Green firms at flower show (From Banbury Cake)

Green firms at flower show

8:20am Thursday 9th July 2009

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TWO Oxfordshire companies specialising in green buidings, have combined to exhibit at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Oxford Green Roofs, of Drayton, supplies meadow roofs which contain plants that attract wildlife, and LivingARKS of Cowley supplies buidings that emit zero carbon.

Director of Oxford Green Roofs Kay Davies, 39, said: “We only started in March this year and here we are already at Hampton Court. Who knows where we shall be in a year’s time?”

She set up the business with her her husband Gareth, 45, who is a building surveyor.

The idea came after one of his customers wanted a grass roof for a home extension — and Mr Davies discovered that there were no local suppliers.

She added: “I am a professional gardener and so it seemed like a golden opportunity for us to combine our skills and start the business. Since then it has been hard work, but successful.”

The couple met the directors of LivingARKS Kristina Rayko, 30, and American Peter Tensen, 48, after both companies were invited to exhibit at London’s Grand Designs Live Show earlier this year.

LivingARKS is also a new company, having started in April. It grew out of Tensen Trading Ltd. which for the past five years has been supplying garden furniture wholsale. Originally the new company was called Tensen Eco Buildings, but has now rebranded .

Ms Rayko, who came from Russia about six years ago, said: “We work closely with the leading eco-architect Bill Dunster, the man behind the Bedzed Development in South London.

“Our buidings are made in Lithuania and are lined with wool. The one at Hampton Court has a wood burner, a composting toilet, and a water-retention system.”

The building, which the company describes as “a good place to read a book, write a novel, escape the house, watch the stars, or make a spare bedroom”, costs between £10,000 and £20,000 depending on what extras are odered.

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show continues until Sunday.

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