Tag Archive for: Wildflower

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

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Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution: Wildflower Turf Ltd are delighted to celebrate their 20th birthday as the original innovators of Wildflower Turf. Their remarkable journey has seen Wildflower Turf Ltd expand from their Hampshire HQ to Shropshire and Yorkshire.  

This news comes in the wake of many groundbreaking initiatives and accomplishments of the company, including:

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

  • How their first square metre of wildflower turf was discarded, only for it to flourish in the yard one month later!
  • Their first RHS Chelsea Flower Show appearance in 2004.
  • How a green roof above a playhouse in 2004 is now eclipsed by huge projects such as Skelton Lake Services.
  • The highly acclaimed 256-page book ‘How to make a Wildflower Meadow’ by James Hewetson-Brown was released in 2016.
  • In 2023, Wildflower Turf Ltd James Hewetson-Brown was voted onto the GRO (The Green Roof Organisation) board.

To learn more about the 20 year milestone, click here.

About Wildflower Turf Ltd: Founded in 2003, Wildflower Turf Ltd pioneered and developed a soil less growing system which has transformed the concept of turf growing. As the original innovators of Wildflower Turf®, the research laboratory at their Ashe Warren Farm headquarters reinforces them as leading experts in Wildflower spaces, with unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable practices and biodiversity.

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New releases from Wildflower Turf

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New releases from Wildflower Turf: The UK’s most prominent wildflower experts, Wildflower Turf Ltd, are committed to providing innovative landscaping solutions that also provide considerable ecological and environmental benefits.

With a dedicated in-house research and development team, on-site laboratory and extensive trial facilities, Wildflower Turf Ltd are using their expertise and constant desire for knowledge to push boundaries within the landscaping industry when it comes to wildflowers.

New releases from Wildflower Turf

New releases from Wildflower Turf

In line with public concern about the damage peat extraction does to our natural environment, the business is committed to an annual reduction in the use of peat as a growing medium and has already made excellent headway, with their Meadowscape Pro™ product now 100% peat-free.

Meadowscape Pro™ is an enhanced pre-seeded growing medium used by professionals for effective wildflower establishment and allows the creation of dynamic and biodiverse wildflower spaces in a range of settings with very little ground preparation.

Successful wildflower establishment is very dependent on quick, healthy seedling growth gaining a head start over any other grass or weed species development – Meadowscape Pro™ delivers the optimal seed germination environment to make this happen.

Enriched with Hydropor™, the specially developed formula supports good water percolation and retention, stabilising the growing medium for much better seed germination compared to conventional direct seeding.

In addition to refinements to Meadowscape Pro™, Wildflower Turf Ltd has also recently released two Limited-Edition products: Meadowscape Pro™ Low Grow and Meadowscape Pro™ Pollinator.

Already proving very popular, the Low Grow mix has been designed for projects that require biodiversity enrichment but with height restrictions to consider. This new release is perfect for sites such as a road verges, roundabouts or in a garden or near a building.

The species-rich mix will grow to approximately 40-50cm in height and 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 to the very attractive habitat. Low Grow also has some ornamental grasses included which add texture and a changing colour scheme to the area throughout the growing season.

This new release is currently available in Meadowscape Pro™ as a Limited-Edition product. The Limited-Edition Wildflower Turf® format will be available from summer 2022.

The second Limited Edition Release, Meadowscape Pro™ Pollinator, has been created by playing with a range of native and non-native wildflowers to create a tall architectural feast of colour and nectar for a wide range of insects. This grass-free mix can grow in optimal conditions to over 1m in height and provides an eye-catching natural nectar bar that is perfect for private gardens as well as parks and public areas.

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Wildflower organisation increases capacity

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Wildflower organisation increases capacity: Leading wildflower organisation, Wildflower Turf Ltd, continues its successful expansion with the recent acquisition of new landholding in Shropshire.

With demand for the company’s products and services at an all-time high, the recently purchased Forge Farm will provide the business with an additional 60,000m2 of production capacity.

Wildflower organisation increases capacity

Wildflower organisation increases capacity

The wildflower specialists currently operate from sites in both Hampshire and Yorkshire, and this third production site will further enable Wildflower Turf Ltd to meet growing demand nationwide.

The Shropshire location is well positioned to deliver wildflower products to Wildflower Turf Ltd’s customer base in the West Midlands and across the rest of the UK.

The new production venue already has the infrastructure in place to commence operations, with the first turf grown at the Forge Farm site expected to be lifted in the summer of 2022.

Production capacity will be increased over time with Forge Farm playing an integral part of Wildflower Turf Ltd’s expansion programme.

James Hewetson-Brown, Founder and Managing Director of Wildflower Turf Ltd, said: “In recent years we have increased our team of passionate experts to support our growth and our expansion to Shropshire is a natural progression. Our acquisition of Forge Farm will ensure we have the increased capacity required and are in a position to respond quickly in response to anticipated business growth.”

