July 13th, 2010
Costco are building a new site on Torrington Avenue in Coventry, and Pople Landscapes have been commisioned to complete the landscaping contract.
Known for their value for money, Costco aren’t holding back when it comes to high quality landscaping.
Unlike most projects of this nature Costco are taking a more ‘Green’ approach to the landscaping around their new store. The scheme maintains existing trees whilst adding plenty of new ones, and these are larger and more mature than the normal specification for a new landscaping project. We will be creating new hedgerows, a wild flower meadow, large areas of grass, and putting in plenty of borders filled with shrub bushes, ornamentals and decorative planting.
The project kicks off this month and should be completed by mid August.
Tags: Costco, Coventry, Landscaping, Pople landscapes
Posted in Commercial Landscaping, Latest News, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
May 25th, 2010
We visit the Chelsea Flower Show every year looking for inspirations for our gardens and were very impressed last year with the sculptures by David Harber. We particularly liked the ’Armillary Sphere’ & the ‘Dark Planet Garden Spheres’ which light up at night and cast out a superb glow. We felt both would make a dramatic feature to any garden.
We recommended them to one of our clients in Chesterfield, and have just installed two of the ‘Dark Planet Spheres’ on either side of their conservatory as a central feature to the formal knot gardens we created earlier this year. The result is stunning, they look fantastic set amongst the box hedging and gravel and our clients are delighted with them. They make a striking feature both during the day and night alike.
We will happily recommend them to other clients
Tags: Armillary Sphere, Chelsea Flower Show, Dark Planet Garden Sphere, David Harber
Posted in Home Landscaping, Latest News, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
May 13th, 2010
Whilst we’re all still waiting for the warm weather to arrive, our clients are pushing ahead to improve their outdoor spaces. We’ve just won 8 new contracts!
Shed Grounds Maintenance wins 5 new contracts.
IKO - Clay Cross, Chesterfield - producers of polymeric single ply membranes for damp proofing, Flexion – Doncaster – producers of optical fibres, Triumph Motor Cycles – Hinckley – performance motorbikes, IQ Management – Leeds – looking after student flats, and finally TNT - Birmingham – we currently do a number of TNT sites and welcome Birmingham and all our new clients to our portfolio.
Pople Landscapes scores a Hat Trick.
Kidderminster Crematorium - Baggeley Construction - a very large landscaping project at this brand new crematorium. Sheffield - Finnegan Construction – lanscaping a new care home in Birley Moor Road. And finally, Bolsover - Home Landscaping for a private client wanting to create the ideal garden for their adventurous 2 year old. The plans are to create a new slabbed path with edging stones, new lawns, a tree and border planting.
An enjoyable start to May!
Tags: Baggeley Construction, Finnegans, Flexion Optical Fibres, IKO Clay Cross, IQ Management, Leeds, Sheffield, TNT Birmingham, Triumph Motorcycles
Posted in Commercial Landscaping, Grounds Maintenance, Home Landscaping, Latest News | No Comments »
April 28th, 2010
Spring is the time to get your lawn into shape for the year ahead, here are some simple, easy jobs that will keep your lawn looking great.
Mowing – keep your first cuts of the year higher than you would normally mow to help promote healthy growth. We then mow to about 3cm for the rest of the year for a neat finish.
Edging - a neat edge makes a lawn look a million dollars. We edge our lawns after mowing with a half-moon cutter and trim back any stray grass with edging shears.
Weeds – the early bird catches the worm! Keep on top of them now and remove them before they spread. We use a selective weedkiller to help keep them at bay, they don’t kill off all of the weeds but they help.
Aerating – this helps healthier root growth and better water drainage. We use rotary aerators, but you can get the same effect by simply driving a fork into the lawn about 10cm deep, then wiggle it around and repeat this every 12cm. A job for when the weather is mild and not wet.
Scarifying - we do this to remove thatch in the grass which promotes healthier grass growth. Really a job for the Autumn, but another go in Spring all helps! Use a rake and drag it through the grass – in Spring treat your lawn a little more gently than in Autumn!
Feeding – we add a nitrogen based fertiliser at this time of the year which really helps the grass to get that perfect green colour we love.
Once you’ve given your lawn a little TLC in Spring, you’ll be able to sit back and admire the fruits of your labour for the summer ahead. Enjoy! Peter.
Posted in Grounds Maintenance, Home Landscaping, Latest News | 2 Comments »
April 10th, 2010
Peak Advertiser 5th April, 2010.
A Derbyshire based business is celebrating record new contract wins and a 30% increase in turnover in 2009 /10, despite the UK’s tough trading conditions.
In only its second year since being taken over by a new owner, Pople Landscapes secured 20 fresh contracts which helped grow turnover.
Managing Director Peter Botham is predicting further growth for 2010 and said:
“We’ve had a great year thanks to a focus on delivering exceptional customer service and winning some decent sized contracts. These have been achieved across both the domestic and commercial sides of the business, although the mix has changed as the year developed.
“Following the national construction industry downturn, our commercial orders slowed; however we were buoyed with increases in home garden landscaping. We saw high numbers of customers choosing to invest in their gardens to make them truly an extension of their living space and to add genuine long term value to their properties.
“This year we expect it to remain tough in the commercial construction sector, however we’re confident with the work we are gaining with our private customers that we can continue our strong growth pattern.”
Pople employs over twenty staff and services clients across Derbyshire, the East Midlands and Yorkshire from its base in West Handley.
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July 29th, 2009
Local students given a boost as unemployment rises
After recent official figures showed that more graduates than ever before will struggle to find work after finishing their courses*, a local businessman has teamed up with horticultural colleges to find a green fingered apprentice.
The search is on for students to complete a series of competitive tasks with one successful applicant being offered a paid summer placement at a highly regarded grounds maintenance and landscaping business.
Peter Botham, Managing Director, of Pople Landscapes and Shed Ground Maintenance based in West Handley near Chesterfield, teamed up with both Sheffield and Derby Colleges to encourage their horticultural students to enter.
Rather than simply undertaking conventional interviews for the role, Peter is searching for five hopefuls to come and undertake a series of assignments with his team in August. Challenges include basic design of landscape installation, proficiency in tool handling, knowledge of on-site Health and Safety practice and identification of weeds versus plants.
An initial sifting phase will help select only the best candidates. Instead of conventional CV’s, Peter is asking students to record a short film of less than two minutes to explain why they should have the opportunity to be part of this growing business.
Peter Botham, said; “We know that it’s tougher than ever before for graduates to gain work experience, never mind secure full time employment. Students need to translate what they’ve been studying in college into hands on experience.
“We realised in the current climate we could help make a small difference to local students by giving them a taste of what a career in horticulture is really like.
“I didn’t know what to do with myself after school and ended up choosing a horticultural course at college which led into my trade apprenticeship. I’ve never looked back since and I enjoy working with the variety of people I meet in the industry.
“Hopefully the successful applicants will learn a lot from rubbing shoulders with experienced professionals and we can give their career a kick start.”
Interested students should email any questions regarding the scheme or a link to their YouTube application to peter@poplelandscapes.co.uk
The closing date for entries is 31 July 2009 and the short listed students are expected to attend work w/c 3 August. The lucky winner will then earn a two-month paid placement.
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