BALI Landscape News Spring 2020 by British Association of Landscape Industries

THE THE OFFICIAL OFFICIAL JOURNAL JOURNAL OFOF THE THE BRITISH BRITISH ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION OFOF LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRIES INDUSTRIES

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SPRING

2020 Use this button throughout to visit advertiser websites IN TE R AC T I V E ISSUE

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BALI to launch new public magazine

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BALI Registered Designers triumph at SGD Awards

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BALI Awards Adjudicators’ 20 tips for a top submission

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Plant Health Best Practice with Provender Nurseries

Bloc Design: Atle Tveit & Lars TornÃ¸e

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DESIGN TANK PHOTO MATTEO GASTEL

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CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME Dear member Like many, I am relieved to see the first signs of Spring after a challenging Autumn and a sodden Winter season. The last quarter not only saw the UK officially leave the European Union, it also saw some of the wettest weather in recent times thanks to several named storms that left landscaping sites waterlogged and ground conditions untenable. This put immense pressure on members trying to complete projects before the year got underway in earnest.

As ever, my industry colleagues persevered and we’re now on the right side of these challenging events. The inclement weather has passed, days are getting longer, and the first signs of spring have already sprung. We can all look forward to the new season unfolding and subsequently improving those gruelling ground conditions. Since January I have been busy supporting the team at BALI Landscape House by attending several regional AGMs, including my own home region of North Thames. The regional AGMs are one of my highlights of being your National Chairman. It affords me an opportunity to meet members and industry colleagues, network, share ideas and hear directly on views for the coming year. I usually come away from these meetings full of optimism and good ideas that can be shared at the next event. A big thank you to all our regional chairs and their committees, in particular Richard Kay, my Vice Chairman, for supporting me and attending many of the meetings that I could not make. If you haven’t attended your AGM or one of your local regional events in a while, I highly recommend you login to the BALI website and book yourself on to the next available one. We now have a dedicated Regional Support Officer working with our regional teams which has resulted in an increase in events and activities. Following on from the amazing National Landscape Awards last December, the date for the 44th BALI National Landscape Awards has been confirmed as Friday 4th December 2020, so now is definitely the time to start thinking about which site or project you could enter. The Awards are always inspirational, a great way of benchmarking your business against your peers and can bring huge benefit in terms of staff morale, recruitment and marketing. Find out more on page 10. Finally, I would like to personally welcome all the new BALI members listed on this page, congratulations on passing the vetting process and I hope to see you at some of the forthcoming regional meetings. Make sure you are using all of your membership benefits relevant to your business. We outline two of them on page 30; BALI Digital with Adtrak and BALI HR & H&S with Quest. Best wishes.

New members as at 14/02/2020 REGISTERED CONTRACTOR

REGISTERED DESIGNER

South Thames • CC Cousins • Rich Green Gardens • The Grounds Care Group UK

North Thames • Hunt, Maïtanne (MSGD)

Scotland • Stephen Ogilvie

North Thames • Di Toro Gardens • Panoramic Landscape Contractors

Yorkshire & North East • WL Straughan and Son

South Thames • Innovision Landscapes

South West • Rob Fox Landscape Contractors

DSO

North West • Urban Roofscapes

Yorkshire North East • Thirteen Group

Midlands • Ponds by Michael Wheat • Greenfields Countryside

INTERNATIONAL

• Isik Peyzaj Mimarligi

REGISTERED AFFILIATE

BALI & ROLO TRAINING PROVIDER

South Thames • Furnitubes • VistaGreen • Silverland Stone

South Thames • KLC T/A KLC School of Design Scotland • Camilla Training Aspects

Yorkshire & North East • Bramhall 1840

Passed QSR

Midlands • Greenfix • Spaldings North West • Get Work International • RINNO-PROS (NEL Group)

Matt O’Conner National Chairman

Spring 2020

ASSOCIATE CONTRACTOR

• GreenArt Garden Design and Landscaping • Green and Tidy Landscapes • Landscape Design Contracts • Sustain Landscapes • Swinburne Horticultural Services • Willerby Landscapes

BALI Landscape News

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Arches • Pergolas • Obelisks • Fruit Cages • Raised Beds Bespoke Planters • Fencing • Garden Furniture

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Editor’s Welcome 2020 will be my fourth year at the British Association of Landscape Industries, how time flies. I remain just as passionate about landscaping as I did on my first day on the job as your Marketing and Communications Manager, and now also Editor of Landscape News. The great thing is that I get to meet so many different people and businesses working on some incredible projects, as well as supporting and promoting you at shows and events around the UK alongside my colleague, Marketing and Communications Officer Trushali Chudasama. This year has already started on a positive note, with our support of the International Year of Plant Health 2020. We have several activities planned for later this year, including our own webinar on plant health identification tools set for Tuesday 21 April. We have also confirmed we will be exhibiting at RHS Chelsea, RHS Hampton and RHS Tatton this year having taken a year out from participating in the latter two in 2019. We have a few surprises in store too, one of which is our brand-new public-facing magazine that will launch at RHS Chelsea. 70% of you asked us to promote your business to the public, so alongside this new product, we’re also focusing on digital marketing in 2020; tweaking the website with enhanced features, renewing our advertising efforts by targeting potential clients online and redesigning our marketing emails.

Editor Darren Taylor BALI Landscape House Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2LG T: 024 7669 8656 M: 07800 573351 Editorial and news releases darren.taylor@bali.org.uk Advertising diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk Copy date for Summer 2020 edition 7 May 2020

With BALI turning 50 as an organisation in 2022, I have started to think about all the ways we could celebrate this major milestone; from show gardens and special BALI-held events to retrospective features, interviews, collaborations and more. It’s certainly an exciting time to be a member of BALI and I look forward to working with each and every one of you in the months and years to come. Best wishes. Darren Taylor

Design by:

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Cover image:

Stuart Craine MBALI MSGD Thornhill Road

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CONTENTS

New Traditional Acid-Etched Steel Furniture Collection

• • • •

Site visits Bespoke structures Trade discount & pricing Professional CAD/ technical drawings

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Quarterly Update

Designer Focus

LATEST NEWS

BALI’s plans for a rebrand gathers momentum In 2018, BALI commissioned a specialist branding agency to undertake a series of stakeholder interviews to help the Association better understand its future market position by asking specific questions related to its current branding. Results varied, but there were certain regularities from members and third-party organisations like the Royal Horticultural Society and the Society of Garden Designers who had similar feelings as the staff at Landscape House; BALI successfully supported and promoted its members, but as an organisation in itself, what was its primary purpose. BALI needed to find a way to help identify what its core services entailed. This meant the Association required a new approach that better demonstrated the work it carries out on behalf of its members whilst raising the standard of landscaping across the UK. Breaking down the research, it was also confirmed that the word ‘BALI’, when used as an acronym, was not effectively connecting with clients who were asked to recognise the registered logo as a mark of quality and trust; the public in particular associated BALI with a word used in tourism circles. Although the brand is still recognised by a large majority of businesses in the commercial sector as the kitemark of British landscaping, careful consideration was needed to reflect on this result; something had to be done to simplify what BALI stood for. To better support, promote and inspire its members by acting as a thought leader in its field, to reinvent itself to help challenge the perceptions that landscaping is a poorly valued, low-skilled career

and to remain competitive in the marketplace, the team at Landscape House made the decision to start reviewing its brand in 2019. Since then, further work has taken place with member focus groups, who have helped the Association by inputting into the creation of a potential new direction for BALI, alongside continuing internal discussions. Plans are still being drawn up to decide on the future of BALI and its brand, but for the latest updates make sure you and your colleagues are signed up to receive the weekly BALI Newsletter. To check if your email is subscribed, or to add someone new, email trushali.chudasama@bali.org.uk with the name(s) and email address(es) of the people you would like to sign up.

BALI’S STAND AT RHS CHELSEA AIMS FOR ‘LOFT APARTMENT’ THEME BALI is returning to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020, 19-23 May, and has confirmed its trade stand will once again be number 496 on Eastern Avenue. For 2020, the stand design is being overseen by Graphic Arts Group and the brief is ‘loft apartment’ including modern features and industrial-looking displays that offer a slick designer’s pad combined with the freshness from the rich planting which will be on display via two vertical LivePanel living walls and two LivePicture units, courtesy of BALI Registered Affiliate Mobilane. Alongside these displays will be several high-quality A2-sized frames that help to showcase member’s work. Think art gallery, with down and up lighting helping to illuminate

BALI Landscape News

key features. Each frame will sit on a fixed cable system that will be attached to the floor and ceiling. The back wall, which will be cleverly constructed as an imitation brick wall, will promote BALI’s new ‘Find a Landscape... Designer, Contractor, Supplier’ campaign, with the Association placing a larger emphasis on marketing to the public. The stand will be complimented by several pieces of high-end, contemporary furniture which will help create that apartment look. BALI’s new public-facing magazine will be on show for the first time at RHS Chelsea and BALI invites you to come over and say hello to the team throughout show week.

Spring 2020

One of the many features to appear in the magazine; Garden Design for Novices with Maïtanne Hunt MBALI MSGD

BALI TO LAUNCH NEW PUBLIC-FACING MAGAZINE AT RHS CHELSEA To coincide with BALI’s rebrand launch, the marketing team at Landscape House is developing a brand-new printed product. This 32page glossy magazine is aimed at the domestic market and will promote members who provide products and services to the general public. The magazine will be used by BALI at all major public-facing shows and events, including RHS Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. BALI identified a gap in the market for a UK trade association to publish a magazine that is written for the domestic market after 70% of members requested the Association promote member’s services to the public. The first edition will be available on BALI’s stand EA/496 at RHS Chelsea 2020 from 18 May.

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LATEST NEWS

ENTRIES OPEN FOR BALI AWARDS 2020 BALI Registered members can now enter the 44th BALI National Landscape Awards, with this year’s categories now online to view at baliawards.co.uk. With over 1,000 VIPs, members and guests in attendance annually, the Awards have become the largest and most successful landscaping Awards in Europe. The Awards represent the very highest standards across the horticulture and landscape industry, celebrating the hard work, skill and achievements of BALI Registered members across the UK and internationally.

This could be your company in the spotlight at the BALI National Landscape Awards 2020

BALI Registered Designer, Contractor and Group members can receive an early bird discount if entering before the deadline of 22 April 2020. The final deadline for all entries for these membership categories is 3 June 2020. International members have an early bird deadline of 3 June 2020 and a final deadline of 8 July 2020, the same as Registered Affiliate members and anyone entering this year’s Employer Excellence Awards. This year’s BALI National Landscape Awards are sponsored by Headline Sponsor and BALI Registered Affiliate member Green-tech.

Earn the respect of your industry peers by entering one of the available categories

Save the date! Ceremony set for 4 December 2020. To view all of this year’s categories and sponsors visit baliawards.co.uk. For enquiries contact awards@ bali.org.uk or call +44(0)24 7669 0333.

BALI confirms new Adjudicators for BALI Awards Although they will not be actively judging projects in 2020, the BALI Awards Adjudication Panel would like to formally welcome three new additions: award-winning garden designer Matthew Nichol MBALI MSGD; former landscaping director Mike Ogden of BALI Registered Contractor Gavin Jones, who retired in 2019; and Tanya Meah from BALI Registered Contractor Ground Control, who has come on board as Employer Excellence adjudicator. All three will be joining their adjudicator colleagues over the summer, allowing them an opportunity to see first-hand how the adjudicators scrutinise and score each scheme they visit. Matthew, who has over 18 years of experience working in domestic garden design and landscaping, also has extensive experience in landscaping design, project estimating and business management. A member

BALI Landscape News

Matthew Nicol MBALI MSGD

of the Society of Garden Designers’ adjudication panel, Matthew runs a successful and award-winning small design practice where projects typically range between £25k – £300k. Mike, who studied at Askham Bryan College, went on to undertake several managerial positions in soft and hard landscaping roles, with a CV including stints at BALI Registered Contractor Goddards (Landscape Contractors), Tilhill and most recently Gavin Jones. Tanya has a an excellent track record for delivering commercial growth, developing and delivering long term strategy and short term tactics for all aspects of the People function within an organisation, within customer centric, B2B and B2C environments. Tanya is currently People Director at Ground Control.

