Greening UK High Streets: Leighton Buzzard custom artwork planters
Client
Leighton-Linslade Town Council
Location
Sectors
Products & Services
Project overview
As part of Leighton-Linslade Town Council’s plan to create a more vibrant, accessible and social environment, Meristem Design created and installed urban infrastructure to support this vision, bringing biodiversity and colour back to the highstreet. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and in collaboration with local artists, the town centre underwent a radiant transformation, showcasing local talent and the town’s rich heritage.
Goal
The goal of this project was to bring new life and energy into the town centre by celebrating local artists, history and creating a warm environment for residents. By investing in outdoor seating, the council hoped to create a modern and welcoming communal space complete with a diverse range of plants and flowers. At its heart, the initiative sets out to draw interest back to the high street, enhancing its appeal as a hub for community activities, and bring the public together through a stronger definition of the town’s art and culture.
Scope
This project stretched across the town centre, with custom planters and street furniture installations transforming the streetscape. New planters, street furniture and vibrant artwork from 20 local artists contributed to the reshaping of the public realm, bringing colour, greenery and creativity to the heart of the town.
Solutions
We implemented a range of street furniture and custom planters tailored to the needs of the council and community, bringing people back to the high street and restoring its character. The planters then received a 3-week makeover from a local community art group using a bold colour palette inspired by the foliage of nearby Rushmere Woods and sandy tones to reflect the deep-rooted history of the sand quarries. Each painting was completely unique to showcase the diverse talent of Leighton-Linslade and create a new artistic landscape for the town. To find out more about the artists’ inspiration for these designs, click here.
This initiative was designed to bring the community together and narrate the town’s culture in a bold and creative way.
A tactical combination of plants were selected to enhance greenery and maintain biodiversity year round:
- Pittosporum
- Verbena
- Hebe
- Cornus
- Stipa tenuissima
- Erigeron
- Cyclamen
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Vinca Minor
- Muehlenbeckia
Custom Planters
Planters were customised to meet the needs of the community and enhance the high street, while being painted by local artists to restore colour and vibrance in the town.
Collaboration
Collaborating with the council and local artists helped ensure the project reflected community priorities and celebrated local heritage
Street Furniture
Combinations of street furniture from our Orchid and Juniper range created flexible, welcoming spaces to support both social interaction and a comfortable environment.
Curated Plant Selection
Layered planting, including trees, climbers and flowers were used to bring greenery to the streetscape, enhance biodiversity and create year-round colour. Planting was designed to be hardy and low-maintenance to support a sustainable and radiant public space.
Impact
The urban solutions implemented have transformed the town centre into a vibrant, inviting space. Planters, art, and thoughtfully designed street furniture not only support urban biodiversity but commemorate the town’s colourful heritage. The artwork got the town talking, sparking reminiscent conversations and stories reflecting local experiences. This project reflects the power of art, local spirit and thoughtful design to transform public spaces into places we want to return to, relax and enjoy.
Communal Spaces
Vibrant and plentiful street furniture creates a welcoming-feel to the area, encouraging residents and visitors to sit and relax.
Re-popularising the High Street
The mural-like custom planters draw interest back to the town centre, financially benefiting local businesses.
Urban Biodiversity
Planters restore greenery through a diverse range of plants designed to flower year-round.
Character Enhancement
The art on the custom planters celebrates local artists and the history of the town centre.
Before
After
View gallery
Featured products, landscapes & 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.
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.
"*" indicates required fields