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The day we turned Blue Monday green!

We pride ourselves on our motto:  ‘We use plants creatively to enrich people, places and spaces’

With a new quarter and Blue Monday around the corner we decided we’d really like to focus on people, their wellness and the role nature plays in it in 2020.

Wellness in the workplace has been hitting headlines, with almost half a million people in the UK suffering from work-related stress at a level that makes them feel ill.  According to Bupa, stress in the workplace is caused when demands at work exceed how much you feel you can cope with. Over 11 million working days are lost each year because of work-related stress, and stress can contribute to conditions including anxiety and depression. 

We continue to be passionate about the role of nature in mental health and wellbeing. Spending time in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. And whilst we can’t all sneak off for a walk on the beach or a hit the hills for a leisurely ramble on a Monday morning, exposure to nature, in this case, through our peace lily plant giveaway, not only makes people feel better emotionally but it also contributes to physical wellbeing. This is achieved by reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. Isn’t it incredible?

So we seized the opportunity to flip the controversial Blue Monday on it’s head. By offering a quality potted plant, a smile and a little conversation we aimed to made it a day to celebrate instead!

In preparation to Turn Blue Monday Green, the Benholm team sprung into action, and the greenhouse was a hive of activity to get the peace lilies packaged, packed and loaded on time. At 7am the vans were ready to go, headed for the city centres and we got ready to hit the streets! 

As swathes of commuters left Haymarket and Central station heading for the office they were more than happy to stop, have a quick chat and pick up one of our lovely peace lilies. We even had a queue! 

Commuters were delighted to be surprised, with one tweeting:

Was genuinely feeling a bit down this morning because it is my last day working at @HistEnvScot @welovehistory. This peace lily cheered me up. What a great idea @BenholmGroup #plantsforwellness #turnbluemondaygreen
@Miami_Delights

And in a flash they were all gone. We even received messages throughout the day asking if we’d be back at home time!

Edinburgh Live praised the initiative in their daily newspaper edition: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/blue-monday-free-plants-being-17595959

With studies proving that plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15%), reduce stress levels, and boost mood, whether your plants enhance home or work space (hopefully both) we hope you enjoy the benefits.

And keep your eyes peeled,  we’re on a journey and we’ll aim to keep surprising you💚

The Benholm Team

Turn Blue Monday Green white bags with a single potted peace lily plant, a plant close up and a bus stop poster
The full Benholm team walking down the country road outside out head office
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News

Thrilled with Scottish Enterprise 2019 Award win

We were surprised and delighted to find out we had been nominated for an award at the third annual Scottish Enterprise Awards back in August. We connected with their ethos that awards are based on merit, not the number of votes received. The process works fairly to ensure that winners are selected based on excellence in their industry, the quality of their products and their dedication to service.

We were thrilled to be notified the judging panel’s final decisions were in , and with the news the Benholm Group has been awarded:

Best Interior & Exterior Plant Display Specialists 2019 


It’s reassuring that our focus on being creative, caring and always with a can-do attitude is yielding great results. We’ve been lucky enough to have been involved in some amazing jobs with some fantastic teams in 2019. And the year’s not through yet! We’ve been doing creative things with moss, thinking outside of the box with props, even mixing signs with nature…. and while we sadly lost one of our valued team members, we also watched our team grow.

Take a look!

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Scottish Tourism Alliance Conference 2019

We’re huge advocates of tourism in Scotland and love working with the hospitality industry, providing creative planting across the country. It was great to catch up with valued customers, meet new ones and find out about strategies being implemented for the exciting, albeit challenging times ahead for the industry at the STA Conference.

With their conference held in Edinburgh’s EICC, The Scottish Tourism Alliance is the largest member organisation for tourism businesses in Scotland and the leading representative body for the industry.

With a focus is to shape a vibrant tourism industry for Scotland’s the talking points were lively and informative. As was the unveiling of their future strategy. With four key priorities – People, Place, Businesses and Experiences, it was interesting to hear about customer experiences and employee wellness. Two areas Benholm are passionate about.

The Benholm Group were thrilled to be involved with dressing the stage and common areas, which, filled with lush green plants, turned lots of heads.

