Anglo-Dutch “greener
cities” initiAtive
tAkes root with first
innovAtion DAy
Roxana de Raad, Chief Representative at
the Netherlands Business Support Office
(NBSO) in Manchester reviews the highly
successful Greener Cities event in May.
“The idea behind the Greener Cities
event was to show NBSO’s commitment
to working with the local business
community in the UK’s Northern cities.
It was also an excellent opportunity to
promote the Netherlands’ experience
and expertise in regenerating urban
environments through innovative design
and landscaping. We want to encourage
UK and Dutch companies and government
bodies to work together to support
practical, cost effective projects to make
the local cities greener.”
The Greener Cities: Urban
Landscaping Innovation Day
was held in Manchester on 13 May.
The day started with presentations
from Dutch business leaders with
66 Landscape & Urban Design Issue 14
proven expertise in transforming urban
landscapes. It was the launch of what we
hope will be a series of long term, mutually
profitable business partnerships between
Dutch and British companies. In particular,
it demonstrated many innovative ways to
create sustainable green spaces in urban
areas.
The afternoon programme was joined
by the then Lord Mayor of Manchester,
Susan Cooley, who planted a tree donated
by Ebben Tree Nurseries in Manchester’s
Cathedral Gardens, as well as accepting
four flower boxes donated by Village
Sensation. The Dutch bulb company JUB
Holland also donated 25,000 bee-friendly
bulbs to promote biodiversity, which
community groups will plant across the
city. In the afternoon delegates from
British and Dutch companies watched
a demonstration of innovative Dutch
machinery planting a further 25,000
summer flowering bulbs in Walton
Gardens, Warrington.
The Lord Mayor, Susan Cooley, commented
during the ceremony: “These beautiful
gifts will help to brighten up our city and I
am delighted to accept them on behalf of
the people of Manchester”.
The NBSO organised the day to highlight
its commitment to working with the
local business community. “The Dutch
Government sees the potential of the
UK’s Northern cities,” says Roxana de
Raad, Chief Representative at the NBSO’s
Manchester office. “It’s why we have an
official business office here. We also want
to contribute to local policies that help
make the city centres more attractive to
businesses and residents. This includes
looking at innovative ways to re-generate
green spaces in an easy, sustainable
and cost effective way. The Netherlands
has pioneered a number of new green
technologies and products to bring these
goals within easy reach, and yesterday’s
Innovation day offered a great opportunity
to share best practices between the two
countries.”