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Member News
Hy-Tex celebrates 30 years through charity fundraising
Hy-Tex as it was in 1991
Hy-Tex today
Hy-Tex’s Ryan Markham and David Poole Family business and Accredited Supplier Hy-Tex (UK) passed the three-decade anniversary milestone in April and is planning a number of charity events to celebrate its success, including a 106km run/jog/ walk challenge for sales manager Ryan Markham, stepson of current director David Poole whose stepfather and company founder, Mike Hyder, sadly passed away in 2014.
Hy-Tex are environmental and ground engineering solutions suppliers and were founded in 1991 by Mike and his wife Sheila, with the aim to specialise in the supply of biodegradable erosion control meshes. From operating out of a portacabin to the company awarded several significant distributor appointments and projects, the company has grown exponentially. In 1994 David joined the team, whilst weighing up his next career move, but since then has never looked back.
Commenting to Landscape News, David said, “I am absolutely delighted with the accomplishment and there is a lot more to come from Hy-Tex. Our family work ethics, integrity and in-depth knowledge have always been valued and commented on by customers, whilst part of our success can also be attributed to our forwardthinking nature.” He continued, “I often joke that I will eventually make up my mind what I want to do for a job, but in truth I cannot believe how fortunate I was to have Mike as my mentor, and, having always had a passion for protecting the environment, I regard my work as much a hobby as a career.”
Fast forward 27 years and Hy-Tex is still thriving under David’s leadership, despite a number of challenges along the way - including coping with exceptionally high demand during Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.
More recently, stepson Ryan spearheaded the company’s environmental push to become a paperless office – which was achieved successfully and enabled the company to not only reduce waste but meant that when the pandemic hit, the working from home transition was a simpler process. For more information on Hy-Tex (UK) visit hy-tex.co.uk.
Wyevale’s plants lifted for orders
Wyevale Nurseries’ Production Manager Kyle Ross with Wyevale Nurseries’ Plant Healthy Certificate
Wyevale Nurseries receives Plant Healthy Certification for high biosecurity standards
Leading commercial nursery and Accredited Supplier Wyevale Nurseries are celebrating after being awarded a Plant Healthy Certificate during the UK’s National Plant Health Week in May 2021.
Wyevale Nurseries’ Production Manager Kyle Ross received the certification from the Plant Health Alliance and it’s just one of a handful of businesses in the country who have been awarded.
Kyle explained to Landscape News: “This certification scheme makes it so much easier to identify businesses or organisations that trade and grow plants with the highest standards of health and biosecurity. It also helps reduce the risk of introducing/spreading destructive plant pests via our trade plant supply chains and protects the horticulture industry, other cultivated plants and natural habitats.”
Certified businesses have to successfully complete and pass a Plant Healthy audit and show they are committed to adopting high voluntary plant health and biosecurity standards. The Wyevale Nurseries audit was conducted by Grown in Britain, the certification body for the scheme.
To counter the threat from plant pests, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain (2014) proposed the development of the certification scheme to improve biosecurity in the UK horticultural sector. Members of the Plant Health Alliance (PHA), of which our Association is a member, produced the Plant Health Management Standard, which is focused on UK ornamental and amenity horticultural businesses and organisations. It can also be adopted by international businesses.
The PHA are the governing body for the scheme, which is based on the Plant Health Management Standard.
For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call +44(0)1432 845 200 or visit wyevalenurseries.co.uk.
Introducing Serco, providing 100% carbon free grounds maintenance services
For over 30 years Accredited Contractor Serco has been working with local government and public sector bodies to deliver a full range of grounds maintenance, arboriculture and landscape services.
Most impressively their team also offer bespoke solutions that meet their clients’ needs, such as carbon reduction solutions to deliver grounds maintenance services that include 100% carbon free options. This, along with sustainable landscape design, considering environmental impacts and budgetary and compliance criteria.
For over 10 years, Serco has also been working with Sport England, providing world class sporting facilities to some of Great Britain’s national teams and community users at their national sports centres in Bisham Abbey & Lilleshall. Having a national portfolio of contracts, the team can operate in the private sector, providing services from operational hubs.
Serco has also invested in management systems such as ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001 to ensure services are delivered in a safe, compliant manner and in accordance with best practice operating procedures.
Interested in learning more? Visit serco.com
Serco specialise in offering public sector grounds maintenance services
Why Green-tech is looking skyward on their quest for greater urban greening
Written by Accredited Supplier Green-tech
The hard surface area of our cities has grown significantly over the past few decades, and we all appreciate that the task of increasing greenspace within our towns and cities can be a struggle. This is where green roofs play a vital role in urban greening. Green roofs are increasingly becoming a key requirement of planning.
