Landscape News Autumn 2021 by British Association of Landscape Industries

Landscape News Autumn 2021

The official journal of the British Association of Landscape Industries

A summary from the Association’s recent Annual General Meeting

After much anticipation we celebrate a return to outdoor events

The 2021 BALI National Landscape Award winners are unveiled in full

Summer of sport we look at the key roles our members play

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CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME

Chairman’s Welcome DEAR MEMBERS

y first year since being elected as your National Chairman has gone very quickly. It goes without saying that it was not the year I had imagined, with the various impacts that COVID-19 has had on the industry and on our ability to meet face-to-face. That said, I am greatly looking forward to attending future industry and Association events and reconnecting with members in person now the pandemic uncertainty has almost left us.

I am pleased to report that despite the challenges of the last year, the entire Association team has continued to work hard to deliver our business strategic plan and objectives. At the core has been our desire to provide more support and engagement to members both nationally and regionally, and to be at the forefront of industry initiatives and lead industry collaboration. The recent launch of the new ROLO Supervisor and Manager courses is an example of this in action and you can read more on page 8. Diversity and Inclusion I am excited to see the work that we are doing around diversity to build a more inclusive industry. We are committed to putting in the work to make our sector better. To that end, two of my fellow directors, Tessa Johnstone and Adrian Wickham are reviewing, researching and participating in diversity workshops to gain more insight into how we can encourage greater diversity and inclusion among our industry’s workforce. They shared the start of that journey on a podcast with Matthew Appleby of Horticulture Week that can be found online at bali.org.uk/news. We are pleased to be holding a roundtable discussion called Landscaping - Access

All Areas on 2 December 2021 in front of an audience at a Central London location to be announced shortly. Board directors Adrian Wickham and Paul Downer will host and facilitate discussion alongside a stellar panel that so far includes award-winning garden designer, writer and public speaker Manoj Malde and TV presenter and writer Mark Lane. Together they will explore the barriers that people currently face including facilities, accessibility, attitudes and not being considered a suitable fit for a role. Please contact Tessa at tessa@ johnstonelandscapes.co.uk if you would like to join the panel or be a part of the audience. Keep an eye on bali.org.uk/events for further details.

The team at Landscape House I was lucky enough to attend a BBQ at Landscape House in June and welcome some new colleagues to the team and to wish the best of luck and onward successful career to the departing members of the team Ali, Carol and Darren.

Outdoor events As we see the country moving forward, it is fantastic to see members and the Association team attending physical events again. The team attended RHS Hampton Court Festival, Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show, RHS Tatton Park and this week attend the first autumn RHS Chelsea Flower Show. A huge thanks to the team members who design, install and man our show stands. Pro Landscaper Business Awards Our Association members triumphed at the recent annual Pro Landscaper Awards winning ten out of 15 categories including

New members (9 March - 2 August) Accredited Contractor South Thames • Innovision Landscapes • Naude Landscape Project Design T/A Master Gardens • New Look Landscapes

North Thames • Diamond Driveways • Michael’s Landscapes • The Organic Garden Co. Scotland • JDS Gardening

East Anglia • Excite Solutions

Midlands • VMS Wales • Eglas

International • RSK ADAS

Accredited Supplier

North Thames • Arbour Landscape Solutions • Nustone Products • London Rock Supplies North West • Richard Campey T/A Campey Turf Care Systems

the coveted Supreme Winner Award won by Tony Benger Landscaping. I am delighted to see our members being recognised for the fantastic services that they provide across a wide range of landscaping disciplines. Many congratulations to all the winners: Crowders Nurseries, Maylim, Tony Benger Landscaping (picking up three awards), Glendale Managed Services, Acre Landscapes, Mitie Group, Ground Control and Green-tech.

Finally, I would like to personally congratulate all the new members listed on this page. I look forward to meeting you at an Association or Industry event soon. The British Association of Landscape Industries is a fantastic organisation to be part of and I would encourage you to get involved with your regional events, network with fellow members and make the most of your membership benefits. Best wishes,

Richard Kay National Chairman

International

Wales • Breedon Trading T/A Welsh Slate

• Beijing Sunshine Landscape Co. • Chengdu Yijing Horticulture Liability Co. • Desert Landscape Co. (L.L.C) • Shuishi

Accredited Designer South Thames • Davies, Andrée (MBALI)

Associate Designer

Student

South West • Johnson, Tom

Associate Contractor

South Thames • Chipstead Garden Services • Green City Landscapes

South West • Joe Sach

Training Provider South Thames • VMT

Revoked

• Aubrilam

• Beijing Florascape Co. Beijing Miland International Landscape Planning and Design Co. • Belt Collins International (HK) • Chongqing Haofeng Planning and Design Group • CT Landscapes • LandTec Landscaping • Rich Green Gardens • Scotland Transerv • Shanghai Youde Architectural Planning and Design Consulting Co.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

EDITOR’S WELCOME

Editor’s Welcome WARMEST GREETINGS

t is an absolute pleasure to welcome you to this issue of Landscape News, my very first as incoming Editor. My predecessor, Darren Taylor, did a fantastic job in producing an engaging and informative members’ publication and I am excited to have the opportunity to build on these foundations. With restrictions easing over the past few months, it has been wonderful for us all to have the opportunity to return to enjoying outdoor events, with the bonus of catching up with friends and colleagues in person. As an Association we, alongside members, have been supporting several events this summer including the Royal Horticultural Society’s shows and Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show. On page 24 you can find out what the return to the outdoor show season has been like for some of our members during a global pandemic, and what it feels like to be back out. As well as enjoying outdoor events, many of us have spent the last few weeks glued to exhilarating displays of sporting excellence, from the Tokyo

Olympic Games, to Wimbledon, and of course who could forget the Euro’s 2020. In recognition of the incredible and inspiring summer of sport we have enjoyed, we spoke to members involved with Wimbledon, Wembley and Royal St. George’s to find out what goes on behind the scenes at some of the world’s most iconic venues. Read the full article on page 38.

Editor: Olivia McCullough

E: olivia.mccullough@bali.org.uk T: +44(0)24 7669 8656 M: 07800 573351 Sales: Diane McCulloch E: diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk T: +44(0)24 7518 5614

Following a rigorous three-day judging process, we are thrilled to announce on page 28 the 2021 winners of the coveted BALI National Landscape Awards. A huge congratulations to each of you, and we look forward to celebrating in person at the annual awards ceremony later in the year. In this issue we also offer advice on mitigating flooding in urban areas on page 44; we explore the potential skills gap impacting the industry on page 48 and so much more. We welcome your feedback and if there’s anything you’d like to see included in a future issue, just let us know.

Registered address: British Association of Landscape Industries Landscape House Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2LG Designed by: bdci.co.uk Print and mailing: warwickprinting.co.uk Copy Deadline (Winter 2021): Friday 12th November 2021 Front cover: © Bestall & Co - BBC Gardens, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park Photographer: Kat Weatherill

Best wishes.

Olivia McCullough

Contents

6 Chief Executive’s Report 8 BALI News

13 Member News

24 Interview

28 Award Winners 32 Technical

46 Member Benefit Spotlight 48 Training

50 Events

32 4

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

Association introduces new Supervisor and Manager level ROLO courses and returns to outdoor events

e are pleased to have launched two new training courses at Supervisor and Manager level, to join the popular Register of Land-based Operations (ROLO) Operative level course. The new courses will enable our industry Supervisors and Managers to receive the appropriate level of health, safety and environmental awareness training and apply for their Landbased Industry Skills Scheme/Construction Skills Certification Scheme (LISS/ CSCS) cards. The Supervisor and Manager level courses have been developed by the Association to meet the training needs of the land-based sector. They are fully supported and approved by CITB and Build UK as equivalent to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Site Supervisor and Site Manager courses, SSSTS and SMSTS.

The Association plays an essential role in the safety and wellbeing of those that work in the landscape industry by raising industry standards through training. ROLO courses address the specific safety and environmental challenges the sector faces, providing specific training and keeping candidates up to date with the latest knowledge and skills to work in the landscaping environment. Read more about the introduction of the new Supervisor and Manager level ROLO courses on page 8.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

A return to outdoor events

It has been great to get back into faceto-face events and the Association and the team at Landscape House have been getting back out promoting both the benefits of membership as well as promoting you, our members to the general public. Show season has kicked off in style and we have attended the following events so far: • RHS Hampton Court Palace • RHS Tatton Park

• Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show

With many Association members winning a myriad of show medals, I would like to congratulate every one of them for ensuring that our industry is continually promoted as a professional industry and for keeping the general public and business engaged in the fantastic industry that we are in.

Read more about the successful return to show season on page 24.

Our first garden at Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show

The Association and its careers initiative, GoLandscape, joined forces with Oakham Garden Services to create a spectacular ‘Bring your holiday home’ themed garden at Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show. This is the first time that the Association has created a garden

at Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show and the 2021 garden theme was a nod to the increased number of ‘staycations’ being embarked on during the pandemic. The Association also promoted careers in the industry through its GoLandscape initiative, continuing its work addressing the industry skills gap. Education Officer Stephen Ensell was there to chat to career changers, school leavers, parents and teachers about the benefits of a career in the horticulture and landscape sector.

National Connects – the perfect networking opportunity

Our National Connects are a great way of keeping in touch with the Association and to network with other members.

Do join these informal online networking events to share your experiences, or discover them for the first time by hearing from the experts. The monthly events are open to all members from all regions. To find out more visit the events page on the website bali.org/events

National Awards 2021 fast approaching

We are looking forward to the BALI National Landscape Awards and are thrilled to be planning a return to a live event at JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT Two new training courses at Supervisor and Manager level

It has been another fantastic year with the expert judging panel, led by John Melmoe, reviewing 158 entries received - yet another record year for number of entries, proving that the largest landscaping Awards in Europe is still succeeding in entering the history books 45 years on.

Emily Feeney, Events Project Manager and the team at Landscape House have been working hard to market and promote the benefits of winning a prestigious National Landscape Award to over 950 Accredited members. There are now more Accredited Contractors, Designers, Suppliers and International members entering than ever before with a good number of first-time entrants which is always great to see. Following the judge’s deliberation at Landscape House at the end of August, we are delighted to share the winners with you on page 28 of this issue. A huge congratulations to everyone involved.

