Designers and artists with broad imaginations, architects and specifiers across all of the nations, from wardrobes to beds our quality can’t be denied, one of our innovative products can even be used outside. Outdoor kitchens and games, a summerhouse withstands all kinds of weather all the year round.
Through the heat of the summer into cold winter chill, still a half century later MEDITE makes it real.
Join the MEDITE MDF community online to receive the latest updates. Upload your project images to be entered into a prize draw. Sign up to receive a free gift.
Visit meditemakesitreal.com for more information. Dreamers welcome!
Firstly, congratulations to all this year’s National Landscape Award winners, especially the winners of the Principals, Specials and Grand Award. I’m sure you’ll agree it was a fantastic event again this year with some truly exceptional winners!
I am excited to be in my new role as Chair of the British Association of Landscape Industries and keen to implement all strands of our new strategy to ensure your membership gives you not only what you want, but optimum value. As I’ve said before, if you have any suggestions or comments, please do email me at nigel.bowcock@bali.org.uk
Here’s just some of the things we have, and continue to work on to ensure your membership offers you support in a whole host of ways:
• Over the last six months we swiftly provided you with the correct guidance on the proposed water bans and what that meant for the industry
• As a reaction to BALI-NCF near miss statistics, we are working on a Slopes Code of Practice (SCP) in conjunction with NCF to be endorsed by Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• We’ve responded to members’ concerns around the increased use of artificial grass, trees and shrubs - how we move our sustainability agenda forward will take into account members concerns
• We continue to address the skills gap problem by training and involving over 60 GoLandscape ambassadors, who provide
real life experiences to help promote the landscape industry to schools, colleges and career changer events
• The landscape industry remains a significant user of fossil fuels either for transport or machinery. There is an increase in clients looking for a change to more sustainable methods. We have engaged with our Accredited Suppliers to enable them to showcase their latest technology. Watch out for a fantastic event being hosted by the South West Region in Spring 2023!
• There has been an increase in disputes being resolved between Association members and domestic clients, with the support of the dispute resolution team. We are encouraging all contractors to use contracts supplied by the Association or similar, and we have offered further guidance via newsletter, webinars, and on the website. Owen Baker, Technical Officer, has provided an overview on page 30
• Post pandemic it has become evident that many people have struggled with their mental health. It is good to talk about it!
I am so supportive of the Association’s initiative for all our members to try and have at least one mental health first aider in their business before the end of 2023. So far over 60 companies have taken the opportunity - thank you to all those businesses and individuals. Please see bali.org.uk/events for more information and the new course dates for 2023
• Further economic pressures have been placed on members by political uncertainties and increase in inflation
New members (3 September - 28 November 2022)
Accredited Contractor
North Thames
• Molloy Groundwork
Construction
• Oxford Direct Services Trading
• Total Protection (Landscaping) T/A Greenstone Landscapes
• Total Protection (GB) T/A
TP Surfacing & Coatings
South Thames
• Aycorn Consulting
• Urban Landscape Design and Construction
Accredited Supplier
North Thames
• George Davies Turf
South Thames
• Garden House Design
• Mextru
South West
• Carbon Gold Yorkshire & North East
• Tectonix
Accredited DSO South Thames
• Worthing Homes International
• Green Gardenia Landscaping
rates. Key benefits available to you include BALI HR / H&S services and BALI Insure which have proven to save members £1000’s in contrast to contracting these services independently
Please take a moment to remind yourselves of all the benefits that your membership offers. If you have any questions or would like further details on any of your benefits, contact the team at Landscape House
I would like to wish you all a warm Christmas and a very prosperous New Year. Take care
Nigel Bowcock National Chair
• Shenzhen Hope Design Co.
• Schellevis Beton B.V. Student South West
• Diana Mountford
• Emily Berry
Training Provider
North Thames
• PSN Recruitments
T/A Cosmopolitan Recruitment
South Thames
• AJ’s Training South West
• RSK ADAS
Revoked
• JPH Landscapes
am thrilled to welcome you to this edition of Landscape News, my first as Editor. Olivia McCullough was an amazing Editor to this publication and I look forward to continuing to bring you news and information to inform, update and even inspire!
We are continuing to journey through challenging times with political uncertainty remaining, inflation rates on the rise and the ongoing impact of the war in Ukraine. However, we also have much to celebrate as we move towards a new year.
The 46th National Landscape Awards have recently taken place, held again at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House and we celebrate the excellence of our industry on page 24. The Association has also undertaken its annual satisfaction survey and we bring you the results on page 38, along with some of the actions we took following the feedback last year.
There have been bold steps in the industry in the development of an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter, of which the Association is one signatory along with organisations including the RHS, the LI and SGD. See the charter on page 40, and then continue reading on to our interview with Association Equity Ambassador Flo Headlam with Jason Williams, The Cloud Gardner on wellbeing, and how landscaping helps build and support communities.
All that remains is for me to wish you all a healthy and happy 2023 and to thank you for making me feel so welcome and a part of your Association in my first few months. I look forward to meeting many more of you in the new year.
Best wishes
Katharine HughesEditor: Katharine Hughes
E: katharine.hughes@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
Registered address: British Association of Landscape Industries Landscape House Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2LG
Designed by: bdci.co.uk
Print and mailing: johngood.com
Copy Deadline (Spring 2023): Friday 3rd March 2023
Front cover: Image c/o Maylim, Exchange Square, London. Credit: Daniel Fisher
At last there’s a place where great landscaping and efficient rainwater management meet. The new ACO Garden Designers and Landscapers’ web page has all the help and support you need on channel drainage systems and sustainable water management – including a free eBook on sustainable design.
Go to aco.co.uk/garden-and-landscape
What a fantastic event this year! It is such a pleasure to see the winners of the Association’s prestigious National Landscape Awards celebrating in style at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, and a real honour to be able to provide the platform to showcase our members outstanding achievements.
Despite all that has happened politically and the uncertainty that Brexit, Covid-19 and Plant Health regulations brought with it, Association members across the country have been reporting that they have continuing order books albeit a little more cautious than at the start of the calendar year. It is a wonderful sight therefore, to see that our members continue to uphold and exceed the professional standards expected of them, proudly demonstrated via the National Landscape Awards.
The entries into the Awards this year demonstrate the importance of using skilled professionals to undertake work whether it be in a small domestic garden or on large ground maintenance/construction contracts. With around 900 guests at the Awards, I’m sure you agree it was a tremendous industry event and I would like to congratulate all of the Principal and Special Award winners, and a huge congratulations to Maylim, our Grand Award winner. For a full round up of the day, including all winners, please see page 24.
Once again, I would like to express our very sincere gratitude to our Chair of the Adjudication Panel, John Melmoe and to his team of industry experts for their professional commitment to the task of selecting this year’s award winners. In undertaking an enormous amount of work on our behalf to maintain the reputation and integrity of the National Landscape Awards, each judge gives their time freely and commits to ensuring that the benchmark of excellence is not just maintained but raised. I am delighted to say that under John Melmoe’s stewardship, 2022 has been no exception.
On behalf of the Board and wider Association membership, I would like to thank them for the enormous amount of work they undertake to ensure this reputation and integrity is maintained. I would like to congratulate every Association member who entered this year and acknowledge the achievements of those who have ultimately been successful.
The judges and the awards process have been very capably co-ordinated and project managed by Emily Feeney (Events Project Manager) from Landscape House. Once again, without the commitment shown from Emily, supported by the team at Landscape House, the whole awards process would not have run so smoothly. It’s so great to see the support from you, our members for ensuring that this remains the leading awards ceremony of the industry.
As you will be aware, we recently conducted our annual membership satisfaction survey. This provides you with the opportunity of feeding back with your thoughts about your membership and help shape the future strategy and business planning in order that they focus on you, the member.
Participation in these surveys is crucial and invaluable from our perspective as we can gain your views on how we are doing and where we need to concentrate our efforts in order to serve you better. I would encourage more of you to engage with us in this way as it helps to assess if we’re getting it right! So, a huge thank you to those of you that did provide us feedback. We are now further analysing the results and comparing to the survey we undertook in 2021 to identify what action we can take to improve our service to you, the member.
I am extremely pleased with those items highlighted in green as these show an improvement upon last year
or that we have exceeded our target of 75% Excellent/Good feedback.
No need to undertake the CITB Touch Screen Test for LISS/CSCS cards
Following an Association audit, we have had approved the ROLO Health, Safety and Environmental courses at Operative, Supervisor and Manager levels via Build UK and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). This now means that we do not require the CITB ‘touch screen test’ to be done in addition to the ROLO courses.
This is great news and a real win for the wider landscaping industry not just association members. Please watch out for further announcements regarding when this will commence but it is anticipated to happen in the New Year.
Collaborative work being undertaken
• Questions being raised in the House of Lords regarding ornamental horticulture and landscaping, and
how government can support the industry which will help deliver on government policies as well as promote growth in the economy
• A further inquiry into horticulture has been called for which will showcase the part that industry can play in delivering on the government’s 25-year environment plan and bring more workers into the industry
• The Association has recently had a positive meeting with LANDEX. The aim is for the organisations to work closer together to promote the landscaping industry as a credible career choice. Also to improve the level of education provision in colleges, working with the help and support of the BALI Chalk Fund
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter developed for the landscape industry. Professional bodies from across the landscaping industry have come together and developed a charter, committing to improve
equality, inclusivity, and diversity. See the charter on page 40
• We had a successful meeting with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to look at how they can initially look at working with national companies to ease the burden of recruitment and to find funding streams for aiding the training of those entering the industry. Initial presentation has been done with the BALI-National Contractors Forum (BALI-NCF) on this with a view to rolling out to the wider membership
• Embodied carbon or ‘whole life cycle carbon’ work being undertaken with the Landscape Institute
• An industry group looking at the carbon capture and mitigation for businesses to improve their carbon footprint
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Regional AGM’s in the new year, and I hope that as many of you as possible will try to attend this very valuable networking sessions and there are some exciting guest speakers and events coming up. Please watch the Association website events pages for the most up to date information bali.org.uk/events
Regional AGM’s
12 January - Midlands 27 January - South Thames 7 February - North Thames 16 February - Yorkshire & North East 9 March - South West
In the meantime, on behalf of the Landscape House team, may I wish you and your families a very happy festive season and your business every success in 2023, in which I hope your Association can play a part.
