ISSUE 32

URBAN update

WWW.URBAN planters .COMfor a greener world

PAGE 150 Years of Landscaping Excellence

Christmas comes early to the coast

PAGE 2Mother of Pearl that is out of this World

Towering Tree for Technology Traninees

PAGES 3 - 6IN FOCUS - Regatta

PAGE 7Plants - so good they bear repeating

Precious Metals for “Steel City” hotel

PAGE 8Retiring to Watch the PlantsNew planting served up for Patisserie ValerieThe healing power of plants

As 2015 draws to a close, we are celebrating milestone birthday at Urban Planters, having notched up half a century of trading within the landscaping industry.

Our story starts in the Leeds/Bradford area, back in 1965, when we traded as Urban Landscapes.

At first, we mainly focused on external landscaping. Then, in the early 1970s, we saw the potential in interior planting and started a budding cottage industry in office plants. In 1988, we decided it was time we had a name-change to reflect our rapidly diversifying business, and became Urban Planters.

As interior landscaping had become more and more popular, we decided to bring our local family business to all parts of the UK through franchising and by 1996 we had developed the first interior landscape franchise business in the UK.

We are now the largest independent specialist interior

landscaper within the UK with more local branches than any of our domestic competitors.

This has allowed us to create a local service nationwide: our clients benefit from local suppliers who have the support of a national business which works to an ISO 9001 standard, with the environment benefits of a reduced carbon footprint when we supply national clients from local depots, be they located in Cornwall or Aberdeenshire.

When asked what is next for Urban Planters, Alan Page said:

“Our primary focus is to continue growing our market share of the UK’s interior landscape market. We also intend to start actively developing our international franchise opportunities in mainland Europe, so that the Urban Planters brand may become as strong abroad as it is here in the UK. So, there is plenty to keep us busy for the next 50 years!”

We often start well in advance to bring Christmas sparkle to our clients, and this year was no exception when we had to get festive decorations into three Devon hotels by 23rd October!

The three Duchy Hotels, in Torquay and Paignton, start their ‘Turkey and Tinsel’ meals before the end of October so they needed to set a festive scene in time. Each hotel had a different colour theme which they can swap around the three hotels each year.

Urban Planters South West already supplied the plants for the hotels but have now signed a 6-year contract to deck the hotels inside and out each Christmas with the high-quality decorated replica garlands and trees.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY TO THE COAST

YEARS OF LANDSCAPINGEXCELLENCE1965 - 2015

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MOTHER OF PEARL THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

Urban Planters Leicestershire was approached by existing client the Hinckley Island Hotel, to create a new planting scheme for its refurbished restaurant.

They decided to focus on one material for all the containers used in the scheme: mother of pearl creates a sophisticated, modern and unusual feel at the same time and seemed perfect for the new décor.

One of the scheme’s focal points is a large ‘UFO’ vase with inlaid mother of pearl, which houses an elegant replica orchid.

MOTHER OF PEARLTHAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLDUrban Planters Leicestershire was approached by existing client the Hinckley Island Hotel, to create a new planting scheme for its refurbished restaurant.

They decided to focus on one material for all the containers used in the scheme: mother of pearl creates a sophisticated, modern and unusual feel at the same time and seemed perfect for the new décor.

One of the scheme’s focal points is a large ‘UFO’ vase with inlaid mother of pearl, which houses an elegant replica orchid.

TOWERING TREE for Technology TraineesA new training centre at Coventry’s Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) wanted to make a statement for visitors on arrival, so what better than a 5-and-a-half-metre tree?

The Ficus binnendijkii ‘Alii’ stands proudly in the new reception area of the Lloyds Bank Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, a £36 million centre aimed at nurturing the next generation of manufacturing engineers and technicians.

Echoing the tree on the first and second floor balconies, which overlooks the reception are smaller Ficus binnendijkii ‘Allii’, planted in the same, brushed metal containers.

Urban Planters Leicestershire also created six vivid green, preserved moss pictures and, to customise the artwork, they positioned the MTC logo in brushed stainless steel into two of the pictures.

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INTEGRATING PLANTS WITH BUILDING DESIGN TO BRING THE OUTDOORS INDOORSTwo years in the making, with our involvement as consultants from design to delivery, this is an interior landscaping project which has allowed us to really showcase how the right planting can bring a workplace to life, literally.

The building, at Manchester’s Trafford Park, has been purpose-built to bring under one roof outdoors clothing companies Regatta Great Outdoors, Craghoppers and Dare 2B.

IN FOCUS: REGATTA

Large Ficus trees are positioned around the building to orientate visitors, signposting different areas, as well as identifying the entrance.