Spring 2020

Tanya Meah

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LATEST NEWS

A ‘MASTERCLASS’ IN DIGITAL TRAINING FOR MEMBERS In February 2020, BALI hosted two Digital Marketing Masterclass workshops, one at BALI Registered Affiliate Majestic Trees on the 13th February and the second at BALI Registered Affiliate Talasey on 26th February. Both sessions were a resounding success, with members praising BALI, marketing consultant and Google-qualified trainer Andrew Lloyd Gordon and BALI Registered Affiliate Adtrak, for an informative and educational workshop.

BALI-NCF MEMBERS TRIM NUMBER OF INCIDENTS BY 61% IN LAST THREE YEARS BALI’s National Contractors Forum (BALI-NCF) has revealed the number of incidents involving its members and hedge trimmers may have decreased by as much as 61% since 2017. The significant reduction in accidents and near misses was calculated by BALI Technical Officer (Policy & Research), Owen Baker, who manages the BALI-NCF Health & Safety Forum alongside BALI-NCF Chairman, Phil Jones, Chief Executive of BALI Registered Contractor ESL Landscape Contractors. Owen commented, “Using the ‘accident frequency rate’ metric per 100,000 hours of work, I was able to compare the number of reported incidents submitted by members of the Health and Safety Forum before and after we implemented training. The data suggests a pleasing decrease of both accidents and near-misses between 2017, when we started collecting data, and the end of 2019.” In early 2018, the BALI-NCF teamed up with BALI Registered Affiliate Andreas STIHL to host

a series of train-the-trainer workshops specific to hedge trimmers. From PPE to inspection of machinery, refuelling to correct cutting technique, the workshops were aimed at trainers working for or with BALI-NCF members and virtually sold out at the time. BALI-NCF Chairman Phil Jones commented, “Although the reduction in the number of incidents could be attributed to several reasons, from the development of safer technology by the manufacturer to a greater understanding of the equipment, I believe our train-the-trainer sessions were an invaluable and integral part of this reduction.”

BALI Landscape News

Adtrak’s presentation, which centred on website design, landing pages and the importance of a good user interface, complimented Andrew’s presentation which homed in on deploying a strategic marketing process in order to be most effective. Bookmark bali.org.uk/events and ensure you and your colleagues are signed up to receive emails from BALI’s marketing team by contacting Trushali Chudasama trushali.chudasama@bali.org.uk to be one of the first to hear about similar future events hosted by BALI.

The initial workshops were so successful that the BALI-NCF decided to work with Andreas STIHL for a second time, to host eight more train-the-trainer sessions in late 2019. Held at four different college venues, the events were well received by 150 attendees representing 29 landscaping companies in the UK.

BALI’s Digital Marketing Masterclass with trainer Andrew Lloyd Gordon

Harper Adams BALI-NCF Hedge Trimmer Workshop

Topics included content marketing, search engine optimisation, email marketing, social media and pay-perclick, with the first-ever workshop taking a higher level view on all areas of digital in the hope future workshops can be delivered in other parts of the UK, or online, focusing on specific areas that can support members and their businesses.

Spring 2020

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LATEST NEWS

BALI to host plant health identification webinar this April

BALI SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANT HEALTH 2020

The United Nations has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) to help raise global awareness on why protecting plant health can have a positive effect on tackling poverty, supporting the environment and the economy. Plants are the source of the air we breathe and most of the food we eat, yet we often don’t think about keeping them healthy. This can have devastating results. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that up to 40% of food crops are lost due to plant pests and diseases annually. This leaves millions of people without enough food to eat and seriously damages agriculture - the primary source of income for rural poor communities. Plant health is increasingly under threat. Climate change, and human activities, have altered ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and creating new niches where pests can thrive. At the same time, international travel and trade has tripled in volume in the last decade and can quickly spread pests and diseases around the world causing great damage to native plants and the environment. Protecting plants from pests and diseases is far more cost-effective than dealing with full-blown plant health emergencies. Plant pests and diseases are often impossible to eradicate once they have established themselves and managing them

BALI Landscape News

are time-consuming and expensive. Prevention is critical to avoiding the devastating impact of pests and diseases on agriculture, livelihoods and food security and many of us have a role to play.

So, what can we all do? BALI will be supporting #IYPH2020 with a series of articles, social media campaigns, webinars and events that help to highlight ways members can participate by promoting plant health best practice within their day-to-day operations. The tools offered by BALI will include a helpful infographic that can be shared with staff, articles in future BALI publications, a plant health identification webinar during National Plant Health Week, 20th - 27th April 2020, and an event in September following BALI’s National AGM 2020. Although plans are still to be confirmed for both the webinar and the event in September, you can keep track of all of BALI’s activities, along with helpful links to third party resources including information from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on our online portal at bali.org.uk/help-andadvice/iyph2020.

Spring 2020

On Tuesday 21 April 2020 BALI will host a free-toattend webinar focused on plant health and biosecurity. To celebrate National Plant Health Week #NPHW2020, BALI will be hosting this special 90-minute webinar will be dedicated to plant health protection techniques and preventative measures. The webinar is open to all industry individuals and companies who work specifically with plants and growing media and with 2020 marked as the International Year of Plant Health, it’s free to sign up. Matt Casey, Plant Health Policy Advisor for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will be talking about your responsibility in relation to the new plant passport system. More speakers will be confirmed by the time Landscape News reaches members, so visit bali.org.uk/events to see who is confirmed and to book your free place.

LATEST NEWS

BALI SPONSORS SPECIFI LANDSCAPE PROGRAMME 2020 Over the past six years the organisers of Specifi have created a tried and tested event format, establishing a relaxed environment that provides the perfect backdrop for face to face engagement, the freedom to talk and the sharing of ideas as well as gaining inspiration from world-class speakers whilst socialising together. In every city they visit, Specifi invite a cross-section of specifying professionals to join them in one room for one night, including thoughtprovoking industry talks and a free dinner with drinks. BALI, who sponsored the event programme in 2019, has once again confirmed its sponsorship of all eight Specifi Landscape events. The theme for this year is #100 Voices – Creating a Climate for Change. In 2019 over 900 UK architectural practices and landscape practitioners declared a climate and biodiversity emergency. In 2020 Specifi’s #100 Voices speaker series promises to bring together 100 thought leaders from across the built environment sector to explore how this declaration can be turned into practical action, the obstacles that must be overcome, and the tools

available to specifiers to move towards the net-zero future. From London to Lanarkshire, venues are always well placed and timely, aiming for an after-work audience which allows attendees to relax and network with each other. Paul Brooke, Specifi CEO with 30 years’ experience across the built environment sector commented: “People meet in person less and less these days. We’re using our phones, social media and digital channels more than ever before. And yet, meeting face to face is still the a most powerful way to connect with new people, catch up with existing contacts and do business.” For a full list of Specifi Landscape dates coming up in 2020, visit bali.org.uk/events.

BALI COMMENTS ON HS2 GREENLIGHT HS2 has split the nation in relation to the long-term benefits to the economy, effectiveness of alleviating longstanding transport issues and environmental cost. Following the announcement from Downing Street back in February that HS2 will proceed, BALI provided a statement focusing on the environmental elements of the project only, and specifically what they believe an effectively managed project would look like in environmental terms. Respect for the landscape by HS2, whilst in the early stages of construction, has not been without problems. Most notably, as reported by the media, trees left to fail after a watering regime had not been maintained and habitats affected by the works, reportedly without prior permission from landowners, are disappointing and do not reflect best practice. BALI would regard these as serious failings, and hopes the project is managed with more care for the environment as it progresses.

Employing specialist landscape architects and contractors to assist architects and tier one contractors with the forward procurement and contracting of the design and build of the primary landscape infrastructure should be seen as a necessary requirement, not an optional one.

part of the environmental remediation offering. Plant biosecurity is now a key consideration for the landscape profession, and BALI would expect the measures undertaken as part of this project to reflect best practice, for either material sourced from the UK or overseas. To read more on BALI’s position visit bali.org.uk/help-and-advice/ research/hs2

For the environmental aspects of the HS2 project to be deemed a success, BALI would expect a high level of integration between the construction and environmental teams. Specifically, whilst BALI understands the loss of a proportion of habitats is a requirement of the project, they believe this should be undertaken with care and in conjunction with landowners and environmental custodians. For mitigation of lost landscapes to be effective - and to ensure established habitats are not lost in vain – BALI would expect the sums invested in the environmental remediation aspects of the project to reflect the value of habitats to surrounding wildlife. BALI would also expect long term management and maintenance plans to be a central

Spring 2020

BALI Landscape News

CONTRACTOR NEWS

THE CHANGING FACE OF ESL Over the past twelve months, dramatic and progressive changes have been taking place at BALI Registered Contractor ESL Landscape Contractors, culminating in the company now being perfectly fit for the future. The challenging journey has been led by Phil Jones, who took over as Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2018. Phil has overseen the introduction of sound business principles, implemented by a team who have more than risen to the challenge. ‘Focusing on the important’ was the primary motivator and as a company ESL wanted to ‘do the right thing’, form collaborative relationships and create an environment in which their staff could learn, develop and grow.

What have been the changes which have laid the foundations for the success of the business? One of the many advancements has been the introduction of a comprehensive training plan which focuses on each employee’s personal development and career goals. The plan includes training commitment at both college and in the workplace, allowing individuals to engage and grow within the company whilst strengthening their skills and enabling higher performance on site. Customer service has also been an essential element, with ESL consulting its customers, in some cases engaging the services of a third party to ask both existing and historic customers their views on services provided in the past. The feedback from these sessions has been instrumental in enabling the company to do things in a different

BALI Landscape News

way, which has resulted in the more effective delivery of projects and demonstrably improved customer satisfaction. Driving this change is a dedicated and re-invigorated team, supplemented by a number of appointments of key people recruited from industry leading organisations: joining because they are excited about the future development plans of the company, the part they can play and how this also leads to their personal success.

What does the future hold for the ‘new’ ESL? The business is looking firmly to the future, and to strengthening and building key relationships with everyone it deals with and working relentlessly to deliver on what they promise.

growth story which have taken place over the past 12 months and to give the company a brand new image to underpin its future growth. Phil Jones, CEO said “I firmly believe that we have completely changed the business methodology and culture of ESL, from how our teams are valued right through to the quality of work produced and the open and collaborative way we are communicating. All of the work by the inspirational team that I work with is ensuring that we have outgrown the old branding and created a need to reflect our new approach in a brandnew image. So, watch our social media, website and the industry press in the coming months to see just what our new and improved company looks like!” For more information contact Stephen Capstick. Head of Sales and Business Development stephen.capstick@esl-ltd.co.uk 07387 268583

On the cards is a new base of operations in Surrey, which will be home to ESL’s Management and Operations Teams and is conveniently located to be easily accessible to the company’s areas of operational delivery. Excitingly, ESL is also looking to better position themselves within their key markets, to reinforce their new culture and values. To this end plans are already in place, as this article goes to print, to completely overhaul the identity of ESL to reflect the business changes and

Spring 2020

Chief Executive Officer Phil Jones

CONTRACTOR NEWS

GREEN AND BLUE ROOFS AND HOW THEY BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT BALI Registered Contractor GeoGreen Solutions’ Chartered Horticulturist Mark Shaw talks to Landscape News about the importance of green and blue roofs and the benefits on the environment. We are now seeing more green roofs than ever before, be it on universities, hospitals, business parks and residential developments, but why is this occurring and how is the environment benefiting from this? Increased environmental policies being introduced to help reduce our carbon footprint and currently all new and refurbished developments of a certain type put forward for planning are required to meet a stringent criteria known as the BREEAM Certification Scheme (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). This is an international scheme that carries out an assessment of the sustainability performance on buildings, communities and infrastructure projects. When a green roof if designed and installed correctly, not only is it extremely pleasing to the eye, bringing an array of colour to an otherwise bland grey roof, they also offer a considerable amount of benefits to the environment by contributing to items such as: • Increasing a roof’s lifespan, owing to the protection from ultraviolet light, rain and adverse temperatures • Added insulation by reducing the amount of heat lost from a building • Noise and heat reduction • Increased habitat for insects and birds. There are many types of green roof that suit specific site requirements, like the weight load of the structure.

