GT SPECIFIER ADVISE ON IRRIGATION
WITHIN THE QUEENS WALK DEVELOPMENT
Green-tech’s specification team gt
Specifier has worked with Barton
Willmore Landscape Architects to
advise on the Mona Plant irrigation
System. It has been incorporated
within planter designs of a new
courtyard area at the Queens Walk
development in Reading.
Described as a subterranean watering
system, the Mona plant system tanks
were incorporated within the planting
medium and deliver water direct to the
plant’s roots through the process of
capillary action. The system removes
the need for surface watering so
ensures the correct amount of water is
delivered as and when required by the
Richard Wexham, Product
planting. The system is 100% efficient,
Specification Manager, gt Specifier
eliminating the risk of over or under-
added:
watering and responds to the seasonal
requirements of each individual plant.
‘The Mona Plant System offers
a solution to water wastage. By
With over 30 years’ heritage, the
Mona Plant System has been specified
on many projects across the UK and
Europe.
The old Yell office block was
originally built as part of a large hotel
development then later housed the
office team for the famous Yellow Pages
for many years. The building has now
received a full makeover incorporating
284 new flats for the University of
Reading students and an external
landscaped courtyard by landscape
contractor Hillier Landscapes. The
courtyard incorporates both hard
and soft landscaped areas and raised
planters housing both trees and shrubs
that provide shade, screening and
seasonal interest.
The team behind the Mona Plant
System assisted with the specification
of the system at an early stage of the
design process, ensuring the correct
quota of tanks were utilised to suit the
individual planting.
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Landscape & Urban Design Issue 37 2019
incorporating the system into a scheme
The team also arranged the supply
of 150m 3 of Green-tree intensive
substrate; an established growing
media with an excellent reputation
in the marketplace. It is a blend of
lightweight aggregate and award-
winning Green-tree top soil; which
is ideal for containerised planting or
green roof projects. It is lightweight
in texture and has good water holding
capacity which encourages healthy
plants and trees in containerised
planting projects like this.
Paul Corfield, Senior Landscape
Architect for Barton Willmore
commented:
‘Barton Willmore was commissioned
to produce the design proposals for the
existing courtyard space as part of the
refurbishment works at Queens Walk.
Incorporating the Mona Plant System
into the planting scheme offered a
simple and effective watering solution
for the raised planters.’
at specification stage you are providing
the best possible start for your trees
and plants. The yellow subterranean
tanks are designed to release water on
request by the planting and the process
of capillary action transfers the water
through the growing medium to the
plant’s roots to ensure the correct
amount is always available.’
Images kindly supplied by Omos,
street furniture designers and
manufacturers.
www.gtspecifier.co.uk