Chester Supertrees, Chester Travel Guide

The Chester Supertrees emerged from an ambitious community initiative inspired by Sir David Attenborough's Planet Earth II documentary, which showcased the remarkable Supertree Grove in Singapore's Gardens by the Bay. Steve Hughes, an eco-campaigner and founder of the ForEST (For Eco Supertrees) community group, recognised the potential to bring this innovative concept to Chester on a smaller, locally appropriate scale. Rather than replicating the towering 50-metre structures of Singapore, Chester's design team created three distinctive vertical gardens standing 7.5 metres high and spanning 9 metres across, perfectly proportioned for their urban setting within the sunken Hoole Roundabout.

These are not merely decorative installations but carefully engineered ecological structures. The supertrees consist of steel frameworks designed to support a diverse array of climbing plants, including clematis, climbing roses, ferns, bromeliads, and tropical climbers. The structures incorporate LED lighting systems that illuminate the foliage at night, transforming the roundabout into a glowing focal point visible from the A56 as visitors approach Chester's city centre. The installation process was meticulous: the structures were fabricated offsite and transported to Chester in sections during August, with assembly taking place in the newly redesigned and relandscaped sunken garden.

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the supertrees serve a critical environmental function. They are designed to tackle urban air pollution and increase plant, animal, and insect diversity within the city centre. The vertical garden concept maximises growing space in a compact urban environment, creating habitats for species that would not normally thrive in such settings. The project was supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council and funded through multiple sources, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Pocket Parks Plus grant, FCC Communities Foundation Action Fund, Section 106 funding, and New Homes Bonus funding. The ForEST group also raised additional funds through community-based events, demonstrating genuine grassroots commitment to the project.

The climbing plants adorning the supertrees require time to establish and reach their full potential. The clematis and climbing roses have shown particularly strong growth, though the structures continue to develop year on year. Early storms and weather challenges have tested the installation, but ongoing planting initiatives ensure all-year-round foliage and visual interest. Visitors should expect to see continued maturation of the vegetation, with each season bringing enhanced coverage and ecological benefit.

Situated on the Hoole Roundabout at St Oswalds Way, the supertrees occupy a sunken garden that serves as a major entrance point to Chester's city centre. The location is highly visible and easily accessible from the main A56 approach road. The roundabout setting places the installation at a prominent junction, making it an unavoidable feature of the urban landscape and a natural stopping point for visitors and residents alike. The surrounding area has been redesigned and relandscaped to complement the supertrees, creating an integrated green space within the busy traffic environment.

Chester Zoo and the ForEST group have established a collaborative partnership to ensure the space functions as an educational resource, maintaining the installation to high standards for years to come. This commitment reflects a broader vision of using the supertrees as a teaching tool about urban ecology, sustainable design, and the role of green infrastructure in cities. The project demonstrates how community-led environmental initiatives can transform overlooked urban spaces into meaningful focal points that benefit both people and wildlife.