The Queen Elizabeth II Garden

Client: The Royal Parks

Landscape Architect: HTA Design

Location: The Regent’s Park, London

When The Royal Parks’ plant nursery relocated to Hyde Park in 2018, it left behind two-acres of previously inaccessible brownfield landin the heart of The Regent’s Park. The site was occupied by disused glasshouses and redundant infrastructure, hidden from public view and contributing nothing to the park or its visitors.

The project presented an opportunity to return this forgotten corner of one of London’s greatest Royal Parks to public use.

Delivered as part of a wider legacy initiative marking what would have been the late Queen’s 100th birthday, the garden reflects The Royal Parks’ ongoing commitment to protecting and enhancing London’s Royal Parks as places for nature, wellbeing and public enjoyment.

WORKS

The construction of the garden was guided from the outset by the principles of the BREEAM Infrastructure framework, embedding sustainable construction, resource efficiency and circular economy principles into delivery. The project subsequently achieved a BREEAM Infrastructure ‘Excellent’ Whole Project Award.

Blakedown delivered an unusually broad scope of construction works within a single contract, combining complex civils, specialist hard landscape, technically demanding soft landscape and below-ground infrastructure across a constrained live Royal Parks site.

Key elements of the works included:

• Site clearance, earthworks and reprofiling to create varied landforms, forming microclimates, controlling views and supporting rainwater management.

• Construction of a central Yorkstone promenade and contemplative roundel, Yorkstone steps, terrazzo pathways, secondary Breedon gravel paths and pergola.

• Construction of a circular pond and accessible viewing platform, creating a focal point and new opportunities for visitors to engage with the aquatic landscape.

• Delivery of a site-wide sustainable drainage strategy, incorporating linked swales, below-ground drainage, ducting and irrigation infrastructure.

• Repurposing and adaptation of the existing water tower to create a viewing platform, wildlife habitat and learning resource.

• Installation of extensive soft landscaping, including 70 specimen and native trees, woodland and coppice fringe planting, flowering shrubs, Mediterranean planting, perimeter hedging, wildflower meadows, aquatic planting and more than 200,000 bulbs.

• Horticultural delivery managed by Blakedown’s in-house team and horticultural consultant, working closely with HTA Design and planting designer Dr Noel Kingsbury to ensure the successful establishment and long-term performance of the planting scheme.

• Reuse of site-won materials, including crushed concrete to create an innovative low fertility growing medium for climate-resilient planting, together with reclaimed Thames gravel and salvaged steel from the former glasshouses.

• Delivery of a comprehensive social value programme, including community planting events, student engagement, supported work placements and the creation of an outdoor learning garden at St Paul’s Primary School.

OUTCOMES:

Guided by the principles of the BREEAM Infrastructure framework, the project achieved a BREEAM Infrastructure ‘Excellent’ Whole Project Award.

Blakedown’s commitment to circular economy principles contributed to an estimated 80% reduction in embodied carbon and the diversion of 99.98% of construction waste from landfill, while the quality of construction and horticultural delivery helped achieve a 184% net gain in biodiversity.