Transforming urban spaces with public realm greening
At Meristem Design, we help create greener, healthier and more vibrant public spaces, from flood-reducing rain gardens through to interactive pocket parks.
Following our mission of 'Turning the grey green', our team tailors each green space to local needs, including climate resilience, informal play, tree planting, public seating and signage.
We work with local authorities, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), housing associations, developers and community organisations to deliver public realm projects that benefit residents, visitors and local wildlife alike.
Designed for the benefit of communities and visitors, the addition of green infrastructure in the public realm helps boost biodiversity, improve wellbeing and create welcoming destinations from previously underused spaces.
Public Realm designed for communities
Successful public spaces are designed around the people who use them.
We work closely with local authorities, community groups, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and other stakeholders to create welcoming green spaces that encourage people to spend more time outdoors and connect with their surroundings.
From colourful planting and public seating to informal play features and educational signage, our schemes are designed to support community wellbeing, social interaction and a stronger sense of place.
Whether revitalising a town centre, enhancing a housing estate or transforming an underused urban space, we create landscapes that are accessible, inclusive and valued by local communities.
Urban greening add-ons for the Public Realm
At Meristem, we build and install engaging urban greening accessories and extras, designed to make green spaces more interesting, interactive and educational. Each has been created to integrate seamlessly with rain gardens, nature gardens, pocket parks and other landscapes.
Our products include:
Biodiversity and Habitat features - includes bug hotels, bird boxes, habi-stacks, bee posts and more.
Structural features - such as boulders and elevated tree pits to add texture, definition and visual interest.
Access and movement features - encourage interaction through gabion benches, stepping logs and stepping stones.
Climate resilience in the public realm
As our towns and cities face increasing pressure from climate change, green infrastructure plays an important role in creating more resilient public spaces.
Our public realm projects integrate sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), rain gardens, tree planting and climate-adapted planting schemes to help manage surface water, reduce urban heat and support biodiversity.
By combining practical environmental solutions with attractive landscape design, we can help you create spaces that not only look great today but continue to deliver benefits for years to come.
Benefits of public realm urban greening
Investing in urban greening creates lasting benefits for people, places and the environment. From improving climate resilience and biodiversity to enhancing wellbeing and strengthening local identity, well-designed public spaces help communities thrive while creating more attractive and sustainable urban environments.
Reduce Flood Risk
Rain gardens, SuDS features and climate-resilient planting help manage surface water and reduce localised flooding.
Support Biodiversity
Native and pollinator-friendly planting, habitat features and trees create valuable spaces for wildlife in urban areas.
Improve Health & Wellbeing
Greener environments encourage outdoor activity, social interaction and provide proven mental wellbeing benefits.
Creates Better Public Places
High-quality public spaces increase civic pride, enhance local character and make town centres, streets and neighbourhoods more attractive destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does investing in public realm greening benefit local businesses and town centres?
Attractive, well-designed public spaces draw more footfall, encourage people to spend time longer and create destinations that support local businesses. Greener town centres are more welcoming and are proven to increase visitor numbers and dwell time.
How does public realm greening improve mental health and wellbeing?
Access to green space has benefits for mental health, reducing stress and encouraging outdoor activity and social interaction. Greener public spaces give communities somewhere to rest, connect and spend time in nature.
How do you make public realm spaces interactive and engaging?
We design spaces with the surrounding communities in mind, incorporating features like stepping logs, stepping stones, gabion seating, educational signage and habitat accessories that encourage interaction, play and learning.
What structural features can you add to a public realm scheme?
We can add boulders, elevated tree pits and other structural elements to introduce texture and visual interest to a scheme.
What urban greening accessories and add-ons do you offer for public realm schemes?
We offer a range of urban greening add-ons designed to make green spaces more interesting, interactive and educational. These include biodiversity features like bug hotels, bird boxes, habi-stacks and bee posts, structural features like boulders and elevated tree pits, and access features like gabion benches, stepping logs and stepping stones.
How do rain gardens contribute to public realm improvement?
Rain gardens manage surface water runoff while adding greenery and biodiversity to streets and public spaces. They improve the look of urban areas, support pollinators, and help towns and cities become more resilient to flooding.
What is public realm design and how does it differ from general landscaping?
Public realm design focuses on shared outdoor spaces like streets, squares, and parks that are accessible to everyone. Unlike general landscaping, it’s about creating spaces that work for whole communities, balancing aesthetics, function, accessibility, and resilience.
What public realm services does Meristem Design offer?
We offer a full range of public realm greening services including rain gardens, SuDS planters, parklets, green screens, living walls, mobility hubs, and bespoke planting schemes, from initial green audit through to installation and long-term maintenance.
What is public realm?
A public realm refers to the spaces that surrounding buildings in which people can move through, gather and spend time. E.g streets, plazas, squares and parks
How can urban greening improve public health?
Green spaces reduce stress and improve air quality. Products such as parklets and pocket parks help promote physical activity and active travel, making them valuable solutions for community health initiatives.
Latest news
We are a group of designers, horticulturalists and ecologists who have a shared passion; to turn the grey green.
22nd July 2026
Blogs
What is the public realm?
Public realm shapes how people experience a town or city. Here's what it means, what makes it work and how we approach it....
1st July 2026
Blogs
How urban greening can transform town centres
Discover how a series of urban greening projects in Harrow are helping to transform the town centre and surrounding communities....
30th June 2026
News
Dig Once, Green Twice: Launch of new GLA green infrastructure guide
Meristem Design collaborated with CIVIC, Stockholm Tree Pits and Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape to deliver a GLA guide to retrofitting green infrastructure in utility constrained streets....