Bracknell

A drab Bracknell mini roundabout by the entrance to Sainsbury’s in Birch Hill has been given a sustainable face lift thanks to Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s landscape services team.

The landscape team took the decision to replace the traditional shrub planting with cutting edge sedum matting as part of this year's annual Bracknell Flowers campaign.

Sedums are tiny succulent plants that require virtually no water but flower throughout most of the year providing habitat for insects and butterflies. These little plants are much more diverse than short mown grass and won’t require frequent mowing. The original shrubs were very old and needed constant pruning to maintain the sightlines across the roundabout. This new planting is very low growing so this is no longer a problem.

This is one of many projects that the Bracknell Flowers team are hoping will impress the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom judges during their visit to the borough in July.

Steve McKenna, Landscape Manager, said This first area of sedum matting is a trial and if it is successful we will look at other sites around the borough which could benefit from similar treatment. So far I am very pleased with the result”.

Helen Barnet Marketing Manager for BRP, which works alongside the Council on Bracknell Flowers, said We all need to look for more sustainable solutions to everyday problems and this is a great example of innovation, lets hope the judges are impressed.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council