You will be able to read more in this issue on the winners and how to book your tickets for this year’s ceremony on 3rd December 2021 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London.

Congratulations to all those that have won awards and wishing you all the very best for those coveted Principal and Grand Awards on the day.

Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show

Membership Satisfaction Survey

We will be sending out our annual membership satisfaction survey in the autumn. This is a great opportunity to feedback your thoughts on your membership with the Association, to shape the business plan and focus on you, our members. I look forward to seeing your feedback and how you feel we are working on your behalf. As always, this is your opportunity to tell us your thoughts on a whole host of services and products including the staff at Landscape House who, I hope, you feel represent you as a member in the most professional of ways.

Member communication and benefits

To make the most of our marketing and communications, have you considered adding colleagues to our mailing lists so that they can receive our weekly emails and digital copies of Landscape News? Simply contact Jo in membership to add your colleagues, jo.todd@bali.org.uk.

We continue to update the website on all things COVID-19, Brexit and plant health related so please be sure to visit bali.org.uk for all the latest updates and to find out more about the variety of member benefits available to you.

we shouldn’t forget those who are not quite as fortunate, those that have already experienced real hardship and, in some cases, have had to close their business and let staff go as it has no longer been viable or possible to keep the business going. I would remind all our members that at times like these we should turn to the myriad of help and support provided by the charities in our sector to see if they can help. Perennial has experienced an almost 400% increase in calls during the pandemic. They have not only risen to this challenge but also maintain a level of support, guidance, and advice that colleagues in our industry experienced before the pandemic. For more information or help please visit perennial.org.uk As always, thank you for your continued support and promotion of the British Association of Landscape Industries. Best wishes.

Wayne Grills Chief Executive

And finally, a pause for thought. Whilst the industry seems to be booming at present with great order books ahead,

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

BALI NEWS

Supervisor and Manager level ROLO courses now available for landbased workers

s Chief Executive Wayne Grills explained on page 6, we are pleased to have launched two new training courses at Supervisor and Manager level, to join our popular Register of Landbased Operations (ROLO) Operative level course. The two new courses are an essential gateway for industry Supervisors and Managers to apply for their LISS/CSCS cards with the required level of health, safety and environmental awareness training under their belts.

The Supervisor and Manager courses have been introduced as a direct request from industry professionals and are set to complement our well-regarded ROLO Operative level course. Since ROLO’s relaunch in 2012, the Association has seen over 36,000 Operatives go through ROLO training and over 20,000 gain their LISS/CSCS cards*. Both the Supervisor and Manager courses are made up of two parts and have a blended learning approach that starts with an online e-learning course, before moving onto a tutor-led course. The * 2012 - February 2021

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

Supervisor course takes two days to complete, while the Manager course requires three. To gain the most from the course and pass its final test, learners are expected to engage with all the activities and assessments. On successful completion and passing of all aspects of the course, learners will receive a ROLO Supervisor or Manager accredited certificate which is valid for five years, after which the appropriate refresher course can be undertaken. These courses will also support Supervisors and Managers in applying for the appropriate LISS/CSCS cards. Refresher courses will be available for those renewing their ROLO certificate and for those looking to renew their CITB SSSTS or SMSTS courses for their Land-based sector position.

Wayne Grills, Chief Executive of the British Association of Landscape Industries, said: “Over the years our provider network has been delivering ROLO training to the industry, we have seen standards across sites consistently improving. In response to the increasing call for higher level courses from businesses who are

seeing how useful ROLO training is, we have developed these two brand new courses to continue our legacy of improving standards.”

Steve Potter, Accredited Training Provider, Wisteria Landscapes added: “As an already experienced ROLO Operative level course provider I see the introduction of the ROLO Supervisors and Managers courses as an incredibly positive move in creating a safer working environment. The courses are Landscape Industry specific, which in itself is pioneering as we are the only sector that has specific Health, Safety and Environmental training. The courses pave the way for behavioural safety, as it is the Supervisors and Managers that need to set the standards and lead the way for Operatives to follow. The British Association of Landscape Industries has been proactive by producing these courses for the Industry, showing their commitment to maintaining a positive safety culture in the Industry”. For more information and to find a training course, please visit bali.org.uk/ROLO

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BALI NEWS Midlands regional members enjoying a Belvoir Castle tour

North Thames committee organised a private tour of RHS Wisley Gardens

Regional committees enjoy action-packed summer

ver the summer our Regional Committees have had the pleasure of finally meeting in-person and attending a host of live events. We have also maintained our online meetings and virtual events which have flourished in popularity throughout the pandemic and look forward to delivering more in the coming months. Visit page 50 to view up and coming events.

Private tour of RHS Wisley Gardens

Our North Thames committee organised a private tour of RHS Wisley Gardens and were delighted to enjoy a private preview tour of RHS Hilltop, the UK’s first dedicated horticultural centre of excellence.

Members were greeted by Mark Gregory from Landform Consultants and Mark Pottage, Curator of RHS Wisley, who took them on a walking tour up to the Hilltop building and gardens. Ann-Marie Powell and Matthew Keightley, both designers, joined the group to discuss their involvement in the project and how it came about, including a Q&A session.

Members and Association staff were then given a tour of the new horticultural science research laboratories, the wellbeing garden, wildlife garden and the world food garden. Networking with much missed colleagues and friends, along with some fantastic hot food outdoors in the World Food Garden made for an enjoyable long- awaited reunion.

Midlands region enjoy Belvoir Castle tour

The Midlands region also met in person for a private tour of Belvoir Castle’s grounds with their Head Gardener sharing his valuable insight into maintaining the Estate Gardens during the pandemic. Members then caught up and discussed the issues and topics impacting the industry over afternoon tea in the castle.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

Yorkshire & North East look ahead to specimen tree event

As a direct response to requests from members, the committee are looking forward to hosting the ‘Choose it. Move it. Plant it.’ event this September, where they will be demonstrating the selection, handling and planting of large specimen trees. Find out how to attend the event on page 50.

More to come

We have many more exciting events to come, both in person and online and hope to see as many members as possible engaging with their local committees and joining us for training, tours, talks, and networking in their region soon.

If you would like more information on how to get involved in your region then please do not hesitate to contact Regional Support Officer Laura Doyle on laura.doyle@bali.org.uk

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LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

BALI NEWS

ASSOCIATION WELCOMES MEMBERS TO 2021 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

n Tuesday 7th September 2021 the British Association of Landscape Industries hosted its National Annual General Meeting (AGM) online following the success of the virtual AGM last year.

Members were invited to join Executive Board Directors, including National Chairman Richard Kay, Honorary Treasurer Richard Stone and Chief Executive Wayne Grills for the formal meeting, which was followed by two informative and educational presentations delivered by guest speakers Richard McKenna, Managing Director of Provender Nurseries, and Dr. David Kelly Assistant Professor in Architectural Engineering. Twenty-five members attended live on the day and utilised the online webinar system allowing members to virtually cast their all-important votes on crucial Association matters. Members who had sent apologies were still able to vote by proxy and

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

their votes were received before the meeting and therefore included in the total counts.

The propositions passed and approved during the meeting included the adoption of the financial accounts for the year ending 31st March 2021, the proposal to increase membership fees; re-election of National Chairman Richard Kay and board directors Paul Downer, Matt O’Conner, Richard Stone and Nigel Bowcock and the re-appointment of Auditors Benee Consulting.

Following the formal AGM, two speakers were invited to present to members. Richard McKenna, Managing Director, Provender Nurseries tackled the extremely interesting and challenging topic: Current and future availability of planting material. His talk was followed by Dr David Kelly, Assistant Professor in Architectural Engineering covering another topical subject: Increased risk of flooding

Chief Executive, Wayne Grills National Chairman, Richard Kay Honorary Treasurer, Richard Stone

in urban areas and potential for domestic gardens to mitigate this. Commenting on this year’s event, Wayne Grills said:

“On behalf of the board of directors we would like to thank members for joining us for our second online AGM. With us all adopting the use of digital technologies more than ever before, it made sense to host the meeting virtually, not only making it easily accessible to all members but cutting down on travel costs and time. We do however look forward to seeing members in-person soon as we continue with the outdoor events season. Although it has been a challenging twelve months for everyone, and I am pleased that the Association continues to thrive and is flourishing going into its 50th year. I would like to thank all our members, board of directors and team at Landscape House for their continued support and commitment.”

MEMBERS NEWS

Husqvarna launch new range of CEORA autonomous mowers

ur Association was recently invited to attend the launch of Accredited Supplier Husqvarna’s new range of autonomous mowers, and what may represent the future of grounds maintenance.

The concept of autonomous mowers is not new; Husqvarna produced the world’s first autonomous mower - a solar-powered device - back in 1995 and most of us will have seen autonomous mowers since, either in magazines or working in domestic gardens. Many manufacturers now sell autonomous mowers which follow a similar format; a rechargeable batterypowered unit featuring a rotary cutting deck and four wheels is powered by electric motors to cut grass at regular intervals with little user input or maintenance.

Whilst CEORA mowers look similar albeit larger - to autonomous mowers already available from Husqvarna and other manufacturers, it is the technology inside that sets them apart

and opens new opportunities for use by the commercial landscape industry. Autonomous mowers traditionally use a ‘boundary wire’ either pegged to the top or buried beneath turf, which is used by the mower to identify the edge of the mowing area and the location of obstacles. The maximum area managed by traditional systems is dependent on manufacturer and model, but is in the region of 5,000m2.

Rather than a boundary wire, CEORA uses EPOS (Exact Position Operating System) which allows the mower to rely on satellite technology alone to navigate a site. The system, which is controlled using a smart phone or computer operating system, allows obvious benefits such as 24-hour working and live updates, but also detailed placement of charging and maintenance areas, as well as the creation of different mowing regimes, cutting heights and working periods on the same site. CEORA models due for launch in 2022 can manage an area of up to 50,000m2.

The flexibility afforded by this new technology means Husqvarna can market CEORA as a mowing solution for sports pitches, schools, hotels and even municipal areas such as parks and cemeteries. Whilst the launch model uses a rotary cutting deck to finely cut the grass sward at a height of between 20 and 60mm, there are plans to offer alternative attachments.

