12 minute read
Association News
Graduate Gardeners scoop Grand Award
The highlight of the National Landscape Awards Ceremony is the announcement of the winner of the much-coveted Grand Award.
This year the Grand Award was won by Accredited Contractor Graduate Gardeners; their winning scheme coming from the Domestic Garden Construction over £250K category, sponsored by Europlants UK. The success didn’t end there, as Graduate Gardeners also received a Principal and Special award for Best Design and Build for the impressive Private Garden, Cheltenham.
Cotswold garden design specialists Graduate Gardeners are a multi awardwinning garden design, construction and landscaping company with nearly 50 years’ experience in creating exquisite contemporary and traditional gardens throughout Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties.
The Grand award-winning project was a challenging under-taking, the client’s grounds were on a steeply sloping site on Cleeve Hill. The brief for Graduate Gardeners was to maximise the view, provide better parking, enhance the entrance and create a more useable space within the garden.
This required the skilful implementation of a design comprising of a significant amount of groundworks to restructure the site. Italianate styling was used to create a truly beautiful private landscape for the owners to enjoy.
The Judges said, by far the most impressive structural element of this design was the traditional dry stone retaining wall. Over 600 tons of material was excavated with over 300 tons of walling stone used, each piece placed by hand to create a wall 1.5m deep at the base - 500mm below ground level and 600mm at the top, with the finished height an average of 1.8m. It was a testament to the skill of the landscaping team, not least because Cleeve Hill is notorious for movement; there would be no foundation for the wall, other than the stone beneath the ground.
The Judges said that it was only one element of a delightful in-house design that had transformed the space and created the most beautiful setting for the house. They commented that Graduate Gardeners had raised the bar, showing the heights its peers must reach to be in the running for the Grand Award.
This large house on the side of Cleeve Hill, with far reaching views across Cheltenham to the Welsh Hills was undergoing a total renovation when Graduate Gardeners were approached. Both upper and lower gardens were steeply sloping and there were a number of significant areas of construction, most notably, constructing the traditional dry stone retaining wall. Due to the challenging environment, a structural engineer was brought in to ensure a secure wall would remain for years to come. The in-house design included a beautiful contemporary Italianate courtyard and wildflower meadows above the retaining walls. Porcelain was used throughout for all the paved surfaces other than the steps. Finally, a sophisticated planting scheme completed the design.
The Judges concluded that Graduate Gardeners had combined brave and intuitive design with construction perfection. A well-oiled machine, the designer and build team have worked seamlessly together and in partnership with the client, to create a setting for this beautiful home that embraces and optimises the surrounding landscape and views.
Charles Price, Managing Director, Graduate Gardeners commented: “It has been 47 years in the making and we have come so close quite a few times. To go the whole way and win the Grand Award is quite amazing. As Graduate Gardeners we have continually put in high-quality submissions, and have seen the Grand Award go to large, legacy, commercial projects. I am incredibly glad that the Grand Award has come home to the domestic market for the second time in a row.”
See all the winning schemes at
baliawards.co.uk
The Trailfinders’ 50th Anniversary Garden Built by Stewart Landscape Construction
Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden Built by The Outdoor Room
Members triumph at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Gardens built by Association members once again dominated the awards at the 2021 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, picking up an astonishing eight medals and an array of Best Awards.
The Best Show Garden Award was bestowed on Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden, built by Accredited Contractor members The Outdoor Room. The Best Construction Award (Show Garden) went to The Trailfinders’ 50th Anniversary Garden, built by Accredited Contractor Stewart Landscape Construction. And The Bible Society: The Psalm 23 Garden built by Accredited Contractor Landform Consultants won not one but two awards, picking up Best Sanctuary Garden and the Best Construction Award (Artisan/Sanctuary Garden).
