring delivery of venues, infrastructure and legacy for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The scope of works included excavation, drainage and ducting, the supply and installation of manufactured high performance sub and topsoils, contract growing and planting of trees and shrubs, the establishment of 25,000m2 of annual meadows, design and installation of a bespoke irrigation system, removal of 1km of sheet piles to establish a wetland environment, and the planting and establishment of the 2012 Gardens. During five years of meticulous planning, including two years of trial runs on the site in 2010 and 2011, essential knowledge of optimal ground conditions and seed densisties was obtained and the horticulture team developed elaborate pruning, irrigation and seed sowing regimes to make sure the plants peaked for the opening ceremony in July 2012. The soils were prepared in conjunction with Tim O'Hare Associates who audited each stage of the process. The seeding window was identified as April 23rd - 10th May 2012 during which point Willerby Landscapes prepared and wowed 25,000m2 of meadows. Detailed readings of soil temperatures and moisture levels were taken and fed back to Nigel Dunnett of Sheffield University who advised on every stage of establishment.