Urban Oasis

By Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins. Urban Oasis is an imaginary concept for an open space in an urban setting. It has been designed to showcase the latest environmental technologies and how they can be used to sustain and enhance a garden.

The main focus is the Urban Oasis installation - a 12m (40ft) high exciting sculpture that uses the latest technologies to harness energy and recycle water.

The kinetic feature mimics the design of a flower and its photovoltaic 'petals' open and close in response to the sun and moon. It uses daylight to generate power.

The planting has been selected to survive in a contrasting, yet sheltered urban environment. It is designed to give the impression of natural planting, but more ornamental varieties create an attractive, yet slightly unconventional garden setting.

Plant list (click on any of the green links for more information):

Trees
Taxus baccata

Perennials and grasses
Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant'
Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist'
Astrantia major 'Jill Richardson'
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Geranium 'Nimbus'
Geranium renardii 'Tcshelda'
Iris sibirica 'Melton Red Flare'
Iris sibirica 'Papillon'
Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona'
Knautia macedonica
Salvia nemorosa 'Lubecca'
Salvia x sylvestris 'Viola Klose'
Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'
Stipa gigantea
Stipa tenuissima
Verbascum 'June Johnson'

Bulbs
Allium cristophii
Fritillaria persica
Nectaroscordum siculum subsp. bulgaricum