The system represents an exciting step forward for the industry, with the potential to solve issues ranging from employee shortages through to reduced reliance on fossil-fuel powered equipment. Husqvarna is due to tour the UK with CEORA in the next few months; visit husqvarna.com for further information.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

MEMBER NEWS

ZERO EMISSIONS MOWING WITH CAMPEY™ TURF CARE SYSTEMS ????

usinesses and councils are doing their part to tackle the climate crisis in every way possible. By August 2019, more than half of the councils in the UK had committed to cutting carbon emissions, with many setting the date as 2030 to reduce all emissions to zero. That’s just nine years away. Due to the very nature of what they do, it would be counterproductive for turf management tools to cause any kind of damage to the landscape or wider environment in which they are operating. Campey™ Turf Care Systems have developed the AllTrec Tool Carrier that provides zero emissions mowing. Not just on managed turf, but also on overgrown vegetation, to improve green spaces. The machine is 100% electric, has zero emissions, minimal noise output and massively reduced vibration for operators.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility, the UK Government has set a target of zero carbon emissions by 2050 and tools like this show, with a bit of ingenuity, it can be done.

and all batteries come with a threeyear warranty.

This shows it’s possible for commercial mowing to be carried out without any other impact. The battery lasts for six to eight hours when cutting with the four blade 180cm deck and between seven and nine hours using the three blade 130cm deck. On board charging takes between four to eight hours

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The machine was designed by Dutch manufacturer, WeedControl B.V. The cutting decks are available in 130cm or 180cm width of cut with the height of cut adjustable from 30-110mm. Electric motors power the three blade 130cm deck and four blade 180cm deck with an adjustable speed between 2000-3000rpm.

Contractors, local authorities and landscapers are looking to the future, to how they can lower maintenance costs while becoming more ecofriendly. Hedge cutters, strimmers and mowers are all pieces of kit which have the potential to fulfil these aims. At the other end of the process, people who visit parklands and holiday parks appreciate the lack of noise these tools make. It’s far more pleasant to hear bird song than the on-off sound of the ground maintenance.

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MEMBER NEWS

Green-tech highlight how the health of a tree is a reflection of the soil in which it grows By Accredited Supplier Green-tech

irstly, let us debunk a common myth that a tree’s profile above ground is reflected below ground. Most UK species are shallow rooting, with ninety per cent of root growth within the top 500mm of soil. So, rather than forcing root growth downwards, we need to give the tree as much lateral growth room as possible. To support this, British Standards quote that topsoil should be no more than 300mm deep. Any deeper risks the soil becoming anaerobic and the organic matter within dying off, causing more harm than good. One British Standard soil, Green-tech’s Green-tree topsoil, is tested and approved to a depth of 400mm due to its open texture.

Calculating the ideal soil volume for any particular tree is not a precise science. One of the key roles of the soil is to hold on to and supply water and nutrients as and when the tree needs it. Many arboriculturists will adopt a weather-based methodology and base the tree pit size on the water requirement of a particular tree. This can be affected by a multitude of factors, such as, whether the tree is in the shade or full sunlight, or exposure to prevailing winds. As a general guide, we would recommend the following volume to anticipated canopy ratio, based on a 1m deep tree pit: 3m canopy – 5m3 (2.25 x 2.25m)

5m canopy – 12m3 (3.5 x 3.5m)

8m canopy – 30m3 (5.5 x 5.5m).

In a rural, soft landscaping environment, rooting space is not

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

usually an issue. However, in an urban landscape care needs to be taken to create a controlled and consistent growing environment. Hence, we use tree pits, which when combined with good quality soil, give our urban trees the best chance of healthy establishment, growth and survival.

Starting at the base, immediately below the topsoil, and above the substratum (formation ground), sits the subsoil layer. Although most subsoils are used for raising levels, infill, and contouring, they can also build up the lower section of a tree pit, giving support to the topsoil and providing a stable anchoring point for tree anchoring systems. Not always given much thought, subsoil still plays a vital role, having a big influence on water absorption, retention and drainage. Without it, every time it rains, the topsoil will become boggy and detrimental to healthy root growth. Naturally, subsoil mainly comprises sand/silt and clay and has very low levels of organic material, usually less than 1%.

Manufactured subsoil such as Greentree, consists of a blend of UK sand and quarried minerals, with a higher clay and silt content than the more friable topsoil. It is important to make sure that any batch of your subsoil is certified BS8601:2013. This is not so much to guarantee high quality but to ensure that there is nothing detrimental within the soil that could leach into the topsoil above. Good topsoil is critical to the healthy growth and well-being of a tree, or anything else that happens

to be grown in it for that matter. It is crucial that you select your soil from a well-established, trusted source, and that it is regularly tested to British Standard BS3882:2015 by a recognised industry laboratory. So, when planning your next tree planting project, think about the quality of the soil that you are providing for the tree; a little extra at the front end will pay dividends for many years to come.

An ever-increasing population has resulted in urban sprawl taking over our green spaces. This spread shows no sign of slowing down and this can mean survival is a battle for both new and existing urban trees.

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MEMBER NEWS

Bowles & Wyer show garden celebrating modern-day nursing introduces bio-based building materials to RHS Chelsea

garden, originally intended to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale in 2020, will be built by Accredited Contractor and award-winning landscape company Bowles & Wyer and unveiled at RHS Chelsea 2021 to celebrate the importance of nursing in the 21st century. Sponsored by the Burdett Trust for Nursing and created by designer Robert Myers, The Florence Nightingale Garden – A Celebration of Modern Nursing will see Bowles & Wyer introduce innovative biobased building materials to create an imagined hospital garden, inspired by Florence Nightingale’s pioneering views on nursing, at a time when the global spotlight is centred on health and well-being. The bio-based timber being used in the construction is a 21st century representation of key materials that Florence Nightingale advocated for hospital construction in her work promoting the benefits of hospital environment on patient recovery.

A 60ft timber pergola will stretch the length of the garden and enclose it on three sides to form the central feature of the courtyard garden. It will

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

be built using cross-laminated timber (CLT) – an engineered wood that has become known as the ‘concrete of the future’ due to its potential as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional building materials. Working with CLT expert Jim Johnstone it is the first time that Bowles & Wyer has worked with the material and it will be the first time it has featured on this scale at RHS Chelsea.

The low-impact, non-toxic timber, made from honey-coloured Douglas Fir, was constructed in modular parts before being transported to the showground for assembly. Precambered rods and tubes will support the timber, reducing the need for steel to a bare minimum and allowing for easy relocation at the end of the show.

Dan Riddleston, Managing Director at Bowles & Wyer, said: “There is a lovely synergy between the modern materials and techniques we are using to build the garden and Florence Nightingale’s own advocacy of modern materials to ensure healthy environments in the hospitals she inspired. We are constantly looking at ways to reduce our carbon footprint, particularly at Chelsea where the gardens are often transitory, and the use of CLT means

that the pergola can be constructed very quickly, will require minimal transport and will create very little waste. Added to that, the trees used in the production of CLT actually absorb carbon, thereby off-setting the carbon produced through its manufacture.”

Elsewhere in the garden, a reflecting pool will reference Florence Nightingale’s insights into drainage and cleanliness and plants will symbolise her own pressed flower collection as well as those with strong medicinal properties that were used in the 19th century. In addition, images of Florence Nightingale will appear in slightly opaque windows and echoes of her handwriting will seem to be inscribed onto the walls to embody her extensive writing in support of healthcare reform. Surrounding the pergola, perimeter walls will reference the ‘pavilion’ hospital layouts advocated by Florence Nightingale and a striking installation at the front of the garden will also display the recently redesigned Nightingale Nurse badge. Approximately 3,700 plants will be planted in the garden as part of a new Autumn planting palette. Visit bowleswyer.co.uk

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MEMBER NEWS

VISTAFOLIA TO DRIVE SUSTAINABILITY IN SECTOR THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF SURREY KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP

lobally renowned creator and Accredited Supplier of artificial green walls, Vistafolia, has launched a pioneering collaboration with the University of Surrey to create a new base polymer, the material that their artificial plants are made from, using renewable sources, while maintaining the established safety and design standards of its market-leading product. The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) will see Vistafolia’s own research and development team working with two KTP Associates, Dr Elham Ketabchi and Dr Filip Ambroz, who, with the support of Dr Sadhukhan, Dr Roth and Dr Mohagheghian from

the University of Surrey will transfer and embed their existing knowledge in biomass processing and materials science respectively, to enable Vistafolia to become the first and only artificial plant manufacturer to move towards a bio-based polymer. British innovation is a core part of the company’s roots, and the KTP further cements their support of the sector. The naturalistic green wall panels are currently produced to directly replicate the organic movement and texture of living walls, with each bespoke design being curated to fit the individual needs of the space and location, using a selection of shapes and hues to add colour and dimension. The new formulation will also replace the current fire-retardant additive with a more environmentally friendly version that will enhance the new product’s nontoxic and recyclable qualities, while also retaining a high standard of fire retardancy and UV stability. Proposed sustainability properties of the new bio-polyethylene product include: • Saving 70 tonnes of petroleumbased plastic being used in production per year by Vistafolia with the new bio-polymer formulation.

• Net carbon-neutrality when manufacturing Vistafolia’s products with the bio-polyethylene material. For more information visit vistafolia.com

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

Evergreens National training programme in artificial grass installation sees its 150th accreditation

aunched in January 2020, Evergreens UK Group’s National Training Academy is seeing a resurgence in course bookings as the lockdown eases. Market growth and consumer interest for artificial grass and instant lawn perfection has been exponential over the past two years. Homeowners have found renewed passion for their own gardens and have chosen artificial turf as a picture-perfect evergreen allyear-round option to help them maximise their outdoor living experiences. Whilst face-to-face training was halted over the lockdown, the Academy has now seen its’ 150th successful Artificial Grass Installer graduate. The Academy, located at the Group’s Head Office in Rutland, continues to receive exemplary feedback from those attaining their professional, nationally recognised certification. Upon successful completion of the course, attendees are awarded a Lantra Certificate of Competence and a Skills Identity Card. They are also then entitled to apply for an Artificial Grass Installer Blue Skilled LISS/CSCS Card via the British Association of Landscape Industries as long as they satisfy their required criteria - a pre-requisite for the products’ installation on any commercial site.

The next available training dates for those looking to master the trade of artificial grass installation is 29-30 September 2021 with more dates in October to follow.

