BALI Landscape News Autumn 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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AUTUMN

2020

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Lowdown on this year’s virtual BALI National Landscape Awards 2020

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Pushing boundaries in Talbot Farm Landscapes’ exclusive interview

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Hannah Genders’ MBALI experiences Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

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Winners of the BALI National Landscape Awards 2020

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CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME Dear member I trust this publication of Landscape News finds you and your family safe and in good health. I sincerely hope you are managing to navigate your way through the COVID-19 pandemic in good order. It gives me great pleasure to write my first article for Landscape News since I was elected as your National Chairman at BALI’s inaugural virtual National AGM in September. We have a full write-up of the National AGM on page 12. It is an honour and privilege to be elected - a role which I am eager to undertake. I have been involved with BALI and its members for over 25 years and I’m looking forward to serving the membership; to promote and reinforce our core values of Support, Promote and Inspire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Immediate Past Chairman Matt O’Conner from John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) for his guidance over the last two years whilst I was Vice Chairman. It has been a pleasure working alongside Matt, who will be a tough act to follow. I would like to congratulate Nigel Bowcock from Acre Landscapes who has been elected as Vice Chairman. Together, we look forward to working with Chief Executive Wayne Grills, our fellow BALI board directors and all the team at Landscape House, to support the needs of our membership. With over 900 Registered members across a broad range of sectors, supported by an active and progressive board and very capable and energetic team at Landscape House, BALI is the industry’s go-tomembership for landscape professionals. With many prospect members currently waiting for their applications to be processed and vetted by our experienced vetting officers, the future is looking bright. This is in stark contrast to the period of time we find ourselves in! As I write this, we have completed three months of lockdown and are currently in the third month of post lock rules, adjusting to the current new normal. COVID-19 has massively impacted all areas of our industry and we are likely to feel the effects of this for some time. As the pandemic continues to evolve and the wider implications of the fallout is brought to light, a reminder that BALI is here to help and support all members, now more than ever. Throughout lockdown BALI took decisive action in communicating with the membership about many COVID-19 issues through its COVID-19 portal and I urge you to take a look if you have not done so

already. The team are constantly reviewing it and adding the latest information. As businesses, membership organisations and individuals, we rarely get to choose the moments which define us. What choice there is, comes in how we respond. The team at BALI responded with great communication as the nation navigated its way through intolerable economic conditions. In June, BALI launched its COVID-19 Restart & Rebuild Strategy, which has been well received by our members. The team at Landscape House continue to build on this and release top quality information to support all members through many different scenarios. Ultimately, BALI is here to support and respond to your needs.

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Where problems emerge, we will help you confront them

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Where support is required, we will support you Where there are industry challenges, we will overcome them with you

Support, Promote and Inspire Finally, I would like to personally congratulate all of the new BALI members listed on this page. I look forward to meeting you at a future BALI or industry event. BALI is a fantastic organisation to be part of and I would encourage you to get involved with your local regional events and gain the full benefit of all that BALI has to offer. Best wishes. Richard Kay BALI National Chairman #staysafe

New members as at 27/08/2020 REGISTERED CONTRACTOR

South Thames • Oxford Garden Design & Maintenance North Thames • Castle Landscapes South West • Knighton Countryside Management • New Leaf Landscaping & Fencing Midlands • Oakham Garden Services REGISTERED AFFILIATE

South Thames • H Sivyer Transport • Pots and Pithoi • The Woodhorn Group North Thames • Suregreen North West • Deck Direct

East Anglia • Abax UK • D & J Transport Midlands • British Polythene T/A Plaswood • Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation REGISTERED DESIGNER

North West • Kirman, Andy (MBALI) (MSGD) INTERNATIONAL

• Beijing Florascape Co. • Beijing Institute of Landscape and Traditional Architectural Design and Research Co. • Beijing Miland International Landscape Planning and Design Co. • Belt Collins International (HK)

Autumn 2020

• Eastwood Landscape Architecture Design • GND Design • Guangzhou S.P.I Design Co., • PMA Design • Shanghai Youde Architectural Planning and Design Consulting Co. • Shenzhen AUBE Architectural Engineering Design Co. (China) BALI & ROLO TRAINING PROVIDER

South Thames • MyOnlineSchool T/A Learning with Experts East Anglia • City College Norwich REVOKED

• Beijing Beilin Landscape Architecture Institute Co • GrafterNow • SSJ Studio, Guangxi Xiaerguo Technology Co.

BALI Landscape News

CONTENTS

Editor’s Welcome We may be in the middle of a global pandemic but that hasn’t stopped our industry from doing what it does best, working together to solve a problem, supporting each other through tough economic conditions that has resulted in one of the worst recessions in UK history.

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

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To this day you continue to pour heart and soul into your businesses, supporting Britain’s fightback for getting on our feet and finding solutions to challenging situations, all whilst promoting the benefits of working outdoors, designing, building and supplying domestic and commercial sites, uninterrupted, whilst maintaining our parks, greenspace, highways, byways and public spaces. It’s simply astounding to see so much happening, so much positivity at a time when we need to inspire others, in other sectors, to do the same and I am delighted to say I have played a part, and will continue to play a part, within this fantastic industry. Landscape News is designed to promote our member’s stories, provide them with a voice, show the wider horticulture sector and other UK industries what being a BALI member is all about. This edition is packed to the rafters with content, so much so I had to leave some of my updates on the cutting room floor. We have the latest BALI news, features and technical updates, as well as this year’s BALI National Landscape Awards winners on pages 34 & 35, alongside an exclusive first look at one of our brand-new entries this year on pages 22 & 23. Thank you to our advertisers for your loyal support, especially during such a difficult year where budgets have been cut and every penny scrutinised. Without you, Landscape News would be a very different product and it’s your commitment that maintains our standing as one of the leading industry publications. You have my sincere thanks.

Editor Darren Taylor BALI Landscape House Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2LG T: 024 7669 8656 E: darren.taylor@bali.org.uk Editorial darren.taylor@bali.org.uk Advertising diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk Copy date for Winter 2020 edition 13th November 2020

Design by:

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Best wishes. Darren Taylor

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire

CONTENTS

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Designer Focus

LATEST NEWS

BEST STUDENTS AWARDED CHALK FUND PRIZE

Four star students who have each won £100 from this year’s BALI Chalk Fund Best Landscape Student of the Year Awards 2020 have been revealed as Ben Hockley of Merrist Wood College, Henry Wagg from SRUC Oatridge Campus, Joshua Reid from Warwickshire College and Oliver Adams from Wiltshire College & University Centre. All four students are now in the running to become the National Landscape Top Student of the Year, which will see the successful candidate receive a further cheque for £500, plus an additional £500 presented to the student’s respective college. The BALI Chalk Fund Trustees will make their final decision of the overall winner at their next meeting in October, before the winning student will be announced during BALI’s virtual BALI National Landscape Awards broadcast on 4th December 2020. Commenting on his well-deserved prize, Oliver said, “To be part of this diverse and constantly evolving industry is exciting, engaging and very rewarding. Winning one of the BALI Chalk Fund’s awards is a huge confidence boost and yet another positive element to reinforce my chosen career path.” Henry, who studies at SRUC, said: “It is an honour and a surprise to win this award. My classmates were all brilliant landscapers by the end of our course which is testament to the great teaching we received from SRUC.”

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CONTRACTOR NEWS The curving path and packed borders provide the perfect autumnal display

CREATING CONTRASTING SPACES Registered Contractor Bowles & Wyer recently completed two schemes, a stunning country garden in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire and the refurbishment of two outdoor playgrounds for a school in London. Landscape News takes a closer look at both projects.

Above: The elliptical floating lawn provided the perfect centrepiece for this private Hertfordshire garden

Autumn 2020

Plant-rich borders mixed new planting with older country garden specimens

A modern country garden with a large lawn Covering half an acre on a sloping site, it required an innovative design to create the client’s desire of a modern country garden with a large lawn. Through clever design, Bowles & Wyer not only achieved this but also incorporated a secondary family space of a circular fire pit area and home office building at the bottom of the garden. Forgoing the obvious solution of terracing the garden, they instead developed the idea of retaining the back of the lawn lower down the site, with a Corten Steel retaining wall, curved round a distinctive oval-shaped lawn. This elliptical floating lawn became a real centrepiece, with curving shapes and forms becoming a distinctive feature of the overall design.

BALI Landscape News

One continuous pathway leads from the top to the bottom of the garden, curving round the floating lawn and leading to other areas of interest. Bowles & Wyer used Registered Affiliate Brickworks Vande Moortel N.V. for the long path, adding impact to the garden and complementing the architecture of the house. The planting scheme found on the upper levels of the garden took on a prairie style, with large swathes of grasses enclosing the sweeping path. Key plants included Parrotiapersica, Rhustyphina‘Laciniata’, Nasellatenuissima, Deschampiacespitosa‘Goldtau’ and Allium sphaerocephalon. Whilst striking bulb planting adds impact in spring, the planting looks most spectacular as the autumn colours start to come through.

The added attention to detail within the play space meant children could discover new and exciting additions

The playground even came with a covered sand pit

Regenerating two London play spaces Bowles & Wyer recently undertook the refurbishment of two outdoor playgrounds for a school in London. With the junior school playground previously dominated by ball games, the new design created distinct areas – a space for ball games but separated by removable fencing to create new areas for climbing and exploring, as well as quieter areas with auditorium seating and playhouses. This was transformational in making it more inclusive for all children and added new learning and play experiences to the space. The Early Years playground was transformed into a space dedicated to both physical and non-physical play – including the construction of a large wooden climbing frame and a

covered sandpit. The theme of nature runs throughout the two schemes, with naturalistic planting and natureinspired wall art adding a sense of fun to the space. Construction involved the demolition of the existing playgrounds and hard landscape. The construction had particularly stringent building restrictions when working close to the existing trees. Designed to encourage further physical play, the wooden play equipment required careful installation, alongside the addition of artificial turf for a safer surfacing option. The team also undertook all the planting of the various beds. Visit bowleswyer.co.uk to view more projects like this.

Small fences were constructed to help seperate the playground into more inclusive zones

Artifical lawns helped soften the hardscape and provide a safe space for children to play and explore’

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

CONTRACTOR NEWS

BRAMBLEDOWN COMPLETES 30-ACRE SOFT LANDSCAPE INSTALL IN LEEDS Registered Contactor Brambledown Landscape Services have completed over £500k of landscaping works at Skelton Lakes Service Station, just outside Leeds. With innovative designs, a twisting living green roof and unique landscape features, this service station has class and quality. The new Yorkshire service station cost in excess of £60 million to build and includes a business centre, food and drinks outlets and a visitor area with a lakeside viewing deck. Brambledown handled the soft landscaping, which had to tie in with the natural environment of the nearby Skelton Lake and Gardens. They constructed and installed a new natural landscape across the station’s 30-acre site, including a living green roof, thousands of bedding plants and over 400 trees.

RESTRICTED SERVICES BUT NOT EFFORT FOR HOME FIX TEAM For Registered Contractor Home Fix Scotland, the swift but unexpected arrival of a pandemic led to transformational changes across the organisation. Restrictions did not prevent staff from volunteering to help the community’s most vulnerable. Essential food and medical supplies were delivered daily and members of the Environmental Team began work on a floral tribute to keyworkers outside a COVID-19 testing site.

Registered Affiliate Johnsons of Whixley supplied more than 25,000 plants for the scheme, including more than 3,900 Persicaria ‘Darjeeling Red’, 3,600 Carpinus betulus, 2,800 crataegus monogyna and 1,100 Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’. Brambledown’s Managing Director, Paul Curry, said; “This has been a very challenging but rewarding scheme. We had to adjust our schedules and programmes to ensure we delivered through lockdown and we have achieved a magnificent finished project.” Visit brambledown.com for further information.

