Millstone Landscapes – New Fields

Greenwood Plants adds natural beauty to new-build development in Chichester

Overview

We were pleased to supply Millstone Landscapes with plants for the soft landscaping of New Fields—a new-build housing development by Redrow, offering a range of two, three and four bedroom homes.

Set in the charming city of Chichester, New Fields is nestled between Chichester Harbour and South Downs National Park. The development has great access to the city centre, with a traditional high street and magnificent cathedral.

Client: Millstone Landscapes

Project: New Fields

Location: Chichester, West Sussex

The Brief

As experts in growing for commercial landscapers, we worked closely with Millstone Landscapes every step of the way, to identify the key plants which were required to fulfil the brief.

Millstone Landscapes required a range of hedging, shrubs and trees to complement New Fields’ aesthetic. Its stunning countryside location and natural surroundings were taken into consideration for the planting selection.

Our Approach

We supplied a varied selection of plants to create stunning displays for the residents to enjoy. Throughout the development, Griselinia littoralis was planted as hedging to provide the privacy and boundary definition between properties. Griselinia has glossy, apple-green foliage and is ideal for privacy and screening due to its density and fast growth rate.

A combination of evergreen shrubs were supplied to create swathes of violet and blue within the residents’ borders, such as Viburnum davidii, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ (Lavender ‘Munstead’) and Ceanothus ‘Blue Mound’ (Californian lilac ‘Blue Mound’), which are all beneficial for bees and other pollinators. Viburnum davidii is a compact, bushy shrub that provides ground cover and works well at the front of borders. It has deep green, three-veined foliage with small, dull white flowers in spring, followed by long-lasting blue berries from summer through to winter. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ is a compact lavender with grey-green leaves and spikes of violet flowers in summer, with a strong fragrance for residents to appreciate as they brush past. Ceanothus ‘Blue Mound’ is a bushy shrub with glossy leaves and dense clusters of fluffy, vibrant blue flowers on arching branches.

Various flower borders were incorporated throughout the development, along roadsides and between properties. We supplied a range of evergreen shrubs for these areas to ensure year-round interest with foliage, flowers and berries. Cotoneaster × suecicus ‘Coral Beauty’ is low growing with small, glossy, dark green leaves and creamy white flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by impressive autumn colour with an abundance of orange-red berries. Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’ is a lovely addition to the borders, with its year-round, hairy, silver-grey foliage and bright yellow, daisy-like blooms in summer. Lonicera pileata ‘Moss Green’ (Privet honeysuckle ‘Moss Green’) was also supplied and works well when combined with smaller, more colourful shrubs. Lonicera pileata ‘Moss Green’ is reliable, tough and mound-forming, with small, dark green leaves.

The popular Laurus nobilis (Bay tree) was planted in various areas throughout the development. With its aromatic and glossy, smooth foliage, Laurus nobilis adds year-round structure to the flower beds surrounding the communal open space and playground.

The Result

We were thrilled with the results from this project and enjoyed working with Millstone Landscapes every step of the way. The chosen plants have been selected to suit the development aesthetic harmoniously and provide multiple seasons of interest, allowing New Fields’ residents to appreciate the plants throughout the year.

With Griselinia littoralis providing privacy and screening; Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ and Ceanothus ‘Blue Mound’ bringing striking, blue borders; and Cotoneaster × suecicus ‘Coral Beauty’ and Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’ lending various pops of colour to the development, the wide variety of plants truly brings New Fields to life.