Our news

• Stonefields Kickaball and Volcanic Parks officially opens

  

  Thursday Dec 10, 2009

  Natural Habitats were engaged by Landco Land Developments (now Todd Property Group) in 2008 to provide developed, detail and contract observation Landscape Architectural services for the reserves within the Stonefields development.

  These parks are the first two neighbourhood parks completed. They form an integral part of the larger green network within the Stonefields development which also includes a major wetland development and the streetscaping.

  Volcano Park is created in reference to the area’s past and present geologic condition, with use of texture, colour and sculpture. The centre piece of the park is an informal and sculptural picnic set made from historical basalt stones. A raised crater like landform offers elevated views of this sculptural setting, while recalling the dynamic landscape of the region.

  Kickaball is a large open space where the users are to define the programming, framed by large shade trees and flanked by children’s play equipment. It includes sculptural bands of native grasses which relate to the ecological context of the site, while informal basalt rock edging helps to depict the volcanic history.

• Latest Greenwall installation - a site to behold

  

  Tuesday Nov 17, 2009

  We are proud to showcase our latest greenwall installation at The Department Store - a new innovative retail venture by entrepreneur Stephen Marr and leading designers Karen Walker and Dan Gosling. The store which opened last week blends art, beauty and fashion in an open, loft style, three level space.

  The space was designed with an emphasis on our environment so was the perfect place for an internal greenwall. The greenwall is a NZ first - 10 metres long by 2 metres high, double sided and boasting well over 1000 individual plants.

• Progress of greenwall at Natural Habitats

  

  Friday Oct 30, 2009

  The greenwall at our head office in Ellerslie is growing really well. Despite the lack of sun on that side of the buidling and the miserable winter, the plants are really thriving. We are still aiming to have full coverage by mid summer.

• Taking sustainability seriously…

  

  Monday Oct 12, 2009

  Natural Habitats have always had strong “green” values but we are now being proactive by publishing a sustainability policy online. This document illustrates our environmental aims and the measures we will take to ensure that we operate and continue to grow in a sustainable manner.

  Natural Habitats have also engaged in the NZ Governments new EnviroStep programme eco-verification.med.govt.nz/envirostep, which enables SME’s to use an effective environment management system. EnviroStep provides an outline of any environmental issues and presents opportunities to manage these. It will enable Natural Habitats to continue to strive towards a better environmental business practice. We scored well on the initial review and have started looking at the opportunities to increase our performance score.

  Finally, Natural Habitats aim to green our supply chain. Where there are choices in our supply chain we will start using a preferred supplier arrangement to those suppliers how have similar environmental values and aim to practice in a sustainable manner.

• Landscaping contract won by Natural Habitats for Manukau Harbour Crossing Project – Stage 2

  

  Monday Aug 31, 2009

  After the successful completion of the landscaping stage one of the Manukau Crossing Project (MHX) Natural Habitats has won the soft landscaping contract for stage 2 (the northern section from Mangere Bridge to Queenstown Road). The landscape and urban design (and bridge architecture) is by Jasmax.

  The MHX project is a $230M New Zealand Government initiative being delivered by the Manukau Harbour Crossing Alliance (MHX) comprising the NZ Transport Agency, Fletcher Construction, Beca Infrastructure and Higgins Contractors, of this large civil project. For Natural Habitats, the landscaping requirements for the next stage of this project include:

  • Vegetation control and removal over the 10 ha site

  • Supply and installation of 93000 plants

  • Over 60 different species in 17 environmental mixes from Salt Marsh to Forest Mixes

  • Three years maintenance after completion

  Implementation will take place through 2009 - 2010 as areas are completed.

  Natural Habitats also received a fantastic testimonial about the Stage 1 project from Elyse La Face, Environmental Specialist in the MHX Alliance Team, saying “Our key is contact Brian Spencer, Natural Habitats Landscape Development Divisional Manager. Brian has professionally run his team to achieve all of our requirements. The installation process carried out by Brian’s team has been extremely efficient, well coordinated, flexible and to a finish result of a very high standard. Natural Habitats have exceeded our expectations and we would highly recommend their Soft Landscaping Division to any other potential client”.

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