Stevenson Square lies in the heart of the Northern Quarter of Manchester’s City Centre. It is currently bereft of any street greenery, making it feel very grey. We want to give this area a green makeover for the people who live and work in and around the square, for visitors, and for those just passing through.
Imagine looking out of your window – at home, at work or on the bus and seeing beautiful trees lining the street, colourful hanging baskets, and a little green roof on the old public loo, growing edible treats like strawberries and herbs!
We would like to make this vision a reality in Manchester’s Stevenson Square. The project has the support of Manchester City Council, and is being sponsored by this year's Greenbuild Expo, but we also need your help to make the project happen.
What we'll deliver:
- A disused toilet block building will be transformed into a central feature – with a green roof added to the building
- We'll plant 11 beautiful street trees in the pavement and in the square’s central reservations.
- 14 self-irrigating hanging baskets on lampposts will complete the makeover.
- We will plant edible treats such as herbs and fruits on the green roof
Why it's a great idea:
Planting more trees in urban areas has been shown to bring a range of benefits. They can improve people’s health and well-being and by providing shading and cooling in the summer can help in the battle against climate change. Trees can also reduce the risk of flooding in urban areas by soaking up rainfall.
This work will transform Stevenson Square into an inviting place for those who live or work in the Northern Quarter - or for those visiting the area. It will make it a more attractive square for people to sit and relax in and help create a ‘street café’ style environment.
Steps to get it done:
- Self-irrigating hanging baskets will be installed on lamp posts.
- The green roof will be designed to collect and store rainwater.
- The green roof will use a strata system to encourage capture of rainwater.
- The pavement will be extended on one side of Stevenson Square which will enable street trees to be planted
- More tree planting will be be undertaken on the central reservation to create a green spine down the square's middle
Pete Stringer, Special Projects Manager for Red Rose Forest, said: "I have been working hard to introduce trees in urban areas in Greater Manchester since 2001. I have also been involved in work to identify what role street trees and urban greening have to play in adapting our urban centres to climate change, alongside local universities.
"I believe that greening our urban centres is essential to creating pleasant and attractive places in which to live, work and visit, but also in enabling them to survive the challenges that climate change is bringing.
"Greening Stevenson Square will help to achieve these aims and make a real difference to this trendy part of the city centre."