To secure your place on the full training course delivered by Evergreen’s expert team of instructors, contact Temi Kucuk on 01572 766912 or temi@ evergreensuk.com. Further information can be found at evergreensukgroup.com/lantra-award

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igh quality paving installation is a big investment. Stone manufacturers only want to work with proven materials to ensure excellent results are achieved every time.

UltraScape has been providing the industry with high quality standard assured paving installation materials for more than 20 years. Their specialists have built longstanding relationships with architects, specifiers and contractors. They have adapted to the changing needs of the industry to provide proven and trusted paving installation materials and based on their knowledge and experience can offer the following advice. Critical to the success of your paving is building the right foundations in the first place. Permeable bedding mortar is formulated to drain away any water migrating into the pavement via cracks or damaged areas. Permeable bedding reduces water related pavement failures as rainwater will drain away rather than sit on top of the stone, this in turn means correctly laid paving will not suffer any water staining.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

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Canal & River Trust: Message in a Bottle garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

INTERVIEW

Built by First Light Landscaping, designed by Tracy Foster.

THE RETURN TO OUTDOOR EVENTS Summer is here, the sun is shining – and, finally, it seems that things are getting back to normal again.

fter a year of uncertainty, staying indoors and cancelled or virtual events, it has been a joy for us to be back on the road again, visiting all the best mainstays of the landscaping and gardening events circuit. From the Royal Horticultural Society’s show-stopping gardens to the grand surroundings of Belvoir Castle’s Flower and Garden Show, awards events and trade shows, everything we missed last year is making a big comeback.

Our own Association has had the privilege of attending several events including RHS Hampton Court Festival, where our members won big with several Gold and Silver medals, Best Construction Awards and even a Best Show Garden for Rosebank Landscaping’s The Cancer Research UK Legacy Garden, and Belvoir Castle Flower & Garden Show, where we presented a show garden for the very first time, in conjunction with Oakham Garden Services and our careers initiative GoLandscape.

Though the virtual shows of last year all managed spectacular things under challenging circumstances, it has been an enormous pleasure to get back out on the road, meeting landscape professionals and members in the field and seeing their creativity flourish as they return to what they do best: making beautiful gardens.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

We talked to some of our members about their experiences with this year’s events season, the pandemic, and how it feels to be back out in the sunshine.

How has the events season been for you this year?

Oakham Garden Services With the UK starting to open up, it enables lots of designers and landscapers to have that well-earned exposure, to demonstrate their talent. So far, we have only attended Belvoir Castle Flower & Garden Show although we are keen to attend more shows in the near future simply because we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was very grateful of the support the Association provided. FirstLight Landscaping We were able to work at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival in July 2021, which had been postponed from 2020, so it was great to finally get down there to start the construction and attend the event after so many months of planning. We also attended the ProLandscaper Business Awards in London last month, where we were shortlisted for an award. Rosebank Landscaping It was great to be at RHS Hampton Court Festival this year. We’ve done two show gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show before and were due to do a fifth RHS garden at Chelsea. Unfortunately, due to the movement

By Emily Magdij Marketing & Communications Officer

of the date, from summer to autumn, we had to skip the event this year. We were due to build a garden at Chelsea with the Royal Army Medical Corps, but fortunately we were able to build it straight at the hospital, so it didn’t go to waste.

We had a brilliant time at RHS Hampton Court Festival – in our first year there, we started with winning a Gold medal, then progressed with our next garden to winning a Gold medal and Best Construction, then to a clean sweep of the awards with our garden in conjunction with Cancer Research UK this year. Lee Bestall I’ve had a great time taking part in online events as well as in-person events. I’ve taken part in lots of online events from one hour talks hosted by other Committees - I’d never consider travelling from Sheffield to London for an hour usually - to a full on two day seminar over Zoom. How they held my attention from 9am till 8pm for two days I’ll never know, but they did!

How are you finding the return?

Oakham Garden Services We’re finding it all a bit overwhelming if anything, but in a positive way. We have so much available to us now there are more events, shows and things to attend. With project commitments we understand that as nice as it would

Oakham Garden Services and GoLandscape’s Belvoir Castle show garden

Bestall & Co - BBC Gardens, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

be to attend all of them, it isn’t viable to stack out the diary with events so I’d encourage anyone thinking about attending events to be confident of their objectives of who, what, when and why, when considering attending events to ensure you’re getting the most from your visit. FirstLight Landscaping The events we have attended so far have felt like safe environments to be in, as there were plenty of safety precautions in place.

Rosebank Landscaping We’ve found events slightly more challenging than previous years on the basis of the administration and making sure we’re following COVID security and testing. In some ways it has been a little easier because it’s a less busy show ground – admin challenges have gone up but logistical challenges have gone down.

It’s a big consideration for us to be on the show garden circuit, as it has an impact on our business. It’s hugely disruptive and you commit a huge amount of time to be at the garden, so you’ve always got to make sure you can afford the time break. As a hugely in demand and busy business, we don’t want to over-exert ourselves. But we enjoy it and there’s a huge amount of pride involved.

Lee Bestall I’m still enjoying online meetings and will continue to attend these, but peppered with live events. I think I’ll be more selective in the future and will be looking for events that maximise learning.

I’d like to see a mixture of events return, education and training via online means and in person exhibitions and events - although maybe condensed into ‘super events’ to make the most of time and reduce travel.

How has the pandemic been for your business?

Oakham Garden Services The pandemic has certainly impacted our business, but in a positive way. Rest assured, we haven’t been ‘untouched’ throughout this trying time, we have struggled at times with supplier issues, staff testing positive and clients generally being more demanding, impatient and frustrated. Understandably, everyone is feeling somewhat frustrated with the way things have been but we have, now more than ever, realised that managing expectations quite early on is vital to minimise disappointment. Currently, we are struggling to recruit a whole new team; experienced hard landscapers are like gold dust at the moment!

FirstLight Landscaping Initially we were quite anxious about how the pandemic would affect our business. However, it has been an extremely busy year, as many people have been choosing to spend money on their home and garden renovations rather than taking trips abroad. Due to the amount of interest in our services, we decided to switch to exclusively taking on design and build projects something we have been planning for several years. This has been a great transition as it allows us to spend more time working and designing projects we are really passionate about. Rosebank Landscaping The uncertainty at the start was disruptive. There was a lot of nervousness from clients, leading to delayed starts on big contracts, and there was initially a period of time where construction sites had to shut down due to the sheer amounts of people involved in working on them. We picked up more private residential jobs, where you could have separate access and keep COVID safe for both client and our workers.

While the pandemic was disruptive at the beginning, more certainty and clarity on how to operate safely has emerged, and now I don’t think the industry has ever been in more demand – which leads to other, different problems like materials, skills and staff shortages.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

DESIGNER INTERVIEW (cont.) Lee Bestall Although there’s a slight feeling of guilt due to the number of people who have suffered through the pandemic, our industry as a whole and us as a business have seen a significant increase in sales as people have grown to appreciate their outdoor space.

The pandemic has been, and continues to be a constant challenge, mainly due to the availability of goods. People want to buy and I want to sell, but the supply chain just can’t deal with the backlog and the challenges of Brexit. I began the pandemic with the fear of losing everything I’d worked so hard to build over the past 15 years, but this was short lived, as I saw spending increase and demand do the same. I hope in time that we’ll begin producing more in this country, mainly from a sustainability perspective as well as ease of transportation.

What do events mean to you and your business?

Oakham Garden Services Recently Oakham Garden Services had an amazing opportunity to showcase our work, displaying a show garden at Belvoir Castle with the British Association of Landscape Industries and their careers initiative GoLandscape. It was our first show garden, so we didn’t know what to expect or what difficulties we would face, but thankfully the process ran smoothly and is definitely

something we would like to have more involvement in. Having the exposure to fellow designers/installers meant we could have very relatable discussions. FirstLight Landscaping In previous years, we have enjoyed attending the British Association of Landscape Industries’ dinner events. We have found these very useful and at these events we have met many designers we now regularly work with.

Rosebank Landscaping Events are good PR – we get amazing coverage from the gardens we create for them and they are a really good marketing tool. They are also intrinsically really rewarding - very different from usual, high pressure work we do, and they allow us produce work that’s really quite different.

Lee Bestall I have to admit that I’m a huge fan of online meetings and love how a quick meeting has no transport and ‘chat’ to make it longer than it needs to be, that said, I’ve missed the opportunity to network in person and build relationships that way as it’s really not easy to do that over Zoom. The thing I’ve missed most though is the lack of access to be educated about new products. To see, touch and interact with them. To try them out and to get enthused by their creators. I’m really looking forward to getting back to an exhibition full of new and inspiring ideas.

Lee Bestall

Oakham Garden Services

Firstlight Landscaping

Rosebank Landscaping

Lee Bestall MBALI is an Association Accredited garden designer with a garden design, planting and aftercare business. They specialise in designing gardens around character properties, in particular stonebuilt barn conversions and red brick formal houses. bestall.co Firstlight Landscaping specialise in garden design and hard landscaping projects in the North and West Yorkshire area. They pride themselves on being friendly and forward-thinking, and had a part in constructing two Silver Medal-winning gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. This summer they constructed the Message in a Bottle garden at RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, designed by Tracy Foster. firstlightlandscaping.co.uk

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

What are you most looking forward to about future events?

Oakham Garden Services We are eager to see more creative designs, networking, ideas and excited to see positivity flowing through the industry once again. We’ve all suffered in some way or another so peer support has never been more important.

