Award-winning urban planting scheme, Grey to Green has completely transformed parts of the Castlegate Quarter bringing greenery, colour and sustainability to inner-city Sheffield.
The UK’s longest ‘green street’ corridor and largest retrofit sustainable urban drainage scheme (SuDs), it offers a calming refuge in an urban environment and has transformed a tarmacked area into a green public space that encourages cycling and walking.
And it doesn't just make the area look more attractive, designed with climate change, wellbeing and economic investment in mind, Grey to Green is helping to lay foundations for a healthy, sustainable future.
On the third Sunday of every a month it's also home to Pollen, an inner-city flower market that has flourished to become one of Sheffield’s best loved outdoor markets.
A monthly celebration of all things botanical, each Pollen event delivers an abundance of greenery, live music, art and local produce, showcasing amazing independent businesses from across Sheffield and beyond.
Sheffield was built on rivers. Grey to Green's innovative drainage system reconnects this part of the city with them, flowing rainwater back to rivers in a way that mimics nature – cleanly, slowly, sustainably.
Grey to Green’s innovative planting beds also capture and hold on to plastics from car tyres and road wear and other pollutants, preventing them from reaching the watercourses.
In addition to the SuDS and surface water management capability, this truly multi-functional scheme also increases urban biodiversity, protect pedestrians from air pollution though multi-layered planting and achieves urban cooling through increased tree planting.
Throughout the scheme are a number of 4.2m totem-like structures filled with sculptures and carvings. The designs are inspired by the vibrant history of the area.
Collaboration is key to a thriving sustainable city and the success of Grey to Green is down to the joined-up efforts of the city, the universities, businesses, and local communities.