Association Medal winners: People’s Choice Awards
Best Show Garden - Yeo Valley Organic Garden Built by Landscape Associates
Best Sanctuary or Artisan Garden
The Parsley Box Garden Built by Landform Consultants
Gold medals Show Gardens
The Yeo Valley Organic Garden Built by Landscape Associates Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden Built by The Outdoor Room The Trailfinders’ 50th Anniversary Garden Built by Stewart Landscape Construction
Sanctuary Gardens
Bible Society: The Psalm 23 Garden Built by Landform Consultants
Silver-gilt medals Sanctuary Gardens
The Boodles Secret Garden Built by The Garden Builders
Silver medals Show Gardens
The Florence Nightingale Garden: A Celebration of Modern-Day Nursing Built by Bowles & Wyer Bodmin Jail: 60° East – A Garden Between Continents Built by Cube 1994
Sanctuary Gardens
The Parsley Box Garden Built by Landform Consultants
Bible Society: The Psalm 23 Garden Built by Landform Consultants
Association wins five-star award at RHS Chelsea
The Association’s trade stand was recognised with top honours - a five-star trade stand award at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the first in the Association’s history.
The trade stand was designed and created in partnership with a number of Association members and acted as an important base from which to raise awareness to the importance of using an Accredited landscape professional and how to find an Association member. We experienced a record number of enquiries from the public who were keen to learn more and take away further information over the course of the show.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Oakham
Garden Services, Mobilane, SAiGE Longlife Decking, Lindum Turf, CED Stone Group, and
Landscape Associates for their support with the stand – a true team effort.
Association hosts first Access All Areas: Inclusion and Diversity event
On 2 December 2021, The British Association of Landscape Industries hosted its first Inclusion and Diversity Panel discussion, ‘Landscaping – Access All Areas’. Board directors Adrian Wickham and Paul Downer facilitated conversation across the afternoon to explore the barriers that people within the landscaping industry, and those looking to enter it, face in relation to accessibility, attitudes, facilities and not being considered a suitable fit for a role.
They posed questions to a stellar line-up of panellists, in front of a selected live audience in London. In addition, the event was livestreamed with a BSL interpreter available online to assist those who are Deaf and use British Sign Language. A recording of the panel discussion is available to view at bali.org.uk
The incredible panellist line-up was comprised of Manoj Malde, award-winning Garden Designer, TV Presenter, Public Speaker, Blogger and RHS Judge; Mark Lane, BBC Gardening Presenter and writer; Flo Headlam, Designer and Gardening Presenter; Ashley Edwards, Head Gardener at Horatio’s Garden; Dr Ekua McMorris, Artist and Curator for Sowing Roots; and Helen Waddington, Head of Casework at Perennial.
The group openly explored and discussed how to ensure the industry becomes more inclusive during the coming years as horticulture and landscaping delivers projected growth to a value of over £41 billion by 2030, an increase from £28.8 billion in 2019, as predicted in the recent ‘Growing a Green Economy’ report, researched, and published by Oxford Economics and Foresight Factory ,on behalf of the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group).
Nigel Bowcock, Director at Acre Landscapes and Vice-Chair of the Board commented: “This was one of the best Association and Industry events that I have seen - new, groundbreaking and very much needed.”
The Association is committed to driving positive change and to actively facilitate and encourage discussion on how businesses within the industry are currently run and where opportunities exist to improve.
We extend our thanks to members Glendale Managed Services, Green-tech and John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) for their generous support of this event, and to board directors Tessa Johnstone and Adrian Wickham, the key drivers behind the idea.
REGIONAL COMMITTEES FINISH OFF THE YEAR IN STYLE
After a year that has been both challenging and record-breaking for our members, we were delighted to once again be reunited to enjoy a host of exciting regional events.
Behind the Scenes at RHS Chelsea
The South Thames committee came together to organise an incredible ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this year rescheduled from May to September. It was a small exclusive tour and offered new Association members from the South Thames region the opportunity to visit the show during its build phase and to see what goes into creating an awardwinning show garden. The group were given time to discuss the projects with the minds and hands that made them and took a closer look at the excellent products and materials involved in the schemes.
New member Stephanie Dyer commented: “I felt like I had won a golden ticket going behind the scenes at RHS Chelsea! The day was both informative and supportive, and a brilliant way to meet other members.”