FirstLight Landscaping We are looking forward to catching up with other landscaping professionals over the next months, and to see them in person after such a long time! Rosebank Landscaping We are genuinely curious as to how RHS Chelsea is going to turn out at a different time of year, including what the reaction from the public will be and if there will be any changes to future planning of the event. Lee Bestall I’m looking forward to an event we’re running in September about how to select, move and plant large specimens. I’m taking the opportunity to have my whole team attend as we haven’t all been together for nearly two years. It’s called Choose it. Move it. Plant it. and we’d love people to join us on 29th September 2021. Tickets and info available on the event page of the BALI website, or by contacting Regional Support Officer, Laura Doyle on laura.doyle@bali.org.uk

Oakham Garden Services are a design and installation company delivering high quality garden transformations primarily to domestic clients. They are passionate about what they do, striving to progress and better themselves as a business and to ensure the client journey is flawless from beginning to completion. oakhamgardenservices.co.uk Rosebank Landscaping is a multi-awardwinning landscape design & build practice that conceives, creates and cares for distinctive gardens and open spaces for residential, commercial and public realm clients across the UK and internationally. This year they swept the board at RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, claiming a Gold Medal, Best Show Garden and Best Construction for a Show Garden for The Cancer Research UK Legacy Garden, designed by Tom Simpson. rosebanklandscaping.co.uk

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National Landscape Award

2021 WINNERS T South Quay Plaza, Level 56 - NAO Landscapes

he British Association of Landscape Industries is delighted to confirm the winners of the 2021 National Landscape Awards. 79 Awards celebrating the best of the best the landscape industry has to offer have been bestowed across 53 of its Accredited members.

stations, increased cleaning and front of house team members wearing masks and white gloves during service. Current protocols can be found on the Awards website and will be updated accordingly in the lead up to the ceremony.

Making a triumphant return to a physical event after last year’s National Landscape Awards was hosted online, the event will once again be held at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, in London on 3 December 2021, for which tickets are now on sale.

The National Landscape Awards’ expert judging panel, led by Chair John Melmoe, was joined by Chief Executive Wayne Grills and team members from Landscape House for three days of deliberation in mid-August, where every entry was reviewed and scrutinised.

Members will now compete to win the Principal Award for each of the 29 Awards categories, and for the highly coveted overall Grand Award at the ceremony later this year. In addition, Special Awards will be presented to the standout projects submitted.

West London Garden - Gavin McWilliam MBALI

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

In light of easing restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic, the team at Landscape House are looking forward to hosting a physical event once again this year. The Association is working closely with the venue and will communicate coronavirus related guidelines to guests to ensure the safety of all attendees. The highest levels of hygiene will be maintained throughout the venue including multiple hand-sanitising

The Association is delighted that, of the 79 Awards, 17 went to first-time entrants, with three members completely new to Association membership. There are several members who have won multiple awards, with Nurture Landscapes taking home five, idverde taking home four, and five other members taking home three.

The team at Landscape House, the board of directors and the judging panel wishes to congratulate every Association member who has won a 2021 National Landscape Award and thank every member that entered this year. We extend our gratitude to our committed and loyal sponsors for their continued support.

National Landscape Award Winners

Domestic Garden Construction - Under £30K – Sponsored by Hedges Direct • Vu Garden Design & Landscaping for Private Residence in Sittingbourne • Garden Club London for Whittlesey Street • Instant Scenery for Private Residence in Worcester • Langlea Garden Design & Construction for Townhouse Escape • Boast About The Garden for Focussed on the View • Green Acorn Landscape Design & Construction for Billinge Outdoor Living

Domestic Garden Construction Between £30K - £60K – Sponsored by Ecoscape UK • Garden Club London for Hamble Street • HG Landscapes for Castelnau • Greenscape Gardens for The Secret Sensory Garden • Danscape Gardens for Concrete & Cooking

Domestic Garden Construction - Between £60K - £100K – Sponsored by Johnsons of Whixley • Talbot Farm Landscapes for Private Residence in Staffordshire • Graduate Gardeners for Private Garden, Battledown, Cheltenham • Landesigns for Anchor Cottage Family Garden Domestic Garden Construction - Between £100K - £250K – Sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries • BlueFish Landscaping Contractors for The Swimming Pool Terrace • HG Landscapes for Surrey Garden • Graduate Gardeners for Private Garden in Sheepscombe • HG Landscapes for St Margaret’s • Bespoke Stone Walling for Private Residence in Gloucestershire • Esse Landscapes for Thicket Rise • Landscape Associates for Modern Family Garden - Surrey • Esse Landscapes for Beaconhurst Domestic Garden Construction - Over £250K – Sponsored by Europlants UK • Graduate Gardeners for Private Garden, Cheltenham • Butler Landscapes for Farm House Gardens • Bowles & Wyer for Contemporary Garden in Kensington • Wright Landscapes for Hill Top Lane

Soft Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Under £500K – Sponsored by H Sivyer Transport • Tony Benger Landscaping for Saxon Brook, Phase 1

Soft landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Over £500K – Sponsored by Landscape Institute • Gavin Jones for Teeside Park Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) - Under £500K – Sponsored by SAiGE Longlife Decking • NAO Landscapes for The Metro Building

Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) - Over £500K • idverde for Whitfield Gardens • idverde for South Thamesmead Public Realm • Elite Landscapes for White City Living, Phase 1 • Gavin Jones for The Glebe • Turney Landscapes for UCLH Phase 4 Proton Beam Therapy • Maylim for Paradise Birmingham Chamberlain Square

Community and Schools Development – Sponsored by MCM • idverde for Gloucester Gate Playground • Wright Landscapes for RHS Community & Learning Garden • Ground Control for Splashlands, Stanborough Hall, Welwyn Garden City Regeneration Scheme Under £500K • Carrier Landscapes for Kelham Hall, Nesfield Parterre De Broderie • P1 Solutions for Palace of Holyrood House - Physic Garden Regeneration Scheme - Over £500K – Sponsored by Everris T/A ICL Specialty Fertilizers • P. Casey (Land Reclamation) for Worsley Delph • Blakedown Landscapes (SE) for Camberwell Old Cemetery

Grounds Maintenance (to include Green Roof Maintenance) - Free Public Access – Sponsored by Reesink UK • Tony Benger Landscaping for Gunwharf Quays • Tony Benger Landscaping for Clarks Village

Grounds Maintenance (to include Green Roof Maintenance) Limited Public Access – Sponsored by The Toro Company T/A Hayter • Nurture Landscapes for Milton Park • Nurture Landscapes for Chineham Park • Ground Control for Historic Royal Palaces - Tower of London

• John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) for Business Park, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire

Grounds Maintenance (to include Green Roof Maintenance) – Private • The CGM Group (East Anglia) for Eddington Development, Cambridge • Bowles & Wyer for Large Garden in Wimbledon Accredited Contractor & Accredited Designer Joint Submission – Sponsored by Easigrass • Adam White MBALI & Gerald Davies for Gosford Forest Nature Play Trail • John Wyer MBALI & Bowles & Wyer for Contemporary Garden in Kensington Interior Landscape – Installation Only • Nurture Landscapes for Ecclesiastical Insurance • The Plantman for Botanica Ditton Park

Interior Landscape – Maintenance • Nurture Landscapes for The UK Trade Desk Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations - Residential Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping - Under £250K – Sponsored by Bourne Amenity • Bluestone Landscapes for Lincoln Square

Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations - Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping - Under £500K – Sponsored by Vestre • Goddards (Landscape Contractors) for Canada Gardens, Wembley Park (E03)

Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations - Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping Over £500K – Sponsored by Greentree Topsoil • NAO Landscapes for South Quay Plaza, Level 56 • Frosts Landscape Construction for Sixty London Wall • Elite Landscapes for Wembley E05 • Geo Green Solutions for Leeds Skelton Lake Motorway Services, Living Green Roof Living Wall Installation (Exterior Only) • YGS Landscapes for Sherford Living Wall Nature Conservation & Biodiversity Enhancement – Sponsored by Ground Control • idverde for Wildlife Ways • Nurture Landscapes for Howbery Park

Design Excellence - Overall Scheme Under £50K • Andy Kirman MBALI for Contemporary Courtyard Garden Design Excellence - Overall Scheme Between £50K - £100K • Rosemary Coldstream MBALI for Buddha’s Garden

Design Excellence - Overall Scheme Over £100K – Sponsored by Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation • Gavin McWilliam MBALI for West London Garden • Adam White MBALI for Gosford Forest Nature Play Trail

International - International Members Only – Sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen • Beijing Beilin Landscape Architecture Institute Co. for Flexible space in downtown-Beijing West Chang’an Avenue Art Park • Shanghai WEiMEi Landscape Design Engineering Co. for Everlasting Sunshine - Modern Translation of Regional Sun Worship and Oriental Traditional Courtyard • Desert Landscape Co. for Museum of The Future • DDON Planning & Design Inc. for The Jinan Engraving Yard • China Construction Engineering Design Group Corporation for Ecological Rehabilitation Project of Mt Jiulong Mine, Wu’an • DDON Planning & Design Inc. for Nanchang Jinmao Residential Show Flats • Beijing Beilin Landscape Architecture Institute Co. for TongHaiQiao Railway Park in Xining, China • Chongqing LISM Landscape Planning and Design Co. for The Timeless Life In The Classical Garden • Beijing Sunshine Landscape Co. for Tide Mansion Supplier Exceptional Service – Sponsored by idverde • Everris T/A ICL Specialty Fertilizers Employer Excellence Turnover Under £2.5M • Garden Club London

Employer Excellence - Turnover Over £2.5M – Sponsored by Fresh Horticultural Careers • Ground Control

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LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

BUSINESS SUPPORT

SUPPORTING AMENITY CONTRACTORS WITH THE ‘GLYPHOSATE HUB’ By Bayer

ven though glyphosate is one of the most widely used and effective products available in the amenity sector, for many years, the use of glyphosate has been questioned. In response to the concerns surrounding glyphosate, Bayer Environmental Science set about changing the narrative by launching the Glyphosate Hub, a first of its kind platform designed to provide accurate information on the safety of glyphosate.

Freddie Bendall-Brown, digital marketing specialist at Bayer, explains that the development of the resource was an important step for the amenity sector, particularly as so many contractors have highlighted the need for this kind of tool.

“The hub showcases the benefits of glyphosate and how it can control a broad spectrum of weeds safely.”

“All the information that’s available on the platform is backed by years of research and scientific study, and is easily accessible on one website” he explains.

“The hub is tailored for the amenity sector by people who work in and understand the sector, as much of the information previously available on glyphosate was focused on agriculture.

“The hub also provides glyphosate specific information on UK and EU regulations, best practice guidance and independent research and resources from organisations such as CRD, the glyphosate renewal group and DEFRA,” he adds. “We’ve already seen over 1000 visits to the hub in the few months since its launch which shows just how needed this resource is for the sector.”

