Grounds maintenance

We are in contact with the Newport Wetlands and the Bat Conservation Trust to seek advice on how grounds maintenance at our site can benefit biodiversity. We have implemented a number of initiatives as a result. These have included:

• Provision of bat boxes (to benefit a rare local species) and bird boxes;
• Planting of a Wild Flower Meadow using native plants incorporating bug and butterfly houses.
• Use of native plants in courtyard areas and borders;
• Leaving some grass areas uncut to encourage development of small wilderness  areas;
• The sowing of wild flower seeds along the roadside fencing; and,
• Maintenance and protection of trees along the site perimeter, with advice from the Council's Tree Preservation Officer.

Our grounds maintenance contract requires that slow renewables such as peat should be replaced with soil improvers derived from the processing or re-use of organic wastes such as coir, manure, leaf mould and bark chippings. They should also avoid the use of artificial fertilisers, and use manure and green manure instead.