Mitie sows the seeds of biodiverse landscapes with flowering lawn trials

Mitie is trialling the use of flowering lawns across two of its contracts in Leuchars and Dudley. A middle ground between traditional manicured lawns and wildflower meadows, the flowering lawns provide an attractive and environmentally beneficial solution to covering managed grassland. During the trials, Mitie will measure the benefits the lawns have on local biodiversity, recording the types of plant species present and their respective quantities.

One of the main benefits of flowering lawns is their positive contribution to biodiversity. This includes attracting species such as bees which pollinate the flowers while foraging for nectar, allowing the plants to seed and reproduce. Without pollinators, plant life cannot thrive, however, 35 UK bee species are under threat of extinction¹ due to climate change and pesticides. Flowering plants provide the necessary food needed for bees which, in turn, supports the creation of food and habitats for a range of other creatures like birds, bats and other critters, supporting a sustainable ecosystem.

Flowering lawns also offer a more aesthetically pleasing look to wilder alternatives all year round. This makes them a great option for corporate environments where customers often prefer the neat look of a traditional grass lawn compared to meadows, but still want to support biodiversity. While wildflower meadows look their best during summer months, adverse weather can lead to them being damaged, affecting their appearance. This is not a problem however for flowering lawns, which are low growing and far more resilient to weather changes. On top of this, they are easily maintained, as they can be cut regularly and flowers will re-grow quickly, meaning they look bright and tidy throughout the seasons.

As part of the trials, Mitie has planted 34 plant species across two lawns in Leuchars and Dudley, which have been cultivated using different techniques across three sections. Over the next 12-36 months, Mitie will monitor the results, measuring which plant species are thriving or underachieving across the lawns, assessing the presence and quantity of plants like Yarrow and Corncockle. Mitie will then be able to use the data generated from this trial to understand the most appropriate sowing techniques, and the most suitable species for different climates and soil conditions, which can be tailored to the location of its customers.

Tim Howell, Managing Director, Landscapes, Mitie, said:

"As part of our strategy to be the UK's greenest commercial landscaping provider, we're always looking to trial new innovations to keep us leading the industry. Our customers are showing increasing demand for solutions that support biodiversity on their sites, so we look forward to delving into the results of these trials to understand how flowering lawns can develop nature positive landscapes whilst maintaining a neat and attractive appearance."

Notes to editors

¹ Statistic taken from a Friends of the Earth study

About Mitie

Founded in 1987, Mitie employs 68,000 colleagues and is the leading technology-led Facilities Transformation company in the UK. We are a trusted partner to around 3,000 blue chip customers across the public and private sectors, working with them to transform their built estates, and the lived experience for their colleagues and customers, as well as providing data-driven insights to inform decision making.

In each of our core services of Engineering (Hard Services) and Security and Cleaning & Hygiene (Soft Services) we hold market leadership positions. We also upsell Projects capabilities in the areas of building fitouts and modernisation, decarbonisation, fire & security, and telecoms infrastructure. Our sector expertise includes Central Government, Critical National Infrastructure, Defence, Financial Services, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Local Government & Education, Retail & Logistics and Transport & Aviation.

Over the previous Three-Year Plan (FY22 - FY24) Mitie delivered a Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of 80% (#10 in FTSE 250). Our new Facilities Transformation Three-Year Plan (FY25 - FY27) will extend Mitie's market leadership position through accelerated growth and deliver enhanced shareholder returns.

We hold industry leading ESG credentials, including a place on the CDP's Climate change 'A' List, and in the past 12 months we have received multiple industry awards including B2B Marketing Team of the Year, Best Low Carbon Solution and Net Zero Carbon Strategy of the Year. Targeting Net Zero by the end of 2025, our ambitious emissions reduction plans have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We have been recognised as a UK Top Employer for the sixth consecutive year. Find out more at www.mitie.com.

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