Separating fact from fiction Al Mason, development director at Languard has worked in the amenity

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

industry for over 30 years with specialist knowledge on invasive weeds. He explains the launch of the glyphosate is well overdue, particularly as there has been so much media attention on glyphosate in recent years.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there about glyphosate and its effect on public health and the environment which just isn’t true. “It can be incredibly frustrating for amenity contractors to have to deal with concerns from the public stemming from this misinformation when they’re out spraying. Often these conversations can be very complex and challenging for contractors as they are faced with a lot of criticism and scepticism. “But with the glyphosate hub, contractors are able to answer these difficult questions with up-to-date information, which will provide a lot of relief to contractors.”

Mr Mason explains the Glyphosate Hub is also beneficial as it allows people to do their own research on the topic rather than putting the onus

on contractors to push out the truth themselves.

“It’s incredibly exciting that there is a platform out there that will tell a different and accurate side to the glyphosate story,” he says. Mr Mason explains glyphosate has been around for 40 years and its one of the safest options for weed control out there.

“At Languard, we mostly use glyphosate for spraying because of this very reason and its reliability, so now with the help of the glyphosate hub we can continue to use the product and feel reassured that we can address any issues that come from the public.”

Owen Baker, is the technical officer at the British Association of Landscape Industries and tells a similar story, saying that the Glyphosate Hub could be the source of support contractors were once missing. “Our Association works with a wide variety of members in the amenity industry who use glyphosate regularly so we’re very familiar with the

prominence of this product within the sector,” he explains.

“Our members use a significant amount of glyphosate for weed control as it’s the most reliable active on the market but for many years we’ve been hearing from the members how there is a lot of reluctance and concerns surrounding glyphosate from stakeholders and members of the public which is affecting their work. “Even though contractors are supportive of the product, we often get asked by our members ‘what do I say to a member of the public when they question glyphosate use’ as they haven’t previously had access to a bank of information on glyphosate.

information available on the hub is all backed by scientific research, which a lot of stakeholders and decision makers respond to.”

Mr Bendall-Brown concludes “The concerns surrounding glyphosate aren’t going to go away overnight but with the help of the glyphosate hub, the facts can be separated from fiction and contractors can continue their essential work with the tools to address any negativity.”

For more information visit: environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk/ turf-management/glyphosate-hub

“When put in these situations contractors need support in knowing what to say and they need accurate information to do this.

“Having a resource like the Glyphosate Hub is great as members are able to share factual information about glyphosate when asked these challenging questions. Importantly, this

Owen Baker Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

TECHNICAL

QUALITY ASSURANCE – meet the team helping to uphold the highest standards on the agenda

ne of the many reasons why clients choose an Association Accredited Contractor is the fact that we take considerable steps to ensure that our members consistently and systematically deliver what clients can reasonably expect, in-fact that is our definition of quality. Before being granted British Association of Landscape Industries Accredited status all members are assessed against our published Quality Standard to ensure that they stringently meet all the required criteria. To guarantee continued quality, the stakes were raised even higher in 2014 with the introduction of Quality Standard Reviews (QSR); a process that replicates the initial vetting process.

The majority of Accredited Contractors have received a QSR, but just as we made plans to carry out further visits we were forced to suspend trips to members because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are delighted to say that we have recently recommenced our

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

QSR programme and have planned to visit most of the outstanding members in the coming months.

With over 500 Accredited Contractors to assess, spread throughout the United Kingdom, we need a dedicated team of Vetting Officers to deliver the important task. I am delighted to say that I am privileged to be part of such a team. The Vetting Team has evolved and grown significantly over the past few years to meet the QSR challenge, and it now boasts a wealth of industry expertise. Therefore, we thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to the team as it currently stands.

The team is currently nine strong and our Vetting Officers are all engaged on freelance basis and only called upon when needed to ensure effective spend of Association budget. As you can appreciate, the density of our membership varies considerably across the country and as a result some vetting officers find themselves busier than others, but we now have very good geographical coverage. (continued on page 34)

By Richard Gardiner Technical Officer (Quality Assurance)

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TECHNICAL

QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM (cont. from page 32)

young people. Whilst Bill covers the whole of Scotland, you can appreciate that the core of our members are centred around the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, for which he is ideally placed.

6 Bob Field – Having only recently stood down from the Board, Bob has championed the smaller, domestically focussed contractors for many years. Having run his own domestic contracting business, he has great insight into the challenges faced by businesses of this type. Bob is based in Truro, Cornwall and is a valuable resource to the region.

7 2 3

1 6

MEET THE TEAM

1 Richard Gardiner - Having been born into a landscaping business, to say I have a lifetime of industry experience would not be overstating it. Whilst running the family business with my sister I also held a variety of voluntary posts within the Association, at both regional and national level, serving as Chairman in 2009-10. Whilst I am now Somerset based, I still cover my old stomping ground in the South Thames region, working my Association requirements around my consultancy business.

2 Stuart Phillips – Northampton based; Stuart’s area straddles the M1 but also spreads a long way west to the Welsh borders. Stuart brings a wealth of industry experience, in particular from the education side, and works his Association commitments around his role as an End Point Assessor. 3 David Mulholland – Based just outside Oxford, David covers most of the North Thames region but can also find himself in the Cotswolds too. The bulk of David’s experience 34

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

was as a client, overseeing the landscape works at London’s Heathrow airport. When leaving Heathrow, David secured positions with contracting companies before starting his landscape consultancy, which he now runs in parallel.

4 Alex Clayton – Covering our

Yorkshire and North East region, Alex has not long retired from his management role with Accredited Contractor Brambledown Landscape Services. Alex is a great asset to the team and not only does he know the industry inside out, he also knows many of the members he visits due to having been so active within his contracting days.

5 Bill Peebles – I like to call Bill “Mr Scotland”, whenever I travel to Scotland, no matter who I end up talking to, Bill’s name invariably crops up in conversation. Whether it be from his many years contracting from his base just outside Glasgow, his numerous voluntary roles through which he is recognised as a true industry champion, or indeed his tireless work supporting and inspiring

7 Chris Murphy – The newest member of the team, Chris is West Midlands born and bred and based in Burton-on-Trent. Chris is ideally placed to cover the M6 corridor, Birmingham and into Wales too. Chris has an ideal background for the role of Vetting Officer, having been a contractor, a lecturer and now, like Stuart fits his Association demands around his work as an End Point Assessor.

8 Des Drake – The third and last of our End Point Assessors, Des has had a wonderfully varied career in the industry and although new to his Vetting Officer role, has taken to it like a duck to water. Based in North Norfolk, Des covers the majority of the East Anglia region and also dips down to the eastern parts of North Thames too. 9 Gordon Darlington – A passionate industry advocate, Gordon has been vetting for the Association for over a decade since retiring from his role in a contracting business. Based in Macclesfield, Gordon is known to many of the members in the North West, having been a very active member during his contracting career. Sadly, Gordon is hanging up his clipboard next year, but many of you will cross his path as he completes his QSR commitments over the remaining months of his tenure.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the vetting team for their passion, flexibility, and commitment to the Association and advise members to tap into their pool of knowledge when you get the opportunity. It is our objective, as a team, to make the QSR process, as valuable to your business, as it is to the Association.

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TECHNICAL

Celebrating an incredible SUMMER OF SPORT

espite the disruption caused by the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, over the past few months, we have witnessed a bumper celebration of sport. Rescheduled events were run alongside 2021 planned fixtures, providing an exhilarating summer of sporting action.

From Wimbledon, to the rearranged Tokyo Olympics, the Lions Tour, to the reorganised Euro’s 2020, many of us have been gripped to the edge of our seats. And what else do these events have in common? They have all been Andy Murray serving on Centre Court on day one of The 2021 Championships

Photo: AELTC/Bob Martin

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

By Olivia McCullough Marketing & Communications Manager

designed, built, and maintained to the highest possible standards befitting to the world stage.

Landscape News spoke to Association members to find out what it takes to keep venues in tip top condition and what challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has added to their quest for perfection.

Game, set, and a perfect match

Maintaining the 42 acres of grounds at the world-famous All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), better known to many as Wimbledon, is certainly no mean feat. Head of Courts and Horticulture, Neil Stubley, leads a permanent team of 15 ground staff which increases to 28 during The Championships. This ensures optimum standards of the 18 Championships and 20 practice grass courts. Following independent expert research from The Sports Turf Research Institute in Yorkshire, UK, the courts have been sown with 100 per cent Perennial Ryegrass since 2001 (previously 70 per cent rye/30 per cent Creeping Red Fescue) to improve durability and strengthen the sward to better withstand the increasing wear of the modern game. The grass is cut, precisely, daily during the Championships to a

height of 8mm and it takes the team around 10 months and nine tonnes of grass seed each year to prepare a Championships’ standard court before it can be played on.

Mark Pyrah, from Accredited Supplier ICL, added; “Our sports turf portfolio of products have played an integral part in helping maintain both the worldfamous Wimbledon courts along with providing nutritional solutions to feed the abundance of nursery stock and bedding plants used at the venue throughout the year. ICL have also assisted in the development of a feeding regime for the recently installed living wall on number one court. We have had a close working relationship with Wimbledon and the AELTC for many years and are very proud that it is ICL technical support along with our product portfolio that remains the choice of Champions.”

Goddards and Wembley – the home of football

The England team may not have seized the ultimate EURO glory in the 2020 Final, but their performances throughout the competition both united and excited crowds watching at home and at Wembley. With fans returning to the iconic home of English Football as the lockdown eased, the spotlight may have been on the team and the results, but at the very forefront of the coverage and build-up

was imagery of the stadium and its approach. TV coverage was superb and afforded us spectacular aerial views of the stadium and walkway as fans arrived. But it was not only the iconic arch that drew the eye, but the Avenue of Champions – Wembley Way – flanked on either side by 70 uniformly perfect extra heavy standard tree pairs of 40-50cm and 60-80cm girth.

Creating The Avenue of Champions

Visitors to national and international sporting and entertainment events are guided along the most famous of thoroughfares by pairs of ‘champion’ tree species. The design, a 2017 public realm competition-winning submission, was translated into the stunning esplanade by Association members and Accredited Contractors Goddards. With a project team headed by Goddards (Landscape Contractors) Managing Director Peter Bassett, the avenue was completed in three phases. The final planting continued throughout 2020, completing in June 2021.

