News

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  Willerby App Launched

  Willerby Landscapes has officially launched its bespoke materials lifting bag App called BagChecker. Its primary function is to monitor and record via a barcode the condition of an innovative and bespoke lifting bag developed by Willerby which are designed to contain soils for lifting at height, but can also be used for other loose materials.

  Due to the number of high-rise roof garden installations now being carried out by the company, it was clear that there was a health & safety requirement in lifting the materials at height along with a possible environmental opportunity on re-useable bags.

  Having an environmental advantage, the developed lifting bags being reusable presented a need to ensure that the bags are commissionable at every lift and comply to LOLER regulations for Health & Safety lifting operations. Consideration was also given on the lift situation and operative management for checking the condition of the bags, before, during and after the lift via a unique barcode. 

  The bags were used for the first time at Marble Arch Place, a residential build, the main contractor being Multiplex. We moved roughly 18 tonne of soil up 8 floors into planters in less than 2 hours! 

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  80 Fenchurch St EC3

  An orientation visit took place back in November last year by our H&S officer and Project team in order to commence work. 

  Our works involve us installing six landscaped roof gardens on this new construction at 80 Fenchurch Street. The installation will offer a rare alternative to City Towers through the inclusion of six landscaped roof gardens designed by Landscape architects Hyland Edgar Driver.

  The immediate tasks were setting out, laying drainage boarding, shuttering, and foundations for the planters. Whilst this was going on, we built a 'mock-up' on one of the corner planters which we put forward to the client. We regularly construct demo’s and mock-ups, down at our Kent nursery to present to clients. This enable us and the client to see if there are concerns in the construction and installation of the works and to ‘force-out’ any design issues from the drawing specs. Again during the Lockdown we were able to continue on site, albeit with a smaller team, as we were at the installing and planting stage of our works.

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  100 Liverpool Street

  Our works at this prestigious site is now complete. The initial walk-round of the site took place at the end of July 2019 and within a few weeks the installation team commenced work on installing the terrace planters..

  The new 100 Liverpool Street building has five outdoor terraces which has an approximate area of 2,600m2. Commencing work early summer 2019 we were tasked in planting over 8,800 plants and 28 trees which will include Olea europaea (Olives) an evergreen tree that will add a Mediterranean touch to the terraces.

  Along with the trees and plants, over 275 cubic metres of lightweight soil was required to be lifted to the terraces. Careful logistical planning for transportation to the city location and lifting was required in what is an extremely busy area of the city.

  During the lock-down months we continued to work within the safety guidelines, along with the main contractor, as much of our installation work involved planting and this could be successfully achieved within the social distancing guidelines.

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  Facebook At Kings Cross

  Facebook has acquired over 600,000 sq ft of office space across three buildings at King’s Cross which is located at the Western Yards of the King’s Cross estate. Willerby Landscapes has been chosen as the landscaper of choice for the 42,000 sq ft of landscaped roof gardens and terraces for buildings T2 & T3 which will become known as 11-21 Canal Reach.

  T2 will be 12 storeys high at its highest point at the southern end of the site, stepping down to nine storeys towards the north. Free of mechanical plant, the roof will just accommodate gardens and planted terraces, creating a place for receptions, meetings or simply to enjoy the excellent views across Central London. The current programme was for us to be on site in February/March 2020, however the Initial Subcontractor Health and Safety Meeting took place early February and then came along Covid-19 and Lockdown, so activity is a little behind but we mustering the team to commence work within the safety guidelines. 

   

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  A Unique Park

  We have just completed a unique installation of a public park in Canary Wharf, London. The 4,500 m2 park is actually 30 meters above the ground excavation and sits on flame retardant EPS blocks supported by scaffolding piles.

  The client’s requirement was to install an aesthetically pleasing public park for recreational purposes in an urban space which had been excavated and earmarked for development, but would not be developed for several years.

  The client’s brief also required contemporary furniture; a modular, multifunctional design to suit future events which may be organised on the park and easily moveable

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  New Google HQ

  Willerby Landscapes secure the hard and soft landscaping contract for the installation of landscape architects Gillespies, BIG and Heatherwick Studio's design for the new Google London HQ. The roof garden will comprise of 4,000m2 of green space with the planting of over 230 container grown trees and 55,000 shrubs and perennials.

  During the tender process for the contract we were presented with the client's Four Big Challenges. 1) Safe and healthy workforce, 2) Taking delivery to the next level, 3) Reducing our environmental footprint and 4) Healthy and productive workplace of the future. We embraced these challenges and put forward our innovative ideas for Taking delivery to the next level and Reducing our environmental footprint.

  We accomplished two of these challenges by developing a re-usable lifting bag for all materials to the roof which will reduce our environmental footprint. Additionally we have developed a bespoke App for mobiles and tablets so that our suppliers and operatives can monitor and check suitability of the bags before each lift thus taking delivery and safety to the next level.

  © Image Google

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  Royal Albert Docks Phase 1

  Covering an equivalent size of 35 football pitches the redevelopment of the Royal Albert Docks is well underway. The works on the first of the planned six phases has been completed, The site though will have 21 office buildings and a temporary energy centre are to be built.

  Our works on the first phase is now complete. It encompassed a number of elements on the project; from soft landscaping which involved the groundwork and installation of over 60 semi-mature trees, hedges, perennial mixes and lawns, pre-fabricated plant containers, bespoke timber benches and street furniture.

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  Rushden Lakes

  Rushden Lakes is a major shopping and leisure complex in Rushden Northamptoshire and owned by The Crown Estate.

  It first opened in 2017 and work on further retail and leisure units continues. Macgregor-Smith Landscape Architects were invited to put forward some concept ideas for the Garden Square development within the wider Rushden Lakes development to create a unique enclosed garden space which highlighted the soft, natural character of Rushden Lakes with the infrastructure allowing for the space to be activated on event days. 

  Now completed, our works involved the installation of 19 semi mature trees, 242m2 shrub planting, resin bound surfaces, block paving and play area.

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  IQL Stratford S9

  Our involvement in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park transformation project at Stratford, East London continues with installations on the International Quarter London (IQL) S9 build. Having completed soft landscaping installations between buildings S5 & S6 we are tasked to install over 15,000 shrubs and plants, 50 semi mature trees and an irrigation system. 

  This area of the development included the service road and the installation of nine Acer platanoides (Norway maple).

  Being next to the Docklands Light Railway and the difficulting in planting alongside the current tight construction works on site, we had to hire a 20 tonne rotating telehandler and have DLR in attendance during the installation.

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  Wood Wharf London

  Further to our earlier announcement on securing the works for the installation of roof terraces on two new buildings currently known as A2 and A3 within Canary Wharf’s new district, Wood Wharf further hard & soft landscaping works have been awarded for the infrastructure at ground floor level which includes irrigation and the installation of over 60 semi mature trees.