Commercial
Coorporate Social
Responsibility
For many companies, corporate social responsibility (CSR) presents an opportunity for a business to strengthen relations with stakeholders at every level. By working with Organic Gardens, clients will boost stakeholder trust as our number one focus is protecting the environment, we will never use harmful sprays or chemicals when looking after sites.
We are committed to delivering every landscaping project on time and within budget, whether that be a full-scale design and build or a simple site refresh. We can also provide maintenance for larger sites if required, offering all of our clients guaranteed regular visits.
NHS,
COURTYARD GARDEN
This project involved redesigning the courtyard area of NHS Your Healthcare, Surbiton and transforming the space into an area where staff can enjoy some peace and quiet on their break time in beautiful surroundings. The project was commissioned during the first lockdown and since its completion in the summer of 2020, its true value has been realised many times over.
The idea was to remove the existing non-flowering planting scheme and replace it with one that is more attractive to pollinating insects and more aesthetically pleasant. We managed to incorporate a small wildflower meadow to help with the rewilding and add to the positive energy of the space.
One of the issues with the previous design was the large amount of timber seats which were very tired looking and rotting in places. The challenge for our new design was to future-proof the space and keep maintenance to a minimum. The brief also required some screening of the clinicians meeting rooms and a differentiation between a space for calm, quiet reflection, a space where staff could eat lunch together, and the wild and wooly meadow area. We achieved this by using black composite lateral fencing panels, made from recycled materials and guaranteed to last a minimum of 25 years. To make things interesting we used some panels with a cut out design to separate the eating space and the reflection space. Again, we used composite wood for the benches and picnic tables which will minimise any future maintenance and keep the site looking fresh for years to come.
PRIMARY SCHOOL,
HAMPTON WICK
Consequently, we had to really think about how we worked on the site and indeed we constructed lots of natural wood and rubble piles near the pond to serve as good protection for the newts from predators. We constructed the toilets from British Douglas Fir, which has similar properties to cedar, using leftover materials from the composite decking.
We were asked to return to the school again in 2015 to make the entrance to the wilderness area wheelchair accessible and refresh the paths with new bark and edging. The school asked us to return again in 2018 to build a fenced off play area with a raised bed for herbs and vegetables, along with some free standing poles for the children to display their artwork. We used British Douglas Fir again as the timber for the beds.
Our first project with Hampton Wick Infants and Junior School was in 2010, working with garden designer Humaira Ikram to execute her design plan for the school wilderness area. The project involved designing and building two eco toilets, installing a large 15m wildlife pond, constructing a composite deck viewing platform, building bespoke log gabions and a complete overhaul of over 300 metres of woodland path with new bark and natural log edging made from fallen trees from the site itself. The site was recognised to be of special interest and home to the great crested newt.
PRIMARY SCHOOL,
LEWISHAM
At Fairlawn Primary School, we worked with garden designer Beverly MacAlpine to add some new features to the school wild play area. Firstly, we installed a new fence to separate the area from the rest of the school. To make the posts we used more durable, we wrapped the bottom of the posts in a protective waterproof liner, preventing rot and converting our fencing run into an eco-friendly addition to the school.
The site was not making the most of its composting potential, with waste being removed by a local gardening firm. So we constructed several composting bays to ensure no green waste leaves the site and it can benefit from mulching made from its own material as the years progress.
As well as new vegetable beds offset at different angles on sloping ground, we installed a stumpery which was organised by Beverly, the garden designer. This involved taking waste tree stumps from a tree surgeon, turning them upside down, infilling with soil, and planting out. The point of it is that, similar to a log pile, it attracts insects and other wildlife. A very sustainable solution and a nice feature for any garden to have.
“We have been absolutely delighted with the work which Kenn and Organic Gardens have undertaken in our school Wilderness area. The log gabions, sustainable ‘tree bogs’, pond dipping platform and circular gathering point for whole class input are functional as well as sculptural in appearance, enhancing the natural woodland area. Many thanks to you and your team. The Wilderness is looking lovely; tidier, brighter and certainly easier to access!”
Heidi, Headteacher, Hampton Wick Infant School
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