Landscape team has designs on winning two top awards

Sunderland City Council’s Landscape Design team is in the running for two awards.

The team has been nominated for its work on Sunderland’s seafront and on St Peter’s Church, Monkwearm outh , i n th e L a n d s c ap e Institute awards, which are seen as the Oscars of the industry.

Saint Peter’s Church has been shortlisted for the Improvements in the Heritage and Conservation Award, while Sunderland Seafront has been shortlisted for the Adding Value Through Landscape Award.

At the seafront, the team has transformed traditional seafront promenades into naturalistic coastal gardens with more than 150 species of plants, attractive seating areas and decorative wrought iron railings.

At St Peter’s, which dates back to the founding of a monastery on the banks of the river in 674 by Benedict Biscop, new seating and footpath s h ave b e e n i n s t a l l e d along with resurfacing of existing footpaths, a new main gateway, new parking areas, new lighting, improved signage.

There are also new links to the riverside, the planting of semi-mature trees and shrubs, and the creation of wildflower areas.

Cabinet Secretary Councillor Mel Speding, said “We’re immensely proud of our landscape team and the work they do.

“You o n l y h ave to c o m - pare how the seafront looks t o d ay t o h o w i t l o o k e d 1 0 ye a r s a go t o s e e wh at a t ra n s f o r m at i o n t h e y h ave achieved.

The landscape team will find out next Thursday if it has been successful.