One man and his firm, went to sow a meadow
Small talk
Who are your flower meadows for and why are they better than normal lawns?
Karol Podyma, the owner of urban meadow developer Łąki Kwietne: Flower meadows are much better than lawns in a number of ways. Let’s start with their environmental impact, which for us is the most important advantage. A grass monoculture is a very poor environment for a variety of species and could even be called an ecological desert. When you then take into account the invasive measures required to look after it – including toxic chemicals, such as artificial fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides, as well as the vast amounts of water and exhaust fumes from the lawnmowers – it becomes clear that lawns and nature have very little in common. And all these measures and chemicals come at a very high cost. Looking after a meadow only requires occasional mowing, once or twice a year. In this way, we are not only taking care of the environment by recreating an ecosystem, but also generating real savings when it comes to looking after such green areas. When considering the advantages of meadows over lawns, you also have to think about climate change. A healthy meadow produces much more oxygen and absorbs far more carbon dioxide. It also filters dust from the air, reduces noise and provides thermal insulation. It has deep and varied root systems that act as natural sponges, effective at both soaking up excess rainwater and at drawing water up from deep layers in the soil during a drought. A well-mown lawn has none of these qualities. It just gives the area a neat appearance. These are among the reasons why flower meadows are able to fulfil the needs of a wider range and greater number of people – including those who are trying to maintain a tight budget and those for whom environmental care and certification are of paramount importance.
How would you estimate the cost of creating a flower meadow over an area of, say, 100 sqm next to a residential or
office building?
The cost of a professionally prepared meadow is less than that of a lawn. When it comes to smaller areas, the difference is not that much, since the unit cost is about PLN 20–30 per sqm. This includes preparing the ground, the seed mix and the sowing. The overall cost comes down the larger an area is – and significantly so. For large spaces, it can be as little as PLN 5 per sqm. However, the cost for a meadow on the roof of a building is much higher. This has now become an established trend among commercial property managers in Poland – and especially among those who are more aware of their environmental impact and for whom ESG is now embedded in their company’s strategy. When it comes to such projects, the price is always determined on a case-by-case basis, since the differences can be quite large. However, whenever we develop a flower meadow, no matter where it is, we can engage employees by, for instance, organising workshops and environmental team-building events.
Plants stop growing during the winter, so is this also when your company goes into hibernation? What do you do during this part of the year?
Since we are always working towards the next spring, we never go into hibernation. The end of the growing season marks the beginning of the holidays. Ecological gifts are now very popular, so it’s a busy time for our sales and warehousing departments. Winter is also when we take stock of the year and plan for the next one. We prepare our seed, we also update our mixes and provide consultancy for them, and we collaborate with companies on joint projects that are due to start in the spring. We provide continuous consultation services for people and companies that want to engage in environmentally-friendly activities. Despite our name [Łąki Kwietne literally translates as ‘flower meadows’ – Ed.], we don’t just work on flower meadows – we also provide comprehensive design and construction services for landscaping projects. If our many years of experience in developing meadows has taught us anything, it’s that a comprehensive approach is required to create rich oases of biodiversity. But these need to suit the local conditions and comprise a variety of different features. Most importantly, they need to have native species of hedges, shrubs and trees. They should also have water retention features and outdoor furniture to add to the natural beauty. Given the ever-more alarming predictions for our future, it’s crucial for us to return as much space as possible back to nature. I’m convinced that biocoenosis in gardens and parks, that is, native plants living within a closed ecological system, will become as popular as flower meadows.
Do you personally have such a garden? What do you do other than look after plants in your spare time?
When your work is your passion, it’s difficult to find any free time. I run a business, so I spend much of my time in meetings and on my computer. But whenever I can, I try to spend my time among plants. I also own some farmland that’s used as a testing ground for the meadows. Since we are pioneers in the field of wildflowers, we constantly have to keep learning, developing and experimenting. Recently, I’ve started to work on botanical gardens as well as meadows. I’m also investigating permaculture farming techniques. Plants are fascinating – and I believe that working with them is our best insurance policy for the future.
Interview: Julia Cudowska
