As Bradford celebrates its well-earned title of UK City of Culture 2025, the city centre has been undergoing an inspiring transformation — and Norfolk Gardens Park is right at the heart of it.
This impressive 10,000 m² green space is designed to be more than just a park. It’s a community hub, a biodiversity booster, and a celebration space for the city’s cultural programme. Johnsons Nurseries Ltd is proud to have played a key role in making this project a success.
Delivered by Gavin Jones Ltd on behalf of Balfour Beatty plc, and shaped in partnership with Bradford Council’s in-house landscape architects, the park is a landmark example of public realm design that balances ecology, beauty, and functionality.
Johnsons Nurseries Ltd, based just 42 miles from Bradford, was chosen to supply the plants for this high-profile scheme. Long-time collaborators with Gavin Jones, we were delighted to help bring the planting vision to life.
We supplied a wide variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, and hedging, carefully selected to support pollinators, provide year-round interest, and stand up to the demands of a busy city centre location.
🌳 Trees included:
Prunus ‘Amanogawa’
Betula ‘Fascination’
Acer campestre ‘Elegant’
🌿 Perennials and Shrubs included:
Euphorbia robbiae
Thymus vulgaris
Skimmia ‘Kew Green’
Escallonia
🌱 Hedging:
165 formal Taxus baccata elements
🌸 Turfing:
3,100 m² wildflower turf to support biodiversity
2,000 m² traditional turf for open space use
Our team worked closely with Gavin Jones to ensure plants were delivered on time and in pristine condition, supporting a tight installation programme ahead of the City of Culture launch.
Today, Norfolk Gardens Park is already proving to be a valued destination — hosting performances, public events, and everyday visitors. It’s more than a green space; it’s a living symbol of Bradford’s cultural pride, sustainability goals, and community spirit.
“Being part of this project — and contributing to a cultural milestone in our region — is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
— Graham Richardson, Group Managing Director, Johnsons Nurseries Ltd
Want to know more about how Johnsons can support your next public realm or urban landscaping project? Get in touch with our team.
Posted 23rd Jul 1:24pm
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We’re proud to have played a key role in one of the UK’s most ambitious and environmentally significant educational developments—the Woodmill and St Columba’s RC High School in Dunfermline, recently certified as the world’s largest Passivhaus education building.
Working in close partnership with P1 Contractors Ltd, we supplied over 200 semi-mature trees, more than 19,000 shrubs, herbaceous plants, hedging species, and 2,000 spring bulbs to help create a dynamic, resilient, and biodiverse outdoor environment for this landmark campus.
Designed by AHR Architects and built by BAM UK and Ireland on behalf of Fife Council and Hub East Central Scotland, the 26,666 m² campus unites two secondary schools on a single, future-focused site. Certified to the Passivhaus Classic standard in June 2025, the project represents a global benchmark in low-energy, high-performance educational buildings.
At Johnsons Nurseries, we take pride in growing and delivering the highest quality nursery stock, but projects like this go far beyond logistics—they align with our commitment to sustainable landscapes that support both people and the planet.
“We are incredibly proud to have supplied the plants for such a landmark development in sustainable education,” said Graham Richardson, Managing Director of Johnsons of Whixley. “Our team worked closely with P1 Contractors to ensure every plant was grown, selected, and delivered to meet the specific requirements of this pioneering Passivhaus project. It’s fantastic to see our stock forming part of a green space that will enrich the lives of students and staff for generations.”
The planting scheme, implemented by P1 Contractors, combines native species, pollinator-friendly meadows, and innovative rain gardens, creating rich, functional landscapes that complement the Passivhaus design principles of energy efficiency, wellbeing, and long-term sustainability.
P1’s Ryan Whitelaw summed it up perfectly:
“We’re not only cutting the campus’s carbon footprint—we’re giving students a living classroom that will flourish for decades to come.”
This project is more than a school—it’s a statement of intent for how public buildings in Scotland, and beyond, can be designed and maintained in harmony with the environment. It also acts as a pathfinder for Scotland’s Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard, setting new expectations for what sustainable infrastructure can achieve.
We’re honoured that our plants will help define the outdoor identity of this trailblazing school, supporting biodiversity, seasonal interest, and wellbeing for students, staff, and the local community.
To learn more about our commercial plant supply capabilities and how we support environmentally conscious projects like this one, get in touch with our team today.
Posted 9th Jul 2:39pm
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July is buzzing — quite literally — with the sights and sounds of bees and butterflies, and it’s the perfect time to reflect on just how vital these little garden visitors are. While they certainly add beauty and movement to our outdoor spaces, they play a much deeper role in our environment. These essential pollinators are crucial to the ecosystems we depend on — including the food we eat.
The UK government has outlined an awareness initiative called Bees’ Needs, which highlights five simple actions we can all take to support bee populations. This campaign peaks during Bees’ Needs Week, running from 14th to 20th July.
One of the key activities during the week involves a bit of citizen science. Simply spend 10 minutes observing a patch of flowers near your home or workplace. Sit still, count how many bees visit, and if you’re able, try identifying them. Did you know there are 270 types of bees in Britain, including 24 species of bumblebee? Identification guides are available through organisations like the Wildlife Trust.
Grow nectar-rich plants — not just flowers, but also trees and shrubs.
Let your garden go a little wild — a messy corner is a pollinator paradise.
Mow less often — longer grass supports wildflowers and nesting.
Respect nests — avoid disturbing wild bee or butterfly homes.
Rethink pesticides — reduce or eliminate use where possible.
Later in the month, the spotlight turns to butterflies. Like bees, they are vital pollinators, but their needs are a little different. Not only do they require nectar-rich flowers, but they also depend on specific plants for the caterpillar stage of their lifecycle.
There are 57 resident butterfly species in the UK — but sadly, five species have been lost in the last 150 years. Each butterfly has its own preferred habitat, whether it’s woodland, meadow, or heath, which makes habitat protection a key part of conservation.
Some garden-friendly plants that are perfect for butterflies include:
Lavender
Buddleia (the butterfly bush)
Lilacs
With the Big Butterfly Count running from 18th July to 10th August, now is the time to step outside, take a moment, and see who’s fluttering through your patch. A thoughtfully planted garden can attract up to 20 species of butterfly — and each one is a sign that your garden is making a difference.
Take 10 minutes. Make a big impact.
This July and August, let’s appreciate our pollinators — not just for their beauty, but for the vital role they play in the health of our planet.
Posted 9th Jul 10:33am
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