CASE STUDY
Arborfield Green, Reading
Archway Green brought to life the landscape around this modern high-rise apartment building, featuring beautiful plants, shrubs, and trees to enhance the surrounding spaces.
In the landscaping plans, we also created three areas to highlight the striking bronze horse statues, which were commissioned to celebrate Arborfield Green’s history and the role the local area and horses played during the war.
Location
Arborfield, Reading
Client
Crest Nicholson
Sector
services
Soft landscaping implementation, tree and shrub planting, planting to beds and borders, communal space planting, feature landscape areas
Design Vision and Landscape Character
The local area is known for its stunning countryside, large open spaces, and strong sense of place, so the landscaping needed to reflect this setting. It was important that the apartment building was surrounded by a diverse flower bed, filled with a variety of all-season flowers and shrubs, while also allowing the lower apartments to benefit from added privacy. A range of trees was also introduced throughout the development to bring height, shape and a clear structure to the landscape.
Archway Green included a mix of well-used planting alongside more distinctive shrubs to add character and visual interest. Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’ was selected for its bright crimson, brush-like flowers and year-round foliage, bringing strong colour through spring and summer. Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla ‘Gerda’ added contrast with its deep purple foliage, soft pink flowers and dark berries. In the open spaces, trees such as Carpinus betulus were used to provide structure, seasonal change and a natural sense of scale, with leaves turning rich yellow in autumn.
A Balanced Landscape for Community Living
Each element was selected to create a landscape that feels both varied and connected, combining colour, texture and structure across the development. The planting scheme supports the overall character of the site, helping it sit comfortably within its countryside surroundings while offering visual interest throughout the year.
The result is a diverse and welcoming environment where residents can enjoy both private and shared spaces. Fast-growing hedging provides privacy around the apartments, while open green areas offer space for relaxing, socialising and everyday use. Pathways and planted borders encourage movement through the site, allowing residents to experience the landscape at their own pace. Over time, as the planting matures, the development will continue to grow in character and provide a lasting setting for the community.
