Pro Landscaper April 2020

APRIL 2O20

WILD AT HEART WALMSLEY SHAW LTD

COMBATTING COVID-19

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

PROBLEMATIC PEAT

Preventing the spread of coronavirus

Alasdair Cameron, Cameron Landscapes & Gardens

Nick Coslett debates the use of peat

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MINDING YOUR BUSINESS Caring for your employees’ wellbeing

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WELCOME

W E LCO M E W

running. Pro Landscaper will continue to publish and share help and guidance where possible.

In these times, the sense of community is paramount; helping your fellow landscapers and designers, communicating with clients and suppliers, and doing what the landscaping sector does best – coming together to support each other.

With this in mind, take a look at our feature on mental health (page 107) which shares how businesses can help to ensure the wellbeing of their staff and why this is so important. Let’s open up the conversation around mental health, particularly at a time when many could be under huge strain.

Hope you enjoy reading the April issue, and please, the most important thing is to keep safe.

JIM & LISA

IN THESE TIMES, THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS PARAMOUNT

©McWilliam Studio

e are writing this leader in really strange and unprecedented times; one moment we were celebrating the amazing gardens winning the top prizes at the APL Awards ceremony, then the next we were having to postpone FutureScape Spring.

The real problem for us all is the uncertainty going forward. The likelihood is that all mass gatherings with be banned for the next few months, the economy will come under real strain, and I’m sure the landscaping sector will not escape without its own casualties. It is going to be a real test of resolve and our ability to manage our staff and businesses through these uncertain times.

Landscaping is key to the economy in so many ways and it’s vital that it remains a healthy and a vibrant sector that is ready to hit the ground

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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CONTENTS

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INFORM 08 10 15 18 21 26 29 30 33 34 37 39 4

Agenda Tougher legislation on peat?

News Our monthly roundup of industry news Combatting COVID-19 The industry response to coronavirus Future Projects Baltic Green Let’s Hear It From Alasdair Cameron Company Profile GRDN View from the Top Adam White Size Doesn’t Matter Holly Youde How Can I Help?

Andrew Wilson

45 48 52 58 62 64 66 68 69 70 73

Convincing Clients Ben West Managing Your Mental Health Jo Manfredi-Hamer Abney Park to Rise Again Abney Park, Hackney

Pro Landscaper / April 2020

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INSPIRE

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77

A Hub Reborn Maylim Wild at Heart Walmsley Shaw Ltd Changing Levels McWilliam Studio Landscape Architect’s Journal Studio 31 Mirror Vision Anji Connell A Professional Touch Marianne Majerus The Importance of Natural Play Andrée Davies Mastering the Craft Chris Nangle Furniture Beautifully Bespoke Outdoordesign Latest Products Unique planters Sustainable Product of the Month Biotecture

NURTURE 77 83 84 87 89 92

Feature Garden Wakehurst Know Your Plants Lewis Normand Problematic Peat Nick Coslett Moving On Chris Stone Nursery Focus Lincolnshire Pond Plants Case Study The Avenue, Bournemouth

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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CONTENTS

APRIL 2020 E D U C AT E 97 98 99 101 102 105 107 113 114 116 117

127

Make the Most of a Mentor Karen McClure Opting for Finance Henry Ejdelbaum Gardens for Purposeful Gathering Lee Bestall Glosbalisation Angus Lindsay Be Prepared Working with wood chippers Latest Kit Turntable wood chippers Minding Your Business Managing mental health Inside ZinCo Snappy New Launch Talasey Group’s decking range Resin in Popularity Derbyshire Specialist Aggregates Artificial Grass Products from leading brands

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PEOPLE 121 122 123 124 127 130

Out and About APL Awards 2020 APRIL 2O20

30 Under 30 Tom Massey

WILD AT HEART WALMSLEY SHAW LTD

Love Horticulture Butter Wakefield Look Out For Jamie Gould Have Your Say Robert Frier Little Interviews Quick-fire questions with the individuals who make up our industry

COMBATTING COVID-19

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

PROBLEMATIC PEAT

Preventing the spread of coronavirus

Alasdair Cameron, Cameron Landscapes & Gardens

Nick Coslett debates the use of peat

MINDING YOUR BUSINESS Caring for your employees’ wellbeing

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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The Talasey Training Academy (TTA) is delivered by Talasey Group, who share your passion for delivering excellent customer service and desire to upskill the landscaping industry.

The Academy offers a range of thorough, informative and interactive courses that cover the installation, properties of and how to get the most out of landscaping products in domestic applications.

Benefits of Talasey Training Academy:

Courses Include:

Basic site setting out and preparation for domestic landscaping projects.

Installation of porcelain paving materials for domestic applications.

Installation of stone paving materials for domestic applications.

Installation of clay paving materials for domestic applications.

Installation of artificial grass for domestic applications.

Installation of resin bound aggregate systems for domestic applications.

Courses that run over one or two days so loss of working time is minimal.

A purpose built training environment for theory and practical learning, with test beds to replicate site conditions.

Learning about the pros and cons of various landscaping products available on the market.

City & Guilds accredited training.

The opportunity to work with the latest product innovations.

Training from industry professionals.

Discounts available for groups subject to T&C’s.

Contact us for a copy of the prospectus, more information or to register for our courses!

0330 353 0208 | training@talasey.co.uk | www.talaseytrainingacademy.co.uk

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CONTRIBUTORS

CO N T R I B U TO R S Adam White This month’s View from the Top sees Adam White discussing Connswater Community Greenway, the project that was given the LI President's Award at the recent Landscape Institute Awards.

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W W W.DAVIESWHITE.CO.UK

ANDREW WILSON P33

@DAVIES_WHITE

Marianne Majerus

JO MANFREDI-HAMER P37

Employing a professional to photograph your garden can provide many benefits for your business. Garden photographer Marianne Majerus discusses the importance of the professional touch.

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W W W.MARIANNEMA JERUS.COM

@MARIANNEMA JERUS

LEWIS NORMAND P83

Andrée Davies With children spending less time outdoors and more time looking at screens, Andrée Davies discusses the importance of outside play spaces for children, and how they can be encouraged to explore the outdoors.

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W W W.DAVIESWHITE.CO.UK

CHRIS STONE P87

@DAVIES_WHITE

Karen McClure

HENRY E JDELBAUM P98

Garden designer Karen McClure discusses how securing the services of the NatWest HR Mentor scheme has benefitted her business and provided support and guidance for her team.

CONTACT

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W W W.K ARENMCCLURE.CO.UK

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 EDITORIAL Editorial director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579 Head of content – Nina Mason nina.mason@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 393 Features writer – Rachael Forsyth rachael.forsyth@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578 Features writer – Frankie Youd frankie.youd@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 394 Equipment editor – Rachel Gordon proarbeditor@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Subeditor – Katrina Roy katrina.roy@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 391 Subeditor – Sam Seaton sam.seaton@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 391

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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@K ARENLMCCLURE

Design – Kara Thomas, Kirsty Turek ADVERTISING Business development manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 585 Head of sales – Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587 Horticulture Careers – Ben Cumberland ben.cumberland@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 583 Managing director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 589 MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Tel: 01903 777 570 Subscription enquiries – Laura Harris laura.harris@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 580 Online content editor – Hannah Armstrong hannah.armstrong@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 398

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Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd – Connecting Horticulture. Pro Landscaper’s content is available for licensing overseas. Contact jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year

by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2020 subscription price is £95. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

Whilst every effort has been made to maintain the integrity of our advertisers, we accept no responsibility for any problem, complaints, or subsequent litigation arising from readers’ responses to advertisements in the magazine.

We also wish to emphasise that views expressed by editorial contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Reproduction of any part of this magazine is strictly forbidden.

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an affiliate member of BALI

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an associate member of the APL

MANAGEMENT Managing director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business development manager Jamie Wilkinson

Cover image ©Rebecca Bernstein Photography

Pro Landscaper / April 2020

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INFORM

AGENDA

FOLLOWING THE VOLUNTARY PEAT BAN, SHOULD MORE STRINGENT LEGISLATION ON PEAT USE BE PUT IN PLACE?

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n 2011, the government set a voluntary target in order to phase out the use of horticultural peat within the amateur sector by 2020 and the professional sector by 2030. This policy also stated that, by 2015, the government and the wider public sector (including local authorities) would eradicate the use of peat entirely.

October last year saw the government revisiting the ban, stating that further plans would be carried out in the England Peatland Strategy to ensure the goal of 2030 would still be achieved.

Peat causes many environmental issues when it is extracted from peat bogs, one of which is the destruction of habitats and ecosystems. On average, peat bogs store 10 times more carbon per hectare than other ecosystems such as forests. This results in vast quantities of CO2 being released when peat extraction takes place. We asked a selection of industry professionals for their thoughts on the topic.

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Matthew Dent OWNER, FERTILE FIBRE We were disappointed when the voluntary peat ban deadline of 2020 was quietly put back to 2030. Peat is a finite resource that traps carbon and reduces flooding by soaking up water. It’s madness not to protect it. However, many gardeners don’t realise the damage caused by ‘just one bag

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE THE LEAD AND BAN PEAT COMPOST ALTOGETHER of compost’. There’s also a misconception that you must use peat, despite the National Trust, award-winning growers and gardeners like Monty Don championing peat-free compost.

Peat-free compost needs to be processed more so it costs more than peat scrapped from the ground. When comparing prices, we can’t win, regardless of how many harvests our mixes may produce. Our accreditor The Soil Association has said its members need to be peat-free compost by 2025. We are supporting the #PeatFreeApril campaign, but, just like plastic bags, the government needs to take the lead and ban it altogether.

Nick Temple-Heald CHAIRMAN, I DVERDE No, of course not. The reason that users have not phased out their use of peat is that there is no environmental reason to do so; well, not one that stands up in face of the facts at any rate.

Don’t we think that the government has other priorities rather than enact legislation in response to erroneous 30-year-old arguments about the use of peat in horticulture?

“Peat is scarce, using peat for horticulture is accelerating climate change”, “peat extraction for horticulture does irreparable damage to rare wildlife habitats”, and most dramatically, “there is only 1% of the UK’s original peatlands left”, leading the reader to conclude

DON’T WE THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS OTHER PRIORITIES? peat for horticulture is to blame, as opposed to anything else.

None of these statements when put under scrutiny hold water.

A property that of course peat, uniquely, has in abundance.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/03/2020 16:32

INFORM

Rae Wilkinson

John Marsden

David Keegan

OWNER, RAE WILKINSON DESIGN LIMITED

GENERAL MANAGER, BERNHARD’S NURSERIES

OWNER, DK GARDEN DESIGNS

There has been good progress made in recent years with alternative growing mediums which are more sustainable and less destructive than peat, but sadly the use of peat-based compost continues.

Consumer choice is predominantly driven by the options we are presented with and sometimes people are not

Bernhard’s went completely peat-free in 2013 and we have not looked back, but I know some specialist growers that felt that this was not an option for them.

Anything voluntary is exactly that – voluntary. Each business will have looked at this issue and made a decision relevant to them for several reasons.

It has taken a lot of time, cost and investment from the compost sector to bulk up and increase the availability of peat-free media, slowly phasing it in as production rose with demand.

It now seems that most compost media mixes that you can buy (both commercially and domestically) contain very little peat, and it is all heading in the right direction.

The debate over the use of peat in horticulture has raged on for years without a satisfactory outcome. That

IT’S LIKELY THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TIGHTEN LEGISLATION TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE aware of what they are buying, much less the implications of where it comes from.

Most of us prefer to make responsible choices – if they are available to us, affordably priced and perform well.

Peat bogs represent a significant portion of our vital remaining carbon store as well as providing important habitats for the wildlife which rely on them to exist, and it is more important now than ever that they are protected.

Use of peat in gardens releases around a million tonnes of CO2 every year on top of the destruction of these precious habitats.

It’s likely that the government needs to tighten legislation to make a real difference, otherwise both production and consumer habits are unlikely to change enough.

THE STRATEGY OF SLOWLY PHASING IT OUT, HAS ALLOWED THE INDUSTRY TIME TO GET USED TO GROWING IN DIFFERENT MEDIA AND CRUCIALLY RAISED AWARENESS A ban may be in order in a few years if peat is to be totally removed. However, the strategy of slowly phasing it out has allowed the industry time to get used to growing in different media and, crucially, has raised awareness.

WITH MANY IN OUR INDUSTRY ACTIVELY OPPOSED TO THE USE OF PEAT, YOU MUST WONDER WHY IT’S STILL NOT A RESOLVED ISSUE said, leading organisations such as the RHS have in recent years led the way with phasing out of the use of peat altogether. With many in our industry actively opposed to the use of peat, you must wonder why it’s still not a resolved issue.

I stopped using peat both personally and professionally many years ago. Not all within our industry believe there should be an outright ban. Due to climate change, its continued use is also tied to the valuable carbon storage associated with peatlands. More peat is used to produce electricity than in horticulture so some pretty powerful lobbies for its continued use there. Although I believe that an outright ban should now be in place, it is unlikely to happen given the government’s position of phasing out its use by 2030. I fear the long grass beckons and wins.

N E X T M O N T H : S H O U L D O U R I N D U ST RY B E D O I N G M O R E TO P R O M OT E A N D D E V E LO P I TS E L F E X T E R N A L LY ? I F S O, H OW ?

H AV E YO U R S AY: C O N T E N T@ E L J AYS 4 4 .C O M

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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18/03/2020 16:33

INFORM

NEWS

FUTURESCAPE SPRING 2020 POSTPONED

O

rganiser Eljays44 has taken the decision to postpone FutureScape Spring 2020 amidst growing concern around the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The landscaping trade event, which was due to take place on 17 March, has been rescheduled for Thursday 16 July at the same venue – Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey.

B IO DIV E RSE L ANDSCAP ES FUND A NNOUNC ED

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he UK government has announced a £100m Biodiverse Landscapes Fund. The cash injection is part of a £220m International Biodiversity Fund which UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced at the 2019 UN General Election in February.

Biodiversity is declining worldwide; in the last 50 years, human pressures have increased while animal populations, on average, have been reduced to more than half. It is hoped that the new fund will aid in addressing the challenges facing nature today, helping to restore key landscapes and their ecosystems.

The joint Defra-DFID Biodiverse Landscapes Fund will deliver lasting protection as well as improvement of biodiversity in five global biodiversity hotspots.

The plans will align nature conservation and human development objectives at a landscape scale. Each

landscape will be eligible for between £10m and £20m over five years.

Two initial landscapes are intended to begin by April/May 2021, with the remaining to begin six to nine months later, all with active engagement with host governments.

In each area, they intend to execute the programme through conservation and development organisations with a history of delivering high-quality projects of this nature.

The government will also welcome the participation of consortia of organisations. www.gov.uk

Managing director of Eljays44, Jim Wilkinson, says: “We all need to consider the health and wellbeing of our staff and the landscaping community, and we want visitors to get the maximum out of attending a show.

“I am sure, like us, you are extremely disappointed, but these are exceptional circumstances, and there are indications that the UK government will follow other countries and ban large gatherings the early part of next week, so we wanted to give you as much notice as we could.

“In the meantime, please accept our apologies. These are unprecedented circumstances. Until now, we have been taking the lead from government advice, but we feel that we now need to act for the good of the landscape community.”

Visit the website for updates around exhibitors and the seminar programme. www.futurescapeevent.com

WINNERS OF POCKET PARK FUND ANNOUNCED

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n World Wildlife Day the communities secretary Robert Jenrick, announced winners of a £1.35m fund to create 68 new pocket parks.

Community groups in every region of England will receive funding to revive unloved or run-down urban spaces. These will be transformed into thriving parks and green spaces to increase biodiversity, encourage community integration and tackle loneliness.

Announced on World Wildlife Day, the funding will help community groups to create 19 new parks, as well as refurbishing 49

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currently unused plots of land. These new grants will fund the third round of Pocket Parks since the scheme launched in 2016.

The new parks and green spaces will provide areas for children to play, outdoor fitness facilities for residents, and places for families and friends to come together, further helping to encourage community integration and tackling loneliness.

The government has now funded 352 grants to support community groups.

Creating 146 new parks and giving a vital boost to 206 derelict urban spaces in towns

and cities in every region of the country. Pocket parks range approximately from the size of one tennis court, to the size of 16. They inject green space into towns and cities and provide opportunities for the communities to benefit from spending time in nature. www.gov.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/03/2020 16:12

INFORM

PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR WELSH NATIONAL FOREST

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elsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has unveiled the concept for a National Forest running the length and breadth of Wales.

Backed by £5m in this year’s Budget, the National Forest will create areas of new woodland, helping to restore and maintain some of Wales’ unique and irreplaceable ancient woodlands.

A further £10m of Glastir Woodland creation and restoration funding will be available, which will help to increase tree planting across Wales.

The National Forest will be a connected ecological network running throughout Wales.

This will play an important role in protecting nature and addressing biodiversity loss.

It will also help to boost tourism in Wales, drawing inspiration from the development of the Wales Coast Path. A world-first, the Wales Coast Path stretches the entire 870 miles of

rugged Welsh coastline. Attracting millions of visitors annually, it was developed over years through collaboration between government, businesses, landowners and communities.

First Minister Mark Drakeford says: “There is no escaping the huge environmental challenges the world is facing. We have a responsibility to future generations to protect nature from the dangers of our changing climate. A healthy natural environment will also offer protection to our communities. In planting, growing and protecting the right network of trees, we can increase our resilience.

“Trees improve air quality. They remove harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, provide material for construction, regenerate soil for food, clean the water in our rivers and provide a home to all the life that finds shelter in their canopy.” www.gov.wales

NEWS IN BRIEF SCOTLAND LAUNCHES ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY A new strategy that sets out to ensure Scotland’s nature is protected and restored with flourishing biodiversity has been published. The Environment Strategy for Scotland sets out a vision for the country’s environment as well as its role in tackling the global crisis. www.gov.scot

MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED PLANS FOR MAYFIELD Manchester City Council has approved plans that will kickstart the £1.4bn regeneration of Mayfield. The transformation of a derelict part of Manchester’s industrial heritage into a distinctive and imaginative mixed-use neighbourhood – which featured in the February issue of Pro Landscaper – can now get underway. www.mayfieldmanchester.co.uk

NURTURE LANDSCAPES GROUP GROWTH CONTINUES

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urture Landscapes has purchased Bristol-based Rockside Estates, bringing its total number of acquisitions to 25.

The award-winning company’s three recent acquisitions – which include Eco Landscapes in St Albans and Clapham Landscape Services in Stockport – had combined sales of £12m. They are helping the group to expand its presence across the South and South West of England as well as strengthening its offering in the North and the Midlands.

Rockside Estates alone has annual sales of £2.75m and has shared a close relationship with Nurture Landscapes for the past 10 years as they both started their businesses of April Fools’ Day. The acquisition will double the group’s landscape maintenance sales across the South West, with all teams operating from Rockside’s depot at Aztec

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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LUC PLEDGES TO CUT EMISSIONS

West. Ed Vanstone, Rockside’s founder, will stay on to spearhead further development across the region.

Nurture’s managing director, Peter Fane, says: “We’re excited to welcome three new members to the Nurture Landscapes Group. All of us share an ethos of sustainability and delivering an outstanding service to our respective client bases.” www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk

Environmental consultancy LUC has confirmed its efforts to reduce carbon emissions by signing up to the ‘Pledge to Net Zero’. The campaign requires science-based targets from its signatories who are aiming to tackle greenhouse gas emissions within their organisations. www.landuse.co.uk www.pledgetonetzero.org

Pro Landscaper / April 2020

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19/03/2020 16:40

INFORM

Online Exclusives 6 REASONS THE EXCEL LONDON IS SUSTAINABLE AND IDEAL FOR FUTURESCAPE EXPO 2020 With the ExCeL London being selected to play host to the FutureScape Expo 2020, we showcase some of the reasons why the venue is a sustainable, ideal choice for the two-day event, including its zero waste-tolandfill policy. www.prolandscapermagazine.com/6reasons-why-the-excel-london-is-asustainable-venue-and-ideal-for-thefuturescape-expo-2020

CORONAVIRUS’ EFFECT ON EUROPEAN PLANT TRADE As the COVID-19 virus spreads and confirmed cases continue to increase, European nurseries are starting to feel the effects of the pandemic. With Italy being one of the biggest exporters of plants all over Europe, how will the virus affect the horticulture trade? www.prolandscapermagazine.com/ coronavirus-effect-on-europeanplant-trade

12 SELF-HELP RESOURCES FOR MENTAL WELLBEING Our top picks for podcasts, books and apps to help encourage mental wellbeing and support those struggling with mental ill health – whether you are struggling with your mental health or just want to take care of it, there’s something for everyone. www.prolandscapermagazine.com/12self-help-resources-for-mental-wellbeing

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GREENEST CITY IN THE UK REVEALED

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ristol has been crowned the greenest city in the UK, according to a new study.

The research, conducted by Good Move, ranked UK cities based on a variety of sustainability factors. It then took an average score to produce a leaderboard, which placed Bristol as the most environmentally friendly city in the UK, whilst Birmingham came in last as the least eco-friendly.

Outperforming all other cities in three of the five ranking categories, Bristol came out on top with regards to carbon emissions, recycling rates and gas consumption. The city’s residents recycle or compost almost half (47%) of their household waste – that’s 6% more than

anywhere else. Bristol is the only city in the UK to consume less than 3,000 kW/h of gas a year.

Edinburgh took second spot, mainly due to the large areas of publicly available green space; with 49ha, Edinburgh has more than any other UK city. Fellow Scottish city Glasgow came second in this category, with 32 ha, though still ranked as the fourth least eco-friendly city behind Birmingham, London and Leeds.

Birmingham failed to impress in each category, with poor recycling and emission statistics; only 22% of waste is recycled – the lowest in the UK – and only London has worse carbon emission and has consumption figures. www.goodmove.co.uk

CARIBBEAN BLINDS TO SPONSOR BUSINESS AWARDS CATEGORY

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he fourth annual Pro Landscaper Business Awards will be taking place at East Wintergarden on Friday 23 April 2021. The event will once again bring the landscaping community together to celebrate the excellent standards set within the sector.

We are pleased to announce Caribbean Blinds will be sponsoring the landscape company under £1m turnover category.

Dedicated to external shading for over 30 years, the company’s foundations are built upon providing innovative solutions that deliver energy saving benefits which don’t compromise on quality, style or value for money.

Stuart Dantzic, managing director at Caribbean Blinds, comments: “We are thrilled to be sponsors of the landscape company under £1m category at the Pro Landscaper Business Awards. As leading supplier to the industry of

innovative external shading systems, we’re proud to celebrate the successes of this sector.

