Clerkenwell Green

Meristem Design collaborated with Islington Council to bring nature into Clerkenwell Green, one of London’s oldest public spaces. The project used native and symbolic plants to honour the site’s history while promoting biodiversity.

To improve the space through a diverse planting scheme, helping to create a more pleasant and greener local environment for those who live, work and visit there. 

The scope of the project involved the installation of a range of plants chosen for their connection to the heritage of Clerkenwell as well as their ability to thrive in an urban environment. Native species were prioritised to support local wildlife, while plants with cultural or symbolic significance were selected to reflect the area’s rich history. 

As one of London’s oldest public spaces, the site is rich in history and cultural significance. Therefore the planting design required careful thought and planning to ensure that the scheme would enhance the area without disrupting its historical essence. Another challenge was choosing plants that would thrive in the urban conditions of Clerkenwell Green, where factors such as pollution, foot traffic, and climate conditions had to be considered.

Dating back to the 12th century, Clerkenwell Green is surrounded by some of Islington’s most attractive and valuable historic buildings. 

Looking to honour the rich history of the green and accentuate the urban village feeling, we chose a planting scheme that weaves together plant varieties that pay homage to the heritage of Clerkenwell Green. Each plant tells a unique story, creating a vibrant living tribute and reflecting the deep roots of the community:

Hypericum inodorum Magical Beauty (St John’s Wort)

Plant qualities and care: deciduous, hardy, bushy, long flowering, attractive berries, full sun to part shade, well drained, cut back in spring.

Achillea salmon beauty (Woundwort)

Plant qualities and care: semi-evergreen, hardy, columnar, very long flowering, full sun, well drained, deadhead and cut back in winter.

Local connection: The St John’s Wort is associated with John the Baptist the namesake of The Priory of St John for the Knights Hospitaller dating back to the crusades. The religious order later became the St John’s Ambulance, the first international first aid charity. 

Hypericum has a wide range of medicinal uses as well providing a nectar source throughout the summer months. Similarly Achillea has been planted – common name Woundwort which was used in the crusades for medical treatment.  

Dianthus cruentus (Carnation)

Plant qualities and care: deciduous, hardy, columnar, long flowering, full sun to part shade, well drained, cut back in winter.

Local connection: The green was the site of Wat Tyler’s encampment during the Peasants Revolt and a meeting place for protest against the Corn Laws and Jamaican slavery. It also became the site of the Marx Memorial Library and Workers School, still there today which inspired the use of Dianthus cruentus – a symbolic Carnation flower of the Communists.

Pittosporum (Oliver Twist)

Plant qualities and care: hardy, bushy, evergreen structural, full sun to part shade, well drained soil, annual prune to maintain form.

Local connection: Clerkenwell Green was the backdrop to the Artful Dodger’s theft of Mr Brownlow’s wallet and the consequential capture of Oliver Twist. This impressive shrub is named after Oliver and provides evergreen structure and wildlife resources.

Leontopodium alpinum (Edelweiss)

Plant qualities and care: hardy, mat forming, daisy like flowers, full sun, well drained sandy, mulch in spring.

Local connection: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is located on the green and this is reflected by the use of the plant commonly known as Edelweiss, a song made famous in the Sound of Music that is often played by the Orchestra.

Rudbeckia fulgida deamii (Black eyed Susan)

Plant qualities and care: deciduous, hardy, columnar, late flowering, full sun to part shade, well drained, cut back in winter

Local connection: Symbols of encouragement, motivation and justice, the Black eyed Susan is used in the borders outside of the Sessions House, the most imposing building on the green that was once a Sessions Court House built in 1780.

Not only delivering a more inviting area for people to appreciate the surrounding beauty and history, the planting project is acting as a natural filter by improving the local air quality. Helping to turn the grey green, the scheme boosts local biodiversity, attracts crucial pollinators and enhances the overall landscape.

This project is a testament to what can be achieved when history and nature are thoughtfully integrated. By improving air quality and adding vibrant and lush greenery, we have not only delivered a living tribute for Clerkenwell Green’s past but also created a more pleasant environment for the future.

Clerkenwell Green is more than just a public space; it is a living link between the past and the present, a place where history and nature come together to create something truly special.

We look forward to continuing to work on projects like this and we remain committed to making urban spaces greener, more sustainable, and more connected to their rich histories.

Whether you live, work or visit Clerkenwell Green, we invite you to take in the beauty of the  planting, and experience history and nature thriving together in the heart of London.