1. ISSUE 32
URBAN update
WWW.URBANplanters.COMfor a greener world
PAGE 1
50 Years of Landscaping
Excellence
Christmas comes early to
the coast
PAGE 2
Mother of Pearl that is out
of this World
Towering Tree for
Technology Traninees
PAGES 3 - 6
IN FOCUS
- Regatta
PAGE 7
Plants - so good they bear
repeating
Precious Metals for “Steel
City” hotel
PAGE 8
Retiring to Watch the Plants
New planting served up for
Patisserie Valerie
The healing power of plants
As 2015 draws to a close, we
are celebrating milestone
birthday at Urban Planters,
having notched up half a
century of trading within the
landscaping industry.
Our story starts in the Leeds/
Bradford area, back in 1965,
when we traded as Urban
Landscapes.
At first, we mainly focused on
external landscaping. Then, in the
early 1970s, we saw the potential
in interior planting and started a
budding cottage industry in office
plants. In 1988, we decided it
was time we had a name-change
to reflect our rapidly diversifying
business, and became Urban
Planters.
As interior landscaping had
become more and more popular,
we decided to bring our local
family business to all parts of
the UK through franchising and
by 1996 we had developed the
first interior landscape franchise
business in the UK.
We are now the largest
independent specialist interior
landscaper within the UK with
more local branches than any of
our domestic competitors.
This has allowed us to create
a local service nationwide:
our clients benefit from local
suppliers who have the support
of a national business which
works to an ISO 9001 standard,
with the environment benefits of
a reduced carbon footprint when
we supply national clients from
local depots, be they located in
Cornwall or Aberdeenshire.
When asked what is next for
Urban Planters, Alan Page said:
“Our primary focus is to continue
growing our market share of the
UK’s interior landscape market.
We also intend to start actively
developing our international
franchise opportunities in mainland
Europe, so that the Urban Planters
brand may become as strong abroad
as it is here in the UK. So, there is
plenty to keep us busy for the next
50 years!”
We often start well in advance to bring Christmas sparkle
to our clients, and this year was no exception when we had
to get festive decorations into three Devon hotels by 23rd
October!
The three Duchy Hotels, in Torquay and Paignton, start their ‘Turkey
and Tinsel’ meals before the end of October so they needed to set a
festive scene in time. Each hotel had a different colour theme which
they can swap around the three hotels each year.
Urban Planters South West already supplied the plants for the hotels
but have now signed a 6-year contract to deck the hotels inside and
out each Christmas with the high-quality decorated replica garlands
and trees.
CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY TO THE COAST
YEARS OF LANDSCAPING
EXCELLENCE
1965 - 2015

2. 2 for a greener world
MOTHER OF PEARL THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD
Urban Planters Leicestershire was approached by existing client
the Hinckley Island Hotel, to create a new planting scheme for its
refurbished restaurant.
They decided to focus on one material for all the containers used in the
scheme: mother of pearl creates a sophisticated, modern and unusual
feel at the same time and seemed perfect for the new décor.
One of the scheme’s focal points is a large ‘UFO’ vase with inlaid
mother of pearl, which houses an elegant replica orchid.
MOTHER OF PEARL
THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD
Urban Planters Leicestershire was approached
by existing client the Hinckley Island Hotel, to
create a new planting scheme for its refurbished
restaurant.
They decided to focus on one material for all the
containers used in the scheme: mother of pearl creates a
sophisticated, modern and unusual feel at the same time
and seemed perfect for the new décor.
One of the scheme’s focal points is a large ‘UFO’ vase
with inlaid mother of pearl, which houses an elegant
replica orchid.
TOWERING TREE
for Technology Trainees
A new training centre at
Coventry’s Manufacturing
Technology Centre
(MTC) wanted to make
a statement for visitors
on arrival, so what better
than a 5-and-a-half-metre
tree?
The Ficus binnendijkii ‘Alii’
stands proudly in the new
reception area of the Lloyds
Bank Advanced Manufacturing
Training Centre, a £36 million
centre aimed at nurturing
the next generation of
manufacturing engineers and
technicians.
Echoing the tree on the first
and second floor balconies,
which overlooks the reception
are smaller Ficus binnendijkii
‘Allii’, planted in the same,
brushed metal containers.
Urban Planters Leicestershire
also created six vivid green,
preserved moss pictures and,
to customise the artwork,
they positioned the MTC logo
in brushed stainless steel into
two of the pictures.

3. 3
INTEGRATING PLANTS WITH
BUILDING DESIGNTO BRINGTHE
OUTDOORS INDOORSTwo years in the making, with
our involvement as consultants
from design to delivery, this is an
interior landscaping project which
has allowed us to really showcase
how the right planting can bring a
workplace to life, literally.
The building, at Manchester’s Trafford
Park, has been purpose-built to bring
under one roof outdoors clothing
companies Regatta Great Outdoors,
Craghoppers and Dare 2B.
IN FOCUS: REGATTA
Large Ficus trees are positioned around the building
to orientate visitors, signposting different areas, as
well as identifying the entrance.
OUTDOORS
INDOORS
Throughout the building, the
overarching planting design was
to create the look and feel of the
outdoors.
The client wanted to give something
back to their employees by creating
a healthy working environment, using
plants to create natural scenes and
create fresh air.
Left: In other areas, plants are planted in bark
planters to create a more natural look and feel.
Inset: Nowhere is the outdoors indoors theme stronger
than in the central ‘Campsite’, where the restaurant
is situated.