“It’s important to highlight and reward the companies who are excelling, and I am delighted we can be a part of it. Dedicated to external shading since 1987 and working closely with landscapers, in particular independent owner run and operated businesses, we help to transform the use and functionality of all types of outdoor spaces with our flexible and adaptable all-weather terrace coverings, including the award-winning Outdoor Living Pod. “We’re looking forward to being part of this phenomenal event that brings together the best of the best!” www.cbsolarshading.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/03/2020 16:09

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C O M BAT T I N G C OV I D -1 9

INFORM

FOLLOWING THE POSTPONEMENT OF FUTURESCAPE SPRING, WE DELVE INTO HOW CORONAVIRUS IS CAUSING CONCERN IN THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY AS WELL AS HOW COMPANIES ARE TACKLING THE VIRUS HEAD ON

T

he impact of coronavirus has been universal. From supermarket shelves being stripped bare to international flights being cancelled and whole offices being deserted in favour of working from home, fears of the deadly virus spreading further are leading to drastic action.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) was declared pandemic by the WHO on 11 March as it continues to spread to numerous countries across the globe. The death toll has surpassed 8,000 worldwide; in the UK, 104 people have passed away out of the 2,600 who have tested positive for the virus, at the time of writing.

Whilst cases in China – where the virus is thought to originate – begin to slow, the outbreak remains a concern for countries within Europe, most notably Italy. As one of the worst affected countries with a death toll exceeding 1,000, Italy is on lockdown, with tourist destinations which were once overcrowded now left sparse – even the streets of Venice have been left eerily deserted.

With Europe considered the epicentre of the pandemic, the US has brought in a 30-day ban on travellers entering the country from the UK and the Republic of Ireland alongside 26 other European countries. The Premier League has been brought to an abrupt halt whilst Scotland

W H AT I S C OV I D -1 9 ?

COVID-19 is an illness which affects airways and lungs, with symptoms including a cough, high temperature and shortness of breath. It is a strain of the coronavirus and was first identified in Wuhan City, China.

The NHS recommends washing your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, using hand sanitiser when these are not available, to prevent it spreading.

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has banned gatherings of more than 500 people – Austria has gone so far as to ban gatherings of more than five.

Needless to say, the outbreak has had a domino effect on the buoyancy of certain industries, not least the horticulture sector.

Anticipating the UK government to follow suit and introduce a similar ban to other countries, a series of event cancellations have taken place, including FutureScape Spring 2020. The landscaping trade event was due to take place on 17 March but has now been postponed until July to protect staff, exhibitors and visitors. Managing director Jim Wilkinson called these “exceptional circumstances”, adding we now need to act “for the good of the landscape community”.

The RHS also announced it would cancel all of its shows and events up until 30 June, after the government revealed it will no longer support mass gatherings which could be a drain on emergency services. This includes the RHS

Chelsea Flower Show, which has not been cancelled since the Second World War. “Our RHS shows are vitally important platforms for the horticultural industry, and we are especially

WHILST WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM, LET US DRAW COMFORT THAT OUR INDUSTRY IS MORE RESILIENT THAN MANY OTHERS aware of the impact of cancelling these events on everyone involved,” director general Sue Biggs says. “We will be doing all we can to help growers and nurseries to sell the plants they will have grown for the cancelled shows.

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As with everyone, we have no crystal ball, but for the time being we are planning our summer flower shows and our gardens remain open, as they are large outside spaces where people can escape in open space and benefit from some tranquillity and beauty, surrounded by nature – all things that are much needed during these unsettling times.”

THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY APPEARS DETERMINED TO ACT AND TO STAY STRONG THROUGHOUT AND WORK TOGETHER The Society of Garden Designers has also taken the plunge and postponed its Spring 2020 Conference from 25 April to 18 July “due to the unfolding coronavirus”, as has Barcham Trees by cancelling its Big Barn Conference due to be held on 17 June. The nursery took into account the international speakers who would need to travel to the event and the health implications for all attendees. Keith Sacre, sales director for Barcham Trees, commented: “We are sorry for any inconvenience and disappointment that this may cause, but hope you understand that this decision has not been taken lightly.”

Daily updates and advice are being provided by the prime minister Boris Johnson, and with restrictions on movement being encouraged, there are few – if any – positive headlines currently. But companies are taking action to make their employees feel safe and secure.

Green-tech, for example, have released a statement detailing its steps to minimise the spread of the virus, which includes setting up a COVID-19 response team. It said: “This group is meeting daily to review and revise any necessary

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actions as the constantly changing situation and advice develops.”

Contractor Ground Control has also put measures in place whilst striving to have a positive outlook. “In early March, we tested our business continuity plans; with the virus spreading so rapidly, we had enacted ‘working from home’ for all our office-based staff,” explains managing director Marcus Watson.

“Whilst there can be no doubt that every aspect of our economy will be impacted, the fundamentals of the landscaping industry are pretty good in comparison to other economic areas such as air travel, hospitality, and tourism, all of which are being impacted very severely.

Firstly, our industry is largely UK-based and relies to a lesser extent on global supply chains and connectedness. This limits the immediate impact. In addition, working mostly outside, our colleagues work in environments that present lower-risks of cross-infection (always following government advice and good hygiene) and so we can continue to work unless we are sick, showing symptoms. Finally, many companies in our sector have mixed revenue streams that include recurring maintenance. This means that there is continuity of work during these challenging times, with the infrastructure investments announced in the budget recently.

“So, plan for the worst and hope for the best, and whilst we are in the middle of the storm, let

us draw comfort that our industry is more resilient than many others.”

Craig Nester of Habitat Landscapes is also eager to ensure the industry remains hopeful, saying clients are still in need for landscaping services and the right approach towards clients can keep the work coming in. “We sent out a letter of reassurance…to our clients about what procedures we had in place to protect our staff and them. The response…was great – no cancellations and for two elderly clients who were worried, we phoned and confirmed

everything with them – that they had booked us in, and reassured that we will be taking necessary measures. We’ve even offered support for them whilst onsite, like collecting shopping, etc. We have to find the positives where we can.”

Whilst there’s little doubt that COVID-19 will lead to tough times ahead, the horticulture industry appears determined to act and to stay strong throughout and work together.

Visit prolandscapermagazine.com for updates on the impact of coronavirus as well as ideas on what businesses can do to mitigate this.

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18/03/2020 14:35

INFORM

FUTURE PROJECTS L

iverpool is a large, energetic city, with a rich cultural heritage and fascinating history. It is home to approximately 550,000 residents and welcomes around 70 million tourists each year, all eager to see its cathedrals, museums and galleries.

Despite its interesting history and cultural heritage, according to a recent mapping report from Esri UK, Liverpool has the least amount of green space of any of Britain’s major cities, with it making up just 16.4% of the city. Having recently been named and shamed for its rapidly increasing levels of traffic pollution, locals are now calling for more green areas and tree cover to improve the environment, ensure rich biodiversity and reduce air pollution.

With the council under increasing pressure to respond to these requests, plans are being put

THE GREEN IS TO ACT AS BOTH A LANDMARK AND A GATEWAY TO THE AREA – AN ARTS VENUE, PERFORMANCE SPACE AND INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP FACILITY

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Baltic Green Liverpool

THE BALTIC GREEN REGENERATION PROJECT IN LIVERPOOL IS SET TO TRANSFORM A DEMOLISHED WAREHOUSE INTO A USEFUL PUBLIC GREEN SPACE, IMPROVING THE AREA FOR LOCALS AND TOURISTS

into place to increase biodiversity and improve Baltic Green regeneration project said: the heavily polluted environment. After six years “The Hub was already being discussed as of planning and preparation, 2020 will witness a potential project, but gaining ownership the beginnings of a regeneration project at away from the council was and continues Baltic Green. It is set to transform the site of a to be the issue. We Make Places [a local demolished tile warehouse into a self-sustaining, community interest company] had drawn contemporary urban park, benefitting the up workable solutions for its development, ever-expanding community of single but these were submitted with no occupancy residents who have no discernible effect.” common spaces or public areas, Having taken a soft and slow as well as the millions of tourists approach, new council officers have who visit the city each year. reached out and provided guidance The Green is to act as both for the team to gain a year-long OF LIVERPOOL a landmark and a gateway to the area permission for activity under the IS GREEN SPACE – an arts venue, performance space parks department, resulting in the site and interactive workshop facility for now being designated as a city park. both businesses and community.

Although, this was only half the battle.

Furthermore, it aims to bring adjacent In order to push the agenda, Tristan communities together, sharing the commissioned architects to design space and bridging the divide within an animation to show people his the city between different generations. plans and vision, which were well On the site of an old demolished received and has permitted the warehouse, the Baltic hub is the last ‘green go ahead for the restoration scheme. space’ in the area. However, it has received little Positioned in an area with a mixed economy investment over the past 10 years, meaning that of uses, the challenge was to design a park the unused flat green space was largely avoided which serviced the needs of both traditional by the locals and seen more as an eyesore than small businesses, new creative start-ups, a green space. Scraped to the bedrock by residents who are part of the 24-hour service the council grass cutters whenever the economy, and the visitors to the venues and grass showed the slightest sign of life, it bars, who range from discerning guests epitomises a clunky response to the elegance and families to tourists and partying masses. of placemaking. In addition, Initial research allowed the project directors there is little to distinguish to see what was required by residents and the area from its neighbours. families, settling on the decision to incorporate Gaining permission to hard landscaping elements and seating transform the unkempt features which would initially be covered in area didn’t come without hi-vis and lunchtime users, but later replaced its challenges, and gaining by book readers and laptop conferences. permission and ownership Accessibility and safety for children were away from the council proved two factors constantly at the forefront of the to be the biggest struggle for minds of all involved, keeping children from the the team working on the surrounding estates safe, a factor which has regeneration project. Tristan been pitched strongly to all parties throughout Brady-Jacobs, director of the the planning stages of this scheme.

6 YEARS TO PLAN

16.4%

0.42 ACRES

OF LAND

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P R OJ ECT D E TA I L S Project team Baltic Triangle CIC, WARPLiverpool, Hobo Kiosk, Liverpool City Council, Bold Management, Local Diocese, GCL Group Architect Studio RBA Designers We Make Places Landscape designer Elaine Cresswell/TBJ

Starting the building works will mean working with a site which is situated on top of railroad tunnels and largely comprised of hardcore, brick, concrete and rubble. Beginning with trees to break up the underlying rubble and the initial

IT AIMS TO BRING ADJACENT COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, SHARING THE SPACE

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surfacing of the park, which will be soft, there will also be two main paths crossing in the centre to provide a walkway for visitors.

At one end, the existing hardstand will be reinforced for food trucks and stalls, and eventually a smaller container park to include a selection of shops and cultural facilities, all set to eventually create dozens of jobs. This scheme aims to positively impact both the environment and the economy.

Green seating has also been proposed, mixed with timbers, pallet and concrete furniture to avoid a corporate mono-designed feel. Green berms will deliver this to generate discreet spaces for small groups and subdivide the site with undulations, and presenting play potential.

Not only will this be a place to relax and enjoy the new green scenery, it will fulfil the function of a modern urban park, host local creative festivals, include pop-up food businesses and farmers markets targeting the needs of residents and visitors, and ideas have been pitched to create and house a puppet theatre within the new scheme.

INNOVATIVE PALLET FURNITURE DESIGN IS KEY

BALTIC GREEN

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INFORM

1

Let ’s Hear it From

ALASDAIR CAMERON CAMERON LANDSCAPES & GARDENS

ALASDAIR CAMERON, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AWARD-WINNING DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTENANCE COMPANY CAMERON LANDSCAPES & GARDENS, EXPLAINS HOW HE’S GROWN HIS COMMERCIAL PORTFOLIO AND THE BOLD PLANS FOR THE BUSINESS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

A

lasdair Cameron, the managing director of London-based Cameron Landscapes & Gardens, unashamedly ambitious. In the next five years, he is looking to grow its turnover to an impressive £10m. He plans to do this by continuing to offer the very best in landscape design, build and maintenance, looking to increase the size of the design projects, expanding the build and general maintenance departments and, along with the domestic and outdoor garden and landscape design, delving further into interior landscaping.

The company already boasts projects with prolific chains like The Doyle Group and The Ivy Collection, as well as private members club Annabel’s – an Instagram favourite, partly due to its spectacular new terrace garden.

The roots of the company lie in domestic work. Cameron Landscapes & Gardens started carrying out design and build projects across the capital in 1992 after Alasdair had left

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college. He’d gained an A Level in RT, as well interior design and architecture diplomas, which introduced him to the garden design greats Humphry Repton and Capability Brown, as well as the relationship between architecture and landscape, which he found fascinating. He went on to complete a diploma in horticulture and hard landscaping at Merrist Wood College before setting up his own landscaping company.

“I came to London for a design and build project, then another, and here I am,” says Alasdair. “When I first set up, I’d begin by doing a drawing of the garden, which would normally be a classic concrete London yard. I’d rip this out and do all the paving, planting, trellising, walling, etc. Then, towards the end of the 90s, I got to know Waterwell, who did the irrigation for my projects. The business gradually built up. I got an office in Wandsworth, my own van and we broke out into two teams.”

When the design and build department at The Chelsea Gardener was offered to Alasdair, he saw

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INFORM

2 this as a platform and an opportunity to grow further – going to work at the site in 1998 under his own company name and reaching a £1m turnover. The company then moved to its existing inner London site in 2002 and has continued to grow substantially since.

It now has a 40-strong team offering landscape and garden design, build and maintenance to both domestic and commercial clients. While both sides are flourishing, it’s the commercial side which has really taken off, says Alasdair. 60% of Cameron Landscapes & Gardens’ turnover is from commercial work, which Alasdair explains is a result of fewer projects but at a much higher value.

Its expanding commercial portfolio started with The Doyle Group and then installations for The Ivy Collection, which it continues to carry out maintenance for on certain sites, including the chain’s flagship branch in Chelsea. “That really eased us into it because they wanted domestic-style projects,” says Alasdair. “From that, we designed and installed the Garden Terrace – a £700k project for Annabel’s in Mayfair – which is an extraordinary garden with a retractable roof. We still do the general maintenance which includes a designer’s eye, keeping the garden up-to-date at all times.”

Having built up its reputation through projects such as these, Cameron Landscapes & Gardens is now working on developments such as Whiteleys, a Grade II-listed building that was

22 Pro Landscaper / April 2020

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the first department store in London. The large regeneration scheme will see the historic landmark converted into apartments, houses and a five-star hotel. A new public courtyard will also be created, as well as a retail space with restaurants, cafes, a gym and cinema.

WE’RE WORKING WITH SOME REALLY GREAT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND BREAKING INTO SOME REALLY TOP-END PROJECTS Alongside this, the company is carrying out work on the first NoMad hotel to open outside of the US. NoMad London will be situated in the former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station, where Oscar Wilde was once tried. The Grade II-listed building near Covent Garden has been closed since 2006, but will open this year as the luxury hotel.

Cameron Landscapes & Gardens is also undertaking a lot of work for Mayfair-based property developer Clivedale. It is currently developing a site in Park Lane – Mayfair Park Residences – which boasts numerous roof terraces. Due to be completed this year, the

high-end residential scheme of private apartments and townhouses will be managed and serviced by the Dorchester Collection as its first branded residences in London.

Needless to say, these are all impressive commercial coups for Cameron. The domestic market is equally as important to the company, though, and in conjunction with the exciting commercial projects it is looking to develop its domestic background, albeit with larger projects. “We have the infrastructure, passion and expertise to extend our domestic projects, but at the very top-end,” says Alasdair.

“We have designed and project managed some fantastic country landscapes and we have been creating my own garden project in Devon, once a dairy farm, which is now receiving a lot of exposure. It was in House & Garden magazine last year and is due to be covered in another prolific magazine, so we’re really hoping that we will get some large domestic projects, which I love doing, as well as commercial this year.”

Alasdair also says he’s keen to have separate departments for commercial and domestic work. “That’s my vision. Our commercial work is not like normal commercial projects, and that’s why they’re so successful. I think it’s down to our keen commercial sense, strong domestic eye and outstanding plant knowledge.”

The teams are currently very much focused on the three different departments – garden design, project management and installation,

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INFORM

and garden maintenance. “We have a fantastic team both outside and in. We have six garden maintenance teams and two build teams on the road. Then there’s George Brooke, my right-hand man who has been with us seven years and is not actually in one department, he has a company overview. Then there’s project manager, Alex McTavish, who runs the sites, and Joe Brimson, senior designer, who manages the five designers in the design studio.

4

WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, PASSION AND EXPERTISE TO EXTEND OUR DOMESTIC PROJECTS, BUT AT THE VERY TOP END “Grounds maintenance manager Jason Duberly runs the maintenance department, having started as a garden maintenance assistant 12 years ago.

Anna Neill, the operations manager, oversees the operations and HR side. Beth Anthony, office coordinator, and Kitty Winser, admin assistant, are in the admin department and they both do a lot of grounds maintenance scheduling. Beth also does a lot regarding staff development.

“Then in Devon, we’ve got the accounts department and an internal operations manager who operates all the sales force and all the information the operatives put on apps, so client liaison and feedback on the maintenance side. They also do the invoicing and the accounts.

My wife, Tor, does all the marketing.”

Ensuring the right people are in the right roles will be key for the company going forward as it looks to expand. Firstly, Alasdair is looking to increase the company’s reach, stepping outside London and even the UK, taking on a large project in India recently and completing one in Washington last year.

There are also plans over the next five years to more than double the turnover, from £4m to £10m, partly through growing its high-end domestic

1 Shady, low maintenance family garden, with trellising and climbers, a large copper planter and multi-stem 2 A garden that creates an outside room – material and plant choice ensure year round visual interest 3 Summer herbaceous border and bouncing yew dome 4 The Chelsea Ivy – fire pit, hellebores and yew dome 5 Late summer colour a mix of grasses and perennials 6 Scale and depth is created with layers of planting – Ficus lyrata and Feijoa give a feel of a lush outdoor garden 7 Reclaimed Yorkstone path with reclaimed gate, pleached hornbeam to screen parking and beech beehives

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3

5 6

7

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portfolio but also branching out further into interior landscaping, which Alasdair says is becoming massive in the capital as more people learn of the health and wellbeing benefits of plants. “One office we’re working on is investing significantly in a biophilic working environment,” says Alasdair. “It’s all about green living, supporting the environment, individual wellbeing and promoting that message. Gardening and plants have become really fashionable.”

As part of its growth strategy, Cameron is working with a leading brand and marketing consultancy to help it better communicate what it does and to develop new opportunities.

“For the past 20 years, we’ve relied entirely on recommendation and some light-touch marketing for growth,” explains Alasdair. “In that time, our marketing communications have remained roughly the same, so we decided we’d

9 earned the right to blow our trumpet a little harder and be more proactive in our marketing.

“We have re-evaluated the business by involving the leadership team and developed a fabulous new plan and identity that more accurately reflects our vision, mission and values. It’s been an immensely valuable process that we can use both internally and

8 externally to grow the company. It felt rather like pruning a healthy but mature tree; we realised we had grown in many directions and that what we want to concentrate on is close collaboration with owners and directors of large commercial and domestic projects that require many years of experience and really make use of our unique empathetic style.”

For a typically understated company, this marketing push is somewhat unknown territory, but it’s eager to promote itself as a destination workplace and to build a recognisable brand.

“What we want to do is be at the top of our game, and for the new logo and message to be a lot more grown up,” explains Alasdair.

“We’re known within the trade, but we keep quite a low profile and just get on with it. I do think we need to be more present at events like FutureScape, though. That will probably come with the rebrand.”

It’s not just a rebrand which the business will be using to promote its skillset. There are also plans to have a show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next year and to start putting its projects in for the BALI National Landscape Awards. Alasdair says the company has been a member of the association for years, but

workload has kept it from being active. “We’ve been busy building my garden in Devon which is quite substantial, and I have a young family, so I’m quite busy.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PROLIFIC PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE “My aim now is to build a really strong team and start putting ourselves out on the stage a bit more, which I think will happen, especially with all the work we currently have on the books, like Whiteleys. We’re working with some really great landscape architects and breaking into some really top-end projects.”

There are plenty of prolific projects in the pipeline and, as such, Alasdair has no plans to step aside any time soon. He took a short break from the company in 2005, moving to Devon to raise his children and selling half the business.

Six years later, though, he was back running the company, having bought back the second half, and started to grow Cameron Landscapes & Gardens into the company it is today.

“I want to further build the business, get up to £10m, and get to the top of the trade. I’m very ambitious. There is no exit plan currently,” he concludes. With plans for growth and a glowing reputation, we see no reason why there should be.

8 Free standing pots, trellising for privacy and Trachelospermum for scent 9 14 Hills – a sumptuous jungle restaurant garden 10 Clever use of narrow space – London office terrace with green walls and seasonal plants

C O N TA C T Cameron Landscapes & Gardens Unit 1-2, 69 St Marks Road, London, W10 6JG Tel 020 8969 3399 Email gardens@camerongardens.co.uk

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www.camerongardens.co.uk

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UK’S LEADING LANDSCAPING TRADE EVENT

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INFORM

WE TALK WITH TWO OF GRDN’S FOUNDERS, PETER ROBINSON AND PAUL DUFFY, TO LEARN HOW IT HAS PRODUCED A PERSONAL TOUCH SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2018 When was the company founded?

Peter: We set up the company two years ago.

Andrew [Nicol] and I met whilst studying landscape architecture at The University of Sheffield. We both later met Paul whilst working together in London at a design practice.

Paul: We worked together for a couple of years moving on to gain different experience within the industry. Setting up our own business was always in the back of our heads though, so we made the leap and set up together in 2018.

COMPANY PROFILE

GARDEN IN SE S ALL PROJECT BIG IMPACT DESIGN AND BUILD AWARD WINNER

GRDN

How many staff are there?

Peter: Four in total. Paul and I look after the design elements whilst Andrew looks after construction. We also have Tommy who primarily looks after our maintenance and soft landscaping tasks.

Paul: Growing the team is something we are looking to build upon in the next year.

How is the work divided?

Paul: Peter and I lead on the initial engagement with prospective clients through to concept and detailed design. Andrew oversees and leads on construction. We all have a say in everything, but we all have our own roles. Tommy heads up maintenance but likes to and is encouraged to get involved in all aspects of the company.

Peter: Everyone chips in when they need to.

You get experience working at all different stages of a project from inception to completion and aftercare.

FAMILY GARDEN IN SW4, LONDON

What services do you offer?

Paul: Overall, we offer design, construction and then aftercare of the gardens we have built.

We also offer landscape architecture services for more commercial and public realm schemes where required.

Peter: Most of our work is garden design, but we are working increasingly more with architects and developers, something that has opened up opportunities to be involved with public realm projects requiring landscape design input.

What does the aftercare involve?

Paul: For the gardens we have built, we recommend monthly maintenance, but this can sometimes be more frequent in the spring and summer months. The ongoing maintenance of

26 Pro Landscaper / April 2020

Company Profile GRDN.indd 26

SE4 GARDEN VIEW FROM THE KITCHEN

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INFORM

a garden is so important, and something we stress to all our clients for its continued success.

Its great to have regular contact with a client and see how a garden develops and evolves.

How did it feel to win a small project BIG IMPACT award?

