We usually think of natural and urban landscapes as polar opposites, but in the centre of Liverpool the two will soon coexist. Plans to construct a new ‘nature park’ on the site of the former Royal University Liverpool Hospital have just been revealed by the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG).
This isn’t going to be just any old patch of grass. The UHLG has paired up with the green fingered Eden Project to design the space in order to ensure that ‘nature and connectivity’ are put front and centre. Construction company Bam has also signed on to do much of the literal heavy lifting and construction once planning permission is received.
The goal is to create a park which ‘promotes wellbeing and nature at the heart of the city’. In practice, that means a diverse range of plant-life, space for native animal and insect species to thrive, places to sit, safe routes for cyclists, and quiet spaces for ‘relaxation and reflection’.
The new university hospital is right next to the site of its now-demolished predecessor, so it is hoped that the park will benefit both staff and patient wellbeing by giving everyone a place to unwind. It’s part of a wider NHS scheme to provide easy access to nature to more of its properties, both for the good of the planet and the community.
The Eden Project is best known for its legendary biomes in Cornwall, but it is also a charity which funds education about the natural world and advocates for a greener future. CEO Dan James said that the organisation is excited to be involved in designing the central Liverpool park, noting: ‘At the heart of this project is a desire to improve wellbeing by connecting people to nature and one another and that is fundamental to what we do as an organisation’.
Planning permission for the nature park is due to be submitted to Liverpool City Council at the end of the month.
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