• Extensive green roofs use lightweight materials and usually consist of sedum vegetation or wildflower mixes that are low maintenance. • Intensive green roofs offer an extension of the garden and as such require a greater depth of growing medium to sustain the planting. Normal garden maintenance requirements plus irrigation. • Biodiverse roofs mimic the existing vegetation and allow for wind-blown seeds to germinate and establish. This can be supplemented using a seed mix which has been collected from locally growing wildflower plants.

Blue roofs can hold water for up to 24 hours

• Footpaths, road surfaces and driveways are currently made up of non-porous materials which prevent rainwater percolating into the ground and instead causes run off into the same drainage system. As a consequence, the ground drainage system backs up and causes water levels to rise which in turn results in ground areas flooding.

A green roof can also be installed incorporating a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDs). This creates a temporary water storage area, also known as a Blue Roof. Blue roofs can also include paved, pebble or decking finishes with similar benefits of its green counterpart.

Using a blue roof system helps to prevent this and allows water to be temporarily held on a roof for up to a period of 24 hours. The water is slowly released during this period through the outlets, fall pipes and into the ground drainage system below.

Blue roofs form an important part of meeting SuDS requirements and contribute considerably to reducing the risk of flooding and pollution, a requirement for all modern developments.

A specific amount of water is released through the chamber into the outlets.

Issues with rainwater • On a traditional flat or pitched roof in times of heavy or consistent rain, the outlets, gutters, fall pipes and ground drainage system struggles to cope with the amount of water coming off the roofs.

Dedicated and calibrated restricting chambers are used to manage the water.

The need for the installation of blue roof and podium systems has increased considerably over the past five years and will continue to be a focal point of all new developments both for business and residential developments. For advice on green and blue roofs visit geogreen.co.uk

Spring 2020

BALI Landscape News

CONTRACTOR NEWS

The art of dry stone walling BALI’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Darren Taylor, discusses the art of dry stone walling with Head Mason and Director of BALI Registered Contractor Bespoke Stone Walling, Nicholas Leitch, an expert craftsman with years of experience working with both traditional and modern methods. The evolution of dry stone walling, a craft which has been around since before the Neolithic period, is a fascinating one. Garden designers and landscapers alike have been using dry stone walls within their schemes for years and they now feature widely in many show gardens. However, much has changed since the days of traditional walling using only stone to hand. There are many advantages to traditional dry stone walling, especially in today’s society where climate change is forcing us to reflect on how we use and source natural resources. Many of our projects reuse stone from previous landscaping schemes. This achieves a timeless look, as if the stonework has always been there. One of the advantages of repurposing existing stone features is that you can utilise what is already on site, without having to bring in any new materials, other than additional reclaimed stone which we recycle from other projects or tumbled down walls. This traditional method of building dry stone walls also has other advantages for the environment. They create important ecosystems and unique habitats for animals and plants, which a lot of modern structures cannot provide

BALI Landscape News

because of their solid fill. Another advantage of traditionally built dry stone walls is that they are designed to last. A dry stone wall built correctly will far outlive a dry stone wall built incorrectly or held together purely by cement. However, it is paramount to have a team of knowledgeable craftsman who understand the correct methods of traditional dry stone walling; it is a craft learnt over many years. The biggest mistakes we see are often caused by the lack of knowledge, resulting in improper infill or incorrect coursing of the stone. So, as we have seen so far, the traditional method of dry stone walling is low waste, organic, utilises natural resources in a sustainable manner and results in a wall that will last. In contrast, modern methods of dry stone walling only retain a few traditional methods, usually the dressing and the coursing of the stone. The innards of these modern walls are achieved by facing concrete blocks, with one face of dry stone walling held to the block wall using wall ties and a cement based mix. This is favoured among many modern landscapers and designers as these types of walls are quick to construct and often more cost effective as less stone is needed compared to traditional techniques. Again, this is a process we are used to using within a lot of our projects, but there are some key factors to consider

Spring 2020

when building dry stone walls with modern cement-based products. The stone will still need to breathe within the wall, so using an exclusively concrete fill will eventually blow the stone. This is especially common with the limestone we are used to building with here in the Cotswolds. In these circumstances it is preferable to use a lime infill mix, as it lets the stone breathe and doesn’t let as much moisture penetrate the wall. Another method we use when working with modern dry stone walls is to build the stonework in layers and then use a wetter mix to run in-between the infill to strengthen the fill, as opposed to a pure concrete fill. This has many benefits; the cavity of the wall still has enough gaps for the creation of ecosystems, and it enables better drainage of the wall. The main advantage of modern dry stone walling methods is the speed of construction, which often results in a lower cost. Modern dry stone walls are still built to be somewhat organic and can provide a much-needed habitat for nature. In conclusion, both traditional and modern methods of dry stone walling, as used in the landscaping industry, have advantages and disadvantages. As long as you work with an experienced team of craftsman and designers who understand the correct methods of building dry stone walls and understand the techniques involved, there is a place for both styles within the industry. It’s important that the reasoning and art behind traditional techniques of dry stone walling are not forgotten. For more information on dry stone walling, or if you are in need of a professional Mason for your own scheme visit bespokestonewalling.co.uk

THE AWARDS ARE OPEN FOR ENTRIES! Visit baliawards.co.uk to view the categories and entry criteria and submit online today. Registered Contractor/ Registered Designer/Group Early Bird Discount Deadline: 22nd April 2020 Final Deadline: 3rd June 2020 International/Affiliate/Employer Excellence Early Bird Discount Deadline: 3rd June 2020 Final Deadline: 8th July 2020

For general enquiries, contact Emily Feeney 024 7669 8658 or Kirsty Wood 024 7669 8654 or email awards@bali.org.uk For sponsorship opportunities, contact Diane McCulloch 024 7669 0333 or email diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk

Awards luncheon: Friday 4 December 2020 JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London

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CONTRACTOR NEWS

BELDERBOS LANDSCAPES TO OPEN NEW OFFICE HUB FOR CREATIVES The Green Design Hub is the first office space for creatives, welcoming designers and businesses connected to the world of homes and gardens. From April, the hub will offer businesses of all sizes flexible and permanent space that combines best practice in a modern office design. The Green Design Hub is the brainchild of BALI Registered Contractor Belderbos Landscapes. Their new head office in South West London has been extended and converted into an office hub where garden designers, landscapers, architects and others can call home.

In addition to the flexible office space, the hub will cultivate a creative culture, with a client-facing showroom to showcase exterior products from stone to the latest garden furniture and lighting. The events programme will range from informal networking to talks from industry experts. This space will also be available to hire for external events. With an open-plan kitchen, complimentary tea and artisan coffee, shower and bicycle facilities, as well as being moments from Colliers Wood tube station – this will be the place to graft, as well as make new contacts and friends.

“Our new development comprises over 3,000 square feet of openplan and private offices, a meeting room, and informal break-out areas along with a showroom that will double-up as an event space for networking and regular events,” said Ed Belderbos, Managing Director at Belderbos.

You can sign-up to attend their launch party in April by contacting info@thegreendesignhub.com or by visiting thegreendesignhub.co.uk

John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) apprentices introduced to line marking technology In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week in February, apprentices at BALI Registered Contractor John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) were introduced to their latest and most sophisticated piece of machinery; BALI Registered Affiliate Rigby Taylor’s TinyLineMarker (TLM).

The construction on the new hub is underway with completion set for April 2020.

The team demonstrated the TLM at Barnwell School in Stevenage and were joined by Stephen McPartland MP and Amazing Apprentices. The TLM is operated by a tablet and GPS satellite connection with the software allowing operatives to move, resize and reshape the pitch lines down to centimetre precision. It allows operatives to mark pitches and running tracks without the need for measuring with reel and string, therefore introducing time efficiencies. It’s not only improving customer service levels but is also enabling employees to reduce the human resource, time, water usage and carbon footprint of their traditional line marking operations. Matt O’Conner commented “Our apprentices are witnessing first-hand how robotic line markers are transforming the sports ground industry, and in line with the National Apprenticeship Week theme to ‘Look Beyond’, they also saw how the technology allows a grounds person to create, resize, copy or move pitches in seconds using a tablet computer and Google Earth.” Visit johnoconner.co.uk for more information.

BALI Landscape News

Spring 2020

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TRAINING & TECHNICAL

GROWING APPRENTICESHIPS by Sallyann Baldry

Apprenticeships have a spring in their step as the wet and windy winter of 2019/2020 subsides. In the first month of 2020 registrations onto the Horticulture and Landscape Operative apprenticeship increased by 31%. This is good news against a backdrop of continued recruitment challenges for the industry.

are attractive because they allow organisations to address skills gaps in their wider workforce as well as making sure they spend their levy.

The introduction of the apprenticeship levy in April 2017, and the approval of the industry’s first two Standards two months later, marked a renewed interest in harnessing apprenticeships to bring new people into the industry.

service account. However, if it is not spent within two years, each month thereafter, the levy is returned to the Treasury. This loss is keenly felt; it is funding that should go to upskilling the landscaping and horticulture industry. For the levy-paying company it is money that could have been used for training, not just new starters but also those in the existing workforce.

country to compete more effectively in a global market.

and operational staff but for back-ofhouse teams too. Apprenticeships in business administration, customer service, finance, credit control, business improvement and team leading

ACO TECHNOLOGIES PROVIDES Apprenticeship reform began after the INNOVATIVE DRAINAGE SYSTEM publication of the Richard Review in November 2012, with the trailblazer FOR AWARD-WINNING group who developed the Standards It is vital that learning and for horticulture setting up in 2014. The development strategies include aspiration is for apprenticeships to PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT apprenticeships, not just for technical be truly employer-led and enable the Organisations with a wage bill of more than £3m pay 0.5% (of the wage bill) into a digital apprenticeship

In addition to the Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative there is a Level 2 apprenticeship for Arborists, with nearly 300 apprentices registered. A Level 6 apprenticeship under development for the Agriculture / Horticulture Professional Adviser is unlikely to fit the needs of the landscaping sector. More appropriate is the newly proposed Level 5 Horticulture / Landscape Technical Manager. With the development having been given the go ahead in December 2019, it will provide a compelling proposition for future levy spend; prospective leaders of the industry will be able to develop management and technical skills on a work-based programme of learning, truly focussed on industry needs.

Reference, Level and Standard

Funding

Duration in months

Approved for delivery

Active apprentices

Completed assessment

ST0225 Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative

£5,000

27/06/17

995

ST0223 Level 2 Arborist

£15,000

27/06/17

290

ST0243 Level 3 LandBased Service Engineering Technician

£21,000

23/12/15

422

ST0226 Level 3 Landscape/ Horticulture Supervisor

£8,000

12/12/18

Source: Find an Assessment Opportunity, 13th February 2020

Sallyann has worked in education, training and business development for 30 years, mainly with awarding organisations and latterly as a Director for Lantra promoting its qualifications in the horticulture, agriculture and environmental sectors. She now works as an independent consultant specialising in providing consultancy around apprenticeships for end point assessment organisations, levy-paying employers and training providers. In 2019 she was nominated as an Inspiring Woman in Apprenticeships by Apprenticeships4England.