GREEN SHOOTS OF HOPE FROM IDVERDE For Registered Contractor idverde, the widely acknowledged benefit of greenspace and the government led initiative to keep parks open for the health of the nation has provided an opportunity to breathe new life into the industry. idverde has launched a range of social distancing solutions designed to keep customers, colleagues, and members of the public safe. From signage and surface markings, to barriers and bespoke planters for guiding visitors around outdoor spaces such as retail premises, offices, housing developments and parks. A concerted team effort and positive, fresh thinking enabled idverde to continue with its planned office and UK support centre move to Octavia House

Furthermore, idverde is actively recruiting across the country. For more information and to apply visit idverde.co.uk/job-vacancies.

Visit homefixscotland.co.uk for further details.

Autumn 2020

on Westwood Business Park, Coventry. The new premises are larger and ideally situated in the heart of the West Midlands, near to motorway and rail links. Doug Graham, CEO of idverde, commented: “We’re really excited to have opened the doors to our new UK support centre. Our head office has always been located in Coventry, so we’re really pleased that we could find a suitable location in the community we already work in. The new premises are larger and reflect the continued growth of idverde, both as a local, national and international employer.”

Since lockdown began, the Environmental Team has cut over 1,200,000 square foot of grass - the equivalent of 168 football pitches. With the suspension of local recycling centres and bulk uplifting services flytipping more than doubled. The team removed over 200 tons of rubbish from the streets of Inverclyde.

Skelton Lakes, one of the first service stations in the UK to include over 30-acres of greenspace

BALI Landscape News

Innovative social distancing solutions using horticultural tactics

Large open spaces for entertaining family and friends is high on the agenda for UK clients says Oakham

CONTRACTOR NEWS

OAKHAM’S THREE GARDENING TRENDS FOR 2020 Now that the year 2020 will forever be known as the year of COVID-19, and how it changed our economic landscape, some things have remained unchanged. The power of the great outdoors, and the UK’s desire for all things green. In fact, there was a huge surge in interest for these verdant greenspaces during lockdown, and the trend continues unabated as we head towards the year’s end.

Registered Contractor Oakham Garden Services takes a look at three trends that have emerged since COVID-19 took hold.

1. Grow Your Own Clients are starting to live off the land, growing their own fruit and vegetables. They want to understand and recognise where their food is sourced, and to ensure stocks can be managed if restrictions are reintroduced.

2. Gardening and Wellbeing

3. Outdoor Living

Towards the end of last year, the focus was firmly on climate change. Since then, clients have introduced their own ways to contribute to reducing their carbon footprint, as well as recognising the therapeutic benefits of gardening for both mind and body. Now the whole family are getting involved, not only are we seeing ‘staycation’, but we’re also seeing ‘staygardening’, where people are spending more time working on their own plots.

A reoccurring theme our clients ask for is their desire for space outside to entertain family and friends. Sure, gardens have always incorporated some form of seating areas entwined with stunning planting schemes, but now the brief extends out to larger seating plans, sweeping outdoor kitchens and even multiple breakout areas to show off the various perspectives at different times of the day.

Oakham Garden Services are a friendly, professional landscaping company based just outside of Wellingborough. With over 25 years of experience in horticulture, their reputation for designing, planning and implementing stunning garden designs has grown phenomenally. To find out more visit oakhamgardenservices.co.uk

Newman supports local communities throughout lockdown Established in 2007, Registered Contractor Newman Landscapes has overcome a number of unique challenges to become an awardwinning business in grounds and commercial maintenance. However, like the rest of the world, the challenges posed by COVID-19 initially took them by surprise. Recognising the seriousness of the situation, PPE was provided for all members of staff and a new way of working was quickly introduced. Staff morale was top priority and a reassurance concerning the security of their employment was a worry. Working with local authorities around the UK, Newman Landscapes’ employees were swiftly delegated as key workers and continued to work at full capacity throughout lockdown. It provided an opportunity to help businesses and local residencies maintain a sense of normality.

The team continued to support their local community during lockdown

Precautionary measures were put in place to enable their customers to enjoy their parks, grounds, and local areas despite the restrictions. Newman Landscapes have received extensive praise from the community for their work. One resident stated that ‘she had never seen her local area look so good’ and a local business owner praised the ‘conscientiousness of the workers’. Newman Landscapes is always on the lookout for new and sustainable methods of working. Throughout 2019/2020 substantial investment has been made in new eco-friendly machinery for both the tree operatives and ground maintenance teams. Any green waste produced is also recycled and the office staff also re-use and recycle wherever possible.

Managing Director David Newman modelling their new corporate facemask

Visit newmanlandscapes.co.uk for further information.

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

Worsley Delph is a site of international importance for its role in the world’s first Industrial Revolution

CONTRACTOR NEWS

TRANSFORMING WORSLEY DELPH Worsley Delph is a site of international importance in terms of its role in the world’s first Industrial Revolution. The mines at the Delph are the principal reason why the Bridgewater Canal was constructed in 1761 to take coal from the mines into Manchester and beyond. The scheme, delivered by Registered Contractor P. Casey (Land Reclamation) on behalf of Salford City Council, constitutes the final part of the Bridgewater Canal Masterplan, which aims to improve the Bridgewater Canal as a tourism, heritage and leisure asset for the city. To date, around £5 million has been invested in environmental, recreational and conservation improvements along the Canal and Worsley Delph

is the last and most important of the regeneration schemes along the Bridgewater Canal in Salford. The works, which were supported in part by the Heritage Lottery Fund included the removal of approximately 5,000m³ of silt from the Delph basin, construction of a new three-tiered viewing platform off School Brow and installation of seating and interpretation features depicting and explaining the heritage of the site. It also included enhanced pedestrian accessibility improvements from Worsley Village, including resurfacing of paths, seating areas, signage and a new pedestrian refuge on Worsley Road, new lighting provision including to pedestrian areas and to illuminate

New lighting provisions were included to pedestrian areas

the tunnels and features within the site, reconstruction of Alphabet foot bridge and tree clearance and landscaping works to improve the physical environment of the Delph. Since the successful completion of the project in September 2019, the area has experienced significantly increased footfall from visitors from the existing local community, educational establishments and interest groups eager to understand the history of the area and appreciate the unique and industrial nature of Worsley Delph. Visit casey.co.uk for further information.

TIVOLI TRIALS ELECTRIC FLEET Registered Contractor Tivoli has introduced a long-term modernisation programme for equipment and vehicles with a view to replacing them with electric or hybrid versions where possible, helping the company to achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral in the next 12 months. A company-wide assessment of its existing equipment is underway, and the company is looking to bring in electrified replacements where possible. This is an ongoing project that is likely to require an investment of around £15 million in the future. Tivoli is actively looking to work with a small number of OEM partners that meet expectations for reliability, cost of ownership, environmental footprint and provide good product support.

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The future investment includes renewal of the whole fleet of around 650 vehicles, with an aim of replacing fossil-fuels with electricity wherever possible. In line with this plan, the company has commenced a trial of electric vehicles, with the first eNV200 delivered to their Walthamstow depot last week. Tivoli’s CEO Darren Cunningham says: “We’re trying to move towards entirely electric and hybrid vehicles, but they have to be fit-for-purpose.” In circumstances where EV’s are not a practical solution, Tivoli will look at the suitability of a hybrid, before opting for a conventional eco-vehicle as a last resort. Darren himself is currently trialling a Nissan Leaf EV, further demonstrating Tivoli’s commitment to its fleet modernisation programme.

BALI Landscape News

Tivoli’s new eNV200 electric vehicle in Walthamstow

Darren added: “We have a moral responsibility to the areas we maintain. We’re a green business at the end of the day, so why aren’t we making a much bigger commitment to the communities in which we serve and support.” Visit tivoliservices.com for further information.

CONTRACTOR NEWS

The Cutting Garden, one of the many outdoor rooms on this 3-acre plot of land

Photo © used with permission by photographer Rebecca Bernstein.

CREATING A FLOWING OUTDOOR SPACE Registered Contractor and multi award winning The Garden Company transformed a disused swimming pool into a contemporary wildlife pond as part of a private family garden restoration in the Chilterns. Their client’s property was surrounded by a mature 3-acre garden in Bovingdon, on the edge of the Chilterns. A lot of previous planting and landscaping had been undertaken rather unsympathetically and there was no ‘sense of flow’ from one garden area to another. Although the house was surrounded by attractive countryside, the garden didn’t ‘connect’ with this or the house, although there was great potential to do so. After over 10 years in the family home, the owners decided to begin their garden transformation by converting a barely used swimming pool into a wildlife pond and appointed Registered Designer James Scott MBALI and The Garden Company to undertake the design and build. James designed a contemporary wildlife pond with ‘floating’ stepping stones running across it. Along the edges, shallow planting beds provided easy access for wildlife. The surrounding terrace was redesigned, and a row of fastigiated Hornbeams added to blend the formal and informal garden areas.

Working closely with the owners, James went on to develop the garden transformation through careful editing and subtle addition of new planting and features. James’s design concept overall was to release the garden from its enclosed compartments and connect both the garden and the house to their surroundings. Simple steps like reducing the height of a boundary hedge opened up wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Another hedge blocked access to a woodland area, so a conifer tree was replaced with a willow archway. A cutting garden with box-edged plants was added; the old shed next to it was renovated into an elegant garden room. The design is simple in concept and the build is rich in detail. As more views and vistas were opened up, paths made to link areas and routes created around the garden, the owners were delighted to be able to enjoy their flowing outdoor space in its countryside setting. For further inspiration visit thegardenco.co.uk.

A CLASS ACT TO FOLLOW It’s no secret the landscape industry is a remarkable sector to work in, but it suffers from not having enough skilled workers to undertake the roles available. This is something Mark and Holly Youde of Registered Contractor Urban Landscape Design are only too familiar with. As a market leading design and build landscaping business in the North West, Mark and Holly have experienced their own issues in finding skilled staff who have relevant experience and qualifications, as well as locating suitable training that fits around the business’ needs. From this experience, The Landscape Academy was born. The Academy aims to help the landscape and horticulture industry by providing

relevant and accessible training available to all disciplines throughout the landscaping community. The courses have been specifically structured to meet the needs and skills progression currently missing from the industry with the hope that businesses and individuals will find courses that can work around their busy schedules.

For more information on courses available, contact The Landscape Academy at info@landscapeacademy.co.uk or visit landscapeacademy.co.uk.

Courses cover a wide range of topics and can be tailored to suit any level, from hard and soft landscaping, machinery experience courses to health and safety and business management. The team also offer bespoke courses to fit around specific requirements and business needs, something that is proving to be an extremely popular choice for those companies wishing to provide training for their employees and teams.

Autumn 2020

The Landscape Academy was setup to provide relevant and accessible training

BALI Landscape News

INTERVIEW

TALKING SAUDI, STADIUMS AND SPORTS TURF WITH TALBOT FARM

Sean Goodwin, Director of Talbot Farm Landscapes

LANDSCAPES

Editor of Landscape News, Darren Taylor, was granted an exclusive first look at one of this year’s entries for the BALI National Landscape Awards 2020, courtesy of Registered Contractor Talbot Farm Landscapes. Here, Darren speaks exclusively to Director Sean Goodwin about breaking new ground and pushing boundaries. Tell me a little bit about Talbot Farm Landscapes We are a commercial landscaping company that’s been trading for 33 years, carrying out all types of landscaping in the UK, from residential developments to complete business parks and maintenance contracts where required. We also carry out natural sports surface construction, from grass roots right up to international stadia in the UK and across Europe. We’re based in the centre of the UK, with access to all the major transport links. We’ve built a solid reputation for delivering a variety of contracts, all with our famous ‘can do’ attitude. We have a vast range of resources, from labour to machinery, and most of our employees have worked for the company in excess of 25 years with a high level of landscaping and specialist sports turf sector knowledge. We were one of the first companies to install turf in a stadium for immediate use. We excel at delivering to a tight timeframe and within budget and are pioneers in our sector.

