Building In Biodiversity

I have worked in the landscape supplies industry for a long time, and I’m perplexed at how, when budgets get squeezed, the outdoor space is abandoned – yet to me, a tidy well-presented garden is the most important finish there is.

It will help secure a good price for a property and is invaluable in providing a source of food and shelter for all kinds of wildlife but particularly bees and other pollinating insects.

Take turf for example. At first glance, a natural lawn may not seem particularly wildlife-friendly but it is often used by foraging birds for a quick meal and can be used as a nesting site by some bee species.

Compared to building a house, laying turf is really easy, and it’s not as expensive as you’d think. Turf will quickly and easily improve the kerb appeal of a building and it can easily be altered in the future if you want to put in flowerbeds or a patio. It can be laid with or without outside labour and is easy to care for.

Don’t forget too, that a natural lawn is brilliant at soaking up storm water and can help to reduce the risk of flooding. Visit www.qlawns.co.uk for hints and tips on laying turf and to research prices.

For the best possible biodiversity using native species, Meadowmat is ideal. Laid on to impoverished soils (which are not uncommon on a building site), Meadowmat is exactly what its name suggests, a wild flower meadow on a matting system. Just like turf, it will give you instant ground coverage but it has added advantages. It needs very little attention throughout the year, it will flower all summer long and it’s a magnet for wildlife. It’s also just the ticket if you’re collecting BREEAM points for your building.

There’s more information at www.meadowmat.com or call Q Lawns on 01842 828266 to request a brochure.

Plants are so important to the health of the planet that they should be included in every project, even if there’s no room on the ground. For a building project where there is very little outdoor space, why not consider a living green roof?

Enviromat sedum matting is probably the least heavy of all green roof build-ups and almost definitely the easiest to install. Visit www.enviromat.co.uk for info or email angelal@qlawns.co.uk.

To me, landscaping speaks volumes…..far more than door furniture or curtains. It’s the easiest part of a project, and the best.

Enviromat is available for DIY green roof projects of up to 50m2 and the company offers an installation service. Locate our “Planting for Pollinators” video on YouTube to see for yourself how easy it is to build for biodiversity.