Work is under way on a new environmental garden project at at Bents Garden & Home in Glazebury.
The project, featuring seven different wildlife zones and natural gardens, will provide visitors with a unique nature experience.
Chairman Ron Bent says the gardens should attract a huge variety of wildlife and insects and provide a home for many moisture loving natural plants from the ponds, bogland areas and fields he used to explore as a child.
Central to the project is a three metre deep pool, which i will gradually expand into a natural bogland area.
The work will involve the extraction of more than 14,000 tonnes of topsoil and yellow clay until a layer of boulder clay is reached. The clay will will be used as lining, while the topsoil and other layers will form the contours and mounds that will divide up the wild gardens.
“Boulder clay is a rich brown clay which is often used for brick making and is a great natural lining to help waterproof and seal the sides of the banks and other water retaining areas,” Ron explained. “The extraction to reach it will be a slow process to collect enough to cover the whole wetland areas, but we’re committed to keeping this an entirely natural environment so will continue until the process is complete.”
A similar process was required when Bents built its reservoir in 1976. Now a beautifully landscaped lake located next to Bents outdoor decking area, the reservoir still collects all run-off rainwater from the centre and is used to recycle water. The lake holds 3-5 million gallons of water and irrigates all plants grown on Bents’ on-site nursery and Open Skies planterea.
The new gardens are part of Bents’ wider £10m vision for the future which will be rolled out over the next 5-10 years. An extensive new car park, warehouse facilities and a new children’s adventure play area are already complete, as well as the Wild Wings Birds of Prey Centre.
Future plans include transforming the existing centre, creating a larger contemporary retail space with a 2 storey high glazed atrium and a farm shop.