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We’ve worked with the general public, royalty, celebrities and local and national football clubs, installing turf from a range of 25mtrs up to 125,000mtrs contracts. We worked on the Queen Elizabeth Stadium for the London Olympics 2012, installing turf in under 11 hours inbetween the opening ceremony and the start of the games. We’ve imported some of the world’s largest trees and installed them using crane lifts, completed contracts in Trafalgar Square, working through the night as part of the UK’s City Village Celebrations and installed turf in The Great Room at JW Marriott Grosvenor Hotel in London. Our sports services division has been observing and testing the availability of the hybrid carpet market for sports surfaces for several years. The product we eventually selected was designed and manufactured with the grass plant in mind. The nature of its production meant that it was able to deliver a true hybrid surface.

Why enter the BALI National Landscape Awards 2020? Having previously entered, we were overwhelmed not only by the standard and the professional approach shown

BALI Landscape News

by BALI to put on the Awards but also the quality of the entries received. To receive a BALI Award increases the credibility of our company and our brand, and at the same time, enables everybody within the company to feel proud of what has been achieved. The ceremony and its location, it has to be said, is one of London’s finest events in one of the most prestigious hotels. The ceremony includes a four-course meal and is attended by over 1,000 people. Not bad for a bunch of gardeners.

I see you have entered the ‘UKbased Registered Contractor Working Overseas’ category, what interested you about that? Having carried out various contracts overseas, I’ll never forget the first time we delivered a project internationally. It was so exciting and left butterflies in the stomach. Europe is one thing, easily accessible to UK-based companies and a source for many of our contracts in the past, however, the Middle East is a different challenge entirely. We felt, out of all the contracts we have delivered in the last 12 months, this was the right one to put forward. The team agreed that if we are successful in winning this award, then all of a sudden, it would elevate our company to another level. Riyadh in Saudi Arabia is certainly a different proposition to Reims in France, so the excitement is that bit greater and the butterflies greater still!

We studied the advent of hybrid carpet for three years and witnessed the range of products reduce from 22 to five. We are extremely confident in our ability to select and install the correct product for playing surfaces like this.

All of our machinery was imported into Saudi Arabia from the UK

What was it like working in Saudi Arabia on such a prestigious largescale project? Were their unique challenges working overseas? Having been lucky enough to be awarded the contract after several site visits and a great deal of discussion, it was a real honour to represent the UK landscape and sports turf industry. We had to consider the cultural differences between our nation and the KSA. It was imperative that considerations were made for our client to truly respect their way of life, from dress code to working hours. We carried out behind the scenes research to ensure all our staff understood the cultural difference that they would likely see, to ensure that respect was shown at all times. In terms of the language barrier, we worked closely with local representatives who could speak both Arabic and English. All staff had to receive an invite to enter the country, prior to visas being obtained by the Saudi Embassy. Our team and I were not just representing Talbot Landscapes, but the UK too. The project we delivered was for a client at the highest level of Saudi National Football and standards had to be maintained. Due to the specialist machinery required, we had to fly out our own to fulfil the contract. This in itself added an extra element to the nature of this work. Landscaping and

sports surfaces in Saudi Arabia are very different to the UK, most notably because of the climate. Grass plants are selected on their availability to survive and thrive in the extreme heat. When we commenced works in August, the daily temperatures were around 106Â°F, so we had to work shift patterns. These included 4am to 11am, 4pm to 10pm and night shifts for irrigation. Working hours in the Middle East vary to what we are used to. Their weekends are Friday and Saturday and what we would class as a typical dinner hour was for prayers. All of these considerations had to be taken into account and it was imperative they were understood, way before we tendered for the contract.

The football pitches are using the latest woven fibre technology. What was it like being involved in something that is pushing the boundaries of what this industry can achieve? At Talbots we are pioneers in delivering world class landscaping projects that push the boundaries of what is possible, using the latest technology, equipment and resources. We like to try and achieve where others cannot. We studied the advent of hybrid carpet for three years and witnessed the range of products reduce from 22 to five. We understood their method of construction, together with their ability to perform. We carried out

The finished Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh

independent tests at our nursery. If we were going to move forwards, not just for a new product, or a new method of construction or invention, for us to actively market and support it, we have to not just be confident but stand by our convictions. It is not just our company, but everybody involved within the organisation. We all like to pursue greatness.

Do you see the BALI National Landscape Awards as being a vital platform to promote your business to the wider landscape industry? Our involvement with BALI and the credibility of our company through winning one of BALIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Landscape Awards ensures we are not only able to take advantage as being recognised for our achievements but also helps to increase the credibility of our brand and also market our company to the highest possible level. talbotfarmlandscapes.co.uk

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BALI SEES SURGE IN

INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP

PMA Design Since its founding in 2010, PMA Design (PolyMorphArchitects) has been based in Beijing and has become the Chinese office for Plasma Studio, a pioneering British company that focuses on global research and landscape practice. Established in parallel with Plasma, PMA has now launched independently. Their expertise spans multiple fields, from furniture design and installation art to architectural landscape and urban planning. PMA is a cross-border office focusing on glocal practice. Its practical works are combined with the world’s cuttingedge academic research, which reflects the exploration of the current social and economic development and urban environment. Closely tied to landscape urbanism, the studio continues to be involved in the creation of contemporary urban space, establishing ways of applying a digital design approach to sustainable development. Their goal is to create quality spaces and environments for people to share and enjoy. Visit p-m-a.cn for more information.

Autumn 2020

Shanghai Youde Architectural Planning and Design Consulting Co This interdisciplinary collaborative innovation centre, based in Shanghai, brings researchers and practitioners together, providing landscape solutions and technologies for urban and rural developments. Relying on the academic and technological research and development platform of the landscape innovation research and development team of Tongji University, Shanghai Youde not only has in-depth collaboration with domestic and foreign industries of green technology innovation, but also maintains cutting-edge exchanges and collaboration with Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Italy and the Netherlands. With the support of international and domestic partners, the company focuses on landscape solutions in China, ranging from cuttingedge innovations to intermediate technology. The team has won a number of domestic R&D and planning & design awards, achieving a Highly Commended accolade from the Landscape Institute Awards in 2018. Youde’s recent research includes urban landscape renewal, regeneration design of rural ecosystems, child-friendly environmental innovation and high-density vertical landscapes in urban space.

BALI Landscape News

The BALI National Landscape Awards is the largest landscaping awards ceremony in Europe, and this attracts the attention of some of the world’s leading landscaping practices. This edition, we welcome three of them to BALI by shining a spotlight on their business.

Guangzhou S.P.I Design Co Founded in 2007, S.P.I is a comprehensive landscape design platform driven by innovation. With 11 branches across China, employing over 1,200 designers, it has successfully delivered more than 3,000 high-quality projects in over 100 cities across the country. S.P.I works closely with real estate groups and Chinese governments, delivering superior schemes and solutions for urban environments. The company has devoted itself to supporting China’s rural and urban developments. Experts in systematic landscape design services, S.P.I has achieved various qualifications, including “National Landscape Architecture Engineering Design Grade A” and has created the “New Shanshui Design Concept”. It has customized systematic, integrative and professional schemes and solutions in the fields of community environment, commercial complex, culture & tourism, themed towns, urban design and regional planning. It was awarded honorary titles such as “National Top 10 Landscape Design Enterprises” and “The Best Creative Brand Institution of Chinese Architecture & Planning” in China. S.P.I has also won the CREDAWARD, Kinpan Award, multiple IFLA awards, Asia Design Prize, Italy’s A’Design Award and America’s IDA, both at home and abroad. For more information visit gz-spi.com

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19/05/2020 14:38

Their staff are highly trained, skilled and loyal thanks to their business ethos

TRAINING & TECHNICAL SPOTLIGHT ON

NICHOLSONS NURSERIES

The nursery in North Aston is a site to behold

by Richard Gardiner For my third “Spotlight” article in the series, I delve deep into a business that blew me away within minutes of entering the building and kept on impressing for the duration of their Quality Standard Review (QSR).

The company has a very level approach to management and the team at Nicholsons are empowered to succeed. Training is key, with regular staff meetings to share skillsets, and many Gen Z students are supported through university whilst working in vital roles within the organisation.

This horticultural family-run business and Registered Contractor, Nicholson Nurseries T/A Nicholsons, was founded over 40 years ago by Roderick Nicholson. The business provided a forestry service to the Cotswolds in the wake of Dutch Elm Disease before Roderick was succeeded by Niel and Liz Nicholson following his retirement.

Since I was on site, the company has continued its progressive work having developed a Target 10 initiative: every member of staff over the age of 21 (with an agreed level of skill) is paid in excess of £10 an hour, and Nicholsons are proud to progress individuals beyond this minimum through training and early opportunity.

Today, Nicholsons employs 150 members of staff and is one of the region’s leading garden design companies, offering a design & build service with inspiration, energy and attention to detail amongst their core values.

The company passionately believe in the ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality, and this summer, Liz added a third cabin to the suite of holiday opportunities offered to the staff. The team can enjoy a week in a timber cabin on the coast of Pembrokeshire, a slightly wild week in a forest in Scotland, and this summer, upon staff request, Nicholsons have invested in a tiny gîte in the Dordogne, France.

Whilst the design side of the business has mushroomed in recent years, a vital division is the Nicholsons plant nursery nestled in the sleepy village of North Aston, just north of Oxford. The nursery, set up in the old park of North Aston Hall, is a 23-acre site, growing native trees and hedges to the industry. This nursery activity has kept the business well-connected with topical issues of biosecurity. The site in North Aston has impressive environmental credentials, hosting an extensive PV array, a woodchip fired boiler (affectionately known as Gertie) and most importantly, a rainwater harvesting reservoir, for irrigating the nursery. Most years, every plant on the nursery is watered without the need to tap into the mains water at all. Nicholsons as a business is driven by environmental protection and that is clear to see in all that they do.

Autumn 2020

The company regard themselves as a family business in the broader sense of the word. Horticulture is a calling and suits a community approach, and at Nicholsons the teamwork is evident. But what of the future following the setback presented by COVID. Where do Nicholsons see their business going?

setting achievable processes and standards to ensure safe supply of healthy plants to the sector and are great supporters of the HTA’s ‘Plant Healthy’ initiative. Nicholsons are part of a professional forestry organisation, initiated by Niel, linking companies together to offer investment in carbon woodlands across England. It is widely reported that carbon sequestration is one of the main opportunities that mankind has to mitigate climate change, and Nicholsons have invested heavily in this opportunity and believe in it passionately for the future. The landscaping division is well established, making up nearly two thirds of the business. Liz identifies that the next decade will bring an increasing offer of the security of a fully packaged design and build process. The studio at Nicholsons are using developed technologies to help clients visualise their projects, and close connections with their own exceptional in-house construction teams offers a seamless transition to the build. This is followed by a complete maintenance service, with teams of fully trained gardeners ready to keep gardens looking there best. For more information visit nicholsonsgb.com

Despite the disruption of the pandemic and huge changes to business practice, Nicholsons has grown over 10% this last year, and has also enjoyed a resetting of codes of practice and training to ensure that growth is sustainable while retaining quality. On the nursery, biosecurity is a single driver. Nicholsons are amongst the thought leaders of the industry in

BALI Landscape News

Richard Gardiner Technical Officer (Quality Assurance)

TRAINING & TECHNICAL There are still known instances where a landscaper has not established an agreed contract with the client

One of the most common disputes BALI receives notification of involves hard landscaping, and problems with incorrectly laid paving

BALI’S DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICE by Owen Baker

The number of disputes arising between domestic clients and BALI Registered Contractors has increased significantly during 2020. Whilst it is testament to the can-do attitude of those working in the profession that landscape works were able to continue during a year that - so far - has challenged the industry with record breaking rainfall in February and the coronavirus pandemic since March, the sheer volume of cases reviewed by the BALI disputes committee is set to be higher than any other year. Earlier this month BALI launched the revised BALI disputes process, which features minor tweaks to a familiar system. As before, when a dispute arises, Senior Membership Officer Jo Todd and I are the first BALI members of the disputes committee to speak to the client and contractor and will seek to establish the facts of the case from a range of evidence provided by either party. By the time BALI get involved, a oncepositive relationship has often sadly descended to curt emails and threats of legal action. From this point, BALI are required to review evidence submitted by either party and assist in arriving at a fair and equitable resolution. As highlighted in an article I wrote for Landscape News in 2018, most disputes reviewed by the BALI disputes committee don’t concern quality, but a difference in expectations combined with a lack of communication. This difference in expectation often concerns the cost of works as a result of scope creep and, due to a lack of communication, only becomes apparent during the latter stages of a project when the final cost differs from the initial quote. Amongst the minority of disputes that arise from workmanship, most concern incorrect use of landscape materials. Whilst online DIY forums or a 30-minute YouTube video won’t turn a client into a skilled landscaper, it will furnish them with the knowledge necessary to know when something hasn’t been constructed correctly and to seek a second opinion from BALI.

