Twig News 2009
Thanet Earth
The year got off to a good start, when we were awarded the landscaping contract for the 230 acre site at Thanet Earth. The contract involved the establishment of many hectares of grass, providing habitat for many species in decline and on the Biodiversity Action Plan for chalk grass land.
Due to the tight time scales and the dry nature of the site, we had three weeks to plant and mulch the 15,000 trees and shrubs - a deadline we met and are pleased with the extremeley low losses experienced throughout the dry summer.
We continue in an advisory role and maintain the grounds and are pleased that Marks and Spencer have shown an interest in the site and are keen to develop the habitat for butterflies, such as Cannon Blue, Small Blue, Marbled White and, if very lucky, Chalk Hill Blue, that are known to favour the plant species planted and would thrive in the habitat created. We are working with butterfly specialists and Thanet earth to improve the diversity of grass and flower species to improve the feed value for the highlighted species.
The new Sissinghurst Primary School
The project commenced with the initial clearing of the area and installing reptile exclusion fencing around the site. More than 200 reptiles have been collected over the summer and released outside of the development area, at a receptor site specifically built by Twig at Chart Hills golf course. We then completely cleared the site of vegetation and diggers started on site this autumn.
We have just been awarded the contract for the new primary school as landscape designers and consultants to ensure that the landscaped environment delivers the needs of the teaching staff and pupils.
Highways Agency /Smiths Gore
The Highways Agency has been a valued customer of ours for four years now, which is testament to our hard working team. We have continued to maintain the vacant property portfolio along the A21 this summer, ensuring that the grounds are kept in good order in between tenants occupying them.
We
decided this would be our first year to exhibit at the Kent
2020,
the biggest B2B event in Kent that had over 3,000 attendees from all
over the county. This proved to be very successful for us as whilst
exhibiting at the show we met Skanska
UK who
asked if it would be possible for Twig to design and build an outdoor
classroom for the Kent County show in July 2009. Skanska introduced
us to Learning
through Landscapes who since 1990, have been campaigning
on behalf of all children for better school grounds.
After a number of meetings with Skanska and Learning through Landscapes, the plans were agreed and construction began with only 4 weeks until the show gates opened. We were delighted to be awarded top gold for the garden by the show judges.
Julie Maddocks from KentTV visited the Learning Garden, built by Skanska RM in partnership with Learning through Landscapes and Twig, at the Detling showground during the 80th Kent County Show, click Play to view the video footage.
Feedback from Skanska:
"Thank you and thanks to the whole Twig team for an amazing effort. 'Top Gold' has such a great ring about it.
From a discussion in the Kent 2020 exhibition on the 2nd of April to a winning garden on the 17th of July is one heck of an achievement. Thanks for your willingness to go with my crazy ideas and turn them into a built reality. Also thanks for your willingness to work with other professional disciplines, particularly our colleagues in Learning through Landscapes and our PR team at Pillory Barn Creative. It is so refreshing to work with a specialist and knowledgeable company like Twig with a willingness to understand the importance of the broader education objectives.
As well as achieving those Education objectives, demonstrating the potential of outside spaces for learning, you also achieved an excellence in plantsmanship, landscaping and horticulture, recognized by the Judges in awarding our garden the Top Gold prize. In addition, your team on the day was brilliant in making sure the garden stayed looking its best and left nothing to chance. The team was also very good at helping with the visitors to the garden especially the children and those looking for gardening advice.
Genuine thanks. I've booked my B&B for next year!"
Terry Mitchell
Project Director
Skanska Infrastructure Development UK Ltd
Links: Learning Through Landscapes show report / View the Twig Kent County Show Garden gallery
The garden was opened by Pam Jones, the head teacher of Ifield School who has since instructed Twig to design and build a sensory garden in the school's main court yard.
Learning Through Landscapes
Following our work and involvement with Learning through Landscapes throughout this project, we decided that Twig should become an accredited member to enable us to go into schools and help them design and build better outdoor areas that:
- Deliver the curriculum in a stimulating and meaningful way
- Increase learning and play opportunities
- Improve the environment for children and staff, making a better, happier place to be and developing a positive, caring ethos.
- Provide a range of formal and informal opportunities for physical activity, improving health, well-being and motivation to learn.