We were delighted with our stand next to the quirky 1881 Gin truck. The showcase provided a relaxed setting for delegates to meet new suppliers whilst enjoying drinks and nibbles with other attendees. It was great to meet other industry leading suppliers including Dragon’s Den winners The Drinks Bakery, Lazy Day Foods and Elite Contract Furniture. With many hotels, bars and restaurants already seeing the benefits of bringing the outdoors in, it was a pleasure to chat about it.

The Nordik Moss panel also attracted attention at our stand. All in all it was brilliantly organised event that enjoyed some great feedback, including our gifts, the Benholm seedboms! Let us know if they bloom and blossom, we’d love it if you kept us posted using the #greenwithenvy.

We those who attended enjoyed and we hope to see you next year!

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Blog

Mixing the best of biophilia and fantastic photography

Biophilic design is a top design trend using natural surroundings and design elements to connect people to nature, creating a positive, restorative effect on their well-being. We’re going to take a look at why this growing design trend is so effective, and why it’s so important to incorporate it into modern design projects for hotels, offices, restaurants, retail, hospitals, museums, and other public spaces. Biophilic elements can be incorporated into existing design themes, improving customer experience without breaking budgets.

Nature-inspired designs have long been proven to improve guest experience, consequently increasing revenue and high score reviews for hotels and other hospitality businesses.

Interface found in one research project that people are willing to spend a huge 25% more on food and drink in biophilic hospitality environments. The Human Spaces 2.0 report revealed 36% hotel guests spend time in a hotel lobby with biophilic design elements compared to 25% guests in a conventional hotel. Guests were also willing to pay a premium of 23% for a room with a view of nature.

Working with your space

How can the many hotels, restaurants, offices and retail spaces without views overlooking natural landscapes use biophilic design to attract customers and guests? Terrapin Bright Green, a leader in the green building industry, suggest: 

“Hotels with limited available space or a modest renovation budget can create micro-experiences, such as within a lounge area, with plants and small a water feature.”

When it comes to considering natural design elements, their advice is: 

“Small interventions are sometimes more effective – both from cost (investment and maintenance) and health standpoints – when well designed and strategically located.”

Living Walls

Real or artificial, are modern design features providing a visual connection to nature, which is considered to be one of the most impactful associations in biophilic design.

Many designers and trade professionals prefer artificial green walls over the real thing, since the former requires no maintenance or associated costs. No watering, pruning, or trimming is ever needed—with no worries about withering, browning, or dying greenery. They also come into their own in tricky spaces, like hard-to-water alcoves and spaces without sunlight.

However due to the endless design possibilities with Nordik Moss, it is also a popular choice. You can use it like a picture or change a whole wall. Make patterns or words with it, curve it round surfaces, go for a 3D-shape or incorporate it into furniture. And you can choose from a range of colours, from calming green to statement orange. Nordik Moss is a preserved natural product which doesn’t not grow, no worries about any watering or trimming, or making sure the moss has enough sunlight. With excellent sound-absorbing properties, it helps dampen noise and improve working environments. Plus it is fire safe, resistant to discolouration and hypo- allergenic.

Rooftop gardens & outside space

Rooftop gardens and green outdoor spaces are quickly becoming a must-have. Often established in previously unused space Luxury hotels like Hotel Sofitel and the Four Seasons have already led the charge in using rooftop gardens that double as green space – often designed as an oasis of calm even in the middle of a bustling city. Roof spaces in offices have be used for gardens, to offer sports facilities or quiet space. They provide a habitat for wildlife, support the local environment by helping to lower urban air temperatures, and improve air quality. Other benefits include improved employee engagement and productivity as well as reduced carbon emissions. Green roofs could save businesses millions in energy costs whilst improving the property’s value too.

Outdoor dining spaces are a fantastic way to maximise space for customers. Weatherproof parasols, furniture with branded banners and planters increase kerb appeal, and provide additional covers. With the creative addition of heaters and lighting they can be used all year round.

Trees and plants to provide a direct nature connection

One study found that people in an environment allowing a direct connection with plants (being able to see, touch, and smell them) are 15% happier. Happy guests, employees and shoppers will attach positive emotions to your brand, be more likely to tell their friends about their experience, and likely be repeat customers. Plants, flowers and trees, though simple design elements, have been proven to relieve stress and promote feelings of well-being. Not only are they an opportunity to incorporate colour and texture into a space, the power of plants in the retail industry is not confined to the stores themselves. From directing foot traffic to providing shoppers with a relaxing place to rest between shopping visits, plants can be used creatively in shopping centres. And if you have a space that isn’t lucky enough to be surrounded by nature, we can create one like the indoor forest scene!