Take it from someone who has sifted through hundreds of files, photographs and emails trying to establish the rights and wrongs of client complaints; there are a few measures all BALI members can take that will minimise the risk of having to deal with unpleasant conversations:

•

Always issue contracts and terms and conditions. Use either the free BALI domestic contract (available for members to download bali.org.uk/ help-and-advice/contracts-law-andregulations/bali-domestic-contract or use one of the JCLI Landscape Works contracts available for £35 + VAT from landscapeinstitute.org/ technical/jcli Spend time completing contracts accurately and ensure your client is familiar with the content and associated terms and conditions Record scope changes. Gain positive consent from the client for any scope changes and record these either on a revised quote or at the very least, an email. Furthermore, and despite the information contained on websites such as pavingexpert.com, most domestic clients have limited knowledge of materials and experience with landscape construction and require an explain of the implications of materials or deviations from designs. Despite how confident the client may seem in their decisions; they have sought the skills and experience of a professional

•

Review hard landscape construction techniques. Incorrect installation of modern materials generates a disproportionately high number of workmanship disputes. Whilst the fundamentals of landscape construction may stand the test of time, many modern materials such as porcelain must be installed in accordance with manufacturer instruction, and often require modern adhesives. If in doubt, consult either the manufacturer or BALI

Review of evidence provided by parties during disputes reveals contractors often omit detailed designs, specifications and bill of quantities from quotes. Whilst these documents place an additional burden on already busy contractors, time invested at this stage is likely to avoid future disputes. Review the revised BALI disputes service forms on the BALI website and familiarise yourself with the evidence required as part of a dispute. If you do not routinely provide documentation such as a contract, terms and conditions, design and specification with your quote, consider the implications of settling a dispute without these!

Autumn 2020

Owen Baker, Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

BALI Landscape News

TRAINING & TECHNICAL

GOLANDSCAPE ADAPTS TO A NEW WAY OF WORKING by Stephen Ensell Education Officer

It has been a challenging few months for everyone, particularly for businesses and individuals that have to adjust their way of working, with reduced or restricted face to face contact. It’s encouraging that for the most part, landscaping has bounced back and many of you are even experiencing more enquiries (and hopefully work), as much of the country is now in ‘staycation’ mode, with gardens and greenspace offering a sense of relief for many. BALI’s careers initiative, GoLandscape, has not changed its focus through all of this. We are still here and endeavouring to educate people by dispelling myths and encouraging people to consider taking up a career within the industry. What has changed is the way we deliver that message. Whilst all face to face events have been cancelled or postponed in schools, colleges and at career shows, we have moved online to keep the message going, and to remind people that there are still career opportunities in the world of landscaping. Over the last few months we have seen an increase in traffic to the GoLandscape website, especially to the career changer sections. This has also resulted in a number of enquiries from people looking to change their careers as a result of pending redundancies, showing that we are an attractive choice for many people. We continue to host direct virtual presentations to a number of schools, as well as to digital careers festivals and careers advisers through the use of webinars. We have also continued to support industry colleges, including a

Autumn 2020

webinar to Training Provider member Wiltshire College & University Centre apprentices, promotional presentations to local schools about horticulture and landscape apprenticeships as well as promoting the benefits of taking on an apprentice to landscape employers. We were able to organise a visit to Training Provider member Capel Manor College and meet the students that are just completing their Level 3 Technical horticulture qualifications. A group of them had applied for our enrichment program, which is sponsored by the BALI Chalk Fund, to undertake short professional qualifications that would support them in gaining employment. This particular group were undergoing their Pa 1 and Pa 6 training, and it was a wonderful opportunity to find out what their plans were when they left Capel, and also the value to the students from receiving sponsored training as they get ready to join the industry. Another focus for GoLandscape is exmilitary personnel. Leavers come with so many transferable skills that would truly benefit our industry. Presentations have

BALI Landscape News

Stephen Ensell with Immediate Past Chairman Matt O’Conner, attending a virtual webinar with Wiltshire College and University Centre

been made to these men and women through the HighGround Charity, at their Rural week, which celebrates and promotes careers in the outdoors. We took a virtual stand at the BFRS (British Forces Resettlement Services) show, and a presentation and Q&A session was held with the Ruralink Charity. I am excited to announce that plans are well underway in developing a training program for military leavers. The aim is to support them in joining the industry with a Level 3 horticulture/landscaping qualification, so watch this space for further updates. With the next six to 12 months looking uncertain, we are working to create additional digital resources and activities to ensure we continue to engage with school leavers, industry students, careers advisers and career changers by signposting them to the relevant help and support pages of our website golandscape.co.uk.

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TRAINING & TECHNICAL

INTRODUCING BALI’S HEALTH & SAFETY FORUM

During 2017 and 2018, pedestrian mowers, hedge trimmers and brush cutters were responsible for the highest number of accidents and near misses

by Owen Baker Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

The BALI National Contractor’s Forum’s (BALI-NCF) own health & safety forum was established with the aim of furnishing BALI members and their employees with knowledge and training, which will result in fewer injuries and accidents. Forum members currently share accident and near-miss data with BALI on a monthly basis, which is collated and analysed to identify trends in accidents and near misses. The data is then anonymised and presented to contributing members of the forum. Other aims of the forum include:

• • • • •

Develop training materials based on insight gained from the forum Provide training courses to address specific areas of accidents and near misses Work with manufacturers to develop safer products Use benchmarks to compare landscape construction and maintenance with other industries Share knowledge with the wider landscape and horticulture industries

Thanks to the contributions of forum members, the data submitted has been of sufficient number and quality to allow detailed analysis. Over 12,000 near-miss and 1,000 injury records have revealed trends in accidents and near misses which have already been used by the forum to develop training initiatives. Of the accident data submitted, most are minor injuries, although more serious RIDDOR incidents are also logged. Data collected by the forum during 2017 and 2018 revealed that, along with pedestrian mowers, hedge trimmers and brush cutters were responsible for the highest number of accidents and near misses. Consequently, together with Registered Affiliate STIHL, during 2018 and 2019 half-day training courses were developed and run throughout the country by BALI-NCF and offered to all BALI members free of charge. The courses featured both classroom and practical elements specifically developed to teach operatives the correct way of transporting, operating and maintaining hedge trimmers and brush cutters. It is hoped this training will result in a reduction in accident numbers reported by members, which will be monitored.

Autumn 2020

In addition to the type of equipment being used when accidents and near misses occur, records submitted by forum members also include the date and time, as well as the circumstances and activity being undertaken by the operative when the accident or near miss occurred. This level of information has been particularly useful, as it has allowed trends and commonalities between accidents to be identified. Information submitted by forum members suggests accidents are most likely to occur during midday. Furthermore, and of particular interest to the group, is the recurring pattern of manual handling injuries arising during maintenance of certain equipment, and the number of injuries when heavy equipment is unloaded from vehicles or trailers. The ratio of accident to near-miss data has provided a useful insight into operatives’ awareness of risk in relation to specific tasks. Analysis of this data has allowed the forum to identify specific areas where operatives do not perceive a risk, and consequently suffer injuries from perceived ‘safe’ activities. Often these injuries occur not from the equipment being used, but from some other factor. An example of this is the use of pedestrian mowers; most injuries associated with this equipment are not sustained from the reciprocating blade of the mower, but from manual handling injuries when the mower is being lifted onto the van or trailer at the beginning or end of the work shift. COVID-19 has sadly placed a temporary constraint on large-scale physical training activities, meaning the forum has started to explore the possibility of developing distance learning material instead. Talks are currently underway to discuss the viability of training videos produced by BALI and forum members, which can be distributed electronically to BALI members. BALI believe there is considerable potential behind the analysis of accident and near-miss data. Initial analysis has revealed there are several common injury themes, which BALI would like to explore and raise awareness of.

BALI Landscape News

REGISTERING AS A PROFESSIONAL OPERATOR The definition of a professional operator includes any person involved professionally in, and legally responsible for, one or more of the following activities concerning plants, plant products and other objects:

• • •

Planting

•

Introduction into, and movement within and out of, the Union territory

• •

Breeding Production, including growing, multiplying and maintaining

Making available on the market Storage, collection, dispatching and processing

Registration is intended to improve traceability of plant pests and disease, and places additional responsibilities on the registered business. Registered operators are required to keep a record of all plants they receive which require a plant passport. The aim of this record is to ensure the operator, if required, can identify which professional operator (a professional operator is a business authorised to issue plant passports) supplied them with a specific consignment of plants (commonly called a trade unit). To find out what this record should include, as well as a range of supporting reference links, visit bali.org.uk/helpand-advice and look for the section on contracts, law and regulations and then smarter rules for safer foods.

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DESIGNER FOCUS

Anne Marie, the head gardener at Le Manoir

Le Manoir lavender walk

GARDENING AT LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS by Hannah Genders MBALI – An interview with Anne Marie

As a saying from the 1940’s goes: ‘Behind every great man is a great woman’ or perhaps we should say, behind every great chef is a great gardener. This saying was in my head as I went to meet Anne Marie, the head gardener at Le Manoir, the flagship garden of chef Raymond Blanc OBE who pioneered home grown, seasonal produce picked fresh from the garden, straight to the kitchen. I first met Anne Marie with Raymond at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival in 2019 and have been keen to interview her ever since. As we sat together in the gardens, I wanted to hear more about Anne Marie’s background. I quickly realised she is not the woman behind Raymond Blanc, but an intrinsic part of their team. She speaks with great affection for Raymond and the way he runs Le Manoir, his enthusiasm, his passion for the place and its food and his involvement in every decision. During

Autumn 2020

lockdown he had phoned in everyday to check Anne Marie and the team were OK. Actually, she said she enjoyed the period of lockdown and realised she would never get a time like this again. She came into work every day and had the freedom of being able to garden again, without the usual distractions of emails and restaurant lists, she got back to gardening sometimes eight hours a day. She ached in muscles she didn’t know she had and said the strangest feeling of all was being able to leave her tools and wheelbarrow out in the garden, come in the next day and find them still there. This is something she has not been able to do in the thirty-five years she has been working here. During the quieter months of lockdown, Anne Marie was one of three gardeners, where

