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Goole Street, East Manchester

Background

In 2002 Red Rose Forest and Groundwork Manchester invited residents groups in the Beacons area of East Manchester to submit applications to green their street through the Green Streets Competition. Residents needed to demonstrate an understanding of innovation, sustainability and above all inclusiveness.

One of the successful applications came from the Goole Street Residents Association. They wanted to transform an area of open space at the end of their road (a housing clearance site) from a place blighted by fly tipping and impromptu fires into an attractive open space that could be enjoyed by the local community.  They also identified the goal of bringing colour and fragrance to their street through the installation of planters.

Following the announcement of their successful application a series of workshops were set up with the residents association and representatives from Groundwork Manchester and Red Rose Forest.  The purpose of the workshops was to flesh out the initial ideas of the residents and turn them into something practical, sustainable and eye catching.

The Goole Street Wave Garden

Together Groundwork’s Landscape Architect and residents came up with the idea of the wave garden, combining movement and colour to create a dynamic area of open space that would form a local landmark and meet the residents’ requirements.

The wave garden concept involved re-grading the land to create a series of five diagonal peaks and troughs to give the impression of a wave like movement across the open space. 16 Pyrus calleryana Chanticleers were planted in the two central troughs and 3,000 spring bulbs were planted on the peaks by children from the local primary school and residents from Goole Street. The choice of bulb and tree species was factored-in to ensure all year round colour and low maintenance requirements. 

Other design factors were also considered to ensure the effective maintenance and sustainability of the garden and to deter anti-social behaviour. Groundwork’s Landscape Architect worked closely with Manchester City Council to ensure that they were happy with the design in terms of the operability of gang mowers. The depth/height of the peaks/troughs were tempered so as not to attract motorbikes and each tree was triple staked and guarded as a deterrent to vandalism. In addition the close involvement of the residents and the local primary school fostered a sense of ownership, which has greatly reduced the propensity for vandalism.

The Bespoke Planters

In addition to improving the open space the resident’s submission also addressed the lack of greenery on the streets. Goole Street is a terraced street with front doors opening flush onto the pavements. The general consensus was for the installation of planters or hanging baskets, however, residents also stressed concerns about vandalism and theft.
 
A number of ideas were discussed during the workshops, with residents choosing planters as the sturdier and less easy to steal option. Groundwork’s Landscape Architect therefore came up with a personalised and contemporary design solution for the planters which involved installing a crescent shaped stainless steel planter with galvanised steel insert and the name of the street lesser etched into the front. The planter was then bolted to the wall of the house using masonry bolts. The combination of materials, fixings and the name of the street proudly sported on the front of the planter made them difficult to damage or remove and reduced their desirability to would be thieves.

When the planters were installed residents were given a choice of plant species and a public planting day was held where training and maintenance advice was provided. Several years on and all the planters are doing well and the street has gained local notoriety. In addition residents have now gained the confidence to add hanging baskets to the front of their properties.

 “The Green Streets project will hopefully have a huge impact in our community.  It is a chance for all the neighbours to work together and transform the way our streets look: it’s great to be given that chance!”  Gary Loftus – Goole Street Resident

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