Greening Shieldfield

Shieldfield Street

Once an extensive manufacturing and transport district, Shieldfield has few signs of these past activities to show today. Plans to build over demolished factory sites – offices (for whom?) or apartments, finalised on student housing blocks while Shieldfield experienced the usual infamies of 60s town planning, styles from fashionable architects of the day re-heated for social housing. 

Happily for today, the associated tree planting phase – possibly to soften bleakness or alienating spaces created by T-square wielding 'shared spaces facilitators' – has come into its own. Trees that made it past the pole stage, are now a feature that does much more than soften an edge or blank space. A striking aspect of walking through Shieldfield now are the spreading branches and groves created by a what was once thought little more than a 'detail'.

Sorbus spp. A fine crop of berries

In a world facing climate change, increasing pressures on movement, the contemporary drive to keep, enhance or use green space in our towns and cities is a welcome initiative rolling out around the globe. Shieldfield has had a head start.

I define Shieldfield by the centre pinned to Wretham Place, bounded by Shieldfield Green, Portland Road and Shieldfield Lane cum Clarence Street.

A photographic gallery of my recent walk here (off site page).