He continued, “We are committed to developing and providing innovative and biodiverse wildflower solutions and will continue to announce new initiatives in response to increasing demand for our wildflower products and services.”

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Wildflower havens to protect hedgehogs

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Wildflower havens to protect hedgehogs: Non-profit wildflower specialist, Seedball, has teamed up with People’s Trust for Endangered Species to create a specially developed wildflower seed mix with the aim of growing hedgehog friendly habitats to support the struggling population.

There were an estimated 36.5 million hedgehogs in Britain in the 1950s, which plummeted to around 1.5 million in 1995, and numbers have continued to decline severely. Hedgehogs are classed as an indicator species which means a decline in their species indicates a decline in the quality of the environment and the health of the natural world.

Wildflower havens to protect hedgehogs

Wildflower havens to protect hedgehogs

Anyone with a garden can help make a difference to the plight of hedgehogs by being aware of the obstacles they face such as impermeable garden borders like walls and fencing, busy roads, and minimalistic garden designs with little space to forage. Gardeners can help hedgehogs by leaving small holes in fences and borders so they can move around, 3cm is the perfect hedgehog-sized hole. Also, providing water for them to drink will help keep them hydrated, and leaving an area for them to hide in such as a log pile will help to attract beetles, which hedgehogs love to eat.

A wildflower patch can make a beautiful hedgehog friendly addition to a garden as it provides essential shelter and attracts insects such as beetles and worms for them to feed on.

The experts at Seedball have made it easy to create a wildflower patch at home by creating a range of unique, peat-free balls containing wildflower seeds that transform outdoor spaces – from meadows to plant pots – into seas of beautiful flowers that not only look good but do good too. There is a selection of mixes to choose from that all benefit native species including bees, beetles, birds, bats, butterflies and hedgehogs.

The hedgehog mix has been specially developed to create hedgehog havens by attracting them, and the insects they feed on. Each tin of Hedgehog Mix contains 20 seed balls, enough to cover 1 metre square in a garden bed or 3-5 medium-sized pots. Each of the seed balls contain approximately 30 seeds each with a mix of yellow rattle, wild carrot, birdsfoot trefoil, tufted vetch, self heal and poppy. This combination of colourful wildflowers will create an area irresistible to hedgehogs and their prey, and proceeds from the hedgehog mix go to People’s Trust for Endangered Species to support their ongoing conservation work.

Dr. Emily Lambert, co-founder of Seedball commented: “Hedgehogs are such well-loved and wonderful creatures, we simply cannot let their numbers dwindle any further. Working closely with People’s Trust for Endangered Species means we can help people to grow beautiful wildflower habitats for hedgehogs and other wildlife to roam but also support their essential conservation work.”

Seedball is passionate about curating vibrant flourishes of flowers easier for everyone, whilst giving a home to depleting wildlife and pollinators.

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Marvellous wildflower project commences

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Marvellous wildflower project commences: Work has started on a new wildflower project that will enhance roundabouts and verges at three West Berkshire locations.

The ‘Tesco roundabout’ on the A339 Sandleford Link, the roundabout on the junction of the A4/B4000 Stockcross Road, and the verge at Cow Lane in East Ilsley will all benefit from specialist wildflower products supplied by Wildflower Turf Ltd.

Marvellous wildflower project commences

Marvellous wildflower project commences

West Berkshire Council has appointed experts Wildflower Turf Ltd to create the eye-catching wildflower displays. With eco-friendly projects including the supply of wildflowers to the London 2021 Olympics, The Hive at Kew Gardens, and thousands of other small and large projects around the UK, Wildflower Turf Ltd is recognised as the UK’s leading wildflower specialist.

West Berkshire Council will be utilising both Wildflower Turf® at East Ilsley and Meadowscape Pro™ to enhance the roundabouts. The turf is ready planted as a roll containing immature wildflower plants and a healthy root network and once laid, creates an almost instant meadow. Likewise, Meadowscape Pro™ is a pre-seeded growing medium used by professionals for effective wildflower establishment and creates an environment for much more effective seed germination than conventional direct seeding methods. Both products have been carefully chosen to produce flowering plants from late-spring to mid-autumn which will create visual impact as well as helping to feed and shelter bees, butterflies, and all manner of other wildlife, with only limited maintenance required throughout the year.

Wildflower Turf® has already been laid in East Ilsley with the A339 and B4000 roundabouts also being completed this week.

Steve Ardagh-Walter, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for the Environment, said: “It’s great to see this exciting project underway. Wildflowers offer so many benefits, not least because they are beautiful to look at. They are an environmental winner too as they can provide vital refuge for many kinds of wildlife, from insects to reptiles, mammals and birds.”

He added: “The environment is a priority for everyone and, as a council, we are working hard to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. Our 2021-22 Budget includes a £12.5m commitment to our Environment Strategy which includes a council owned solar farm and projects such as this one that will go towards meeting this vital environmental target.”

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