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Margaret Twigg
Chartered Landscape Architect.
Colleges & Universities
Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) University of Leeds
My role involved the general hard works design and detailed planting design to a new two storey extension and refurbished existing Victorian terraced building, which house the Institute of Transport Studies. This was carried out in close liaison with Farrell and Clark Architects, and University of Leeds ITS client representatives.
The external hard landscape included a new accessible pedestrian entrance approach, cycle parking, an accessible parking bay, external 'break out' space for the new internal Social Space, and various external seating areas.Porous resin bonded paving was used to alleviate surface water run off.
The former primarily grassed frontage was reconfigured to create a garden, including new paths, seating benches, culinary herb beds, fruit trees, and peripheral shrub and ground cover planting with species to attract bees and butterflies. Existing mature trees were retained with grass lawns, and bulb planting beneath. Original York Stone Flags were lifted and re- laid to create a central paved area around a central herb bed.
Biodiversity was further enhanced by the introduction of a new native mixed hedge to the northern boundary, and shade loving ground covers including native ivy, male ferns, and bluebells were planted under a large retained Horse Chestnut.
Client Testimonial
" The arrival of Spring has really seen the planting for our project start to shine, with colleagues giving unsolicited positive feedback on how much the garden contributes to the overall success.
The way the planting ties in to that of adjacent buildings has created an important consistency for this important entrance to the campus.
The naturalistic style is a huge improvement on the rather dated approach we had before, with the wild strawberries a particular hit with passing foragers!"
Robin Marsh
Resources Manager
Institute for Transport Studies (ITS)
University of Leeds
June 2017