Two planning tools that you may come across are the Green Space Factor and the Urban Green Factor. The Green Space Factor provides a score between 0 and 1, for the type of ground cover. A natural soft landscape will get the highest score of 1, whereas impermeable tarmac will get zero. This gives us a simplified measure of the effectiveness… or ‘naturalness’ … of our greening endeavours. An extensive green roof, with a minimum substrate of 60mm beneath the vegetation is classed as 0.7, and an intensive roof, with a minimum substrate of 150mm scores 0.8, so both have a high Green Space Factor.
The Greater London Authority Urban Greening Factor report stated that: “Where possible, redevelopment and regeneration across the city should result in a greener, rather than greyer built environment.“ This puts a much greater emphasis for urban greening to be a key consideration right at the start of the development and design journey. So, why green roofs?
Well, they are being introduced to many major cities to help reduce the impacts of climate change. They are widely recognised to be one of the most effective methods of urban greening. They reduce the ecological impact of a project, creating a positive biodiversity and habitat for birds and insects. They also provide a way of attenuating storm water, slowing it down rather than letting it gush straight down into our already overburdened sewer system. And not forgetting the visual enhancement and calming effect, that all helps to create an increased sense of well-being.
These therapeutic benefits can be seen in a wonderful example of green roofing at Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Leeds. Three levels of overlapping green roofs were used to reinstate greenery into the hospital’s last remaining green space.
Green roofs also help to offset the Urban Heat Island effect. This is where the build-up of heat held in and reflected off a city’s hard surfaces can increase the ambient temperature by up to 7°C. Roof vegetation increases the evaporation of water back into the atmosphere, which in turn has a cooling effect. The roof covering acts as an insulator and lessens the heat radiated back. The more natural cooling effect we have, the less need for carbon emitting air-conditioning units. On the flip side, they also help to keep roofs warmer in cold weather and prevent heat escaping through the roof.
Green roofs are recognised to help with the Clean Air Effect, where the green roof vegetation absorbs the carbon dioxide and pollutants and releases oxygen. In addition, airborne particulates are caught by the plant leaves, then washed off by the rain to be filtered by the green roof substrate and geo-textiles, making the water entering our drain system that little bit cleaner.
Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Leeds. The therapeutic benefits of greening cannot be overstated
We have seen a surge in demand for green roof projects and we are seeing more on our city landscape. It’s good to see these as a reality rather than just ‘blue sky thinking!’
For more information or to organise a free CPD, visit green-tech.co.uk.
Three levels of overlapping green roofs
Today’s northeast view of the front of the Tewin Water House
Historic landscape restoration specialist Harrell joins our Association
Accredited Contractor Harrell is a family-run grounds maintenance and landscaping business, initially formed in 2015 by landscape gardener Alex Oliver. Recognised for several commissions at the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, Royal Oak Foundation and the National Trust, Alex developed a lively interest in historic gardens.
Following a move to Hertfordshire to manage the gardens of a historic private estate, Harrell was established with the express purpose of creating and maintaining beautiful landscapes both old and new. The business has grown to deliver both domestic and commercial grounds maintenance and landscaping projects.
Harrell manages the landscape surrounding the beautiful Tewin Water House, built by the 5th Earl Cowper in the 1790s next to the ancient River Mimram, and in 1799 Humphry Repton was engaged to remodel the estate.
Repton laid out his plans in one of his famous Red Books, proposing a “Principle of Improvement” of the scenery from various viewpoints. The viewpoints were intended to be picturesque, in the sense of looking good in paintings – a concept broadly similar to our modern fixation with Instagram-ready photos. Sadly, some of his schemes have disappeared as the house changed hands throughout the years. The surrounding land is now made up of dense woodland, meaning some of Repton’s viewpoints have been lost, including the impressive Sketch No.VIII.
The current residents have joined forces with Harrell to restore Repton’s ideals, namely, ‘the correcting hand of good taste’, using the Red Book as a guide, and at the same time leaving their own legacy. Harrell’s intention is to restore Humphry’s intended viewpoints to their former glory as far as possible.
To find out more visit
harelllandscapes.co.uk
Ibran is locking in waste plastic for good
Accredited Supplier Ibran is turning the tide on the use of waste plastic, by taking it directly from UK waste centres and recycling it into long-lasting, high quality ground reinforcement and drainage products to use in landscaping projects across the country.
To help protect our environments, both on land and in the sea, their team has established a solid reputation for providing an informative, transparent service. Ibran is a company with strong eco-friendly credentials. are constantly being redesigned and improved upon so that they can continue offering the most reliable product and service possible.
Due to the recycled nature of their product catalogue, they offer longer industry-standard guarantees, so your clients can rest easy knowing they are using ground reinforcement and/or SUDs-compliant products that are both eco-friendly and reliable.
