LANDSCAPING SERVICES
RIGBY TAYLOR’S
EUROFLOR URBAN
MEADOW FLOWERS
ADD THE SPARK TO ELECTRICITY NORTH WEST’S
SUBSTATION REVAMP
Rigby Taylor’s Euroflor urban
meadow flower seed mixes have
played a key role in the success
of Electricity North West’s
‘Transforming our Spaces’ project by
revamping substations throughout
the region with spectacular displays
of colour from flower mixes that
also attract a host of pollinators.
The colourful displays produced
by the Euroflor seed mixes (from
Top Green, the largest seed
producer in Europe) also drew
laudatory comments from the local
communities as well as council
officials and MPs.
For example, commenting on one
site, Copeland MP Trudy Harrison
said: “Electricity North West has
planted what was previously
grassland, requiring regular and
costly maintenance, into a beautiful
and environmentally beneficial
wildflower oasis…This is an
economic, environmental and social
win, win, win project which should
be replicated all over the UK.”
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Angie Thornton, Electricity North
West’s Groundworks Delivery
Manager, who is heading up the
scheme, said: “We are all absolutely
delighted with the results; the
sites truly have been transformed
from what used to be eyesores into
beautifully vibrant areas for the
local communities to take pride in
and spaces for revitalising insects
and wildlife.
“Substations aren’t always
aesthetically pleasing but they are a
key part of the electricity network.
The project has been extremely well
received by the communities and
residents are keen to get involved
and replant flowers in the future.”
Eight substations were initially
targeted last year and working
closely with Rigby Taylor, an
established supplier of amenity
supplies to the electricity board
(supplying the Icade, Chikara and
Gallup Biograde herbicides, for
example), various Euroflor urban
meadow flower mixes were selected.
These included Rainbow Perennials
and Flora Britannica from Euroflor’s
Project Pollin-8 range specifically
designed to attract pollinators
while also delivering high visual
impact. The displays lasted through
the summer and into October and
November.
Howard Wood, Top Green’s Euroflor
consultant, presented classroom
and on-site workshops to help guide
the grounds staff in the preparation
and maintenance of the flower beds,
which in some cases also utilised
the ‘lay down and plant’ FloraFleece
biodegradable matting Euroflor
option, which eliminates the need
for extensive soil preparation. Bird
feeders and bug hotels were also
installed in some cases.
Electricity North West’s
‘Transforming our Spaces’ project will
return this year with the continued
support from Rigby Taylor.
www.rigbytaylor.com
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