How Middlesbrough Council uses Amberol's planter rental scheme to create seasonal town centre displays

Earlier this summer, Middlesbrough Council once again opted for Amberol's planter rental scheme to bring seasonal floral displays into the heart of their town centre, as part of its annual programme of public space enhancements.

For councils looking to enjoy colourful floral displays without the long-term commitment, Amberol's planter rental scheme offers a simple solution. Planters are delivered ready-planted for the season and collected at the end of the season.

We recently caught up with Glen Pinnegar, Operations Manager at Middlesbrough Council, to learn more about why they chose Amberol’s planter rental scheme, and the benefits it has brought to their town centre.

A seasonal approach to town centre planting

Rather than relying on permanent displays, Middlesbrough Council refreshes its town centre planting throughout the year, using seasonal installations to keep public spaces attractive and well maintained.

Glen Pinnegar of Middlesbrough Council explains:

"It's all part of our seasonal programme. The planters are in place during the summer, and later in the year they're replaced by Christmas displays and other seasonal features across the town centre."

Enhancing the pedestrian precinct

As part of this year's summer installation, twenty-seven New Precinct Fountain Planters were professionally planted, delivered and positioned throughout the pedestrianised shopping precinct.

The tiered floral displays bring a splash of colour to one of the town's busiest public spaces, creating a welcoming environment for residents, visitors and local businesses alike.

Commenting on the impact of the displays, Glen said:

"The planters add colour and interest to the pedestrian area, where there isn't a great deal of other planting."

How does Amberol’s planter rental scheme work?

For councils that only require planters during the peak flowering months, Amberol's rental scheme provides a flexible alternative to ownership.

The planters are professionally planted before being delivered and positioned on site, ready to provide instant impact. Once installed, Middlesbrough Council's role is simply to keep the displays watered throughout the growing season before the units are collected.

How does the Amberol self-watering feature perform during dry weather?

Like many local authorities across the UK, Middlesbrough Council has faced the challenge of maintaining floral displays during an exceptionally dry season.

"Despite the drought conditions, the planters are performing well, and our staff are just keeping on top of the watering”, said Glen.

Regular watering remains an important part of the Council's responsibilities during the rental period.

The built-in reservoir helps provide plants with a steady supply of water between maintenance visits, reducing the impact of hot, dry conditions. While the planters still require regular watering during prolonged dry spells, the AquafeedTM self-watering system helps them cope far better than conventional containers.

The success of the project shows how rental planters can help councils create welcoming, attractive environments while keeping maintenance and storage requirements to a minimum.

Submit your case study and win £300 towards a self-watering planter

Do you have a community story to share? Submit your case study to web@amberol.co.uk before 30 September 2026 for the chance to win £300 towards a self-watering planter of your choice.

Find out more in our recent blog, or submit your story to: web@amberol.co.uk

How can we help?

To find out how Amberol’s self-watering planters can help you create stunning floral displays, call 01773 830 930 or email sales@amberol.co.uk. We can also arrange a personalised virtual demonstration, giving you the opportunity to explore our planter range up close.