Chambord sponsored flower wall filled with artificial roses, hydrangea and leafy greenery behind a leather chair
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Blog

Nature helps nurture students

Plants, greenery, and elements of nature, are a great addition to schools, colleges, universities and other educational facilities. Places where there are many people in a busy, fast-paced environment, stress levels often run high and this can contribute to health issues.  Contact with nature has been proved to reduce stress and contribute toward a healthy and productive working environment – find out more about biophilic design…

1. Plants can help improve performance in class

The Royal College of Agriculture’s research found that attentiveness increases up to 70% with plants in the classroom. When students taught in classrooms with plants were compared to students in non plant classrooms, those in plant classrooms showed 70% more attentiveness. This could be due to leaves and stems absorbing, deflecting and retracting background noise. 

Wallace High School, Stirling

2. Plants combat feelings of stress and anxiety, reducing absence and sickness

Plants improve learners performance as they have been shown to reduce feelings of anger by 44% and tension by about 37%  (CIPHR). Consistent stress levels have a negative effect on health and wellbeing – plants like Lemon Balm, Haworthia, and the Snake Plant are shown to be fantastic mood-boosters. A great addition to learning environments. It’s not just high levels of CO2 that can make learners feel unwell, there are lots of every day toxins that have a similar effect when exposed to them over time.

As with offices and hospitals, toxins can be found in educational facilities. Like formaldehyde in tissues, paper bags, and paper towels, ammonia in cleaning products, and benzene in plastics. Plants help clean the air, especially English Ivy and Red-Edged Dracaena.

Wallace High School, Stirling – an artificial tree softens the space and makes for a more welcoming space

3. Plants can help promote a feeling of community

Plants are shown to encourage social interaction, as well as promoting working in teams. Looking after classroom plants can become a team task, with groups or individuals sharing the responsibility of nurturing the plants. This in turn encourages teamwork, boosting social skills, sense of responsibility, pride and confidence.

Heriott Watt | Lewis & Hickey

Moss is nature’s very own sound absorption system. It literally soaks in sound making it a great choice for quieter areas. It is also a versatile and fun way to add colour to learning environments through signage, whiteboards and lettering.

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Brilliantly Bespoke

Our aim is to use plants creatively to enrich people, places and spaces. Nothing allows us to do this more than a bespoke brief.

When we create a bespoke display our creative team love using their design flair, often working with talented local artists, to produce a planted feature that exceed customer expectations and increase footfall into their venues.

We’d love to share a few recent examples with you.

Over in the East…

With a pop up bar in the offing to provide Edinburgh city centre with an outdoor dining and drinking oasis in its peak season, we were delighted to be involved. The Bombay Sapphire sponsored space just off Rose Street was a huge success and looked amazing in the sunshine. Check out the blog to find out more!

Bannerman’s Rock and Whiskey Bar is a popular venue located in the heart of historic Edinburgh. With live music six nights of the week, featuring the best in local, national and international bands. its reputation as one of the busiest venues in town is well deserved.

We were briefed to supply a bespoke branded Jack Daniel’s whiskey sign.  The client was looking for something that really stood out, something eye catching and unusual.

We brought together the elements Nordik Moss, genuine whiskey barrel staves, bespoke backlit lettering a bunch of Benholm imagination. Nordik Moss is a real head turner and we knew the green tones would complement the natural look of the staves perfectly. These were hand crafted together in house by our talented team – from building the frame to the beautifully finished display. Bright white led lighting was installed to complement the lettering and make sure the sign really popped.

The clients were delighted with the finished result and also asked to make and install a hand painted sign of Bannerman’s distinctive logo!

In the wonderful West…

October refreshed their space with a blast of pink roses, cherry blossom and a sensational selfie wall. It proved such a hit, the team commissioned an additional selfie space complete with custom sprayed vintage tub, 50’s style phone and pink flamingo! Check out their blog for more details!

The G1 Group’s resplendent Glasgow townhouse Hummingbird was updated with a floral wall to welcome, lush foliage trailing over the bar and glamorous floral decorated birdcages hanging in one of the VIP areas

Sloans is an iconic bar in Glasgow city centre, nestled between Buchanan Street and Queen Street. Outdoor space, especially in a city centre, is at an absolute premium and we were involved in helping to make the space more appealing for as much of the year as possible.

