Saved botanic greenhouse kickstarts plans for Leeds University botanical garden

Pickard Properties, the Leeds-based property development and build to rent specialist, is donating a large greenhouse located on its Spinning Acres development in Far Headingley, to Leeds University to support ambitions to create the city’s first botanical garden for a century.

The seven-metre-long greenhouse is part of Moor Grange, a historically significant building, which Pickard Properties is sensitively converting into apartments.

The company, which delayed the development programme at Moor Grange to enable the greenhouse to be carefully dismantled and transported, has a strong track record in the refurbishment of old buildings ensuring their continued use for years to come. It is also contributing to the cost of removing the greenhouse.

This project also continues a historic connection between the Spinning Acres site and the University, which dates back to the late 1800s. The site used to belong to the University before it was acquired by Pickard Properties.

Once transferred to the university campus, the greenhouse will be integrated into a larger School of Biology project that aims to develop a campus teaching and wellness space.

It’s hoped this space will host an array of scientifically and economically important plants from around the globe, providing an area of quiet respite amongst the busy student campus, where students can learn and interact with exciting and beautiful species of plant life.

It could also function as part of the University’s cross faculty ‘living labs’, hosting interdisciplinary research projects and acting as a testbed for sustainable solutions to solve real world challenges, such as food insecurity and climate change, as well as supporting conservation.

Other ideas for the greenhouse include supporting teaching by enhancing the curriculum and engaging students, academic and operational staff, and volunteer groups with the natural world.

The longer-term ambition is that it’ll become the epicentre of university botanic garden.

The city’s original botanical garden, Leeds Zoological & Botanical Gardens, also known as Headingley Zoo, opened in the mid-19^th century, but was only open for 18 years.

The donation of the greenhouse is part of the regeneration of Moor Grange as part of Pickard Properties’ Spinning Acres residential development. 

Spinning Acres has been sympathetically regenerated to create a vibrant, attractive, residential location in the Leeds suburb, with the first three phases fully let.  The site was previously part of Leeds University’s halls of residence estate, when it was known as Tetley Hall, until the site was acquired by Pickard Properties.

However, the connection between the site and the university goes back further.

Moor Grange was one of the larger villas constructed during the development of Far Headingley in the 19th century and became notable for its association with prominent figures in Leeds.

In 1895, the villa briefly served as the home of Arthur Mayo-Robson, a Professor of Surgery at the Yorkshire College, the forerunner to Leeds University. Following Mayo-Robson’s death in 1899, Moor Grange was acquired by the Middleton family, who were related to the forebears of Kate Middleton, HRH Princess of Wales.

In 1950, Moor Grange were purchased by Leeds University and incorporated into Tetley Hall. While other areas of the site were transformed into student accommodation, Moor Grange remained untouched as a result of a conservation order placed by Leeds City Council.

As a result, Moor Grange was preserved and integrated into the university’s student community, contributing to the historic character of the area. 

The Victorian Villa will now be considerately converted to include nine self-contained flats.  The works will enhance existing features of this non-listed heritage asset, including the sensitive replacement of the windows with heritage timber, which include ultra-thin double glazing, retaining the charm of the original aesthetic, while the interior design will reference Victorian styling.

Denise Mcardle, Strategic Director at Pickard Properties, said: “We are delighted to donate the greenhouse to Leeds University and provide it with a new chapter in its long history.  Spinning Acres has, for around 100 years, had strong links with the university and it’s great they will continue with the creation of a living lab and, hopefully, a new botanical garden for the city.

“As a proud Leeds-based property developer and landlord, we have great relationships with both of the city’s universities and we are very happy support this unique project.  The site, including Moor Grange, is steeped in history and through our development of Spinning Acres it will very much be part of the city’s future, as will the greenhouse as it helps to address issues like climate change.”

Mr Seb Stroud, Teaching Fellow at the University of Leeds, said: “We are thrilled to receive this generous donation. This greenhouse will not only facilitate research and teaching, but it’s hoped it will also be the heart of a larger initiative to promote environmental awareness, collaboration and well-being across our campus.”