PUPILS SPREAD FLOWER POWER IN EAST HAM WITH BARRATT LONDON SEED BOMB CAMPAIGN
Recent research carried out by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) found that almost three million people have taken up gardening as a past time since the beginning of the pandemic. To encourage this further, local housebuilder Barratt London has donated 300 seed bombs to pupils at Upton Cross Primary School, local to their Upton Gardens and New Market Place developments in East Ham.
Seed bombs, also known as guerrilla gardening or seed balls, are a natural seeding technique to create a mini meadow of flowers. Each seed bomb is a tiny individual ecosystem, encased in sustainable compost to protect the native wildflower seeds from predators such as birds and ants, whilst giving them the much-needed nutrients for the beginning of their lives.
Pam Reardon, Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt East London, comments: “Coinciding with Spring, we are excited to get this campaign underway in partnership with Upton Primary School. The seed bombs are a fun way for children to get excited about gardening and bringing new life to their outside space.”
Helena Stokes Year 2 teacher at Upton Cross Primary School said: “It’s very important we encourage our students to explore the outdoors and the ways they can enhance the nature around them. Each child was given a seed bomb which they have taken home to enrich their own outdoor space. They can’t wait to see the plants and flowers that grow as a result.”
Barratt London is building a range of new homes at New Market Place and Upton Gardens, both close by to Mission Grove Primary School. The on-site energy centre at Upton Gardens generates efficient clean energy for the site, including solar panels on rooftops while properties are equipped with high thermal performance glass so they stay cool in summer and warm in the winter – a saving which is passed directly onto residents.
There are also 64 electric vehicle charge points, storage for over 1,000 bikes with Cycle Superhighway 2 running directly from Stratford to Aldgate, and a car club scheme to encourage lowering carbon emissions. Green transportation has been given priority. The development opens up a previously inaccessible eight-acre site, creating new cycle and pedestrian links.
Additionally, the scheme uses a carbon efficient centralised heating system, combined Heat and Power units to provide communal hot water and heating, as well as Biodiversity Roofs consisting of plants, rocks and other natural materials that will encourage wildlife.
Barratt London’s New Market Place development similarly promotes car-free living, as well as using highly insulated building fabric and energy efficiency class Grade A kitchen appliances which ensure all new homes have an EPC certificate of B and above.
For further information about Barratt London or the homes available at New Market Place or Upton Gardens, please visit www.barrattlondon.com or call 0330 057 6666.