Tag Archive for: Biodiversity

Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

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Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity: As Scotland’s eighth newest city (2022), Dunfermline was the birthplace of King Charles 1 and once served as the ancient capital of Scotland. Over recent years the city has become more popular with house prices increasing and investment in new residential developments.

As part of the Dunfermline Eastern Expansion, Taylor Wimpey have built around a hundred homes, a mix of 3, 4, and 5-bedroom houses, as well as affordable housing units, situated around Macpherson and MacCallum Avenues.

Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

Although Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is not mandatory in Scotland just yet, the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), focuses on ‘significant biodiversity enhancements’ for major developments. And any urban greening, particularly street trees, plays a vital role.

Although new developments have modern storm drains and sewers, unlike the old, woefully inadequate Victorian-era systems in the city centres, it is still important to attenuate rainwater, and subsequent runoff, diverting it from gushing straight down the drains. Trees are highly efficient at doing this, both through their root network, and leaf canopy. Add to this their ability to store carbon, capture airborne particulates, and provide habitat for birds and insects, and the value of trees to our neighbourhoods cannot be denied.

Green-tech Involvement

Advance Construction (Scotland) have been offering groundworks and civil engineering expertise throughout Scotland for over twenty-five years. They have worked with Green-tech for over ten of those years across various projects.

ACS approached Green-tech to price up twenty-one tree pits throughout the new Taylor-Wimpey development, using the TreeParker® tree pit support system.

Having been used in mainland Europe for the past twelve years or more, on high-profile projects such as the pavements around the Eiffel Tower, and Rotterdam’s main boulevard, Coolsingle, TreeParker® works by supporting the paving above a tree pit, whether used for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. In doing this, it protects the soil within the tree pit from becoming compacted. This enables the landscaper to use a soft, friable, organic topsoil for the tree to grow in, rather than having to make do with a less organic, structural tree sand.

Unlike similar systems, it has several distinct advantages. The heavy-duty, reinforced legs are available in six height options from the factory: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500mm. This gives a previously unheard-of adaptability with depth options. From a contractor’s point of view, it means there is never any need to stack two units to achieve a depth over 600mm, saving installation time and money.

The other major advantage is that there are no side walls to get in the way of utilities, new or existing. By having smooth, rounded legs rather than side walls, the units can easily straddle or work around service pipes and lines.

There was a mix of tree pits across the site, mostly single trees, but also three double tree pits in the central section of MacCallum Avenue. To finish off the installations, Green-tech supplied cast-iron Newdale tree grilles, along with Wharfdale tree guards, to protect the trees from any vehicular contact. Grilles are an ideal way to give a smart, long-lasting finish to a tree pit, whilst allowing air and water access into the rooting area.

In total, twenty-one TreeParker® tree pits were installed, each having Mona Relief irrigation rings and cast aluminium filler caps, as well as underground anchor systems. With it being vital to the health of any tree or planting scheme, Green-tech delivered a total of 260 tonnes of Green-tree British Standard subsoil and Geocell topsoil to site over a staggered period as required.

Client Feedback

Stuart Mcneill, Managing Quantity Surveyor for Advance Construction (Scotland) comments, “We have always found Green-tech to provide excellent service. They deliver what they say, when they say they will. We found the TreeParker® system to be surprisingly quick and simple to install, and we look forward to working with it again.”

Further Information

For further product information or to request a CPD in person or remotely on any of our urban or rural modules, please email info@gtspecifier.co.uk or call on 01423 369728.

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Origin wins at Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards

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Origin wins at Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) proudly announces its success at the prestigious Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards 2024, held on 15th October during the FutureScape event.

OAS won the Sustainable Product (Soft Landscaping) of the Year award for its innovative Carbon4Grass range of grass seed, a product designed to help tackle the dual challenges of environmental sustainability and high-performance landscaping.

Origin wins at Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards

Origin wins at Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards

The Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards celebrate excellence across the landscape industry, recognising companies and products that lead the way in sustainability, biodiversity enhancement, and environmental innovation. This year’s ceremony brought together key stakeholders, professionals, and sustainability advocates from across the sector, making it a landmark event for the industry.

Carbon4Grass from OAS was highlighted for its significant contribution to environmental sustainability. This is a pioneering range of grass seed mixtures where each specification is specially formulated to lock carbon from the atmosphere into the soil while providing high-quality surfaces, making it an invaluable tool for those aiming to meet their carbon reduction and sustainability goals. The innovative blend of grass species promotes soil health, supports strong ecosystems, and helps reduce overall carbon footprints in both urban and rural landscapes. Carbon4Grass is tailored for use across all landscape and amenity environments, making it versatile and impactful in enhancing green spaces.

The FutureScape event, where the awards were announced, is one of the most important trade shows in the UK landscaping calendar, attracting over 200 exhibitors and thousands of visitors. The awards recognise the crucial role that sustainable products and practices offer in today’s environmentally conscious world​.

“It’s a privilege to receive this award for our Carbon4Grass range. Sustainability is a key focus at Origin Amenity Solutions, and this recognition shows that our efforts are making a tangible impact. We’re committed to developing products that enhance the health and performance of landscapes and contribute to the environment in meaningful ways. This award is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to driving positive change in the sports, amenity, and fine turf sector.”

The Carbon4Grass range was praised for its innovation in addressing the environmental challenges of modern landscaping. It provides long-term solutions to issues such as soil degradation, water retention, and carbon capture. Its sustainability-driven design supports the preservation and restoration of ecosystems, reinforcing OAS’s reputation as a leader in environmentally focused products and programmes.

The Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards continue to highlight trailblazers in the industry, spotlighting those committed to shaping a greener, more sustainable future. OAS’s achievement highlights and recognises it as a supplier committed to sustainability innovation.

For more details about the Carbon4Grass range and Origin Amenity Solutions, visit www.originamenity/com

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Pro Flora helping to boost biodiversity

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Pro Flora helping to boost biodiversity: After witnessing good results with the Johnsons J All Bent mixture, Woolley Park Golf Club are now enjoying similar success with new eco-friendly areas created with DLF’s Pro Flora range.

The project to enhance habitats and encourage diversity of wildlife has gathered pace in recent years under the stewardship of Head Greenkeeper John Rowbottom who, with the help of DLF’s Stuart Yarwood, has not only boosted biodiversity but brought new life to previously unmanageable areas.

Pro Flora helping to boost biodiversity

Pro Flora helping to boost biodiversity

The West Yorkshire club are longstanding users of seed mixtures from DLF. “We’ve used many different mixtures over the years, and specifically J All Bent for the last five. This just seems to really suit our conditions” explains John, who has worked at Woolley Park since its inception in 1995. “We’ve got USGA spec root zone and we’ve found that the bent grass thrives here, the benefits of which are two-fold – improving the quality of the sward and helping us in the constant fight against Poa, with the Bent outcompeting fescues and other varieties.”

Oversown twice a year during spring and autumn renovations, the reliability and results of the J All Bent programme on the greens is ongoing, allowing John to turn his attention to the viability of other areas. “During the COVID lockdowns we had the time to fully appreciate the rich abundance of wildlife that returned to the site while the course was closed. This really kickstarted our trials with wildflower areas, and since then we’ve worked on another patch of land each year with the results getting better and better! It’s been great to see that, as a result of this work, much of the fauna that returned over that time has stayed.”

“For me, it is essential that whatever we do on the course is sympathetic to the environment around it” he adds. So, when a major renovation project two years ago left a large area of ‘unmanageable’ land, it was then that John consulted with his DLF Regional Technical Manager Stuart Yarwood for advice. “I didn’t want bright, bold colours, instead something more subtle and in keeping with the surroundings that would provide some cover and habitat for pheasants and ground nesting birds.”

Stuart recommended Pro Flora 13, delivering a species-rich mix of UK native origin wildflowers and fine leaved low growing grasses. “This has given us exactly what we wanted from an ecological perspective and, visually, blends in brilliantly beside our in-play areas.”

“I believe it is our responsibility as custodians of land to ensure we are doing what we can to protect the environment, and this is something both Stuart and I are keen to continue developing with our wildflower projects. We are incredibly fortunate to be able to look after 150 acres of land and seeing golfers and wildlife out there enjoying what we craft is priceless.”

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Green-tech helps EMR increase Biodiversity

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Green-tech helps EMR increase Biodiversity:  European Metal Recycling (EMR) is a global leader in metal recycling. They operate metal recycling sites across 60 locations throughout the UK where they process waste metal and want to increase biodiversity throughout these sites.

Working with Glendale, a grounds maintenance contractor providing landscape and green space management for private and public sectors, EMR launched its rewilding initiative at its state-of-the-art site in Oldbury.  They intend to tackle the impact of climate change and give local nature a much stronger chance of surviving and thriving for future generations. The aim is to roll out this scheme across all of their UK sites.

Green-tech helps EMR increase Biodiversity

Green-tech helps EMR increase Biodiversity

The EMR environmental project, which covers 3ha of land, will create a biodiversity increase at the Oldbury site of 95%, ensuring greater protection of the environment, and preservation and enhancement of key habitats.

The initiative included the sowing of approximately 1000m2 of John Chambers Heritage Dual purpose and John Chamber Impact Violet Heart mix 100%. The 5kg of seed comprised a mix of native and nectar-rich annuals and perennials. The area of previously rough ground was seeded in May 2023 using a mix devised by EMR Environmental Specialist Aaron Roberts. The Cornfield Annual species came through quickly to give an initial burst of colour, while the slower-growing perennials are all establishing, ready to spring forth from Spring 2024 (Year 2) onwards.

John Chambers Wildflower Seed has a 40-year history of supplying British native wildflower seed and mixes across the UK. A brand of Green-tech, John Chambers Wildflower Seed is one of the leading authorities on native wildflower seed, distributing a comprehensive range of products that protect, enhance, and improve the landscape environment.

In addition, a variety of 100 native saplings and trees and species-rich hedgerows were planted to improve the overall habitat and absorb 35 tonnes of carbon per annum into the new biomass growing on our site. A mixture of grass seeds and different varieties of flowers will be grown, as well as ongoing management of the woodland area to allow other species to flourish.

Deric Newman, Head of Development, Estate Services at Glendale comments, “We used John Chambers as they have a reputation for being the best in the market for wildflower and grass seed. Delivery was very efficient and on time with the annual species making an appearance quickly. Overall, I am very happy and can’t wait to see the perennials come through in the spring.”

Aaron Roberts adds, “It has been a pleasure working on this project creating positive environmental change at our EMR Group Oldbury site. With the new plants and habitat creation at Oldbury, we have increased biodiversity by over 95% and we are helping sequest 35 tonnes of CO2. Hopefully, our project inspires other companies to create positive environmental change at their sites and increase their biodiversity.”

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