Over the summer two members of staff have been going through the accreditation process with Learning through Landscapes, to enable Twig to attend schools and advise on the out door space and suggest ways to improve the schools facilities for both teachers and students.
South East Water / Clancy Docwra
We continue to work closely with Clancy Docwra and
have just completed the clearance fencing and ecological works on the
Pembury to Kippings Cross scheme. This scheme was incredibly time sensitive
as a large amount of vegetation clearance and fencing was required
prior to Newts going into hibernation. The mild month of
October 
enabled the trapping periods to be completed without significant
temperature drop and allowed the full trapping periods to be obtained.
This project involved the installation of approximately 4,000m of reptile
exclusion fencing, 2,000m of stock fencing and many metres
of orchard and scrub clearance.
Earlier in the year we fenced 4km of stock fencing in Godmersham and 5,600 metres of newt fencing and clearance at Borough Green, plus installation of some 600 pitfall traps .
Murphy's – Southern Gas Networks
We have successfully completed the re-seeding of grassland along the 15 mile route of the Farningham to Hadlow gas pipeline. This involved going through the land of approximately 20 landowners in what were extremely dry and difficult seeding conditions. We are pleased to say that all the grass is now established successfully.
Lyons Hall School - Braintree Essex
Members of the Twig team near Braintree for a week and have transformed an overgrown area into a framework to develop their outdoor area. This first phase included installing pathways and opening up access to the site. The second phase will include log walls, willow domes, wild flower meadows and native hedge planting, over a period of about two years. Twig are building the garden based on the plans the students designed themselves.
Jacobs
We have just recently started working with Jacobs and have already carried out re-turfing works at Queen Borough Primary School on The Isle Of Sheppey, also some mowing and site management at the former Birchwood CE Primary School in Swanley.
We would like to thank Skanska UK for inviting us to the Sustainability Conference organised by Pillory Barn in association with Pine Calyx in St Margaret's Bay, Dover . This was a very informative morning discussing how sustainability should “be built in, not bolted on” to any development and landscaping plans. Part of the morning was spent talking about ways that we can create sustainable buildings and how many of these sustainable decisions are based on commercial decisions, however we do have a responsibility for long term environmental impact and our decisions should be based on the long term effects.
It was also made very clear that many of the sustainable options can also be more cost effective - if more people got involved, the more cost effective it will be for everyone.
Twig would like to assure its clients that when we look at plans for your outdoor spaces we will always make sure conservation and sustainable options are top priority, whilst considering the budget we have to work to.
Domestic
We have recently undertaken the design and planting of a new build property near Hawkhurst. Working closely with the client, we designed a low maintenance garden with vegetable and fruit areas. Formal hedging has been planted around the patio area to give a visual barrier onto the lawn. To block views from the road, we have planted 3 varieties of evergreen informal hedging with year round interest. To give height and structure we chose a range of trees which that give outstanding spring and autumn interest.
At a further property in Hawkhurst we have opened up the small woodland and planted additional formal hedging and informal screening to soften; add flower and form to garden edges.
A pond, water feature, raised beds and patio has been completed from our initial designs at a property near Wadhurst this is now filling out and looking well established.
We have seen a great interest in vegetable and fruit growing areas which we have been happy to advise and install for a number of domestic clients. Raised beds are still the preferred trend in these areas, giving accessibility and great growing potential.
Due to this area of the business expanding we have taken on the services of a fully qualified garden designer who can produce in house CAD and outstanding hand drawn designs dependant on clients' wishes.
We continue to maintain the grounds of several properties throughout Kent.
Our Team News
Here come the girls! We have just recently taken on two new members of staff, Zoe has taken over as the new Office Manager and is already ensuring better systems in the office to enable Twig to run more efficiently. Miranda has also joined the team to bring a wealth of knowledge in her sales and marketing and has already been out networking and generated some good leads with potential clients.
Training – Two of the team have just undergone chainsaw training to further progress their professional career development. Three more of the team attended a digger and dumper operators' course in November, with one further person carrying out their chainsaw training over the winter period.
The teams are in the process of undergoing CRB checks, giving both schools and domestic clients peace of mind when we are working on site.
And finally…
“Despite the current economic climate, Twig has had its most successful year to date and would like to say a big thank you to our hard working team and loyal customers. We are looking forward to a prosperous 2010.”
David
Eyre,
Company Director.
