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HISTORY NPK began operations in 1983 in Manchester, UK. Its founder, Dr Kevan Chambers obtained his doctorate at Reading University and a BPhil in Landscape Design at Newcastle University, following an MA in Geography at Cambridge University. Prior to 1983 Kevan worked with The North West Civic Trust in Manchester as a Landscape Design Consultant. NPK Landscapes (originally NPK Landlife) has carried out design work in many cities and counties throughout the British Isles. During the 1980's & 90's it established an impressive portfolio of clients which included English Estates, Blue Chip Companies, Local Authorities, Developers, Charities and numerous schools. A this time, and in addition to the design business, NPK Landscapes grew and sold by mail order many wildflower plants. Since moving to Scotland in 1997 the mail order plant business, which includes sale of wildflower seed and natural bulbs has more recently become the main stay of the business. Although NPK Landscapes has primarily specialised in the design of natural habitats, where these were appropriate, it has also engaged in the design of a varied range of sites and situations. For example designs have been drawn up for small industrial estates, schools, supermarkets and private gardesn. Prior to 1997 NPK Landscapes was based in South Manchester, however in the summer of 1997 we moved to Minnigaff, near Newton Stewart in Galloway, South-west Scotland. Since moving into Grove Hill, a mid-Victorian stone-built house with large semi-walled gardens, a makeover of the garden has taken place. Now most of the wildflowers sold as plug plants are grown here at Grove Hill, often using 'home-grown' seed. The garden has not been developed as a 'nursery' in the sense of a formally arranged plant production unit, more it has been adapted to display many of the wildflowers growing in a naturalistic habitat. We do not primarily sell plans from the site, but would be happy to welcome you to Grove Hill if you wished to visit and view the wildflowers growing here. We would ask anyone wanting to visit to contact us beforehand to arrange a suitable day and time to call.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Although it may still be possible to arrange site visits most of the design work now carried out is done by post or electronic communication. If you are interested in such a design service we would ask you to provide a basic layout of your garden or site with all major dimensions and features marked. It is also helpful to have a list of features or ideas you would like to see in your garden. Generally a simple computer-generated design would be produced for you, with planting ideas given for all major defined areas. A set of 6 more general wildflower garden designs have been produced, each one illustrating a particular type of wildflower habitat. This can be bought from our Products catalogue, and can be useful in helping you pick and choose certain features yuo might like to develop in your garden. PLANTING LAYOUTS These can be drawn up for you, whether you want ideas for wildflower layouts or more general planting sugestions to suit your garden. Attracting wildlife to gardens is an important element of gardening today and we feel we are ideally placed to give sound advice on the best species to choose. MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE If you have not tried growing wildflowers before you may be unsure on how best to maintain them, as contrary to some opinion wildflowers should not just be left to go 'wild'! They do need management and maintenance, like any othe plants, but this is not particularly difficult nor laborious. Therefore, we are happy to give advice on these matters in order to encourage and help you enjoy growing wildflowers.

SOURCING WILDFLOWER SPECIES There may be some plant species you are finding hard to source - if this is the case we may be able to help. For a small fee we will try and find the best source(s) near to where you live. Information can be provided for you to make contact with the nursery or nurseries to arrange for purchase of the plant(s) you want