Best wishes, Wayne Grills Chief Executive
The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Association, responsible for providing strategic leadership and the ultimate direction of the organisation. At the recent National AGM, a new Chair and Vice-Chair were voted in, along with 4 new Directors. Although the Board work together for the best interests of the Association and its members, each has their own focus and passion within the wider industry.
I’ve been a Board Director since 2014, and I am excited to start my tenure as Chair. I co-founded GoLandscape, and will continue to support its growth, helping the Association reach the target of recruiting over 100 Ambassadors to deliver the GoLandscape message.
On the Board, I undertake the role of Honorary Treasurer, responsible for financial reports, financial analysis, and budgeting.
I take an active part in all Board activities, with a particular passion to help develop the Association’s digital offering, evolving business planning and improve processes.
Wayne
I’m committed to raising the association’s profile at both government and industry level. I support cross-industry working groups and committees, representing the Association and its members, including APPGHG, Scottish Ministerial Industry Roundtable Group and the OHRG.
Tessa
As Vice-Chair of the Board, I look forward to supporting Nigel and Wayne in ensuring all strands of the new strategy are delivered. I will also continue to work alongside Adrian Wickham to support and build on the work we have started in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion arena.
Matt O’Conner, Immediate Past Chair, John O’Conner Ground Maintenance
My vision is one of constant innovation and delivering benchmarked landscape services via a skilled and trained workforce. I will support the current Chair and Vice-Chair and am driven to ensure quality is the golden thread that runs throughout the association and its membership.
With an objective, pragmatic and collaborative approach, I support industry initiatives and am active with trade organisations across client sectors. I look forward to bringing this approach to the Association as a new Board Director.
I am a great believer in “giving back”, carrying out guest lectures to students and act as a mentor providing business advice and support to less experienced companies. I am also a GoLandscape Ambassador and a Trustee of the BALI Chalk Fund.
I have worked within the landscape industry for almost 4 decades. For the last 5 years I have actively participated and am currently Chair of the BALI-NCF. I am excited about my recent appointment to the Board and look forward to supporting the Association and its members.
I have been active within the landscape/ horticulture industry for over 37 years and have been an Association Board Director for 11 years. I am passionate about landscaping and delivering quality works for future generations to enjoy.
I believe that I can be part of a passionate Board which can protect and ensure that the future of the industry is good for all the people within it; as well as promote the industry to all those who may have never considered a career within it.
As South Thames Chair and now a Board Director, I am in a position to continue helping GoLandscape increase industry engagement both through better story-telling on a local and national level. My other focus is the development of the Academy pilot.
I have been on the Yorkshire & Northeast committee for 10 years and am currently Vice-Chairman, as well as being a GoLandscape Ambassador. I’m very honoured to join the Board, and look forward to helping increase membership levels, and support the industry’s leading association.
I am a chartered Landscape Architect with over 20 years industry experience. I feel I offer a perspective on the Board that compliments the other Directors and focus on encouraging and promoting integrated collaboration to create high quality landscapes.
As Student Director, I promote the industry to people who may be considering a career or studying towards a qualification in the industry, sharing my experience and enthusiasm of how fulfilling and diverse a career in our industry can be.
Accredited Contractor Maylim celebrated at the 46th National Landscape Awards, taking home the prestigious Grand Award and Principal Award in their category for Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) - Over £500K for the redevelopment of the unique Exchange Square, London.
The annual National Landscape Awards, held at the iconic JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London celebrates the skills, hard work, quality, commitment, and successes of Association members and are the largest awards of their kind in Europe. They recognise excellence in landscape design, construction, and maintenance both in the UK and overseas, as well as supplier exceptional service and employer excellence.
This is the second Grand Award win for hard and soft landscaping specialists Maylim, who won back in 2017 for One Tower Bridge. They have over 20 years’ experience in executing high-quality public realm and landscaping schemes, as well as highway and civil engineering projects, across both public and private sectors.
The Grand award-winning project, ‘Exchange Square’ sits at the heart of Broadgate, London’s largest pedestrianised neighbourhood. Suspended above the tracks of Liverpool Street Station, the landscape, spanning 5,000m2, unfolds across several levels to create a more natural topography. Exchange Square is a new public park, which has been re-imagined as a bucolic landscape with trees, generously planted borders, and green space.
Rather than simply demolish the existing scheme, the contractor chose to ‘deconstruct’ it, dismantling and removing the hard materials, including 300 tonnes of granite and 20 tonnes of boulders, and re-purposing them on other public realm projects. This approach has reduced the environmental impact and financial costs of the new scheme and must surely be the sustainable way forward for future public realm projects.
This year’s National Landscape Awards’ Judges, led by experienced Chair John Melmoe, jointly commented that “This scheme is not only an exemplar of public realm landscaping excellence, fully deserving of the Grand Award, but also a lesson in finding and pursuing alternative solutions to the challenges faced by contractors who are replacing existing hard landscapes.”
The project aimed to transform the ageing, corporate and rectilinear former square into an accessible, natural city park with sweeping curves and a fourfold increase in green space. A bespoke and unique pallet of materials was used across the scheme, quite different to any other public realm in the UK. Over 3,000 individual pieces of CNC cut terrazzo form the sweeping amphitheatre, cascading water feature and raised planters.
From start to finish, placemaking was at the very heart of the project. Throughout the construction period, Maylim’s interaction and collaboration with local communities and businesses surrounding Exchange Square extended the positive impacts of the scheme, providing opportunities for rest and relaxation amidst the bustle of city life.
Chair of the Judging Panel John Melmoe concluded: “The repurposing and reusing of existing materials on this project has reduced the environmental impact and financial costs of the new scheme and must surely be the sustainable way forward for future public realm projects.”
It has been an incredibly busy time within the industry, however the regional committees have been making the most of getting together outdoors, enjoying the last glimpse of summer sun.
The South Thames regional committee arranged an event at the glorious Griffin Nurseries in Liphook for a tour of their nursery. The afternoon was well attended by both members and non-members to enjoy delicious food courtesy of Earth to Oven, knowledgeable talks on plant health delivered by Andrew Gaunt and Soil Specialist, Nicky Snoad.
Key suppliers were also in attendance, including Schellevis, BHGS, Makita, Platipus Anchors, City of Irrigation, and Compact Loaders.
“I thought it was great. Really useful information from the sponsors. I haven’t been to one of these for a while, so nice to catch up with people and absorb some info.”
The North Thames committee visited Majestic Trees in St Albans. Steve McCurdy kindly welcomed us to his nursery for an afternoon which included a tour of the nursery covering how they prepare the trees from delivery to tree pit, and the importance of tree sourcing. He
also shared knowledge about the many industry regulations they must adhere to.
Back inside he delivered inspirational presentations ‘Lifting, Moving and Planting Big Trees’ and ‘Success Doesn’t Just Happen’, an insight into his own personal story establishing the business.
“Thanks to Steve McCurdy of Majestic Trees for hosting the tree handling session. Steve is an experienced and long ranged nurseryman who is an inspiration to the industry”
The Scottish committee got together at the iconic Ibrox Stadium Rangers F.C. for a tour of the stadium. They received exclusive insight into the maintenance
and preparation from Head Groundsman of 37 years, David Roxburgh who remains passionate and proud to be part of the stadium’s history.
“The visit to Ibrox was very informative, David the head groundsman had a wealth of knowledge and was more than happy to share this along with an overview of how intricate his job at Ibrox is. Overall, a real insight into how much work and commitment it takes to keep the pitch looking as good as it does.”
The Association partnered with the Tree and Design Action Group (TDAG) to deliver an informative webinar discussing how to retain existing healthy trees and plant news trees as part of development projects. Hosted by Jeremy Barrell and David Johnson, the webinar gave a real insight into the importance of protection around urban and rural areas, including why it is so important to protect them around developments, how trees are important both aesthetically, as well as for wellbeing, nature and wildlife.
As with all our webinars, this is now available ‘on-demand’ within the members area of the BALI website.
The regional committees, along with the team at Landscape House are now hard at work developing a selection of events, workshops and webinars for 2023. For a list of scheduled events, please see page 50. Regular updates will follow in due course via email and on the website bali.org.uk/events
For more information, or if you have a suggestion for an event or webinar, please contact francesca.bienek@bali.org.uk
On World Mental Health Day 2021, the Association launched a new initiative, reaching out to members to consider the value of having a mental health first aider in their team, and committing to support mental health in the workplace. A year on from the launch, we look back on the initiative, as the Association launches new dates for the accredited Mental Health First Aid courses for 2023.
Never more so than in recent times has support for mental health been so important. Poor mental health carries an economic and social cost - approximately £116 billion a year in Great Britain in 2021/22. Stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 51% of all work-related ill health cases and 55% of all working days lost due to work-related ill health*.
Mental Health First Aiders are a vital part of any organisation. In the current climate, Bianca Jones from EDP Training states they have increasing reports of anxiety around Christmas and the cost of living crisis. She feels it is a business necessity to have trained people on hand that are able to:
• Spot the signs and symptoms of poor mental health to aid early detection and early prevention
• Have an understanding of the common mental illnesses
• Know how to be supportive and listen empathetically and genuinely to somebody
• Have knowledge of resources that can be used to signpost people to professional help
• Encourage self-help strategies
Since the launch, the Association has supported its members train over 90 employees across 60 organisations in mental health first aid. This is a positive start to our commitment to supporting mental health within the industry. The Association’s Mental Health First Aid initiative has continued to go from strength to strength with many more businesses booking employees onto the available courses, taking the pledge to enable more awareness and support to those around them.
Bianca also highlights the benefits on having onsite Mental Health First Aiders include:
• A psychologically safe workforce
• Decreased absenteeism and presentism
• Longer tenure and retaining employees
• Increased wellbeing and productivity /outputs
All this not only leads to a safe and supportive work environment, but also highlights the significant business benefits as a result.
The Association, in conjunction with all those who have taken the courses in 2022, would like to thank Bianca and her team for delivering such a heavy
“ “
I found the course very insightful and feel that I have learnt a lot and gained a lot of confidence when approaching mental health in and out of the workplace. The structure of the course was great – it was nice to have a mix of discussions, interactive sessions, breakout rooms and self learning.
subject with such an easy going, warm approach and always there to support as required.
