Procurement
FLORAL DISPLAYS 2026-2031
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Link to Find A Tender notice of preliminary market engagement notice.
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Link to Find A Tender notice of Tender
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​General Requirements
Workington Town Council is seeking a forward thinking, qualified company with green credentials to manage the floral displays that include baskets, mangers and planters in the centre of Workington. The floral displays will be managed in accordance with sustainable horticultural practices that support biodiversity and are climate positive whilst maintaining a high-quality appeal.
Overview
As part of the Climate and Nature Strategy 2024-2027 Cumberland Council is committed to making Cumberland carbon neutral by 2037 and recovering biodiversity to create an abundance of thriving plants and wildlife. In consultation with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Workington Town Council is leading the way by adopting sustainable, peat-free practices that support biodiversity within its floral displays and planting schemes.
Through the coordination of nature-friendly displays and planting schemes and peat free practices, the focus will be on the development of sustainable planting and In-Bloom activities, which have the potential to make a significant contribution to the Council’s climate objectives and increase biodiversity throughout the town.
Workington Town Centre has a tradition of high quality floral and hanging basket displays. The contractor will be expected to work closely with Officers from the Town Council to achieve the high standards required.
***Whereas this is a tender document for the main floral displays within the town, a future aspiration of the Council is to encourage community ownership of other areas around the town. The Council would be very interested to hear from groups or organisations who wish to be responsible for planting and improving the environment around their home or work and could benefit from funding from the Council.
Please email office@workingtontowncouncil.gov.uk for more information.
Location Details
Location details are noted below, but Officers are happy to meet contractors in town to review locations.
Please note that the Council is open to discussing new areas of the town that would benefit from planters and floral displays, the list below is where the displays are now, but this does not mean that they can’t be changed.
Hanging Basket/Manger Requirements and Specifications
The contractor will be expected to plant, install and maintain all baskets and troughs to a high standard throughout the year. Moving away from high-cost traditional annual bedding schemes, the Council welcomes a more sustainable approach, for example the use of perennials to provide year-round displays, and sourcing healthy pesticides/herbicide free pollinator friendly plants grown in a peat –free medium, alongside the use of peat-free compost for all displays. Innovative ways to reduce watering, such as the use of hardy plants that tolerate weather variability, and appropriate irrigation systems are encouraged.
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Budget: approx.. £26,000 - £28,000 a year.
The contract will run from 2026-2031 with a possible two year extension if required.
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For the full tender document - please download here.
Submit proposals and for questions/clarifications:
Emma Chapman
Chief Officer/RFO
Workington Town Council
Town Hall
Oxford Street
Workington
CA14 2QG
emma.chapman@workingtontowncouncil.gov.uk
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​Deadline for submission - Friday 31st October 2025​​
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