Greening the public realm: Planters for Hatton Garden
Client
Central District Alliance BID and Hatton Garden BID
Location
Sectors
Products & Services
Project overview
A series of street and railing planters were installed across Hatton Garden in Holborn – London’s historic jewellery quarter and globally recognised diamond district. With over 300 independent businesses and consistently high footfall, the planter project aimed to enhance the public realm and create a greener, more welcoming streetscape.
Image: Hatton Garden BID
Goal
To enhance the public realm within Hatton Garden by introducing high-quality, resilient planting that reflects the character of this well-known commercial area, supports biodiversity, and improves the experience for visitors, workers, and local businesses.
Scope
Meristem Design delivered the installation and planting of a network of street and railing planters across the Hatton Garden area.
The project included:
- Installation of new planters across key streets
- Integration with existing planters
- A diverse planting scheme combining shrubs, perennials, and groundcover
- Planting designed for year-round interest and urban resilience
Image: Hatton Garden BID
Solutions
Bringing some colour to this busy and popular street, some of the key species include:
- Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Little Goldstar’ and Achillea ‘Little Moonshine’ for long-lasting summer colour
- Phlomis russeliana and Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’ for height, movement, and pollinator value
- Cornus alba ‘Baton Rouge’ and Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ for structure and year-round interest
- Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’, Rosmarinus prostratus, and Sedum ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ for low-level planting and groundcover
Street and railing planters
A series of planters was introduced to soften the streetscape and bring greenery into a dense, high-footfall commercial environment.
Resilient planting design
The planting palette was selected to perform in urban conditions, including exposure and pollution. A mix of drought-tolerant and long-flowering species ensures the scheme remains robust throughout the year.
Layered planting approach
The scheme combines structure, seasonal colour, and groundcover planting to create a balanced and visually engaging aesthetic.
Year-round interest
The planting has been designed to provide visual impact across all seasons, from summer flowering to winter structure.
Impact
The planting contributes to the identity of Hatton Garden, reinforcing its position as a vibrant and well-maintained destination and creating a stronger sense of place.
Supporting a high-footfall destination
As a well-known retail and business area, Hatton Garden benefits from improved streetscape quality, enhancing the experience for visitors and those working locally.
Increased biodiversity
Pollinator-friendly planting supports bees and other wildlife, bringing ecological value into a dense urban setting.
Long-term value
With ongoing maintenance delivered by our team, the planting will continue to establish and improve over time, delivering lasting visual and environmental benefits.
Enhanced public realm
The introduction of new planting softens the street environment, creating a more attractive and welcoming setting within a busy commercial district.
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Featured products & services
Custom Planters
Combining functionality with a style that fits any aesthetic, each planter is crafted with care to suit your location and enhance the space. Helping to add greenery to both indoor and outdoor areas, planters create welcoming spaces that benefit people, businesses and the environment.
Street Furniture
Street furniture help transform public spaces into functional and green areas for the community. Durable, modular and customisable, our various street furniture enhances the aesthetics of the public realm, provides comfort and helps connect people with nature.
Maintenance
We offer a full range of maintenance services to keep your green space looking healthy and vibrant. Tailored to the unique needs of your project, our horticultural team will provide specialised plant care and maintenance from a one-off basis to a customised schedule.
Design
We specialise in designing beautiful, sustainable urban greening solutions and products that bring nature into public, commercial and residential spaces. From concept to final design, we work closely with clients to ensure that every element is crafted to meet their unique needs, aesthetic preferences, and sustainability goals.
Fabrication
We provide high-quality, in-house fabrication services tailored to the needs of urban greening projects. Composed of skilled welders and carpenters, our fabrication team brings each project from concept to completion using precision and exceptional craftsmanship.
Get in touch
If you like what you've seen in our case study and want to learn more about how this could work in your setting, please get in touch.
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