4. 4 for a greener world
Distinct brands different plants
Although the four
companies are in the same
sector, they have distinct
brand identities, which the
client wanted to reflect in
the décor and planting of
each of their areas within
the building.
For Regatta, the core brand,
the focus was on the outdoors,
technology and colour.
For Craghoppers, the feel was
the British outdoors, using
ferns and leafy plants to great
effect.
Dare 2b had a more
mountainous feel, so alpines
and succulents were selected
to echo this theme.
Group Functions needed to
incorporate all of the brands,
so flavours of each planting
scheme featured here, with an
emphasis on colour.
TWO VERY DIFFERENT TAKES ON THE LIVING WALL
Right: Inside, a large,
dense moss wall in
vivid green wraps
itself around a central
support.
Far right: Outside, a
series of exterior living
walls boasting a rich mix
of foliage is alternated
with wood panelling.
IN FOCUS: REGATTA

5. 5
“This building has been purpose-built for us, so we
could create our ideal working environment. Urban
Planters were on board from the outset, consulting
with us and the designers on the best way to work
planting into the design.
“Throughout, Urban Planters have had a professional
approach, identifying the right species and containers
to interpret our vision of ‘outdoors indoors’ and make
it a reality, meeting precisely the design brief and cost
parameters.
“The installation of this complex and large-scale
planting scheme slotted seamlessly with the other
works and installations taking place on site, creating
a finished result which was perfectly planted, instantly
creating the outdoors feel we had been looking for.”
John Mulvihill, Group Commercial Manager
Part of what makes the scheme special is the
unique details which catch the eye around
the building.
FROM THE CLIENT
It’s all in the
(bespoke) detail
Above & right: The floating-effect
‘Saddlebag’ planters were specially
commissioned by Urban Planters for
this scheme in the main breakout
area.
Far right: The Ficus trees are
planted into the raised floor, with
the containers just peeping above
the ground, giving the illusion that
they are planted into an impossibly
small space.

6. 6 for a greener world
This was a large-scale installation, which had
to fit in around a range of other trades,
all working to tight deadlines.
A PERFECT FIT
IN FOCUS: REGATTA

7. 7
PLANTS - So Good They Bear Repeating
A recent scheme at a long-standing
corporate client in London shows that
simple planting in repeating patterns can
have the strongest impact.
Single species planted in large grey stone planters
stood in line, or in clean white troughs, use
uniformity to create a corporate look that is
anything but ordinary.
There are also clusters of mixed planting in planters
of complimenting natural tones, which pull the large
scenery prints behind them into the room.
Choosing plants for a four-star boutique hotel in a
building full of historic character called for simple
glamour and quality over quantity.
“The Leopold Hotel occupies a former boys’ grammar school in
Sheffield,” explains Urban Planters South Yorkshire’s Paul
Rogers. “So the setting does a lot of the talking. With this in
mind, we needed a planting scheme to match the opulence of
the hotel’s décor without overdoing it.”
Individual plants from a variety of species, such as a
striking replica bonsai Pinus and a vivid orchid, have
been strategically positioned around the hotel in gold-,
platinum- and ruby-leaf planters, all sat on cubed slate
pedestals.
Precious metals for “Steel City” hotel

8. New planting served up for
PATISSERIE VALERIE
Urban Planters’ National Team has signed a contract
with restaurant chain Patisserie Valerie to improve the
ambience with new planting in ten of its branches.
The scheme includes interior and exterior displays using live and
replica planting, according to light levels.
SHOWCASING
THE HEALING
POWER OF Plants
We are often promoting the health benefits
of plants in the workplace, but a recent pilot
scheme at Holland & Barrett’s Chester store
took things a step further, by focusing on
plants as medicine.
Using potting tables in the centre of the shop,
decorated with gardening accessories, we placed
plants such as Milk Thistle, St John’s Wort, Aloe
Vera and Siberian Ginseng next to the supplements
for allergies and intolerances made from their
extracts.
The display provided a literal connection between
nature and wellbeing, and we’re all for that!
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of Urban Planters Franchise Ltd. No part of this publication may be
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means without prior permission of Urban Planters Franchise Ltd.
RETIRING
to watch the plants
Plants of course benefit all ages, so we were
pleased to be awarded contracts to roll out
planting schemes in several new care homes
and retirement villages being built for Anchor, a
leading housing provider for the elderly.
The first two schemes are in place, at Mayflower Court
and Bishopstoke Park, both in Southampton, and three
more will follow, as building work is completed.
Plants have been proven to improve energy levels and
reduce cases of illness, so we hope that these new planting
schemes will help the residents live life to the full.