We are continuing to offer the 2-day online accredited Mental Health First Aid courses to Association members at 50% discount in 2023.
The course has a new format with self-learning being removed and runs 9-5pm with regular breaks with a maximum of 16 delegates per course. The course includes a workbook, digital manual, lanyard, app access and access to the MHFA platform for webinars and useful information.
The 2023 course dates are now finalised, visit bali.org.uk/training now to secure your place.
• 30 - 31 January 2023
• 13 - 14 March 2023
• 12 - 13 June 2023
• 25 - 26 September 2023
* Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/ statistics/causdis/stress.pdf
raise the profile of professional garden design and landscaping. In our experience, business blogging is also a cost-effective marketing tool, for the following reasons:
Blogging helps us to explore topics of interest to our clients and colleagues in a way that isn’t possible in a short Tweet or Instagram caption. We work in a fascinating industry, and there is lots to discuss! We enjoy reflecting on what is on peoples’ minds and sharing thoughts and ideas based on James’s in-depth experience. We brainstorm topics based on client conversations, networking events, sales enquiries … and any other source of ideas. We genuinely feel that through blogging we can add value, help our readers and
• It helps us to demonstrate our relevance and authority. By creating useful content, we build our brand and our presence in the marketplace. Obviously, this is not about a ‘quick sell’; it’s about boosting awareness of The Garden Company and interest in what we have to say
• It drives traffic to our website. Every time we create and publish a blog post, it becomes one more indexed page on our website, helping us to appear on search engine results pages. It also lets Google know that our website is active, so that they keep checking for new content. Following this through, we always include inbound links and links to other reputable websites in our blog posts, to improve search engine optimisation. The Google algorithm ‘likes’ links
• Our blog content also strengthens our social media presence:
• as soon as we publish a new blog post we promote it on our social channels - inviting people to have a browse, and (through links) delve further into other website pages
• over the following weeks, we use short extracts as posts on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn (which is much easier than trying to come up with new content constantly!)
In the spirit of showing you what we mean, rather than just telling you, here’s a link to our blog page, we’d love you to have a browse: thegardenco.co.uk/blog
Club’s first lease deal brings in Toro fleet for less
3150-Q, two Greensmaster 3250-D, two Reelmaster 5610 fairway mowers with cabs, two Reelmaster 3100 cylinder mowers, two Greensmaster 3300 rotary mowers, two Sand Pro 2040Z rakes, two workman HDXD utility vehicles, a Pro Core 1298 Aerator and a Pro Pass 200 top dresser.
The ability to have so many new machines as part of the lease deal means a greater level of flexibility for the club. Richard says: “Having two of everything gives us a bit more flexibility. We can be working in different areas and not have to hinder the golfers and that’s always the most important thing.”
Burford Golf Club gets its hands on 16 new Toro machines in its first ever Toro lease deal. This renewal deal with distributor Reesink Turfcare proves to be a cost-effective solution to replacing old machines while carefully managing expenses in the current climate.
Coming up on his 19th year next month with the parkland course at the heart of the Cotswolds, head greenkeeper Richard explains how when it came time to update equipment, a Toro lease deal was a great
option for the club. He says: “We had six bits of equipment that were part of an aging fleet, some machines were up to 25 years old, and needed repairs. Eventually it ended up that we started thinking how can we buy new ones? When we went to Accredited Supplier Reesink Turfcare we were able to look at a lease deal. Instead of just replacing the six machines, with the lease we could get 16 new bits of kit.”
As part of the renewal deal, Burford Golf Club has picked up two Greensmaster
Richard plans on using Toro to get the best finish on the course, but first the club is undergoing an exciting round of construction, says Richard: “We’re in the middle of installing PC drainage. We’ve done seven greens so far and are hoping to do about two more every year until they’re all done. When we’re presenting the course, we’ll use the Toro machines – they produce the best finish.”
To see how the Toro range could suit your course, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk
At the Garden Company, Managing Director James Scott produces a bi-monthly blog post which we publish on our website. Why do we take the time to do this?Burford Golf Club gets its hands on 16 new Toro machines in its first ever Toro lease deal Blog: How to build a wildlife garden Credit: Clive Nichols Helen Scott
With its innovative triple flail cutting system, the highly productive Toro LT-F3000 makes light work of longer, wetter or coarser grass so you can go longer between cuts, saving time and money. Plus the new cylinder attachment provides a finer finish when needed, too! What more could you ask for from just one machine?
reesinkturfcare.co.uk
A mower that tackles so much more. So you can mow less.
British Sugar TOPSOIL, a division of British Sugar and subsidiary of Associated British Foods, was formed over 25 years ago, developing a range of topsoil products from the soil washed from the beet as part of the sugar production process. What started as a response to a change in waste legislation has resulted in environmental and sustainable practices being at the heart of British Sugar.
Landscape News met with Andy Spetch, National TOPSOIL Manager and an agronomist to find out more about the company’s sustainability agenda and how this has become one of the core values of the business.
British Sugar has been producing sugar from sugar beet for over 100 years. When new waste legislation was introduced, the company needed to find a different solution to its waste management requirements.
Andy comments “We originally used to distribute the waste soil across the site as well as return a portion to the agricultural land. The new legislation prevented us from continuing this practice so, as a wider business, a review was taken across all the business streams to identify what products could be developed from what was considered waste. And so the TOPSOIL division was created.”
At the same time that British Sugar TOPSOIL was formed, so too were several additional divisions, all created to deal with the waste from the production process of the core product - sugar.
So, how has what started out as a legal and commercial decision to create new divisions within the organisation, moved to the core focus being environmental and sustainable solutions?
Andy explains “We were exceptionally lucky. We had a director - Carl Carter - who was a man ahead of his time. From the outset he could see the opportunities from the waste we created, both from a commercial and a sustainability viewpoint. One example was to use the excess heat generated from the sugar process to heat 30 hectares of greenhouses and grow tomatoes. I remember Carl saying ‘we have to become a sustainable business’this was his vision.”
British Sugar has developed numerous by-products from the waste created by its core business - topsoil from the cleaning stage, animal feed from the pulp, Limex from the purification stage, heat from evaporation supporting greenhouse plant growth, bioethanol from the fermentation and distillation stage to fuel vehicles, and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants, making the sites completely self-sufficient.
Andy describes“We have come a long way in the last 25 years and continue to try and improve. Water usage across the whole process has reduced, mainly through agronomy practice and the soil type the sugar beet is grown in - developing the best ‘recipe’ for sandy clay loam soil to hold the water better. Irrigation practices have also improved, using more managed irrigation solutions. On our sites, we have reduced water usage by 26%
The terms ‘sustainability’ and ‘environmental’ are banded about a lot but not always backed up by actions. At British Sugar we can evidence everything we do and the processes we’ve implemented across the whole business are there for anyone to see.
since 2014, through reusing and repurposing the water from our lagoons, increasing on-site water storage, and putting water back to the local rivers.”
Across this same time period, energy usage has reduced by 12.3% and CO2 emissions by 17.8%.
“By refining our processes we’ve been able to bring both water and energy usage down, which not only benefits our environment but also ensures the commercial viability of the changes we’ve made to achieve this - we are a business after all! But this doesn’t detract from the environmental and sustainability impact. We have been working with the Carbon Trust for the past 10 years, focusing on the whole life carbon footprint of our operations. Our parent company British Sugar has a dedicated Environmental Manager whose sole purpose is to ensure we operate to environmental best practice across all the business streams” says Andy.
Cementing its commitment, British Sugar has most recently signed up to the Science Based Targets (SBI) initiative. By 2030 it commits to reducing its carbon footprint and water usage by 30%, and ensuring all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, biodegradable or compostable.
For more information visit britishsugar. co.uk/sustainability/our-approach/
British Sugar TOPSOIL is analysed by industry experts and gives me confidence of achieving consistently good results, whatever the project.
Bridlington is on Yorkshire’s East Coast, sited 15 miles south from Scarborough, and just a mile from the dramatic cliffs of Flamborough Head. Bridlington offers a charming mix of traditional seaside attractions, as well as an incredible 15 miles of stunning golden beach, stretching as far south as Hornsea.
Phase Two of the £13.3m Bridlington Integrated Transport Plan, included a total redesign and transformation of the frontage of Bridlington’s railway station. The new Station Plaza features improved access roads, new short-stay and disabled parking, a taxi rank and coach drop-off point, as well as an inviting pedestrian area with contemporary seating and tree planting, to provide not only shade but also vital storm water attenuation – a green and welcoming first impression for visitors to the seaside town.
The contracting work was awarded to Hullbased PBS Construction, who are a family business with strong ties to Bridlington. PBS asked Accredited Supplier Greentech to provide a structural tree pit system that would enable the trees planted within the hard landscaping around the plaza to establish without risk of soil compaction.
A total of twelve trees were planted - eight on the pedestrian plaza area
immediately outside of the main entrance, and four sited alongside the taxi rank. To help the trees achieve their full potential, we wanted a good organic topsoil for them to grow in, as well as enough rooting volume. The challenge with planting in any hard landscape is how to use the good stuff underneath the paving, without the paving sinking and compacting the soil. This is where Green-tech’s ArborRaft geo-cellular sub-base replacement system comes into its own.
Rather than using a traditional deep-pit crate system that fills the tree pit down to the base, ArborRaft works on a combined raft/bridging principle, and sits across the top of the tree pit, leaving the rooting area itself completely free of plastic. Not only is this better for the tree, but it also means there is no conflict with underground services such as water, gas, electric or communication lines.
The ArborRaft can take a static vertical loading of 70 tonnes/m2, so can be used under vehicular or pedestrian paving with no concerns about the paving sinking, or the soil underneath becoming compacted. This means that we can use a soft, friable, organic topsoil in the tree pit, rather than a heavily sand-based structural tree soil.
The trees were planted in individual tree pits, and over 300 tonnes of Greentech’s manufactured Green-tree soil was
delivered to site in stages as required. Green-tech also supplied each tree pit with tree anchors, Mona irrigation rings topped with aluminium Piazza filler inlets, and Fortress tree grilles, which are designed to take paving sets for a flush surface finish with the surrounding paving.