Paul: It was a bit of a shock and was amazing to be shortlisted. We were chuffed with the result.

BRI

OURTYARD GARDEN, LONDON

ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF A GARDEN IS SO IMPORTANT, AND SOMETHING WE STRESS TO ALL OUR CLIENTS FOR ITS CONTINUED SUCCESS Peter: The shortlist included some very established companies so, as a relatively new practice and a small team, we really appreciated some industry recognition for the project.

Paul: The award gives you an opportunity to celebrate smaller projects, which often get overlooked at some of the larger awards.

LAY BRI

STEP DETAIL, LONDON

What areas do you cover?

Paul: We cover all areas of London for our design and build projects. We also offer our design services across the UK.

LUSH PLANTING WITHIN A FA ILY GARDEN, LONDON

SEATING AREA WITHIN SE4 GARDEN

ESTABLISHED 2018 EMPLOYEES 4 AWARDS SMALL PROJECT BIG IMPACT DESIGN AND BUILD 2019 WINNER, NLA ‘DON’T MOVE, IMPROVE!' SHORTLIST 2019 (WITH SAM ARCHITECTS AND LUNAR ARCHITECTS)

What are your plans for the company going forward?

Paul: We want to grow as a team, implement more unique and dynamic spaces, maybe have multiple projects going on at once. We would like to continue to build relationships and collaborate with architects, designers, interior designers, etc.

Peter: We really like having a close connection with clients, and we don’t want to lose this personal touch as we look to grow. Gardens are very personal, and you need to get to know your clients really well to achieve something that works for them.

Paul: A key aim for us this year is to get a studio space. The studio would be somewhere where we could design, create and collaborate.

C O N TA C T

HARD AND SOFT INTERFACE

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Tel +44 (0) 7746 888 413 Email hello@grdndesign.co.uk

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Pro Landscaper / April 2020 27

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INFORM

A DA M W H I T E GROWING ON THE GREENWAY

THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE (LI) AWARDS CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THE LANDSCAPE PROFESSION MAKES TO ALL OUR LIVES. ADAM WHITE DISCUSSES THE WINNER OF THE COVETED PRESIDENT’S AWARD AT THE RECENT LI EVENT

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s many of you may have heard, our guest of honour at the recent Landscape Institute (LI) Awards was the legendary Sir David Attenborough. Sir David was made an honorary member of the LI and received the LI Medal for Lifetime Achievement. He spoke about the importance of reconnecting communities with nature, and the part this can play in ensuring the natural world’s protection.

“You have a great responsibility to bring the realities of the natural world to the understanding and the love of human beings worldwide,” Sir David told the 650 award attendees and the 5,000 people tuning in online.

One privilege of being president is choosing the LI President’s Award. What’s Growing on the Greenway, by landscape architects Anthony McGuigan and Darren McKinstry (from The Paul Hogarth Company), won the Communications and Presentation Award and was my standout LI President’s Award winner.

The Connswater Community Greenway brilliantly connects people to the green space and biodiversity around them through a fantastic 9km linear park in East Belfast.

The Greenway creates a vibrant, attractive, and accessible parkland for leisure, recreation and community events.

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Ordinarily, following a significant capital investment, landscape professionals move on to the next project. The duo bucked this trend with their blog, encouraging and celebrating the community’s interaction with the new landscape.

It became incredibly popular, spawning two photographic exhibitions and a book detailing the developing connection between people, place, and nature in a revitalised urban landscape.

I LEARNT FIRST-HAND HOW THEY UNDERSTOOD, APPRECIATED AND GENUINELY WANTED TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE NEW PARK FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

the project that really caught my eye.

Anthony and Darren came up with a truly innovative way to continue community engagement and foster further ownership once their project was opened to the public. Having visited the project earlier in the year and met some of the community, I learnt first-hand how they understood, appreciated and genuinely wanted to protect and enhance the new park for generations to come.

In conversation with Sir David after the awards, he commented that this was the perfect choice for the President’s Award.

He kindly sent Anthony and Darren a message of congratulations and signed their book with a message: “Let’s make the world greener.”

The 2020 LI Awards will be back at the Troxy Theatre in November and we are already talking about how we can build on the success of 2019.

Entries will open in the spring, so watch out for further announcements.

ABOUT ADAM WHITE PLI ©Chris Hill Photographic

From Belfast Lough to Castlereagh Hills, the Conswater Community Greenway has created a diverse habitat with space for wildlife and plants to thrive. The figures speak for themselves: 20,000 trees, 20,000 aquatic plants, 2,000 bulbs and 20,000m2 of wildflower meadow.

Adam White PLI is a director at Davies White Ltd, a double RHS Gold medal, double BBC People’s Choice and RHS Best in Show award-winning Chartered Landscape Architects practice. He is the President and a Fellow of the Landscape Institute.

Social media: @davies_white

www.davieswhite.co.uk

However, it’s what followed the completion of

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 29

18/03/2020 10:50

INFORM

H O L LY YO U D E SIZE DOESN’T MATTER

HOLLY YOUDE CONSIDERS THE IDEA THAT GROWING YOUR BUSINESS MIGHT NOT BE ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE AND THAT SOMETIMES STAYING SMALL IS OKAY

Q

uite a few articles that I have written recently have focussed on business growth – getting bigger, employing more staff, coping with change. But whilst growth is encouraged, I also wanted to write about not growing. As we face increasing life and work pressures, I often feel distinct admiration for those who manage to maintain a consistent small business, good profitability and a great work-life balance.

Bigger isn’t always better, and sometimes it makes sense to stay small without chasing growth. If you’re happy with your current business size, are already heavily committed in work and life, and don’t want the stress of expansion, then it’s probably not necessary.

It’s entirely possible to maintain a smaller business size whilst making a healthy profit.

In fact, many will say that even when they have grown in their business, it doesn’t mean they make more money – sometimes less, and there is more risk involved.

Growth takes a lot of energy, resources and changes, that staff need to adjust to which can take time. Whilst you may reap the benefits in the long term, if you don’t want the stress in the first place, then plan your business to suit you.

If you grow, you do have to accept that quality can suffer in the short term, so if you choose to stay small, you can be there to ensure consistency in quality of work. Keep track of what is going on in the industry though, don’t become complacent because you’ve decided not to grow any further. Keep track of and adapt to new trends, or you run the risk of becoming stale and mediocre.

30 Pro Landscaper / April 2020

Holly Youde.indd 30

You are in a good position to adapt quickly and stay nimble where larger companies have to implement long term strategies. You should always stand out to attract business, and this will maintain a steady flow of fresh customers using your services.

Many think success is measured by growth and profit percentages, but really, success is whatever your required outcome may be.

If you’ve ever written a business plan, your

IT’S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A SMALLER BUSINESS SIZE WHILST MAKING A HEALTHY PROFIT

vision will be your success gauge. Customer satisfaction or retention may be important to you, quality and methods of work, efficiency or sustainability could be on your radar, or it could all be about yours and your employee’s lifestyle, happiness and job satisfaction. Whatever your success metre represents, a word of warning – you do need to grow a little bit every year to cover depreciation and inflation at least. Keep track of your figures and don’t relax too much or you will find you are going backwards. Also, it’s wise to invest in a good loss of earnings policy if you can’t work for any reason.

Sometimes I reminisce about when we first started out and the time and freedom we had, perhaps that wasn’t quite how it was, but growing involved a great deal of commitment.

Reviewing our work-life balance has been on our list for a long time and we never seem to be able to get round to working on it, but this is top of the list over the next 12 months. If anyone has any tips, answers on a postcard please!

A B O U T H O L LY Y O U D E As joint director of Urban Landscape Design Ltd, Holly plays a fundamental role in the growth and diversification of the design and build company, as well as heading up Outdoor Living by Urban, and the upcoming launch of The Landscape Academy.

In 2019, the company won the Pro Landscaper Business Awards Landscape Company <£2m Award, and has previously won Best Commercial Garden at the APL awards, Employer Excellence Award at the BALI Awards, and the High Sheriff of Cheshire Award for Enterprise. Holly has just been announced as the first female vice-chairperson of the APL.

www.urbanlandscapedesign.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/03/2020 11:43

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INFORM

ANDREW WILSON HOW CAN I HELP?

ANDREW WILSON CONSIDERS THE ROLE OF A CLIENT DURING THE DELIVERY OF THEIR SCHEME AND WHETHER IT LIES WITH DESIGNERS TO MAKE THIS CLEAR

T

he complexity of human nature never ceases to amaze me.

My collaborator Gavin and I have worked for hundreds of clients satisfied not only with the service we offer as designers but capable of understanding the way in which we work.

Clients want to employ a designer for a number of reasons. Firstly, they may not have time in their busy lives to design a garden or landscape, let alone project manage it through from start to finish. Secondly, clients may not have the capability to identify or resolve design problems, seeking out creative minds to deal with the issues and to take design ideas through to completion. Thirdly, clients may simply be fascinated by the design process and want to commission designers to work through a process in which they might have some involvement.

THE TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE CLIENT IN THE PROCESS SIMPLY NEED TO BE AGREED Whichever situation is in play, most designers would be happy to be involved.

The terms of engagement and the involvement of the client in the process simply need to be agreed. Some clients will want you to take all the decisions and leave them alone – some will want to be appraised of all developments and look at options. It’s always good to have everything out in the open and discussed honestly.

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Andrew Wilson.indd 33

From time to time, however, these normal or accepted approaches and responses don’t quite click into place. For example, we had a client some years ago who wanted to be involved in the process not only of design but of build and planting. This was not made clear from the outset which led to several stand-offs, resolved only when he admitted to being fascinated by the whole process of change and renewal in the garden.

Before this point, we had made the assumption that he worked and wouldn’t want the hassle, when he was in fact wealthy enough not to need a job – preferring instead to involve himself in the garden project.

More recently, however, Gavin and I have been scratching our heads quite a lot. We have a client who has partially retired and therefore has time on his hands. His hobby is making things and specifically re-designing his interiors and renovating his property – and I have to admit he’s rather good at it. He commissioned us to design his garden and our initial sketch design was met with a 10-page response as

to what needed to change. We answered this with our defence of our ideas but also an accommodation of his ideas in order to move to a sign off at the masterplan stage.

IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE EVERYTHING OUT IN THE OPEN AND DISCUSSED HONESTLY At this point, we had further extensive comments but managed to achieve an agreement to move into detail. All construction and planting detailing would work, but has been met with long responses, changes, additions, questions and concerns even though our client has no experience in this field. It has come to the point where each time we meet, we think we are going to be sacked from the job, only to find that the client remains enthusiastic.

We, in turn, feel that either he allows us to just crack on and deliver the scheme, or he acts as his own project manager while we find him a suitable contractor. He needs to now ask, as a matter of some importance, what he needs the designer to do for him. Otherwise, the design process stalls. Gavin and I feel it is quite a straightforward decision – what say you?

ABOUT ANDREW WILSON Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden design consultant, director of the London College of Garden Design, and an author, writer and lecturer.

www.lcgd.org.uk

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 33

18/03/2020 11:07

INFORM

B E N W E ST CONVINCING CLIENTS

BEN WEST TACKLES THE TOPIC OF PERSUADING CLIENTS TO CHOOSE MORE SUSTAINABLE GARDENS

L

ast month we established the importance of the garden as the crucible in which transformative connections are forged and described the key role of landscaping professionals as alchemists in this process. We also established the notion of ‘regenerative gardens’ reaching beyond the sustainable and towards a model that addresses biodiversity loss and sequesters carbon. We acknowledged the will to create these gardens and resolved to work out how best to go about it.

So far so good. The next step is to bring our clients on board. Easy. Those in our industry operating in the rarefied air of ‘pick and choose’ will have you believe this is a done deal; but from where I’m standing the atmosphere is a little more miasmic. At the FutureScape Summit, I learned first-hand how out of touch those at the top table are with the rabble jostling for scraps below. One of the biggest challenges I face right now is aligning the commercial imperative with the regenerative garden.

When I scrutinise my own business practices over the last 15 years, I see that commercial pressures have dictated decision making. I have a mortgage to pay, small mouths

34 Pro Landscaper / April 2020

Ben West.indd 34

to feed and a number of staff under the same strains. These pressures have led to the business carrying out works not always aligned with my passions and environmental ethics.

Filling in ponds, laying artificial turf, installing tropical hardwoods, using imported paving and more – why are we doing this? Why do clients want us to do this? And, in light of our current environmental emergency, must we continue?

Our industry is responsible for setting the tone. As a result, we and our clients remain enthralled by glamorous, unsustainable show

OUR INDUSTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING THE TONE gardens, seduced by the superficial. We need to change, but that’s so much easier said than done. What happens when our clients dream garden doesn’t fit with our sustainable vision?

What’s to stop them from turning to a contractor who is perfectly happy with sanitising the space?

We need support from the more powerful and far-reaching voices in our sector, the trendsetters and legislators. They need to get together to redefine what is desirable and then push hard to move away from the unsustainable, sterile schemes that have been in vogue since I entered the industry. The RHS has the power to promote and display regenerative gardens through its national networks of sites. BALI and the APL can set the agenda through lobbying and legislation and the SGD can disseminate via

designers. What about a regular primetime TV show selling the concept to the nation?

Regenerative gardens are far more realistic, achievable and cost effective for the average punter than anything on show at Chelsea.

Millions are primed for this; the RSPB has more members than all our political parties put together – an entire army waiting to be mobilised for nature.

Most of my company’s clients operate in the pressure cooker environment of the city and are profoundly detached from nature.

All too often we allow their mindset to infect ours. This malaise manifests itself in a myopic view of what gardens should be and leads us towards creating the kinds of denuded designs against which we must immunise ourselves.

We need to have greater faith in our convictions, tempered as they are by our relationship with nature and characterised by the virtues of patience and vision. These are in short shrift but are cornerstones of what makes our industry special. Go forth and inoculate your clients with them at every opportunity.

ABOUT BEN WEST Ben West spent his formative years tramping the woods, fields and waterways of Staffordshire, and studied environmental management at Keele University prior to relocating to Surrey and setting up Landscaping Solutions in 2005. The firm has achieved multiple RHS medals and BALI Awards since its inception. Now in his 28th year in the landscaping industry, Ben wishes to use his passion for natural landscapes and ecology to direct the future trajectory of the firm, and to ensure clients and the wider community consider nature when planning landscaping schemes.

www.landscapingsolutionsltd.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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OʼS GOLD AWARD WINNING ENTAL HEALTH GARDEN AT HARROGATE SPRING FLOWER SHOW

JO MANFREDI-HAMER SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON HOW SOLE TRADERS CAN LEARN TO LOOK AFTER THEIR MENTAL HEALTH

A

ny number of books will tell you what you need to be a successful entrepreneur – passionate, determined, hard-working, competitive and so on. However, what if I were to tell you that looking after your mental health is also one of the most important factors?

If you’re struggling to maintain good mental health, you haven’t a chance of developing the resilience you will need to handle the ups and downs of being in business on your own.

Let’s be honest – horticulture provides wonderful opportunities for job satisfaction.

As a garden designer, I am privileged to be able to take any space and transform it into a wonderful haven for its owners. There aren’t many jobs with that kind of instant impact. Yet garden design (and other horticultural jobs) can be stressful – sole traders do not have anyone to look over their designs and can usually be found surveying sites and supervising builds on their own, dealing with inclement weather and, just occasionally, fractious builders too. They also have to manage nervous clients and high expectations.

The good news is that I can honestly say there are some really good ways to keep on top of mental health related issues. Of course, everyone is different, and it is not a case of ‘one size fits all’, but there are some general tips which I have found useful.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Jo Manfredi-Hamer.indd 37

INFORM

M A N AG I N G YO U R M E N TA L H E A LT H Find someone to talk to As the old saying goes, ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. Attending SGD cluster groups is a good way to be reminded that you are not the only one with a particular issue.

Get an app There are some great apps out there for people with less time to spare. Apps like Talkspace allow you to connect with a licensed mental health professional from your smartphone or computer. Headspace is good for meditation.

Focus on the positive And not on negative feelings, which everyone has from time to time. You could keep a ‘gratitude diary’ in which you write three things you are grateful for each day. This effectively trains your mind to focus on positive things.

Care for others Helping others makes us feel needed. This might simply be having a pet to look after.

Stop catastrophising In other words, assuming the worst thing that can happen will happen. Learning to read the signs is crucial if we are not to spiral into panic.

I know that when I have not had a holiday in a while, even the smallest problem can assume gargantuan proportions in no time. Taking some time out provides better perspective every time.

Be distracted Find something you enjoy doing or find engaging, like listening to music, reading or drawing, and focus on that for a while. The idea is that you will have to concentrate on your hobby and be distracted from your troubles.

If you cannot find ways to make you feel better, you can always speak to your GP. They can suggest solutions like CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which will help you to rationalise your feelings. Did the client’s comment make you feel inadequate but were they the ones having a bad day?

Once you get to know what can trigger these issues and what will help you to resolve them, you will probably find that looking after your mental health is not as difficult as it may seem, and is really no different to, say, taking regular exercise and eating the right food.

ABOUT JO MANFREDI-HAMER Jo Manfredi-Hamer is an award-winning garden designer. She designed the Mental Health Garden which took gold at the Harrogate Flower Show 2019 and was proud to support Leeds Mind in that venture. She is passionate about how we can use gardening and horticulture generally to alleviate mental health issues in society. Jo is a pre-registered member of the Society of Garden Designers.

www.jmhgardendesign.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 37

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INFORM

ABNEY PARK

TO RISE AGAIN

WE VISIT ABNEY PARK CEMETERY IN HACKNEY AND HEAR FROM PARKS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER SAM PARRY TO LEARN ABOUT THE COUNCIL’S PLANS TO TRANSFORM IT INTO A DESTINATION GREEN SPACE FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

W

e’ve covered a huge range of sites within this magazine focusing on local authority parks and green spaces.

Regular readers may recall a variety of Royal Parks, both big (Richmond) and comparatively small (Kensington Palace Gardens). At the same time, we’ve also visited national parks, woodlands, and even the seaside for a spin around Lower Gardens in Bournemouth.

This month sees somewhat of a departure from the usual format, in that for the very first time we’re focussing on a graveyard, in the shape of Abney Park Cemetery in London.

Abney Park is fascinating for any number of reasons, not least its history, which stretches back to the mid-19th century. It is interesting however, due to the work which is currently taking place to help transform it into a ‘viable’ green space where local residents choose to spend their leisure time.

©Sean Pollock

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Abney Park.indd 39

The magnificent seven Named after former Lord Mayor of London Sir Thomas Abney, Abney Park is a nondenominational cemetery, opened in 1840 on 13ha of pre-existing parkland.

It’s located in Stoke Newington in the London Borough of Hackney and is one of what’s known as the ‘magnificent seven’ garden cemeteries located across the capital. Other examples of these also include Brompton in Kensington and Chelsea, and most famously Highgate, within

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 39

19/03/2020 08:30

INFORM

which is interred the remains of the likes of writer Douglas Adams and Karl Marx.

Sam Parry is parks development manager for Hackney Council, and as such is responsible for strategic decisions taken in relation to Abney Park. Discussing the history of the site – as well as current plans to increase its involvement in community life – he said: “Abney Park was built on the outskirts of London along with several other cemeteries in order to accommodate the rapid expansion of the city in the 19th century. Famous people who are buried there include William and Catherine Booth, who founded the Salvation Army, as well as Joanna Vassa, who was the daughter of abolitionist and former slave Olaudah Equiano.

“It was run as private cemetery up until the beginning of the 70s, at which point the company responsible for it went into liquidation. It was then taken over by the Abney Park Trust, with the council becoming responsible for overall management about five years ago.”

He continues, “One of the first things we did when we took over was start looking at a National Lottery Heritage Fund bid in order to help turn it into somewhere that local residents would want to come and visit. While very far from being in a state of disrepair, there are certain current features of the site which might conceivably act as a disincentive to those wanting a day out.”

THE CEMETERY ALSO HOLDS PLENTY OF INTEREST FROM A HORTICULTURAL POINT OF VIEW According to Sam, the responses to these aim to ensure everyone feels welcome and safe when entering the park, as well as looking to deter anyone using it for any type of antisocial behaviour. It is also a heavily wooded – not to say sprawling – space, something which could also conceivably prove daunting to casual visitors.

The bride wore black Going into greater detail about the plans to change this situation, he says: “We’ve been given £4.4m from the National Lottery to make improvements to the site, as announced at the beginning of this year. We want to put that to

40 Pro Landscaper / April 2020

Abney Park.indd 40

use across a range of different work areas.

“One of the main concerns for us is to reduce the anti-social behaviour which sometimes takes place on site, for instance people congregating around the entrances drinking. There are only two ways in and out of the cemetery, so that’s clearly a priority in terms of the work we want to do.

“At the same time, we also want to increase the number of people who know about it in the first place, as well as making it more ‘hospitable’. We do have a lot of regular visitors who obviously love the place for its charm, but the idea is ultimately to broaden out its appeal. It’s currently what you might think of as a hidden gem.”

Going back to the subject of anti-social behaviour, one of the ways in which the council plans to remedy this is to put a new café and visitor centre by the main entrance. There are also plans to create a ramp in order to help with buggy and wheelchair access, something which also hopes to draw people into the space.

At the same time, Hackney also intend to improve the interpretation across the site, something which it hopes will prompt an interest in the history of Abney Park, which is considerable. The increased signage will also help to humanise the more out of the way areas, helping them to feel less isolated.

The last, but perhaps most important piece of the puzzle, meanwhile, will be the restoration of the Gothic interdenominational chapel – which is actually Europe’s oldest – situated in the middle of the space. Due to vandalism and fire damage, this remarkable old structure has been inaccessible since 2012 and is currently classified as an at-risk Category A building by English Heritage.

Speaking of the council’s plans for it, Sam said: “Following the lottery bid, we’re looking to restore the chapel as well as putting in a new floor. We also want to install a new balcony, seating, toilets, electricity, and so on.

“It’s a really unique venue and we ultimately want to host events in there, which will include weddings. We’ve had quite a few enquiries about the latter already.”

Given its location – and the fact that the building has only ever functioned as a funerary chapel – unique would certainly be the right word for it. “There’s a particular kind of person who quite likes the idea of being married in the middle of a forest in this secluded building, situated amongst countless graves. We’ve had quite a lot of enquires so far.”

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/03/2020 08:34

INFORM

RESTORATION AT ABNEY PARK CEMETERY

IT’S CURRENTLY WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF AS A HIDDEN GEM

ABNEY PARK CHAPEL ©SEAN POLLOCK

MAYOR GLANVILLE AND CLLR DEMIRCI WITH ABNEY PARK VOLUNTEERS ©SEAN POLLOCK

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Abney Park.indd 41

A forest Abney Park Cemetery is an incredibly interesting site from a historical perspective, particularly given its identity as one of the UK’s key non-denominational places of rest.

It’s also the final destination for religious non-conformists and Dissenters of all kinds, including 19th century Methodists, Congregationalists and Baptists.

