SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE housing development, commercial scheme, school, public park, and rooftop presents an opportunity to create habitats that contribute to wider environmental goals.
LANDSCAPING SERVICES
FROM FIELD TO FUTURE:
SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE housing development, commercial scheme, school, public park, and rooftop presents an opportunity to create habitats that contribute to wider environmental goals.
Climate resilience presents an equally important challenge. Across the UK, we are experiencing more frequent extreme weather events, from intense rainfall and flooding to prolonged dry periods and rising temperatures. These conditions place increasing pressure on both built infrastructure and natural environments.
The landscape industry is entering a period of significant change. Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, climate resilience targets, and increasing expectations around sustainable development are reshaping the way green infrastructure is planned and delivered across the UK. While much of the discussion understandably focuses on policy, design, and implementation, there is also value in considering where these landscapes begin: in the field.
As growers and suppliers of green solutions, we see first-hand how environmental performance starts long before a project is completed. Whether it is cultivated turf, species-rich, wildflower or green roof systems, the success of any landscape depends on the quality and resilience of the living materials that form its foundation.
The introduction of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain( BNG) has encouraged developers, planners, and landscape architects to think differently about the ecological value of their projects. This is a welcomed development for our industry. It recognises that development and environmental enhancement should work hand in hand, with green infrastructure delivering measurable environmental benefits alongside social and economic value.
While no single landscape product can achieve biodiversity objectives on its own, a combination of welldesigned green infrastructure can make a significant contribution. Species-rich and wildflower habitats provide food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife. Green roof systems create valuable ecological networks in densely developed urban environments. Quality turf contributes to urban cooling, carbon capture, water infiltration, and the creation of accessible green spaces that support community wellbeing.
What is becoming increasingly clear is that biodiversity is not confined to designated nature reserves or rural environments. Urban landscapes now play a critical role in supporting ecological connectivity. Every
For growers, climate resilience is not simply a design consideration; it is something we manage every day. Producing high-quality vegetation requires careful stewardship of soil, water, and natural resources. It also requires adapting growing practices to changing weather patterns and ensuring that the landscapes we supply are capable of thriving in increasingly challenging conditions.
The success of Biodiversity Net Gain and climate adaptation strategies will ultimately depend on collaboration. Landscape architects, ecologists, contractors, developers, planners, and growers each have an important role to play. By engaging the supply chain early, projects can benefit from practical expertise that helps translate environmental ambitions into deliverable, longlasting outcomes.
The future of urban development will increasingly be judged not only by what is built, but by how effectively it supports nature and responds to environmental change.
From a grower’ s perspective, the conversation is no longer simply about creating attractive landscapes.
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