Alasdair Innes, Green-tech’s Specification Advisor comments “This great looking project makes a good impression to anyone arriving at Bridlington by train. Green-tech has worked with PBS Construction since 2006, and it was a pleasure to be able to be part of something so transformative for one of Yorkshire’s favourite seaside resorts. ArborRaft is so easy to lay, and even though it has been tried and tested over ten years or more, it’s always nice to see a finished project with the trees looking so healthy. It is early days but once mature they will give welcome shade for commuters and visitors alike.”
green-tech.co.uk
Accredited Supplier Alpha Rail have been involved in supplying metal railing for the Penny Pie Park improvement project, designed to improve the environmental surroundings of a neglected park located on Dodworth Road, Barnsley.
Penny Pie Park was originally a landfill site, developed into a recreational park. To ease congestion between the M1 motorway and Barnsley town centre, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council developed a new road scheme creating a gyratory through the park.
As part of the scheme, a focus was placed on developing the parks facilities, with the council working with tree specialists and landscape architects to identify trees to be preserved and transplanted, a new play area for children and relocated outdoor gym.
Arbor Forest Products - the UK’s leading independent timber importer and processor - has put sustainability at the heart of its new fleet of lorries, highlighting the company’s drive for greener thinking and its ambition to help customers meet ever-increasing environmental targets
Successfully in business for over 70 years, Accredited Supplier Arbor supplies over 500,000m3 of quality timber to the building, DIY and construction trades every year from its 90-acre site in New Holland. It’s the largest dedicated timber terminal and processing facility in the UK. With 100’s of orders to process daily, and large-scale logistic challenges a mainstay of the industry, Arbor has continued to look for greener solutions that optimise fleet utilisation, reduce carbon emissions, improve efficiency levels, and replace existing manual processes.
One of the results has been the creation of ‘Warehouse on Wheels’, a one-stop shop concept that delivers products at the right place and time, and in the precise volumes required. By providing mixed product deliveries nationwide
(removing the need to use separate suppliers), Arbor is using fewer vehicles on the roads, making fewer deliveries and reducing its carbon footprint. In addition, transport planning is automated through routing and scheduling software, further maximising efficiencies.
Since launching, Warehouse on Wheels has helped Arbor to:
• Travel 4,090 road miles less each week
• Save 2,237 litres of diesel every week
• Improve trailer fill rates by 25%
• Eliminate 70 customer deliveries each week
With fresh panel designs, Arbor’s new-look lorry fleet is ready to take the Warehouse on Wheels concept to the next level and help the company’s customers enhance their green credentials. This will become increasingly important as businesses strive to meet ever-increasing sustainability targets, meaning innovative thinking will be needed to reduce environmental impacts across the supply chain.
Find out more at arborforestproducts.co.uk
Landscaping contractors P Casey & Company appointed Alpha Rail to supply the new metalworks required for the project, including decorative railings and a large decorative archway to improve the environmental surroundings of the park, with the aim of minimising the negative effects of having a road placed through it.
Alpha Rail supplied and installed a number of products, including:
• Decorative Flat Top Railings
• Decorative Gates
• Arches
• Pedestrian Guardrail
All products supplied were bespoke made for the project, and the park now has an impressive gated entrance, new signage, notice boards, and new railings to provide a safe and welcoming environment. alpharail.co.uk
Accredited Designer and Chelsea award-winning garden designer, Jilayne Rickards, will be working with sustainability-focused landscaper Tecwyn Evans, from Accredited Contractor Living Landscapes, to create the Fauna & Flora International Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023.
Sponsored by Project Giving Back, the show garden will mark the Chelsea debut of Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and will provide a spotlight on the wildlife conservation charity’s work with the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) in Central
Africa - an initiative originally established by FFI in 1978 as the Mountain Gorilla Project.
Determined to make her own positive impact on the planet and biodiversity, Jilayne Rickards sees partnering with FFI as the perfect match; and, in this vein, Jilayne and Tecwyn have set out on a mission to make the show garden as sustainable as possible. Zero waste will be sent to landfill, 95% of building materials will be sourced from the UK and as many materials as possible will be recycled or reused. For example, the boulders, supplied by Accredited Supplier CED Stone Group
Accredited Supplier Hy-Tex UK, was delighted to exhibit back in September at APF 2022 - the UK’s largest forestry, woodland, arboriculture, fencing and biomass event.
After a 3-year absence from trade shows due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kent based company showcased their comprehensive range of products for biodegradable tree protection, silt pollution control, wildlife protection and biodegradable erosion control.
Over 20,000 people attended the popular exhibition, with Hy-Tex’s new Eco-Haven™ Tree Guards debuting at the show. The entirely new range of fully biodegradable - but highly durable - tree guards, shrub shelters and vine sleeves were particularly well received by visitors to Hy-Tex’s stand. The product launch during the show was a great way to re-engage and interact with their
valued customers on a more face-to-face basis after such a prolonged time of not being able to do so.
Eco-Haven™ Tree Guards incorporate a unique flat pack modular design that makes them simple to transport and are easy to install and re-use. The product is a plant based sustainable solution which is fully biodegradable in-situ, so no need to remove and compost.
Other notable Hy-Tex products on display at the exhibition were Hy-Tex’s in-demand Ecotex™ 100 Tree Mats and the market leading Terrastop™ Silt Fence range.
To further emphasise Hy-Tex’s environmentally friendly approach, the company has also recently launched a new fully biodegradable product - Biobrane™ Dewatering Bags. The bags provide an effective way to collect harmful sediments from dirty water pumped out of excavation
to create the garden boundary, are a waste product from agricultural farming. A highlight - and a real rarity at Chelsea – is that the garden will be entirely cement- and concrete-free construction.
When it comes to the plants, the garden is set to be a treasure trove of unusual species typical of the Afromontane landscape of Central Africa. Imagine a medicinal garden, including plants such as Brillantaisia, Moringa and Leucas, all shaded by Eucalyptus and banana trees; a true-to-life gorilla nest set amongst bamboo and other typical gorilla food plants; and a waterfall and viewing rock surrounded by plants commonly found at high altitude. A large proportion of the plants are being grown in the tropical biomes at the Eden Project, where the garden will also be relocated following the show – solidifying Jilayne’s and the garden team’s commitment that nothing will go to waste.
jilaynerickards.com livinglandscapesuk.com
works and are exclusively made from a special plantbased biopolymer.
The product is a 100% bio-based solution using sustainable materials that are fully compostable and biodegradable at end of use.
To kick off the Christmas season, Hy-Tex gladly donated £1,000 to a local children’s Christmas box appeal charity for the second consecutive year. The 400+ Christmas boxes and gifts will again help provide the essentials, as well as Christmas presents, for vulnerable children in the Kent area.
For further information and updates on Hy-Tex UK, visit hy-tex.co.uk
Futureproofing the artificial grass marketplace means facing the challenges of circularity and recyclability head on. The pioneers in this field at Accredited Supplier Evergreens UK Group are again leading the march forward, as they reveal their UK-exclusive collaboration with LimeGreen® and the launch of ONEDNA™ artificial grass for 2023.
Its launch makes an important statement and is a conversation starter for those in the development, manufacture, supply, installation and recycling of artificial grass. This is one more bold, innovative move by Evergreens UK and forms just one step in their Evergreener™ sustainability initiative.
Made from just one raw material, the new ONE-DNA™ formula has a significantly
lower carbon footprint, using less energy in production and hitting the ultimate goal in recyclability when cleaned at ‘end of life’: 100%. A single polymer means a single recycling method at a single recycling facility, using less energy. This unique formulation means clean single DNA lawns can be recycled at local facilities and reused as artificial grass or similar value products, time and time again. Any cut waste from the new installation can go straight back to the manufacturer to be recycled and reused afresh.
Evergreens UK Group Sales and Marketing Director Andy Driver is eager to extend the company’s sustainability commitment and is formulating a number of additional initiatives moving forward. “We are really excited to be able to share our plans for products with 100% circularity, launching in collaboration with partners LimeGreen®. This new range resolves end-of-life issues and opens a whole new dialogue across the industry. But we acknowledge there is more to be done - this is just the first step in our mission for change as part of our Evergreener™ programme for 2023.”
www.evergreensukgroup.com
The Great Room at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London once again lived up to its name, with the winners of the 46th National Landscape Awards recognised and celebrated by their colleagues, peers and friends in style, a dazzling ceremony, supported by headline sponsor Green-tech.
Wayne Grills and the team at Landscape House welcomed around 900 guests to this year’s ceremony, sharing the jubilation as the 26 Principal Awards, three Special Awards and ultimate Grand Award were announced.
Host for the ceremony was actor and writer Ralf Little, best known for television comedy and the roles of Antony Royle in The Royle Family and Jonny Keogh in the first six series of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps delighted the audience with his memories of working on both shows, highlighting his pride and joy working with the cast of The Royle Family.
The coveted Grand Award winner, sponsored by headline sponsor Green-tech, was announced as Maylim for Exchange Square, the Principal Award in the Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Over £500K category, sponsored by MCM. Read more about this complex, sustainability focussed scheme, on page 10.
Maylim had further celebrations for their Principal Award win in the Residential Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping – Over £250K category, supported by GoLandscape, for Lancer Square, a public garden in the heart of the mixed-use development above an underground car park.
This year, the judges bestowed three Special Awards.
Best Design and Build, sponsored by Springbridge Direct was awarded to The Garden Company for their creative and meticulous work on West Hill, a modern new property in a natural setting adjacent to older, character properties. The rear garden originally had just a small patio and no planting and the awkwardly shaped front garden had a low-quality drive, lawn, and paved pathway. Landscaping craftmanship has created a sense of warmth and harmony throughout the space. The front garden now offers a calm welcome, with fluid organic shapes and experimental use of rock. The rear garden reflects the modern building through strong geometry, with intricately layered planting and materials softening the effect. Several handcrafted features including a larger porch, bespoke greenhouse and semisunken sanctuary space have been added in the final stages of the project, meeting the family’s changing needs.