OUTDOORS INDOORSThroughout the building, the overarching planting design was to create the look and feel of the outdoors.

The client wanted to give something back to their employees by creating a healthy working environment, using plants to create natural scenes and create fresh air.

Left: In other areas, plants are planted in bark planters to create a more natural look and feel.

Inset: Nowhere is the outdoors indoors theme stronger than in the central ‘Campsite’, where the restaurant is situated.

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Distinct brands different plantsAlthough the four companies are in the same sector, they have distinct brand identities, which the client wanted to reflect in the décor and planting of each of their areas within the building.

For Regatta, the core brand, the focus was on the outdoors, technology and colour.

For Craghoppers, the feel was the British outdoors, using ferns and leafy plants to great effect.

Dare 2b had a more mountainous feel, so alpines and succulents were selected to echo this theme.

Group Functions needed to incorporate all of the brands, so flavours of each planting scheme featured here, with an emphasis on colour.

TWO VERY DIFFERENT TAKES ON THE LIVING WALL

Right: Inside, a large, dense moss wall in vivid green wraps itself around a central support.

Far right: Outside, a series of exterior living walls boasting a rich mix of foliage is alternated with wood panelling.

IN FOCUS: REGATTA

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“This building has been purpose-built for us, so we could create our ideal working environment. Urban Planters were on board from the outset, consulting with us and the designers on the best way to work planting into the design.

“Throughout, Urban Planters have had a professional approach, identifying the right species and containers to interpret our vision of ‘outdoors indoors’ and make it a reality, meeting precisely the design brief and cost parameters.

“The installation of this complex and large-scale planting scheme slotted seamlessly with the other works and installations taking place on site, creating a finished result which was perfectly planted, instantly creating the outdoors feel we had been looking for.”

John Mulvihill, Group Commercial Manager

Part of what makes the scheme special is the unique details which catch the eye around the building.

FROM THE CLIENT

It’s all in the (bespoke) detail

Above & right: The floating-effect ‘Saddlebag’ planters were specially commissioned by Urban Planters for this scheme in the main breakout area.

Far right: The Ficus trees are planted into the raised floor, with the containers just peeping above the ground, giving the illusion that they are planted into an impossibly small space.

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This was a large-scale installation, which had to fit in around a range of other trades,

all working to tight deadlines.A PERFECT FIT

IN FOCUS: REGATTA

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PLANTS - So Good They Bear RepeatingA recent scheme at a long-standing corporate client in London shows that simple planting in repeating patterns can have the strongest impact.

Single species planted in large grey stone planters stood in line, or in clean white troughs, use uniformity to create a corporate look that is anything but ordinary.

There are also clusters of mixed planting in planters of complimenting natural tones, which pull the large scenery prints behind them into the room.

Choosing plants for a four-star boutique hotel in a building full of historic character called for simple glamour and quality over quantity.

“The Leopold Hotel occupies a former boys’ grammar school in Sheffield,” explains Urban Planters South Yorkshire’s Paul Rogers. “So the setting does a lot of the talking. With this in mind, we needed a planting scheme to match the opulence of the hotel’s décor without overdoing it.”

Individual plants from a variety of species, such as a striking replica bonsai Pinus and a vivid orchid, have been strategically positioned around the hotel in gold-, platinum- and ruby-leaf planters, all sat on cubed slate pedestals.

Precious metals for “Steel City” hotel

New planting served up forPATISSERIE VALERIEUrban Planters’ National Team has signed a contract with restaurant chain Patisserie Valerie to improve the ambience with new planting in ten of its branches.

The scheme includes interior and exterior displays using live and replica planting, according to light levels.

SHOWCASINGTHE HEALING POWER OF Plants We are often promoting the health benefits of plants in the workplace, but a recent pilot scheme at Holland & Barrett’s Chester store took things a step further, by focusing on plants as medicine.

Using potting tables in the centre of the shop, decorated with gardening accessories, we placed plants such as Milk Thistle, St John’s Wort, Aloe Vera and Siberian Ginseng next to the supplements for allergies and intolerances made from their extracts.

The display provided a literal connection between nature and wellbeing, and we’re all for that!

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RETIRINGto watch the plantsPlants of course benefit all ages, so we were pleased to be awarded contracts to roll out planting schemes in several new care homes and retirement villages being built for Anchor, a leading housing provider for the elderly.

The first two schemes are in place, at Mayflower Court and Bishopstoke Park, both in Southampton, and three more will follow, as building work is completed.

Plants have been proven to improve energy levels and reduce cases of illness, so we hope that these new planting schemes will help the residents live life to the full.