DEEPROOT URBAN SOLUTIONS LIMITED

Situated just west of 10 Trinity Square — a century-old building adjacent to the Tower of London and the River Thames — Seething Lane Garden is a “pocket park” with a rich history dating back to the 1600s and the writer Samuel Pepys. In 2017, after years of project planning and construction, it reopened to the public with a series of impressive upgrades: a large open lawn, commemorative Pepys monument, and 18 new trees. The DeepRoot Silva Cells were installed under the new plaza walkways to help provide enough soil volume to guarantee healthy tree growth, while also assisting in managing on-location rainwater.

One of the few major global cities without an arena, Leeds in 2010 sought to remedy this when it began work on a £60 million entertainment venue. What became known as First Direct Arena officially opened in 2013: a 13,500-seat arena that would play host to dozens of musical, comedic, and sports superstars over the next decade. This sustainably focused development also included an outdoor component: an adjacent piazza and streetscape renovation spearheaded by the landscape architecture team at Grontmij UK (now Sweco). In addition to accessibility and pedestrian enhancing features, designers wanted to incorporate greenery: 12 hardscape trees were planted in Silva Cells and given access to lightly compacted soil for mature growth, providing the community with both welcoming shade and air- and water-improvement benefits.

The original Wembley Stadium, opened in 1923, was a mainstay of the London suburb for decades, hosting heralded international events from the 1948 Olympic Games to the 1985 Live Aid concert series. By 2000, however, the venue was in need of crucial modernizing upgrades — the stadium was demolished and a new 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium was inaugurated in 2007. The suburban district itself likewise underwent an overhaul (as a partnership between Gross Max, Populous, and Foster + Partners), with particular attention paid to Olympic Way: the iconic thoroughfare connecting the tube station to the stadium itself. A thoughtful green infrastructure plan was established encompassing the planting of 48 new trees, a diverse selection of species chosen from across the Northern Hemisphere. The DeepRoot Silva Cell system was specified for both its soil volume and stormwater treatment benefits, helping greenify the historic footpath for years to come.

The revamp of The Strand is both human-centric and environmentally conscious. It is a public realm streetscape project that adheres to European Commission guidelines on water and air quality. As part of the EU-funded URBANGreenUP project, the green transformation of The Strand is connecting Liverpool efficiently, sustainably, and safely. The trees installed in DeepRoot Silva Cells play a vital role in reduced carbon emissions, sustainable urban drainage system (SuDs) for stormwater, and a healthy tree canopy for generations.