The judges were impressed with the transformation from bland, uninspiring,
‘new build’ landscaping to a landscape designed and constructed to fill the heart and the senses is a joy to behold. A strong design and planting plan, delivered by excellent construction, provide the house with a beautiful setting to be enjoyed now and in the years to come.
The Special Award for Best First Time Entrant, sponsored by Makita UK went to a project from the Domestic Garden Construction - Between £100K - £250K category. Ellicar won the Special Award for Wildlife & Water Garden in Nottinghamshire, a scheme designed and executed for a busy GP, who wanted a pool for wild swimming as the focal point for her new garden, which she wanted to be a naturalistic space for relaxing and entertaining with family.
Blessed with spectacular views onto rolling countryside, the garden now has a beautiful natural swimming pool with vibrant borders containing bold architectural flowers, reminding the
client of her Kenyan childhood, and soft grasses to give a naturalistic feel. A stream, reminiscent of a Scottish burn, has been constructed through the garden, and a vegetable garden created with cut flower beds, herbs, soft fruit, and a chicken pen. An existing garden cabin has been beautifully incorporated into the scheme, and there is also a medicinal garden to enable the client to pursue her interest in botany and medicinal plants for healing. The garden is easy to look after, with seedbeds and grasses left standing for the birds in winter.
The judges noted that natural swimming ponds are growing in popularity in the UK and the contractor has played an important role in bringing that about. This scheme, and the contractor’s other entries, demonstrates the contractor’s growing confidence in designing, project managing, and constructing beautiful landscapes with natural swimming ponds as their focus.
Phoebe Hay, Head Gardener at Landform Consultants, was presented with the Special Award for Exemplary Horticultural Skill, sponsored by CED Stone Group for her work at The Garden at 120.
This roof garden was originally built circa 2015 and has been maintained by the contractor since June 2019. Situated on the 15th floor, it is one of the most visited roof spaces in London, with wonderful 360-degree panoramic views of the city skyline. The garden has 352m2 of mixed perennials, bulbs and grasses, 125 linear metres of box hedging, and an architectural pergola covered with 85 different flowering wisterias, 25 apple and pear cordons, eight fan trained fig trees, 53 linear metres of selfclinging climbers, and 50 linear metres of wire-trained climbers. Despite the harsh, exposed environment, heavy public footfall, and the ever-present blight and caterpillar threats to the
hand-clipped box hedging, this hugely popular oasis in the sky is the building’s jewel in the crown and is flourishing under the care of the passionate head gardener.
The judges agreed that the success of this beautiful space is down to the passion, commitment, and horticultural expertise of Phoebe Hay, the Head Gardener. Her enthusiasm is evident to anyone who sets foot in this 15th floor garden and in the three years she has been responsible for its care it has flourished.
Five Principal Awards were presented in the domestic garden categories. Sponsored by Hedges Direct, the Domestic Garden Construction - Under £30K, was awarded to Graduate Gardeners for Private Garden in Cheltenham, which showed an immense amount of care and attention to detail.
The Principal Award for Domestic Garden Construction - Between £30K - £60K, sponsored by
Ecoscape UK went to FirstLight Landscaping for Ridgeway, which achieved a very attractive scheme on challenging terrain.
Domestic Garden ConstructionBetween £100K - £250K, sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries, was the second Principal Award of the day for Graduate Gardeners for Private Garden in Painswick, executing the garden design to seamlessly marry in with age and style of the property.
A Contemporary Garden in Hampstead, a complex design
executed with skill by Bowles & Wyer won the Principal Award in the Domestic Garden ConstructionOver £250K category, sponsored by Europlants UK.
The final domestic garden categoryDomestic Garden Construction - Soft Landscaping, sponsored by Easigrass went to first time entrants Ellicar for Yorkshire Plant Lovers Garden, which showcased a stunning planting scheme including a wide range of insect friendly species.
The Principal Award for Soft Landscaping Construction (nondomestic) - Under £500K, sponsored by Hillier Nurseries, went to Wright Landscapes for Blackfriars Pub, which showed design flair and excellent attention to detail across the planting in pots and containers.
Sponsors Johnsons of Whixley presented the Soft Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) - Over £500K Principal Award to Living Landscapes for Symphony Park, Circle Square, Manchester, a challenging project incorporating turf and a range
of trees and shrubs, which continues to thrive despite heavy footfall.
Elmtree Garden Contractors were presented with the Principal Award for Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) - Under £500K, by sponsors by H Sivyer Transport, for Camping Field at The Wave, the UK’s first inland surfing destination. The judges noted the exceptionally high standard of the jointing and framework construction, especially on the 430m long boardwalk.
Nigel Bowcock, National Chair of the Association announced the introduction of a new Lifetime Achievement Award. Launched in the Associations 50th year, the award recognises the progress made by BALI over the last half century. The Board of Directors were unanimous that the award was presented to one of the founding members of the Association - Jeffrey Bernhard OBE.
Jeffrey has dedicated almost 75 years to landscaping and horticulture. Throughout his career he has used his charm, charisma, and professional reputation for the greater good of the industry. In the early 1970s, he brought together what were to be the founding members of the landscape industry’s first representative trade body - the British Association of Landscape Industries - becoming its first National Chair in 1972. Jeffrey gave thousands of hours of his own time, alongside his business and personal commitments, to establish the Association, and continued his active support for the industry and with the Association until his retirement in 2008, helping and inspiring countless individuals and businesses along the way.
In this, the Association’s 50th year, we honour him the British Association of Landscape Industries’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) - Over £500K, sponsored by MCM was presented to Maylim for Exchange Square –ultimately crowned as the Grand Award Winner for 2022. Read more about this winning project on page 10.
RHS Hilltop, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Home of Gardening Science won the Principal Award for main contractor Landform Consultants in the Community & Schools Development category, sponsored by Composite Prime. The judges felt they had delivered an outstanding legacy project for the RHS.
The Principal Award for Regeneration Scheme - Over £500K, sponsored by ICL Turf & Landscape, went to Frosts Landscape Construction for Reading International Business Park, which has been transformed into an aspirational place to work.
Sponsors of Grounds Maintenance - Free Public Access, Reesink UK presented the Principal Award to Nurture Landscapes for Kings Cross Estate, a large multi-use
redevelopment in London. The judges were impressed with the expertise and dedication of the onsite staff and recognised the high standard of maintenance achieved.
Nurture Landscapes also took the Principal Award in the Grounds Maintenance - Limited Public Access category, sponsored by Agrovista UK. Winnersh Triangle Business Park covers 90 acres, which is beautifully and enthusiastically maintained by the onsite team.
Nurture Landscapes was presented with further Principal Awards in the two interior landscape categories. Their work on the interior scheme of the Sky Garden at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital was recognised in the Interior Landscape – Installation category, supported by the BALI Chalk Fund. For the Interior Landscapes – Maintenance category, supported by Perennial, they took the Principal Award for 250 Bishopsgate, which the judges noted was an impressive and passionately tended scheme.
Excellent project management, craftsmanship and attention to detail
were some of the judges’ descriptors for the execution of Maylim’s project Lancer Square, Principal Award winner of Residential Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping - Over £250K, supported by GoLandscape.
Bowles & Wyer received the Principal Award for 78 St James’s Street in the Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping - Under £500K category, sponsored by Bourne Amenity. A recently restored Grade II listed building, with the outdoor terrace planting schemes thriving.
The complex landscaping scheme for London Dock - C1-C3 saw Elite Landscapes win the Principal Award in the Commercial Roof Garden or Podium LandscapingOver £500K category, sponsored by Green-Tree Topsoil.
The Principal Award for Exterior Living Wall Installation, supported by the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group went to Bowles & Wyer for 15 Grosvenor Square, who’s design and execution transformed the space, improving both the aesthetic and environment for residents.
Wright Landscapes’ work on the Castle Irwell Development Scheme earned them the Principal Award in the Nature Conservation & Biodiversity Enhancement, sponsored by Ground Control.
Rosemary Coldstream MBALI was the Principal Award winner of the Design Excellence - Overall Scheme Under £50K category, sponsored by RSK Habitat Management, for A Rooftop Oasis. Excellent detailed drawings supported by 3D imagery clearly showed her beautiful vision for the space.
For the Design Excellence Award - Overall Scheme Over £100K, sponsored by Polypipe Civils and Green Urbanisation, A Contemporary Garden in Hampstead, designed by John Wyer MBALI was Principal Award winner. John’s drawings for the scheme showed the complexity of the multi-faceted family garden.
The International category, sponsored by the Landscape Institute was the most hotly contended category of the day, with 9 schemes in the running. The Principal Award was presented to DDON Planning and Design Co. for Oriental Zen in Modern Dwelling,
a beautiful design in keeping with the area’s surrounding mountain landscape.
Principal Award winner for Supplier Exceptional Service, sponsored by idverde, was Adtrak for going above and beyond in its efforts to deliver an exceptional service for its customers.
The final two categories focus on employer excellence. Sponsors of Employer Excellence - Turnover Under £2.5M, Wright Landscapes bestowed the Principal Award to Garden Club London, who recognise that training and retaining its staff ensures business growth and high standards.
Finally, Employer ExcellenceTurnover Over £2.5M, sponsored by Fresh Horticultural Careers. The Principal Award winner was Wright Landscapes, dedicated to improving and implementing new measures to positively impact the business, its employees, the environment, and the wider community.
A copy of the Award Winners brochure, containing all the winners on the day, is included with this edition of Landscape News. If you would like a digital copy, please contact emily.feeney@bali.org.uk
Entries for the 47th National Landscape Awards 2023 will open in late February, early March 2023. We look forward to receiving your entries and celebrating with you all again next year.
Research into consumer spending habits has reinforced what most of us already knew - societal changes over the last two years have transformed how most homeowners use their living space, which has accelerated the growth of the home improvement sector.
Demand for all types of home improvement products and services has increased significantly since 2020, with one market research report ranking garden makeover the 2nd most popular home improvement after a new kitchen, and ahead of a new bathroom, loft conversion and extension.
This period of growth for the home improvement sector has coincided
with significant challenges: material supplies, staff illness and production cost increases, as well as the perennial issues of labour shortages and the unpredictability of the UK weather.
