Bountiful Bloom

One of the foremost manufacturers of artificial trees, flowers, plants and foliage, TreeLocate is the preferred choice for landscapers, interior designers and architects around the world. Luke Thomas talks to the trees with design and marketing manager, Jonathon Holmes

Plant life can certainly tie together a property, but sometimes it’s just not viable to accommodate the real thing, whether it’s due to arid, inhospitable conditions or a requirement for outdoor breeds indoors.

TreeLocate creates a wide range of artificial flora, as well as bespoke products, from its state-of-the-art production facilities in the north east of England, and a secondary showroom and warehouse located in Dubai.

Bespoke artificial trees have been a central focus for TreeLocate over the years under the brand Arboretum. Producing some of the world’s finest museum-grade replica trees, installations have been carried out across the globe, from The Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain, and Harrods, to The ANZ Centre in New Zealand. Installations are often completed in private residences, with clients looking to add a unique and awe-inspiring atmosphere to their personal space, either inside or out.

Arboretum trees can be produced in almost any species, oak, cherry, olive, firs, birch and many more; each with the incredible realism and attention to detail Arboretum trees have become famous for. With its dedicated team of tree technicians, TreeLocate can also take care of installation if required. All members of the tree build team receive in-house specialist training, in order to deliver a professional service throughout the ordering, manufacture and installation process of a client’s chosen species.

A variety of methods are used to achieve botanically correct trees, which are indistinguishable from the real thing. More fantastical options are also available, such as the white Oak tree installed at the ANZ Centre in New Zealand.

Two manufacturing options are available for Arboretum trees, fully fabricated or preserved trunks. Fabricated trunks make use of a strong steel core, sculpted to the desired shape before being covered with a life-like bark and hand-finished to achieve an incredibly realistic effect. These can typically be produced to any size, shape or variation imaginable. The second option, a preserved trunk uses real tree trunks to provide a more natural finish. Trunks gathered from sustainable forests are kiln-dried, preserving the natural beauty for life. Both varieties of trunks then have the canopy built on top using premium quality foliage.

Of course, fire retardant trees can also be produced using FireSilx foliage and the steel core trunk option if fire safety is a concern. Fabricated trunks are certified to the British building standard BS476 Class 1. UV resistant foliage is also available and recommended for any exterior trees exposed to sunlight.

Artificial greenery comes with its own challenges explains Jonathon: “Fire safety is an increasing concern, especially for installations in public or commercial spaces. Often, strict requirements are in place to meet current fire safety regulations.

“Our FR range of products, FireSilx, match this requirement perfectly, with a wide variety of fully certified, inherently flame-retardant artificial plants, trees and foliage.”

Full certification behind the FireSilx brand allows project managers to meet fire safety standards requested by on-site fire officers effortlessly.

Flame retardant materials are used during the manufacture of FireSilx, resulting in an inherently fire-retardant product. Other FR products rely on post-production sprays or dips to achieve fire resistance and require periodic re-application. FireSilx will stay flame retardant forever with zero maintenance.

Continues Jonathon: “We’re continually looking to expand the product line to include a greater variety of FR rated products. We hold multiple worldwide certificates, tested to a variety of standards, such as the British standard BS 5867: Part 2. Furthermore, all FireSIlx products come with a lifetime guarantee.”

Preassembled artificial trees are also available. A variety of species are consistently stocked, from artificial fiddle leaf trees and elegant faux olive balls to lifelike bamboo and colourful wisteria trees. All off the shelf trees are carefully manufactured to ensure ultimate realism and durability.

TreeLocate products can be viewed and purchased online via an all new web store. Trade customers can sign up for exclusive offers as well as see real-time stock quantities, create quotes and benefit from trade discounts.

www.treelocate.com