The Oasis / Greener Ipswich Project, 2020-26

The Oasis Project, now Greener Ipswich, started with a simple ambition shared by Faye Harburt, Richard Bloomfield and Liz Harsant, to create something positive and lasting for the people of Ipswich. What began as a community-led idea quickly gathered momentum, with growing support from local residents, community groups and businesses. In 2020, our project was successful in securing £600,000 from the Ipswich Towns Fund — part of the £25 million awarded to Ipswich through the Conservative Government’s Towns Fund initiative. We were particularly proud that ours was the only community project put forward, making the award a real recognition of the strength of local support behind our vision.

At the time, our MP Tom Hunt was a strong supporter of the Towns Fund and worked to help bring this significant investment to Ipswich. We were also fortunate to have the full support of Russell Williams, then Chief Executive of Ipswich Borough Council, who encouraged us to establish a Task Group bringing together business leaders, community representatives and local politicians to help shape and support the project. The group’s meetings and minutes were formally recorded by Ipswich Borough Council, providing an important record of the work and commitment that went into getting the project moving. You can see some of the people involved in the About Us section on this website.

One of the first jobs of the Task Group was to decide on a route through Ipswich where we could place trees, planters and other ‘green’ architecture. The vision was initially to have a route that linked up Christchurch Park to the Waterfront (via Crown Street, Princes, Queen, St Nicholas and St Peter’s streets); the second part of the route would then carry along the Waterfront to the University building; the third part would then link back to Christchurch Park. 

It soon became clear that the budget would only be enough to cover the first stage of the route, especially as the budget was then trimmed back to £540k for reasons linked to central government funding. 

We very much aimed to make getting ‘trees in the ground’ an absolute priority but there were relatively few places deemed suitable. This was usually due to concerns over underground infrastructure like cables, gas pipes and sewers. We did a huge amount of research on how tree roots could be shielded from pipes etc using specialist root barriers.  These ideas, which have been widely adopted in many parts of the country and London, were generally deemed to be too expensive. 

Another issue that we faced was persuading some of the businesses on the route to the benefits of tree planting. Some businesses feared that benches alongside planters might encourage anti-social behaviour. To try and alleviate these concerns the benches were designed to try and make rough sleeping on them more difficult  (using arm rests, curves etc). There was concern expressed by some businesses and represented via their local councillor that making the street one way to facilitate planting or losing any parking spaces to trees/planters on St Peter’s would be detrimental to the local businesses. We tried hard to alleviate these concerns suggesting more of a “cafe culture” could be created to the benefit of businesses, but to no avail. As a result nothing could be created on St Peter’s Street, producing a gap in the green route.

On a more positive note, slightly further to the south, the project installed a fantastic curved bench adjoining the grassy knoll near St Peter’s by the Waterfront church. The bench was designed with a nautical theme in mind by our own Tim Germain. It has proved very popular and is widely used by passers by.

The original three stage concept was paired back to just one and that stage doesn’t quite link Christchurch Park to the Waterfront in the way we originally envisioned. However there are four sections which have really enhanced the town centre.

Princes Street

This consists of two metal-walled planters and three trees. As can be seen from the pictures below, it looks really impressive.

Queen Street

A large tree has been planted outside the music shop with a beautiful round bench surrounding it. It is hoped that this will be a magnet for local buskers and is always being well used by tired passers by.

Further down another three trees have been planted inside two metal walled planters with a wide range of drought tolerant plants, plus two large benches.  In this location holes were cut into the sides of the metal planters to introduce the rain garden concept to Ipswich.  They are designed to help mitigate potential flash flooding in the town centre by taking in excess water.

St Nicholas Street

Heading south before you get to the Obolensky statue, there are two small planters with attached benches providing more very welcome seating.

St Nicholas Street – Wolsey Statue

Here there are two planters with benches, one of which has an interesting height variation. There were already some mature trees and the planter design sits well with these and complements the Wolsey statue.

Conclusions

It is fair to say that the journey from that original award in 2020 to the completion of Greener Ipswich has taken considerably longer than any of us could have imagined!  We were disappointed with the length of time the whole project took to come to fruition and that the trees were eventually planted in April and May when they should have been planted in autumn/winter.

We had to manage our hopes and expectations as we found our plans curtailed by what the budget could actually apparently afford and by resistance from businesses.  And we also found that maintenance was an issue in one location with our wildflowers being repeatedly mowed and thus not providing the desired effect nor benefits.

From the original ‘Oasis’ project the Greener Ipswich CIC evolved in 2024. The aims of the CIC are now to help revitalise Ipswich through community-driven gardening transforming neglected urban spaces into little green ‘oasis’ by using volunteers to maintain planters and accessible urban gardens. We also help a small number of returning citizens (suitably vetted) from HMP Hollesley Bay, as we recognise the value of horticultural work for men and women adjusting to civilian life. There are also plans to involve NEETs – people aged 16-24 who are not in employment, education or training – in the CIC’s work.

There have certainly been frustrations and many twists and turns along the way, but five years on, we can finally look back and say that a small part of the town has been enhanced, and the CIC can further spread its tendrils through our town centre streets.

Photo Credit: Greener Ipswich