Pictorial Meadows
Professor Nigel Dunnett, co-designer of the Olympic Park, was due to be our Celebrity Speaker for 2020 with a talk on 7th March entitled Pictorial Meadows.
Unfortunately he was unable to be with us due to illness but his colleague at Sheffield University, Sue France, CEO of Green Estate Landscapes, a social enterprise umbrella organisation, valiantly agreed to fill his place at two days notice. She travelled from Sheffield to Bildeston, having sped from Cambridge where she had already delivered another lecture that morning.
Speaker - Sue France
Sue explained that the enterprise, Pictorial Meadows, arose from the Sheffield University’s research into naturalistic planting and the benefits that could be derived from wildflower planting and meadow establishment.
‘Before and after’ illustrations were shown depicting neglected urban areas strewn with lumps of concrete and rusty wire partly cleared and planted, transforming the area and uplifting morale for local inhabitants.
Since its inception 20 years ago, Pictorial Meadows has proved the worth of planting wildflower meadows that would thrive on average soils. Settings of university campuses, commercial operations, sporting arenas and council amenities have been enhanced by the natural and picturesque planting surrounding stark areas, with the added benefit of encouraging pollinating insects.
She showed illustrated examples of the increased popularity of planting regimes in this country and throughout Europe. The expertise of Green Estate Landscapes was used to celebrate Capability Brown’s iconic landscape at The Trentham Estate in 2016 to celebrate his tercentenary. EAGG’s tour of the Midlands in 2018 included a visit to this amazing garden.
Sue was thanked by EAGG Chairman, Fiona Pearson, for her fascinating talk and making us more aware of the importance of sustaining wildflowers for their contribution to our natural environment and biodiversity.
We were delighted that the talk was a sell-out, and EAGG was able to make a generous donation to Perennial, its chosen charity for this year’s Celebrity Speaker event, which runs the popular local garden Fuller’s Mill.
Karen Murdoch