Research has revealed two thirds of tradespeople regarded 2021 as their busiest year ever but, unfortunately, more than one in three tradespeople also reported increased levels of stress due to challenges associated with work.
One area of a project likely to generate stress is dispute with a client. Unfortunately, the number of disputes reported between contractors and domestic clients has increased significantly since 2020, which is a trend observed by the Association during the fulfilment of its role as
a dispute resolution provider to members and their clients.
The Association’s Dispute Resolution Service is a free member benefit offered to Accredited Contractor and Designer members. The service ensures lines of communication remain open between the client and Association member in the event of a disagreement, whilst the BALI technical team review project documentation and suggest a resolution which ensures a fair outcome.
Most disputes reviewed by the Dispute Resolution Committee do not arise from poor workmanship, but a difference in expectations caused by a lack of communication between client and contractor.
•
Experience gained by the committee has led them to identify this lack of communication in three specific areas of the project:
•
• Design
Before exploring aspects of a project which arise once a contract has been agreed, the Association wish to stress the importance - now more than everof members choosing customers who fit their business model.
Most domestic clients tend to undervalue the budget required for even a modest domestic garden project using hard and soft landscape materials. As material prices and business operating costs continue to increase, this trend is likely to become more common.
The disputes committee urge members to be mindful of clients whose budget is not sufficient to meet
their project ambitions, and members should pay particular attention to projects where the client’s budget is likely to be exceeded following minor variations which may be expected during a project.
The Association suggest members reflect on their target market and bear in mind the gradual attrition of customer groups as project budgets increase with inflation. The Association advise members not to undervalue their time and skill for the benefit of the client, and not to pricematch ‘fly-by-night’ businesses.
Providing value for money is something all customers seek regardless of budget, and it is important Association members deliver a service commensurate with their role as a professional landscape designer and/or contactor.
The service provided should include provision of documentation which gives the client a clear understanding
of the terms of business, as well as the service they will receive.
The disputes committee frequently review project documents which fail to furnish the customer with adequate detail. Specific issues include:
• Failure to issue terms and conditions
• Specification which does not detail all elements of the project in sufficient detail
• Design drawing which is either absent or fails to provide sufficient detail
• Failure to record variations in specification and cost during the project
There are measures all Association members can take that will help prevent disputes arising:
1. Issue contracts, terms and conditions: Use either the free domestic contract available for members to download from the BALI website (by logging in to the member area), or one of the JCLI Landscape Works contracts available for £35 + VAT from landscapeinstitute.org/ technical/jcli/
2. Issue specification and design drawings: Members are encouraged to issue documents which communicate the full extent of the works. A specification and bill or quantities (which may be combined for smaller projects) together with design drawing is the minimum expected.
The
3. Provide clients with samples of all materials used and ensure they understand the implications of using natural products:
• Variation in colour
• Variation in texture
• Maintenance requirement
4. Record scope changes. Members must gain positive consent from their client for any scope changes and record these on a revised quote, email or document. The client should understand the cost, materials and time implications of all scope changes before the contractor proceeds with the variation.
Whilst these documents place an additional burden on busy designers and contractors, time invested in the early stages of a project is likely to avoid future disputes. Provision of contractual documentation to the client at the outset is particularly beneficial in the event of a dispute where the clients’ expectations have not been met, since it allows
The trend for a level threshold in domestic landscape projects must be carefully considered by landscape designers and contractors to ensure the damp proof course of the property is not compromised.
a third party to quickly identify the deliverables quoted by the designer or contactor.
Review the revised disputes service forms provided by the Association on the BALI website and familiarise yourself with the evidence required as part of a dispute. If you do not routinely provide documentation such as a contract, terms and conditions, design and specification with your quote, consider the implications of settling a dispute without these.
A minority of disputes between members and their client concerns workmanship. Whilst online DIY forums, manufacturer installation guides or even a 30-minute YouTube video won’t transform a client into a skilled landscaper, it will furnish them with the knowledge necessary to know when a project element has not been constructed correctly or does not meet building regulations, and to seek a second opinion. A landscape professional is
Use of porcelain on domestic projects has increased significantly. Successful use of this material relies on good adhesion between the underside of the paving and mortar beneath. Always consult the paving manufacturer or supplier to ensure the correct materials are used.
expected to refer to manufacturer or supplier installation guidance, and to complete work according to building regulations or industry best practice.
Incorrect installation of modern materials generates a disproportionately high number of disputes. Whilst the fundamentals of landscape construction have stood the test of time, many modern materials (such as porcelain, natural paving and resin bound surfaces) must be installed in accordance with manufacturer instruction. If in doubt, it is suggested contractors consult either the manufacturer or the Association for guidance.
BakerTechnical Officer (Policy & Research)
The Association hosted a webinar in August 2022 with Owen Baker and Lesley Hewitt, an independent expert and landscape consultant with over 40 years’ experience in hard and soft landscape construction and has worked closely with the Association on a number of dispute resolution cases. The webinar is available to view for all members on-demand in the member area of the BALI website.
The Association is often contacted by students and members of all backgrounds seeking recommendations for computer software suitable for use in landscape design and construction.
Whilst the starting point for a student or more experienced member is likely to differ from a professional perspective, such has been the speed of evolution in software and its use in the industry that adoption of new programmes unifies experienced landscape professionals and newbies alike.
Through its role as a dispute resolution service to members and their clients, the Association is aware some smaller businesses produce hand-drawn design and technical plans
for domestic clients but may benefit from using computer software for specific design activities.
As recently as 1990, 90% of computer-aided design (CAD) applications were intended for production of technical or construction drawings only, leaving the creative act of design largely unaided by computers. However, the rapid development of computer software during the 21st century has changed this balance significantly, with many landscape practices now adopting entirely paperless processes throughout the design process.
There is support in landscape literature for maintaining some degree of hand drawing for early phases of the design process, with many believing hand drawn illustrations during the conceptual
stage help designers understand the challenges and identification of solutions. Many designer and contractor members make sketches during an initial site visit and meeting with client, before using computer software to refine these into a format more presentable to the client as a proposal and, finally, a series of design documents.
This article discusses several computer programmes intended to aid garden and landscape designers and/or contractors at various stages of the design process. Members of the Association, including awardwinning garden designers and contractors were contacted as part of this article, to help identify a range of programmes they use and recommended in their business.
The Association appreciate the importance of members investing time and money in a platform which meets criteria including:
• Affordability
• Accessibility
• Compatibility
The variety of options available mean there is a software package to suit all disciplines and budgets.
Computer-aided design (CAD) is a generic term used to describe the use of computer software to create 2D and 3D drawings. Members may be familiar with the brand, AutoCAD, which was released to market in 1982 and has since been adopted in many manufacturing, infrastructure and building construction business for the purpose of design. AutoCAD was used widely by the landscape industry during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
Whilst AutoCAD featured relatively few landscape industry-specific features and tools during this period, it was nevertheless used extensively for production of technical landscape design drawings, including construction details.
AutoCAD remains the standard for civil and construction businesses today; most construction and technical drawings within the construction industry are issued in the AutoCAD (.DWG) format.
Although capable, the software requires a significant investment in time for users to become accustomed to the features of the various packages and capable of producing drawings. The LT version of AutoCAD features the full suite of 2D drawing tools, whilst AutoCAD features 3D tools.
Whilst still used by a minority of landscape professionals, members interviewed as part of this article advised AutoCAD is not aligned as closely with the needs of landscape designers as the alternatives discussed further in this article.
Designers and contractors who seek a simple software package to create fast, nimble designs would be advised to seek alternative software packages.
Cost per year:
AutoCAD LT: £486 per user/year AutoCAD: £1,986 per user/year
Landscape
Landmark represents the industry standard for landscape designers due to its broad range of industry specific features including GIS, planning, site design, graphics and presentation.
Like AutoCAD, Vectorworks provides a variety of features to help designers build and present 2D and 3D designs but is generally regarded as being easier to use than AutoCAD. Complex shapes and designs can be drafted more easily, and a wide range of file types can be imported and exported. Users of Vectorworks can import drawings from many other programmes, including AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit and Rhino.
Vectorworks can be used to plan and design soft and hard landscapes, irrigation and other building projects. Vectorworks Landmark also includes tools to enhance drawings including realistic foliage, materials, fences and building attributes.
Through its partnership with Vectorworks UK, the Association is able to offer Accredited Designers with a free trial, as well as exclusive training sessions and user groups for Vectorworks. Login to your members area on bali.org.uk and locate the BALI Blueprint page on your list of benefits. Please see page 36 for further information .
Cost per year:
Vectorworks Fundamentals: £880.00 per user/year
Vectorworks Landmark: £1,230.00 per user/year
Sketchup is a modelling tool commonly used to create 3D drawings and visualizations.
The format of the programme allows users to quickly draw and extrude flat surfaces into 3D shapes, and its tools and layout can be used to create high quality drawings and renderings for clients in a format that can be shared easily.
Sketchup is widely used by urban planners, landscape designers and architects, and is generally regarded as the quickest and easiest 3D modelling software to learn and use. Sketchup is home to a strong community of users, who share content and templates for free.
The primary function of the Bluebeam program is as a ‘markup’ tool. Users can import files such as images, maps
or drawings to use as a template upon which text, notes, and CAD drawings can be added or ‘marked-up’.
Photos and videos can also be embedded into marked-up drawings. Bluebeam does have the facility to create and edit drawings in either 2D or 3D, although this function is secondary to mark-up.
Bluebeam is widely used by engineers, architects and contractors as a platform to share designs and ideas.
Costs per year: Basic: £200 per user/year Complete: £335 per user/year
Owen BakerTechnical Officer (Policy & Research)
print (December 2022).
Continued from • Four exclusive complimentary training sessions • Exclusive complimentary BALI Blueprint+ Bitesize monthly lunchtime sessions • Exclusive opportunity to attend Vectorworks UK user groups
previous page BALI Blueprint To get started, login to your member’s area and locate the BALI Blueprint page in your list of benefits. Alternatively let us arrange for them to give you a call by contacting us on +44(0)24 7669 0333 or email contact@bali.org.uk.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the recent Membership Satisfaction Survey. This annual survey is critical for the Association to not only understand how you, our members are feeling about your membership and the benefits it affords you, but also what you would like to see improved, changed or implemented going forward.