Inspired by a Kew Gardens masterplan theme, the avenue is formed of alternating pairs of ‘champion’ species from around the temperate world. Step out from the underground station through walnuts and sweet gums from the Americas; leap across the Atlantic into field maples and limes and forwards into Europe through UK native varieties; head down into Southern Europe through Turkish hazels, oaks and Caucasian wingnuts; at the foot of the Olympic Steps to be greeted by Asian varieties like Zelkova and Katsura. The visual effect of the changing foliage of these throughout the seasons is breath-taking, with gingery aromas, crown shape, foliage and bark contrasts along the way.

Goddards managed the transport, scheduling and delivery of the trees in each phase impeccably, negotiating tight timeframes, tight site regulations and tight access restrictions. Trees in the later phases were held at the company’s own nursery to ensure continuity of supply throughout Brexit and COVID-19 restrictions. Working with engineers, consultants and contractors, the landscape team applied the highest level of landscaping excellence to pull off the millimetrealigned placement, securing and planting of each 4 tonne tree into its 30 cubic metre pit using an 80 tonne mobile crane.

The landscape team contended with daily, weekly and pandemic-sized interruptions with a continuous flow of events, visitors and other contractors accessing the amenities at the shortest notice.

Right down to the finishing touches on each cast-iron tree grille marked with Latin name plate and longitude source, the avenue is a magnificent example of tree planting expertise. The trees signpost the best pedestrian route from Wembley Station to the Stadium, controlling crowds and partnering with lighting and signage to create a stunning overall visual effect from every viewpoint and a global longitude-by-longitude journey across the arboricultural landscape.

Tree selection and project delivery

The intricacies of tree selection and tagging were conducted by a teamwide collaboration with Goddards, choosing and tagging the mirrored pairs from three specialist tree nurseries across Europe. Airpotted at least a year prior to planting, this ensured maximum visual impact, minimal root shock and impressive girth and canopy growth in their early years.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

TECHNICAL

It takes a team of 15 to maintain the iconic Royal St. George’s course

Paul Larsen, Royal St. George’s Head Greenkeeper

Celebrating an incredible SUMMER OF SPORT (cont) Tee-ing off on the perfect course

Maintaining the greens at golf courses is a challenge for even the most experienced greenkeepers and that’s before you add in the extra hurdles of a global pandemic and the impact of climate change. Paul Larsen, Head Greenkeeper at Royal St. George’s, home to The Open Championship gave Landscape News a fascinating insight into how he and his team of 15 maintain the iconic sporting venue, and how they have adapted in the face of COVID-19 related obstacles in managing the Site of Special Scientific Interest in keeping with its natural surroundings.

Over his ten years at Royal St. George’s one of the greatest challenges for Paul and his team has been managing the impact of climate change. “Since 2018 we have experienced particularly extreme changes in the weather conditions which has added a layer of complexity to our roles. We have witnessed extremely hot and dry summers coupled with exceptionally wet winters. Marrying the two together comes with its challenges as we continuously strive to uphold the very highest standards for our members and the public. Ultimately, the course has to consistently meet the quality expectations all year round despite the problems that we can encounter due to the weather” explained Paul.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

The team have counteracted some of these challenges whilst also considering how to positively impact the natural surroundings and habitats. A reservoir was built at the Kent course in the winter of 2018, to help maintain the water system and to store water. Sand scrapes and dune slacks have been maximised to not only hold water, but to create extremely valuable habitats for mining bees, digger wasps and rare beetles. Paul and his team have worked tirelessly to manage the Site of Special Scientific Interest, assessed to be favourable by Natural England, by focusing on maintaining amenity areas and leaving the rest in sync with its natural surroundings and growing grasses native to the area and bringing in wildflowers.

And how did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the team?

During the first UK lockdown Paul’s team was reduced to a skeleton team of five to carry out essential maintenance work and he was thrilled to welcome the team back ahead of a golf boom. Paul’s work with a number of Association Accredited Suppliers including Toro, ICL, and Barenbrug has been a constant and played a key part in improving quality on course.

Barenbrug UK, has worked closely with Paul for a number of years and their grass seed strategy has seen huge benefits on the course. Yvonne Hargreaves, Brand Marketing Manager,

Barenbrug commented: “Barenbrug is proud to have a long-standing relationship with Paul and his team at Royal St George’s. We have increased the Fescue grass population on the course, specifically over the last couple of years to grow the levels of Hard Fescue on the fairways, to raise drought tolerance following the summer of 2018. The fantastic condition of the course during The Open is testament to the hard work of Paul and his team.”

Andrew Pledger the local Areas Sales Manager at Accredited Supplier ICL has worked closely with Paul since joining the team in October 2018, having previously been a Head Greenkeeper himself for fifteen years. Andrew also volunteered his greenkeeping services during the recent Open Championship at Royal St. George’s and continues to provide research-based product solutions to Paul and other East Anglia based golf courses on behalf of the organisation. From football to tennis to golf, it is clear the passion attached to sport reaches much further than the game itself. Preparing and maintaining these world-famous grounds is just as much a labour of love and display of expertise and teamwork from the hard-working teams behind these iconic venues. icl-sf.co.uk

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TECHNICAL

HY-TEX LAUNCH NEW FULLY BIODEGRADABLE TREE-GUARD TO CELEBRATE 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

ontinuing their 30-year anniversary celebrations in 2021, Accredited Supplier Hy-Tex (are proud to announce the official launch of a new fully biodegradable product - EcoHaven™ Tree Guards – available this Autumn.

The Eco-Haven™ range is an entirely new range of biodegradable and recyclable, and highly durable tree guards, shrub shelters and vine guards. The tree guard product offers the highest environmental credentials, providing a sustainable and responsibly sourced solution with a significantly lower carbon footprint than other tree protection products currently available on the market.

Hy-Tex’s director, David Poole, commented: “The whole journey from conception to finished product is so important to Hy-Tex, whilst also ensuring the sustainability of the entire process is an environmentally friendly practice. Throughout the development of these new products,

we’ve made it our mission to do our utmost to apply our wealth of knowledge and experience at all times and ultimately hope our customers are satisfied with the results.”

For more information on Hy-Tex (UK) Ltd visit hy-tex.co.uk

Eco-Haven™ has been unveiled following the success of Hy-Tex’s Ecotex 100 Tree Mats, launched back in 2020. Ecotex 100 Tree Mats are fully compostable and completely biodegradable tree mat spats that complement Eco-Haven™ and are supplied in an innovative tear-off roll format, designed for smooth handling and installation.

LANDSCAPE exhibition coming to Birmingham

andscape, dubbed as the UK’s premier landscaping exhibition will take place on 3 and 4 November 2021, at the NEC in Birmingham. LANDSCAPE is dedicated to bringing the industry together by introducing its visitors to the latest products, services and techniques necessary to design, build and maintain prestigious landscaping

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

projects all over the world. The exhibition will welcome over 200 exhibitors and entry to the event is free.

As the first in-person industry show back, LANDSCAPE offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect at its new, larger venue. To register to attend for free, visit the registration page at landscapeshow.co.uk/register

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TECHNICAL

The importance of front gardens in the battle against flooding in urban areas By Owen Baker Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

ecent storms in the UK have highlighted the vulnerability of many areas to high levels of rain. Whilst research suggests climate change will result in hotter, drier summers in the UK, it has also warned the rain which punctuates this heat is likely to fall in heavier bursts. The Association’s Technical Officer, Owen Baker, explores the issue more closely and how our green spaces and play a part in mitigating flooding in urban areas. In addition to the challenge of adapting to climate change, increased development of greenfield land has the potential to increase the rate of surface water runoff. Surface water runoff is defined as the flow of water on the ground surface when excess rainwater falls and can no longer infiltrate the soil. This can occur naturally when the soil is saturated but, as commonly found where development has occurred, when impervious surfaces such as traditional pavements and driveways have been installed. To prevent flooding, it is necessary to reduce surface water runoff rates and match – as closely as possible – that of predevelopment rates. Without this

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

management, flooding is likely to occur in any area, but particularly in urban areas where there is a higher concentration of development and surface water runoff is more likely.

Together with amenity planting and greenspaces, gardens attached to domestic homes in urban areas have the potential to play a key role in reducing the severity of flooding during storm events by reducing the speed and volume of water flowing directly into public drainage systems and watercourses. Although individually small, research suggests domestic gardens contribute a significant proportion of land in towns and cities; up to 36% of the total urban area and up to 63% of urban green space.

Whilst generally smaller than the rear garden, the front garden of urban properties can also play a key role in reducing runoff. The reality, however, is that the front gardens of many houses in urban areas are paved over for use as a driveway without any mitigation. Research over a 20-year study period (1991 – 2011) suggests impermeable surfaces in domestic front gardens has increased by 22%.

A 2016 study by Heriot Watt University revealed a typical front garden with no impermeable paving was found to produce no runoff in response to both 1 in 5-year and 1 in 50-year storm events. The addition of a small area of impermeable surface resulted in runoff.

The same research paper suggested a typical front garden in London is more likely to generate higher runoff volumes than cities in other regions due to the higher rainfall intensities applicable to the south-east. For example, the current 1 in 5-year event in London is equivalent, in terms of runoff volume, to a 1 in 50-year event in Edinburgh. Predictably, forecasted increases in rainfall intensity will have the effect of increasing runoff from front gardens throughout the UK, which means the contribution of paved front gardens to the overall surface runoff volume will also increase.

Reducing the surface area of impermeable surfaces in front gardens in urban areas is not straightforward, given the trend for car ownership and desire to park on a driveway. Whilst planning regulations have been

changed to reduce further loss of permeable surfaces and encourage consideration of drainage, there is evidence these are not enforced, and there is no legislation to target the gardens that have already been covered with an impermeable surface. Educating homeowners about the important role front gardens can play in the urban landscape in terms of rainwater management and providing them with advice on how to minimise the impact of any changes they make is likely to present the most reliable solution at present.

Financial incentives may also play a role in encouraging homeowners to consider how they manage rainwater; aside from the likely effect of urban flooding on insurance premiums and property prices, the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) now requires domestic water companies to reduce their sewerage charge to property owners (referred to as a surface water drainage rebate) where no surface water from a property enters a sewer. Some European Union countries have adopted policies where homeowners are charged for the

removal of rainwater from their property, encouraging more careful management of water.

