Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen

Overview

The Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen, Scotland, have a rich history dating back to 1878. Originally conceived as a pleasure ground near the railway line, the area featured lawns, a grand granite staircase, fine statuary and formal plantings, including a Bon Accord crest. Recently, LDA Design took on the challenge of regenerating this historic space into a source of pride for Aberdeen’s citizens. Their vision aimed to create an inclusive and accessible area, with new spaces for community events, improved safety measures and increased footfall. The resulting design struck a sensitive balance between preserving the site’s heritage and adapting it for modern use. Historic graded banks, planted areas and essential structures were reworked to create a generous, open and welcoming environment.

Ashlea Landscaping was appointed to handle the landscape contracting work, a task that faced significant disruption due to the Covid-19 outbreak, which delayed construction for nearly a year. Despite these challenges, the Ashlea team successfully brought the vision to life, including the planting of 91 semi to fully mature trees. To support these trees, a variety of Platipus Tree Anchoring Systems were installed, notably the RF3P Rootball Fixing System with Plati-Mat, utilising S8 Percussion Driven Earth Anchors (PDEA®). This system was particularly suited for the larger trees, ranging from 7.5m to 12m in height or with trunk circumferences between 45cm and 75cm, ensuring the stability and longevity of the new tree plantings.