Wildflowers coming into bloom at Exeter’s St Sidwell’s Point

Published: 20 May 2024

Anyone passing St Sidwell’s Point leisure centre can now enjoy the first blooms of spring - thanks to planting that both looks great and benefits the environment.

Planting was first carried out outside the leisure centre in Paris Street in 2022 and now looks spectacular.

Flowers and shrubs have been carefully selected to remove pollution from the environment and increase biodiversity.

Pollinators like bees and butterflies will thrive on the flowers and some of the plants are especially effective at absorbing pollution.

Vegetation enhances biodiversity by using plants beneficial to pollinators, captures storm water, reduces flooding, and lessens the urban heat island effect.

St Sidwell's Point, in the city centre, is the UK’s first ultra-low energy Passivhaus leisure centre and the planting outside sets out to match these environmental credentials.

It is now coming into full colourful flush, providing much needed pollen and nectar and helping remove traffic related pollutants from nearby roads.