National Chair’s Welcome

Dear Members

The winners of the 2023 National Landscape Awards have been announced! Congratulations to all the winners, whose incredibly hard work has paid off. I know it will mean an epic afternoon of nerves and celebration at the Awards ceremony in December. The team at Landscape House work incredibly hard to make it a memorable event each year and they always deliver.

This Autumn issue seems particularly full. With lots of in-depth articles that hopefully support what you, the membership, are interested in and will find relevant.

In BALI News you will see that Vice Chair, Adrian Wickham, led a Diversity day at RHS Wisley, working with the RHS to ensure we all deliver on this important agenda. A simple case of collaboration between two Associations, strengthening ties and ensuring more voices are heard. I want to thank the RHS and Mo Kebbay, for hosting this day at such an iconic garden and ensuring we all work together better and to help more people see that landscaping is a wonderful industry. One of the key hosts at the Wisley event was Manoj Malde, one of our Equity Ambassadors, who I met up with at Chelsea back in May to discuss his vibrant contribution to the RHS’ landmark show.

The BALI National AGM has just taken place - my first as Chair of the Association. It was held whilst GroundFest filled the green spaces at Stoneleigh Park. The AGM really is there for you, the membership. It was an opportunity to hear from Wayne Grills as to what the Association has achieved and what it hopes to undertake in the coming 12 months and for you to ask any questions of the Board or team at Landscape House. It is so good to meet more members each year.

I return to that theme of collaboration. It’s always at the heart of what we do. Get involved if you can on a regional level. There are so many wonderful events to take part in and sometimes it’s just meeting up that makes the magic happen. In July Paul Lynch (Elmtree Garden Contractors and South West Chair) and I met up with a fabulous bunch from the South West region. There were only seven of us at a pub in Bath, but it’s amazing how many collaborations start to happen and the tips you glean when you meet face to face - we even had a couple of TV stars! Please get involved and meet up with some of your colleagues in your area. Check out the upcoming regional events via the website at bali.org.uk/events

As I close, I will now start to look forward to the National Landscape Awards in December but before then, I think we are all due a little late autumn sun and warmth.

Best Wishes,

Tessa Johnstone

New members (8 June - 9 September 2023)

Accredited Contractor

East Anglia

• George Thompson (Great Oakley)

Midlands

• Superior Showhomes Services

T/A Sitescapes

Northern Ireland

• Wallace Contracts NI

North Thames

• Bella Landscape Construction

• PD Enterprise Landscapes

• Pehrsson Scott

North West

• Bluma

• Walker Landscape and Design

Scotland

• NWL Contracts T/A Neil Walker Landscaping and Driveways

South West

• AG Miles

T/A Purn Landscapes

Accredited Supplier

East Anglia

• Bespoke Landscaping Co

T/A Steel Landscaping Co

• Sovereign Turf

Midlands

• Metal Wizards

North Thames

• Stoneworld Oxfordshire

North West

• NTB Survey

South Thames

• GreenBlue Urban

DSO

Yorkshire & North East

• The University of Sheffield

Training Provider BALI & ROLO

Midlands

• Train To Safety

International

• Yuchengscape Company

Associate Individual

• Michael Wale