Tag Archive for: Project

Wildflower Project Makes The Grade

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Wildflower Project Makes The Grade: Brunel House in Bristol has recently undergone an ecologically friendly landscaping project, with urban biodiversity at the forefront of the project.

Formally offices and now a new Unite Students property, Brunel House in Bristol will house 246 students who will enjoy a landscape that offers an urban habitat for insects, bats, swifts and other wildlife.

Wildflower Project Makes The Grade

Key to the central landscaping design of this new development is the incorporation of a wildflower meadow, supplied by Wildflower Turf Ltd at the request of construction specialists the RG Group.

Following the RG Group’s winning submission at the 2017 CIRIA BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards, award sponsors Wildflower Turf Ltd were contacted by Sustainability Consultant Colorado Goldwyn with a view of utilising the RG Group’s prize to enhance the Brunel House project.

As well as donating 200m² of Wildflower Turf Landscape Turf, the Hampshire-based wildflower experts also assisted the project with specialist consultancy, recommended and supplied additional turf to meet the project’s requirements, and provided Accredited Partner training to the project team.

Colorado Goldwyn of EQ Consultancy said, “The combination of Wildflower Turf Landscape Turf and Species Rich Lawn Turf has pulled the landscaping scheme together beautifully and allowed for a flow of biodiversity throughout the differing levels of the landscape design.”

The wildflower-led landscaping initiative has focussed on assisting rare invertebrates such as the rare Carrot Mining Bee and Small Blue Butterfly. Additionally, and in collaboration with the RSPB, a number of other recommended ecological initiatives were also defined and adopted as part of the landscaping design.

Wildflower Project Makes The Grade

As well as providing an aesthetically pleasing landscape for the incoming student population, local wildlife habitats have been protected, with the project on track to receive an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating.

James Hewetson-Brown, Managing Director at Wildflower Turf Ltd said “The ecological prosperity that a wildflower meadow can bring cannot be understated, and urban biodiversity projects such as this stretch widely to encompass both social and health benefits.”

Hewetson-Brown continued, “It is anticipated that the local student population will benefit, not only from the beautifully landscaped areas that will promote wellbeing and social interaction, but by gaining a sense of responsibility as they become interested in, and involved with, the protection of local wildlife.”

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STRI Awarded Stowe Golf Project

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STRI Awarded Stowe Golf Project: Top independent school Stowe has appointed STRI Group to design and build its new flagship nine-hole golf course in Buckinghamshire.

STRI has worked closely with Stowe School, over recent years, to create and develop the golf course layout and undertake ecological and environmental surveys for the planning process.

STRI Awarded Stowe Golf Project

Golf has been played at Stowe School since 1923, and their current course sits within an historic deer park. Working closely with the National Trust the opportunity arose for the school to close the existing golf course and reinstate the land to its former condition.

This also presented the opportunity to create a new golf course in a larger, more open landscape, which would provide a more challenging course with a less compact feel.

The location of the new golf course is on a very special site.  The rolling landscape provides superb natural features for golf and the land lies adjacent to the earthwork remains of Lamport Village. It also sits among other historic features including Lord Cobham and Gibbs’s Bourbon Tower (c1740) and Bridgeman’s 1720’s Bycell Riding which lies to the south of the site, adjacent to Gibbs’s Stowe Castle (c1740).

The design process was extensive and intricate, with STRI’s golf course architect, Jonathan Tucker, creating a course that avoided areas of historic value, and the many ecological and environmental sensitivities on the site.

The course development gives the opportunity to recreate historic features on the site, including a c.650m deer fence, positioned in a manner which matches historic records, and several bespoke tree plantations.

Andrew Hancox, Head of Golf and PGA Professional at Stowe School, said: “Stowe really is synonymous with the game of golf and with such a fine and distinguished golfing history, it is only right that we embark upon a new and exciting journey by opening our new golf course and launching the Stowe Golf Academy.

