Alton Towers

Cariba Creek

The Alton Towers theme park team, part of the Tussards Group, called in Greenleaf to help them realise their newest visitor attraction – The Cariba Creek Water Park.

It is themed in wonderful detail to a Caribbean style with lush tropical palms, climbing vines and flowering colour throughout the year. Bob Capel, Greenleaf’s northern operations manager project managed the Cariba Creek Water Park within Alton Towers Theme Park. This project is both a BALI and e.Fig Award winner and considered by many as one of the most impressive and eye catching UK projects.

When Greenleaf were first contacted the site was just a hole in the ground, so we had to source and install some impressive large specimen palms in a shorter time scale than we would usually like for major projects in the U.K.

Rather than source in the U.S. we took the project team to visit nurseries with ready acclimated stock in Holland. They were really wowed by the quality and range of palms and exotic foliage plants on display. The original shopping list went out of the window and we tagged the plants there and then.

These included Cocos nucifera @ 6.5m (22ft)
Archonto phoenix @ 7.0m (24ft)
Adonidia, single & double @ 6.5m
Cocothrinax @ 5.0m
Beccario Phoenix, Arecea, Phoenix Roebelina
Spathiphyllum Sensation, Strelitzia
Shefflera Amate
Philo Pertusum (Monstera)

We reserved 30 x 2.0n canes of Tetrastigma Voineraium and climbing Cissus ‘Red Diamond’. These will be used to scramble up nets and over the rockwork to help blend the planting into the structure and themes of the building. Once we had selected the plants, the next question was ‘How do we get them in’?

The water park structure was essentially built under a domed plastic roof with the hotel itself surrounding three sides. The remaining wall was a glass curtain, with only one small fire escape. Somehow the trees were going to have to go through this wall.

Timing was going to be critical. We ideally wanted to leave the trees till as late as possible – so the builder could get all the dirty and dusty works completed and also so the heating would be on and environmental conditions were ready to suit the plants.

But that ideal world doesn’t exist in the construction industry!

Both the builders and the clients wanted the trees in early. They were concerned that the planting operations might cause damage to finished surfaces and they were especially keen to ensure that no compost got spilt into the water as might cause discolouration of the special ‘diamond bright’ pool lining.

Somehow a compromise had to be found. It was agreed that we would install the drainage material and compost as early as we possibly could. A team of 5 men worked late into the night after the contractors had gone home. They carried in, and spread by hand, over 3000 bags of specially mixed compost. The compost was agreed in conjunction with the Dutch growers enabling the trees to develop in the long term.

Once the date was set for the delivery of the trees, but would the building be ready?

No – it was still a building site! But the trees were on their way in temperature-controlled trucks, from Holland. So they had to go in.

Some of the beds were still not built. There was a 40ft square hole in the curtain wall through which the main contractor was still bringing heavy materials – and there was no heating at all! When we opened the back of the truck, temperatures outside were about 8oC/46oF. The road to the back of the building hadn’t been constructed yet so a rough terrain fork lift truck had to be used to transport the trees up to the site. The big hole in the wall then came in handy. The trees were ‘posted’ through on the extending arm of the tele handler and dropped into the base of what would eventually be the kiddies splash pool.

A special mini crane was then used to lift them into place. This crane, which ran on caterpillar tracks had a reach of 15 metres and could lift 3 tonnes, yet could easily fit through a set of double doors. A brilliant bit of kit – every plantscape team should have one!

With the trees in the building we then had to protect them. Tarpaulins were fitted over the gap in the wall and temporary heaters were installed to raise the temperature. Dust levels, due to the ongoing builders work, were also a big concern so horticultural fleece was used to protect the crowns of the palms for the next two or three weeks while the builders were left to carry on with their work.

Once things were more finished, there was water in the pools, and the heating commissioned, Greenleaf returned to site to complete the planting. Strelitzia, Cymbidium and Calatheas were planted for flowering colour and dense foliage plants including Bananas, Crotons, Philodendron and Pothos were used to complete the lush tropical foliage theme.

At Greenleaf we are very pleased with the outcome of the project. It was completed on time and within budget under very difficult circumstances. There was a great spirit of teamwork and co-operation between the main contractor, the landscaper and other trades on site.

The job is now being maintained in the very early mornings by the Greenleaf team from Manchester, many of whom were involved in the original installation. It’s a job we all take great pride in.

Anyone visiting the area will see how the trees have established.