To effectively shield customers from the elements, automated retractable awnings were installed to ensure the space could be enjoyed rain or shine. An existing large parasol was also given a new lease of life with a new cover which was hand painted with an attractive leaves design to bring an extra touch of nature into the hustle and bustle of the city.  

This busy, bustling venue is proof that creating a great space and providing excellent service is a recipe for success.

Creative, bespoke features can really boost footfall in bars and restaurants so if you’re looking for ideas on how to make your venu stand out and be unique, please feel free to get in touch with our team today!

Call us on Freephone 01324 861300 or enquire online now.

Categories
Blog

Biophilic Design: Using nature to improve customer experience

Biophilic design is a top design trend using natural surroundings and design elements to connect people to nature, creating a positive, restorative effect on their well-being. We’re going to take a look at why this growing design trend is so effective, and why it’s so important to incorporate it into modern design projects for hotels, offices, restaurants, retail, hospitals, museums, and other public spaces. Biophilic elements can be incorporated into existing design themes, improving customer experience without breaking budgets.

Nature-inspired designs have long been proven to improve guest experience, consequently increasing revenue and high score reviews for hotels and other hospitality businesses.

Interface found in one research project that people are willing to spend a huge 25% more on food and drink in biophilic hospitality environments. The Human Spaces 2.0 report revealed 36% hotel guests spend time in a hotel lobby with biophilic design elements compared to 25% guests in a conventional hotel. Guests were also willing to pay a premium of 23% for a room with a view of nature.

Hummingbird reception area

Working with your space

How can the many hotels, restaurants, offices and retail spaces without views overlooking natural landscapes use biophilic design to attract customers and guests?  Terrapin Bright Green, a leader in the green building industry, suggest: 

“Hotels with limited available space or a modest renovation budget can create micro-experiences, such as within a lounge area, with plants and small a water feature.”

When it comes to considering natural design elements, their advice is: 

“Small interventions are sometimes more effective – both from cost (investment and maintenance) and health standpoints – when well designed and strategically located.”

Living Walls

Real or artificial, are modern design features providing a visual connection to nature, which is considered to be one of the most impactful associations in biophilic design.

Many designers and trade professionals prefer artificial green walls over the real thing, since the former requires no maintenance or associated costs. No watering, pruning, or trimming is ever needed—with no worries about withering, browning, or dying greenery. They also come into their own in tricky spaces, like hard-to-water alcoves and spaces without sunlight.

However due to the endless design possibilities with Nordik Moss, it is also a popular choice. You can use it like a picture or change a whole wall. Make patterns or words with it, curve it round surfaces, go for a 3D-shape or incorporate it into furniture. And you can choose from a range of colours, from calming green to statement orange. Nordik Moss is a preserved natural product which doesn’t not grow, no worries about any watering or trimming, or making sure the moss has enough sunlight. With excellent sound-absorbing properties, it helps dampen noise and improve working environments. Plus it is fire safe, resistant to discolouration and hypo- allergenic.

Sloans

Rooftop gardens & outside space
Rooftop gardens and green outdoor spaces are quickly becoming a must-have. Often established in previously unused space Luxury hotels like Hotel Sofitel and the Four Seasons have already led the charge in using rooftop gardens that double as green space – often designed as an oasis of calm even in the middle of a bustling city. Roof spaces in offices have be used for gardens, to offer sports facilities or quiet space. They provide a habitat for wildlife, support the local environment by helping to lower urban air temperatures, and improve air quality. Other benefits include improved employee engagement and productivity as well as reduced carbon emissions. Green roofs could save businesses millions in energy costs whilst improving the property’s value too.
Outdoor dining spaces are a fantastic way to maximise space for customers. Weatherproof parasols, furniture with branded banners and planters increase kerb appeal, and provide additional covers. With the creative addition of heaters and lighting they can be used all year round.

