Work started in February to transform Hoole Way’s Sunken Garden in Chester.
The garden is a major entrance into the city centre, and sits below ground level in the middle of a busy roundabout.
The garden transformation includes three, 7.5m-high ‘Supertree’ urban sculptures.
The Supertrees will introduce a “locally distinctive and visually stimulating” focal point and create an environment for biodiversity that would not normally exist within the city.
The steel structures – in the shape of trees – will allow various climbing plants to thrive within the city.
Those behind the scheme promise increased plant diversity, which in turn will increase animal and insect diversity.
The structures are constructed from a lattice-work of steel which branches out at the top to form a canopy.
The project was conceived by the ForEST (For Eco Supertrees) community group and has been designed and delivered in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Cllr Samantha Dixon, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, commented: “The vision is for a community oasis for residents, commuters and shoppers.
“The works are improving the quality of the public open space and accessibility.”
Cllr Dixon added: “The improvements include the removal of overgrown vegetation and adding new low maintenance planting which will retain clear sight lines and new ramped access.
“We are also working with Chester Zoo who will use the garden as an education space to connect the natural world with the city.”
The trees themselves will be installed in early April. This will require a lane closure on the roundabout for approximately two weeks.
Inspiration for the Chester Supertrees project came from Sir David Attenborough,
In the final episode of his Planet Earth II documentary, showed the success of Supertree Grove in Singapore’s nature park and botanical garden.
He talked about the ecosystems that exist within cities, in particular the ‘Gardens by the Bay’ project, where the Supertrees are located.
A new environment was established using metal structures to support a variety of plant life that would not usually grow in a city.
Chester’s Supertrees are on a much smaller scale, of course, but the aim is to achieve some of the same environmental and social goals as those achieved in Singapore.