As fascinating as it is historically however, the cemetery also holds plenty of interest from a horticultural point of view. The most obvious example of this is its trees, which rival the graves both in number and in their peculiar beauty.

Discussing the maintenance of the site in terms of its horticulture, Sam said: “The whole site is really dominated by its trees, which have essentially been left alone to establish. It was originally planted up alphabetically as an arboretum, so there’s a huge variety of species in there. We have everything from acers to Zanthoxylum – otherwise known as American toothache trees.

“At the same time, we also get lots of ivy and low-level growth over and around the graves. In terms of planting, there’s some over by the entrance where we’re putting the new cafe, but really not much.”

Abney Park has an onsite gardener who is helped by a team of volunteers, mainly when clearance work which is required. The council also employs a biodiversity expert, who advises on the latter activity in order to safeguard the local flora and fauna, as well as a part-time park manager.

The aforementioned wildlife includes a variety of bird species – from sparrowhawk, to tawny owl, blackcaps and more – which take advantage of the only mature mixed woodland in north Hackney. The site is also home to a plethora of species of fungi, the majority of which rendered inedible by the arsenic-embalmed bodies mouldering underground.

For Sam, this is more than just a nice place to be. He says: “From my own perspective, it’s just such a fascinating place to come and spend some time in. It’s also incredibly beautiful in its own way. One of the first winters I moved to London we had heavy snowfall, and walking around it in the snow is just one of the most amazing things you can imagine. It doesn’t feel like you’re in London at all,” he explains. Abney Park Cemetery is indeed a magical space, and we look forward to watching it grow.

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 41

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REBORN C O A L D R O P S YA R D M AY L I M COMPLEMENTING THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AT C O A L D R O P S YA R D , T H I S R E N O VAT I O N T R A N S F O R M E D A N D I N V I G O R AT E D T H I S CENTRAL MID-19TH CENTURY DEPOT

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oal Drops Yard, part of the renovation of the King’s Cross mid-19th century coal depot, saw the site’s original coal sheds transformed into an expansive and contemporary retail and leisure destination. The scheme is the latest addition to the redevelopment of the area by the client, King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP). The site is of great historical interest; the eastern shed is a Grade II listed building and the site is subject to conservation consent.

The public realm consists of a large central space with spacious walkways, staircases and bridges that link

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to the coal offices. Maylim’s remit on this iconic scheme included the reduced level excavation, installation of ducting and drainage, concrete works, a granite paving scheme and the site’s soft landscaping.

Brief Coal Drops Yard completes the final link of the KCCLP’s masterplan for the major redevelopment of King’s Cross. The public area surrounding the incredible architecture of the Coal Drops building ties all surrounding schemes together with interlinking pathways, bridges, gardens and staircases, enabling visitors to explore this exciting new space with ease.

Design/build Before surface level works could begin, concrete slabs were constructed, alongside the expansion and movement of joints to form a level surface.

Design and construction of a surface water drainage system which minimised the quantity of galvanised steel at the surface was implemented. The drainage was strategically installed in tandem with the paving design.

Brickwork elements were incorporated into cladding of all staircases, in line with the historic architecture – this was also reflected by the granite set paving in a fan design located at the bottom of all stairways and lift shafts.

The paving layout was co-ordinated with the paving pattern of the surrounding architecture and reflect the overall King’s Cross scheme.

Setts were laid tactically in line with the surrounding paving arrangements, helping to maintain the remarkable charm of the structural design.

Flooring layouts adopted different finishes and sizes for various locations across the site. Paving materials included porphyry, reclaimed granite setts, granite paving and recycled cropped setts salvaged from the original Coal Drops Yard.

Prior to the granite paving installation, the final layer concrete slab needed to receive another layer of hydrotech waterproofing membrane, ensuring that no leaks could occur.

All waterproofing was carried out by external contractors and co-ordinated by the Maylim team.

Soft landscaping included installation of six trees across the scheme.

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Challenges The roof and curtain wall glazing were significantly delayed, and this meant that the yard scaffold had

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WORKING ON STEPS

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1 Lower Stable Street 2 Restored railway arches now home a mix of shops and restaurants 3 The entrance to Coal Drops Yard from Granary Square

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REFERENCES 3

A B O U T M AY L I M Maylim is a specialists in external works and hard landscaping schemes. It also completes highway and civil engineering projects. Since forming in 2001, the company has built a solid reputation for quality work and client satisfaction, particularly at high-end, mixed-use schemes. Maylimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s integrated approach enables it to be flexible and adaptable, delivering everything from small-scale developments to multi-million pound projects.

www.maylim.co.uk

Soft landscaping Willerby Landscapes www.willerby-landscapes.co.uk In-ground power units Kent Stainless www.kentstainless.co.uk Bedding mortar and grout Instarmac www.instarmac.co.uk Photographs ŠMaylim

to stay up for a much longer period than it had originally been planned to. This resulted in the work areas having to adapt to smaller sections in order to meet access dates for the client.

The amendments allowed for the scaffold structure to remain in place.

The Lower Stable Street had restricted access. This meant that the project team had to commence works at one end and work their way out. As this was the only access to the retail and leisure units, the team had to collaborate closely with the internal trades to retain free-flowing access whilst also continuing progression with their works.

Benches Chris Nangle Furniture www.chrisnanglefurniture.co.uk

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PROJECT D E TA I L S Project value £100k to £250k Build time 12 months Size of project 15,000m2 Awards APL Awards 2016: Highly Commended for Project Value £100k to £250k

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WA L M S L E Y S H AW H A D T H E C H A L L E N G E O F C R E AT I N G A G A R D E N W H I C H B L E N D E D W I T H T H E N E W LY B U I LT P R O P E R T Y A S W E L L A S I T S B AT H COUNTRYSIDE SURROUNDINGS

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almsley Shaw was given the grand challenge of rebuilding the natural environment around a contemporary country house, nestled in the Bath countryside. The property is on a north-facing side of a valley and receives little direct sunlight outside of summer, giving Walmsley Shaw an added challenge.

Design/build The design brief for the architect was to create a building which made the most of the sunlight all year around, which resulted in a series of courtyard spaces. The design brief, handled

by SEED Landscape Design, was to give these courtyard spaces a strong relationship with the inside spaces and to be part of the overall flow of the house.

Walmsley Shaw was asked to provide a series of diverse spaces in and around the house which had colour, seasonality and made the most of the context, views when in and outside the house and year-round sunlight.

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It was important that each area of the garden intrinsically connected with the house, making it feel as though it had always been there. The landscaping was designed to drift through the house and down the valley, with a combination of land forming and planting nestling the building back into its surroundings.

The entrance courtyard needed to have a rural farmyard feel. This was achieved by subtle planting which was incorporated in and around the entrance threshold using vast bespoke made paving slabs. The farmyard feel was enhanced by the renovation of an existing barn, integrated into the build, and an orchard planted with wildflowers. This then paved the way to the large cedar panelled main entrance.

1 A gentle but wild approach to the front door as you pass a cathedral-like music room 2 The inner courtyard offers views to every part of the house 3 Curved path leading to the guest house entrance 4 Inner hallway to the inner courtyard 5 Views of the Cotswold countrysideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rolling hills

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The clients wanted the central courtyard to be a tranquil extension of the adjacent kitchen, which was designed to pull light into the centre of the property.

The designers incorporated the planting and paving and needed to create a serene, sheltered courtyard, encircled by a complete glass internal walkway, leaving it framed by plants.

The upper courtyard needed to be a colourful garden. It was “an exciting challenge” for Walmsley Shaw to undertake a roof garden which incorporated engineered landforms and an amazing central path. The designer’s selection of plants was based on seasonal colours to give every bedroom an amazing view. Walmsley Shaw Ltd craned in a beautiful solid oak seating bench to allow the clients to sit and appreciate their picturesque surroundings.

The clients wanted the Eastern courtyard to be a transition into the rural landscape.

To the east of property, there was an internal/external swimming pool that was completely surrounded by a wildflower meadow, bolstering the beauty of the undulating Bath Cotswold valley.

The project consisted mainly of earthworks and land forming around the property, as well as some hard landscaping to blend in with the architect’s contemporary structure, such as the large curved path on the roof terrace surrounded by its earth mounds.

MASTERPLAN

It also included water features, installation of stone oak structural benches and, most importantly, preparation and planting of the designer’s scheme.

Challenges The Wild at Heart project was a particularly difficult location with many issues when it came to accessibility. It is always a logistical nightmare when many trades and contractors are working together in a restricted area.

Walmsley Shaw’s brief also included the movement of land which had created a landslide outside the back door, and to form mountains of wet soil created from the construction of the house. This had to be dealt with before any landscaping work could even take place.

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Softening and enhancing with wild planting Timber softens the concrete and glazing Cotswold stone features throughout the building Bespoke reconstituted Bath stone paving The vibrant planting lives up to the project’s title – wild at heart!

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A B O U T WA L M S L EY S H AW LT D Since Walmsley Shaw Ltd started building gardens over 20 years ago, it has established strong collaborative relationships with some outstanding landscape architects and designers, and thanks to their willingness to recommend it to others, Walmsley Shaw has grown consistently.

But actually, it isn’t growing the business that really motivates the company – it’s a desire to ensure that every garden it builds is exceptional.

www.walmsleyshaw.co.uk

REFERENCES Designer SEED Landscape Design www.seedlandscape.com Masonry Ken Biggs Contractors Ltd www.ken-biggs.co.uk Photographs ©Rebecca Bernstein Photography

Roof garden mediums and topsoil Woodland Horticulture Ltd www.woodlandhp.co.uk Other materials Green-tech www.green-tech.co.uk

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Photography Rebecca Bernstein www.rebeccabernstein.co.uk

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CHANGING

L E V E LS PRIMROSE HILL C O U R T YA R D G A R D E N

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PROJECT D E TA I L S

MCWILLIAM STUDIO

Build time 4 months Size of project 127m2

A UNIQUE TWO-STOREY MEWS HOUSE IN CENTRAL L O N D O N R E Q U I R E D A S O P H I S T I C AT E D C O U R T YA R D GARDEN WHICH COMPLEMENTED THE LINEAR AREA OF THE SITE, WHILST PROVIDING AS MUCH P R I VA C Y A S P O S S I B L E www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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his two-storey house in central London had significant level changes from the entrance to the garden and the terrace level due to the installation of a new basement. When McWilliam Studio was appointed to design the vista, the property overhaul was well underway.

Other levels within the main garden were affected by the basement structure below, in terms of weight as well as loadings and depths for paving and planting.

Brief A modern space was requested by the client.

Water was a desirable element within the garden, from both an acoustic and aesthetic point of view.

They wanted an outdoor dining area close to the kitchen and a further seating area to the east of the site, which could take advantage of the sunniest location. The design was to reference the visual language of the interior

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with minimal hard and soft landscape treatments interposed with bold colour.

The client found it difficult to visualise to the spatial and three-dimensional aspects of the garden, therefore a range of visuals were produced to support the level changes, alongside a variety of mood boards.

Design and build The client wanted the garden to reflect their interest in Indian art and design. Several large carved stone jali screens and supporting braces were sourced. The screens were installed in the planting beds, with natural light shining through to create shadow patterns. Each screen is lit from the front, delivering sculptural interest after dark.

Porcelain paving was decided upon, working well as a lightweight and shallow profile material. It would also age well in the shady location in which natural stones would often green up over time.

A lower planted pool and a higher-level gravel filter system were incorporated into the water feature, with a gentle cascade linking 1 View into courtyard 2 Copper water feature with aquatic planting 3 Schoenoplectus lacustris subsp. tabernaemontani 4 Koelreuteria paniculata helps with privacy 5 Dining area with built in storage

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the two. The pool provides a refreshing entrance experience reminiscent of how the client remembered the original experience of the garden prior to the renovations. Aged copper for the water feature was sourced, creating a contrast with the pale porcelain detail.

A bespoke antique mirror was also incorporated as a backdrop to enhance reflections.

Planting areas are a mix of shade-loving grasses and perennials with strong flower colour where light levels allowed. Multistemmed Koelreuteria paniculata were specified for the main border to give filtered privacy to the main garden spaces. Planting below was a matrix of deschampsia with a range of perennials to add warmer tones and spots of more intense colours.

Planting under the existing trees had to be retained and included Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ and Hydrangea macrophylla.

Digitalis purpurea are used to pick up the pink and purple tones in the shadiest areas.

Challenges The initial challenge faced was the tight time frame the team was presented with – it had to work in a timely manner to achieve everything required, as well as the restricted working area which was also the main access into the site.

Noise from the construction also presented itself as a major issue with neighbours due to their proximity to the site. Most of the cutting for the paving and other constructed elements had to be carried out of site in order to reduce noise and dust. This complex build was managed admirably by Outdoor Options with patience, efficiency and clear communciation.

6 Antique Jali screens 7 Geranium pyrenaicum ‘Bill Wallis’ & Aralia cordata

REFERENCES Landscape contractor Outdoor Options www.outdooroptions.co.uk Trees Deepdale Trees www.deepdale-trees.co.uk Perennials, grasses and shrubs Hortus Loci www.hortusloci.co.uk Water feature Fairwater www.fairwater.co.uk Timber work Garden Trellis Company www.gardentrellis.co.uk Antique mirror Saligo www.saligodesign.com Antique jali screens Indigo www.indigo-uk.com Porcelian paving Alfresco Floors www.alfrescofloors.com

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ABOUT MCWILLIAM STUDIO McWilliam Studio is an award-winning garden design and landscape architecture practice led

by Gavin McWilliam in collaboration with Andrew Wilson, in the South-East and internationally.

It delivers memorable and uplifting places.

Imaginative and carefully tailored designs are crucial to the success of its schemes. Sharply detailed construction and inspirational planting design percolate through its unique designs.

www.mcwilliamstudio.com

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LANDSCAPE A R C H I T EC T ’S

DIRECTORS ALEX JOBBER, KATIE FLAXMAN AND EDWARD FLAXMAN BUILT STUDIO 31 WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND. WE FIND OUT HOW THEY CREATE HEALTHY LANDSCAPES BOTH FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR ITS USERS, AS WELL AS HOW THEY HOPE TO HELP THE INDUSTRY DO THE SAME

JOURNAL

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ST U D I O 3 1

WINNER 2

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here is no doubt that we are in a state of climate emergency. The warmer summers and wetter winters we were to expect from climate change are well and truly upon us. The first few months of this year alone have already seen extreme weather conditions.

Storm Ciara caused gusts of 97mph to hit the Isle of Wight according to the Met Office, and Storm Dennis followed shortly after, prompting the Met Office to issue a red warning for rain – the first it has issued since December 2015.

People are taking action, though, and they are increasingly looking to the landscape as an answer.

The Government’s Environmental Bill looks to champion nature-based solutions in a commitment to tackle climate change. Defra has also released guidance for policy and decision makers to help them consider the value of a natural capital approach. Following the Landscape Institute (LI) Board’s declaration of a climate and biological diversity emergency last June, it has formed an expert panel to examine the ways that the LI and its members could make a positive contribution towards national climate change targets.

Certainly, this move towards the importance of green spaces raises the importance of our industry.

“Landscape architects have the ability to save the world,” Katie Flaxman, director of Studio 31, tells us.

“We have the tools needed to create large-scale schemes driven by landscapes which incorporate sustainability and health.”

Sustainability begins at home for Studio 31.

The studio is run as environmentally as possible, meaning everything from renewable energy sources

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to plantable pencils and waste-free exhibition stands are regular sights for the business.

But Katie and fellow directors Edward Flaxman and Alex Jobber didn’t just want their company to be healthy for the environment, they wanted it to be healthy for people too.

All three of the directors had previously worked in high-pressure roles which required long hours, and this wasn’t how they wanted to run Studio 31.

Flexible working is advocated, meetings often take place on a walk through the countryside, the team take part in office yoga sessions and are encouraged to stick to a 9-to-5 workday. “You can run a business that’s successful and have a healthy work life balance,” Katie explains. “We try to create a really healthy environment here which then spills naturally into the health ethos of the projects we create.”

HEALTH DESIGN IS LINKED TO BEHAVIOUR... IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW HEALTHY YOUR LANDSCAPE IS IF YOU’RE NOT ENGAGING WITH IT Compromise Epping Forest covers 2,500 hectares, two thirds of which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). At a site on the edge of the forest, Studio 31 is starting work on a conversion project which will showcase exactly how it succeeds in creating healthy landscapes.

A residential property is being built to sit on top of a steeply sloping site with the garden spilling down into the wider landscape. Though Studio 31 works hard to retain as much value from the existing landscape as possible, here it was necessary to remove seven of the 81 existing trees to accommodate the changes to the building. To mitigate this and improve the site further, Studio 31 is proposing planting in excess of 65 trees. These would be a mix of young and mature specimens to give the broadest opportunity for carbon capture and improved air quality across the site.

The rolling landscape and stretching views surrounding the property may be what makes the site so spectacular, but it also means the sloping garden is very topographically challenging. Rather than putting in a lot of hard landscaping though, Studio 31 is working with

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the levels, using earthworks to create undulating forms and secluded areas which are set into the landscape.

The driveway was one of the greatest challenges for Studio 31 due to the sheer volume of the space and the need to balance functionality and durability with sustainability.

A compacted granite (a byproduct of the construction industry) has offered a solution which will offer longevity whilst being permeable and crucially not disrupting the natural pH of the soil on the site.

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Perhaps one of the most important design elements of the garden though, is the modest terrace which is settled into the landscape further down the garden. This was designed to bring the family out into the garden and the nature which surrounds it. “A big part of health design is linked to behaviour,” Katie tells us.

“It’s important to encourage people into the landscape because, ultimately, it doesn’t matter how healthy your landscape is if you’re not engaging with it.”

Blend Elmley Nature Reserve is a national nature reserve, SSSI and Ramsar Site with enormous ecological importance. It is also home to award-winning accommodation and hosts events throughout the year. Studio 31 had the task of blurring the line between nature and people here, with the creation of a garden surrounding a derelict farmhouse that was transformed into luxury accommodation.

“The site has always been a place where ecology meets industry,” Katie notes. “Much of the habitat there has been created through agriculture and it is still a working farm. It’s very symbiotic and we wanted our work to be another layer of this.”

Planting was vital here due to the juxtaposition between the wilder landscape and more formal nature of the building. Studio 31 took inspiration from key species which 1

Floating House garden

2 Contemporary terraced garden, Essex

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©Clear Architects 3-4 Fair Havens Hospice: patient rooms with access to semi-private outdoor spaces ©LSI Architects 5 Contemplative and communal spaces for both family and staff at Fair Havens Hospice ©LSI Architects 6 Fair Havens Hospice illustration ©LSI Architects

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were occurring in the landscape; choosing ornamental versions which remained true to the site whilst giving a more formal aesthetic. As you move away from the property, the planting becomes wilder, with Studio 31 mixing in native hedgerows, fruiting trees, wilder grasses and meadow planting until the landscape blends into the nature reserve beyond.

Health Studio 31 wants its designs to be intrinsically healthy, not just for the landscape but also for the people who use them. Katie continues: “It’s important to consider who you are designing for and the health need you hope to support.

NO ONE IS PERFECT – WE’RE CERTAINLY NOT – BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU ARE TRYING “A healthy person, for example, will view a landscape differently to someone who is sick or suffering. It can’t be assumed that all natural environments are fundamentally good for everyone. In other words, when we’re designing somewhere like a hospice, we want it to be a place of refuge and sanctuary. We want to create a retreat, a space of comfort and safety. This would be quite different to designing a commercial or public realm scheme.”

At a unique hospice in Southend, Studio 31, LSI Architects and Fairhavens have created a

groundbreaking space which holds horticulture and landscape at its heart.

Every inpatient room in the facility has access to its own semi-private outdoor space – in fact, almost every room in the entire building has a view onto the landscape. The semi-private spaces are designed to reduce feelings of isolation using soft grasses and evergreen hedging to screen from the wider landscape whilst still retaining a connection to neighbouring rooms.

The planting changes with the seasons, and in certain areas Studio 31 made sure to select plants which brought a sense of familiarity to the patients – plants such as roses have been linked to evoking and promoting memory and, in turn, comfort.

The landscape is designed as a holistic part of care rather than an add-on,” Alex tells us.

“It’s been such a privilege to work with clients and architects who are 100% on board with this concept.”

Moving into the wider landscape, paths encircle the site with huge swathes of meadow grass broken up by refuge spots. These places of refuge were inspired by an old monastery across the road from the site, mirroring the safety and serenity visitors feel there.

In particular, Studio 31 wanted to echo the seating in the cloister garden. Cocooned within tall planting, patients, visitors and staff are offered a safe space to reflect.

7 Future “We want to get to a place where every part of our project is sustainable, from design to build,” Katie reveals. Studio 31 has already achieved massive things, but the team have certainly set their sights high. It doesn’t just stop with them either, the team wants to encourage everyone they work with – and even those they don’t – to see the value of landscape.

Katie is working on a piece of research to help other practices or landscape professionals design for health. This toolkit will link health, landscape and design and will begin to make a complex design process easier to translate. The team is also putting together a materials library that will rate materials for their environmental credentials, supporting clients to make more informed choices about materials selection.

“We want to be the problem solvers, not the problem sayers,” Katie concludes. “It’s about supporting and encouraging the things people are doing and educating them about how else they could be improving. No one is perfect – we’re certainly not – but the most important thing is that you are trying.”

In such a big world, it’s easy to believe that you can’t make a difference, but Studio 31 is a fantastic example of a company that shows we both can and should make braver steps forward.

7 Treehouse within an orchard on a private estate ©Rebecca Douglas Photography 8 Elmley National Nature Reserve, Kent

C O N TA C T Studio 31, 22 Bardfield Centre, Great Bardfield, CM7 4SL Tel +44 (0)1371 811 144 Email hello@designstudio31.co.uk

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www.designstudio31.co.uk

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MIRROR VISION DOUG AIT ENʼS IRRORED IRAGE HOUSE INSTALLED CALIFORNIA

M

WOODLAND HOUSE BY ALTUS ARCHITECTURE USA

ANJI CONNELL REFLECTS ON THE BEAUTY OF MIRRORED BUILDINGS AROUND THE GLOBE, AND HOW WE CAN BRING THESE INTO OUR GARDEN DESIGNS

irror cabins are very much in vogue throughout the world – and rightly so. Not only do they blend into their surroundings, becoming invisible in plain sight, but they provide a unique view from inside too. Mirror surfaces also reflect sunlight, preventing structures from heating up.

Angled mirrors also help address sun glare problems associated with mirrored facades that are problematic in tropical climates.

Inspiration Paddington-based Madeleine Blanchfield Architects’ Kangaroo Valley Outhouse is a stunning example of how we can use mirror in our projects. Nestled amongst verdant vegetation, the mirrored structure disappears during the day, reflecting the lush landscape, minimising human interference in the natural landscape. From inside, there is a complete

360-degree view available.