BALI Landscape News | Spring 2019

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TRAINING & TECHNICAL

NEW HIGHER SPECIFICATION FOR DECK SUBSTRUCTURES The specification requirements for pressure treated softwood deck substructures are set to change in BS8417, the British Standard for wood preservation, when it is next revised later this year with key trade bodies incorporating the changes now. This means that all softwood components used for the structural sub-frame of a deck will have to be treated to the same level as components in permanent contact with the ground, referred to as Use Class 4. Janet Sycamore from the Timber Decking and Cladding Association (TDCA) explains why and how it will mean better performance for timber decking. Pressure treated softwood is commonly used to build decking substructures to support timber and composite deck boards. Preservative treatment provides wood with added durability. However, it’s a mistake to assume that all pressure treated wood is the same. Whilst one piece of treated wood may look very much like any other, the level of preservative protection could be very different. That’s because BS 8417 requires that the loading and penetration of preservative, impregnated into the wood, is tailored to the desired end use.

indicates the scale of the biological threat faced by a wood product in a specific end-use situation and determines the preservative loading and penetration required to deliver the service life required.

End uses are grouped into 5 categories; use class 3 relates to exterior above ground use whereas Use Class 4 relates to exterior ground contact use. Janet explains further ‘Ground contact use presents a higher biological risk to timber and therefore, in order to work well in this situation, a higher level of wood preservative needs to be impregnated into the timber’. The ‘Use Class’ system is important because it

BALI Landscape News

Spring 2020

A review by the TDCA indicates that the most common occurrence of deck failure is with the substructure - beams, wall plates and joists. Clear information about using wood correctly for decking and landscaping

BS 8417 groups the applications for treated wood into ‘Use Classes’, the main three being: BS8417 USE CLASS

3(u)

SERVICE SITUATION

EXAMPLE

Above ground, covered occasional risk of waiting

All internal construction timbers within the building envelope, such as:

Above ground, exterior uncoated exposed to frequent wetting

External construction timbers, such as:

In ground contact or fresh water permanently exposed to wetting and/or providing exterior structural support

External construction timbers, such as:

Check list when buying substructure components for timber decking

• Tiling battens, framing timbers, Internal joists, sole plates, roof timbers

• Establish if the component has been impregnated with a wood preservative in an industrial treatment plant and that it is suitable for outdoor use.

• Deck boards - not in ground contact • Fence rails and boards • Cladding and fascias

• Fencing, fence posts, agricultural timbers, retaining walls • Playground equipment • Decking posts, joists and sub-structures

projects has been promoted widely in the UK for many years with organisations like the TDCA leading the way in providing supply chain and end-user good practice guidance. Despite this, mistakes and shortcuts are still being made in constructing timber deck substructures – which compromise both the performance of the finished deck and the reputation of wood. This is made worse because once a deck is completed the substructure is typically not visible. The consequences of specification error or bad workmanship during installation does not become evident until it’s too late. For example, if vegetation and/or debris is allowed to accumulate beneath a deck, this restricts air movement and traps water, increasing the exposure risk. Likewise, it is common for deck joists to be set directly on or very close to the ground. The failure of the substructure is clearly safety critical. In Sweden, Finland, France and north America, the whole deck substructure system (posts, beams and joists) is categorised as Use Class 4. Subsequently the decision has been taken to follow this best practice in order to ensure substructures are robust and perform better. In addition this should raise confidence in the market and help to maintain timber’s position as the most popular and cost effective solution when building decks. Going forward this means that in the UK the whole substructure will be categorised as Use Class 4, whereas previously, only the posts were categorised as Use Class 4.

• Determine what service life is claimed – it should be similar or better than the deck boards you have chosen.

Following a full review of the issues outlined, the Wood Protection Association Technical Committee, which includes representatives of the BRE (Building Research Establishment) and TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association), adopted these changes as WPA policy and were subsequently ratified by both the WPA and TDCA Boards.

• Ask your supplier to verify that the timber meets a Use Class 4 specification – on the delivery note or with a treatment certificate. • NEVER substitute wood that has been treated for an indoor application for use in an external application – early failure is inevitable.

These changes have also been adopted by the BSI committee managing BS8417 (B/515) and so will be incorporated into the full standard review (probably later in 2020). In due course the WPA, TDCA and Timber Trade Federation (TTF) will be working to adopt this change in policy across the membership of all three partner associations, so as to help them transition to the new requirements in time for the publication of the revised BS8417 towards the end of 2020. In fact TDCA members Hoppings Softwoods and BSW Timber have already introduced products that meet the new guidance.

• When cross cutting, notching or boring treated timber products during installation, ALWAYS apply an end grain preservative treatment to freshly exposed areas – to maintain the integrity of the protection. NEVER put cut ends in the ground, even if end grain coated.

For more information on the specification requirements for pressure treated softwood decking visit tdca.org.uk

Spring 2020

BALI Landscape News

TRAINING & TECHNICAL

KUBOTA UNVEILS PROTOTYPE COMPACT ELECTRIC TRACTOR BALI Registered Affiliate Kubota, the company responsible for producing machinery and engines found on construction sites the world over, has unveiled a prototype compact tractor powered solely by electricity. Although details are currently limited, Kubota has confirmed the prototype is powered by lithium-ion batteries and designed to produce the equivalent power of their compact tractors with a conventional diesel engine. Kubota have not yet indicated which diesel-powered tractors the output is equivalent to, but somewhere in the region of 18 to 26 HP is likely. The model of tractor shown in a photo supplied by Kubota features a design similar to the Kubota B1 and B2 series range of tractors, fitted with a midmounted mower, hinting at the modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s likely use. Target applications identified in the press release include weeding in parks, transportation and fertilizer application. In their press release Kubota acknowledge the global shift towards electric vehicles, and suggest the new venture signifies Kubotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continued investment in meeting the needs of its customers. Kubota confirm they have engaged in research and development of electrically powered equipment, including motors, inverters and battery packs. Whilst JCB already sell an electric mini excavator for the construction industry and other manufacturers are likely investigating the potential of battery technology, Kubota are the first large manufacturer to announce an electric tractor for the landscape industry. With battery-powered handheld equipment such as chainsaws, brush cutters and hedge trimmers gaining market share and the development of battery technology, it was only a matter of time before larger landscape equipment became commercially viable.

landscape maintenance equipment has traditionally used small internal combustion engines in significant numbers and any reduction in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is positive. A reduction in localised pollution would be hugely beneficial, particularly where equipment is used in urban areas, but also for operators of the equipment. The weakest link in the development of electric-powered equipment is generating electricity and the environmental impact of the supply chain. Use of renewable sources in electricity production is essential to maximise reductions of global environmental impacts, particularly in terms of air quality and preserving fossil fuels. Without clean electricity production, only local pollution reduction is likely to be achieved through use of electric equipment. Fortunately, the percentage of electricity provided by renewable sources is steadily increasing, and in 2019 electricity from British windfarms, solar panels and biomass plants surpassed fossil fuels for the first time in history. The trend for renewable energy sources is likely to continue.

Research into the benefits of electric passenger vehicles suggests use of electricity instead of petrol or diesel as a power source has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and exposure to exhaust emissions. Whilst the landscape industry is not one of the top polluters,

BALI Landscape News

Spring 2020

Increased popularity of electricpowered vehicles has previously raised questions concerning the environmental impact of the manufacturing process. While early research suggested the manufacture of some components associated with electric vehicles has the potential for environmental damage, there is no evidence to suggest these risks cannot be avoided by stricter life-cycle management of components and responsible recycling. Whilst the technology is still in its infancy, the use of electricity in a range of landscape and grounds care equipment has huge potential, as demonstrated by the popularity of smaller, hand-held equipment. Battery technology on large equipment is unchartered territory but has the potential to bring huge benefits to the wider environment. For further details visit kuk.kubotaeu.com/constructionmachinery

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TRAINING & TECHNICAL

Carrier Landscapes’ 25-acre nursery

SPOTLIGHT ON CARRIER LANDSCAPES As mentioned in my Winter 2019 article, over the next four editions of Landscape News I am delighted to be shining the spotlight on four exceptional companies that exceeded expectations when I completed their Quality Standard Review (QSR). First up is BALI Registered Contractor Carrier Landscapes, started by Duncan Carrier 30 years ago with no major investors or financial backing. A true ‘grass roots’ business that has succeeded through careful cost management and an understanding of when it was the right time to grow the business by hiring key people that could do the job as well as he could. Duncan explains “A strong working relationship between managers and staff is vital to the successful completion of landscape projects, no matter how large or small. Any good working relationship is founded on honesty and respect for each other and for the roles they play in the delivery of projects. This can only be achieved with clear communication between all parties and at all stages. Acknowledging and responding to all communications is vital to achieve this, creating confidence in each other ability’s and commitment.” Carriers Managing Director continues, “The same level of communication must be applied to dealing with clients. Expectations in today’s world are high, with technology facilitating

instant responses, high customer service standards are now the norm. This means that you have to get things right - on time, first time, every time. By regular communication and careful planning, it can prevent problems before they occur, if an issue or problem does arise, we contact the customer first. This nips any potential problems in the bud and prevents them from growing into a major issue. Understanding and respecting suppliers also requires similar respect to get the performance, price and delivery.” Technology plays a strong role in the business, Carrier says, “It needs to be kept up to date and used to the max. It plays such a critical role in modern business from concept design right the way to internet-based forms providing critical staff and customer feedback.”

Carrier describes a further key to their success, “All 16 of our managers have been promoted internally, most starting off on the tools and learning our ethos and work ethic along the way. All employees have full time permanent contracts, and we have over 120 employees. We also have our own workshop, with four workshop engineers maintaining everything to a high standard.

Controlling and sailing our ship is paramount to offering the levels of quality and service demanded by today’s construction industry.” As the company continues to grow, two siblings have recently joined the business fresh from university to take the business to its next level. I would like to thank the team at Carrier Landscapes for their support throughout the QSR process and in preparing this article, we wish them every success in the future. carrierlandscapes.co.uk

Carrier own their own 25-acre nursery dedicated to producing quality shrubs for use on their own projects. Being able to control the quality and supply of plants provides the business with what they feel is a unique advantage in a competitive market. Richard Gardiner Technical Officer (Quality Assurance)

BALI Landscape News

Spring 2020

TRAINING & TECHNICAL

GoLandscape making a difference by supporting apprentices GoLandscape continues to promote careers in landscaping by educating secondary school pupils and supporting Further Education colleges. This last

quarter, Education Officer Stephen Ensell, with the support from GoLandscape Ambassadors, has attended 26 school and college events around the UK. From careers fairs to conferences, workshops to one-to-one talks and presentations. The team also provided support by carrying out mock interviews to help prepare candidates when looking for a job, as well as providing CV advice. One of the many highlights for the GoLandscape team was a visit to the Three Counties’ careers fair in Malvern, where over 1,000 students were in attendance. Along with putting on practical exercises (including a mini rebuilding of the DaVinci bridge) and showing pupils and teachers industry equipment, the time spent educating them resulted in some great interaction and conversation. GoLandscape is also supporting career changers, which is a primary focus for 2020. Kickstarting activities this year, GoLandscape supported Armed Forces personnel alongside

BALI Registered Contractor Mitie. The team were able to talk to a range of people and highlight the many opportunities available once they leave the Forces. GoLandscape has also launched its first series of talking heads videos via social media and published on their YouTube channel, focusing on the commercial side of landscaping. Each video features an interview with an employee or subcontractor of BALI Registered Contractor Maylim, where they explain what they do, how they joined the industry and what they love about their job. The finishing touches are being applied to the second series of videos aimed at schools and careers advisers ahead of GoLandscape’s attendance at the National Careers Guidance Shows. GoLandscape also now has a regular blog, aimed at secondary school students and career changers that includes tips and hints on how to get into landscaping. These are available at golandscape.co.uk/news-blog.

Standards that have been developed by industry with the aspiration to produce more rounded apprentices with the correct experience. Throughout 2020 the team overseeing GoLandscape are going to be looking more closely at the benefits of an apprenticeship, starting with a case study on BALI Registered Contractor Greenscape Gardens, whose very own apprentice Max is already making significant strides in his employment having been trained through BALI Training Provider YMCA Training. Max was supported by BALI, particularly with his CV, and he is now undertaking a Level 2 Landscape Operative apprenticeship. If you would like to get involved with GoLandscape, start by becoming an Ambassador. For details contact stephen.ensell@bali.org.uk.

