Sustainability &
Environmental Impact
Our Conscious Commitment
In support of reducing the impact on our environment, from concept to build, we took a conscious decision to choose to work with local and like-minded Yorkshire suppliers. Where possible, we have used sustainable material in the build of our new garden centre with a difference.
We will continue to make steps and introduce new initiatives to achieve our commitment as we grow.
You may have perhaps already visited us and wondered how our beautiful welcome desk came to be. Our aim was to use materials in their simplest form and, in doing so, create something interesting to stimulate the senses. The use of laying of different materials and textures to emulate the natural environment. Like in nature, nothing grows in a straight line and nothing stays the same, so this was considered in our styling and detail so that on second glance you discover much more.
Welcome Desk
Our beautiful ‘Tree of Knowledge’ welcome desk was made by local wood sculptor Ben Gillham (@bengillhamartist). The 230-year-old Beech tree, having been weakened by disease, was brought down by windfall on Woodlands Drive, Rawdon, Leeds. Ben expertly prepared the tree by removing the bark, allowing it to dry naturally, before finishing and sculpting it to be a unique reception desk, which welcomes our visitors and reflects our design vision and brand ethos.
Materials
Birch plywood boards are used throughout the shop, reflecting the cross-section of the formation of rocks; a strong link between the store and the surrounding landscape of the Cow and Calf rocks and a key design element that can be discovered right down to the gift card holders. The boards have all been made and installed by Yorkshire-based bespoke and retail joinery experts Gralyn (gralyn-joinery.co.uk) as a recyclable, sustainable choice with less impact on the environment. This is because there is significantly less wood wasted than that from traditional lumber practices.
The polished concrete floor was chosen not only for its natural feel, but to create a more energy efficient building.
The natural choice of plywood and organic shapes were echoed throughout the way-finding signage designed by local Yorkshire design agency The Common Room (commonroomdesign.com) and produced by local Yorkshire signage company Quarmby (quarmbycolour.co.uk).
Bespoke Interior
Echoing the design principle of our brand identity – where the urban edge meets the softness of nature – is how our local stylist (secretstylists.co.uk) chose the fixtures and fittings to bring our interior design to life. The aesthetic curves of our bar and till points use different forms of cork (which are usually used as flooring), which adds warmth, a tactility and a sense of calm, being soft to the touch benefits and not overly patterned.
The rubber composition (which is made from recycled tyres), combined with the cork at the till points is a perfect demonstration of marrying function with form: the till points look beautiful and also stand up from the day-to-day knocks of trolleys passing through. The contrasting flecks in the white till point tops are formed from the waste of 100% recycled yogurt pots.
Local Artists
Many of the light fittings are inspired by the natural world, the designer having implemented ongoing initiatives to transform off-cuttings into portable hives for bumble bees. The restaurant lampshades, made by Sarah Jane Morris – Yorkshire based Ceramicist, each have unique shapes and sizes, and are made from felt-like material inspired by nature.
Continuing in the restaurant, the backing pads of the seating area are inspired by Yorkshire stone walling furniture, finished in upholstery supplied by Camira Fabrics; a passionately responsible company. The chairs have been hand made by locally-based Poplar, whilst the Terrace chairs have been made out of recycled fishnets and café chairs without the need for added chemicals – and which remain 100% recyclable.
Millie Morgan (@MilliemorganTextiles), a talented final year student studying textiles, designed and produced two unique wall hangings. One hangs in the corridor leading to the toilets and it re-imagines our logo in recycled cotton, hand spun yarn, Shetland wool and British Wool. The other is displayed on the wall in the restaurant: a bird’s eye view of the Yorkshire landscape, with a river flowing through that links each of the fields depicted.
Clare Knox Bentham has produced another piece of wall art for you to discover within Moss & Moor… on second glance, you will see something hidden in the beautiful art made from glue!
Design consideration and our attention to detail even extends into the toilets, where the wallpaper is from a 100-year-old Swedish producer. It was selected due to its sustainability credentials and its style: the design isn’t an obvious choice for toilet decoration and each time you visit the toilets, you will discover something new the more you look at the walls. This approach fits so well with our brand story.