What to do when a narrow, new-build site in congested London with SINC (Site of Importance for Natural Conservation) designation and within the vicinity of a Eurotunnel entrance requires a landscaping solution? Call the experts at Wildflower Turf of course!
The Caledonian Road development in Islington, London is the site of 156 new apartments by Telford Homes and built on a challenging site.
Working with Landscape Architect, Warren Standerwick from Standerwick Land Design,Landscaping Contractors, Skidmores of Hertford, and Consulting Ecologist, Henriette Westergaard of Ecology and Land Management, Wildflower Turf Ltd were brought in to provide advice and bespoke grow a biodiverse, aesthetically pleasing solution that would also meet stringent project requirements.
The site itself posed several challenges; difficult access which constrained deliveries, Eurotunnel loading considerations which meant a limited depth and weight of substrate for any growing medium chosen, plants had to be relatively shallow rooting and not heavy and the installation area was varied and sloping in nature. In addition to these hurdles, the site in question is also a designated SINC area and thus, ecological requirements needed to be met appropriately. Any solution offered needed to ensure aesthetics was taken into consideration given the urban, highly-visible nature of the area in question.
Wildflower Turf Ltd provided the project with a bespoke-grown, all-native mix, supplied to specification set out by Henriette Westergaard, and Skidmores of Hertford installed 2,768m² of Wildflower Turf in April and May of this year.
The podium landscape at the rear of the site, over the Eurotunnel houses a mini-meadow of wildflowers which beautifully complements the natural ecology leading down the sides of the site into the SINC. At the time of writing in June 2018, the Wildflower Turf is already looking lush and has provided a naturalistic, low-maintenance solution to a complex and challenging brief.
Wildflower Turf is the UK’s leading bio-diverse turf supplier. Contact the team on 01256 771222 for further information or visit them online at http://www.wildflowerturf.co.uk.