Taking the concept a bit further, ÖÖD houses were designed by two brothers who couldn’t find anywhere small yet beautiful to stay on their hiking trips. This experience led them to create ÖÖD as a hotel concept. The prefabricated mirror cube hotel rooms come complete with a bed, kitchen and bathroom.

Other ÖÖD mirror cubes can include a reception, spa, restaurant, conference rooms, and gym. ÖÖD houses are installed on foundation poles by the client following drawings provided by ÖÖD. Installation takes one to two days, and each cube comes with a two-year warranty. The cube offers full visibility to the outside without you being seen on the inside. The mirrored exterior reflects the landscape, making the cabin seem invisible.

Similarly, the Mirrorcube in Sweden was designed by Bolle Tham and Martin Videgård and built by a local company. Each cube provides accommodation for two, with a double bed, toilet and sitting area. All of these hotel rooms have incinerating toilets and a sustainable Rukkamoinika water system. Spectacularly,

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REFLECTIVE BUILDINGS IN MARSEILLE

these rooms are accessed via swaying suspension bridge.

An aluminium frame is built around a tree to form the base of the room of the Mirrorcube, measuring 4 x 4 x 4m. All walls are covered in mirror glass, giving the illusion the room is glass

MIRRORCUBE

BY TREEHOTEL

from floor to ceiling. Another exciting detail hidden behind the facade is a balcony that allows you to go outside the box without being seen.

In contrast, Invisible Barn is a mirror-clad folly set in a California forest by architecture studio stpmj. Its slender diamond-shaped structure means that from certain angles, it appears to be paper-thin. The doorway and window openings puncture the facade all the way through with no rooms inside. The visual illusion allows the folly to be invisible in nature, reconstructing the landscape of the site and creating a visual trick as the framed openings appear to float in the air.

For those looking for something more familiar, American artist Doug Aitken has erected an installation in the snow-covered Gstaad mountains, styled and shaped like a typical American ranch house. The mirrored exterior reflects and interacts with the mountain

FOLLY INVISIBLE BARN, BY STUDIO STPMJ

landscape over the changing seasons.

The interior is also mirrored to create a kaleidoscopic, refracted effect as you enter.

Aitken built another similar installation in the Californian desert.

Meanwhile, Antonini + Darmon and RMDM has created a pair of large mirrored-steel boxes connected by a glazed bridge to complement and extend an archive facility outside Paris.

MIRRORED CLADDING IS ONE OF THOSE RARE ARCHITECTURAL MATERIALS THAT DELIVERS MORE THAN EXPECTED The extension was wrapped in ribbed panels of reflective stainless steel to reflect the sky and the lush landscaped setting and as a contrast to the aluminium of the existing building.

Lastly, a beach hut has been added to Worthing beach on the south coast. Its small timber-framed structure has a gabled form that matches the local setting, and it is clad entirely with mirrors so it disappears into its seaside setting. Instigated by property developer Jane Wood, the project highlights playful architecture’s impact on sleepy seaside towns.

Specifying mirror materials The type of surface finish and colour are equally important when it comes to specifying rainscreen cladding. With its ability to shroud buildings and even make them disappear, mirrored cladding is one of those rare materials that delivers more than expected.

When it comes to specifying reflective and mirrored cladding, there are various choices depending on the level of reflectivity required, project design and budget.

Stainless steel is a versatile material due to its corrosion resistance properties.

Unlike glass, the stainless steel panels can be perforated, rolled, folded or engraved to create a really striking facade.

ABOUT ANJI CONNELL Internationally recognised interior architect and landscape designer, Anji Connell, is a detail-obsessed Inchbald Graduate, and has been collaborating with artisans and craftsmen to create bespoke and unique interiors for a discerning clientele since 1986. Anji is a stylist, feature writer and lover of all things art and design.

www.anjiconnellinteriordesign.com

ART INSTALLATION

BY HARUMI YUKUTAKE

MIRRORCUBE

BY TREEHOTEL

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DESIGN: TONY WOODS

A PRO FESSIONAL TOUCH MARIANNE MAJERUS EXPLAINS WHY EMPLOYING A GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHER CAN BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS

DESIGN: SARA JANE ROTHWELL

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T

he prevalence of high-spec smartphone cameras in contemporary society makes taking pictures easy. We can all take quick snaps and post them on social media where they can appear very attractive. But, like yesterday’s newspapers, they are fleeting and short-lived impressions, often forgotten in an instant and left languishing, unseen, in the phone’s memory.

In a fast-flowing digital world, we all suffer from sensory overload, but professionals need an edge; something to make a potential customer stop scrolling and investigate their work more fully, something to produce a click-through.

A professionally designed garden is, for both designer and client, a considerable investment of time, money and creativity. The point of completion of a garden is not the time to start cutting corners or budgets. Rather, it is a time to maximise the garden’s potential for future business. In an industry based on visual appeal, using images that are “just okay” can’t be the best way to sell a business. What conclusion might a potential client draw from images that really could be better?

Just as the best gardens are realised by employing a professional designer or landscape architect, so the best photographs are achieved by a professional photographer at the top of their

field. Indeed, associating your business with the reputation of a successful professional photographer can elevate it to a new level, further boosting your company’s appeal. Not to do so would be to devalue your achievement.

THE POINT OF COMPLETION OF A GARDEN IS NOT THE TIME TO START CUTTING CORNERS OR BUDGETS A good garden photographer aims to produce high quality images that remain interesting over time. Their extensive experience of seeing and engaging with the work of different designers gives them an understanding of what is unique and distinctive in a designer’s work and in a particular garden. It is their mission to show the designer’s work literally in the best light, sparing no effort to achieve this, working early and late as necessary to catch the magical hours.

Speaking for myself, I love to be in gardens when they look their most beautiful, which often is just as the sun rises or as it sets. I am in gardens when they look their most serene, often

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THE BENEFITS

earlier in the morning than the owner has ever even seen their garden. I am investing my time to catch golden moments and create timeless photographs. I like to spend time in a garden ‘following the light’, observing how colours, volumes and relationships change from moment to moment.

For me, a garden photograph is successful when it achieves a fine synthesis between showing off the design and evoking the pleasure of being in the space created by the designer. It makes the designer’s vision come alive in ways that even the designer might not have fully anticipated. I carry a lot of expensive equipment; a host of specialist lenses in order to be prepared for the trickiest situations and awkward spaces and several camera bodies so that fleeting moments are not missed – the perfect setup for every angle.

The amount of time needed to properly capture a garden might seem enough to justify the employment of a professional, but a garden photographer’s work is not done once the pictures are taken. There follows a lengthy process of editing the many hundreds of images taken, and then processing these using the latest software on calibrated equipment, producing colour balanced images which evoke

DESIGN: SUE TOWNSEND

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the finest sense of the garden. Where necessary, the images are also retouched, perhaps removing unavoidable distractions or traces left by a garden owner’s pet, bald patches in the lawn, etc.

The ‘post-production’ aspect of the work often takes longer than taking the photographs and it is vital to producing the best possible images. Working with my staff, we then tag all the images with rich metadata and upload them to our website (subject to owner’s permissions, of course), where they can be readily accessed worldwide by editors and book publishers for years to come. Publishers regularly consult us about books and articles they are planning, so having their gardens circulated in this way will help a designer achieve the invaluable publicity of having their work and their name disseminated across the globe.

A professional photographer will also have good contacts with magazine editors and an understanding of which publishers are most likely to be interested in featuring a particular designer’s work. This offers the real possibility of exposure in publications which are read by thousands of potential clients, both nationally and internationally.

Gardens by their very nature are ephemeral. They can often decline due to lack of maintenance or be radically altered after a property changes hand.

All that remains might be the photographs. High quality professional images will give portfolios, websites and competition submissions the edge, but perhaps the best reason for engaging a professional is the joy of seeing one’s work recorded and knowing that it will be appreciated across continents, perhaps for decades to come.

them there would be no photos to take.”

Sue Townsend, garden designer

DESIGN GRAHA

LLOYD-BRUNT

A B O U T M A R I A N N E M A J E RU S Marianne Majerus is one of Europe’s finest garden photographers; her artistic and sensitive images are widely sought after by publishers and private clients. She has won many awards, including International Garden Photographer of the Year, and has been Garden Media Guild Photographer of the Year on several occasions. In 2018, she was named European Garden Photographer of the Year. She is a founding member of the Professional Garden Photographers’ Association.

www.mariannemajerusportfolio.com

All photographs ©Marianne Majerus Garden Images

DESIGN: MATT KEIGHTLEY

“The benefits of employing a professional photographer cannot be underestimated.

The garden design industry is very visual, so a good set of professional photographs is essential to promoting your work. Since working with Marianne Majerus my work has been published in high quality magazines and books which has raised my profile and led to interesting new design enquiries. As the images are beautifully composed and capture the essence and atmosphere of the garden, I use them on my website to attract new clients. I have also submitted them when entering professional awards, like the Society of Garden Designers’ Awards – I am sure they have played a part in winning some! Commissioning a set of professional photographs is also a lovely way to say thank you to clients; after all, without

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©Helen Yates/RHS

INSPIRE

C

©Paul Upward

hildren are spending less time outdoors in the natural world than they did a generation ago.

As Florence Williams shows in her book The Nature Fix, our connection to nature is more important than we might think, and even small amounts of time in nature can improve our creativity and mood. In increasingly urban environments, the need for children to play in nature has never been greater.

Davies White designs and creates naturalised, outdoor, multisensory play environments which encourage a reconnection with nature. They also provide a focus for those

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I M P O RTA N C E

O F N AT U R A L P L AY

prescribing – helping patients to improve their health and wellbeing, which often includes time outdoors, utilising the services of horticultural therapists. Our RHS Back to Nature Garden that was showcased at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019 has been re-imagined at an NHS centre where it encourages patients to get outside.

Children also need the opportunity to test themselves and take reasonable risks in order to learn and develop. A good play space will contain some risk, but with this comes all sorts of benefits to a child’s development – increase in physical activity, problem solving, teamwork, etc. In the public realm, this risk needs to be

THE HEALING POWER OF IMMERSION IN NATURE IS BEING INCREASINGLY RECOGNISED

©Paul Upward

children and families who are less inclined to explore the natural world and need a reason like a play space to encourage them outside.

Making a play garden appealing to a wide range of users is key to its success. To do this, we have developed creative ways of engaging with the community and client groups, which helps us to understand local needs.

The conversation starts during our handson model making workshops, where we get children to dream up their perfect place to play.

We also run the ‘Scratch and Sniff’ workshop, which is a way of introducing children to the wonderful world of plants – pelargoniums that smell of coca cola, mint reminiscent of toothpaste and wild strawberries to taste.

The healing power of immersion in nature is being increasingly recognised. Social

THE

measured in a controlled way, so we work with specialist play safety inspectors. They assess the levels of risk against a series of published guidelines and report accordingly.

Our play gardens aim to reconnect children with nature, so we focus on natural materials like sand, stone, water and wood more than metals and plastics. But most importantly, these spaces also need trees and plants.

Using plants in places specifically designed for children needs careful thought if they are to thrive long term and bring their seasonal variety, textures, colour and scent. We choose robust plants that can stand a bit of trampling, like Rubus tricolor, Alchemilla mollis or Epimedium.

©Helen Yates/RHS

ANDRÉE DAVIES DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF OUTDOOR PLAY SPACES FOR CHILDREN AS WELL AS THE METHODS USED AT DAVIES WHITE LTD TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE NATURAL PLAY

We also use plants with character, like Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ which creates an ideal den space beneath its low hanging branches, and Cercidiphyllum for its autumn scent of candy floss. Plants for craft activities add another dimension to the garden, willow weaving and flower pressing encourage children to look more closely at plants. Edible plants are best included in an allocated area to help children differentiate between those that they can eat and those they cannot. It is also wise to filter out plants that are known irritants or contain poisons, along with those that have particularly large thorns.

Let grass grow long and encourage flowers that can be picked. Don’t be too concerned about wear and tear – it usually means the garden is well used, and that’s our aim – to create places that are loved by the community.

A B O U T A N D R É E DAV I E S Andrée Davies and Adam White are co-directors of Davies White Ltd. Adam is also President of the Landscape Institute. They specialise in the design and development of multisensory outdoor play environments for children.

www.davieswhite.co.uk

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M AST E R I N G THE CRAFT C H R I S N A N G L E , FO U N D E R O F C H R I S N A N G L E F U R N I T U R E , T E L L S U S A B O U T T H E C O M PA N Y A N D I TS I N VO LV E M E N T I N C OA L D R O P S YA R D How was the company founded?

Chris Nangle Furniture was formed in 2000 after I graduated from university with a BA (Hons) and an MA in furniture design. I was always interested in exterior public works; I liked the idea that it was free for anyone to use in public places.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY What type of products do you sell?

We specialise in eco-friendly public seating.

Initially, we concentrated on a range of green oak benches, but over the years have also developed a range of timber and metal products. Most recently we have started to produce a range of upcycled benches; the timber is reclaimed greenheart salvaged from UK ports. Once carved and cleaned up, it’s a really beautiful durable timber.

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What is your USP? All of our products are made to order in our Shropshire workshop. We offer a choice of timber options on all of the products and a wide variety of metal finishes. Over the years, we have built up a network of skilled makers who we can call on to help with more bespoke projects; blacksmiths and foundries, for instance – anything that can give bespoke work something extra.

We are probably best known for our range of charred timber products. This is something I developed whilst studying more than 20 years ago. I love how the pure black changes the form of the work; it takes away the woodiness.

What products can we expect in the future?

We offer a range of hand carved, vandalresistant work – the ripple benches and carved seating blocks are particularly popular. As part of this, we have begun offering this range in reclaimed greenheart timber. Looking further to the future, we are hoping to continue developing our upcycled range. It’s also important to us that we continue to be part of the circular economy.

CAS E STUDY: COA L DROPS YA RD “We were approached by Heatherwick Studio to develop the bespoke seating for the recently completed Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross. The seating we developed was to be carved from huge sections of green oak, and we created a range of different seat options for the benches, including multiple and single benches.

The oak was brought to our Shropshire workshop from the local sawmill; our team started carving the benches, which were then charred, scrubbed and finished with a colour-fast flexible finish that highlights the subtle texture of the charred oak. The resulting benches complement the former industrial site wonderfully.”

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B E AU T I F U L LY

©Richard Bloom

BESPOKE

PRO LANDSCAPER VISITED OUTDOORDESIGN IN WEST SUSSEX T O S E E W H E R E I T C R E AT E S I T S U N I Q U E P R O D U C T S

I

f you are looking for beautifully designed and custom-made bespoke planters, sculptures or landscaping features then a conversation with James Booth is well worth the time.

James, together with his sister Caroline, are the owners of Outdoordesign. They are very client-focused and always looking for the solution to the clients’ landscaping problems. They pride themselves on excellent customer service as well as the understanding

and ability to take the landscapers’ or designers’ brief and design, interpret it, and then deliver it to an extremely high standard with an amazing finish.

Based in West Sussex, the factory is sleek and modern with state-of-the art equipment, operated by skilled and experienced metalworkers who have the ability to deliver whatever the client wants out of metal.

They work with metals ranging from mild and stainless steel, Corten and aluminium, through to more specialist and challenging materials including brass, copper and bronze.

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Outdoordesign’s list of current clients reads like a Who’s Who of the UK landscaping sector, but James is very keen to point out that the work ranges from small domestic gardens and private residences to prestigious commercial developments. The company has also produced bespoke work for many RHS show gardens, including Gold Medal-winning gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The mainstay of the company is bespoke metal planters which are manufactured in all shapes, sizes and colours – all to the very highest standard of fit, finish and engineering integrity. The company also produces sculptures, metal screens and edging solutions that are available in a range of heights and lengths and with powder-coated finishes.

James loves a challenge: “If you can imagine it, we can make it, whether you give us a full set of drawings, the back of an envelope sketch or just an idea, we will make it a reality.”

You can’t help but be inspired by James – his creativity, knowledge, can-do attitude, a real passion for what he does and his undoubted attention to detail. Walking around the factory gives a real insight into the business and its obsession with design and detail and the range of products Outdoordesign has the ability to manufacture, which is very different from mass line product factories.

IF YOU CAN IMAGINE IT, WE CAN MAKE IT James explains the quality, finish, expertise and overall design and solution Outdoordesign offers comes at a price, but may not be as much of a premium as you think. If you are interested in the whole design and manufacturing process or just some stunning metal products, check out what is on offer at Outdoordesign – maybe even set James and his team a challenge.

C O N TA C T Outdoordesign Tel 01903 716960 Email info@outdoordesign.co.uk

www.outdoordesign.co.uk

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L AT E ST P R O D U C TS

PLANTERS

S O M E P R OJ E C TS D E M A N D P L A N T E R S W I T H A B I T M O R E C H A R AC T E R – C H EC K O U T T H E S E C R E AT I V E O P T I O N S

IOTA

DIPOTT

B R O N Z E E F F EC T P L A N T E R S

E X T E N D CX T 3

Material Brass IOTA recently produced these planters for the City of London Corporation, using a technique of cladding brass sheet over a powder coated steel subframe. The brass is hand finished to give an aged bronze effect. The same method is used by IOTA to create large planters in other softer metals, such as zinc and lead.

Price (inc. VAT) POA www.iotagarden.com

Material Corten steel DIPOTT creates planters and flowerpots of Dutch design, crafted by hand at a dedicated facility. The timeless designs are innovative and functional, suiting perfectly with many of the current garden and home design trends. These measure at 8 x 9cm, with a standard thickness of 3mm. These are delivered unrusted, and an optional rubber inside is available.

Price (inc. VAT) €716.90 www.dipott.com

PERFECT PLANTS DAV I D P L A N T E R Material Weatherproof fibre clay The David planter is created from weatherproof fibre clay and suitable for indoors or out. This biblical hero makes an eye-catching subject for a special shrub, maybe some ornamental grasses, perennials or colourful annuals. This planter stands at 38 x 26 x 26cm, with the colour being a dark, steely grey.

Price (inc. VAT) £35.99 www.perfectplants.co.uk

THE POT COMPANY

TORC POTS

THE OLD JAR

E R I A N P OT

Material Ironstone The Old Jar is a distinctive ribbed planter, finished by hand. Each is unique with its own tactile patina and eye-catching colour markings.

The rustic finish is produced by sandblasting after firing, giving this planter an antiqued aesthetic.

Alongside its unusual shape, the jar gives the planter enough depth to make for a creative, show-stopping centrepiece.

Price (inc. VAT) £193.37 www.thepotco.com

Material Concrete and recycled materials mix A distinctive and unique statement pot handmade by Torc Pots, this is ideally suited to an urban/commercial space.

This model can be made in smaller or larger sizes to suit your requirements. Torc Pots reduces its carbon footprint by incorporating recycled materials and byproducts in its mix design.

Price (inc. VAT) £3,890 www.torcpots.com

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PRODUCT OF THE MONTH Product name PlantBox Supplier Biotecture PlantBox is a vertical garden system that makes looking after plants easy. Designed to transform uninspiring spaces into green environments that reconnect people with nature, PlantBox uses an innovative irrigation system to provide low maintenance, care-free growing.

The stackable and modular system is ideal for internal and external spaces, from courtyard gardens to balcony railings or conservatory walls. It’s time to Grow Up! www.biotecture.uk.com/bioextra/plantbox

PRO LANDSCAPER IS COMMITTED TO DOING ITS BIT TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE. TO HELP WITH THIS, WE’RE ASKING OUR READERS – FROM LANDSCAPERS TO GARDEN DESIGNERS TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS – TO SUGGEST SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS THEY HAVE COME ACROSS OR USED WHICH THEY THINK NEED TO BE SHARED WITH THE INDUSTRY. WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, AFTER ALL, AND WE’RE EAGER TO SHOWCASE THE PRODUCTS WITH IMPRESSIVE GREEN CREDENTIALS FOR EVERYONE TO GET ON BOARD WITH

ENVIRONMENTAL CREDENTIALS PlantBox is made in the UK from 100% recycled plastic.

Vertical gardening helps people to grow more in urban environments.

PlantBox maximises space and water usage through an innovative, new wicking irrigation system.

For each PlantBox unit sold, a minimum of £1 will be donated to the PlantBox Trust which will support charities and initiatives that focus on enriching spaces, improving air quality and providing cleaner water.

IS THERE A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT YOU’D LIKE TO SUBMIT? GET IN TOUCH WITH US VIA NINA.MASON@ELJAYS44.COM. WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

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H O M E TO T H E WO R L D ’ S L A R G E ST C O N S E R VAT I O N P R OJ EC T, T H E M I L L E N N I U M S E E D B A N K , WA K E H U R S T ’ S L I V I N G C O L L EC T I O N S A N D C O N S E R VAT I O N M A N AG E R I A I N PA R K I N S O N A N D P R O PAG AT I O N A N D C O L L EC T I O N S M A N AG E R J O W E N H A M S P E A K A B O U T W H AT T H E Y H O P E TO AC H I E V E T H R O U G H T H I S P R OJ EC T A S W E L L A S W H AT E L S E WA K E H U R ST ’ S 5 0 0 AC R E S H O L D

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n the heart of Sussex, north of the quiet village of Ardingly lies one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Wakehurst, run by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is in the High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and boasts 500 acres of wild landscape. But it’s Wakehurst’s conservation project, which gives it such a title, and it’s the largest in the world. The Millennium Seed Bank is home to billions of seeds from over 100 countries, striving to conserve the world’s plant species.

Upon its opening in 2000, HRH the Prince of Wales described this seed bank as “a gold reserve… a place where this reserve

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currency, in this case life itself, is stored”. Given that it is estimated that one in five plants are threatened with extinction worldwide, the Millennium Seed Bank’s growing collection is crucial in preserving these for future generations.

The nursery at Wakehurst plays a massive part in delivering this goal. Scientific vouchering is important in identifying new species, and often, a plant can’t be identified until it reaches flowering point. It’s down to the nursery to grow it to this stage, occasionally with very little information to go off. This is a role which Kew has been playing for years, with plant material from Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb sent back to Kew for identification in the early 1900s.

Kew Science is also doing a lot of work towards mapping the genomics of bananas in order to learn more about the resilient Ethiopian food crop. By growing physical specimens, Wakehurst's nursery is able to help Kew Science map the DNA and parentage of particular specimens and assist in its mission of addressing food security issues in our changing climate.

THE BEAUTY OF WAKEHURST IS THAT IF YOU WANT TRANQUILITY IT'S BIG ENOUGH THAT EVEN ON A BUSY DAY YOU CAN FIND A QUIET SPOT Perhaps one of the most important reasons the team may work with a particular plant for that length of time though, is to save it from extinction. “In some cases, you might not see results for 10 or 15 years,” propagation and collections manager Jo Wenham tells us.

“But when you’re working with a plant which is extinct in the wild, it’s so worthwhile.”

On a trip to South Africa, a collection of 200 Cylindrophyllum seed was gathered by Kew Science. Upon a return trip the next year to gather more, though, it was discovered that the original plant site had been completely destroyed, meaning Cylindrophyllum was officially extinct in the wild. It was down to Jo and her team to carefully grow the seed they did have to flowering point in order to bulk up the collection and keep the plant in existence.