GoLandscape is also looking forward to promoting the benefit and value of the new apprenticeships. 2020 sees the permanent move from the old apprenticeship frameworks to the new Standards. This is an exciting move which will see businesses use

Stephen Ensell, Education Officer

UPDATE ON THE USE OF GLYPHOSATE IN THE UK Glyphosate is approved for use in the UK until November 2022, when it will be reviewed. Based upon the current scientific evidence it is anticipated to be re-approved for use in the UK with some restriction. Ongoing global research is showing little or no evidence of a link to cancer. The large number of court cases in the US are using evidence secured by the World Health Organisation in 2015/16 which has since been largely discounted by subsequent research. The evidence submitted by Bayer/Monsanto has recently resulted in the appeals being suspended until further evidence is made available. There are a large number of clients now becoming worried about the use of glyphosate, due to the publicity surrounding its use and link to cancer, not helped by a decision in France to ban 26 products from sale that contain glyphosate. The products banned are older products that have largely fallen out use by the industry. BALI’s statement issued at the time, along with further information on the herbicide, can be found at bali.org.uk/help-and-advice/invasive-species/glyphosate

Spring 2020

BALI Landscape News

TRAINING & TECHNICAL

ARE YOU MAKING BEST USE OF YOUR BALI BENEFITS Feedback from BALI’s Membership Satisfaction survey showed that many members are not aware of the multitude of benefits available to them. BALI is pleased to confirm that we will now be showcasing several benefits in each edition of Landscape News to help highlight the ways in which BALI can support your business. This quarter we

highlight two essential services: BALI HR & H&S – in association with Quest and BALI Digital – in association with Adtrak. BALI Digital - in association with Adtrak provides BALI members with exclusive discounted digital services including several website design packages ranging from one-page promotions focused on

a product or service, to 10-page + websites that develop ROI. There is also Google AdWords credit available for any member that signs up to using their services. For more information, members can login to their member’s area at bali.org.uk/login and find BALI Digital under Benefits.

BALI HR & H&S – IN ASSOCIATION WITH QUEST Small businesses do not generally have access to a lot of, or in some cases, any inhouse HR, legal, health & safety or tax expertise.

Resources are usually focused on the delivery of the service or products. Even larger companies can benefit from the additional support provided by Quest. For this reason, all BALI Registered and Associate members have free access to Quests’ four main services: The HR Service, The Tax Service, The Health & Safety Service & The Legal Service. These four essential services, as well as additional paid-for specialist services, can be accessed either through the advice line or the online portal. If you require your login details for the online portal, contact emily.feeney@bali.org. uk or anna.jackman@bali.org.uk.

the impact of the upcoming Good Work Plan. To receive an honest assessment of your requirements and to book your free ‘One 2 One Review’ either call a member of the Quest team on 01455 852 028 or email hello@questcover.com Documents available through the online portal HR Library – 437 H&S Library – 136 Legal Library – 180 Member Statistics Documents downloaded – 405 Calls made to the advice line – 143

Advice Line: 0116 243 7881 Online Portal: bali.questcover.com/login Members continue to take advantage of this invaluable service, however BALI wants more of members to utilise this benefit to help support you and your business, like Berrys Garden Company, a Registered Contractor member based in London. Berrys were using a third party paid for service for several years before discovering they could access this service for free. Be like Berrys and take a look at Quest’s offering, it may just save you valuable time and money! All members are also entitled to a free ‘One 2 One Review’ with a Quest Business Manager. They will be able to discuss how you manage your HR & health & safety matters, discuss any issues you may have and assess your compliance status, including

BALI Landscape News

Spring 2020

“Quest is a fantastic service offered as part of our BALI membership. The extensive HR, Health & Safety and legal libraries of documents, templates and information have been exceptionally helpful for our business. On the rare occasions that we can’t find the information we are looking for in the document libraries, the legal advice line has helped fill in the blanks. The advisers are knowledgeable, friendly and eager to help. This is why Quest has become our first port of call whenever we need to expand our knowledge and look for advice.” Helen Gent Office Manager Berrys Garden Company

TRAINING & TECHNICAL

BALI AWARD WINNERS GO FOR GROWTH WITH ADTRAK Six BALI National Landscape Award 2019 winners are working with leading digital marketing agency and BALI Registered Affiliate Adtrak, in a bid to achieve further growth and success. BALI Registered Contractor Ground Control, who won the prestigious Grand Award 2019 in the Community and Schools Development category, has been working with Adtrak for three years. Adtrak has redesigned Ground Control’s website and implemented a digital marketing strategy focused on increasing website traffic and delivering business growth. Recently, Adtrak has been working to promote Ground Control’s winter services. This has led to a very positive 22% increase in website traffic and 23% increase in new website users. Adtrak, who are based in Nottingham and cover the whole of the UK, has recently started working with BALI Registered Affiliate SAiGE Longlife

Decking. The winner of BALI’s Affiliate Exceptional Service Award 2019, SAiGE is working with Adtrak to increase leads and expand its distributor network. In order to achieve this, Adtrak is redesigning SAiGE’s website and, once it’s live, will commence a digital strategy to increase its traffic, particularly in predetermined locations relevant to its distributor network growth.

BALI award winners. Our in-depth knowledge of the landscaping industry, combined with our technical expertise, enables us to deliver marketing services specifically designed to facilitate growth, boost performance and provide quality lead generation.”

BALI Registered Contractors Outdoor Options and Oak View Landscapes and Registered Affiliate Mobilane UK, who all received awards at BALI’s 2019 ceremony, are also working with Adtrak. Ben Shaw, Account Director at Adtrak, said: “It’s fantastic to work with so many BALI members, including

Adtrak built Ground Control’s responsive website

SureSet BBA Approved Resin Bound Paving SureSet has been Independently tested and verified by BBA for strength, durability, permeability and stability, as well testing the surface for slip resistance, tested and conforms to or meets Building Regulations (where applicable). “The certificate from BBA is held in high regard amongst architects and contractors particularly for health care, education and public realm projects. To get BBA, many hours have been spent in collaboration with BBA writing a Quality Plan, and the certificate as well as getting many versions of SureSet products tested. SureSets 3mm, 6mm and 10mm resin bound paving systems now hold full BBA approval.

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DESIGNER FOCUS

ARALIA ACHIEVES BEST OF HOUZZ 2020 BALI Registered Designer, Patricia Fox’s (MBALI MSGD) garden design practice, Aralia, has been awarded Best of Houzz 2020 for both Design and Service.

A series of Roof Terraces at Chelsea Creek Dockside House, London

The annual Best of Houzz awards recognise the top-rated home professionals around the world, and, most popular designs by category, including the garden.

Country garden, Little Eden Hertfordshire

Patricia Fox commented: “Aralia has scooped two more awards to start 2020 off the way we mean to go on – pushing the boundaries of innovation, excellence and design creativity. We received particular mentions in the design category for two of our projects: Chelsea Creek Roof Terraces and Little Eden; a traditional garden we designed in Hertfordshire. What’s more, our design for a stunning contemporary garden in Leicestershire also features in the bespoke landscaping category. We are continually striving for excellence in both design and service, and these awards go a little way to recognising our efforts. Thank you, Houzz voters!” Chelsea Creek Roof Terraces were a series of four penthouse roof terraces for St George Central London. Patricia and her team worked on phase two of the project, which saw three roof terraces constructed on the lower levels and one penthouse roof terrace designed for the 26th floor, known as the Sky Garden. A beautiful selection of natural materials was selected and

BALI Landscape News

blended carefully across a range of stunning garden features, including green walls, Corten steel planters, water features, hardwood decking, garden lighting, a hanging bubble chair and harmonious lush planting. The scheme also won a Principal BALI National Landscape Award in the Design Excellence Award category. Little Eden, a traditional rural Hertfordshire garden, also won a Principal BALI National Landscape Award in Design Excellence for overcoming the challenge of unifying two opposing buildings and overcoming the difficulties posed, all in the space of a small courtyard of less than two hundred square meters. The country garden was transformed from a play area into a functional and aesthetic threshold between the house and its outbuildings. Aralia created a space which incorporated the traditional feel of the architecture

Spring 2020

and surrounding rural landscape of this country garden, through a curvilinear design which blurred the strong geometry of the buildings. Aralia is an award-winning professional, versatile, down to earth landscape design practice. Comfortably embracing projects of any scale, they create high quality, innovative and functional outdoor spaces. Through listening and collaborating, the teamwork in partnership with every one of their private and commercial clients to educate, empower and exceed expectations. Visit aralia.org.uk for more information or call +44(0)1279 721461.

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DESIGNER FOCUS

THE EGG FEATURE RETURNS TO RHS MALVERN BALI Registered Designer, Hannah Genders MBALI, is returning to RHS Malvern Spring Festival with her sixth Eco, Green and Growing (EGG) show feature promoting sustainability and community projects. From willow weaving to solar irrigation, edible plants to composting, Hannah provides an insight into her line-up for the 2020 event. The focus at this year’s show will be composting, including the best way to compost in your own garden. We’ll also be looking at climate change and sustainability, as well as direct drilling and nitrogen fixing crops, important global issues which I am working on alongside The Landworkers Alliance. Scientist and horticulturalist Dr Andrew Jarvis from Lancaster University will also be present and contributing to the EGG feature. He will be joined by herbalist Rowan McGonegal from ‘Healing from the Hedgerow’, who will be providing educational talks on her home-run courses.

The EGG feature will also see support from The Good Soil Trust, The Farming Sisters, Eco Birmingham and expert willow weaver Amanda Raynor. If you are looking for something to be repaired, including a cracked phone screen, the Malvern Repair Café is returning and offering tea and coffee whilst the repairer gets to work in a relaxed and informal space. Hannah commented “I’ve come to love running the Eco, Green and Growing feature, promoting community projects that are growing food and changing people’s lives. From working with

BALI’S DESIGNER MEMBERS WIN TOP ACCOLADES AT SGD AWARDS

Hannah Genders MBALI

organisations helping ex-addicts to teams growing organic veg to our very own repair café. We have great talks on gardening for climate change and good music in our tepee. This year I am proud to say we are also plastic free, the first area to do this in any RHS show.” EGG is about reducing the need for resource, protecting the environment, working more sustainably and enjoying life and you are more than welcome to join Hannah and the team on the 2 - 10 May 2020 at the Three Counties Showground. For more information visit rhs.org.uk/shows-events/malvernspring-festival

Sue Townsend’s Chatto Garden, Samphire

For many of BALI’s Registered Designer members, 2020 started on a high on Friday 31 January with individuals recording top wins at the Society of Garden Designers’ awards ceremony. Winners included; • Andy Sturgeon MBALI FSGD International Garden, Snowberry Hill, Bermuda • London College of Garden Design, Student Design - Commercial, Getting Out • London College of Garden Design, Student Design - Domestic, Contemporary Woodland Edge Garden • London College of Garden Design, Student Design - Domestic, Chilterns Family Garden • Sue Townsend MBALI MSGD, Beth Chatto Garden, Samphire

• Bowles & Wyer, Principal Designer John Wyer MBALI FSGD, Healing, Learning or Community Garden, Addenbrookes Hospital NHS 70 Garden • Gavin McWilliam MBALI MSGD, Paper Landscapes, Changping Penglai Hot Spring • Sue Townsend MBALI MSGD, Big Ideas, Small Budget, Sea Dune • Stuart Craine MBALI MSGD, Planting Design, Thornhill Road Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Andy Sturgeon’s international garden

BALI Landscape News

Spring 2020

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES NOW AVAILABLE! Contact BALIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Media Sales and Sponsorship Officer Diane McCulloch for the full list of sponsorship opportunities available for the BALI National Landscape Awards 2020, the largest landscaping awards in Europe! Awards luncheon: Friday 4 December 2020 JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Diane McCulloch 024 7669 0333 or email diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk For general enquiries, contact Emily Feeney 024 7669 8658 or Kirsty Wood 024 7669 8654 or email awards@bali.org.uk

Headline Sponsor

Sponsors

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CHARITY

Supporting your mental health

If you or someone you know needs help visit perennial.org. uk/bigwhitewall

This year Perennial is launching a range of new services that aim to help prevent people getting into deeper difficulty. These include a mental health and well-being support service that is available now to anyone working in landscaping who may be struggling to cope. Perennial is the only organisation within the landscape industry to offer such a service and the charity aims to build better futures for individuals and families, but how it helps is not always widely understood. Some people think the help is not for them, but in fact if you work in landscaping or any part of the wider horticulture sector, you are eligible for support from the start of your career, all the way through to retirement. As well as its range of vital frontline support services, Perennial has launched a partnership with Big White Wall to provide mental health and well-being support. Given that one in four people experience mental health problems at some point, this will be a place to turn

with professional support on hand 365 days a year. Big White Wall provides online support in a safe and supportive environment. Through a completely anonymous and confidential online community, members and professionals offer advice and support 24 hours a day. A variety of content, tests and tools can help you understand how you’re feeling and offer techniques to help you get on the road to recovery. There is also a range of online self-guided courses on a range of topics.

especially as statutory welfare support bodies are being phased out and funding is being reduced. Last year there was an increase of 10% in the number of people contacting the charity for help and the team helped them access £3.2m in financial support.