We received responses from 92 members, an increase of 20% from last years survey, across all membership types, which gives us a good snapshot of how, as an Association we are doing. The survey comprised the same questions as in 2021, allowing us to make a direct comparison of improvements and where we may have fallen short.
The awareness of many of the benefits membership of the Association provides is high, especially the use of the Accredited logo, Who’s Who directory, website members area and Landscape News. However, this is a sliding scale, with less awareness around the benefits provided by our partners including BALI HR/H&S, BALI Jobs, BALI Insure and BALI Digital.
The majority of benefits rated good or excellent has increased year on year, with Landscape News and the Accredited logo both reaching 90%. The support provided by Owen Baker, our Technical Officer has also jumped to 85% of members rating his support as good or excellent! However, as with awareness of the available benefits, the benefits provided by our partners
has declined, along with the perceived benefit of the Who’s Who directory. Having your say
Across all the comments we received in the survey, support around recruitment and attracting talent into the industry was the principal recurring theme. This is obviously an industry wide issue, which shows no signs of abating in the short term. The Association is already working hard recruiting additional GoLandscape Ambassadors to further support raising awareness of working within the industry to both school leavers and career changers. We are also continuing our search for the new Education Officer. This is a critical role in supporting education and recruitment into the industry.
There has also been feedback relating to content ideas for events and webinars that members feel would be beneficial across a wide range of topics, both relevant to all members, as well as more specific areas for individual member types. We commit to reviewing these ideas and developing as many of them as we can into webinars in 2023 and beyond.
Although a relatively short survey, it provides a lot of information to review. We are in progress reviewing the key themes that have been highlighted against our business plan and aligning within our new strategy to ensure we are working to the same common goals. We will provide further updates on our planned actions and achievements in our weekly e-newsletters and future editions of Landscape News.
In the 2021 survey, you asked us to support you in 5 key area. We took a moment to reflect on how we have done:
Keep pushing to raise awareness of member benefits: The Association has been using its communication channels to highlight and promote the different benefits available to members, with a spotlight focus on different benefits each quarter in Landscape News.
Provide more information on legislation and new products: Throughout 2022, Owen Baker has provided a range of technical articles in Landscape News, e-newsletters and website on key topics including red diesel, plant passporting, plant health, legislation and regulation changes. These have been supported by a range of webinars and events aimed to raise awareness and understanding of issues within our industry.
Support members with how to reduce their impact on the environment: The Association is supporting the Embodied Carbon Project, one of the key objectives of which is to equip professionals to measure their own impact. We have also developed articles looking at battery operated machinery, climate change effects on trees and turf and the importance of sustainable gardens.
Attract talent into the industry to help with the shortage skills: Through our careers initiative GoLandscape, we have attended over 40 careers/school events in 2022. We’ve increased the number of GoLandscape Ambassadors and are continuing to recruit more in order to help spread the career benefits of landscaping as far as we can. We are also continuing to develop the pilot for the BALI Academy.
Host webinars and events on creating sustainable wildlife gardens: Throughout 2022, we have tried wherever possible to ensure the environmental and sustainability impacts are considered. Saying that, we feel we can do much more on what is such as important topic. We are committing to pushing this forwards in 2023.
We commit to create an inclusive culture and measure how we engage and improve representation.
Support the development of our industry from an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion perspective - regardless of area of specialism, through the sharing of work and good practice.
To recognise and monitor Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion across the industry, using a set format to benchmark performance.
Provide access to resources for educating and upskilling colleagues and members on diversity and inclusion.
Promote the Industry as a fully inclusive and accessible environment with opportunities for lifelong rewarding careers.
Signatories to this Charter confirm their commitment to progress the breaking down of barriers in the industry and increasing access and progression for all. To work openly and respectfully with other chartered members.
GreenBlue Urban is the worlds leading urban greening specialist. With more than 30 years of experience in creating healthier urban spaces in harmony with nature.
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Creating healthier urban spaces in harmony with nature
Stretching more than 500 metres along the South Bank of the River Thames, from Westminster Bridge to Lambeth, is the National Covid Memorial Wall. There are now over 150,000 pink and red hearts painted along the wall and one can’t help but be moved by their simplicity. Each one representing someone who was loved. Someone who died from Covid. So many people were affected in different ways during the pandemic - some more lasting than others.
At the end of that South Bank wall sits the slightly out of place and,
wonderfully unexpected Garden Museum. A sanctuary at the edge of the Thames, providing a space for learning, art, and history around horticulture. This is where I meet Flo Headlam, garden designer and Association Equity Ambassador, and Jason Williams, social media influencer The Cloud Gardener to talk about their involvement in the industry, and their experiences with horticulture being able to change people’s lives for the better - be it in managing mental health or the way that it seems to bring people together and create communities. Both are needed more than ever post pandemic.
Flo: “I have always been passionate about education, from my time working for Comic Relief in the Schools Team, and have done a lot of work with organisations going into schools and talking to young people
Being from a black background, a lot of our parents and grandparents were avid gardeners. It is something that is so ingrained in our culture.
about my career change and hopefully inspiring them to perhaps think about a career they hadn’t considered before When the Association invited me to the Access All Areas panel discussion in December 2021, I saw it as an opportunity to meet with a diverse set of horticulturists, to be in a room where I could be part of an important discussion about the need for change in the industry. So, it was an easy yes to agree to becoming an Equity Ambassador”.
Jason believes seeing people that you look like makes an enormous difference. “Being from a black background, a lot of our parents and grandparents were avid gardeners. It is something that is so ingrained in our culture. People will have picked up tips from their grandparents and stored it but maybe not come back to gardening until later in life and, when they do, there are so few people on television or social media who look like them and because that representation isn’t there, they might not take that natural curiosity any further”. Both Flo and Jason agree they are in a position to change this perception by being visible on television, social media, magazines, and events. Jason recently won the GMG Award 2022 for Social Media Broadcaster of the Year, and Flo is one of the presenters/designers on BBC’s
Is the picture perfection that we see on television, online and in magazines realistic? Jason says with a smile “I have a section of my balcony that I call the ‘Struggle Bus’ and anything that is not doing so well will head over there. I find people can discard plants too easily, but I’ve learned they might just need a little bit of extra love and care and maybe a little bit of music! Like mental health, you just need to invest a little extra time.”
Flo agrees. “We need to slow down and appreciate the process as well as the result. I deliberately promote the fact that gardening is a slow joysomething to be celebrated. One of my phrases to clients is that they are now Plant Parents. I tell them, take a gin & tonic into the garden when you need to water - watch those plants grow and take that time to relax. Gardening can show people it’s a good thing to slow down.” Jason supports this “It’s important that we enjoy the process not just the finished look. If you, like me, are in a city, go out on your balcony, terrace or small garden and change the pace. In the city everything is fast; tending to the plants, dead heading or feeding the fish - it’s all slow.”
Extending from the slow joy of gardening, Flo highlights how therapeutic gardening can be. Jason agrees and cites his own struggles with mental health. During the pandemic, his previous employer created community Facebook and WhatsApp groups, as well as other ways to keep staff connected when working from home. Unfortunately, when restrictions were lifted, these groups and communities stopped. “I saw that support disappear so quickly. There is a reluctance in many businesses to go that extra mile and get involved in supporting employee’s mental health, because the perception is it then becomes ‘their’ problem. I believe having someone within the organisation who is knowledgeable around mental health and can provide employee support is important. This could be as simple as holding an activity for teams outside of work”. Flo adds: “I feel post lockdown we do need to continue taking care of people - more so now than ever. Within a corporate space,
Like mental health, you just need to invest a little extra time
“
I feel post lockdown we do need to continue taking care of peoplemore so now than ever
“ “Credit: Jason Williams
providing an area for people to go and take time out to clear their heads is so important. Creating somewhere calm, zen-like with plants - just in pots if there’s no outside area - but create that space for your employees”
Flo and Jason find common ground on many subjects during their chat and strongly share a desire to see more people become involved, especially those who perhaps had not seen a role for themselves before in horticulture and landscaping. Jason is an Ambassador for the charity, Thrive. “The work they do is amazingthey help a lot of people perhaps with disabilities and poor mental health by allocating them a plot to plant up and they work with a horticultural therapist. From seeing these people engaged in this way you begin to realise how nurturing gardening can be and provide us with a way to talk around subjects we sometimes find difficult to face up to”
Flo is currently involved in three community gardens. “Sometimes people just turn up for a chat whilst others love to get stuck in. But everyone who’s there learns something. One of the gardens was just a wasteland. There’s a magic there seeing people’s confidence grow while working the land. Not only have they brought a barren space to life - they’ve grown a new community too.” Jason wants to see more communities having a say in what the planting looks like in their towns and cities; “It is mighty frustrating that the planting in city centres looks like old fashioned car park planting - where is the bio-culture? Where are the bees?”
Flo and Jason animatedly discuss the possibility of more allotment spaces being incorporated into residential designs, with Jason highlighting waiting lists in Manchester for allotments are currently averaging a staggering 5 years. “My show garden at RHS Tatton Park this was designed to encourage urban developers to create allotment spaces in the grounds of their residential builds to help create a
sense of community. I also undertook a project for Legal & General at The Fold in Croydon, where I designed 3 balcony gardens with separate themes, ranging from a low maintenance perennial garden, a biodiversity floral haven & an edible garden on the 35th floor. These all show how you can maximise small spaces for big impacts.” Something perhaps for other house builders to consider.
I ask Flo and Jason if Government were to really invest in green infrastructure and horticulture where would they like to see that investment. Both are unanimous that we need to start showing children as early as possible what horticulture is and growing food and flowers. “I worry that kids don’t know where food comes from!” Jason says. “I would also like to see the whole country being considered - North and South - for everyone to be involved.”
So, what have Flo and Jason got lined up over the next 18 months? Jason lists a raft of projects post Chelsea 2022, on top of his already popular YouTube podcast - The Cloud Gardener. He is off to the Greener Gardening Conference later in the month to show what can be grown on a balcony. Flo is filming for TV show Garden Rescue and has numerous design projects on the go, as well as plenty of community garden mentoring.