Correctly specified and installed drainage systems can ensure development occurs at any scale without increasing the risk of flooding. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) refers to surface water management that considers a range of factors including water quantity, quality, biodiversity, and amenity. Techniques can be applied to individual driveways so that homeowners can have a driveway in place of their front garden without significantly increasing surface runoff from their property. The range of products available from Association Accredited Suppliers to domestic and commercial customers has increased significantly over recent years, meaning non-permeable paving products can be used in conjunction with rainwater harvesting systems and infiltration tanks to achieve greater infiltration of rainwater.

Of course, the success of sustainable drainage systems relies on designers advising clients of the benefits and

contractors installing them correctly. When constructed correctly, they offer the benefits of traditional hard surfaces without the risk of increased surface water runoff. Maintenance requirements are minimal which means, at the very least, the client will contribute to combating flooding in their local area and – depending on the system chosen – may also benefit from a sustainable source of water for use in the garden. Over the coming months, the Association will work with Accredited Supplier, Designer and Contractor members to run a series of webinar presentations to outline how to design, specify and install sustainable drainage systems.

Owen Baker Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

MEMBER BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT

Expert digital marketing support and advice as part of your membership

aving a strong marketing and digital strategy in place is vital to increasing awareness, expanding your market share, and gaining new customers. We are delighted to be able to offer our Association members access to one of the UK’s leading digital marketing agencies Adtrak, who can provide expert guidance to ensure your business is on the right track for 2022 and beyond? Adtrak are a full-service agency who provide a range of online services; from web design and

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

By Jo Todd Senior Membership Officer branding to SEO marketing and Pay-Per-Click - all with the goal of generating more leads for your business. Association members who have already worked with Adtrak have praised their high levels of customer service and ability to get results.

Adtrak are specialists in the landscaping and outdoor services sectors, with a proven track record of helping grow the businesses of Association members across the UK. A number of members have been pleased with their free website and marketing audit, designed to highlight where their performance can improve.

The audit includes:

• Web design review

• SEO/Google performance review • Website security checks • Mobile-friendliness test

• Website page speed score

• Website build and structure review. Contact Adtrak at: hello@adtrak.co.uk or visit adtrak.co.uk to find out more.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S AWARD WINNERS TICKETS ON SALE NOW Don’t miss out – visit baliawards.co.uk to book your place Friday 3rd December 2021 11am – 4.30pm JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London Headline Sponsor

Sponsors CO M P O SI T E D ECK I N G , FEN CI N G & CL A D D I N G

ecoscapeuk.co.uk | 0845 9011 988

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For general enquiries, contact Emily Feeney via telephone at +44(0)24 7518 5613 or via email at emily.feeney@bali.org.uk baliawards.co.uk |

BALI_Awards |

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TRAINING

Will today’s industry skills be the same tomorrow?

here is no doubt that everyone recognises the importance of future proofing their business. Make plans today and strategise to make sure you have a thriving business going forward. Part of this will be making sure that you, and your employees, have the right skills going into the future. Upskilling will also support progression of employees into different positions, strengthening your company overall. The industry recently came under the microscope when a Horticulture Sector Skills Survey was carried out. A large part of the survey looked at the skills gaps that the industry currently faces as well as identifying the future skills that may be required, in order to aid with prioritising training.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

A safe company is a healthy company

Health and Safety was unanimously sited as one of the top two most important skills required, both now and in the future. If businesses are to survive, function and hold a good reputation with clients and employees they must operate safely with its workforce adhering to current Health and Safety standards and practice. Therefore, if employees do not already hold them, they should consider gaining a landscape specific health and safety certification like ROLO to demonstrate competence in working safely. The certification can be gained at Operative, Supervisor or Managerial levels – read more on page 8. If this is needed for site access, then an application can be made for the appropriate LISS/CSCS card.

Let the tool do the work

In every industry, the advancement of technology and machinery is paramount to its survival and our sector is no different. Machinery and tools have been developed to help the landscaper in their daily tasks, from cutting grass to moving and shaping the ground on a new project. Landscapers can lose valuable time when machinery is damaged, breaks down or is used incorrectly. Therefore, the value of a qualified machine operator is in high demand, along with people that know how to use equipment correctly, safely and to its full capability, and knowing how to check it and make simple repairs. This was seen to only get more important going forward, with the need for industry machinery tickets potentially leading the way in supporting the workforce.

Written by Stephen Ensell Education Officer (GoLandscape)

Change the future

The environment and climate change are very much at the forefront of everyone’s mind, and this certainly came out highly in the survey. Every industry is working hard to tell you how environmentally safe they and their products are. As an industry, we lead the way in what we do, creating and nurturing green spaces, all of which have a direct impact on the environment and help reverse climate change. Add to this the impact green spaces have on our mental health; we can see landscaping is making real and tangible differences to our world and its people. But we can’t stop here, as an industry we need to be working in a sustainable way, in how we run our businesses, using environmentally, ethically sourced, and manufactured materials. Whilst clients may still consider cost to be a key factor there is a greater desire to consider the ‘greener’ options available to them.

It’s all in the design

This is where most projects start, with a design. For the project to be a success, a lot of thought will go into its planning and design, hence design was highlighted as a desirable skill moving forward. At the heart of any landscape project is the need to solve a problem and improve a space and therefore the experience of the end user. A design helps the client visualise the end result and it also means that all parties involved in the project should know what’s happening, therefore the requirement for this skill will continue to grow.

Hard and soft landscaping

This is the nuts and bolts of most landscape businesses’, the skills that focus on hard landscaping and soft landscaping. It is also where the broadest range of skills sit, and an area where we never stop learning or developing these skills. In terms

of education and training, we have steadily seen a decline in educators providing this and relevant training, especially in hard landscaping. Our Association is in the process of tackling this directly by developing much needed technical training that covers these skills, based on industry fundamental standards, appropriate to the varying levels needed. The aim is to assist employers and employees develop essential skills and knowledge that will help fill skills gaps in this area and hopefully future proof your business. If you found this article interesting and would like to read similar articles online visit golandscape.co.uk

GO Landscape building real careers

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

EVENTS

A look at what’s to come

Confirmed dates for industry shows and events for 2021. Correct at time of print. For the most up-to-date listings visit bali.org.uk/events 21st - 26th September 29th September 12th October 3rd - 4th November 3rd - 4th November 9th November

16th - 17th November 2nd December 3rd December

14th December

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 8am-8pm Tuesday-Saturday/8am-5:30pm Sunday rhs.org.uk BALI Yorkshire & North East present: Choose It. Move It. Plant it. bali.org.uk/events

National Digital Connect: Network and chat with BALI members bali.org.uk/events

SALTEX 2021 75th Anniversary gmasaltex.co.uk The Landscape Show landscapeshow.co.uk National Digital Connect: Network and chat with BALI members bali.org.uk/events

FutureScape Expo 2021 futurescapeevent.com

Landscaping – Access All Areas bali.org.uk/events 45th BALI National Landscape Awards 2021 baliawards.co.uk National Digital Connect: Network and chat with BALI members bali.org.uk/events

Time to celebrate 75 years of SALTEX

hose associated with landscape design and management will have the opportunity to see a wide range of innovative new products and services from prominent suppliers when SALTEX opens its doors at the NEC, Birmingham on 3 and 4 November. SALTEX will be taking place for the 75th time this year and the show is set to be the most vibrant and celebrated event in its long history.

FutureScape face-to-face event returns at new ExCeL London venue

egistration is now live for eager landscape teams, individuals and Association members keen to meet face-to-face at the long-awaited FutureScape 16 and 17 November. First-timing at the leading exhibition venue in London’s Docklands and now spanning two days, the bigger, bolder, brighter show comes of age this year with organisers Eljays44 celebrating the company and Pro Landscaper brand’s 10th anniversary.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

With over 185 exhibitors, the show will see over 5000 professionals from the external environment, interior landscape, build, design, maintenance, supply, grower and specifier marketplace join together. The landscaping reunion features its industry-famous seminar programme, addressing hard-hitting topics with participants representing landscape, design and supply. For further information, news and to register, visit futurescapeevent.com

The show floor will be bursting with everything a visitor needs to increase their efficiency and improve operations and will contain a plethora of exhibitors representing the likes of turf maintenance machinery, fertilisers, wetting agents, seeds, turf, aggregates and treatments, weed control, facilities management services, fencing and landscaping. As well as a wide range of innovative products on display within the three large halls, visitors to SALTEX will have the chance to see an ‘electrifying’ showcase of products in a dedicated area on the show floor called the Eco Village. Featuring a programme of daily demonstrations in cutting-edge sustainable technology – the Eco Village allows visitors a unique opportunity to witness a multitude of products in action. For more information visit gmasaltex.co.uk

Guaranteed to master any mowing task.

F Series: The efficiency machine If you are looking for an out-front mower that performs mowing tasks quickly and efficiently, Kubota’s F-series is the perfect choice. Enhanced performance, as well as high-quality mowing and mulching, results in an excellent power-to-cost ratio. ■ Choice of 25 or 39hp powerful and economic 4-cylinder Stage V diesel engines that are fuel efficient with low noise and emissions. ■ Extremely efficient dual-range HST transmission, with on-demand 4WD and hydraulic power steering for increased productivity.

Visit our website for more details. www.kubota.co.uk

BALI_AUTUMN.FSeries_190x277.indd 1

■ Increased cutting performance with an updated 60" and 72" mower deck design. A powerful 260KG lift capacity combined with 2545 rpm PTO enables a wide range of equipment applications. ■ Work comfortably and safely with an easy-to-access, ergonomic operator platform with conveniently placed controls, and with foldable ROPs and LED lights for enhanced visibility.

Scan the QR code to find out more on the F Series.

13/08/2021 09:42

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Blue Podium at Wimbledon Grounds, Plough Lane, London

Your Green Roof System Supplier • The UK‘s most comprehensive product range for podium decks and green roofs • Tested system build-ups with ETA certification (European Technical Assessment) • Landmark projects all over the globe • Technical support you can rely on • 40 years of expertise • Nationwide, fast deliveries • UK stock

ZinCo Green Roof Systems Ltd. . office@zinco-greenroof.co.uk . T: 01993 229700 . www.zinco-greenroof.co.uk

Landscape News Autumn 2021

Articles inside

Technical

Training

Member News

Events

Interview

Member Benefit Spotlight

BALI News

Chief Executive’s Report