Indoor scene created in collaboration with Argenta

Trees and plants to provide a direct nature connection

One study found that people in an environment allowing a direct connection with plants (being able to see, touch, and smell them) are 15% happier. Happy guests, employees and shoppers will attach positive emotions to your brand, be more likely to tell their friends about their experience, and likely be repeat customers. Plants, flowers and trees, though simple design elements, have been proven to relieve stress and promote feelings of well-being. Not only are they an opportunity to incorporate colour and texture into a space, the power of plants in the retail industry is not confined to the stores themselves. From directing foot traffic to providing shoppers with a relaxing place to rest between shopping visits, plants can be used creatively in shopping centres. And if you have a space that isn’t lucky enough to be surrounded by nature, we can create one like the indoor forest scene above!

A green wall bursting with greenery lit by spotlights with an inset office directory at a reception space
White rectangular and cube planters inset into wooden slats to create a soft divider in an open plan office space
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Come and visit us at ScotHot on Stand 4650

13th & 14th March 2019 – Don’t miss out!

See the latest hospitality planting designs and ideas for 2019.  We’re going to be showcasing some great new products and they will be lots to see and touch.

If you’re serious about wanting to get ahead this year, need to stand out from the crowd and be able to offer a unique experience to your guests, then make sure you drop by our stand and chat with our creative team.

Register below to be the first to hear what’s on!

We’ll send you some helpful tips and updates prior to the event to make sure you know what you need to see and where to find everything.

if you’d like to personally meet a specific member of the team at the show or wish to discuss a specific project, please leave details in the notes box below.

Come and visit us at ScotHot on Stand 4650

13th & 14th March 2019 – Don’t miss out!

See the latest hospitality planting designs and ideas for 2019.  We’re going to be showcasing some great new products and they will be lots to see and touch.

If you’re serious about wanting to get ahead this year, need to stand out from the crowd and be able to offer a unique experience to your guests, then make sure you drop by our stand and chat with our creative team.

Register below to be the first to hear what’s on!

We’ll send you some helpful tips and updates prior to the event to make sure you know what you need to see and where to find everything.

if you’d like to personally meet a specific member of the team at the show or wish to discuss a specific project, please leave details in the notes box below.

Categories
Blog

Measurement of Acoustic Properties of Green Walls

Nordik Moss green walls have significant benefits for many types of indoor environments. Here are 3 reasons why designers are specifying Nordik Moss walls:

  • Highly versatile
  • Virtually maintenance free
  • Significant acoustic properties

Acoustic Moss Wall Case Study

Nordik Moss was used recently to provide acoustic softening in a school interview room with excellent effect. The room is used for a wide range of activities including staff training and audio-visual presentations as well as interviews with staff, pupils and parents. The Nordik Moss wall and additional planting helps to provide a quiet, relaxed space that is a valuable addition to the school. 

Measurement of Acoustic Properties of Moss Walls

Acoustic measurements were carried out on a similar moss wall product in The Netherlands using reindeer moss and the reported outcome stated:

Excellent natural acoustic properties; Noise Reduction Coefficient 0,96.

In order to counteract the effect of poor acoustics our product absorbs sound waves. And especially the sound of speech that are between 100 Hz and 3000 Hz (see graph). In the graph you can see the absorbance value of carpet. Carpets and curtains give the room a warmer tone because they only absorb high frequencies. A warmer timbre gives a rounder sound, but does not help in addressing fatigue and illness. 

The acoustic moss wall panels have an absorption value (AW) of 0.96.  

Measurement of Acoustic Properties of Green Walls

The following extract is from an article by the UK Acoustic Treatments Specialists – Resonics and relates to the acoustic properties of green walls:

The acoustic benefit of plants and shrubbery has only recently come into the line of sight of acousticians; spurred on by a handful of researchers who have highlighted the ability of greenery to regulate sound.

One such study has come out of The University of The Basque Country. The study tested the acoustic properties of modular green walls using two different reverberation chambers. It showed that green walls, when compared to untreated walls, resulted in “a weighted sound reduction index (Rw) of 15db and a weighted sound absorption coefficient (a) of 0.40”.

The spearhead of the study, Zaola Azkorra stated that the study demonstrated that “the green wall showed a similar or better acoustic absorption coefficient than other common building materials, and its effects on low frequencies were of particular interest”. Azkorra has suggested that this points to new uses for green walls in public places such as restaurants, workplaces and hotels.

Nordik Moss Wall Open Plan Office Case Study 

Another interesting project involved the use of a large feature Nordik Moss wall backdrop to an open-plan office at Space Solutions in Glasgow. 

This video includes an insight on the acoustic benefits of moss walls from the Interior Designer who was involved in this project.

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