The United Synagogue recently commissioned a project to enlarge the UK’s most significant Jewish cemetery, a 16-acre site in London’s Green Belt, and to create two new prayer halls.
The Bushey Jewish Cemetery, located in Bushey serves the Jewish community within Northwest London.
The £9million development for the cemetery received planning approval from Hertsmere Borough Council in 2013. The extensive landscaping was completed in January 2017 with the buildings work nearing completion.
The project has involved the collaboration of architects Waugh Thistleton, landscape architects JC Gibbons, civil and structural engineers, Elliott Wood and United Synagogues.
The project has been delivered in two phases. The initial phase involved the installation of the major civil engineering and landscaping works; involving a series of swales, weirs and ponds to help maintain natural drainage on the site and provide new habitats for wildlife. The second phase was the construction of the prayer halls and associated buildings.
Dixon Landscapes undertook the landscaping contract. They are a commercial landscaping based in Northumberland and provide landscaping and maintenance services throughout the United Kingdom.
They turned to long-term supplier Green-tech who supplied 8000 standard Tubex tree shelters, 8000 mulch mats and pegs, 200kg grass seed, 175kg wildflower seed and 60 tree anchors.
The landscape around the building has been sympathetically designed in keeping with the cemetery’s green belt location; to be aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly and to incorporate the sites existing established trees.
Darren Johnstone from Dixon Landscapes said: “This project was a huge undertaking for the company and if we were to succeed the right supply chain needed to be appointed. From the very beginning Green-tech took a very practical and patient approach; they always seemed willing to go the extra mile and never failed to deliver. It was great to see Mark and Richard from Green-tech visit site when nearing completion as it’s not often you get to meet and thank suppliers in person for a job well done.“
Mark Browne from Green-tech commented: “This was a fantastic project to be involved with. It was a large order from Dixon Landscapes but these are all items we hold in stock so we were able to organise delivery quickly to suit the client. As a supplier we don’t always get to know where our products end up. This is great to be able to see the finished results. Dixon’s have done a tremendous job.”
