A huge new water treatment works, which sits on the edge of an area of outstanding natural beauty, has been rendered almost invisible thanks to a mix of wild flowers and grasses.
The specially cultivated wild flower mix, grown especially for this space by Stewartsturf, has turned the top of the vast complex into the largest green roof in Scotland.
The treatment plant, which will eventually supply water for the whole of Edinburgh, is located on the boundary of the Pentland Hills Regional Park. The challenge for Scottish Water was how to minimise its impact on the landscape. Stewartsturf worked alongside the main contractor to grow a bespoke turf that would help blend the building seamlessly with its surroundings.
A special seed mix that includes many of the species that grow naturally in the Pentland Hills was developed and sown over a year ago. Stewartsturf had to develop new ways of growing and harvesting the turf in order to retain as much of the root systems as possible.
Three species of grasses, including wavy hair grass, Deschampsia flexuosa and herbs, including meadow buttercup, Ranunculus acris and common sorrel made up the seed mix that was sown into mesh to strengthen it for harvesting. Work began in June 2010 covering the vast roof, which, at 8250 sqm is as large as a football pitch, and already the treatment plant that it covers has been transformed into a meadow.
Other bespoke wild turf mixes grown by Stewartsturf include the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh where they successfully developed a turf mix to replicate the grass species found in Hollyrood Park.
This latest project helps reinforce the importance of growing grass and wildflower mixes specifically for the local environment.