This partnership comes at a time when demand for Perennial’s help is at an all-time high. Today’s challenging and uncertain times are affecting people physically, mentally and financially,

To find out more about how you and your organisation can support Perennial, please contact Kate Cooney, Corporate Partnership Manager on +44(0)1372 235 433 or email kcooney@perennial.org.uk

If you or someone you know needs help, please visit perennial.org.uk/ bigwhitewall or call +44(0)800 093 8542.

BALI CHALK FUND CREATES MORE INDUSTRY READY STUDENTS The trustees of the BALI Chalk Fund have committed further funds to expand its popular student enrichment initiative, which has now moved north of the border adding students at BALI Training Provider member SRUC (Oatridge Campus), to the current schemes at Training Provider members Capel Manor and Bridgewater & Taunton’s Cannington Campus. Chalk Fund Trustee Richard Gardiner says “Two years ago, the BALI Chalk Fund identified that some of the training carried out during level 2 and 3 landscape courses was not getting fully

validated due to budgetary constraints. This meant that whilst students had received important training in a range of safety and technical disciplines, they were leaving college without key industry certification recognised by LISS/CSCS, such as ROLO or PA1 & 6a. All for the sake of the cost of registration and assessment. Typically, this meant that employers taking on these students would have to pay for the training to be completed all over again, prior to assessment. The trustees spotted an opportunity to leverage its funds by paying the fees to ensure the students, and therefore the industry, receive full value for the training they complete.”

The BALI Chalk Fund was established in 1975 with a legacy from the widow of Geoffrey Chalk, owner of BALI Registered Contractor Gavin Jones and founder member of BALI. Since this date, the Fund has received other bequests and donations and has also benefited from specific BALI Charitable Fund Raising activities. The fund is used to support education and training in the landscape sector and has established strong links with BALI’s GoLandscape initiative and other like-minded organisations to assist with delivering its key objectives. balichalkfund.org.uk

Some examples of the value achieved are set out below: Course

Typical post graduate cost (including training)

Cost to BALI Chalk Fund (training cost covered by college as part of course)

Typical saving

ROLO

£120

£25

£95

PA1 & 6a

£580

£125

£455

Use of Brush-cutter

£327

£47

£280 BALI Chalk Fund supporting Capel Manor College

BALI Landscape News

Spring 2020

CHALK FUND

Supporting education and training in the landscape sector

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EVENTS

Events Calendar Highlights 2020 31 March 17-19 April 21 April 22-23 April

23-26 April 7-10 May

Specifi Landscape Bristol, Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel specifi.co.uk/events RHS Flower Show Cardiff 2020, Bute Park Cardiff rhs.org.uk/shows-events BALI’s International Year of Plant Health – Plant Identification Tools Webinar bali.org.uk/events Trees, People and the Built Environment 4, University of Birmingham charteredforesters.org/event/ trees-people-built-environment-4 Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2020, Great Yorkshire Showground flowershow.org.uk The RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2020, Three Counties Showground rhs.org.uk/shows-events

19-23 May

RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London rhs.org.uk/shows-events

29-31 May

Gardening Scotland 2020, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh gardeningscotland.com

9 June

7-12 July 22-26 July 20-23 August

RHS Tatton Park Flower Show rhs.org.uk/shows-events Southport Flower Show 2020 , Victoria Park rhs.org.uk/shows-events

8-9 September

Four Oaks Trade Show 2020, Cheshire fouroaks-tradeshow.co.uk

9 September

Specifi Landscape Glasgow, The Royal Glasgow Concert Hall specifi.co.uk/events

15-17 September

Glee Birmingham 2020, NEC Birmingham gleebirmingham.com

22 September

Specifi Landscape London, Crypt on the Green specifi.co.uk/events

22-23 September

10th The LANDSCAPE Show 2020, Battersea Park landscapeshow.co.uk

20 October

Specifi Landscape Birmingham, Birmingham Repertory Theatre specifi.co.uk/events

Specifi Landscape Leeds, Hilton Leeds City specifi.co.uk/events

4-5 November

SALTEX 2020, NEC Birmingham iogsaltex.com

11-14 June

RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2020, Chatsworth Estate, Derbyshire rhs.org.uk/shows-events

17-18 November

FutureScape 2020, ExCel London futurescapeevent.com

18-21 June

BBC Gardener’s World LIVE 2020, NEC Birmingham bbcgardenersworldlive.com

2 July

Specifi Landscape Manchester, Renaissance Hotel specifi.co.uk/events

4 December

The UK’s leading international conference on urban greenspace and the built environment, Trees, People and the Built Environment 4 (TPBE4) returns to Birmingham bigger and better than ever before. Join hundreds of your fellow professionals in the natural and built environment sectors for: • An exceptional two-day programme • A world-class line-up of experts from the UK and overseas • Ground-breaking presentations with guidance on how to turn research into action • Unrivalled networking opportunities. Speakers include Matthew Wells, Public Landscape Manager for the city of Santa Monica, California; Andrew

BALI Landscape News

Koeser, Assistant Professor of Urban Tree and Landscape Management at the University of Florida; and Professor Alan Simson, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Forestry at Leeds Beckett University. TPBE4 provides a unique forum for professionals to come together from across the globe to collaborate, share knowledge, and work together for a greener and more sustainable future for our towns and cities. TPBE4 is brought to you by a partnership of over 20 renowned organisations and hosted by the Institute of Chartered Foresters as its National Conference. For the full programme details and to make a booking visit charteredforesters.org/tpbe4 or call +(0)131 240 1425.

Spring 2020

44th BALI National Landscape Awards, JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London baliawards.co.uk

To view a full list of industry events for 2020 visit bali.org.uk/events

TREES, PEOPLE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 4

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2020, Hampton Court rhs.org.uk/shows-events

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SPECIAL FEATURE

20 tips for a top submission According to the BALI National Landscape Awards Adjudicators The BALI National Landscape Awards is the largest landscaping awards ceremony in Europe and it’s thanks, in part, to the quality of the judging that sets such a high benchmark for submissions. Between June and August, Adjudicators, who volunteer their services, visit BALI Registered member sites to judge the scheme and its associated soft or hard landscaping elements against strict set criteria. Before this takes place though, Adjudicators start by reviewing the member’s submission pack, or entry pack. This first impression, where the Adjudicator is provided with a window into the scheme’s design and/ or build permits an opportunity for the assessment to begin by addressing the intricacies and complexity of the project, reviewing documents, drawings, photos and videos that help express the nature of the submission. It is vital that that this pack is fit for purpose.

So why do so many submissions not hit the mark? Our Adjudication Panel provide their top 20 tips for a successful submission pack, including ways in which you can create excellent early impressions to maximise your chances of winning a prestigious BALI National Landscape Award. 1) Ensure all documentation is A4 in size and fixed in a binder or wallet to prevent the paperwork falling out. If presenting a drawing or plan on A3, ensure it is folded down to A4 upon presentation. 2) Make sure all photos provided in support of the submission are clear, high-resolution and illustrate the process of the schemes’ development. Blurry photos are not helpful. 3) If the scheme has lighting, consider adding night-time shots or even aerial photos if you have them. This helps the adjudicators see the scheme in varying lights and from different angles. 4) Provide photos of before, during and after for each project submitted, to help show the adjudicators what conditions were like before the

BALI Landscape News

design or build commenced, and to chronicle the development process from start to finish so they can fully appreciate any challenges overcome. 5) Save photographs of the scheme on a memory stick or CD, or if you prefer, print them out and include them inside your submission pack within a laminated folder to protect and keep them safe. 6) In the absence of a detailed specification write a comprehensive brief as to why you are submitting a particular project or scheme and include any testimonials from clients to support. 7) Make sure your submission is relevant to the category you are entering. For example, if you are entering one of the Domestic Garden Construction categories, you must ensure your scheme is domestic and includes elements of both soft and hard landscaping, has excellent design, demonstrates high quality workmanship, including skilful ground modelling, precise contouring, sculptured turf features or conventional planting executed to an exemplary standard. 8) Schemes can be entered into more than one category, for example, a project may be submitted as a regeneration scheme but then the completed project may also be entered into one of the hard or soft landscaping categories. It’s important to note though that if you do decide to enter one scheme into multiple categories, the submission pack and accompanying documentation must reflect that categories’ individual requirements, particularly meeting the brief and providing reasons as to why it has been submitted, to help differentiate it from the other category. Multiple submissions using the same presentation material will be marked down.

Spring 2020

Some of the BALI National Landscape Awards Adjudicators

9) Emphasise the environmental aspects and sustainable solutions of your operations as part of your submission, where necessary. 10) Provide clear, unambiguous, evidence of practical completion when submitting a scheme. 11) Provide evidence of any hidden works to help the adjudicators ‘build the picture in their mind’ as to how the scheme was delivered, for components used both above and below the ground. 12) Complex changes in levels are often not captured by photographs alone. Submit level drawings identifying any significant changes in levels. 13) Every submission should have a full original quote/bill of quantities and invoices to evidence that the entry is in the correct category and delivered within the permitted timeframe. 14) Clearly define any third parties that have worked on the scheme alongside the principal designer and/ or BALI member. 15) Adjudicators have a fixed timetable and appreciate your flexibility when arranging site visits. The average adjudicator will visit over 20 schemes within an 8-week period, sometimes over a large geographical area, so it’s imperative you comply, where reasonable, with their chosen date and time. 16) When arranging a site visit with an adjudicator, ensure your directions to site are clear and precise, and the dedicated meeting point is agreed beforehand to avoid wasting time for both parties. 17) If the site is difficult to access during construction, this should be mentioned on the entry form before the site visit takes place. Security clearance, if appropriate, should be arranged by the BALI member in advance of the visit. 18) Consider the overall size of the submission pack, is it easy for the Adjudicator to carry onto site and use as a reference tool when judging the scheme.

19) Where possible include relevant videos of the schemes on memory stick or CD, as well as any drone footage you may have captured, to help. 20) Ensure the submission pack is submitted on time and with the correct amount of postage on it when mailing to BALI Landscape House. An adjudication meeting for all entries is held over a three-day period at the end of August. Each Adjudicator presents their allocated schemes to the Adjudication Panel. It is the panel that decide the outcome of each submission, not an individual Adjudicator. It is therefore important that that the quality of your submission pack is of a high standard to assist the appointed Adjudicator in accurately portraying your project to the wider panel.

Entries are now open for the 44th BALI National Landscape Awards 2020. Bookmark baliawards.co.uk and follow the BALI Awards on Twitter using the handle BALI_Awards and Instagram baliawards for the latest updates, deadlines and fees. To view this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s categories, visit baliawards. co.uk/2020-categories.

