Suffolk County Council (SCC) commissioned Greener Ipswich CIC to improve the green environment in Tower Street, on the corner of Berners Street and Norwich Road, and around the former Crown Courts. The extremely dry spring and summer has provided challenges but we are very pleased with the way the projects are developing.
Tower Street
Greener Ipswich Tower Street April 2025
This major pedestrian thoroughfare now has seven fastigiate hornbeam trees in planters, with under-storey planting including Japanese anemones, geraniums and astrantias. Bulbs will be planted in the autumn ready for spring 2026. The pavement garden at the north end of Tower Street has been completely renovated, with many plants donated by a number of volunteers.
Berners Street Corner
Before the Greener Ipswich treatment, this area sported five ceramic planters, full of dead plants and rubbish. It was very depressing. These planters now carry cistus, lavender and verbena: all thriving. Two new planters are bursting with blue cat-mint (nepeta), surrounding two dwarf amelanchier trees. We shall monitor the planting to ensure the gaura and rudbeckia become established so the flowering season continues into early autumn. We had hope that the flower bed next to Norwich Road would be bursting with colour by now but we have been told Ipswich Borough Council is going to replace the railings this autumn. We have a fantastic planting scheme ready for 2026, however. This has been designed for us by Leanne Cole, a recent graduate from Suffolk New College.
Former Crown Courts
Greener Ipswich Berners Street Project
This building is no longer occupied and the area was looking very sad with weeds growing through the paving. Greener Ipswich has planted virginia creeper along the front wall to bring a bit of life back to the building. If the building finds new tenants who object to this, we can easily prune the creeper and site them elsewhere: nothing will be wasted. We have screened the tired old car park next to the former courts with five planters containing three mulberry trees and two amelanchiers, all under-planted with a glorious wild flower mix that will look radiant in July.
Whist working on the Three SCC projects, Foundation Street Apex parking approached us and commissioned Greener Ipswich to renovate the weed-filled brick planter running along the pavement outside the car park. Once work began, it soon became clear that local residents wanted to give their support to improving their road. It is now not unusual to see a couple of neighbours busy tending the plants for everyone to enjoy. Spring bulbs will be added later in the year.
If you have suggestions as to where Greener Ipswich can make a difference, please let us know. We shall investigate!
Planting at Old Crown Court Car Park. Photo: D. Vincent