With the seed bank requiring a minimum of

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10,000 seeds to be collected, Jo and her team have been hand pollinating the succulent and collecting the seed from its pods for 10 years.

Looking towards trees, Widdringtonia whytei can still be found on Mulanje Massif in Malawi, where very few, if any, mature individuals are left. Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI) has been leading a programme to set up nurseries in situ to propagate these plants and put them back into the landscape, but the species is proving tricky to establish in the wild.

“They’re incredibly tricky to grow,” Jo says.

"Our aim is to grow some in cultivation to give to botanic gardens, who will continue to grow them until they self-seed, so we can collect them for the seed bank and preserve them.”

Among those with a Widdringtonia whytei within their collection is HRH the Prince of Wales.

One was gifted during his visit to Wakehurst, and now resides at The National Botanic Garden of Wales where it will contribute to this restoration project.

The steps that the seed bank and the nursery are taking are huge, but saving the world’s plant species is not the nursery's only job. Though half the stock the nursery grows is for this purpose, the other is for Wakehurst’s vast and interesting landscape – and work is already well underway for its latest project.

The most formal gardens at Wakehurst can be found in the land surrounding its 200-yearold Elizabethan mansion. At the front of the mansion, work has begun on The American Prairie. Around 100 species from three North American grassland prairie communities will make up this project, and over 50,000 plugs will be grown by Wakehurst nursery.

Views have been opened up for an expanse of sky, which will be joined by an expanse of grasses as the team plans to create a weaving path through a meadow of 6ft grass. “We want to pull visitors into the landscape,” Iain says.

“The path will lead them through the grassland, and the vistas out to the wider landscape will connect them to the rest of Wakehurst.”

Jo and her team have chosen plants they hope will self-sustain into a beautiful community of plants. A lot of these have been wild-sourced and are currently being stratified – a process where they are given a fake cold winter to break their dormancy. Among the species are the delicate Baptisia alba and Liatris aspera, commonly known as rough blazing star.

In total, the nursery will be propagating 105 different plant species sourced from the wild as seed from various nurseries and as bulbs.

A batch of the 50,000 plugs will go in during autumn, not long after the direct sow in June.

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Another batch of the plugs and bulbs will be planted in spring the following year with the prairie ready to be fully explored not long after.

Other areas of the formal gardens include the English country style Walled Garden, the Water Gardens home to Rudbeckia fulgida and lobelia, the Iris Dell packed with wild narcissus, evergreen azaleas, 60 varieties of Iris ensata, as well as the newly created Winter Garden.

THE MILLENNIUM SEED BANK’S GROWING COLLECTION IS CRUCIAL IN PRESERVING THESE PLANTS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

This year was the first time Wakehurst got to properly show off its new Winter Garden, and it’s been hugely appreciated not just by visitors, as Iain tells us: “The bright colours of the Winter Garden have been incredibly welcome this winter because it's been so miserable and wet – it’s really lifted the garden.”

A fragrance of daphne and witch hazel fills the air, while Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’, Cornus serice ‘Bud’s Yellow’ and Bergenia add texture and colour. The white bark of the mature Himalayan silver birch trees and the copper tones of the Tibetan Cherry trees stand year-round, giving the garden a new lease of life in the summer months.

The rest of the 500 acres underwent a huge transformation years ago which saw it step away from ornamental planting towards a more natural and wild landscape. The Great Storm of 1987's hurricane-force winds destroyed mature trees across the country, but Wakehurst was among those hit the hardest, losing a staggering 20,000 trees.

The team at the time seized this opportunity though, adopting a phytogeographic layout so as they explore Wakehurst, visitors can walk through different floristic regions.

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IT’S A HUGE INVESTMENT – IN SOME CASES YOU MIGHT NOT SEE RESULTS FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS

WHEN YOU’RE WORKING WITH A PLANT WHICH IS EXTINCT IN THE WILD IT’S SO WORTHWHILE no spot is more peaceful than the wetlands conservation area. A boardwalk weaves across the pond and through reed sweet grass which grows to head height in spring, leading to a seating area where you can almost hear dragonflies and damson flies relishing the phragmites and marsh marigolds in the wetland.

Wakehurst’s contribution to the conservation of the world’s plant collection doesn’t end at the seed bank either, as its vast landscape is home to the second most important botanic collection of rhododendrons in the world.

Formed by BGCI, Wakehurst is part of Global Conservation Consortium Rhododendron, an organisation that endeavours to stop any rare wild rhododendron species from going extinct.

Many of the species that can be found at Wakehurst are historic, originally collected by the likes of E. H. Wilson, Joseph Hooker and Reginald Farrer. “We have 3,000 accessions of

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rhododendron,” Jo tells us. “Many of these are Red Listed – like Rhododendron mallotum – with limited data of them in the wild. Our plan is to propagate them to bulk up our collection, share them with other botanic gardens, undertake controlled pollination, and collect seed for long-term storage in the seed bank.”

Though these gardens are stunning to look at, they aren’t just designed to look pretty, it’s important they also educate. With 10,000 school children visiting a year, Jo and her team created a children’s garden five years ago which schools can use as part of their learning programme. Alongside allotment style gardening, the team also grows sunflowers, deliberately overcrowding them, overfeeding them or under-watering them to teach the children how to care for plants.

This education about our natural world doesn’t stop there though. Landscaped areas, such as the new American Prairie and beds representing varying national and local habitats go a long way in informing the visitors about

their natural landscape, but none more so than its current exhibition Surviving or Thriving.

Welcoming visitors with an introduction into what the seed bank does and why it’s so important, the exhibition explores the state of the world’s plants and what that means for us.

Among the highlights is a 2050 garden showing which plants are likely to thrive in a hotter climate, and a sculpture of five trees that are currently facing challenges, all of which can be found in Wakehurst’s landscape. It ends with a quote from Sir David Attenborough and some sobering food for thought: “We depend on plants for every breath of air we take and every mouthful of food we eat.”

The strides Wakehurst is making to preserve and enhance the world’s plant species is commendable, but by educating its visitors about the landscape that surrounds them and its importance, not just for our ecosystem but for their own health, means that this work won’t just stay at Wakehurst. It may just make its way into visitors homes and gardens too.

©Photographs Wakehurst, Jim Holden © RBG Kew

As you move through Australia to Tasmania, New Zealand, Chile, North America and Asia, visitors will experience different temperate woodlands densely planted with rare and endangered trees. In the spring, the ground is littered with bluebells but even as these die off for the year, there are a national collection of birch trees, endangered monkey puzzle trees, Wollemi pines and redwoods to draw visitors in.

“The beauty of Wakehurst is that if you want tranquility, it's big enough that even on a busy day you can find a quiet spot,” Iain explains, and

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K N OW YO U R

P L A NTS LEWIS NORMAND EXPLAINS WHY AN UNDERSTANDING OF PLANTS IS ONE OF A GARDEN DESIGNER’S GREATEST TOOLS

F

or me, plant knowledge is the single most important difference a garden designer has over any other form of design. Understanding materials and construction, the ability to produce technical drawings, using scale and so many other skills are largely standard, transferable knowledge within most spheres of the design world.

Plant knowledge is the garden designer’s specialism and you cannot underestimate the value of this skill – plants are our colour, our texture, our shape and form. They set the scene, frame a view; they hide us and shelter us. They direct style and establish aesthetic themes.

Plants are the greatest tool that those of us who design outdoor spaces have at our disposal.

Most of the people I encounter in a professional capacity understand the value of plants in their work – not all, but by far the greater majority. Indeed, I am lucky to work regularly with some amazing plantspeople who adore plants and use them very effectively. It is easy to put two plants that look good alongside one another into a bed or border, but will they work together in a month or a year?

This is about knowing and understanding something rather than simply

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creating an attractive combination.

A quote from landscape architect James C. Rose’s Freedom in the Garden article has stuck with me since I first read it nearly 20 years ago, and I have always tried to embody it in my plant selection for projects. He declared that “plants are to the [garden] designer what words are to the conversationalist. Anyone can use words. Anyone can use plants; but the fastidious will make them sparkle with aptness”.

Never a truer word has been written about planting design, and it is a mantra I have always encouraged newcomers to embody.

PLANTS ARE THE GREATEST TOOL THAT THOSE OF US WHO DESIGN OUTDOOR SPACES HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL I lectured in garden design and horticulture for a decade and saw more than 1,000 students pass through the doors over that period. The most important lesson I could ever teach students was to value and understand plants. To learn their nature and appreciate their needs is to fully know them.

With this knowledge, you can use plants that ‘sparkle’ in your work, making them even more magical than their inherent brilliance and beauty.

Learning plants may be something that you acquire through hard study, on plant idents at college or through practical work from gardening, working in a nursery or garden centre, or osmotically absorbing knowledge from regular exposure. However, once you acquire it, regular maintenance of this knowledge is essential and enduringly pleasurable. The ‘busman’s holiday’ of visiting

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gardens and nurseries is (for most of us) entertaining rather than a chore.

Finally, those of us using plants, especially those of us specifying plants for clients, must be cognisant of what is available. Specifying plants that simply aren’t accessible is pointless and irritatingly all too common. While we shouldn’t be limited to what our local supplier can offer, it does make sense to know what can be obtained, what sizes are typically available and ensure that what you design is what ends up being planted.

Only this month I have been asked to price for 100 of a plant that there is probably less than 30 of spread across the entiriety of the UK and is scarcely grown at all in Europe. Make an effort to know what can be found (even if it is tricky; everyone who works with me knows I love a challenge) to avoid the disappointment of telling your client that it just isn’t possible.

Knowledge is king when it comes to using plants well. It takes time and regular upkeep, and it certainly never ends. Knowing plants is to become a student for life, which is no bad thing!

ABOUT LEWIS NORMAND Lewis has worked in a wide variety of roles within horticulture over a 20-year career. He has lectured on garden design and horticulture, and designed gardens in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Since 2011, Lewis has focused on nursery sales, now working as sales manager at Bernhard’s Nurseries, and has helped to launch a number of new plants into the UK plant market. He is a specialist supplier to show gardens, supplying over 100 gardens at major shows.

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P R O B L E M AT I C P E AT W

NICK COSLETT DEBATES THE USE OF PEAT, WHICH DESPITE BEING GOOD FOR GROWING PLANTS IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

e all know more about carbon now and the importance in keeping it (and coal, oil, peat) in the ground. We also know more about peat than ever and understand that peat bogs are a huge carbon sink. UK bogs hold some 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon – close to nine years’ worth of the UK’s total annual CO2 emissions.

Back in 2011, the government set targets to ban peat use in the retail market by 2020 and the professional market by 2030. The voluntary peat ban quickly became a move to sustainable growing media with the Sustainable Growing Media Task Force developing a formula to score the sustainability of growing medias. Growers who had relied on cheap peat for too long waited for this guidance, however, it got shelved for more than five years and was finally launched last autumn.

The RHS and Dobbies Garden Centres are the only large retailers currently committed to go peat free by the end of the year – so much for a voluntary target. The #PeatFreeApril campaign on social media, particularly on Twitter, is adding consumer pressure. Peat

PEAT PRODUCERS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO REACT AND DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES producers have been slow to react and develop viable alternatives – even now, they are reluctant to declare externally audited formula scores.

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Peat has been used as a growing media for at least 50 years as it is inert, has a good air porosity, is cheap and growers have accumulated generations of knowhow to grow great plants in it. There are some four million tonnes of peat produced annually in the UK – equal to some 50,000 fully loaded articulated lorries – plus large volumes of imported peat, mainly Baltic and Irish.

The retail trade accounts for 70% of this, and professional users (including growers and landscapers) account for 30%. So, where are the scores to guide growers when it comes to making decisions? Without these, growers are ploughing their own furrow. Some are developing peat-free composts with composted bark, silvafibre, wood fibre and coir, as well as composted bracken and sheep’s wool. However, production volumes are insufficient to supply more than 15% of the professional market.

These are more expensive and require a different approach to irrigation and feeding crops. Rooting speed can be different, but many growers are producing good plants in spite of this. Other suppliers are exploring peat dilution, using wood fibre, bark and other materials, but

this change requires an adjusted growing method and is more costly for plant production.

Change is coming; locking carbon in and increasing biodiversity requires restoration of peat bogs. Reversing moor drainage will restart moss accumulation, reduce runoff and downstream flooding too. This issue is being monitored keenly by the large peat-owning companies in the EU – funny that they don’t shout about the carbon sink! Grouse moor owners are not happy facing a further threat to their industry and they will be certain to lobby against change to their shooting income.

Peat extraction comes under the banner of mineral extraction, so planning authorities have powers to withdraw permissions and not grant new applications. Scottish moors produce some 60% of UK peat, and the Scottish planning departments have been encouraged to look at this. Horticultural peat is in the crosshairs, but hopefully not the 140,000t of peat for the whisky industry – cheers.

ABOUT NICK COSLETT Plant guru Nick Coslett has spent his working life in landscape and horticulture. He initially trained as a landscape architect, then parks manager, and for the last 20 years, he has worked with Coblands and Palmstead nurseries, running the Soft Landscape Workshops which have become popular industry events. He’s been involved with BALI as national and regional chairs. Now retired, he is a BALI National Landscape Awards judge and Chalk Fund trustee, and has more time to follow his lifelong interest in the industry.

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M OV I N G O N HAVING RECENTLY MOVED TO A NEW HOUSE, CHRIS STONE REMINISCES AND REFLECTS ON THE CALMING ABILITIES OF OUR GARDENS

M

y wife Jo and I have just moved to a new house, only a mile up the road from our previous home of 18 years. We have left behind a house that we worked long and hard at making a home, the only home that our two teenage boys have ever known, a house with oh-so many good memories and, most importantly for me, my garden.

It was a very long, narrow strip littered with old, listing garden buildings and concrete pathways, under which lay sheets and sheets of old glasshouse glass – a real mess when we picked up the keys. What we left was far from perfect and far from completed, but it was my oasis.

Apart from a wonderful, craggy old apple tree, I planted everything else; I knew every inch

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of its beautifully friable, loamy soil. There wasn’t much that wouldn’t thrive there and I hope the new custodians enjoy the glowing yellow foliage of the Metasequoia; the giant, rich purple leaves

AFTER ALL, IT’S A LIVING THING, SOMETHING THAT’S ALWAYS EVOLVING of the Catalpa; the patterned stems of the Amelanchier; the long runs of beech hedging; the areas of wildflower; and the riot of colour from the perennials in the spring and summer.

It only really hit me on our first morning in the new house what I had left, as I surveyed our new surroundings and realised how very different it is. A short, squat rear garden with five protected oak trees, a bright new fence and neighbours so very close behind us.

The 30-year-old garden has had no care, no love, no attention; it has been left to its own devices, save from the wrap-around block paving – yup, from drive round to rear terrace! So, I’ve left all that hard work – all of the blood sweat and tears – and my garden is now a rectangle of dappled shade, moss and clay (the sort of clay you can make bricks from – what have I done!?).

I have found it quite unsettling.

Jo’s focus is the house – removing walls, blocking up doorways, a new kitchen, it will be great. The builders have started and, in four or so weeks, it will be complete, finished, done. My garden?

It’s going to take years.

It doesn’t happen in a matter of weeks; after all, it’s a living thing, something that’s always evolving.

I’m beginning to get my head around it.

I’m starting to understand that actually we get a lot of sun and that, in places, the years of leaving nature to its own devices mean there are some pockets of rich soil. Even after a matter of weeks the possibilities are beginning to excite me, and being out there working the ground has had a positive, calming effect.

In my calmed state, I realise that I have allowed myself to be swept away in a sea of self-pity about my loss, but it has been a valuable lesson. I have merely been mirroring the prospective clients I often visit who are sad about leaving their own oasis and cannot understand where they start with their new garden.

WHAT WE DO IS MORE THAN JUST DESIGN, CREATE AND LOOK AFTER GARDENS This has been a really good reminder that what we do is more than just design, create and look after gardens. It can be helping clients ease into their new surroundings, lifting spirits, making a difference, improving lives.

Whoever said “life begins the day you start a garden” is right, and l am only just now learning that for myself.

ABOUT CHRIS STONE Chris Stone is founder and managing director of Bushy Business Ltd, an RHS and APL awardwinning company which carries out garden design, hard and soft landscaping, maintenance and aftercare in domestic gardens throughout the south-east of England.

www.bushybusiness.com

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L

ocated within the heart of Brookenby lies a family-run nursery: Lincolnshire Pond Plants. The nursery was set up five years ago in the family’s back garden. Director David Reynolds started the business after seeing an investment opportunity arise from helping a local farmer clear his pond of pond weed. David’s wife, Kayleigh Reynolds, says: “He completely took over our garden and house; I had to make him move into a commercial unit!”

The nursery is now soon to be situated on a 10-acre site which was formally an RAF base. This has seen it converting old RAF bunkers into polytunnels, enabling it to grow a variety of plant species, with 80% of its stock being home grown.

Lincolnshire Pond Plants’s vast range includes a large selection of marginal plants, reeds, floral species such as lilies, rafting varieties for animals like frogs to rest on and,

N U R S E RY

FO C U S LINCOLNSHIRE POND PLANTS DISCUSSES I TS S U STA I N A B L E P R AC T I S E S A S W E L L A S I TS I N VO LV E M E N T W I T H T H E LO C A L COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL soon, tropical water lilies. Certain species are imported from countries such as China, Holland and Thailand, so the nursery keeps to a strict quarantine procedure. Kayleigh explains

WE ALWAYS TRY TO BE SUSTAINABLE WHEN WE CAN, AS MUCH AS WE CAN that the nursery has a strong relationship with Defra and works closely with it to ensure plant health and wellbeing.

Sustainability is something heavily considered by the nursery when it comes to

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delivering plants to its clients. Kayleigh notes that the nursery frequently reaches out to local businesses in order to reuse their cardboard boxes. “When we send out our plants, we generally tend to use recycled cardboard. We always try to be sustainable when we can, as much as we can.”

One goal for the nursery is to begin utilising potato starch bags, something which will further its sustainable practises. Lincolnshire Pond Plants also prides itself on being peat-free as well as reusing recyclable plastic plant pots.

The nursery’s workforce has now risen to 19 people, all of whom have been hired locally

from the surrounding areas. This is something that is very important to Lincolnshire Pond Plants, as well as giving back to the local community and businesses – for instance, the nursery has attended gardening talks to support local gardening clubs. Kayleigh also discussed the possibility of working with school groups in the future. “We are trying to

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do more with the local primary schools and support them. It would be great to try and get the younger generation interested in horticulture. It’s been ever so exciting!”

Lincolnshire Pond Plants offers a pond analysis service for customers in order ensure that the best species are being included within pond areas, explains Kayleigh. “People quite often send us a picture of their pond and say they don’t know what they want to plant in it.

We will have a look at it for free, plan it out and give them an inventory of plants that will work best. We then send it out next day. People can collect or we can post out it to them.”

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO TRY AND GET THE YOUNGER GENERATION INTERESTED IN HORTICULTURE Throughout the years, Lincolnshire Pond Plants has been involved with a number of water and wetland site nourishment projects. These have seen the nursery provide a variety of grasses and other water plant species to these sites in order to redevelop and breathe life into the area. The nursery has also been working with local council groups regarding new building development schemes due to numerous planning permission requirements stating that new developments must dedicate a certain amount of space to the natural environment.

Kayleigh says: “They do tend to include plants in the design, so we work with builders to sort out their ponds, getting them mature so that houses are ready to sell. The local council has got us on board with their listings as well so that people know to come to us.”

Lincolnshire Pond Plants has also had previous industry show involvement. Last year, it attended the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show after being invited by the RHS itself. In the future, Kayleigh hopes to increase the nursery’s show involvement further. “The RHS has invited us back this year to a lot of its business shows, we are hopefully aiming for Chelsea next year.”

The majority of the sales carried out by Lincolnshire Pond Plants is via its website, so much so that, with 95% of its sales conducted online, it is now one of the largest pond plant specialists in the UK. Plants and products can also be purchased on site at the nursery, as well with next day delivery and both potted and bare root options being offered.

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a horticultural nursery growing and selling provide a biophilic environment. Steve expands: plants. This changed in the early 2000s when “The main vision for the building was to make it Steve and his team noticed like it was old and original. a troubling change in the They wanted to make it industry, something that green and include local would lead to the growth in biodiversity, indigenous popularity of living walls. species to create homes Steve explains: “We could for local wildlife. see that the industry was “Green walls are great changing so we had to for air purification in city develop different ways to environments – by using bring green infrastructure the planting we can into urban places.” capture matter such as Construction on The toxic gases and, of course, Avenue began in autumn last clean the environment by year, with the cladding and putting in oxygen.” glass being removed to be When construction DURING INSTALLATION replaced with living wall began, the original cladding cladding made from was removed from the hundreds of plants. The focal point of the wall building – some had been rendered over, while was to showcase and illustrate the local other areas remained intact, allowing them to biodiversity of Bournemouth in its surrounding be reused. This allowed the team at ANS Global park and garden areas. This has resulted in to create a design which demonstrates pockets local, indigenous species being included, such of planting in a checkerboard style, resulting in as Armeria maritima, Primula chungensis and a partially covered facade.

Pachysandra terminalis, which will create Steve says: “The Avenue is quite unique in homes for birds, increase air purification and design. You can still see some of the old

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18/03/2020 16:53

NURTURE

ANSʼS NURSERY IN ALDINGBOURNE, WEST SUSSEX

brickwork – the design team wanted to expose some of this so, by using the modular living wall system, we put the living wall where the original wall was damaged. We could re-enhance the old architecture – that is why it’s not 100% coverage because its designed to resurrect the architectural coverage.”

The installed living wall system has been developed over the years by the team at ANS Global to use an organic substrate.

This is produced from recycled green waste with the module being made from 100% recycled material.

The plants selected for inclusion within the wall were selected to provide colour and interest all year round. This style of planting (known as ‘discovery planting’) results in plants appearing throughout the year seasonally to showcase various species annually. All the plants included within the wall were grown on site at the ANS Global nursery where the young plants are installed into the module and grown vertically for three months. Once established, the module is then transported to the site.

The inclusion of the wall within the city centre not only adds a level of interest and aesthetic to the front of the building, it also provides a biophilic atmosphere for customers visiting the shopping centre and passersby.

The plants and foliage within the wall provide a connection with nature, with the theme of

nature. The installation of the wall connects the garden areas around Bournemouth to the shopping centre while also reminding visitors of the importance of nature and why it should be maintained and protected.

Steve explains: “Biophilic architecture has a massive role to play in our urban environments. At The Avenue, it’s very important to start to create this green connection with nature. If you get that connection in urban areas it changes the culture.

It’s great for the environment but it’s also great for the Bournemouth community its giving that space, that connection.”

Work on The Avenue is now complete when it comes to the installation of the wall. However, construction is still taking place internally, along with a few finishing touches.