Grand Award Winner 2019 Ground Control collecting their Award

If you have any questions or are in need of support, contact BALI Landscape House on +44(0)24 7669 0333 or awards@bali.org.uk.

Chair of the Adjudication Panel, John Melmoe

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PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

HARROD UK LAUNCH THE SOUTHWOLD COLLECTION BALI Registered Affiliate Harrod UK T/A Harrod Horticultural are delighted to be launching their premier garden furniture range – The Southwold Collection, handcrafted traditional steel designs that are not only enviably attractive centrepieces to accent any outdoor setting but are also inconceivably comfortable as well as of a quality that will last generations. They are the ideal choice for all applications whether in private properties or in public hospitality environments. Inspired by original blacksmiths’ furniture, this exclusive collection has been a labour of love, three years in the making, and is arguably as comfortable as it is handsome.

Create a beautiful outdoor centerpiece with the new range

BALI Landscape News

Much thought has gone into the ergonomics of the seat design and careful selection of the steel material sections used to ensure just the right amount of ‘give’ is coupled with the required structural strength. The handcrafted designs are highly sophisticated, and their distinctive appearance has been created from hot dip galvanised steel with a hand etched finish for an antiqued appearance that provides for a unique piece whose weathered look will only improve further with age. Each element is hand made by skilled technicians and finished in Suffolk where steel manufacturing has been in operation in this family business for over 65 years. Structurally guaranteed for a lengthy 25 years, this exceptionally elegant furniture range incorporates five different table styles for all manner of occasions – Bistro, Coffee, Round Dining, Oval Dining and Rectangle Dining (seating up to 10). The collection includes two designs of chair (with and without carver-style arms), as well as two types of bench the backless version of which can mix and match with the tables and chairs to make up the numbers, whilst both benches look very stately simply on their own in any given location. Good quality seat cushions and a parasol complete the look. For more information on The Southwold Collection, please visit harrodhorticultural.com, email trade@harrod.uk.com or call +44(0)333 400 1777 to request a brochure.

Spring 2020

Introducing How Green Nursery BALI Registered Affiliate How Green Nursery is a family run wholesale nursery based in Hever, Kent. Now in their 38th year they pride themselves on producing high quality plants with an emphasis on homegrown herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses, alpines, herbs and patio plants. In addition, they offer shrubs, topiary, hedging and trees in a range of sizes from reputable suppliers in the UK and throughout Europe. This includes rootball and bare root material in season. Their high level of customer care ensures they answer to quotes very promptly and are able to deliver using their own fleet of vehicles. Alternatively, you are welcome to visit their site without appointment, Monday to Friday throughout the year, and Saturdays from March to July. With over 500,000 plants in stock their knowledgeable, friendly staff are always on hand to help. Their niche is growing new and desirable introductions as well as the traditional favourites. Plant breeding has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years with new cultivars showing increased disease resistance, better habit and more floriferous. How Green take biosecurity very seriously and adhere to strict plant passport legislations imposed by DEFRA. They currently use 25% reduced peat and will be trialling a new peat free mix in 2020. All our pots are recyclable. For 2020 they are delighted to announce that they are supplying the perennials and grasses for the next phase of planting at RHS Wisley. Visit howgreennursery.co.uk or contact plants@howgreennursery.co.uk or call +44(0)1732 700382.

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

CREATING GREEN SPACES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

Vestre playing its part to tackle poverty, climate change and inequality

The team at BALI Registered Affiliate Premium Plants are proud to have worked on a number of projects, supplying plants to schools and colleges in order to create more green spaces for the children. Daubeney Primary School in London were particularly thankful for the plants donated for their National Outdoor Learning Day. The climate, and subsequent air quality, is changing and we therefore have to make changes to our daily habits. The best place to start is by educating the younger generation. Premium Plants is providing opportunities to enhance learning in schools and colleges by allowing pupils to experience the benefits of healthy plants up close. Having enjoyed years of successful growth within their business, directors Andrew and Andrei are incredibly happy to give back to society. They think that helping schools introduce gardening is a healthy and exciting way for children to learn and have fun. Research shows that children perform better at school if they are involved with gardening and many will develop a greater interest in healthy eating if they get to grow their own vegetables. Children will also have a better understanding of air quality and how it can be improved. These skills can be brought home where the learning process carries on, but now as part of the whole family.

Premium Plants supplied specimen trees to the school

Premium Plants donated all of the plants required for the National Outdoor Learning Day at Daubeney Primary School. Together with Terry Burns from BALI Registered Contractor idverde and other volunteers, they gave the school an opportunity to create a garden full of life and beauty. Andrew Wayre, sales director at Premium Plants said: “As a company we feel very lucky to be in a position where we can help encourage the young to be more involved in horticulture and to be surrounded by more plants. Not only is it important to provide an opportunity to children in getting to know the plants but also teaching them the vital role that plants have to play in our fragile and damaged environment.”

At BALI Registered Affiliate Vestre they are incredibly passionate about the communities in which we live and work. Their primary motivation is to make the world a better place and they believe that, while no-one can do everything, everyone can do something. So, Vestre is doing what it can by working closely with customers to create communal areas that promote everyday democracy - spaces where people of all ages can come together across social, cultural and economic divides. Inspired by Nordic nature, Vestre has been making quality outdoor furniture for generations. So, they never take shortcuts or compromise when it comes to material quality, lifespan and the environment. They build products that last, utilising renewable energy and locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials. Vestre are the first company to manufacture climate-neutral outdoor furniture.

Premium Plants is made up of a team of horticulturalists who have many years of experience in sourcing plants from all over the UK and Europe. Over the years, through hard work and dedication, Premium Plants has become a well-established and trusted supplier of plants. Andrew and Andrei, who are the driving force behind the company, are very vocal when it comes to supporting and maintaining high levels of plant health and plant passporting measures in order to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. More information about Premium Plants is available at premiumplants.co.uk For more information on the project at Daubeney Primary School for National Outdoor Learning Day visit daubeney. hackney.sch.uk/events/nationaloutdoor-learning-day

Their goal is to make Vestre the world’s most sustainable urban outdoor furniture manufacturer. They’ve started by integrating nine of the 17 United Nations’ sustainable development goals into their corporate business plan. This is a good start, but it’s going to take a lot of resources to succeed in eliminating poverty, reducing inequality and stopping climate change, which is why Vestre donates at least 10% of its annual profits to sustainable projects worldwide. Vestre’s products require minimal maintenance and will withstand even the toughest environments, and their lengthy warranties are evidence of their commitment to designing for life. Steel elements are warranted for life against corrosion; adhesion of the powder coating is warranted for 15 years in normal use; their PEFC Nordic pine is warranted for 15 years against rot. Yet none of this comes at the expense of stunning design. The team collaborate with leading Nordic designers and several of the ranges are award-winning. To read more about Vestre mission to protect the environment or to view its product portfolio visit vestre.com.

Spring 2020

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PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED STREET FURNITURE FOR YOUR CITY WITH FURNITUBES BALI Registered Affiliate Furnitubes are experts in transforming outdoor spaces into places where people want to spend time: to enjoy a bite to eat in-between meetings, to catch up with friends or simply to watch the world go by. It all starts with great design - their team is passionate about creating durable, functional and affordable products. Furnitubes’ ranges are created as modular systems that are super customisable. This means you can create imaginative and contemporary schemes without blowing the budget. You choose the shape, the size, the colour and the finish of your seating. Then you add the planters, tables, bins and accessories you need.

And because they design and manufacture everything in the UK, the turnaround is pretty quick too. With over 70 years’ experience, they have helped many clients realise their vision. The ranges are ideally suited to public realm spaces, in particular high streets, gardens and roof terraces. You can count on their in-house design team to advise on materials, features and innovations to create spaces to meet your requirements. In addition to aesthetics and functionality, they also consider how the space is used, durability and maintenance as well as the safety and traffic management. Get ideas or start planning your next scheme by visiting furnitubes.com/ projects

BALI Landscape News

Spring 2020

BALI Registered Affiliate Perfectly Green’s expertise in artificial grass extends over 13 years. They supply grasses made from quality materials with a higher density and superior yarn technology. Sand is not required in any of the Perfectly Green landscaping grasses. Their grasses are specifically designed to suit homes and gardens, playgrounds, schools, nurseries, urban landscaping and events. They are pleased to announce the launch of their new 2020 product range, which is now available. The new range consists of 13 grasses with six brilliant new products. They have also added new colours to their coloured grass ranges, helping to expand into sectors that allow more creative artificial grass installations. For 2020, the team have added new products such as holecup and marker set for putting green installations, Wee Free enzyme artificial grass cleaner and new colour options for Tough and Leisure Colours.

Stylish outdoor furniture that’s Made in Britain

PERFECTLY GREEN ANNOUNCES NEW 2020 ARTIFICIAL GRASS PRODUCT RANGE

If you’re a landscaper and are interested in artificial grass for trade, Perfectly Green would love to send you one of their landscaper sample boxes. Their boxes are specifically tailored, using years of industry feedback and experience. The pack features their full range of grass products, brochures and accessories. Visit the website perfectlygreen.co.uk to view the new 2020 brochure or request one of their 2020 FREE Trade Sample Boxes. Alternatively call the team on +44(0)1825 729259 or email tradeenquiries@perfectlygreen.co.uk

CUT AND COLLECT WHATEVER THE WEATHER

Visit website The ISEKI SF range of powerful 24-46hp diesel engine mowers enable you to mow your grass whatever the weather keeping the same pristine finish. With a variety of rotary or Muthing flail decks to choose from, the ISEKI SF450 really is the ultimate mowing machine. A turbine driven chute direct from the deck to the large hopper, which is available upto 1300L, ensures no blockages even in the wettest conditions. Allowing you to continue with all the other tasks without the weather restricting you. Designed and manufactured for quality that lasts. ISEKI UK & IRELAND Contact your local dealer to book a demonstration today!

Tel 01473 599266 sales@iseki.co.uk www.iseki.co.uk

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PLANT HEALTH BEST PRACTICE WITH PROVENDER NURSERIES

With 2020 designated as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), Marketing and Communications Manager, Darren Taylor, met up with Managing Director of BALI Registered Affiliate Provender Nurseries, Richard McKenna, to find out how they were getting on with the new guidance around Plant Passports. Did you find Defra’s guidance on Plant Passports and the Smarter Rules for Safer Foods (SRSF) helpful when implementing changes in accordance to Plant Health Regulation (EU) 2016/2031?

in-house policies to improve biosecurity, before these new procedures become standard practice for all in the horticultural sector.

We are a leading wholesale cash and carry and an importer of plants and plant products. In terms of biosecurity and the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) we are high risk. This doesn’t mean we bring in poor quality plants from the EU. It means we import a large number of plants and plant products. Using APHA for guidance is a vital part of our business and our biosecurity policy.

As a professional supplier of plants and plant products, we are committed to doing what we can to ensure good plant health. This is not just about the big biosecurity issues that we face like the spread of Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) throughout the UK, the threat of Xylella coming in from the EU, or the potential introduction of any harmful organisms that threaten our native plants and wildlife. It is also about the day to day issues that affect plants, like aphids, vine weevil and nutritional defects.

With the rules on plant passports changing and the introduction of SRSF, working closely with our plant health inspector has been beneficial. In fact, to prepare for these changes, as a company we carried out a lot of our own research and learned what we needed to do ahead of the 14 December legislation, including trialling the new style plant passport label layout. Defra’s guidance has been useful, and wherever plant passports are required, local health inspectors can provide valuable support, but it’s an evolving process. It will take time for businesses like ours to adapt but in the meantime, we will continue to implement our own

BALI Landscape News

As a nursery, plant health must be a top priority for the business?

Communicating clearly the importance we place on plant health and the processes that we must go through, even if it means taking a little longer to fulfil orders, will help reassure our customers that every step is being taken to protect them. Stock offering. How do you manage it? Having the right stock at the right time is what we have spent 17 years perfecting here at Provender Nurseries. Knowing what our customers want and offering it when they want it is the aim of the game.