BALI Landscape News

usually there would be ten. She says she noticed the spring seemed brighter and more beautiful this year, the birds were singing loudly and with less traffic noise or aeroplanes overhead. For Anne Maire, this love of nature and being outdoors goes back to childhood. She was born just a few miles from Le Manoir in South Oxfordshire, her father was a builder and her mother a florist. She spent all her summer holidays helping on a local farm and loved it. She left school for agricultural college but was unable to get a grant to study straight agriculture or horticulture unless it had a secretarial element to the course. Because she was a girl, the secretarial part was deemed necessary then. It was during her summer holiday from college, she applied for and got a summer gardening job at the newly opened Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. She has never left and that was thirty-five years ago, and she never went back to the college course. Her knowledge is of this garden and every aspect of it, from the sandy soil at the top of the vegetable garden to the heavier clay at the bottom end. There is a unique micro-climate here. For example, one night in May this year they had the temperature drop to minus seven. Although everyone rushed around to fleece plants, unfortunately they still lost some blossom from the apple trees. Alongside this gardening knowledge she understands what the chefs like to use in the kitchen and admits she has learned so much about

The magnificent vegetable garden with Le Manoir in the background

Tomatoes ripening in the polytunnel

All plants are labelled in the garden

cooking and putting flavours together in her time here, although she always remains happiest outside. Any decisions on what to grow for the coming seasons, she and Raymond make together. They have a fabulous heritage orchard at Le Manoir and in their dedication to find the right varieties they spent five years taste testing apples before they planted a single tree. Anne Marie told me there are five ways they taste test apples; raw, baked, stewed, or pureed and Tarte Tatin. ‘We now include juicing’ she added. One thing I found really interesting is they weren’t looking at storage qualities, of course not, because this garden is all about ways of cooking that are fresh and local. No transport, no storage. This gives you scope to consider apples with a much thinner skin. Local here means a short walk to the garden to see what is looking good today. The vegetable gardens are accessed from the lawn at the back of the main building, through an ivy clad archway. Walking through here with Anne Maire she was apologetic that some of the beds were not looking their best, but I loved it. This is a working vegetable garden; it has a central path and long rows of vegetables spanning out on either side. The area for vegetables and herbs is around an acre and a half, the whole garden is seven and a half acres. This year is a little different with lockdown having happened, Anne

The heritage orchard

Marie has concentrated on summer and autumn produce in the garden. There are long rows of celeriac, chard in several stages of growth and French beans, planted to crop as late as October. There was a whole bed of squash with sunflowers popping up through and climbing beans growing on tripods along the edge. The sunflowers ranged from a dark red to a wonderful yellow with a full frilly centre, aptly named ‘Goldy Double’. This is an organic garden and has been leading the way for years in growing and trialling heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables. These heritage varieties are so important on so many levels, they increase the DNA available for future breeding, they can have superb flavour and help maintain local diversity. Many of the heritage cultivars have been lost over the years and so to keep them alive, cropping and seeding for the future is particularly important. In pioneering this she and Raymond will always choose taste over beauty in produce. In a normal year, the garden will hold one hundred and fifty different varieties of vegetables and herbs, with everything clearly labelled as guests now show a real interest in the garden and want to know what is growing. One plant I had not seen before was the Buckler leaf sorrel, I tasted some, it had a sharp, lemony flavour and an unusual leaf. Anne Marie told me ‘The chefs love this plant and so we grow loads of it,

acidity is something they are keen to add to dishes in the kitchen’. And Raymond Blanc’s signature dish? Those courgette flowers stuffed with the freshest of garden ingredients, ‘our courgettes are all grown undercover’ Anne Marie tells me ‘we grow them mainly for the flowers, which are delicate and we can require ninety flowers a day for the restaurant and so they must all be perfect’. I understand Raymond has named this dish ‘Assiette Anne Marie’ in honour of her and her gardening skills. A fitting tribute. A sustainable business. Having led the way with organic and local produce for 36 years, Le Manoir is now showing it can be possible to lead the way in sustainability. Raymond Blanc, President of The Sustainable Restaurant Association, passionately believes it is up to each of us to make a responsible choice. Le Manoir composts all its garden and kitchen waste, it operates a closed loop system. The gardens are irrigated by a borehole and they have a zero-landfill policy. belmond.com/lemanoir

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

Hannah Genders MBALI

BALI National Landscape Awards 2020

BALI NATIONAL LANDSCAPE AWARDS 2020 WINNERS CONFIRMED 70 Awards have been bestowed on 49 members of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), with 124 entries submitted overall. Members will now compete for the prestigious Principals, Specials and coveted Grand Award at this year’s event, which for the first time in its 44-year history will be held virtually via a special online broadcast on Friday 4th December 2020. More on that on page 10. Out of the 70 Awards announced, 7 were from new members who have joined BALI in the last 12 months and 13 were first-time entrants to the Awards, with several members also winning multiple times. Registered Contractors Bowles & Wyer and idverde both picked up four Awards, whilst Garden Club London and Graduate Gardeners each took home three. International Member DDON Planning and Design Inc. achieved five Awards out of 13 winning entries in a fiercely contended category, ‘International Award - BALI International Members only’. The BALI National Landscape Awards’ expert Adjudication Panel, led by Chair John Melmoe, was joined by Wayne Grills and team members from Landscape House for three days of deliberation in mid-August, where every entry was reviewed and scrutinised. Commenting on this year’s judging, John said:

“The 2020 BALI Awards will undoubtedly go down in the annals of history for being the most challenging to pull off. The Adjudication Panel, supported by determined BALI staff, were adamant that the COVID issues would not undermine the integrity of the inspection and judging process. The entrants, in all categories, deserved this commitment which has been delivered with gusto and enthusiasm. We were once again delighted to see members totally focused on submitting flawless projects, highlighting significant contributions from their staff. For the first time in the Awards’ history a number of schemes could not be separated on the merits of workmanship and quality alone, with the panel having to revert to the details in the entrants’ technical submissions

Autumn 2020

to determine the ultimate winners. So often entrants overlook the importance of the submission packs despite it being clearly identified in the entry criteria. As the quality and complexity of schemes continue to rise, year on year, a few companies who entered this year’s Awards may regret this oversight.” The team at Landscape House, the board of directors and the Adjudication Panel wish to congratulate every BALI member who has won a 2020 BALI National Landscape Award and extends its thanks to every member that entered this year. This year’s Principals, Specials and Grand Award will be announced during the special broadcast.

BALI National Landscape Awards 2020 Award Winners Domestic Garden Construction Under 30k - Sponsored by Talasey • Green Acorn Landscape Design and Construction for Wigan Three Tier • Rich Green Gardens for An Urban Retreat - Berkshire

Domestic Garden Construction Between £30k - £60k

- Sponsored by Global Stone

• BlueFish Landscaping Contractors for South Courtyard • Langlea Garden Design & Construction for Curvilinear

Green Acorn Landscape Design and Construction for Wigan Three Tier

Domestic Garden Construction Between £60k - £100k

- Sponsored by Johnsons of Whixley • Bowles & Wyer for Tiny Garden in London • Smart Landscape Design for Private Residence in Bristol • Graduate Gardeners for Private Residence in Ewen, Gloucestershire • Graduate Gardeners for Private Garden, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Domestic Garden Construction Between £100k - £250k

- Sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries • PWP Landscape Design for Private Residence in Yorkshire • The Garden Company for Private Residence in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

Domestic Garden Construction - Over £250k - Sponsored by

Europlants UK

• Donovan Landscapes for Private Residence in East Sussex • The Garden Builders for Private Residence in West Sussex • LDC for Private Residence in Guildford, Surrey • Landscape Associates for Private Residence in Esher, Surrey • Wright Landscapes for Private Residence in Cheshire • The Garden Company for Private Residence in Sarratt, Hertfordshire

Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) - Under £500K • NAO Landscapes for Twelve Trees Park Marketing Suite

• HG Landscapes for Private Residence in Twickenham

• Blakedown Landscapes (SE) for Lessington Car Park

• Garden Club London for Private Residence in London

• idverde for The Avenue Cemetery, Salisbury

• Landscape Associates for Private Residence in East Dulwich

• Landform Consultants for Cotton Mill Spa

• Graduate Gardeners for Private Residence in Cheltenham

BALI Landscape News

Jilayne Rickards MBALI & Landscaping Solutions for The Urban Retreat – London

Langlea Garden Design & Construction for Curvilinear

Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) - Over £500k - Sponsored by Ecoscape UK • Skidmores of Hertford for The Parade, Wembley • Blakedown Landscapes (SE) for 1 Bank Street • LDC for Long Street • Maylim for Greenford Quay – Phase 1B

The Garden Builders for Private Residence in West Sussex

Interior Landscape Maintenance Only

• Ecoland Planning and Design Corp. for Landscape Gentrification of the Shougang Steel Plant

• Tivoli Group for Project Peach

Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations - Residential Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping Under £250k – Sponsored by Bourne Amenity

• idverde for Upton Country Park

• J. Palmer (Landscapes) for Leodis Square, Sweet Street, Leeds

• idverde for Holland Park Adventure Playground

• Bowles & Wyer for Central London Roof Garden

Community and Schools Development – Sponsored by MCM

• Garden Club London for Millennium Drive

• Bowles & Wyer for School in North London

Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations - Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping Under £500k

• Leicestershire Garden Design Company for The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden

- Sponsored by Green-tree Topsoil

• Blakedown Landscapes (SE) for Ilderton School Air Quality Mitigation

• Bridgman and Bridgman for Noah’s Ark Childrens Hospice

• idverde for Holland Park Adventure Playground

• Garden Club London for Canalside Walk

• DRH Landscapes for Sensory Garden and All Year Round Play Area • Gerald Davies for RHS Back to Nature Garden

• Frosts Landscape Construction for M7 Office Building A - Level 76 Roof Garden

Design Excellence Award Overall Scheme Under £50k

• DDON Planning and Design Inc. for The Meizhou Cultural Park • DDON Planning and Design Inc. for The Ocean Garden • DDON Planning and Design Inc. for The Suzhou Bridge Residence • DDON Planning and Design Inc. for The Media Future Center of Yangjiang • Shenzhen AUBE Architectural Engineering Design Co. (China) for Shenzhen Shenwan Street Park • Atelier DYJG for Jinquan River Waterfront Park: Resilient Renewal of Urban Waterfront Space • Beijing Tsinghua Tongheng Urban Planning and Design Institute for Landscape Design of Huhaitang Park in Jinhua City • Beijing Institute of Landscape and Traditional Architectural Design and Research Co. for Herb Garden of Expo 2019 Beijing • Belt Collins International (HK) for CRCC City Park of Chengdu

• Chris Eves MBALI for Hill Top Farm

• Belt Collins International (HK) for Shimao Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Center

• Jilayne Rickards MBALI for The Urban Retreat - London

International Award - UK Based BALI Members only

• John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) for Oracle Corporation UK

Design Excellence Award Overall Scheme Over £100k

• Talbot Farm Landscapes for Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium

Grounds Maintenance (to include Green Roof Maintenance) - Private

• Rosemary Coldstream MBALI for Private Residence in Radlett, Hertfordshire

Grounds Maintenance (to include Green Roof Maintenance) Limited Public Access - Sponsored by Reesink UK

• Axholme Landscapes for Farmhouse Garden in South Yorkshire

Registered Designer & Registered Contractor Joint Submission - Sponsored by Easigrass

• Jilayne Rickards MBALI & Landscaping Solutions for The Urban Retreat – London • Adam White MBALI & Gerald Davies for RHS Back to Nature Garden

- Sponsored by Provender Nurseries

- Sponsored by Ground Control

• Lynne Marcus MBALI for Private Residence in Pulborough, West Sussex

International Award - BALI International Members only

Affiliate Exceptional Service Award - Sponsored by idverde • CED Stone Group

Employer Excellence Award Turnover Over £2.5m - Sponsored

by Fresh Horticultural Careers

- Sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen • LAURSTUDIO for Changde Laoximen Phase 2 • DDON Planning and Design Inc. for The Taicang Wave Fountain Yard

• Oak View Landscapes • John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) • Ground Control • Bowles & Wyer

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

EVENTS

90% PAST ATTENDEES TO RETURN TO FUTURESCAPE EXPO 2020 One of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading landscaping exhibitions, FutureScape, has grown year-onyear, and 2020 will be its biggest year yet. Now taking place across two days, the FutureScape EXPO 2020 will be offering an impressive seminar programme covering the hottest topics in the landscaping sector, including what the industry could look like post-pandemic as well as ensuring climate change remains high on the agenda.

