Yorkshire Landscape Architects
Groundwork Yorkshire’s qualified Landscape Architects are passionate about creating better spaces and have a unique set of skills to bring together community engagement and quality design. Staffed by Chartered Landscape Architects, the team is dedicated to delivering imaginative and innovative design solutions to meet clients’ needs.
Rein Park, Leeds
The team worked at Rein Park in Seacroft to improve the play area and create a pump track for the community.
We worked alongside Leeds City Council and the LS14 Trust to develop and deliver the Pump Track, funded by Section 106 money and improved 1,300m² of land in the park.
The all-weather tarmac course is complimented by a drainage system on this traditionally very wet site. The track has been a huge hit in the local community and complements other facilities in the park.
Morley Towns Fund
After the successful Towns Fund Bid to central government, Morley secured £24.3m to deliver projects to transform the town. Part of this funding has been earmarked for the greener and connected programme which includes:
- The development of eight parks
- The redesign and upgrade of a number of pocket parks
- Better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
- Improved connections to the rail station
- Improving the civic space around the Grade I listed Morley Town Hall
All projects will be completed by March 2026
Folkestone Street
This playful area in Bradford boasts a wealth of features stretched along the pedestrianised section of the street. The ‘Yellow Brick ‘Road’ themed path guides people to different areas where children can interact and absorb a variety of sensory experiences whilst being encouraged to keep fit. Features include artistic metalwork, stone carvings, stepping stones, balance beams, hoops, games markings, tree planting, successional bulb planting and tree dressing. There were various workshops and consultation exercises to engage as many of the local community as possible.
Breathe Easy Schools
To help tackle the issue of air pollution around schools, we worked in partnership with Balfour Beatty on the ‘Breathe Easy’ project. By using nature-based solutions and the expertise of our landscape architects, we created a natural barrier to make the air cleaner for the school children who breathe it.
Along with volunteers from Balfour Beatty and Sunbelt Rentals, we worked within Seacroft Grange Primary School‘s playground to create a green barrier of Western Red Cedar hedging plants and Birch trees to help trap the fine particulates from vehicle emissions.
Coop Dodworth
Central England Co-operative group teamed up with Groundwork UK to create a range of different spaces on land around its own retail stores and funeral homes funded by their plastic carrier bag levy fund.
The Dodworth store was chosen as one of four pilot projects which transformed part of its car park into a new community space. A much needed, accessible slope from car park level up to the High Street side has been incorporated, along with picnic tables, stepped timber planters with flowering plants, herbs, sensory species and fruit trees. This has softened the space, provided year-round colour and created an attractive meeting place for residents and visitors. Artist Adrian Moakes was also commissioned to design sculptural elements around the theme of biodiversity which appear throughout the site.
Harewood Play Area
A play area has been created in this once overgrown neglected part of Harewood. The planning process was challenging due to the site being in a conservation area but all obstacles were overcome to create an exciting play space for all ages to enjoy.
The play area is well integrated into the landscape with timber play equipment for a natural feel. We installed equipment suitable for toddlers and younger children, nature trails and artwork, outdoor gym equipment and a tennis court along with disabled parking, wildflower areas and we also planted trees in the area.
Ventnor Street Community Garden
Our work in Ventnor Street allowed us to engage with the community, with emphasis on the Bangladeshi women and children to show that they can be empowered to make things happen. The space was previously neglected and was transformed into an oasis for the whole community to enjoy.
To get the community involved, we held art workshops to create mosaic tiling and steel screens with an Islamic theme.
A film was made showing the progress of the project and we held an opening event attended by local councillors and members of the community. The film was also showcased at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.
Ashton Road Play Area
Ashton Road play area was run down and badly in need of repair. It has been given a new lease of life with a new multi-unit, swings, activity trail and games markings, along with new play carpet surfacing. The bland hard space has been softened with new tree planting and ornamental planting in a new raised planter, which doubles as seating. An Ivy green screen has been fixed to the perimeter fencing, adding to the urban oasis feel.