Spring 2020

To achieve this, we stock a lot of ‘’ready to use’’ plants all year around. With a dedicated nursery team of 12 caring for our plants, as well as our on-site sales and quoting teams, we are confident in our abilities to deliver what our customers need. The challenge, however, is in making sure we have enough stock in the pipeline, so we don’t run out, and to collaborate with great growers here in the UK and in other European countries. With the UK now out of the European Union, there will of course be changes with the import of plants and other products we provide, and we will have to adapt to accommodate them. As an industry we will all have to plan our work and timescales much better. While we have historically been lucky in getting the plants that we need immediately and on request, if stock has to be checked on delivery from the continent or even quarantined for a period of time before being released to the contractor, there could be significant knock on effects to completion time lines. And, while recognising the potential opportunities for UK horticultural production nurseries, the reality is that at the moment, we just do not grow enough plants for our own market, not least because of the current restraints that exist in funding, water availability, skilled production staff and an increase in the sale price for UK grown crops. For further information visit provendernurseries.co.uk

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RINNO-PROS ENTERS UK LANDSCAPING MARKET WITH ADJUSTABLE TERRACE PEDESTALS BALI Registered Affiliate RINNOPROS (NEL Group), based in France, joined BALI in January 2020 and specialises in outdoor landscaping products, specifically focusing on supporting landscapers with installing terraces on adjustable pedestals.

results. RINNO-PROS’ (NEL Group) product ranges are made in France and are subject to stringent safety rules.

The method, which includes installing paving or decking products on top of raised pedestals of varying heights and widths is widely used within the French landscaping market and saves time, reduces costs, is sustainable and is easy to use.

“Our success is based on the impeccable quality of our products and the conscientious follow-up of our customers”, says Joanne Weber, International Sales Director of RINNOPROS (NEL Group). “We treat every project as a case study where we evaluate and follow-up with expert support. We are delighted to have joined the British Association of Landscape industries and thus share our experience with our new network of English landscaping professionals.”

There are alternative pedestal products on the market which do not meet safety standards or provide satisfactory

To read more about RINNO-PROS (NEL Group) and its product ranges visit rinno-pros.fr/en for details.

Newark Civil War Memorial relocation secured by Alpha Rail’s railings During the 17th Century, civil war erupted in England. This is known today as the English Civil War or the Great Civil War. The two sides, Parliamentarians (Roundheads) and Royalists (Cavaliers), were both fighting over the way England should be governed. Newark is home to a war memorial statue depicting both a Roundhead and a Cavalier. In its original location, it was prone to vandalism, therefore a decision was taken to relocate the statue. Following a suggestion by a Newark county councillor, a project was started that would see the statue move from the library to a roundabout near Newark Castle – a more fitting location given the theme of the statue. Further to this, the Roundhead and Cavalier statue would be seen by more people with the roundabout being close to the town centre.

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In order to protect the statue at its new site, BALI Registered Affiliate Alpha Rail was appointed to supply and deliver 19.2 linear metres of Kennington Vertical Bar Railings, which was galvanised as standard to BS EN ISO 1461 (2009), followed by a polyester powder coated finish in claret red RAL3004. This colour will be used to enhance Newark’s identity, with Trent Bridge and miscellaneous street furniture also scheduled to be painted in this colour. Commenting on the project, Phil Ball, Sales Director at Alpha Rail said: “We have worked on an array of war memorials during our time and think these should be preserved as a way to remember our history. The Kennington Railings in claret red look great at the new location and compliments the rest of the claret red elements of Newark.”

Spring 2020

The memorial is now protected courtesy of Alpha Rail

Visit alpharail.co.uk to find out more about the company and to read more about additional restoration projects the team have successfully delivered.

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

HADDONSTONE TRANSFORMS SMALL RESIDENTIAL GARDENS INTO LARGE MULTISITE PROJECTS

ACO TECHNOLOGIES LAUNCH GAMECHANGING GREEN AND BLUE ATTENUATION SYSTEM BALI Registered Affiliate ACO Technologies’ Building Drainage team has launched ‘ACO RoofBloxx’ – a complete roof attenuation system for green, blue/green and blue roofs. Featuring a unique patent-pending design, the ACO RoofBloxx provides landscaping professionals the design flexibility required to create imaginative, multi-functional green spaces at roof or podium level. The new system allows blue/green roofs to be installed to overcome the known problem of designing a roof that must drain quickly in intense and emergency conditions but also drain slowly to attenuate rainfall. The system is fully compatible with the requirements of the new London Plan. An interlocking geocellular drainage system ranging in depth from 85mm to more than 165mm, ACO RoofBloxx has been designed for shallow, high-strength roof attenuation systems and is ideal for intensive green roof and podium designs. The system can also be used to create passive irrigation systems and is capable of withstanding high structural loads making it the perfect solution for applications which require both hard and soft landscaping. Manufactured from 100% recyclable polypropylene, ACO RoofBloxx’s unique structure also allows landscaping professionals to run services, such as lighting, through the system and fix PV panels to the RoofBloxx units. Comprising a shallow, high-strength, adjustable geocellular storage void and roof outlet flow control system, ACO RoofBloxx is fully compatible with ACO roof outlets, downpipes and surface water drainage systems. Mike Simpson-Lane, Managing Director of ACO Technologies UK, comments: “Blue/green and green roofs are becoming increasingly popular as the construction industry looks for new ways to deal with surface water in an ever-changing climate and to incorporate sustainable green infrastructure in dense urban environments. The modular design of ACO RoofBloxx and its high-void structure make it the ideal drainage system for blue/green and green roof applications including those which feature complex on-structure landscapes.” The ACO RoofBloxx system can be specified with the ‘ACO Blue Roof Flow Restrictor’ and a range of accessories. These include capillary wicks, ‘ACOTex Plus’ – a protection fleece which is used underneath the system to provide additional protection to the roofing membrane – and ‘ACOTex infiltration geotextile’ which separates the ACO RoofBloxx system from the green roof substrate or landscaping. For more information visit aco.co.uk/products/roofbloxx or call the ACO Building Drainage technical design team on +44(0)1462 810400.

BALI Registered Affiliate Haddonstone has seen success by partnering with landscape contractors, landscape architects and private clients around the world in transforming small individual gardens into large multi-site projects. The British family-owned business has also been commissioned by clients ranging from the Royal Horticultural Society, 5* luxury hotels such as Cowarth Park and Cliveden House to Sir Roy Strong. Operating for almost 50 years, the team are proud to offer an extensive range of cast stonework designs that are hand-crafted to order in the UK. Produced using the highest quality materials, their exquisite designs will last a lifetime and will weather as beautifully as natural stone but cost significantly less. Available in contemporary, traditional and classical styles, and in a range of material and colour choices, their standard collection includes everything you will need for any project, from pool surrounds, planters, fountains and copings to paving and steps. Their range also includes garden buildings, pergolas and balustrading. Haddonstone can also create bespoke landscaping stonework and can replicate simple or intricate designs to your individual specification and in any quantity. A fine example is displayed in the transformation of a traditional walled residential garden in Hertfordshire. The client was keen to create a timeless and contemporary bespoke design that was practical and polished in appearance. Working closely with the client, the team emphasised the original redbrick features through the installation of several cast stone steps and by using pier caps and cast stone ball finials to enhance the top of the brick gate posts. A contemporary pool area was created from cast stone steps, copings, a pool surround and additional pier caps and ball finials. To complete the design, the client chose several complementary Haddonstone Elizabethan Jardiniere planters. If you are interested in learning more about Haddonstone, visit their stunning Northamptonshire Show Gardens which provide a perfect opportunity to view a wide range of our home, garden, landscape and architectural products. Open throughout the year, their friendly team will be very happy to show you around. Alternatively visit haddonstone.com to see the full range.

Spring 2020

BALI Landscape News

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

THE KEY TO WILDFLOWER SUCCESS BALI Registered Affiliate Greentech, through its John Chambers brand, explores the topic of wildflowers, including sowing and ongoing maintenance. Once established a wildflower area will be low maintenance BUT you do need to put in the work initially! It’s imperative that the ground is properly prepared by removing any existing vegetation. Allow any existing seed already in the soil to germinate and start to grow, before removing. This process might need to be carried out a couple of times, before the final seed bed can be prepared with a light raking. Once you’re ready to sow follow recommended sowing rates – you won’t get better plants or more flowers by sowing at a higher rate than recommended. Be careful when sowing with small quantities, a heavy-handed approach can end up being very costly and won’t give you the desired results. We’d suggest ‘bulking out’ the seed mix with an inert material such as fine sawdust, kiln-dried sand or fine vermiculite. By bulking up the mix you should then be able to pass it through spreading machinery on a

smaller scale than it would normally be calibrated for. After sowing the seeds, press them into the soil; watering can also help to ensure good contact between the seeds and the soil, providing an ideal environment for germination. You may need to carry out maintenance in year one. If grasses are present, either existing or sown as part of an 80/20 mix, they need to be controlled in year one so the wildflowers can establish. Cut back every three to four weeks through the first growing season to keep the grass in check and enable the wildflower to develop stronger roots, ready for year two, when it will be in a far better position to flourish. Remove the clippings to stop them from rotting down and enriching the soil, which would encourage grasses to dominate. From year two, the whole sward can be left to grow. In late summer after the wildflowers have bloomed and dispersed seed heads, the entire sward can be cut back and cuttings removed. More wildflower species will continue to establish each year. Visit johnchamberswildflowers.co.uk for further information.

ALL CHANGE AT CED STONE GROUP Over the last four decades, BALI Registered Affiliate CED Stone Group have worked hard to stay at the forefront of the landscape industry. In 2020, they are shaking things up with some changes to their extensive paving range.

CED Stone Group’s new product guide will be available this spring, and behind the scenes, they are working on a brandnew website. Visit cedstone.co.uk to view the revised ranges alongside the full catalogue.

Acting on customer feedback the team are making some alterations to their Imperial range and will now be stocking their Granite paving in 600 x 900mm, 600 x 600mm and 600 x 300mm at a 25mm depth, followed by changes to the Black Basalt Paving which will now make that beautiful Basalt patio a much more affordable option. The popularity of porcelain paving is still on the rise and customers should also keep an eye on their EMPEROR Porcelain Paving range and the introduction of styles to suit every budget.

BALI Landscape News

MCM’s bioretention soil To create an easy-draining soil SuDs layer for swales and rain gardens, BALI Registered Affiliate MCM supply bioretention soil. MCM support their clients in adopting a natural approach to managing drainage and water management as part of the green infrastructure in landscaping and construction projects across the UK. Improving drainage and reducing flood potential, this high-performance landscaping soil provides filtration and helps the rate of rainwater run-off. The soil helps to remove pollutants and allows for landscaping flexibility and the creation of a healthy, sustainable soil layer. Improving drainage and reducing flooding potential in a recent project in White City after clearing the site, MCM supplied their bioretention soil to BALI Registered Contractor Warwick Landscaping to allow the landscape to take shape in earnest. Depending on specification and individual blend requirements as stipulated by each client, MCM bioretention soils are made up of sand, soil and compost, providing the drainage, filtration and plant support for a successful landscape scheme. MCM also supply a range of primary aggregates to help create a high performance sub-base layer allowing drainage and pollutant filtration, supplying limestone in different sizes, and shingles. All of MCM’s topsoils, high performance soils, subsoils, primary and recycled aggregates and sands are available by tipper or grab lorry, by artic or in multi-trip bags, bagged by MCM and deliverable across the UK. Visit mcm-se.com/soils/highperformance-topsoil/ or call +44(0)330 128 1030.

Spring 2020

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At TMA Bark we know a fair bit about bark and mulch. In fact we’re the UK’s leading supplier of bark and mulch products to the professional horticultural and landscaping industry. Boasting the widest range and the highest quality products available on the market, we are proud to provide FSC® certified and 100% British products. We’re passionate about providing quality products nationwide. For more information chat to us on 01362 638441 or visit www.tmabark.co.uk

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