Tower of London - SuperBloom

Location: Tower of London

Client: Historic Royal Palaces

Landscape Contractor: Landform Consultants

From fortress to flowerbed, the Tower of London’s iconic moat has undergone a breathtaking transformation. Originally conceived to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, the Superbloom project has reimagined this 1.7-hectare historic site as a vibrant wildflower meadow—offering a striking seasonal spectacle, supporting urban biodiversity, and inviting the public to experience nature in a truly unique setting.

Behind the scenes, Watermatic played a key role in helping this complex planting scheme thrive. Tasked with designing and installing a bespoke irrigation system, we helped lay the foundations for a flourishing and sustainable landscape that will continue to evolve for years to come.

Engineering for Biodiverse Growth

Superbloom is more than a temporary celebration - it’s a long-term investment in ecological resilience and public engagement. Designed by landscape architects Grant Associates and delivered in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the meadow includes over 20 million seeds from a wide variety of wildflowers and grasses. These were carefully chosen for their colour, texture, seasonal interest, and ecological value.

Creating a meadow of this complexity within a historic site presented numerous challenges, not least of which was ensuring consistent moisture across the varied terrain and soil profiles of the moat - crucial for reliable germination, early root establishment, and healthy growth.

Designing for a Historic Setting

Watermatic was brought in to deliver a robust, site-sensitive irrigation system capable of responding to the unique demands of the project. These included:

• Navigating a heritage landscape with archaeological significance
• Supporting soil health and plant diversity across uneven and heavily compacted areas
• Addressing drainage challenges and variable sun exposure
• Ensuring visual discretion for high-profile visitor areas

Our solution provided precisely targeted irrigation, allowing the system to adapt to changing site conditions while minimising water waste and disruption. The system was also designed with future flexibility in mind - ready to support seasonal planting shifts and evolving meadow compositions as the project matures.

Bringing Nature Back to the City

Superbloom was designed not only to enhance the visual experience of visitors - who now access the moat via new walkways, paths, and even a 17.5-metre slide - but also to provide meaningful ecological benefits. A diverse wildflower mix helps attract and sustain pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hoverflies while offering food and habitat for a broader range of insects and birds.

By accelerating the establishment of vegetation, Watermatic’s irrigation system has directly contributed to this expanding urban ecosystem. It’s helped deliver uniform plant growth and supported the rapid development of a resilient, self-sustaining landscape in the heart of London.

A Legacy of Green Infrastructure

Superbloom marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Tower of London moat. No longer just a defensive void, the space is now positioned as part of London’s green infrastructure - supporting health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Watermatic is proud to have played a part in this transformation. By delivering a reliable and adaptable irrigation solution, we’ve helped create the conditions for long-term ecological success in one of the UK’s most treasured heritage sites. 

As cities increasingly seek to reconnect people with nature, the Superbloom is proof that thoughtful landscape design, innovative infrastructure, and ecological ambition can come together to reimagine even the most historic of spaces.

Photos by Landform and Historic Royal Palaces.