Transforming Junctions into Greener, Flood-Resilient Community Spaces
Client
Waltham Forest Council
Location
Sectors
Products & Services
Project overview
Waltham Forest Council identified the junction of Scotts Road and Morley Road as a priority for improvements to address safety concerns and enhance the character of the area. The scheme set out to create a safer crossing point for pedestrians while introducing greenery and sustainable drainage.
Meristem Design were commissioned to deliver two large rain gardens with walkways, seating, and a robust planting palette that captures rainwater, boosts biodiversity, and provides an attractive pocket of public realm for residents to enjoy.
Goal
To improve pedestrian safety and access at the junction while creating biodiverse rain gardens that absorb rainwater, enhance the streetscape, and provide a new green amenity space for the community.
Scope
The project in Waltham Forest included the construction and planting of two rain gardens totalling 105m². The SuDS have integrated raised timber walkways, three gabions with oak toppers for seating, over 750 resilient plants and the ongoing maintenance of the site by the Meristem team.
Solutions
The rain gardens were designed to combine safe pedestrian access with ecological and visual value including functional and effective sustainable drainage for enhanced climate resilience. A hardy and vibrant planting palette of shrubs, grasses, perennials and groundcover species was chosen for year-round colour, texture, and biodiversity.
Rain Gardens with SuDS Planting
Designed to capture rainwater and manage runoff. The planting palette included Carex ‘Prairie Fire’, Sedum, Anemanthele lessoniana, and Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ to provide structure and movement, while species like Cornus sanguinea and Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ bring seasonal interest.
Robust Planting for Resilience
Over 750 plants were used, including Salvia nemorosa, Santolina chamaecyparissus, Vinca major, Brachyglottis compacta, Nepeta, and Salvia officinalis, offering a mix of fragrance, colour, and biodiversity value.
Timber Walkways
A 15m raised walkway invites residents to explore and enjoy the planting from within, encouraging greater interaction with the landscape.
Gabion Seating
Three gabions topped with oak provide practical and attractive seating integrated into the scheme.
Impact
The completed rain gardens deliver both functional and social benefits, transforming the junction into a safer, greener, and more climate-resilient place.
Flood Resilience
The rain gardens soak up stormwater, reducing surface water flooding and pressure on the drainage system.
Boosted Biodiversity
A layered planting scheme supports pollinators and wildlife, with seasonal blooms and structural planting creating habitats year-round.
Community Amenity
Walkways and seating transform the space into a small public garden, offering residents a place to pause, rest, and enjoy nature.
Improved Safety
Narrowing the carriageway makes crossing quicker and safer for pedestrians, directly addressing community concerns.
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Featured products, landscapes & services
Rain Gardens
Transforming surface runoff into a sustainable solution, rain gardens capture rainfall before it enters the piped network and either releases it slowly into the network or allows it to infiltrate into the ground, preventing flooding.
Public Realm
At Meristem Design, we help create greener, healthier and more vibrant public spaces, from flood-reducing rain gardens through to interactive pocket parks.
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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