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Science
Park tenants should soon be able to sit on benches admiring the daffodils
whilst they eat their lunchtime sandwiches - thanks to landscape gardener
Tim Hoare.
For the past four years, Tim
and his team have taken care of the 26-acre park's landscape maintenance
and design needs, from concept to construction, planning to planting. And
Tim doesn't have far to travel to work - his company, TGH Garden Services,
is based at his home in Chilworth on the edge of the science park.
Tim has designed new layouts
for the park and put in place low maintenance shrub borders and bulb areas
as well as hard landscaping. "We have recently put down decking,
steps and two lots of cobbled paving in the second roundabout area and
soon we hope to put in seating so tenants can enjoy the environment while
eating lunch."
The park already boasted some
wonderful specimen trees on Tim's arrival, from a mature Monterey pine to
the lime tree avenue that bisects the site but Tim has planted a number of
native trees including silver birch. Another big project has been planting
mixed hedges, which include beech, hornbeam and laurel.
He says: "Due to the deer
and rabbit problems we have on site I have had to steer clear of flower
borders and concentrate on shrubs and trees instead - but this does have
the added advantage of requiring less maintenance."
But he hopes to include some
bedding plants and hanging baskets this year - he already provides various
companies with blooming baskets of fuchsias, geraniums and trailing plants
and he aims to extend this side of his business.
Tim also looks after the site
fencing and maintains the grass, aiming to achieve that perfect striped
lawn look. The Science Park is one of his biggest clients and Tim says:
"There is always something to do here - whether it's weed control or
sweeping up leaves."
A farmer's son, Tim says
gardening has always been a way of life to him and he is delighted to be
playing such a creative role at Southampton Science Park. "I love the site's
naturalness and openness and we are gradually getting it to look the way
we want it. It is very satisfying to see landscape projects through from
beginning to end and to watch the site change through the seasons, from
spring daffodils to autumn colours."
TGH Garden Services can be
contacted on 023 8076 0761 and Tim can be e-mailed at tgh@kennelsfarm.fsnet.co.uk
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