I'm joined by landscape architects Andy Harris and Andy Sturgeon to explore the thinking behind the transformation of London's Sloane Street. Together, they tell the story of a project that set out to reimagine this 1km stretch as a green boulevard inspired by the nearby Chelsea Physic Garden — shifting it from a traffic-dominated thoroughfare into a calmer, more human-centred place. We talk about how landscape can knit together retail and residential life, improve wellbeing, and encourage people not just to pass through, but to linger — using planting as environmental infrastructure. From underground constraints and traffic reduction to biodiversity uplift and long-term stewardship, this conversation reveals how thoughtful urban greening can reshape experience, behaviour and connection in the heart of the city and it provides a great companion episode to last year's one on New York's High Line.
Benny's Insect of the Week: The Seven-Spot Ladybird - sponsored by Cerddwr's Herbs go to www.cerddwrshb.com and use the code BUGPODS for a listener's discount.
Sloane Street | John McAslan + Partners – official project page outlining the landscape and public realm transformation of this 1 km London boulevard with widened pavements, planting and green infrastructure as part of a masterplan for Cadogan Estates.
Andy Harris | John McAslan + Partners – leading the Landscape and Urban Design Studio and responsible for the Sloane Street masterplan and other major public realm projects.
Andy Sturgeon Design – the official site for Andy Sturgeon's landscape architecture and garden design practice, responsible for the planting and horticultural design on the Sloane Street project.
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