Strict COVID guidelines will be followed

All of this will be taking place in a new and larger venue, ExCeL London, allowing more space for exhibitors and for visitors to move around the show.

With plenty of exhibitors and a wealth of knowledge to be gained, come along and join the industry at the FutureScape EXPO 2020 on 17-18 November.

The most important focus for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event, though, is ensuring that our visitors are safe to attend. A recent survey of past attendees showed more than 90% will be returning to FutureScape 2020. The ExCeL is making sure all events adhere to strict guidelines, and the team has secured additional space, providing aisles which are double the required width.

Tickets are now available at futurescapeevent.com.

Visit website

NEW TWIN 18V (36V) BRUSHLESS BLOWER DUB363PG2V 2x 6.0Ah batteries & twin-port charger DUB363PT2V 2x 5.0Ah batteries & twin-port charger DUB363ZV Body Only

- 3-stage telescopic long nozzle - Lock-on function - Cruise control lever - Vacuum function - Max. air volume (Hi): 13.4 m³/min - Max. air velocity (Hi): 65 m/sec

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Vacuum set Included with all models

Mulching Blade

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The UK’s leading supplier of landscape & garden plants

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PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS Pots and Pithoi stock the world’s largest range of terracotta Cretan pots

CRETAN POT SPECIALIST JOINS BALI Registered Affiliate Pots and Pithoi™️ first introduced Cretan terracotta to the UK in 1985. The current owners now work exclusively with one pottery. This is due to the fact that they are the best potters in Crete producing the most remarkable terracotta and they only want to sell the highest possible quality hand thrown pots available. Their pots are capable of withstanding UK winters due to the unique ‘secret recipe’ of the clay and the fact that they are properly fired to around 1150ºC using crushed olive stones and grape seeds. They have by far the largest range of beautiful handmade pots anywhere in the world. With over 14,000 in stock, they are delighted to still be introducing new designs to complement their already extensive range.

The Cretans have been making the best pots in the world for thousands of years. Pots and Pithoi’s continuing close relationship with the finest potters ensures the traditional and ancient methods are maintained. Being thrown on the wheel and traditionally fired gives each pot its own unique character and colouration.

Working with professionals across landscaping, municipal and commercial mowing, Ransomes’ product manager, Lee Kristensen, has led the development of the HR380 with the people who use it as the focus. Taking on that feedback has led to the production of a mower that is cleaner, more powerful, and has the versatility to meet the requirements of working on different projects on a daily basis. Lee explains: “It was very important for us during the design process to work with the end-users and see how our plans and their needs matched. We know reliability and performance are crucial, and we have features on the

Autumn 2020

They are open 7 days a week 9.00am to 5.00pm. potsandpithoi.com

Crafts in Crete are still as prolific as ever. At Pots and Pithoi™️ you will find some

RANSOMES SET TO LAUNCH HR380 OUTFRONT ROTARY & FLAIL MOWER This autumn British mower manufacturer and Registered Affiliate Ransomes Jacobsen will launch the HR380 Outfront Rotary & Flail Mower, a machine designed to put the operator first.

of the finest ceramics, glassware, Cretan honey, olive oil, olive wood, antiques and many other fine crafts and accessories.

HR380 that make maintenance quick and diagnostics easy to carry out.

HR380 Outfront Rotary & Flail Mower cuts a path through vegetation

The users of the machine are going to be mowing on areas with varying grass lengths, so we’ve ensured they get the same cut quality in every situation. That contributes to the overall efficiency of the mower as do the ergonomics and fingertip controls on the operator station.” The mower can be operated with a rotary or Muthing® Flail deck to maximise productivity and cut quality, whilst there are options to store additional equipment needed for a day’s work on the mower. Integrated LED lights and mirrors allow for safe on-road transportation between sites, and an electronic hydraulic parking brake ensures confident slope holding. To find out more how the HM380 can improve your mowing programme, contact your local Ransomes dealer, or start by visiting ransomesjacobsen.com.

BALI Landscape News

HR380 Outfront Rotary & Flail Mower maintaining a public park

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS Foliage absorbs the suns energy making the area cooler

Slots to allow trees & shrubs to be anchored in any location

Promotes strong root development with suitable geotextile Allows air to flow and surface water to drain underneath cells

Suitable for green roofs and all planting situations

MAXIMISE THE BENEFITS OF YOUR GREEN ROOF OR URBAN PLANTING WITH THE NEW PLATIPUS G-ROOF® SYSTEM With urban areas continuing to grow around the world, the need to utilise the green spaces available is at an all-time high. The use of green roofs and urban planters have become one of the established solutions for maximising these green spaces and enjoying the ecological benefits they provide. Plants and trees improve their local microclimate by absorbing energy through a process known as evapotranspiration which will make the area cooler. This bio layer will also act as thermal insulation for green roofs during the colder months keeping the interior warmer. Any roof garden or urban planting will improve the biodiversity of the environment by attracting birds, butterflies, insects and bees. Due to green roofs foliage refracting and reflecting sound, it will improve the sound insulation of the building. Foliage will also enhance the surrounding air quality by increasing the oxygen levels and reducing the nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. The biggest benefit is what it can do for the people using it. The ability to find a peaceful spot, to enjoy the biodiversity and to relax, will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of

those using the space. Registered Affiliate Platipus Anchors has designed G-ROOF®, a modular structural and drainage system using recyclable plastics, to support the development of these urban areas. G-ROOF is a lightweight and easy to assemble system that works ideally with intensive roof gardens and planting areas where the green space can be maximised to include trees and larger shrubs. These trees can be anchored directly to the G-ROOF using standard Platipus Tree Anchoring Systems and the incredible vertical load capacity of the G-ROOF supports the additional weight associated with intensive gardens. Green roofs and urban planting areas are often exposed to the elements so the ability to retain water and help with stormwater management is important. G-ROOF assists with the first interception of storm rain because it has large integrated cups for water

retention. The G-ROOF’s ability to retain stormwater will ensure that your green roof or urban planting becomes a successful source control mechanism by alleviating water pressure on congested urban environments. Aside from stormwater management, where water is scarce, the ability for G-ROOF to provide valuable water storage will ensure that the planted vegetation has better chance of thriving. Where your design requires planting areas to be built up, G-ROOF can be constructed quickly by stacking and rotating cells 90° to give you a solution that retains water, allows drainage and provides support at the same time. G-ROOF System is a new and exciting innovation that will add simplicity and value to any future roof garden or urban planting project. To find out more about G-ROOF and the complete range of Platipus Landscape Solutions visit platipus-anchors.com, call +44 (0)1737 762300 or email info@platipus-anchors.com

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

Suregreen’s tree care product range

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

HONDA KNOW BEFORE YOU MOW: HELPING YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT LAWNMOWER This summer, Registered Affiliate Honda launched Know Before You Mow, an interactive online tool that helps you choose the right lawnmower from the brand’s expansive range. A series of questions and answers about your lawn and gardening style will identify the Honda lawnmower that best meets your requirements and balances value and performance, too. Honda’s Lawn and Garden range includes some 40 lawnmowers of the walk-behind, ride-on and robotic variety. Helping prospective buyers cut through the confusion and buy with confidence, the Know Before You Mow tool presents a model that features everything you need in a lawnmower. As a result, buyers avoid being upsold to a higher-specification and more expensive models that won’t bring tangible benefits in their circumstances, but they can remain wholly confident there’s no compromise in performance and functionality. Questions on the size of the lawn area and the type of gardener you are – “hands-off”, “leisurely”, “perfectionist” or “eco-friendly” – determine what model is the best fit. The largest of lawns might call for Lawn Tractors such as the HF2417 – the perfectionist’s ideal match. Know Before You Mow

also helps cater to environmentally conscious gardeners with the ecofriendly mowers such as the izy-ONs. Leisurely gardeners will be taken to tried and tested, no frills products that offer an ideal balance of performance and value, while Know Before You Mow will point the hands of gardeners in the direction of the autonomous robotic Miimo range. Along with the selection of appropriately identified models turned out by the tool, you’ll see a raft of specifications and features shown to help you decide more easily which Honda is right for you and your lawn. honda.co.uk/engineroom/power/ know-before-you-mow

NEW TALASEY SERVICE LAUNCHED FOR LANDSCAPERS AND DESIGNERS Registered Affiliate Talasey are pleased to announce the launch of their latest service to support landscapers, designers and architects across the UK, set to be delivered by the recently formed Talasey Landscape Team.

Ryan Burge and Ray Stephenson. The team will provide detailed information about each product, including providing samples and technical support. The team will also help end users understand Talasey’s ‘Made to Order’ service.

The new service will support Talasey’s UK-wide network of stockists, led by ‘Landscape Director’ Shane McCormick, accompanied by three Landscape Consultants; Craig Brook,

If you’d like to speak with someone from Talasey’s landscaping team, you can get in touch with them by calling 0330 333 8030 or emailing landscapeteam@talasey.co.uk

Landscape Director Shane McCormick

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

Landscape Consultant Craig Brook

Suregreen also offer ground reinforcement solutions

SUREGREEN KEEPS GROWING AND EXPANDING Registered Affiliate Suregreen are excited to announce the launch of their new trade counter in Essex, having moved to larger premises last summer and more than doubled the size of their team due to continued growth. Suregreen are dedicated to providing a great service alongside high-quality, cost-effective landscaping products, which has led them to seeing a significant increase in demand across the UK. The new trade counter showcases a range of products supplied by Suregreen, including leading brands Tornado, Melcourt, Gripple, Timco, Terram and BSW Timber, alongside a friendly smile and premium coffee for every visitor. In addition to the trade counter and uplift in recruitment, Suregreen have invested in a newly designed HIAB van to aid local deliveries, as well as state-of-the-art packing equipment to ensure the safe and efficient arrival of deliveries nationwide. Save 5%* on all orders using the code AUTUMNBALI at sure-green.com *Code expires 21 December 2020

Landscape Consultant Ryan Burge

Landscape Consultant Ray Stephenson

Premier

Planting Soil

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31/01/2020 16:42

NEW ONLINE SHOP

You can now simply order your preferred landscaping products with ease from our new online shop, Green Blue Gardens.

@greenbluegardens

greenbluegardens.com

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS RHS Rosemoor Cool Garden

ADDAGRIP’S TERRABOUND CHOSEN FOR RHS ROSEMOOR’S COOL GARDEN

Registered Affiliate Addagrip is delighted to have been involved in this design project at RHS Rosemoor in Devon, creating a stunning new garden with rainfall in mind.

