The Attock Park Community Garden and the public realm enhancements in Bradford’s ‘Top of Town’ area have both made it to the esteemed Pro-Landscaper Awards 2023 shortlist.
The Landscape, Design, and Conservation Team of Bradford Council’s efforts on the Attock Park Community Garden have earned them recognition in the ‘Community Green Space Under £50,000’ category of the Pro-Landscaper Project Awards. Working closely with the local community and Bradford Moor PASS, a charity dedicated to enhancing Bradford Moor, the team designed a garden that promotes a sense of belonging and ownership, welcoming people of all generations and backgrounds. This garden serves as an educational resource, encouraging individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles by cultivating their own fruits and vegetables. It features raised beds for easy accessibility and sheltered spaces for year-round use. Additionally, it serves as a place for learning, conversation, and enjoyment.
The public realm improvements in the Top of Town area have also received recognition in the Pro-Landscaper Sustainability and Biodiversity Awards. North Parade, Rawson Square, and Northgate have undergone a significant transformation under the recently completed conservation area scheme, masterminded by the Council’s Landscape Architects and Highways Engineers.
With additional funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, the streetscape is not only more aesthetically pleasing, but also incorporates enhancements like street trees, rain gardens, and a high-quality public realm setting, setting a benchmark for future developments. These improvements will contribute to addressing climate change, reducing the risk of surfacewater flooding, and enhancing biodiversity.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Lead Member for Transport, Regeneration and Planning said: “The top-of-town improvements epitomise sustainability-led design with a focus on increasing biodiversity and having as little negative impact on the natural environment as possible.
“Both of these short listings in such prestigious awards showcase some of the incredible work the Council’s team undertakes across the whole district. It is great to see the team receive such high national recognition.”
Saira Ali, Bradford Council’s Landscape, Design and Conservation Team Leader said, “It’s fantastic for our team to have our hard work recognised by Pro-Landscaper in this way. We have a passion for innovation, but also to co-design with the people who will benefit from the landscape projects we develop. We are led by our communities and making a positive difference to their lives.”
Richard Middleton, Townscape Heritage Project Officer said, “The Top of Town public realm improvements show how we can make our historic streetscapes responsive to climate change with more biodiverse habitats, while still presenting our beautiful architecture in the best way possible.”
