News

Biodiversity needs all the help it can get…

Behind our pithy headline is the sobering statistic that is oft-quoted; the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows since 1930.

Along with the destruction of over 200,000 miles of hedgerows, 50% of our ancient woodland and heathland has disappeared. The resulting effect on wildlife has been catastrophic, with 41% of all species seeing a decline since 1970 and a complete loss of 150 species in the last 100 years.

With classic meadow plants like Ragged Robin, Field Scabious and Devil’s-bit Scabious on the Near Threatened list, British conservation charity Plantlife is once again encouraging the lawn-loving public to get involved in their No-Mow-May campaign, liberating lawns up and down the country.

There is an astonishing array of diversity of wildflowers growing on Britain’s lawns and simple changes in mowing (or rather, not mowing) can result in enough nectar for ten times more bees and other pollinators. With an estimated 23m gardens in the UK, how lawns are tended makes a huge difference to the prospects for wild plants and other wildlife. Simply popping the mower in the shed for…

As we hopefully can look forward to a warmer May with the promise of 3 bank holidays ahead of us here in the UK, we have another guest blog is from Amanda Winstead.  Amanda is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Cultivating a garden can be a personally enriching experience. You have the opportunity to create a space in which you’re surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. The result can be an oasis away from the stresses of daily life, complete with the sights, sounds, and smells of a thriving ecosystem. Not to mention that spending time caring for your garden can be a physically and mentally healthy activity.

It’s vital, though, to be mindful of what flowers you grow in your garden. While exotic flower species may be interesting additions to your landscape, you shouldn’t overlook the value of native wildflowers. Making choices in line with the native plant movement can benefit you, your garden, and the wider environment.

Let’s take a moment to explore the importance of…

Often over-looked, the importance of quality seed is a crucial element in the delivery of successful wildflower projects.

In the beginning, there was a humble seed…

With so many wonderful attributes and benefits to recommend them, it is very often the beauty and biodiversity of wildflower meadows that receive accolade. However, this month we’re turning our attention to where it all begins: seed.

Here at Wildflower Turf Ltd, we are passionate about seed, and with good reason. With increasing focus on the importance of preserving and enhancing the UK’s rich and biodiverse habitats that are essential for life, the need for quality raw materials is paramount.

In short, you get out what you put in. When poor seed is sown, the germination rate will be significantly lowered with crop failure a real possibility.

The wildflower seed market in the UK is currently unregulated, meaning that varying quality levels of seed exist. Yet, the benefit of using quality seed is enormous. Premium quality seed will, over time, result in the successful establishment of wildflower meadows and with appropriate ongoing maintenance, the meadow will continue to thrive and provide a…

As we all look forward to Easter we have another guest blog is from Amanda Winstead.  Amanda is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Wildflower gardens have risen in popularity in the past 5 years. This is largely thanks to support from the RHS and an improved understanding of how our gardens can support ecosystems and wildlife.

However, wildflower gardens are more than a trend. Wildflower gardens have distinct, long-term benefits and are a far more eco-friendly, sustainable alternative to traditional grass lawns.

Wildflower lawns also look great. Uncultivated splashes of colour help your front garden stand out from a sea of green, and the joy of watching pollinators go about their business is unparalleled.

Sustainability Benefits

Wildflower lawns look great and are good for the environment. By planting a wildflower meadow, you are contributing to a patchwork quilt of biodiversity and are reducing your carbon footprint. That’s because 97% of Britain’s wildflower meadows have been destroyed since…

In the final instalment of our two-part blog post dedicated to our 20 Year Anniversary we revisit two decades of highlights and explore our plans for the future.

Recognised as the UK’s leading authority for practical solutions in developing wildflower spaces, we’ve put our MD, James Hewetson-Brown, in the hot-seat and asked him to share some of his highlights from the past 20 years as well as delving into his thoughts on the future of the industry.

James, what are some of your more notable moments over the past 20 years?

Supplying over 60,000m² of Wildflower Turf® to the London 2012 Olympics was a very proud moment, both personally and for the wider team. Likewise, our involvement with the post-Games transformation of the site in Stratford to benefit nature has been a key highlight.

Most recently, the purchase and establishment of our third production site, in Shropshire, has been significant. This has been an enormous undertaking and one that will greatly benefit our business with the additional capacity that is currently being realised.

In short, during…

This year marks an incredible 20 years since the first turf was laid at our Hampshire farm. Join us for a trip down memory lane and learn more about our ambitious plans for the future.

Under the stewardship of two generations of the Hewetson-Brown family, Wildflower Turf Ltd has gone from strength-to-strength and this year marks our 20 Year Anniversary.

Our story begins in 1983 when Ashe Warren Farm, near Basingstoke, was purchased by David Hewetson-Brown. At that time the arable farm was multi-purpose, producing wheat for animal feed, spring barley for brewing and herbage seed for forage and amenity use.

In 1982, David Hewetson-Brown devised and pioneered a soil-less lawn turf growing system. This new soil-less product was unique as it did not remove any topsoil at harvest and was of a very high quality. As well as being incredibly strong (resulting in no wastage) the turf was also weed-free.

Thus, the decision was made by David to set up a diversification to complement the traditional crops by going into turf production. Coronet Turf was established as a result.

Alongside the UK’s emerging interest in nature and, specifically, wildflowers, was born a desire by the Hewetson-Brown family to find a practical solution to…

This guest blog is from Amanda Winstead.  Amanda is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

It probably hasn’t escaped your notice that we’re living at a time in which there is a significant focus on the health of our natural environments. We all rely on the resources our planet provides, including the wildflowers that attract pollinators, which in turn, enable the successful cultivation of crops. How we continue to engage with these resources can mean the difference between whether we thrive or have to struggle for survival.

As such, there is a range of potential solutions being explored at the moment. Among the key examples of this are smart agriculture and permaculture. There is little argument that both of these approaches can make a positive difference. But do their differences mean that they can’t exist in harmony with one another?

Let’s explore whether smart agriculture and permaculture practices are at odds, and what you should know about utilising either of these strategies.

What Are…

As 2022 draws to a close, our final blog for the year is dedicated to…numbers!

With all of the (dare we say it) normality that this December has brought it is almost difficult to believe that we careered into the year and promptly fell straight into a lockdown. Yes, that’s right. That last lockdown we all endured was THIS year!

So our first number is 1…only one lockdown during the past twelve months. We are all thankful that Covid has retreated into the background. Wildflower Turf Ltd has been fortunate to weather the storm over the past few years and we are very grateful for the support of our customers and the dedication of our team. The lockdowns necessitated by Covid have heightened the importance of connecting with nature and green space – something we as a business are passionate about.

With 1 in 8 British households without a garden our public spaces are crucially important. Even more so when we reflect on the fact that we have lost 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 1930’s. Wildflower meadows are one of the rarest…

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…