Key Points
- Volunteer Drive Gains Momentum: Community volunteers from Horsforth in Bloom have continued their work over two weeks to improve the local environment along New Road Side.
- Seven New Wooden Planters Constructed: A total of seven new planters have been built and strategically placed outside prominent high street businesses and community facilities.
- Phase One Installations: Four initial planters were set up outside Slow Rise, Thai Go Bistro, Leeds Women’s Aid / Co-op Funeral Directors, and Hoc Loco.
- Phase Two Installations: Three additional planters were placed outside Stocked, ArtK / Time and Tide Barbers, and Zero Muda.
- Broader Sustainability Strategy: The project forms part of a transition from traditional hanging baskets to climate-resilient, ground-level planters to lower water consumption and boost high-street aesthetics.
- Multi-Agency Collaboration: The initiative is supported in partnership by Horsforth in Bloom, Horsforth Town Council, Leeds City Council, and local independent traders.
Horsforth (The Leeds Times) July 30, 2026 – A major community-led environmental improvement initiative along New Road Side in Horsforth has taken another step forward following two weeks of work by local volunteers. Members of the Horsforth in Bloom civic group have built and positioned seven new wooden planters outside key local businesses and charity premises, furthering efforts to transform the busy commercial stretch into a greener, more sustainable public space.
The ground-level installations are part of an ongoing multi-agency project to replace resource-intensive traditional hanging displays with permanent, climate-resilient street features. During the first phase of the recent deployment, volunteers assembled four planters and installed them outside Slow Rise / Thai Go Bistro, Leeds Women’s Aid / Co-op Funeral Directors, and Hoc Loco. The second phase saw three additional planters placed outside Stocked, ArtK / Time and Tide Barbers, and zero-waste store Zero Muda.
Why Is the New Road Side Planter Project Being Implemented?
The expansion of ground-level planters along New Road Side marks a strategic shift in how local authorities and community groups manage urban greening. Historically, elevated hanging baskets were funded by civic bodies to provide seasonal colour. However, changing environmental conditions and rising maintenance costs led organizers to reconsider the approach.
As reported by journalist Jill Stocks of West Leeds Dispatch, Penny Pinn from Horsforth In Bloom explained that the group had been collaborating closely with local authorities to establish sustainable alternatives. Pinn noted that for many years, thousands of pounds were spent by the council on buying and watering traditional hanging baskets. While visually appealing, Pinn pointed out that because those baskets were mounted high up for safety reasons, they often lost their visual impact and proved unsustainable due to their reliance on annual bedding plants and high volumes of water.
To solve these resource constraints, the team designed larger ground-level planters equipped with climate-resilient foliage, integrated seating options, and community-curated public art.
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Who Is Supporting the Environmental Upgrades on New Road Side?
The initiative operates as a collaborative venture involving volunteer groups, local elected officials, municipal councils, and local shopkeepers. The project combines physical planting with handmade sustainable decorations, including knitted and textile hanging baskets produced by local craft groups.
As reported by Jill Stocks of West Leeds Dispatch, a representative for Horsforth Town Council confirmed the municipal body’s active backing of the scheme. The spokesperson stated that Horsforth Town Council was pleased to work alongside Horsforth in Bloom, local businesses, and Councillor Simon Bromley to replace planted hanging baskets with knitted alternatives and support the overarching initiative to enhance the New Road Side shopping area. The town council representative highlighted that severe weather conditions in recent summers had made traditional basket watering increasingly difficult, adding that the new textile and ground-level approaches offer a more environmentally sustainable model for town-centre enhancement.
The wider strategy also receives assistance from regional government bodies and municipal horticultural centers. As reported by Jill Stocks of West Leeds Dispatch, Councillor Simon Bromley expressed strong approval for the sustainable framework. Councillor Bromley thanked Horsforth Town Council for engaging with the transitional strategy proposed by Horsforth in Bloom, acknowledging additional support provided by Leeds City Council’s plant nursery, The Arium.
How Are Local Businesses and Communities Participating in the Scheme?
The physical installation of the planters outside businesses such as Stocked, ArtK, Slow Rise, and Zero Muda reflects direct involvement from Horsforth’s independent commercial sector. Local traders have contributed space, funding, and materials to facilitate workshops and maintenance.
What Role Do Local Shops Play in Civic Workshops?
Commercial spaces along New Road Side have been used as venues for community crafting sessions that feed directly into the streetscape aesthetics. Co-working space and retail venue Stocked hosted felt-flower crafting events to support the street decoration drive.
As reported by journalist Jill Stocks of West Leeds Dispatch, Nerys Hudson, co-founder of Slow Rise Bakery and owner of Stocked, stated that her goal was for the business to actively contribute to the neighborhood. Hudson remarked that commercial enterprise is not purely about footfall, but about making neighborhoods more pleasant and demonstrating that small businesses can help build communities.
Similarly, local art studio ArtK organized community art sessions to decorate the wooden planters prior to their installation. As reported by Jill Stocks of West Leeds Dispatch, Louisa from ArtK voiced enthusiasm for the street improvements, noting that the colorful installations brighten the heavy traffic environment of New Road Side and lift the overall atmosphere of the thoroughfare.
How Have Local Craft Groups Contributed to the Project?
Civic organizations across Horsforth have mobilized members to support the transition away from short-lived annual flora. Groups including the Sisters of Horsforth Women’s Institute (WI) have crafted weather-resistant floral displays using wool, felt, and ribbon to dress hanging frames alongside the new ground planters.
As reported by journalist Jill Stocks of West Leeds Dispatch, Councillor Simon Bromley remarked that seeing a former “concrete jungle” along New Road Side transformed through community art and resilient planting brings joy to passersby while ensuring long-term ease of maintenance.
As reported by Jill Stocks of West Leeds Dispatch, Penny Pinn from Horsforth In Bloom emphasized that community partnership remains the core engine of the project. Pinn stated that the initiative represents a joint effort between Horsforth In Bloom, Horsforth Town Council, Leeds City Council, and the independent businesses of New Road Side, all working together to improve the shopping environment for local residents.
With seven new planters now established outside high-street hubs—ranging from food outlets like Slow Rise and Thai Go Bistro to essential services like Co-op Funeral Directors and Time and Tide Barbers—volunteers plan to expand upkeep operations. The introduction of hardy perennial vegetation and climate-resilient species is designed to ensure that the planters remain vibrant throughout the year with minimal water consumption.