“With significantly longer and more challenging holes, along with greens constructed in accordance with USGA guidelines, I genuinely believe that our new golf course will present itself as one of the finest school golf facilities in the country.”

Project Director for STRI, Richard Stuttard, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to create an exceptional golf course within beautiful surroundings. STRI’s teams have relished the challenge of creating and implementing a design that is sympathetic to this unique environment and I’m confident that the end result will be something very special.”

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Rigby Taylor Launches Project Pollin-8

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Rigby Taylor Launches Project Pollin-8: Rigby Taylor has launched Project Pollin-8, a major initiative aimed at reversing the national decline in pollinating insects, by introducing the new Euroflor Banquet urban flower seed mixture containing the best species for pollinators while also delivering high visual impact.

A key factor in the continual reduction of pollinators is likely to be loss of habitat, and the use of urban flower mixtures for landscaping projects will prove vitally important in arresting the decline.

Rigby Taylor Launches Project Pollin-8

The introduction of the Banquet mixture is the result of information obtained from independent research by the Urban Pollinators Group (UPG), a national research programme run by Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds and Reading Universities (2010-2013).

The research revealed that no one mix would meet the complex ecological demands of the diverse pollinator groups throughout the different stages in their life cycles – from early to late flowering, native and horticultural species, plants for egg laying, nectar for energy and pollen for protein.

With this in mind, nine other Euroflor mixtures (as well as Banquet) have been identified as meeting the demand for a longer seasonal supply of nectar and pollen, as well as a more diverse range of habitats, while also providing incredible flower displays.

The nine other Euroflor mixtures are Flora Britannica, Fragrant Lawn, Green Roof, Honey, Native Pollinator, Rainbow Annuals, Rainbow Perennials, Spring Flower and Super Blue Bee.

These are all detailed in the 2018 Euroflor brochure available from a Rigby Taylor representative or via Freephone 0800 424 919.

For more information, visit: www.rigbytaylor.com

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SIS Pitches Project In Manadon

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SIS Pitches Project In Manadon: SIS Pitches have announced a substantial new re-surfacing project taking place in Manadon, Plymouth.

The process commenced at the beginning of January and will see refurbishment of the existing sand based hockey surface, which will be replaced with SISTurf Soccer Pro60-meeting FIFA Quality Pro requirements. In addition, comprehensive fencing, floodlighting and surface extension works will be carried out, with the developments forming a new full size synthetic turf football pitch.

SIS Pitches Project In Manadon

A period of 8 calendar weeks was agreed in order for the completion of the project.

The project is the latest re-surfacing development carried out by SIS Pitches, following previous successes in the area at Ottery St Mary Leisure Centre and BH Live Littledown Leisure Centre.

The Manadon works represent part of a wider football, cricket and outdoor sports centre scheme led by the Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth City Council. The project is funded by the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, Sport England and the England and Wales Cricket Board, alongside contributions from the Council and the Trust. These works form one of a series of refurbishments to grassroots sports facilities, in order to improve the quality and experience of taking part in sport.

Simon Mroczek, UK Operations Director at SIS Pitches, feels the project represents a positive step for the city moving forwards: –

‘We are very pleased to be working on this project alongside the Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth City Council. The completed works will benefit not only the local community but also the city as a whole, providing a top-quality facility that the everyone can enjoy.’

SIS Pitches is a world-leader in the design, manufacture, construction, installation and maintenance of sports surfaces, and is a FIFA licensee, World Rugby preferred turf producer and certified FIH manufacturer.

SIS Pitches is a part of a framework agreement to provide the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of artificial grass pitches. The agreement is in support of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Football Association (FA), Sport England, England Hockey and Football Foundation (FF) capital investment programmes.

As part of ongoing innovation successes, SISGrass hybrid surface technology, developed by SIS Pitches, has been selected for 6 of the 12 2018 football World Cup pitches, including the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow-host of the opening and final matches of the tournament.

For more information, visit: www.sispitches.com

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