News

A Bristol urban regeneration project puts a meanwhile park firmly centre stage.

We are very fortunate to be involved with some stunning urban regenerations and, this month, we’re excited to share the Glassfields Bristol story with you.

Right in the centre of Bristol city centre, and only a five-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads station, the three-acre Glassfields site is a significant mixed-use redevelopment project.

Glassfields takes its name from its former life at the original glassworks site of a bottle-making factory and gin distillery. As well as a major commercial office initiative, named The Distillery, the site also boasts a brand-new Leonardo Hotel, offering 197 bedrooms, meeting rooms, and a bar and restaurant. Both developments are targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC A accreditation.

Appointed by developers, Royal London Asset Management, in 2020 B|D Landscape Architects was asked to develop proposals for a new meanwhile park at the centre of the Glassfields development.

The aim was to design a central public space which would be in place for a minimum of three years, to be enjoyed by onlookers, visitors…

As world leaders prepare to gather at COP27 amid a global energy crisis, climate change and renewables are sharply in focus. At the same time, increasing climate resilience across food systems will be needed to counter rising hunger and malnutrition, according to UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid.

Agrivoltaic farming could be a solution to not just one but both of these problems. This guest blog from Adrian Johansen covers how Agrivoltaic farms could also benefit the UK’s wildflower population.  Adrian is a freelance writer who specialises in sustainability and climate change issues and can be found on Twitter

There are few things lovelier or more soothing to the human spirit than the sight of a meadow teeming with vibrant wildflowers. Today, however, as more land is being appropriated for urban development and as the ravages of climate change threaten those ecosystems that have as yet remained undeveloped, the sight of rolling hills painted every colour of the rainbow by prolific blooms is increasingly rare.

The good news, though, is that there is hope for preserving and even revitalising wildflower populations across the U.K. and around the world. Agrovoltaic farming, which refers…

It may be short in nature, but our Low Growing Limited Release mix certainly packs a punch!

Our in-house R&D team are never ones to let the grass grow under their feet and they’ve spent a considerable amount of time perfecting our latest Limited Release. Meet our species-rich Low Growing product!

Low Growing evolved from a specific request for a product that would be suitable for road verges and other areas where line of sight is a specific and required consideration.

This product is aimed at projects where biodiversity needs to be enriched or replenished at a site but there are height restrictions to adhere to. Examples may include road verges, roundabouts or near a building.

Growing to a height of approximately 40-50cm, this flora-rich mix has the added benefit of incorporating a few highly scented species which, when disturbed, throw up a heady scent and attract a considerable number of insects.

With a minimum of 90% wildflowers and designed to produce a dense sward of hardy perennial native and naturalised species, Low Growing also has some ornamental grasses included which add texture and a changing colour scheme to the…

With the recent news of the financial markets reaction to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng mini-budget, particularly how the Pound is now at an all time low against the dollar this guest blog from Adrian Johansen is most timely.  Adrian is a freelance writer who specialises in sustainability and climate change issues and can be found on Twitter

Awareness of biodiversity and the loss of wildflowers has grown in the last few years. Monty Don and David Attenborough advocate famously for better protection for wildflowers on shows like “Gardeners World” and “The Green Planet.”

However, recent droughts and the need for more housing have put the calls for greater wildflower protection on the back burner. This puts our greenspaces at risk, as bills like the Environment Act need greater public support to be effectively implemented in the U.K.

It’s the same story across the pond. The climate crisis may put the iconic open prairies that stretch across the central U.S. at risk, as excessive heat and drought will cause inhospitable conditions for plant life.

Grassland and Wildflower Policies

In the U.S., the Trump administration rolled back 100 environmental protections. Many of these protections sought to…

The first thing that comes to mind when someone hears the word “flower” is probably something like a rose or a tulip. And while these flowers are definitely extremely beautiful and a common gift, they often overshadow the beauty of wildflowers.

That being said, there are still many people who truly love and appreciate wildflowers. These botanists, photographers, and self-proclaimed flower hunters post photos of their findings on social media and become real sensations. Hence, here are 16 inspiring wildflower Instagram influencers in 2022 with both big and small fanbases.

#1 Yaz.Bouss (@yaz.b_photography)

Based in Australia, Yaz.Bouss loves sharing photos of local flora and fauna with his followers. You will find pictures of Donkey Orchids, Honeyeaters, Scarlet Banksia, Eucalyptus Rhodantha, Drosera, and many others on his page. Sometimes he even posts pictures of sunsets and sunrises and you will even see some rare pictures of parrots and other birds while plants and flowers dominate on his page.

