Landscape & Urban Design Issue 16 2015 | Page 4

Platipus supports Landform Consultants and Lotus Design in 1st Public Park in Gibraltar Since first pioneering the concept of underground tree anchoring in 1983, Platipus have designed, manufactured and supplied solutions to secure and stabilise trees across the world on prestigious projects such as the Commonwealth Park in Gibraltar. This British territory on the South coast of Spain is inhabited by the British expats and a variety of communities working in shipping and tourism. The “Rock” is then one of the most densely populated territories with about 5,000 inhabitants per square kilometre. Despite over 30,000 inhabitants, Gibraltar lacked a public park for people to relax and enjoy green open spaces. The Local Authority used a former car park of 4000 m² to create the first park for the city - The “Commonwealth Park”. Landform Consultants were lead designers for the Scheme. The fountain and grassed areas were covered with trees and shrubs from Deepdale Nursery. The construction required a reliable fixing system to secure the trees and shrubs and provide a safe environment for visitors to the park. Two types of Platipus Anchors underground rootball fixing systems were specified creating an aesthetically pleasing finish to the landscape. "The weather down on Gibraltar can be unpredictable and fierce at times. Securing our 140 mature trees effectively was a major concern. Having used the Platipus system for many years, it was the only reliable option to specify to date and they have performed brilliantly under some testing winter conditions. “said Mark Gregory MD Landform Consultants. For more info about Platipus, please contact our technical team at [email protected] or by phone at 01737 762300. www.platipus-anchors.com 4 Landscape & Urban Design Issue 16