Parks and green spaces given opportunity to contribute to the London 2012 Games legacy

After Love Parks Week Community Games are granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme

Love Parks Week has been granted the London 2012 Inspire mark which recognises outstanding projects and events helping deliver the Games’ lasting legacy. The London 2012 Inspire programme enables non-commercial organisations across the UK to link their events and projects to the London 2012 Games in an official scope. The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As a part of the Inspire programme this year Love Parks Week will include the option for event organisers to run London 2012-themed Community Games. These free Community Games are a way of bringing the fun and excitement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to cities and towns across the UK. These games are to be hosted in parks and green spaces as a part of Love Parks Week 2012 and will allow organisers to use the prestigious Inspire brand.

These Community Games will also promote the lasting environmental and community benefits of our nation’s parks and green spaces. Tess Stackley, Campaign Manager said “Working with the Inspire programme gives us a great platform to highlight how our parks and green spaces can provide everyone with a place for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. We envision people who come to these Community Games will return to their parks with their friends, family or on their own to stay active, take up a new sport and get the proven health benefits from spending time outdoors.”

Seb Coe, Chair of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: “The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now as projects like Love Parks Week are enabling people who work in and enjoy spending time in their parks to make positive changes in their surrounding area.”

In addition to educating the public about the benefits of green spaces for individual health and social development, these Community Games will help to deliver a sustainable Olympic Games by bringing some of the fun and excitement to towns and villages across the UK. Instead of traveling into London to feel as though they are a part of the 2012 Olympics, people will be able to celebrate the build up to the opening ceremony in their local park or green space during Love Parks Week.

Park facts for health:

1. The difference in the weight gained for children living near green and non-green areas was 5.1kg for girls aged 16 years and 5.9kg for boys.

2. Populations exposed to the greenest environments have the lowest levels of health inequality.

3. Children living close to busy roads are more at risk for respiratory illness, including asthma.

4. Access to quality green space decreases a person’s blood pressure, cholesterol and stress, while increasing their ability to face problems and become involved in social activities.

5. Daily gardening reduces the likelihood of developing dementia by 36%.

Love Parks Week is organised by parks charity GreenSpace. GreenSpace is a registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. For more information: www.green-space.org.uk.

Gardening for Wildlife with Green Roofs and Floral Meadows

Q Lawns are showcasing their Enviromat sedum matting and their Meadowmat wild flower matting at the Garden Press Event in London on 2nd February 2012

London, 19 January 2012 : Enviromat Sedum Matting is a relatively lightweight solution to creating a living green roof on garden buildings and domestic roofs.

Enviromat Sedum Matting
Comprising seven species of drought tolerant sedums growing on to a patented matting system, Enviromat creates a wonderful habitat for invertebrates and with its long flowering period, helps support beneficial insects such as butterflies and bees.

Enviromat is easily installed by a competent DIY’er or, for those not confident of working at heights, Q Lawns offers a green roof installation service.

Meadowmat Wild Flower Matting
Meadowmat Wild Flower Matting takes the stress out of establishing a wild flower meadow in the garden. 34 species of native grasses and flowering plants are established on to a matting system that is simply unrolled onto prepared ground to create a dense sward of mixed plants. Depending on the time of year, Meadowmat may well be in flower just a few weeks after installation, providing a rich source of nectar for beneficial insects and a great hiding place for invertebrates, small mammals and amphibians.

Meadowmat maintenance is simple and cost effective. Once established, the plants need minimal attention for six months of the year and only the occasional trim between October and April for neatness.

Search on YouTube for our videos about Meadowmat and Enviromat or visit our websites and blog at:
www.meadowmat.com
www.meadowmat.blogspot.com
www.enviromat.co.uk

The Garden Press Event is for members of the media only and members of the Garden Media who whish to attend better book their places now. The event is only a short time off now.

© 2012

TurfEx Releases New Self-Propelled Rideable Sprayer/Spreader

A New Concept in Turf Products, the TurfEx RS7200 Riding Sprayer/Spreader Maximizes Efficiency, Productivity and Precision Application.

Madison Heights, Michigan: TurfEx introduces its first self-propelled spreader/sprayer combination unit. The new RS7200 Spread-N-Spray boasts high capacity, superior material application and high-performance handling.

Designed for smooth, safe operation, the new TurfEx RS7200 Spread-N-Spray is well balanced and has a low center of gravity.

The Spread-N-Spray is powered by a 200cc Honda GX200 engine with a 2:1 ratio gear reducer. Its heavy-duty transmission includes two forward gears, plus neutral and reverse. The unit comes with a hand-operated transmission disc brake, as well as a foot-controlled sulky band brake.

The large-capacity hopper accommodates 150 pounds, or 3 cubic feet, of material, which can be spread up to 11 feet wide. Additionally, the balanced tank system holds 17 gallons of liquid and contains just one fill port for quick, convenient refilling. The sprayer is powered by a 2-gpm pump, and the low-pressure nozzles offer multiple spray patterns to apply liquid up to 11 feet wide. A spot sprayer is also provided for weed-spraying applications.

Designed for smooth, safe operation, the machine is well balanced and has a low center of gravity. It easily handles rough or uneven terrain, thanks to the sulky’s sealed bearing pivot. A centrally located kill switch and lanyard are added for extra safety.

The Spread-N-Spray offers a variety of standard ergonomic features to enhance operator comfort and ensure high productivity. These include cushioned handlebars and an anti-fatigue foot mat, as well as user-friendly controls.

Furthermore, maintenance is kept to a minimum on the Spread-N-Spray. There are few moving parts and cables to service, and the engine is easily accessible. Additionally, after every 25 hours of operation, the waterproof tachometer provides a visual indicator to lubricate the machine.

Other standard features include a side deflector, fluid-filled tires, extra nozzles, flag storage and a built-in cup holder. The Spread-N-Spray is backed by a two-year limited warranty.

In addition to the Spread-N-Spray, TurfEx offers a full line of spreaders, topdressers, sprayers, brooms, dethatchers and other gear for the turf industry.

TurfEx is a product division of TrynEx International. Other TrynEx brands include SnowEx winter maintenance equipment, and SweepEx broom attachments.

For more information visit http://www.trynexfactory.com.

This press release is presented without editing for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.