The planting within this design isaiming to relate, enhance and provide an attraction for the space and publicalike. There are three main areas ofplanting from the urban tree based planting scheme in the west, containerisedplanting scheme, and heavy planting of the eastern edge. The Acer griseumtrees have been chosen for their bark interest which will provide the publicwith an attraction during the colder months. They also have a loose canopy that will allow dappled sunlight throughin the summer months, providing shade for the seating underneath.
Planting in the containers has beenchosen for the ranging soil types needed and the ability to create carpets ofcolour during specific months. Theoverarching scheme colours of purple, red and blue have been used within thisarea; planting lavender and stachys together to compliment another. These two plants also prefer alkaline soilsand so will be planted in treated soil accordingly. Another plant that prefers a certain soiltype is Erica carnea 'Pink Spangles’, which prefers acidic soils where possible;due to this it has been planted alone in large swaths to provide uniformedwinter interest and colour to the scheme. Lastly Aubrieta'Purity' has also been planted alone in containers, acting as groundcoverunderneath the Cercis and Sorbus trees. This too is flowering, providing a carpet of colour for a few monthseach year.
Finallyif the heavily planted eastern edge of the site, providing year round interest,colour and form for the scheme. Plantssuch as stipa, carex and pennisetum have been chosen to soften the strong edgeand forms that are created from the stepped containers. Then from this pruned sarcocca and buxus sempervirens will echo the same shapes,being used in box form at various heights and widths. These will also provide from within a looseplanting scheme, tying the plant together and giving the scheme a backing. To provide splashes of colour andarchitectural from alliums, Echinacea and astilbe have been interspersedthroughout the area. Mixing the alliumswith grasses and low lying plants to enhance their vertical effect. From these we move to the backbone of thedeisgn in the form of large shrubs such as lonicera, photinia, and prunuslusitanica. These provide biodiversityvalue, winter interest and strong forms for the whole scheme, working with therobinia, sorbus, and cercis to bring the eye down to a human level.