The project has been delivered by local contractor CR Reynolds, who have been on site since 2022, working to designs by Southern Green Landscape Architects in collaboration with Purcell Architects.
Ros Southern, director at Southern Green Landscape Architects, said: “This project has not been about papering over the cracks. Hull has done a proper job, starting with the required engineering, making tough decisions such as removing unsafe trees, and then adding high‑quality design and materials to create a park landscape that will last for many years to come.
“Echoes of the original dock layout are now more strongly evident, and we have worked with some amazing artists to embed features rooted in Hull’s maritime heritage. Look out for restored stone carvings, scrimshaw artwork and seafaring imagery featuring whales, belugas and seals.
“The planting is now more diverse, with a wide range of shapes and sizes including many British native species sourced from UK nurseries.
“The rain gardens not only look great but also play an important role in managing surface water. As the gardens mature, there will be open grassy spaces, shady trees to sit beneath, ponds and fountains, and plenty of flowers providing colour and supporting pollinators such as bees and insects.
“We feel very honoured to have played a part in this incredible project, and we know people in Hull have been incredibly patient while such a complex design and installation has taken place.”
A temporary outdoor exhibition is on display within the gardens until Sunday, June 7. The exhibition gives residents and visitors the opportunity to explore the history of Queen’s Gardens and discover the scale and complexity of the transformation.