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The Journey to 100% pollinator friendly planting

Window Boxes are a key part of our villages and our greening story.   The majority of our portfolio consists of buildings which sit on the public highway and many of our roofs are taken up with industrial plant, therefore we have had to think outside the box in ways to increase green installations. 

Currently across our portfolio we have 1245 window boxes, 124 planters and 50 hanging baskets all of which are now planted with 100% pollinator friendly planting.

This has been a gradual process.  From the pavement looking up, planting looks better when it is brightly coloured with large blooms.  Unfortunately, these types of plants such as begonias are not attractive to pollinators.  As the planting is paid for in part by service charge, we need to make sure that the planting is value for money as well as looks good.  Planting is carried out twice a year, Spring and Autumn and is planned many months in advance, our suppliers planning and planting seedlings ready for installation in the future.    There are various issues to consider when planting window boxes: size of the window boxes which are quite small in depth without much root room; maintenance which is carried out regularly including regular watering; sunlight which varies from street to street,  some boxes receiving considerably less sunshine.

Pollinator friendly plants tend to flower and go over quite quickly so do not always look at their best.  We moved away from ornamental planting entirely a few years ago and fixed on an 80/20 pollinator friendly balance so that when the pollinator friendly plants became less attractive the less pollinator attractive plants would cover them.  In 2019 we decided to trial 100% pollinator friendly window boxes in Newburgh Street in Carnaby.  The trial was extremely successful with tenants and management.  The plants had a more natural colouring and look.   Based on the success of this trial, in 2020 all the window boxes, planters and hanging baskets have been planted 100% pollinator friendly.

The mix for Summer 2021 is a mix of Armeria maritima, Salvia Rose, Iberis White, Verbena rigida Santos, Veronica Royal Blue or Pink, Scabiosa Blue, Calibrachoa, Fuchsia, Bacopa, Ivy and Buxus.

 

Partners:

  • Shaftesbury

    Key Facts:

  • 1,245 window boxes

  • 124 planters

  • 50 hanging baskets all of which are now planted with 100% pollinator friendly planting.

  • Flower mix for Summer 2021: Armeria maritima, Salvia Rose, Iberis White, Verbena rigida Santos, Veronica Royal Blue or Pink, Scabiosa Blue, Calibrachoa, Fuchsia, Bacopa, Ivy and Buxus

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