To see what else is on offer visit:
ibran.co.uk
Their products are sourced and made in the UK from recycled materials, including their ground reinforcement grids which
Urban Earth champions the benefits of green roofs
Accredited Contractor Urban Earth SW has joined the Association, and with it, is sharing its affinity with green roofs with members and the wider landscape industry, by talking to Landscape News.
Landscape Designer Jacob Betts said, “Fusing buildings with the natural environment is not a new idea, but our understanding of the subject, and the benefits it provides, is. Green roofs are becoming an increasing part of my vocabulary as a designer. Particularly in more urban areas, this natural and environmentally friendly roofing alternative is coming into its own. Not only are they improving air quality by taking in surrounding carbon dioxide but also helping the land. Green roofing also holds a commendable amount of rainwater, particularly in the summer, water that would otherwise place a burden on existing infrastructure.”
Aside from the purely quantifiable benefits, there are a myriad more, especially if a building is going to be viewed from above, benefiting our subconscious admiration for nature. This makes us feel a sense of ease which we experience when being in a more natural space.
Jacob continues, “These benefits are best noticed in the city and urbanised areas where the contrast is starker, creating a snowball effect since the plants on the roof attract more biodiversity, in turn, adding to the benefits which will make others more inclined to incorporate them.” Urban Earth SW is an award-winning team creating idyllic outdoor spaces, working with other landscape designers and architects to create beautiful homes and gardens.
Find out more at urban-earth.co.uk
Arbour Landscape Solutions launches new corporate identity and upgrades ecommerce website
Accredited Supplier Arbour Landscape Solutions has joined our Trade Association following their successful launch of both their new corporate identity and enhanced website.
Managing Director Richard Bickler said, “The time had come for us to cohesively communicate our service offer – future-proofing our business for further development in the landscape procurement and supply industry. Part of our brand DNA is our role in bringing the best service to the landscaping industry to enable professional project delivery.
Our evolved family of logos; umbrella brand and three sub-brands needed to be recognisable for loyal customers, whilst representing the growth of the business to a professional, trade only, one stop-shop of landscaping products.”
Arbour’s sub-brands ‘Eco Range’ and the ‘UK Made Range’ enable landscapers to choose from collections which meet their customer’s requirements, mitigating their carbon footprint. The ‘Bespoke Range’ includes the expansive service offer delivered by Arbour Landscape Solutions to source landscaping materials for unique gardens.
Check out their new look at
arbourlandscapesolutions.co.uk
Arbour Landscape Solutions launched their new corporate identity before joining the Association
Instarmac’s Geo-Fix® reaches 25-year milestone
2021 is a significant year for Accredited Supplier Instarmac’s Geo-Fix® as the respected paving brand is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Geo-Fix® Original was first brought to market in 1996 when the paving industry was a completely different landscape compared to today. With traditional cementitious jointing products causing huge problems for local authorities and contractors, it soon became clear that an alternative solution was required. After consulting and listening to the needs of the entire paving industry, Geo-Fix® developed a new technology using sand polymers to create Geo-Fix® Original brush-in jointing compound – a truly original product that revolutionised traditional jointing methods.
Creating a new product is one thing, but Geo-Fix® knew how important it was to carry out extensive testing with the contractors who would be using the product to guarantee it was suitable and performed perfectly – and that is exactly what they did.
During their 25-year history, Geo-Fix® have established a significant distribution network of independent builders’ merchants, enhanced their product offering to include Geo-Fix® All Weather and partnered with Association member Instarmac, a British manufacturer with over 45 years’ experience manufacturing and servicing the construction industry, to become their nominated distribution supplier with products sold in over 20 countries including Europe and Australia.
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Geo-Fix® are delighted to bring their valued and loyal customers an exclusive 25% discount on Geo-Fix® Original. For more information on Geo-Fix®, their expert brush-in jointing compounds, and their exclusive anniversary offer, please call +44(0)1827 908510 or email info@geo-fix.org. Alternatively visit
instarmac.co.uk/geofix
Racing star Rory Butcher with Adam Brindle of The Grounds Care Group
Grounds Care Group teams up with racing star for carbon offsetting project
Surrey based commercial landscaping company and Accredited Contractor The Grounds Care Group UK has teamed up with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK British Touring Car Championship star Rory Butcher, in a bid to offset his carbon footprint by planting trees at race circuits all around the country.
Managing Director, Adam Brindle said, “Tree planting is one of our key focusses, so when Rory mentioned to me that he wanted to find a way to offset his carbon footprint from travelling to race events, it seemed like the natural solution. Race circuits might be best known for the ribbon of tarmac on which the cars compete, but they also have acres of greenspace ripe for planting trees, which in turn will help to preserve the land for generations to come.”
One of The Grounds Care Group UK’s big commitments is to planting native British trees, contract grown and sourced from UK growers. Planting native trees is essential as they improve and support the local eco system and increases biodiversity.
For further information on the business please visit: gcgrp.co.uk. To read this story in full, visit:
