The Birmingham 'Bed Off'
19 August 2010
Sarah's alternative park bedding design
Last week I said I'd be heading to Birmingham where I was going to compete with the local council's bedding scheme to produce my own wildlife friendly version.
What we did, was plant up one bed to my design next to a bed of traditional park bedding (which is currently pink bedding geraniums/pelargoniums). I chose my plants to have impact over a long time, be relatively low maintenace and easy to grow (so low cost for the council to maintain with no staking etc except for the climbers) and - all importantly - to be loved by pollinating insects.
The bed has been a success and we filmed last week asking local residents which they preferred and would like to see again last year. I won't tell you the outcome of the survey... as that's on TV next year, but ...... that's what I was up to in Birmingham.
What we did, was plant up one bed to my design next to a bed of traditional park bedding (which is currently pink bedding geraniums/pelargoniums). I chose my plants to have impact over a long time, be relatively low maintenace and easy to grow (so low cost for the council to maintain with no staking etc except for the climbers) and - all importantly - to be loved by pollinating insects.
The bed has been a success and we filmed last week asking local residents which they preferred and would like to see again last year. I won't tell you the outcome of the survey... as that's on TV next year, but ...... that's what I was up to in Birmingham.
