Alben Landscapes has been working for Lostock Hall Academy for four years.
The secondary school near Preston is home to 700 students, and a spacious 120,000 sqm of grounds which includes football pitches, sport field, amenity areas, wildflower areas, hedges, shrubs and many different tree varieties to keep Alben busy throughout the year.
Steve Siddon, Lostock Hall Academy’s Senior Site Supervisor, enjoys working with Alben and appreciates their transparent communication and swift response times:
“One of the many things that sets Alben apart is how responsive they are to any enquiry. We’re never left waiting for a phone call; Simon goes above and beyond to help and seems to drop everything to come and see us if anything crops up.
“Alben provides weekly grass cutting and general grounds maintenance, including regular tree surveys to ensure the safety of staff, pupils and visitors to the school.
“The school’s surroundings and sports facilities play a big part in the first impression that people get of Lostock Hall Academy, so it’s important that the site looks smart at all times. It’s part of the Lostock ethos to maintain our buildings and grounds to an exceptional standard because we believe that students and staff deserve the best environment we can offer.
“Alben’s support is invaluable in that respect. The level of skill, service and price is such that we haven’t even considered another company in the three years I’ve worked here.”
Alben’s Operations Director, Si Ashworth, says:
“It’s a pleasure to work with Steve and the team at Lostock Hall Academy. Alben is responsible for regularly cutting and lining the sports field, hedge flailing, shrub pruning and weed control as well as maintaining the wildflower areas which provide a colourful backdrop, and encourage pollinators to the school’s grounds.
“On a seasonal basis, we also do additional wildflower planting and collect leaves to keep them from causing issues. Piles of leaves can be a safety concern if they become slippery, they can affect the grass, and they have the potential to cause flooding and such by blocking drains.
“We demonstrate the same commitment to quality in all our contracts, but Lostock Hall Academy is a source of particular pride as it’s very local to us and we pass regularly. It’s nice to know we play a small part in helping the school maintain its welcoming reputation.”