Addagrip provided Terrabound Hazelnut 6mm for a 320m2 of resin bound pathways for the new Cool Garden. The design has a strong focus on water, embracing the challenge of the high levels of rainfall experienced in the region. The garden consists of a series of curving rills which make their way through the garden, disappearing and reappearing to flow into the pond at the bottom of the sloping site and provides an example of how effectively a designed landscape can accommodate heavy rainfall and flash flooding. With water flow in mind, BBA certified Terrabound resin bound porous surfacing was chosen for the curving pathways that follow the rills and form organic shaped planting beds, helping to reduce surface water runoff. A 6mm Hazelnut natural aggregate blend was selected to contrast with the cool coloured planting scheme and complement the dry stone walling, providing seamless, low maintenance, decorative pathways for this stunning new garden. addagrip.co.uk/655/external-surfacing/terrabound/ case-studies/paths-and-patios/rhs-rosemoor

Addagrip’s Terrabound Hazelnut 6mm

RHS Rosemoor’s Cool Garden features rills of water

TOPSOIL CREATES HELPFUL TOOLS FOR ITS CUSTOMERS

With landscaping and construction projects getting back on track as lockdown measures continue to be relaxed, Registered Affiliate British Sugar TOPSOIL has produced two helpful guides that will appeal to its broad customer base. The first – A Site Manager’s Guide to Topsoil – is an A3 poster, designed to be displayed in site offices, giving contractors and groundworkers an invaluable checklist of steps to take when ordering and then dealing with soils on site. Covering site assessment and preparation, ordering, storage, placement and handling, the

guide takes away guesswork and will help those responsible for bringing in soils to achieve best value and good outcomes. The second guide – Caring for your garden – is a two-sided A4 sheet that can be given out by landscape contractors, garden designers and builders’ merchants to homeowners to help them to keep their garden soils, and therefore their plants and lawns, healthy. Compaction, settlement and capping are all explained and remedies given to address these most common garden soil problems. There is also a comprehensive list of helpful tips to remind garden owners of the things they can do to prevent problems occurring. Website addresses for BALI and SGD are included on the sheet to encourage homeowners to contact a professional for garden design and construction. Both guides can be downloaded free of charge from TOPSOIL’s website at bstopsoil.co.uk/about-topsoil/ technical-support

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

Lindum deliver Chelsea stand from HQ This year the Chelsea Flower Show went digital for the first time. Registered Affiliate Lindum Turf decided to jump on board and continue to build their planned Chelsea 2020 stand, right form their headquarters in York. What started off as an idea to utilise a wasted space at their special products area, where they grow their Wildflower, Sedum and WowGrass products, they set to work clearing the area. The team wanted to show off as many of their diverse ranges as possible, and their different uses, from grass felt to wildflower matt products and green roofs. They created a small wildflower walkthrough meadow using reclaimed Yorkshire Stone, along with their Wildflower Matt and Grassfelt product. In the future, the team are hoping to turn the meadow into an information centre for clients and visitors to see their wide range of products in situ. For more information visit turf.co.uk.

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

Akri - Graphene clean (above) Akri with seating (below)

AKRI – THE OTHER WAY TO CREATE LARGE PLANTER BEDS ®

Creating green areas in urban development can be a challenge. Registered Affiliate Furnitubes’ latest solution, AKRI® steel planter walls, offer a versatile and cost-effective way to create large raised planter beds and introduce plants and trees in modern roof terraces, podiums and public areas. AKRI® planter walls are crafted from both straight and curved steel panels that can be customised using a range of materials and finishes. Plus, there is the option to add timber seating. Catherine Barratt, Managing Director at Furnitubes says: “As urbanisation and high-density developments put more and more pressure on the environment, we’re on a mission to ‘green the grey’ and get more people outside. We know that plants and greenery bring many benefits to people – it’s good for body and soul. Large planting beds are the perfect solution as they allow people to engage with nature and within even the busiest of cities.”

• • • • • • •

Custom size panels – typically 2m long and heights up to 1.1m high Straight or curved Available in stainless steel, Corten or powder coated mid-steel Optional timber seating Lightweight for ease of installation Delivered pre-assembled, with all brackets and fixings Made to order in the UK

Find out more at akriplanter.com

GEO QUARRIES LAUNCHES GEOPAVE10® To find out more about this product and how the Geo Specialist Products Team can help, please give them a call today on 0330 111 0454 or visit geoquarries.co.uk.

The location of Little Ponton Quarry has direct access to the A1 linking up the North and South of England.

Leicester City Council commissioned Registered Affiliate Hedera Screens to work with them to provide green screens containing living ivy, to enforce COVID-19 social distancing across the city. People were greeted with beautifully displayed planter boxes, which not only looked aesthetically pleasing but also provided a huge number of health benefits for residents. The green screens helped to improve the look of Leicester City Centre and helped to reduce air pollution. Green screens like this can also influence biodiversity and capture micropollutants, thereby enhancing air quality, improving the quality of a person’s wellbeing and overall health.

Geo Quarries’ geopave10® is a Self-Binding Gravel which is easy to lay all year round and can be supplied in loose tipped loads or in 850kgs bulk bags/20kg handy bags through their dedicated stockists. It is a natural self-binding gravel and when correctly installed gives a smooth top finish which is ideal for footpaths, shared routes, bridleways and lightly trafficked areas.

HEDERA SCREENS PROVIDE GREEN SOCIAL DISTANCING SOLUTION Hedera Screens provide green social distancing solution.

Registered Affiliate Geo Quarries operates a limestone quarry at Little Ponton in Grantham, Lincolnshire, which is nestled in the South Kesteven District. Nearby there is a wealth of opulent historic houses and magnificent gardens, which lends itself to a local landscaping material of natural aesthetics. Properties include Belvoir Castle, Belton House, Burghley House and Grimsthorpe Castle to name a few.

Hedera’s green screen planters were used effectively in Leicester during local lockdown

AKRI Specifications:

House and driveway using geopave10

Hedera Screens install green screens across the whole of the UK for businesses, councils, schools and individuals. They have been working to reduce pollution and to create more green spaces since 2007 and continue to go from strength to strength. hederascreens.co.uk

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

SOCIAL DISTANCING MADE SOCIABLE WITH PLASWOOD Registered Affiliate British Polythene Ltd T/A Plaswood’s Hero Adapt furniture range, a brand of Berry Global, was designed for public open spaces, the education sector and the hospitality industry in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which helped businesses and their customers observe and maintain social distancing whilst socialising. With pubs and restaurants reopening, Plaswood offered the product by promoting a special event, ‘Buy 4 get 5th Half Price’ (CODE PLAS2020), to assist businesses and the education sector in adapting to the new requirements. Their Hero Adapt picnic tables can be used with two metre distance seating when required or as a standard eight-seater original design once the

distancing restrictions are lifted, saving costs long term – all with just a small adjustment and a couple of bolts. Plaswood is antibacterial safe, waterproof and easy to clean, it will not rot, splinter or deteriorate with time – which makes it an ideal, long lasting, sustainable alternative to traditional timber products. Plaswood is manufactured at a recycling and remanufacturing plant in Dumfries, Scotland. It is made from recycled plastics recovered across the UK, diverting this valuable resource from landfill. plaswood.eco

GREEN-TECH HELPS TACKLE DECLINING BIODIVERSITY Declining biodiversity is a recognised environmental challenge that faces us all and Registered Affiliate Green-tech and Registered Contractor Dobson UK LLP recently teamed up to support Nottingham City Council in restoring Tottle Brook watercourse, which is already attracting species long thought lost. The council wanted to create an environment for wildlife, improve biodiversity and create new habitats. Funded by a £50,000 grant from the European Regional Development Fund and the city council, Green-tech provided advice and supplied 120 metres of gt Coir pre-established Log Rolls to act as an additional flow director to the Brushwood Faggots and Gravel Beaches which were also installed. gt Coir Log Rolls help reduce and control erosion along watercourse edges; they provide a barrier, allowing vegetation, grasses or stone to fill in the river or lake bank that is eroding away. These were supplied pre-established with UK native species but can be supplied unplanted. Green-tech also supplied a large number of Biodegradable Sediment Entrapment Mats known as RiverMats. They lie flat, secured to the watercourse bed and placed downstream of the disturbed area to trap sediment.

Autumn 2020

Tottle Brook Coir Logs before they were placed in situ

Tottle Brook with Coir Logs in place

Disturbing sediment can be harmful to wildlife and plant habitats; smothering vegetation, insects and fish. It can also block drains, culverts and headwalls, and reduce the depth of pools. Being flat, the RiverMat does not cause disruption of the water flow or affect the current but does effectively control the downstream sedimentation. To cover an area of approximately 3000sqm, 14kg John Chambers Wildflower Seed for wet and damp soils was supplied which when in bloom will attract an array of pollinators. Visit green-tech.co.uk for more information.

BALI Landscape News

H SIVYER TRANSPORT

Your soils resource, aggregate and waste management partner Manufactured soils and substrates, sports surfaces and sands, subbases & SuDS, primary and recycled aggregates, waste management and ready mixed concrete services. Registered Affiliate H Sivyer Transport is the go-to company for your construction and landscape projects across London and the Home Counties. They are passionate about their company, and, after many decades of successful operations, are now delighted to offer their full range of products and services to all BALI members. BALI membership has allowed their company to reach a wider audience within the sustainable green technology sector and they look forward to demonstrating how a London based operator can offer urban farming in the capital. These days no new construction project is considered complete until its immediate surroundings have been landscaped and planted, the practicalities of building particularly on brownfield sites are such that nearly all soil requirements need importing and waste materials sustainably recovered. Obtaining enough naturally occurring soil to meet any sites ecological and environmental criteria can be challenging, the H Sivyer solution is to manufacture a range of quality soils and aggregates for typical applications and to offer a bespoke design service for special requirements where necessary. H Sivyer work closely on soil design and evaluation with Registered Affiliate Tim O’Hare Associates, a leading independent soil science consultancy, and with their customer’s landscape architects. All soils and aggregates are available loose tipped, bagged, grabbed off or collection depending on what works best for each individual project. H Sivyer host London’s largest independent Grab and Tipper fleet, and are proud to hold ISO 9001, 14001, 18001, Gold FORS accreditation and are a CLOCS Champion. For more information visit hsivyer.co.uk

A nationally renowned wholesale nursery oﬀering the complete landscaping solution.

Get in touch: 01507 525000

enquiries@crowders.co.uk

@CrowdersNursery

crowdersnurseries.co.uk

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Visit website

British Wild Flower Plants The Largest and Oldest Wildﬂower Nursery in the UK (est. 1987) All Plants from UK Provenence Largest Native Plant Species list (Over 300 Species) Fully Peat-free (Since 1991) Only Biological IPM Used Full Plant Passporting

www.wildflowers.co.uk office@wildflowers.co.uk 01603 716615 BALI Landscaper Advert.indd 1

07/02/2020 12:19:50

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

ARTIFICIAL GREEN ROOF SYSTEMS – STAY ACCREDITED, STAY SAFE WITH EVERROOF® EverRoof® is a division of Rutland-based Evergreens (UK), Registered Affiliate members of BALI, and pioneers in artificial grass for over 35 years. • EverRoof® artificial green roof systems are the first of their kind in the UK • First to consider the ramifications of fire risk on flat roofs • First to consider the consequences of high-speed winds • Most importantly, the first to develop the only fire and wind accredited artificial green roof systems on the market today.

Are you using the wrong material, referencing the wrong standards? All too often we see inappropriate use of materials for flat roofs. Not only that, the standards relied on are Bfl S1 and Cfl S1 which, simply put, only apply to fire accreditations of indoor flooring and should not be used for an external flat roof.

Why does it matter? It matters for your rooftop’s safety. If your artificial green roof has been installed on a rooftop, podium or balcony, it needs to be system

tested for exterior flat roofs. Any other standard leaves you open to remediation costs as well as safety ramifications and litigation.

Stay secure against wind EverRoof® ensures your project is anchored correctly and can resist wind speeds exceeding 100 mph.

Is your artificial green roof safe? The team’s technical experience and safety commitments give them the commercial edge in recommending questions you should ask when choosing an artificial green roof system: • Is the material accredited for exterior flat roofing and is the right accredited system being used for the right roof type? • Does your artificial green roof system have the correct fire and wind accreditations? • Has your Building Inspector, Fire Marshall and Insurance Company signed off on the system?

• Has it been installed by qualified accredited professionals who holds the correct level of training and a Blue Skilled Worker LISS/CSCS SmartCard? If the answer to any of these questions is NO, your roof and building could be at risk. For further information visit everroof.co

HARROD UK’S LATEST BENCHES AND BISTRO SETS ATTRACTING YEAR-ROUND SALES

Registered Affiliate Harrod UK T/A Harrod Horticultural has reported that their new range of Southwold benches and bistro sets are attracting all year-round sales, with many customers ordering the benches as special gifts for the gardener who already has everything they need.

