GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE
GREEN-TREE BIORETENTION SOIL DELIVERS SUDS PERFORMANCE AND
PLANTING SUCCESS
IN PLYMOUTH CITY CENTRE
tonnes of Green-tree Bioretention Soil to fill these structures. The soil forms the growing medium for the rain garden tanks, which are capable of holding back 75.5 cubic metres of stormwater, slowing runoff before it reaches the drainage network.
Manufactured from high-quality sands and green composts, Greentree Bioretention Soil provides the permeability required to prevent waterlogging on the surface while retaining sufficient nutrient levels and organic matter for the planting. This ensures the vegetation not only survives but flourishes, creating an attractive, functional landscape.
Green-tree Bioretention Soil plays an essential role in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems( SuDS), providing a specialist growing medium that supports vegetation while managing surface water. Engineered to slow the throughflow of rainwater and promote healthy plant establishment, Greentree Bioretention Soil forms the backbone of rain gardens and other green infrastructure that help reduce flood risk and improve urban environments.
Unlike conventional soils, Greentree Bioretention Soil combines high permeability with nutrient stability. Water infiltrates rapidly through the substrate, reducing surface runoff, while organic matter provides the structure required for plants to thrive. This dual functionality makes it integral to SuDS schemes that need to deliver both drainage performance and long-term landscape quality.
One example of this is the transformation of Plymouth City Centre, where Green-tree Bioretention Soil was specified as part of the public realm regeneration of Old Town Street and New George Street. The £ 1.6 million scheme introduced rain gardens, 25 semi-mature trees and new landscaped areas, all supported by a SuDS strategy designed to improve climate resilience and reduce flood risk, an essential role in the city’ s flood management strategy and its Climate Emergency Action Plan.
YGS Landscapes, the appointed contractor, undertook this major improvement project, which included the removal of contaminated material, underground obstructions, prewar historical city features, and old utility systems to integrate with modern amenities and drainage systems, as well as the installation of three rain gardens, trees and soft planting. Green-tech supplied 160
Since completion, the regenerated streets have yielded multiple benefits, becoming a greener and more appealing space that people enjoy spending time in. The rain gardens soften the urban environment, support biodiversity and provide visible evidence of sustainable drainage in practice. As climate challenges intensify, schemes such as this demonstrate the Plymouth Council’ s commitment to environmental stewardship and climate resilience and show how Green-tree Bioretention Soil and SuDS can work together to manage water intelligently while enhancing the character and usability of public spaces. www. green-tech. co. uk
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