Nottingham City Council’s nurseries continue to go from strength to strength, providing beautiful blooms, not only to the city’s parks and open spaces but to local gardeners and businesses. With customers as far away as Royal Lytham St Annes/Fylde Borough Council in the North West – a region with its own high standards in horticultural excellence, the service is really putting itself on the map.
The nurseries at Woodthorpe have been producing award-winning displays for over 20 years, with a string of Gold medals and the accolade of ‘Champion Champions’ from RHS Britain in Bloom.
A third of a million plants were produced by the nurseries between January – November last year, equating to half a million in a 12 month period. This is remarkable on a staff of only 4 full time nursery staff plus 2 apprentices.
Initially created to nurture plants to beautify the City Council’s public spaces, the team is now producing far more plants for external use.
Displays, plants and services are available to other local authorities and corporate customers.
The most recent commission for the team is the beautiful displays that form part of the Lawn Tennis Association’s venue dressing at Nottingham Tennis Centre for the Aegon Open tennis tournaments held in the city this month. This includes the delicate orchid displays in hospitality, right up to the acid green giant planters housing deep red Acers that line the spectator routes into the site.
You can see plants from the nurseries all over the East Midlands including council facilities in Gedling Borough Council, and Newark & Sherwood Borough Council. Projects have also been completed with Amber Valley, Belper Town Centre and Calverton Parish Council.
Those familiar with the Lincoln Pub Group venues may not have realised they have been admiring city council plants at pubs in Arnold and across the city.
The Council’s Woodthorpe Park Plant Shop supports the work of the nursery and the city’s parks and open spaces, allowing the public to recreate some of their ideas in their own gardens. There are standard varieties as well as trailers for spectacular hanging baskets. Customers can even choose their plants and have a unique basket or planter made for them while they wait.
The shop is open daily at Woodthorpe Park, Woodthorpe Drive, Sherwood NG5 4HA. More information is available at www.woodthorpeparkplantshop.com
Cllr Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said “We are proud of the part we play in making the city look attractive for our residents as well as our many visitors and the service gets some really lovely compliments on our displays. To achieve such high levels of recognition and success is testament to the hard work and ambition of our team at Woodthorpe and we will continue to offer this great service to customers up and down the country from major parks and events, to those wanting a hanging basket or pot plant to brighten up their home.”
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For more information please contact Jane Barton jane.barton@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
0115 876 1222