The Southwold Bench with Back is part of their exclusive Southwold Garden Furniture Collection and comes in a two or three-seater version. Thoughtfully designed, these stylish garden benches don’t just look great but are extremely comfortable too. The Southwold Collection is handcrafted in the UK and is inspired by traditional blacksmith furniture. The benches are manufactured using high grade steel which is hot dip galvanised and then ‘acid etched’ to achieve a stunning antique finish which only improves as the benches weather.

The Southwold Bistro Table and Chair Sets are ideal for the patio or deck, inspired by traditional English blacksmith furniture, this comfortable and stylish table and chair set are a great place to unwind in your outside space.

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

Due to the handmade manufacturing and finishing methods, all of the tables and chairs are unique with a stunning finish that only improves as they weather. The Southwold Bistro Table is a compact round table with stylish curved legs, scrolled feet and an attractive top design designed to seat 2 people and measures 75cm diameter, standing 73cm high. The Southwold Carver Chairs (with arms) and Side Chairs (without arms) in the sets have been designed to be both comfortable and beautiful.

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS

ALPHA RAIL DESIGNS AND INSTALLS BESPOKE METAL ARCHWAY AND RAILINGS AT HATTERS’ GARDEN

HY-TEX (UK) SUPPORTS KEY WORKERS

Registered Affiliate Hy-Tex (UK) has kindly donated 14m² of their VersiWall – a vertical wall mounting tray system living wall system, to the NHS.

Registered Affiliate Alpha Rail was appointed by Registered Contractor Jack Moody Landscaping & Civil Engineering, on behalf of North Warwickshire Borough Council, to deliver materials for a local community project, the redevelopment of Hatters’ Garden. Alpha Rail assisted with the initial design and early sketches, which were turned into CAD drawings before full production and installation got underway.

options and were able to vote on their favourite design and choose which one would be used in the garden. The final design actually encompasses a style of hat that was made in the factories.

Hatters’ Garden, formerly known as Meadow Street Gardens, is a park in Atherstone, Warwickshire. An ongoing redevelopment project is aiming to transform the site into an ‘outdoor museum’ that recognises the hatting history of the town.

The decorative archway is 3 metres wide and stands at 2.2 metres high, supported by some 120x120mm square posts. It features a laser profiled hat along with lettering spelling Hatters’ Garden. The archway was hot dipped galvanised followed by a polyester powder coated finish in RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey, with the hat motif and lettering painted in RAL 7008 Khaki Grey.

Before the closure of local factories, Atherstone once stood as the main supplier of hats across the world. For those looking to learn about the towns’ heritage, the new garden will boast information about the history of the area, along with a brass rubbing trail. Following the easing of lockdown restrictions, progress is once again being made on site at Atherstone, with the archway, railings and bollards being installed. Local residents of Atherstone were shown a selection of different design

Along with the decorative archway, 21 linear metres of bespoke metal railings were also supplied to match, featuring the hat motif and powder coated in the same colours. Take a look at their bespoke metalwork and metal archways on their website, alpharail.co.uk

Southampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, wanted to create what they called a ‘Rainbow Wall’. After assessing the requirements, Hy-Tex (UK) quickly knew that their VersiWall product was precisely the solution the hospital was looking for, as the versatile modular tray system can transform monotonous looking walls into stunning pieces of art that offer an amazing amount of colour and an eye-catching creative display. The project, which was completed in August 2020, was met with glowing reviews and an outpouring of warmth and positivity. This is not the only charitable action taken by Hy-Tex (UK) over the last few months. They kindly donated weed suppressant membranes to an NHS allotment, based in Ashford, in July 2020. They also provided geotextile materials to a Kent-based children’s mental health charity, Dandelion Time, back in June 2020 to use on footpaths at their new offices. hy-tex.co.uk

GREENLOK IN THE FRESHNESS OF A GREENFIX WALL SYSTEM Throughout the pandemic, Registered Affiliate Greenfix are pleased to have been able to support several landscape architects and garden designers on projects that have kept them and their partners working. One product that offered a greener and more sustainable solution was the Greenlok™ Vegetated Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) Wall System. The modular system is suitable for retaining walls from half a metre up to two metres in accordance with their standard installation procedure. If a higher wall is required, design assistance is available to achieve a safe and stable structure. Greenlok™ bags can be vegetated via Hydroseeded, internal seeding or using

the Greenfix Covamat™ Pre-seeded matting over the top. The Greenlok™ MSE bag system has been used to create landscaped earth retention where previously hard landscaping block walls where designed. The bag system has also been used to create garden terraces, ha-ha walls and for scour protection on watercourses. The versatile system is available prefilled or empty for filling with suitable on-site fill. Greenlok™ is a long lasting environmentally sound alternative with the flexibility to allow beautifully created vegetated MSE walls and structures.

VersiWall at Southampton General Hospital

Visit greenfix.co.uk for further information on their range of products.

Autumn 2020

BALI Landscape News

PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS premjoint can transform a garden which uses natural paving in its hard landscaping

premjoint, a product by Ultrascape, is seen here being applied by brush

THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL STONE Written by Instarmac

Even in the temperate climates of the UK there’s nothing quite like relaxing outdoors. Regardless of size, an outdoor space to sit, eat and entertain is truly magical. Homebuilders and developers are seeing the value and importance of these outdoor spaces with the trend of indoor/outdoor living on the rise. Commercial developers have also been encouraged to include social spaces in their schemes with the Department for Communities and Local Government stating ‘shared and public spaces are vital ingredients of town centres and high streets. These spaces are what knit a place together’. The days of a boring mass of square grey slabs are long gone and, in many places, paving plays both a practical and aesthetic role.

from Registered Affiliate Instarmac’s UltraScape brand has been specifically developed to work with natural stone paving applications. Traditional jointing materials can look patchy and discolour. premjoint has been formulated using coloured quartz for its excellent shades and colour stability compared with others on the market which rely on mixing quartz with sand.

About 10 years ago, paving with natural stone staged a comeback. With its lovely natural feel, it can give a superb warm texture to your outdoor space and will wear beautifully. Hard-wearing and durable natural stone is a great investment that will last for years. Slabs are less prone to crack or break when handled compared to other materials and can endure cold conditions.

Using popular natural paving slabs as a guide, each shade has been developed to perfectly complement the stone. Natural Cashmere is a warm honey gold that when used with Cotswold Stone creates a traditional look. Storm Grey is a true ‘grey’ jointing solution that perfectly complements Indian Slate and York Stone. Pitch Black creates a bold statement when used with Quartz or the increasingly popular Carbon Black Limestone.

Natural stone holds many virtues however it is not an inexpensive solution. Care should be given when choosing the jointing method as to not compromise the overall look and feel. premjoint

premjoint eliminates the need for hand pointing, it can be used in all weather and is frost resistant. Once applied you can walk on the finished paving in 24-48 hours.

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BALI Landscape News

premjoint is a permeable paving solution that can be used with UltraScape permeable bedding mortar perma-bed. UltraScape perma-bed has been specifically formulated to meet and exceed the strict demands of BS 7533. The product provides a perfect bound base for natural stone paving and cobbles, concrete paving, flags and block paving. The material is specifically designed to drain away any water migrating into the pavement via cracks or damaged areas, reducing failure. UltraScape has been developing bedding, priming and jointing materials that have been used and specified by contractors, architects and engineers for over 15 years and is delighted to add the permeable solutions of premjoint and perma-bed to the range. For more information on premjoint and perma-bed from UltraScape contact ultrascape@instarmac.co.uk, call 01827 254400 or visit instarmac.co.uk/ultrascape.

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PRODUCT & AFFILIATE NEWS Permeable paved rooftop in London

SureSet’s permeable paving solution allows for all year-round use of roof gardens

SURESET’S PERMEABLE PAVING SOLUTIONS FOR GREEN ROOFS The following green roof ideas from Registered Affiliate SureSet focusses on permeable paving solutions that can add real value to any building, whatever the season. Not only do roof gardens provide an opportunity for green spaces to exist in densely populated areas, they also offer ecological benefits to the buildings themselves. SureSet’s permeable paving solution offers an excellent choice if you’re looking to convert your roof into a green, more environmentally friendly space. Flexible Water Management A SureSet roof garden can be an effective way to comply with water management requirements in a way that offers flexibility when it comes to seasonal roof garden ideas. The water that filters through the paved surfaces can trickle into a water attenuation or collection system, under, or connected to, the paving. Whether its rainfall or snowmelt, permeable paving collects or disperses water slowly, which is why

their products are Sustainable Urban Draining Systems-compliant. It also offers greater flexibility when planting bulbs, herbs or fresh produce all year-round.

paving also means that you can walk around a winter roof garden to do basic maintenance without worrying about slippery surfaces. An Ideal Growing Environment

By decreasing the amount of standing water, roof gardens can include raised beds for flowering plants, shrubs, small trees and vegetables. If a flat area is paved correctly, it lends itself to ‘container gardening’ and can be used for a variety of purposes, from a mini outdoor cinema, to a bar or BBQ area.

The slow distribution and collection of water is not the only year-round benefit. Water is also filtered as it passes through the paving, which helps remove various pollutants. Insulation is another area in which a SureSet roof garden can be of benefit. Concrete, and similar surfaces absorb heat during the day, and then release it slowly at night, which creates an island of heat. Permeable paving allows soil, and the surface below, to breathe, resulting in reduced heat retention that protects plants from overheating.

It is also possible to construct raised beds between straight or meandering paths using SureSet’s products. Doing so will not negatively affect drainage of rainwater. The structure of the

With a little creative thinking and SureSet’s roof garden ideas, you can utilise your outside space in so many ways, all year round. Visit sureset.co.uk for more details.

Creating a Functional All Year Outside Space

STIHL’S LATEST HIGH-PERFORMANCE TOOLS Registered Affiliate Andreas Stihl (STIHL) has launched three new high-performance tools for landscapers.

The MS 400 C-M is the world’s first magnesium piston chainsaw with 14,000 rpm in the 60cm3-class. The 66.8cc 2-MIX engine has more displacement, providing both more power and torque than the MS 362C-M, as well as rapid acceleration. The BGA 86 cordless blower allows convenient and low-noise cleaning of large areas. Replacing the popular BGA 85, the STIHL BGA 86 cordless blower has a blowing force of 15 Newton, is

Autumn 2020

BGA 86 cordless blower

50% more powerful, yet noticeably lighter and quieter. Finally, the BGA 200 is STIHL’s most powerful cordless blower, with enhanced power and improved comfort, it’s ideal for users looking to clean large areas quickly and efficiently. With a blowing force of 21 Newton – more than a 20% increase on the STIHL BGA 100 blower – the new STIHL BGA 200 features a high air speed of 84 m/s and an air throughput of 941 m3/h, ideal for tackling larger areas and coping with wet leaves. For more information on STIHL’s ranges, please visit stihl.co.uk.

BALI Landscape News

BGA 200 cordless blower

MS 400 C-M chainsaw

Visit website

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.

• Decorative Barks and Mulches • Playgrade Barks and Woodchips • Biomass Woodchips • Biofilter Material • PAS:100 Compost • Professional Growing Media

For more information chat to us on 01362 638441 or visit www.tmabark.co.uk

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Visit website

premjoint FOR PAVING THAT’S ON POINT

A high specification jointing compound that will transform your outdoor space. Superior colours with long-lasting results.

STORM GREY

NATURAL CASHMERE

COSMIC BLACK

A true grey jointing solution that perfectly complements Indian Slate and York Stone.

A warm honey gold that creates a traditional look when used with Cotswold Stone.

Creates a bold statement when used with Quartz or the increasingly popular Carbon Black Limestone.

•

Fast and easy application

•

Walk on in 24-48 hours

•

Excellent colour stability

•

Frost resistant

•

Use in all weathers

•

No waste, left over material can be re-used

Visit ultrascape.co.uk for further information