DURING INSTALLATION

BIOPHILIC ARCHITECTURE HAS A MASSIVE ROLE TO PLAY IN OUR URBAN ENVIRONMENTS biophilia being best described as the innate human tendency to seek out connections within

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ANSʼS BUILD-UP ALLOWS THE LIVING WALL TO BE FLUSH TO WINDOW FEATURES

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unning your own company often requires you to wear many business hats and there are a number of procedures that you are legally bound to follow. Besides the bigger picture of good business practice, it is important that your staff feel that they work in a professional environment that emphasises employees feeling protected and looked after. In order to build a team which feels like it belongs, members need reassurance from a platform within the company that is set up for their security.

I decided that after taking on fully employed team members, I needed to invest in an HR department. Following a business seminar on the topic, I found the most cost-effective way was to secure the services of the Natwest Mentor scheme, outsourcing a task that is not in my skillset. I now work alongside our HR consultant Michelle Dixon, who shares her expert knowledge and supports our team.

Michelle explains: “At Mentor, we provide guidance and resources to help our customers look after the interests of both their business and people. Our comprehensive services enable our customers to stay on top of legal and regulatory changes, maintain compliance and reduce risk while creating a safe, professional and sustainable work environment which keeps evolving with best practices and the digital revolution.

“It has been great working with Karen McClure in helping her lay the foundations of her business; we know that this can be a

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M A K E T H E M O ST

OF A

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GARDEN DESIGNER K AREN MCCLURE E XPL AINS HOW THE NAT WEST MENTOR SCHEME HAS BENEFIT TED HER BUSINESS

M E N TO R

daunting time but getting things right from the start was as important to Karen as it is to us.”

KMGD is unique in that 50% of our team is design/horticulture and 50% business and administration. Our clients are supported by both our designers and our business team,

WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE HAPPY IN THEIR ROLES, THIS HAS A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE SERVICE THAT MY CLIENTS RECEIVE resulting in a strong focus on design, landscape and horticulture as well as a huge priority on logistics, work processes, finances, systemising and streamlining.

Our business team comprises of PA and studio manager Fiona Northover and project manager Fiona Campbell, with assistance externally from an accountant, IT company, HR mentor, business coach and legal support.

Fiona comments: “My role with Karen started as ad hoc freelance admin support; we have now evolved to a strong, fully employed team, supported by a few other talented freelancers.

"Working very hard on business structure in the early years, our focus was to streamline our work-flow processes and tighten up all areas to ensure that clients get the best possible experience," she explains.

"Initiating the HR Mentor scheme was part of this process. Building on this success, we have welcomed Fiona Campbell to the team; she has had an incredible impact on helping support every element of the business.”

Investing into the scheme means I can provide my team with access to round the clock support and expert advice that not only helps us keep up with these changes, but also ensures all of our team members are treated fairly and equally, allowing my business and team to grow.

I firmly believe that when employees are happy in their roles, this has a direct correlation to the service that my clients, landscapers and suppliers all receive. It’s all about working closely together, valuing each other and playing to everyone’s strengths. The scheme is an umbrella that supports us all. Quite simply – be kind and helpful to all you work with, especially your team. I would strongly recommend a conversation with Mentor so that you can explore the positive benefits it will bring to your business, workforce and wellbeing.

ABOUT KAREN MCCLURE Karen McClure Garden Design is a team of dedicated, passionate individuals who collectively offer an outstanding level of customer service and love to create beautiful outdoor spaces.

The team has a wide-ranging skillset, efficient administration, co-ordination, strong relationships with industry specialists and an extensive horticultural knowledge.

www.karenmcclure.co.uk

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O P T I N G FO R

FINANCE CONSIDERING A B U S I N E S S LOA N ?

HENRY E JDELBAUM TA L K S U S T H R O U G H SOME OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS

W

hen it comes to business loans, there are many different types of finance. But what’s actually the right option for your business?

Since finance is tailored, no two loans will be the same. It makes sense – every business is different, after all. This means that it’s impossible to say with certainty from the get-go what options will work for you and what won’t.

There are ways to help identify your options (we’ll come to these later), but you should never take any option off the table at the start. With that said, though, there are a few options that are often well-suited to landscaping businesses.

The first of these is unsecured or Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme loans. Many landscaping businesses can struggle when it comes to security, for the simple reason that there’s not much need for a landscaper to own commercial property. You’re not a pub – you don’t need premises to operate from. In many cases, you go to your customers; they don’t come to you. However, many lenders offer unsecured options for strong applications, and the government runs the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme for the specific purpose of ensuring unsecured applications get funding.

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Your second promising option is peer-topeer (P2P) finance. You may have heard of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe – P2P finance works on the same principle, but from a business setting.

Numerous lenders all contribute a small part of the funds. P2P is another option for unsecured loans – lenders don’t have the

SINCE FINANCE IS TAILORED, EVERY LOAN WILL BE DIFFERENT

It can even be days for exceptionally lucky applications!

Your third option, albeit one that only applies if you’re looking at equipment purchases, is asset finance. Asset finance is used for the purchase of specific, expensive pieces of equipment – new plant, for example. Asset finance sidesteps the security issue by securing the loan against whatever you’re purchasing, rather than to property, making it a very viable option if you’re looking at purchasing equipment to save costs overall from renting.

However, as we said earlier, these finance types are often suited to landscaping and groundwork businesses, but they are by no means always suited. Figuring out the exact type of finance that’s best for your business is a task you should leave to the experts – and that’s where brokers like ASC come in. Brokers know about the available options, and help you find the one that’s right for you. You might be suited to one of the options above, or perhaps a different type of finance. It’s key you have a professional on your side to help decide that.

A B O U T H E N RY E J D E L BAU M inherent large financial risk that an unsecured loan normally gives. However, it’s also one of the fastest options for finding finance.

In industries where you work on a job-by-job basis, it’s entirely possible to find yourself in need of a loan on relatively short notice. Many loans take months to complete – P2P loans, however, can be sorted in a matter of weeks.

Henry Ejdelbaum is the managing director of ASC Finance for Business, supervising and assisting operations across the UK. With over 30 years in the industry, Henry’s wealth of experience helps regional directors and their small business clients nationwide find the loans and financial solutions to suit their business.

www.asc.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/03/2020 11:48

EDUCATE

G A R D E N S FO R

PURPOSEFUL GATHERING H

LEE BESTALL DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE AND INTRICACIES OF DESIGNING AN OUTDOOR SPACE WITH PURPOSEFUL GATHERING IN MIND

umans have been gathering in groups, packs and tribes to interact with each other for thousands of years, and the practice of creating gardens for gathering is not new. However, the recently phrased ‘purposeful gathering’ does make one pause and reflect. When designing a garden, an entertaining space is usually first on the list, whether it’s referred to as a deck, patio, terrace or garden room. It’s now so standard that we’ve almost forgotten why we include such areas in the first place.

Even on the most generic new build estates, a small patio (however basic it may be) is generally included in the spec as standard and is usually located right outside the back door. But how much thought goes into designing the location of these spaces, their size, surface and function?

Personally, I expel a lot of energy during an initial consultation, challenging people not to have the patio right outside the French doors, instead opting for a larger and more

luxurious space – a destination, surrounded by soft planting, the idea being to transport people to an altered reality.

When creating gardens for purposeful gathering, consider initially the size of the space and what it will be used for. Is it a table for two to read and drink morning coffee? Is it to hold small meetings or a breakout space

PURPOSEFUL GATHERING IS GREAT FOR OUR MENTAL WELLBEING, AND WHERE BETTER TO DO THIS THAN IN A GARDEN for lunch? Consider surrounding the gathering space on a couple of sides by 500mm high walls which double up as informal seating and include reasons to gather such as a fire pit, outdoor kitchen or island bar.

Humans naturally feel most at ease when they are surrounded by others and in a space which feels safe. Creating walls with multi-stemmed shrubs helps obtain the feeling of enclosure and retreat. Through my observations, humans will gravitate to circular tables over square ones (if in groups larger than

two) and providing some subtle light and enough warmth will enhance the gathering experience, causing people to gather for longer.

Creating comfortable and intentional spaces where people can talk, laugh, share stories, eat and drink together is part of our responsibility as designers, and is often overlooked when designed visually, rather than imagined from the way a garden will feel (ideally, it would be both). Consider how the hosts of a gathering will curate the evening, as guests look to their host for direction.

Creating a series of different spaces to gather will only lengthen the enjoyment of a location.

Anticipate how the visitor will feel, and how this feeling will change throughout their stay.

Arrival drinks often happen in the courtyard – think standing tables and no seating at all, as this will encourage people to mingle, network and relax, while a sit down meal will likely be best suited to an outdoor dining area, which is ideally shaded or covered.

For a more informal option, food could be served on low tables by outdoor sofas, followed by drinks by the fire pit as the temperature falls, the night draws in and the warm white lights fade up slowly to highlight the next purposeful gathering space. Purposeful gathering is a great activity for our mental wellbeing, and where better to do this than in a garden?

A B O U T L E E B E S TA L L Lee Bestall has been designing and managing the construction of gardens in his signature style for more than 10 years – and his honest, genuine passion is infectious. He regularly writes gardening and outdoor-style articles for magazines, is brand ambassador for Spear & Jackson and a stand-in presenter for BBC Radio Sheffield’s Gardeners’ Question Hour. www.bestall.co.uk

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18/03/2020 10:13

EDUCATE

G LO BA L I S AT I O N ANGUS LINDSAY REFLECTS ON THE GLOBAL INFLUENCE PRESENT AT RECENT INDUSTRY TRADE SHOWS AND THE LATEST INFO FROM TOP MANUFACTURERS

J

anuary saw a couple of interesting trade shows in the form of LAMMA 2020 (Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association) at the NEC, and the BTME (BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition) event at Harrogate.

Despite tractor sales being down in the UK, the LAMMA event saw a strong turnout from both exhibitors and visitors – an encouraging sign that UK agriculture is unfazed by Brexit.

It was also encouraging to see suppliers more akin to our marketplace displaying wares at the NEC and getting a response from farmers looking to diversify from agriculture, venturing towards landscaping and grounds maintenance operations. This seemed to ring especially true with core machinery that could be utilised for verge mowing, hedge cutting, and earth moving.

Despite some of the larger manufacturers opting not to attend the event, there was room for several newcomers from eastern Asia, Turkey and India to display their wares in, everything from electric compact tractors to telehandlers. Whilst the price tag on these machines may be tempting, you need to do your homework in terms of compliance and back-up. Cheap is not always cheerful!

We also saw the first fully electric commercial compact tractor from Farmtrac,

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WHILST THE PRICE TAG ON THESE MACHINES MAY BE EXTREMELY TEMPTING YOU NEED TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE AND BACK-UP which is now being imported into the UK by Reesink, the Toro importer. The Indian-built machine is little changed from the standard tractor, albeit with a lithium battery. It will give six hours of run-time and is aimed predominately at the horticulture and equestrian markets, or where noise and pollution can be an issue.

Following close on its heels, but not shown at the LAMMA event, are further electric offerings from Kubota and ISEKI. The quiet revolution is upon us.

The BTME event saw a couple of surprises which echo the automotive industry’s move towards globalising product lines: firstly, it was no coincidence that the Kubota and Baroness stands were together. With Kubota having just celebrated its 130th year and having expanded into agriculture to challenge the likes of John Deere, New Holland, and the AGCO Corporation, it makes sense that it should align itself with a manufacturer of golf course equipment to further compete with John Deere, Toro, and Textron.

A bigger surprise was the announcement that Toro has bought the US-built Ventrac product, lock, stock and barrel. This multipurpose tool carrier was initially taken into the UK by Textron but, in the last couple of years under the guidance of Price Turfcare, the product has seen its numbers grow steadily. It’s an extremely versatile machine, ideally suited to landscaping, amenity horticulture, agriculture, and more. Let’s hope the Toro influence doesn’t dilute this.

So, interesting times are upon us.

Much as the Volkswagen Group bought several manufacturers and now has a range of vehicles under its umbrella to cater for all pockets and tastes, from Skoda to Bugatti, it seems the machinery manufacturers are following suit too.

It’s not all about tractors either. Look at the American-owned Alamo Group, which controls nearly all the supply of tractor-mounted hedge cutters in the UK, be it Bomford, McConnel, Twose or Spearhead. It recently bought Dixie Chopper, which makes a range of zero-turn machines which we probably won’t see in the UK. But, more importantly, it recently acquired Roberine mowers, a name previously lost when John Deere acquired that business decades ago.

A B O U T A N G U S L I N D S AY Angus spent several years working on arable farms in Scotland before joining VSO in Egypt, implementing a mechanisation programme, managing field operations for a commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and working as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen. He has an Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation Management MSc from Silsoe, and joined Glendale as machinery manager in 1994, then idverde UK in 2009.

angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk

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18/03/2020 11:36

EDUCATE

BE PREPARED

ALTHOUGH WOOD CHIPPER ACCIDENTS ARE A RARITY, HAVING A STRONG EMPHASIS ON SAFETY IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO

ŠDoug McLean/Shutterstock.com

I

t stands to reason that any machine which can transform a sizeable lump of wood into small chips is quite a powerful and, in some situations, very dangerous. Fortunately, the vast majority of chippers are operated without incident; but in the odd case where something's gone wrong, it makes for grisly reading.

Landscapers are likely to be less familiar with chippers than tree surgeons, but there are certainly advantages to owning one. Growing emphasis on environmentally friendly techniques means that the use of chippings as a mulch is a highly sustainable practice as it adds nutritious organic matter to soil and results in a reduced need to water.

So, should you invest in your own chipper? Hiring has its advantage for occasional use, but owning one could be a sound investment if you select the right one. Typically, landscapers may opt for more compact ones that can be easily towed or transported and allow narrower access.

However, anyone who uses a chipper should be aware that proper training is a legal requirement, under PUWER

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EDUCATE

(the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations). This means if you have not already done so, a course – which should be Lantra and NPTC accredited – is essential.

These are available at many colleges and training providers across the UK. Be sure to check anyone working on a sub-contracted basis has also gained the relevant certificate.

Proper PPE Landscapers must also ensure they have the correct protective clothing to wear when using a chipper, including a helmet, visor, eye and hearing protection, gloves and safety boots, along with safe outer clothing which should be high visibility if needed. Encourage all employees to take PPE seriously and to avoid rushing – loose fabric around sleeves, for example, could get caught on the machines, so should be tucked into gloves.

should ever be removed until the chipper is switched off and cool.

ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYEES TO TAKE PPE SERIOUSLY AND TO AVOID RUSHING Know the job layout A further important point is to be familiar with the layout of a job in advance, which includes suitable access being available and the ground being as even as possible for safe positioning, with fuel being stored properly so that there is no fire risk. While it may be obvious that no one

should be smoking close by, bad habits can set in – ensure staff are aware that this will not be tolerated. There is much to be said for having a strong safety culture.

Whether you buy new or second-hand, there is also much to be said about buying from somewhere reputable. This means they can conduct necessary maintenance; jobs such as sharpening or changing blade can be done by a professional. Bear in mind whether it will be easy to obtain spare parts and ask around for recommendations – a wood chipper is a major investment and needs to work for your business.

For more information, there are safety basics outlined on the HSE’s website at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/afag604.htm

Pre and post checks All chipper users should also be thoroughly aware of how to carry out safety checks and ensure all is working correctly before they begin the job; for example, it is not uncommon for wood and other garden materials to become ledged in the infeed chute. However, nothing

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KIT

CHIPPERS G R O U N D S M A I N T E N A N C E O P E R ATO R S M AY F I N D T H E I D E A L M AC H I N E I N A C H I P P E R T H AT C A N U T I L I S E A T U R N TA B L E FO R F L E X I B I L I T Y

CASE STUDY GREENMECH

Tai Tarian is a large social housing provider in Wales with responsibility for more than 9,000 properties across the Neath Port Talbot County Borough. It has seven in-house grounds maintenance teams responsible for the various grounds that includes more than 7,000 trees.

The organisation uses the QuadChip 160 from GreenMech, which was chosen in part to facilitate kerbside working.

Martyn Davies, senior neighbourhood coordinator, comments: “Access when turning up to narrow car-lined streets is one of our biggest headaches, but having seen the full 360o turntable on the QuadChip 160, we quickly decided it was the right chipper for us.”

The manoeuvrability and flexibility of the QuadChip sees it in use five days a week.

“With the QuadChip, we can turn the chipper 90o to the road and bring brash from the gardens of properties and feed it straight into the chipper, with the chips going straight into the back of the tipper. We then recycle this material around trees and put it to community use, creating pathways and borders.”

Tai Tarian has exchanged the chipper like-for-like three times, taking delivery of his newest model in January 2020 from its local dealer, Powercut (Wales) Ltd. “The back-up support we get from them is fantastic and was another crucial factor in why we chose this machine," notes Martyn. www.greenmech.co.uk

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FÖRST The Först TT6, a new launch, features a 270° turntable and weighs 745kg.

The manufacturer says it is particularly suited to landscapers working in towns and cities and seeking considerable manoeuvrability. The 37hp petrol engine model incorporates the chipping chamber from the popular ST6P model and is compact at 2800mm in transport position and 2250mm when turned 90°. The wide hopper offers convenience and the FörstGrip feed which, in turn, gives a strong hold on timber. The model also features the Först flywheel for clearing chip and green material effectively. Meanwhile, electrics are controlled by an ‘AutoIntelligence’ system to ensure it is water and vibration proof and informs users when servicing and routine maintenance is due. The TT6 comes with a three-year warranty and is sold direct from the manufacturer via its Hampshire and South Yorkshire distribution points, or via partners in Glasgow, with servicing available UK wide. www.forst-woodchippers.com

JENSEN The Jensen A530 is a 35hp petrol engine turntable wood chipper. It can be turned up to 270°, allowing users to load the chipper from a range of angles and directly from the verge. This saves time and effort as well as providing improved safety for operators. The 270° rotating chute means users can configure the input and output directions for maximum efficiency and safety too. It also has a galvanised steel chassis to reduce maintenance and resit corrosion and wear. The model has the same power and performance as Jensen’s standard A530, while the turntable can process up to 15m3/h of timber and brash. It offers electronic safety sensors fitted as standard and has a toolkit fitted to the machine. The built-in control box records hours and servicing intervals, and there is also an incorporated storage box.

This model is available via supplier TH White. www.thwhite.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 105

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YO U R B U S I N E S S A LT H O U G H C O N V E R S AT I O N S A R O U N D M E N TA L H E A LT H A R E B EC O M I N G M O R E C O M M O N P L AC E , T H E R E I S ST I L L S O M U C H M O R E E M P LOY E R S C O U L D B E D O I N G . W E TA L K TO B U S I N E S S E S A N D O R G A N I S AT I O N S A B O U T W H AT C O M PA N I E S – B I G O R S M A L L – C A N D O TO S U P P O R T T H E I R STA F F ’ S M E N TA L H E A LT H

A

ccording to Mind, one in four of us in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Despite this, a stigma around mental health is still too often present. Time to Change found that 60% of people say that stigma and discrimination are as damaging, or more damaging, than the symptoms of their mental health problem, with 54% of people claiming they are impacted most by the stigma surrounding mental health in their place of work.

In our previous mental health article, we spoke about how important it is to break down this stigma by making it a part of everyday conversations.

Social movements such as Time to Change, Andy’s Man Club and WHOLE have all launched campaigns recently targeting this problem. The social movement Time to Change’s Ask Twice campaign encouraged people to double-check if they suspect their friend, family member or colleague might be struggling with their mental health, as so often we say we’re fine when we’re not. The talking and listening group Andy’s Man Club’s It’s Okay to Talk campaign went viral when it was first launched, with more than 10 million people getting involved. Recently, Leeds United sported It’s Okay to Talk t-shirts which encouraged five match goers to attend an Andy’s Man Club.

Our industry has stepped up too. Organised

by Time to Change, the Time to Talk Day on 6

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February was a chance for people to talk about mental health to remove the shame which can come with having a mental illness. LUC, Kingston Landscape Group and Ground Control were among those who took part, as well as Green-tech which took the opportunity to bring its staff together over a bacon butty and a brew.

Staff were also shown videos on mental health and given information about the support available to them at Green-tech.

At its 2020 Roadshow, whilst addressing health and safety issues and updates, Ground Control made a point of talking about mental health. HSQE director Angelina Sooren made sure staff knew where to go if they had a problem and that they were trained in how to speak to someone they suspect might be struggling. This was accompanied by a pack of Penguin bars with the label ‘take five’, which

LOOKING AFTER YOUR STAFF’S MENTAL HEALTH HAS BENEFITS IN LOYALTY, STAFF TURNOVER, OFFICE MORALE AND PRODUCTIVITY

encouraged staff to take time to talk about the things they may be struggling with.

Research commissioned by Mind found that work is the most stressful factor in people’s lives, more so than financial problems or health. Surveying more than 2,000 people, Mind also found that “workplace stress has resulted in 7% having suicidal thoughts and one in five people developing anxiety.” It’s incredibly important, then, that employers are taking the steps that the likes of Green-tech, Ground Control, LUC and Kingston Landscape Group are.

If these statistics aren’t enough for companies to take action, independent review Thriving at Work showed that every year a cost of between £33-42bn is incurred by employers as a result of poor mental health, with over half this cost coming from presenteeism – when

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CASE STUDY: STEPHEN

Having built domestic gardens for people in and around Leeds for many years, landscape gardener Stephen decided to start his own company, and at first it was going well. Sadly after 18 months, Stephen began to lose his sight due to being diabetic and had to face the fact he must give up horticulture.

This undoubtably challenging situation led to Stephen being diagnosed with clinical depression. With four children and partner Vicki, who herself has a long-term health condition, this was a very uncertain time for the family.

On a visit to their local Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Stephen and Vicki learnt about Perennial which has since given the family financial and emotional support and advice which has been invaluable to the family.

“I thought I was failing my family, but Perennial’s caseworkers reassured me and supported me through everything.

They were a lifeline,” Stephen explains.

Vicki adds: “It takes courage to ask for help, and as working people we were proud.

We would encourage others in similar situations to get in touch with Perennial sooner rather than later. Perennial continues to be there for us and we know we can call on our caseworker for advice and support as and when we need it.”

individuals are less productive due to poor health. In fact, according to Time to Change, mental ill health is still the leading cause of sickness absence in the UK, costing an average of £1,035 per employee per year.

The conversations that the likes of Greentech and Ground Control are having are a brilliant first step, and many may be encouraged to come forward knowing that the door is always open – but many may not.

According to AXA PPP Healthcare’s Starting the Conversation, 84% of employees would rather tell their managers about an injury or cold than about stress, depression or anxiety (43%, 38% and 37% respectively). It is important, then, that a company has other mental health policies in place too.

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Eljays44 recently took its commitment to staff mental health a step further by sending one of its employees on a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course and many other companies have done the same. As MHFA England states: “The aims of physical first aid are to preserve life, prevent further harm, promote recovery and bring comfort to the injured person. MHFA shares these aims.” MHFA is help offered to a person developing a mental health issue, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health issue or in a mental health crisis.

