Bellway has announced a collaboration with Plantlife that will see it become the first national housebuilder to promote native-focused gardening in its show homes.
Designed to promote biodiversity, the partnership with the charity has led to the creation of a design guide to be implemented in show home gardens at Bellway developments across the country.
The programme’s pilot show home garden is now open to the public at Ashlands in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
The aim of the project is to inspire and guide homeowners by providing advice they can follow in their own gardens to provide pollinator-friendly plants which enhance biodiversity.
Peter Dorans, director of business development at Plantlife, said: “This pioneering partnership between Plantlife and Bellway sets a new benchmark for biodiversity-focused garden design in the housing sector.”
“By showcasing show home gardens focused on native plants, we’re not only enhancing ecological value on-site but also demonstrating how native species can play a critical role in supporting insects, birds, and wider biodiversity in new developments.”
The guidance offered at participating show home gardens will include how to choose native plants that are most suitable depending on the geographic location, ground conditions, available light or aspect, and how to plant them to give them the best chance of thriving.
Ecologists will work with local garden designers to ensure each scheme is suitable, and the supply chain will be sustainable, with checks in place on the growing process and materials involved.
Bellway’s group head of biodiversity, Neil Beamsley, a Chartered Ecologist with more than 20 years of industry experience, said: “The scheme is intended to inspire people across the country to plant native species and attract wildlife to their gardens. This is not an initiative just for Bellway or its customers – everyone will be welcome to visit and learn. We are very determined to lead by example and demonstrate that development and nature can happily coexist.”
“There are over 20 million gardens in the UK, which cover around 25% of urban areas, and garden owners therefore have the potential to improve biodiversity on a national scale. We hope our biodiverse show home gardens, featuring native plants and peat-free conditions, will give them the inspiration and information they need to follow our lead.”
“As part of our Better with Bellway strategy, which aims to put people and the planet first, we have been working on biodiversity improvements well ahead of new statutory requirements for developments to deliver a 10% biodiversity net gain on new sites. We plan to continue to go above and beyond in sustainable and responsible practices to protect wildlife and the planet.”
Bellway and Plantlife have already collaborated on best practice guidance for enhancing biodiversity across developments. The Space for Nature document will be shared across the Bellway group.
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