Behind the Scenes at RHS Chelsea
Tree planting event heralded a great success
On Wednesday 29 September the Association Yorkshire and North East committee hosted a successful masterclass in choosing, moving and planting specimen trees at Nunbrook Farm, West Yorkshire. The event - ‘Choose It. Move it. Plant it.’, sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries, in association with Gavin Jones, welcomed over sixty attendees and exhibitors to enjoy a day of learning and networking.
The day began with an opportunity for suppliers and attendees to network before a tour took place of headline sponsors Van den Berk’s outdoor tree showroom. Tom Owen, Sales and Advice at Van den Berk Nurseries showcased their large specimen tree stock and outlined how air pots work in encouraging root growth and how to choose the appropriate trees for projects.
Tim O’Hare, Soil Scientist, led the subsequent session sharing his knowledge and experience in tree pit preparation, appropriate planting methods and the correct use and preparation of backfilling materials. Supported by Gavin Jones staff, they successfully demonstrated how to correctly prepare tree pits to receive trees and how to safely move, position and plant trees. Green-tech’s Product Specification Manager Richard Wexham then gave an overview and explanation of the tree anchor installation and irrigation installation.
Several members of the Green-tech team attended, including Sales Director Richard Gill. He commented:
‘Choose It. Move it. Plant it.’
“This was a brilliant event; really worthwhile and well organised. It was interesting and a great networking opportunity. It has been a long time since we were all face-to-face and the format worked really well. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and look forward to the next one.”
A huge thank you goes to all involved in organising the event and to our supportive sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees. The day was a huge success and has inspired several other regions to offer similar masterclass events for their local members…watch this space!
Visit to National Trust property Dyrham Park
The South West region visited National Trust property Dyrham Park recently, with a private tour of the estate gardens and an exclusive look at Walmsley Shaw’s fascinating new project to restore the historic pathways. Members also enjoyed lunch and networking with overwhelmingly positive feedback received from attendees.
As we look ahead to the New Year, many regions are busy planning workshops, training and events to get members together whilst providing the opportunity to upskill. To learn more about or to share your ideas then be sure to attend your local AGM in early 2022 and keep an eye on bali.org.uk/events
The South West region visited National Trust property Dyrham Park
On 10 October, World Mental Health Day, the British Association of Landscape Industries launched a Mental Health initiative focusing on the oftenoverlooked importance of mental health support in the landscaping and horticulture sectors.
We have partnered with EDP Training to deliver a series of Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) courses and are asking every Association member to pledge to have at least one member of their team trained in Mental Health First Aid by 2023.
Trained Mental Health First Aiders will be able to recognise the early signs and symptoms of common workplace mental health illnesses and have the necessary skills to have a supportive, non-judgemental conversation with those who need it. They will have the knowledge and confidence to guide colleagues to the appropriate professional support if they require it as well as promoting greater awareness of mental health in the workplace to reduce stigma.
Bianca Jones, a qualified MHFA England Instructor and a member of the MHFA cooperate and communities’ team will deliver the bespoke Mental Health First Aid training for Association members. The course will be delivered remotely over two days, with at least one course hosted per month, at a substantially subsidised cost to include course materials and certificate. A financial donation will be made by the Association on behalf of each participant to Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in landscaping and horticulture, and their families, when times get tough. Read more on page 44.
The first course took place 22 – 23 November to overwhelmingly positive feedback. Participant Karen McClure commented: “Well done to the Association for championing a very important subject, it certainly made me stop and think. After a frantic year in our industry, plus the impact of the pandemic exacerbating these issues - it was very ‘apt’ timing. Bianca was both thorough and kind. The course has given us the skills to have a greater appreciation and non-judgemental views of those around us and better knowledge of how we can support both in our work and personal life.”
Participant Beata Stolowska added: ”The course was very intense and deep; very mind-opening. Thank you to the Association for this opportunity and for standing up for this cause.”
Book the subsidised courses - at a special member price of £150pp, reduced from £300 - at bali.org.uk/mentalhealth
Bianca Jones - a qualified MHFA England instructor
