BALI members collaborate to supply Thorpe Park, Leeds

Nearly 20,000 plants worth more than £60,000 have been supplied by BALI Registered Affiliate member Johnsons of Whixley to transform a new leisure and retail complex in Leeds.

Thorpe Park is an extension to the existing retail site off Junction 46 of the M1. The park boasts a new shopping area, The Springs, featuring high street giants such as Next, Boots, TK Maxx and M&S Food as well as a cinema, gym and several high-end restaurants.

The adjacent country park has also benefited from Johnsons’ plants and trees, in a scheme design by Ares Landscape Architects Ltd that was installed by landscaping experts and BALI Registered Group member Gavin Jones Limited.

Further additions to the complex include a business and enterprise centre, sport and leisure hub and railway station, while 300 new homes will form a residential quarter.

Over 13,000 herbaceous plants were included in the supply, with over 1,500 Geraniums, 1,000 Persicaria Bistorta ‘Superba’, 2,000 Hemerocallis 'Golden Chimes' and over 1,000 Ajuga’s.

A further 7,000 shrubs, grasses and herb varieties were also provided for the 140-acres of parkland and public open spaces.

Johnsons of Whixley marketing and sales co-ordinator Eleanor Richardson, said:

“We are delighted to be part of this highly prestigious development, working alongside our long-standing customer Gavin Jones Limited. This significant plant supply will help to enhance the public spaces and also the country park area for years to come.”

Gavin Jones Limited senior and newly appointed BALI Board Director estimator Ricky Whiteman, said:

“It has been great to see the progression of Thorpe Park, the site has really taken shape in the last year, we were appointed by GMI Construction to complete the soft landscaping package, we then called in leading commercial nursery Johnsons of Whixley to supply a large number of plants this really helped put the finishing touches to the scheme”  

North Yorkshire-based Johnsons of Whixley has many years’ experience of providing plants to the retail and leisure sector. Recent supplies include the Leicester Costco site and Spinningfields urban regeneration development in Manchester.