Dorset Chartered Builders, Greendale Construction Limited, has commenced work on an exciting new contract for Chestnut Nursery in Poole, which will include an iconic new shop and improved nursery and grounds at the Kingland Road site.
The work carried out by Greendale will see dilapidated old buildings demolished and replaced with a stunning new single storey shop which will sell a large variety of gardening items as well as offering improved learning opportunities for the volunteers working there. Built using a combination of Purbeck gabion walling and chestnut cladding with timber glulam roof beams and metal roof deck. The inside space will benefit from two, large elevated rooflights. Automatic entrance/exit doors, and window/curtain walling will be installed using a combination of aluminium and wood framed glazing systems. To help with green sustainability requirements an air source heat pump with electrical back-up will provide underfloor heating, keeping customers and volunteers warm during the colder months.
Behind the shop, there will be a further 743 square metres of retail hard standing and growing areas. The new nursery will offer a more formal and cohesive experience for customers, and will provide a much-needed, safe and comfortable environment for volunteers working with the registered charity SWOP (Sheltered Work Opportunities Project) to work. During the refurbishment, Chestnut will be operating a pop-up shop at 26 Kingland Crescent in Poole town centre where it will be selling a variety of plants and accessories.
Angela Mansbridge, project manager at Chestnut Nursery, commented:“It is such an exciting time at the nursery and everyone has worked so hard to get to this stage. The improvements will benefit our current and future volunteers for years to come.”
Martin Stewart, managing director at Stewarts Garden Centres, and chairman and trustee at SWOP, said: “We are thrilled to have finally got this project up and running, and are delighted to be working with such a well-regarded company as Greendale Construction. This is going to be an iconic building within the conservation area of Poole Park, for a really valuable charity which is going to benefit hundreds of the charity’s volunteers.”
Rob Hooker, director at Greendale Construction, commented:“Greendale has been involved with helping Chestnut Nursery get this project up and running since 2015. It is great to now be starting the construction phase. We’re delighted to be working with the Chestnut team and Footprint Architects on this highly worthwhile project which will benefit and improve the Chestnut Nursery and SWOP community providing a much better visitor experience for its loyal and new customers.”