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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…

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…