#2 A Swiss Botanist (@swissbotanist)

As the name suggests, A Swiss Botanist is an amateur botanist and plant hunter from Switzerland. This page features flowers and plants that range from Trifolium Alpinum…

Maintenance of wildflower meadows is an important consideration. In this month’s timely blog, we’re sharing some of our best-practice insights with you.

Wildflower meadows require minimal maintenance – this is one of their many benefits. However, every autumn your meadow will require some attention.

With the months of September and October becoming increasingly milder, we are finding that many are choosing to push their wildflower maintenance back to mid-October or even later. However, do be aware that our grass free Native Enriched turf does require a cut by late September. This will allow the area to grow back before the weather turns colder and gives a reasonable amount of coverage over the course of the winter months.

As part of our extensive Research & Development undertaking, we focus on different cutting and removal regimes for wildflower areas to better understand the impact on growth, health and species diversity. Over time, this has allowed us to continue to update our best-practice advice on the best techniques for different sites and circumstances.

No two meadows will grow in the same way or even at the same rate, with the mix of flowers and grasses that flourish varying year-on-year. With temperatures creeping above the seasonal average and…

As the School summer holidays are now in full swing we have another very welcome & timely guest blog from Max Mitchell who is a freelance writer.

Man has been in close contact with wildlife for centuries. The issue is that, with the advent of technology, society’s life and values have changed dramatically. However, people have recently become more concerned about environmental issues and the well-being of wildlife. Why is it vital to start educating children about environmental conservation at a young age?

Nature has always been with humans throughout their lives. As a rule, conscious assimilation and mastering of ecological culture begin in childhood, concurrently with the assimilation of general cultural provisions. The school is the first link in the formation of ecological culture, ecological thinking, and ecological knowledge.

The problem is that according to research, children’s knowledge of some common wildlife species is quite poor these days. That is why it is critical to consider the most effective solutions.

Teaching children about wildlife should be active, interesting, rational, and as close to life as possible….

With increasing emphasis on mitigating biodiversity loss, there is a real need for industries to cooperate and collaborate.

A term that has risen to prominence during the last decade, ‘biodiversity’ describes the variety and variability of life on Earth.

A measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level, it is often used to describe all of the species in one region or ecosystem.

Biodiversity provides us with food directly and via pollination, supports intrinsic medical advancements and has been shown to positively impact on mental well-being. Biodiversity ultimately allows us all to live healthy and happy lives; however, climate change, pollution and overdevelopment are among the threats that have contributed to declining biodiversity in recent years.

While the scale of biodiversity loss and our ability to reverse these losses may seem overwhelming, it is important to recognise that multiple small, large and local actions incrementally add up.  While there is no ‘quick-fix’ to biodiversity loss reversal, the responsibility of getting it right for the long term must be at the top of the agenda.

The UK is leading important global initiatives including the development of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank

With two in five plant species…

With this current heat wave we are experiencing this guest blog from is Adrian Johansen is most timely.  Adrian is a freelance writer who specializes in sustainability and climate change issues and can be found on Twitter

Climate change is arguably the biggest influence on garden design today. At the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show, Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt’s “A Rewilding Britain Landscape” and Sarah Eberle’s sustainability-focused “Building the Future” gardens both took home “best in show” designations. These first-time designers showcased a need in the gardening community for environmental awareness.

Everyday gardeners are also getting in on the sustainability act. Inspired by Earth Day, schools and homes across the nation are investing in our planet by making simple changes like installing wildflower turf and using peat-free compost.

Making sustainable changes is important if you’re green-thumbed and love to get out in the garden for some planting, pruning, and watering. Climate change will eventually impact the way you garden, as the usually moderate British climate is due to become warmer by 1 to 6 degrees Celsius with less…

Situated in the green and abundant countryside of Somerset, The Newt is a rare treasure. This magnificent hotel and country estate boasts incredible woodland and gardens with plantings influenced by thousands of years of horticultural history.

Having previously supplied The Newt in 2021 with over 1,000m² of our Wildflower Turf Landscape 34 turf, and 1,400m² of our Wildflower Turf Native Enriched product, we recently paid a visit to this intriguing and ever-evolving destination.

The Newt seamlessly combines a 5-star hotel, restaurants, spa and a cyder (cider) cellar, which produces Somerset’s favourite tipple using state-of-the-art equipment. But it is the extensive grounds that really capture the imagination and delight the senses.

The name of the Estate comes from the population of newts that live in the grounds. The ethos of the Newt is said to stem from “a deep respect for the land, its animals, and its environment, as well as a passion for horticulture and agriculture”, and this…