Potting robot helps bring city into spring bloom

Plants are prepared at The Arium in Leeds before being sent out across the city

A robot has been used to help prepare about two million plants which will later be placed around a city to bring a burst of colour this spring and summer.

The state-of-the-art machine is based at The Arium, a garden centre and plant nursery in Whinmoor, Leeds, and is operated by the city council.

The "potting robot" works by transplanting young plants from their seed trays into their final trays before they are placed in parks and flowerbeds and on roundabouts.

Lee Cawood, nursery manager at The Arium, said the device was "worth its weight in gold".

"It is hugely important. It's saving a lot on staffing and it's a lot more efficient," he said.

"We can programme in works better to fit into other works we have going on.

"We would be lost without it."

Lee Cawood (pictured) said he and his team would be "lost" without the work done by the robot

Mr Cawood said the potting robot - otherwise known as a Rotomation RW24 Transplanter - had now stopped full-time work for the moment, but it was due to get under way again in late July in preparation for winter.

The human staff were now focused on getting the plants to the council, ready for planting, he said.

"We have two days to get tidied and get ready for dispatch," he explained.

"We need to be getting the bedding out in the next two to three weeks."

The potting robot even has a mascot, a bear called Declan

The Arium is believed to be the largest council-run plant nursery in the country, having been run by Leeds City Council since 1956.

Mr Cawood said that gave the nursery a special role in helping many people in Leeds, from community groups to school projects.

"We are here to grow for the people of Leeds, to give advice to the people of Leeds on the horticultural side of things," he said.

"We will deal with groups, large or small. We are here to help them out."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.