HUNDREDS of bulbs and plants have found a home in raised beds around Bradford’s new Darley Street Market, aiming to attract pollinating insects - and creating year-round colour and interest for shoppers.

The garden area, which is low maintenance, links with neighbouring planting across the city centre, creating a network of habitat ‘stepping stones’ that encourage pollinating insects to move around the city centre.

A mix of climbers, evergreen shrubs, perennial plants and bulbs including a number of architectural plants, help to soften the hard landscaping of the market square.

The plants have been selected to withstand a range of weather conditions and there is a built-in irrigation system which uses harvested rainwater to ensure the planting thrives during dry spells. 

Planting work is underwayPlanting work is underway (Image: Bradford Council)

The planting scheme delivers a range of heights, colours, textures and fragrances to the raised beds around the edges of the market square.

Climbers include clematis, jasmine, honeysuckle and passionflower and bulbs used in the scheme are both purple and white alliums along with tete-a-tete narcissus.

The shrubs, herbaceous and grasses include hebe, mahonia, heuchera, cordyline, bergenia cordifolia purpurea (elephant’s ear plant), choisya ternata (Mexican orange blossom), fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia), tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' (Chinese rice-paper plant), phyllostachys nigra (black bamboo), phormium tenax (New Zealand flax) and sedum.

The planting work near the new market The planting work near the new market (Image: Bradford Council)

Councillor Ross-Shaw of Bradford Council said: “It’s great to see the planting going into the raised beds in the Market Square at the new Market. It really softens the market square, making it a welcoming multi-sensory space for people to spend time.” 

A spokesperson from Horticon Ltd, the horticultural contractor at the new market, said: “Now is the best time of year to do this type of planting as it gives the new plants time to settle and get established ahead of the winter season. The plants selected really complement the amazing space that has been created as part of this new market.”

The new Darley Street Market will feature three trading floors that will welcome independent traders as well as creating a cultural area for live music, arts and entertainment. 

A view looking down on the new spaceA view looking down on the new space (Image: Bradford Council)

The top floor is to be a food and drinks hall with bar area, a stage, and large screens for events, as well as a terrace balcony overlooking the market square.

The middle floor will have fresh food stalls including butchers, bakers, fishmongers, greengrocers and delicatessens.

The ground floor is where the non-food stalls will be located, and there will also be cafes which open out on to the market square, which features a big screen for events and concerts. The square also has series of interlocking umbrellas, which can be used to create an undercover area for pop-up market stalls and events.

Below the market square is a large underground area for trader deliveries, additional storage, waste handling and recycling.

The market is expected to be opened in the spring.