As we wrap things up, Flo concludes, “I think we agree that even though both of us sort of fell into our horticulture careers - we don’t just say ‘yes’ to everything - that opportunity has to be authentic.” Jason couldn’t agree more “I want to help change things and for it not to just be tokenistic”. Flo nods in agreement and I can see there is a mutual respect on this score.
We wrap things up and whilst having their photos taken, with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes and a jovial laugh Flo says, “Obviously my ultimate goal is Strictly 2025…I’m just putting it out there!”. I don’t think she is joking and with Jason already mentioning his love of music and beauty, I think we might just have two new contenders for the popular BBC show.
Find out more: flo-the-gardener.com cloudgardeneruk.co.uk
There’s a magic there seeing people’s confidence grow while working the land. Not only have they brought a barren space to lifethey’ve grown a new community too.
“
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ROLO courses are specially designed health, safety and environmental awareness courses, developed by the Association, for employees of companies operating in the land-based industry.
Three levels of training courses available:
Apply for a LISS/CSCS card to unlock your individual and/or companies potential with the following benefits:
• Enables you to work on live commercial land-based/construction sites
• Enables the ability to tender for commercial work that requires a LISS/CSCS SmartCard
• Recognising your qualifications and training experience
• The latest industry specific health, safety and environmental awareness knowledge bali.org.uk/lisscscs/what-is-lisscscs
Operative Supervisor Manager
Industry accreditation cards withdrawal by 2024: Card holders who obtained their cards via industry accreditation will need to complete the relevant qualifications in order to apply for their LISS/CSCS card from 1 January 2025.
Find the right course for you: bali.org.uk/lisscscs/rolo
*ROLO is a mandatory requirement to obtain a LISS/CSCS card
ROLO – to raise the standard of health and safety, environmental awareness, and reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace
Keeping up-to-date with employment and health & safety legislation can be timeconsuming and costly, especially if your business doesn’t have its own HR or H&S departments. BALI HR/H&S service in partnership with Quest provides our members with access to four key free services: HR, Legal, Health & Safety, and Tax. These can be accessed via a dedicated telephone line which provides access to the four advice lines and a website which features a document library with over 700 free template and guidance documents.
Save valuable time and money These are undoubtably uncertain and financially challenging times. These four services are included as part of your membership. One Association member alone saved over £24,000 using this benefit, by not needing to employ a consultant in these areas.
Whether your business is large or small, BALI HR/H&S can benefit you.
Larger businesses may have internal expertise and management to help with compliance issues. This service can provide valuable additional support for the staff who manage employment, health & safety, legal or tax matters.
For smaller businesses who may not have specialist staff and focus resources towards generating new business and servicing existing clients, this can often mean that protecting the business can easily be forgotten. BALI HR / H&S gives you have unlimited access to a range of vital business support and a bank of expertise and information.
If you are looking to be proactive around compliance and protection from a HR and H&S point of view, a 1-2-1 review with a Quest Business Manager is available. This looks at how you manage all aspects of your business helping you to make sure you are compliant and working to best practice. Quest will provide you with an honest assessment of your current practice and as a member, if you do need extra support, you will automatically receive a discount on any additional products.
Provides you with employer focused HR and employment law support through unlimited access to experienced HR advisors. They can help you with any problem or answer any question on a range of issues including discipline and grievance, training policies, employment contracts and redundancy.
Helps to support your business with specialist advice through unlimited access to experienced legal advisors who can help on a wide range of legal issues including contract disputes, debt recovery, property issues and much more.
Penalties for getting health & safety wrong can be severe so a business must focus on compliance. This service provides an easy-to-follow guide to health & safety compliance, from policies and risk assessment forms to lone working and working at heights.
Gives you access to experienced tax and VAT specialists who are available to help you resolve queries on tax or VAT matters including VAT Registration, exemptions, and HMRC investigations.
All of these services are supported by the extensive document library which features over 400 free downloadable employment documents, 200 downloadable legal templates and over 100 free downloadable Health & Safety documents.
Using the Quest HR Service through the Association is so easy & simple. I called in relation to a query surrounding parental leave, I was able to obtain the information I required within minutes to then relay back to our employee. I’d highly recommend this service just for the simplicity and ease if nothing else. As a business we don’t have support in house with a HR capacity, so to have this available to us means we can take action in situations confidently.
Ben Parkinson at Oakham Garden Services
To access these services simply call your dedicated Association member line on +44(0)116 243 7881 or to take advantage of the one-to-one review contact Myles Day on mday@questcover.com.
Alternatively contact the membership team on +44(0)24 7669 0333, or email contact@bali.org.uk.
Cameron Barker adds ‘UK Top Student’ to his impressive list of accolades. The 20-year-old Myerscough student swept away the competition to take the top honours, earning himself and his college a cash prize and tickets to the BALI National Landscape Awards.
As most readers will be aware, the BALI Chalk Fund runs a range of initiatives to support and inspire students to both join land based courses and excel once enrolled. One such initiative is the Top Student Award.
Each year, all 18 UK land-based colleges that are members of the
Association, are invited to select the top student from their landscape and horticulture courses, each submission earns that student a £100 cash prize. In addition, the top students from each college are judged against one another for the national title and top prize of £500, in addition the college also receives £500.
Cameron is no stranger to success, having been awarded an APL ‘Rising Star’ award, Lancashire Apprentice of the Year, and then went on to win Gold at the 2021 World Skills competition too. Whilst the judges were impressed with Cameron’s previous accolades, they also appreciated his commitment to the industry since working at
a local nursery from the age of 14. At the time of his application, Cameron hadn’t completed his course due to Covid-19 disruption, but scored an impressive ‘fullhouse’ in his theory mocks!
Having worked at the nursery for 18 months, Cameron was feeling slightly frustrated at his lack of progression, so when he left school, he sought a new challenge. A chance encounter saw his father, a breakdown motor mechanic, rescuing a team from Steven Foxcroft Landscapes, they got talking and the rest, as they say, is history!
Cameron landed a full-time position with the progressive landscape
company, who, in conjunction with Landscape Architects ‘Garden Form’ deliver high quality landscape services to discerning clients in the Northwest.
Foxcroft provided the opportunity that Cameron craved, and a training programme was established, which included Landscaping Level 2 at Myerscough College whist working full time.
Cameron says “I have learned so much and grown stronger in the process, before I joined Foxcroft Landscapes I was not being taught new skills, now I’m being supported at work and I’m always learning something new. I have not only developed landscape skills but personal skills too”
Reading the above, one would think that life had been a breeze for this talented young man, but it turns out that Cameron has his challenges, but support from his employers, and his college, has seen him grow in confidence despite his Aspergers Syndrome, a condition that affects social interaction and thinking patterns. Cameron says, “The apprenticeship
has really allowed me to develop not only my landscape skills but has helped with my confidence and my disability, with the guidance of my course tutor and employer I have been able to accomplish things I previously could only have dreamed of, such as taking part in the 2021 World Skills Competition and gaining the Gold medal”.
On receiving his letter informing him of his success, Cameron said “Thank you, I’m over the moon with this award, what a year it has been for me, and I’m excited to be attending the National Landscape Awards too, where I hope to meet fellow landscapers, some I know and some that are new to me as well. I intend to invest the £500 prize money into my new business, since my recent successes, I have had a quite a few requests for work and I have started CB Landscapes and carry out projects in my own time”.
In supporting Cameron’s application, Myerscough College work-based tutor Richard Heys said “Cam prides himself on his timekeeping and punctuality, he has a hunger to learn
new skills and a real determination to succeed, and become the best he can be, always searching for the latest trends and developments in the landscape industry. Cameron has excellent personal skills and likes to problem solve any issues that arise on site, he’s always willing to help”
As you might expect for such an achiever, Cameron is not resting on his laurels, he already has plans to get further training under his belt and gain further qualifications, targeting excavator training and Arboriculture qualifications next.
Cameron speaks highly of his employer who has supported him through such an exciting period, employer Steven Foxcroft says “Cameron is a top lad and he’s been a pleasure to support, we work on some complex projects which include detailed, bespoke elements and we try to expose Cam to these as much as possible to speed up his development, he’s really enthusiastic and a key part of our small, highly skilled team, I couldn’t be happier for him to have been recognised in this way”.
Trustee of the BALI Chalk Fund Nick Coslett said “Cameron has already received well deserved recognition for his efforts, working with a local landscaper, he has developed a range of skills and knowledge having been involved in the industry since the age of 14. Cameron has been well supported by both college and employer and we wish him every success in the future”
Confirmed dates for industry shows and events 2023. Correct at time of print. For the most up-to-date listings visit bali.org.uk/events
10 January
12 January
27 January
30 - 31 January
7 February
7 February
16 February
7 March
9 March
13 - 14 March
23 - 27 May
12 - 13 June
4 - 9 July
19 - 23 July
25 - 26 September
27 - 28 September
Webinar: Legal overview - personal injury bali.org.uk/events
Regional AGM: Midlands bali.org.uk/events
Regional AGM: South Thames bali.org.uk/events
Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/training
Webinar: Legal overview - employment law bali.org.uk/events
Regional AGM: North Thames bali.org.uk/events
Regional AGM: Yorkshire & North East bali.org.uk/events
Webinar: Legal overview - IR35 bali.org.uk/events
Regional AGM: South West bali.org.uk/events
Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/training
RHS Chelsea Flower Show rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show
Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/training
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-flower-show-tatton-park
Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/training
Trade show: LANDSCAPE Show landscapeshow.co.uk
Along with the numerous events and webinars already scheduled, Fran Bienek, Regional Support Officer is busy finalising additional events for the first quarter of 2023.
In the pipeline there are a variety of informative events, including talks and mini masterclasses on topics including wildflower planting, laying lawns and pointing problems, a talk and tour of the memorial garden at Leicester City FC. We are currently organising what
we expect to be one of the largest regional events we’ve ever undertaken – focussed on the evolving future of electric equipment and machinery within our industry.
We are also looking at social get togethers, with Clay Pigeon Shooting being scheduled in the South Thames region and Go Karting in the Midlands, both scheduled during March.
As ever, please check the website for the most up to date listing of
events bali.org.uk/events. If you would like to get involved, or have any suggestions for events, please contact your regional committee, or email francesca.bienek@bali.org.uk.
