Newsletter June 2016

Introducing the Pobl Group

 From the 1s April 2016 we are now Pobl Group which is a merger between Grwp Gwalia and Seren Group ‘Pobl’ is Welsh for ‘People’.  Adopting this name recognises that what matters most to us are the individuals, families and communities we serve, the people we work with and the talented, committed people who deliver our services.

As a single group we now have the capability to create more affordable homes like Loftus Garden Village, more support to enable people live the life they want and able to provide the highest quality care to meet the needs of an ageing population. Pobl Group will manage over 15,000 homes, employ around 2500 people and plans to invest over £100m in new homes over the next 5 years, playing a significant role in the South Wales and South West of England Regions.

Customer Care

 Lovell‘s recently held a Customer Care evening at the sales office. If needed further events will be arranged over the next couple of months.Just a reminder that all defects need to be addressed to Serenliving direct at DLPDefects@poblgroup.co.uk. On the evening several residents enquired about an event organised by Serenliving to mark the opening of the park on Phase I, which we have names Ruby Loftus Gardens, and an opportunity to meet your neighbours. As the park is nearly finished and will be open from August 1^st we would like you to put the date of Saturday 30^th July in your diaries and we will give you more details closer to the date.

 Help maintain a healthy lawn

One of the main features of Loftus Gardens will be the Park, however the front gardens will be an important element of the overall look of the estate. Keep your lawn healthy and looking good by regular cutting, watering, fertilizing and aerating. Here are some tips on how to look after your lawn.

• Tip 1: Adjust your cutting height to the time of year (and use a sharp blade)
• Tip 2: A few good soakings are better than lots of light sprinklings (but not in the evening)
• Tip 3: Mow only the top one-third of the grass blade (and don’t rake up the clippings)
• Tip 4: Timing is everything when it comes to fertilizers and weed killers
• Tip 5: Aerate your lawn to help it “breathe”

Public Open Space – A message from your Gardner at Loftus.

 This winter has officially been the wettest since records began in 1910 so it’s no wonder that the progress of Ruby Loftus garden has seemed endless.  Over the winter the soil was just too wet and sticky for planting, the rain would stop for a day or two and then just as the ground would get dry enough to work the heavens would open and it was back to square one. This went on all winter making life very frustrating to say the least. But thankfully Spring arrived, the rain did stop and the ground dried up long enough for planting to begin. I abandoned the office and focused all my attention on helping in the garden.

Ironically after a week I was praying for rain, not only to give my back a rest but the soil conditions were now the opposite and needing rain again. With over two thousand plants just gone in we couldn’t keep up with the watering. Typical, one minute too wet next too dry, but then that’s gardening for you, a constant battle with something or other.

The planting is designed to give interest all year round. A special feature has been planted in the Crescent opposite the main entrance to the centre garden in the form of an avenue of twenty two pleached Field Maples. These trees have been trained flat on a cane frame work which in time will develop into an impressive looking hedge on stilts. There will also be other pleached trees in the garden itself, this time trained on canes to grow horizontal like big umbrellas.  One of the main features of the garden is a large natural looking pond fed by a swale to cope with the varying water levels in the pond throughout the year. Rain water will be harvested from the roof tops and stored in a massive underground tank and will keep the pond topped up with natural water to encourage a good pond ecosystem.

A wildflower meadow will create habitat for a wide variety of insects and a long winding dry stone wall will provide a home for all sorts of creepy crawlies with in its crevices. Paths will meander around the garden with benches here and there for people to sit and enjoy the beauty of their surroundings and for those who would rather not get a bit closer to nature, a grass seated amphitheatre. Children can enjoy the fun of water in safety away from the pond with a play hand pump and there will be space to run around and enjoy natural play.

All in all, something for the whole family to enjoy, young and old.

 Hedges

 The ornamental hedges have finally been planted and will be maintained by the Loftus Garden Village Management Company. The hedges will be cut at least twice a year, in the next couple of months the Head Gardener will be cutting and pruning them into shape.

We hope that the Park will be open in readiness for the summer, as a part of the process of getting the space ready and we will be undertaking inspection, putting in place the appropriate level of health and safety guidance.

 Phase 2 and beyond

 All of the Homes in Phase 1 of Loftus Gardens have been sold. We are now taking reservations are on Phase2 which should be completed by the end of December 2016.