£4.3m Queens Gardens revamp to honour Hull history, says firm working on project

The £4.3m refurbishment of Queens Gardens will honour the city's history, according to the firm working on the project.

Chartered landscape architecture firm Southern Green is working closely with Hull City Council and city historians on the new-look Queens Gardens.

The firm specialises in historic landscape restoration, urban regeneration and major parks.

Chris Mitton, senior landscape architect, said: "We’ve been commissioned to restore Queens Gardens and create a link between the Maritime Museum and the Arctic Corsair’s new home at North End Shipyard, which will celebrate Hull’s maritime heritage and enhance its natural character.

"Many people will know that Queens Gardens is an old dock. One of the things we’re planning to do is to make the boundary of the gardens and reflect a dock again. Public art will feature, to complement installations like Solar Gate.

"We’ve discovered that the southern boundary wall of Queens Gardens is along the approximate line of the old dock. This is a fantastic opportunity to interpret that history.

"It has a very interesting past. We’re working with a garden historian, members of the council and city archivists to make sure any improvements are carried out in a sensitive and respectful way. It’s all about careful research - a step-by-step process that will influence the development.

"We’re working on map regression, which is a way of revealing the historic plan and landscape, as well as the historic importance of elements that will be retained, such as the Rose Bowl and the Wilberforce Monument.

"Making sure Queens Gardens is accessible to everyone, and up to current standards, is also of key importance, as is widening the use and maximising space. We’re working closely with Hull’s event management team to look at ways Queens Gardens can attract an even higher quality and a wider range of events, of international standard."