Green Synergy was commissioned in 2024-2025 to support the City of Lincoln Council with the regeneration of the Sincil Bank area of the city and this work included the transformation of open spaces and projects that improve the physical appearance of the area.
The two areas were identified in Sincil Bank where there was an appetite for change and these were Shakespeare Street, where during 2023, residents begun to meet to identify ways to improve their street scene, this led to the trialling of a number of interventions. The second area is on Thesiger Street which is one of the prominent fly tipping hot spots in the area.
Green Synergy’s team worked alongside local residents, volunteers, National Grid and the City of Lincoln Council’s Local Neighbourhood team to scope out, consult the community and then deliver the street scene green spaces improvements.
Thesiger Street
Following consultations with residents, the project was to improve the area immediately adjacent to the National Grid Sub Station with moveable large planters. These planters were designed by our Garden’s Manager and then co-produced with students from Lincoln College.
The installation onsite was led by our Gardens Manager Ana and supported by our brilliant volunteers.
The outcome of the project was that 48 Perennials, 7 species and 48 Bulbs were planted into the Thesiger Street planters and since the planters were installed there has been no reported incidents on fly tipping near the sub station.
Another key element for the project was instilling local pride in the area and Green Synergy has been fortunate to engage with students from Lincoln College on the planter build. One student who lives locally to Thesiger Street highlighted that:
“The planters look well good, and I can say I helped build them. We really made a difference.”
Green Synergy would also like to acknowledge the assistance from National Grid with this element of the project.
Shakespeare Street
Following a meeting with the Neighbourhood team, a Meet the Street postcard was produced inviting all the residents of Shakespeare Street to a Meet the Street community engagement activity on 14th August which positively engaged 12 local residents including children and also 5 households signed up to the Shakespeare Street e-newsletter to be kept informed and where we can send specific info on the project.
During that site visit, fly tipping was noted in the recess near the end of the street near the drain so it was agreed that a key component of the project would be to build, instal and planter new planters in this specific area.
The outputs for the project were that5 litres of paint used to paint and protect the planters, 500 litres of peat free compost have been installed, 91 bulbs planted on site including 30 Double Daffodils, 15 Narcissus ‘Tamara’, 12 Crocus ‘Flower Record’, 16 Allium ‘Purple Sensation’, 6 Tulip ‘Pastel’, 12 Iris ‘Lilac Mix’.
Also 27 plants planted on site including 4 Helleborus ‘Christmas Carol’, 1 Heuchera, 1 Hedera ‘Helix’, 4 Skimmia ‘Rubella’, 12 Primrose – ‘Winter Mix’, 4 Ivy ‘Autumn Gold’ and 1 Phlox ‘Candy Stripe’