Companies and individuals can attend half-day, one-day or two-day courses in order to be qualified to provide this assistance until professional help can be sourced.

Green-tech has had two mental health first aiders for 18 months now: “The more we can normalise mental health, the better,” managing director of Green-tech and mental health first aider Rachel Kay tells us. “We’re not counsellors, but we are there to listen and we know what resources are available to help.” Sales manager Roger McGivern is also a mental health first aider, and Green-tech finds that having both a male and a female presence is beneficial as staff may have a preference as to which gender they feel more comfortable speaking to.

An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is also a valuable resource to offer staff and will benefit their families too. EAP is a confidential workplace service to help employees deal with a number of issues which

could affect their work performance. Paid for by the employer, employees and their family members over the age of 16 will have access to online self-help resources as well as a 24/7 helpline to get advice from a qualified expert.

Local EAP providers can be found online at EAP Association.

Working with Bupa, Ground Control has a full programme of occupational health services which are available to its direct employees and its field teams on a case by case basis. Ground Control has even set aside part of its induction process to talk to future employees about what to do if they don’t feel themselves or are worried about a team member. Among the support available is its confidential counselling line, its team of mental health first aiders – which includes every one of Ground Control’s safety advisors – and free gym memberships.

But what about smaller companies? Though ultimately these solutions may end up saving a company money, if there isn’t that money to use in the first place, it quickly becomes a cost that small companies can’t afford.

Landscape architecture firm Studio 31 has less than five staff members, but creating a healthy workplace has been a priority from day one: “We wanted a better work-life balance for the practice,” director Katie Flaxman tells us.

“We believed this was achievable and set out to prove it.”

As well as facilitating flexible working hours, yoga sessions, dogs in the office and walking

JUST AS WE GO TO THE GYM TO KEEP FIT, IT’S IMPORTANT TO GET INTO GOOD MENTAL HABITS

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meetings – all of which are proven to help mental wellbeing – Studio 31 allows paid time off for medical or mental health appointments including therapy. “It’s really hard as a small company because every team member counts,” Katie explains. “It’s frightening to think that if you allow one member of staff to work from home or have regular time out, that all your staff might do that.

84% OF EMPLOYEES WOULD RATHER TELL THEIR MANAGERS ABOUT AN INJURY OR COLD THAN ABOUT STRESS, DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY “If you start from a place of flexibility and trust, our experience is that the vast majority of people won’t abuse, or in many cases even use, the resources available to them – just knowing they are there makes an enormous difference.

“The reality is that staffing is usually one of the biggest overheads to any business and the historic view has always been to run a tight ship, meaning staff are in as much as possible, doing as much work as possible. But what most people forget is that often your business’ success is tied up with the success of your staff and if they thrive, often so do you.

Looking after your staff’s mental health has benefits in loyalty, staff turnover, office morale and productivity.”

Creating a healthy environment is definitely a way of not only preventing staff from struggling with work-related stress, and in turn mental health difficulties, but also creating an environment where the stigma doesn’t exist.

Employers are also well placed to notice if someone is struggling as they will potentially be most aware of a change in behaviour and attitude which could be linked – raising this with staff is important and mental wellbeing can even be easily made part of the annual review process.

If your company hasn’t been built to incorporate mental wellbeing from the start, it can be really hard to know where to begin.

Time to Change was voted one of the greatest public health achievements of the 21st century in a study published by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), and its Employer Pledge has now been signed by more than 1,400 organisations. By signing the pledge for

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M E N TA L H E A LT H P O L L We found out from some of our readers what mental health policies their companies have in place

HAS AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH GROWN OVER THE LAST YE AR?

A R E YO U AWA R E O F M E N TA L H E A LT H F I R S T AIDERS?

D O E S YO U R C O M PA N Y H AV E A M E N TA L H E A LT H FIRST AIDER?

NO

3% NO

38%

50%

62%

YES

97%

O F T HOS E W HO DIDN ’ T HAVE A MEN TAL HE ALT H F IRST AIDER , 6 2% ALSO DIDN ’ T HAVE AN Y MEN TAL HE ALT H PO LICY IN PL AC E, T HO UGH 100% O F T HOS E SAID T HE Y W ER E LO O KIN G TO IMPLEMEN T SO MET HIN G

NO

YES

50%

YES

O F T HOS E W HO DIDN ’ T HAVE A MEN TAL HE ALT H PO LICY IN PL AC E, 3 1% W ER E C O MPAN IES W IT H MO R E T HAN 25 EMPLOY EES

33% 67%

O F C O M PA N I E S HAD IMPLEMENTED A M E N TA L H E A LT H FIRST AIDER WITHIN THE LAST YEAR

O F C O M PA N I E S HAD IMPLEMENTED A M E N TA L H E A LT H FIRST AIDER MORE THAN A YE AR AGO

D O E S YO U R C O M PA N Y H AV E A M E N TA L H E A LT H F I R ST A I D E R O R P O L I CY I N P L AC E ?

1-9

EMPLOYEES

10-24 EMPLOYEES

YES NO

25-49

YES NO

50+

YES NO

EMPLOYEES

EMPLOYEES

33%

YES NO

67% 44% 56% 83% 17%

free, organisations will receive invitations to go to masterclasses on workplace wellbeing, training courses, activity and resources packs and a monthly newsletter which will provide information about even more resources.

As well as making sure to look after their staff, Studio 31 directors Katie, Alex Jobber and Edward Flaxman know it is important to also look after themselves and each other, taking lead from the age-old adage: “If you don’t look after yourself, you can’t look after everyone else.”

67% 33%

This applies to self-employed individuals as well – if you don’t look after yourself, it will be challenging to look after your clients to the best of your ability. Though taking time out may be daunting, there are organisations out there to support you.

One charity helping those in horticulture is Perennial, which has a range of services to address individual needs. As well as helping the UK horticulture industry with financial and physical support, they have recently launched a health and wellbeing service in partnership with

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Big White Wall. This is a completely confidential online community where members and professionals offer advice and support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Alongside advice, users will have access to tests and tools to help them understand how they are feeling and offer techniques to help them recover.

Perennial will also be able to assist employees who either feel they are unable to go to their employer or explicitly can’t – and they aren’t the only ones.

WORKPLACE STRESS HAS RESULTED IN 7% HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE DEVELOPING ANXIETY Remploy’s mental health support service is a confidential and personalised service for people struggling in work because of their mental health. It offers nine months of support at absolutely no cost to the individual. Support can include coping strategies, a return to work plan, advice on workplace adjustments, and signposting to specialist provision or medical support. Although it is helpful if they are, an employer does not need to be on board with an employee receiving this help; an individual would just need to refer themselves via the Access at Work website.

Assisting those struggling with a mental health illness is obviously essential, but we all have mental health and prevention is key. “Just as we go to the gym to keep fit, it’s important to get into good mental habits,” Roger tells us. “By

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learning how to cope with everyday stresses, we can equip ourselves to be able to cope much better when life does get tougher.” Angelina echoes this message: “Physical health and mental health go hand in hand. You only have to have one of those elements unbalanced and it will affect the other. If you’re in chronic pain your mental health will be affected, and if you have low mental health, you may be less able to focus and more prone to accidents. Neither is more important than the other.”

Perennial is also adding additional support to help prevent a crisis: “As well as its range of vital frontline support services, Perennial is launching a range of new services to help prevent people getting into deeper difficulty.”

This will not just be its mental health and wellbeing support service, but a physical health check ‘MOT’, an online budgeting tool and back to school and school holiday support – all of which can have detrimental effects on mental health.

With these resources at our fingertips, and often the simplest solutions being the most effective, it’s perhaps shocking that so many companies in our survey felt they didn’t need to address staff’s mental health until it becomes a recurring issue or mandatory to do so.

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 protects workers by setting out the general duties which employers have towards employees and members of the public, employees have to themselves and to each other, and certain self-employed have towards themselves and others. But, though Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has an abundance of resources explaining the legal requirements of things like, Pipelines Safety Regulations, Confined Spaces Regulations, working with ionising radiation, and preventing accidents to children in agriculture, there are still no legal requirements for employees’ mental health.

Money and Mental Health launched new report ‘Too ill to work, too broke not to’ in 2018, which explores the predicament for those suffering with a mental health problem and calls for employment and benefit changes to help support these people. Though this has been well received, there is still no legislation requiring businesses to act.

Perhaps it will take a change in the law to push businesses to take their staff’s mental health seriously, but why wait when there are so many simple and effective policies companies can put into place? Without healthy and happy employees, a business will never fulfil its potential, and it’s about time their mental health was taken as seriously as their physical.

USEFUL RESOURCES • ACAS Free and impartial advice and information to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. www.acas.org.uk 0300 123 1100 • Employee Assistance Professionals Association Members include external and internal EAP providers, purchasers, counsellors, consultants and trainers working in the field of employee health and wellbeing. info@eapa.org.uk www.eapa.org.uk • ISMA (International Stress Management Association) Organisation which works to promote stress prevention and wellbeing. www.isma.org.uk • Mental Health First Aid England Offers mental health first aid courses across the country. www.mhfaengland.org • Mindful Employer Aims to increase awareness of mental health at work and provides easily accessible information to organisations and supports for staff. www.mindfulemployer.net 01392 208866 • Perennial Free and confidential advice, support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in or retired from horticulture. www.perennial.org.uk services@perennial.org.uk 0800 093 8543 • Remploy Free and confidential service delivered

by Remploy for any employees with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work. a2wmhss@remploy.co.uk 0300 456 8114 • Time to Change Social movement working to change the way we all think and act about mental health. www.time-to-change.org.uk info@time-to-change.org.uk 020 8215 2356

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19/03/2020 14:51

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Our commitment during the coronavirus outbreak: We aim to support the landscaping industry by keeping connected while we work apart.

As a valued reader of Pro Landscaper magazine, we wanted to reassure you that we will be continuing as normal to support the landscaping community during these uncertain times. We promise to stay at the forefront, tackling all the major issues facing our industry during the coronavirus outbreak.

Cooperation is essential to the containment of the COVID-19 and its economic impact, particularly if the outbreak turns out to be more persistent and widespread. With that in mind, we will be continually updating our website, www.prolandscapermagazine.com and you can stay up to date on the go with our app.

We are interested in hearing any good news you may have surrounding your business and coronavirus. If you would like to share news with us, please email nina.mason@eljays44.com.

We greatly appreciate your ongoing support and hope you stay safe and well during this pandemic.

team

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INSIDE

Z INC O T H E H I STO R Y O F Z I N C O A N D A LO O K I N TO I TS R I S E TO P R O M I N E N C E , VA R I E D P R O D U C T R A N G E A N D K E Y C O L L E AG U E S How was the company founded?

ZinCo Green Roof Systems Ltd was founded in 2012 by Fabian Kaiser as a subsidiary of ZinCo Germany, one of the leading manufacturers of green roof systems worldwide with more than 40 years’ experience in the green roof business.

To meet the requirements of a rapidly growing green roof market in the UK, ZinCo Green Roof Systems was established in Cambridge in 2012. ZinCo has become synonymous with permanently reliable green roofs, providing systems to suit all roof and design requirements.

What is the product range?

ZinCo offers the UK’s widest range of products and systems specifically dedicated to the green roof and landscaped podium deck market. In addition to serving the well-developed extensive green roof market, ZinCo Green Roof Systems focuses on the supply of system solutions for the intensive green roof business in the UK. Whether it’s a typical flat roof with a 2% pitch, a 0°-roof or a pitched roof up to 35°, ZinCo systems can be used to create successful rooftop landscapes. The company will supply

the system build-up that is most suited to a roof, in line with the roof shape, structure and any specific greening requirements given.

ZinCo also offers special build-ups for biosolar roofs and blue roofs, the first combining solar energy and green roofs and the second providing stormwater management on roofs in case of severe rain events. The ZinCo product range also includes fall arrest and guardrail systems for safety on extensive and intensive green roofs. It offers a comprehensive range of accessories for green roofs, such as inspection chambers, eaves profiles and pedestals.

Who are the key personnel?

Giles Doland as sales director is the key contact to speak to with regard to any technical question and sales enquiry one may have. In the background, a number of staff in management, engineering, marketing, accounts, and order processing support Giles in his sales and marketing activities.

What is the route to market?

As ZinCo offers support from the planning stage to the installation

of a green roof project, the first route to market is through services provided to architects or landscape architects and designers. At the final project stage, ZinCo systems and components are supplied to contractors, roofers, construction companies or merchants involved in the installation of green roofs and podium landscapes.

What are your lead times?

ZinCo offers rapid and nationwide delivery from UK stock, normally by next-day pallet service if no specific delivery requirements have to be met.

What kind of technical support is offered?

A technical team of experts in landscape architecture, horticulture, structural engineering, material and soil science is dedicated to give superior service and customised support at any stage of a project from planning to completion. This includes consultancy, design, specifications, CAD drawings, BIM files, on-site support and more.

C O N TA C T ZinCo Green Roof Systems Ltd, Wittas House, 2 Rivers Industrial Estate, Station Lane, Witney, OX28 4BH

Tel 01993 229 700 Email office@zinco-greenroof.co.uk www.zinco-greenroof.co.uk

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ADVERTORIAL

N E W L AU N C H SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR MALCOLM GOUGH TELLS US ABOUT THE TAL ASEY GROUP’S NEW RANGE OF COMPOSITE DECKING, WHICH IS ANOTHER STRIDE FORWARD FOR THE DONCASTER-BASED COMPANY

W

e knew very early on that we wanted to call our range of composite decking and fencing Piranha. It’s just one of those names you remember – and of course we’ve had a lot of fun talking about how we plan to take a big bite out of the decking market with a fantastically durable product that is great value for money. Under the Piranha brand, we’ve launched two new ranges of composite decking: Fuzion and Hunter.

MALCOLM GOUGH

Fuzion Fuzion is the premium composite decking range. Each product is dual sided to reveal different shades of the same colour palette, therefore offering homeowners six colour options in total: mocha/espresso, sandstone/ island mist and slate/graphite. This offers the ability to create bespoke and on-trend designs by utilising contrasting sides of a Fuzion product. The Fuzion range is a beautiful alternative to traditional timber decking and has six matching edging pieces to finish the decked area neatly and professionally.

The benefits of Fuzion include the dual-sided finish with a satin-textured woodgrain finish, a 25-year warranty (for domestic applications), maximum performance against stains and scratching due to its heavy-duty capped

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composite decking board and increased protection against fading and weathering, providing the board with an extra-long life.

WE ARE STRENGTHENING OUR POSITION AS A ‘ONESTOP-SHOP’ SUPPLIER OF LANDSCAPING SOLUTIONS Hunter Hunter comprises three colours – anthracite, mid grey and brown. Each colour option has a wood-effect pattern on one side and a colour-matching traditional grooved finish on the reverse, meaning they can be laid either way or contrasted to create unique designs.

The Hunter range also has three matching edging pieces to complete the decked area and is a cost-effective and pragmatic alternative to traditional softwood decking.

There are four key benefits to the Hunter range: it will not rot, warp or split; there’s no need to stain or paint decking every year – it just needs simple regular cleaning to keep it looking new; it comes with a 10-year warranty for domestic applications; and it’s reversible, with an attractive woodgrain pattern that gives the appearance of natural wood and on the underside is a traditional grooved design.

Arguably, the biggest benefit of both Fuzion and Hunter is that they are firmly in line with our stance as an ethical and responsible importer of materials, and Talasey Limited is FSC® certified (FSC C154335) so Piranha decking plays its part in helping to take care of the world’s forests.

HUNTER

One-stop shop To us, Piranha isn’t just a new brand; it marks a real step change for our business. It’s the seventh product brand in our portfolio, the others being Natural Paving, Vitripiazza, Baksteen, Resiscape, Luxigraze and Pavetuf.

It’s the eighth brand if you include our Talasey Training Academy!

Piranha is our biggest hint yet to the landscaping industry at the forward travel of our business in terms of bringing new products and brands under the Talasey Group umbrella – after all, it was only a couple of years ago that we were known as Natural Paving before we changed our name to Talasey Group, and we were primarily known as a supplier of stone paving.

By introducing Piranha, we are strengthening our position as a ‘one-stop-shop’ supplier of landscaping solutions to designers, landscape architects and installers via our extensive network of merchant partners, with a growing reputation for quality products that are great value for money and are ethically sourced from around the world.

For information on Piranha, there’s a new website: www.piranhadecking.co.uk.

This can also be found via www.talasey.co.uk.

FUZION

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18/03/2020 12:20

Chainsaw W92 x H128 Advert 01.pdf

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DALTEX BESPOKE With 46 colours to choose from, DALTEX Bespoke offers the widest range of colour blends in the UK and is ideal for residential and commercial properties of all styles and age

DERBYSHIRE SPECIALIST AGGREGATES AS RESIN BOUND SOLUTIONS RISE IN POPULARITY, DERBYSHIRE SPECIALIST AGGREGATES EXPLAINS WHY THIS IS, SHARES SOME TOP PRODUCTS ON OFFER AND DETAILS A LEADING CPD COURSE

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esin bound surfacing has taken the landscaping industry by storm over the last five years, making it the fastest growing surfacing solution in the UK. Compared to other surfacing, such as block paving, concrete and macadam, resin bound’s unbeatable range of benefits include its attractive finish, permeability and minimal maintenance. It’s now viewed by many designers, architects, builders and landscape contractors as the future of driveway surfacing and an essential service to provide. As flooding

and unpredictable weather become more regular problems, homeowners are increasingly seeking out futureproof solutions.

When installing a resin bound driveway, path or patio, the importance of using clean, dried aggregates and high-quality resin cannot be overemphasised. Derbyshire Specialist Aggregates is the manufacturer of DALTEX – a leading brand of resin bound aggregates.

The DALTEX UVR system complies with sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) regulations, and planning permission is not required. The UVR system is also certified by the British Board of Agrément (BBA), the highest industry standard available.

There is much to consider when specifying or installing resin bound. To assist with this, Derbyshire Specialist Aggregates runs a specially developed training course from its purpose-built facility in Derbyshire. This is a practical, hands-on course run by experienced, independent contractors, completed in one day and priced at £75 (exc. VAT). For more info, visit: www.resinbondedaggregates.com/training

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C O N TA C T Derbyshire Aggregates Ltd, Arbor Low Works, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1JS Tel 01629 636 500 Email leanne@derbyaggs.com www.resinbondedaggregates.com

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19/03/2020 11:21

EDUCATE

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TIGERTURF Finesse TigerTurf’s top seller Finesse uses the varied tones of Finesse Deluxe to create a very natural appearance, and is also shorter in height at 26mm to give it a 'freshly mowed' effect. Finesse is great for relaxing days and peaceful evenings in the garden. It also works well in small areas in nurseries and schools.

• 26mm pile height • Freshly mowed lawn look • Green and brown mix thatch to look like real grass www.tigerturf.com/uk

IGRASS iDYLLIC 35mm Designed for the trade, iDYLLIC 35mm is a high quality and great value turf suitable for domestic and commercial projects, weighing more than 3.1kg/m2. The lush emerald green colour gives a modern looking finish, whilst the soft C-shape yarn keeps the blades upright.

Comes with a seven-year warranty.

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Boston A 40mm with C-shape blades and a dense resilient pile which combine to give your lawn an established look.

The variety of green shades and curled brown base fibres creates a rich, natural looking garden throughout the year. Forever Green Lawns also offers free leads in your local area and exclusive discounts on artificial grass electric power brushes to complement the product.

• Multi-toned fibres, a blend of light and medium tones • Luxurious 37mm pile height • An ultra soft and hard-wearing choice www.namgrass.co.uk

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• Available in 1m width increments up to 5m • Priced from £9.99/m2 (exc. VAT) www.forevergreenlawns.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 117

19/03/2020 12:32

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19/03/2020 09:40

PEOPLE

OUT & ABOUT

APL AWARDS 2020 T

he APL’s annual awards ceremony, sponsored by Bradstone, took place on Friday 13 March at The Brewery, London, celebrating and recognising the outstanding landscaping carried out by members of the APL. Simply Green Landscapes, based in Berkshire, took the Supreme Winner award for its Waterways project. This entry was also the winner of the Hard Landscaping and Project Value over £250,000 categories.

The judges commented: “A superb project with outstanding attention to detail in the design, construction and planting. Quite simply an exercise in excellence. Faultless, a great scheme. The contractor has realised the design and specification seamlessly and the end result is a superb finish.”

To view the full list of winners, visit: www.aplawards.co.uk

SIMPLY GREEN LANDSCAPES

Supreme Winner

Winner: Project Value over £250,000

Winner: Hard Landscaping

WATERWAYS PROJECT

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19/03/2020 16:16

PEOPLE

LEMON TREE TRUST GARDEN, RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2018

PRECIOUS LAND: FANTASY GARDEN, SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2018

THE UNHCR 'BORDER CONTROL' GARDEN, HAMPTON COURT PALACE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2016

RESIDENTIAL GARDEN, RICHMOND

©Britt Willoughby Dyer

3 0 U N D E R 3 0 U P DAT E

W

TOM MASSEY FROM RHS FLOWER SHOWS TO THE SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL, TOM MASSEY DISCUSSES HIS SHOW INVOLVEMENT AND OFFERS ADVICE TO THOSE WHO ARE STARTING OUT THEIR CAREER IN THE INDUSTRY

ith this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show being cancelled due to the growing concern of the coronavirus (COVID-19), many designers such as Tom Massey will be unable to showcase their designs. Prior to cancellation, Tom’s garden, The Yeo Valley Organic Garden, sponsored by Yeo Valley, had a central focus on organic principles, designed to showcase a snapshot of a countryside landscape for visitors to enjoy.

Elements of sustainability (the main focus of the planned show this year), were going to be highlighted throughout the garden via the inclusion of responsibly sourced timber and locally sourced stone from the Yeo Valley farmland in Somerset. Post show, Tom had organised for the materials to return to Yeo Valley, again highlighting the sustainable design.

He said: “Everything was going to go back to Yeo Valley after the show, all of the materials that we were going to take from the farmland were going to go back and be assimilated into the wider farm and organic garden. The cancellation of the show is a real shame, but it’s definitely the right decision. Public safety has to come first. We are currently talking about the garden appearing at the 2021 show, so I am hopeful all the work that went into it won’t go to

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PERENNIAL SANCTUARY GARDEN, HAMPTON COURT PALACE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2017

waste. We are also looking at ways to use the plants grown for this year, so there may still be some kind of garden built in 2020.”

This would not have been Tom’s first show garden – he has a history of success within the show garden scene, with Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and The Singapore Garden Festival previously showcasing Tom’s designs.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR WORK OUT THERE ‘Precious Land’, Tom’s 2018 entry for The Singapore Garden Festival, highlighted the warnings of climate change and what the threats could mean to Singapore in the future. The garden was awarded a Gold Medal as well as an additional prize for best indoor lighting design.

Working abroad was a valuable experience for Tom, one which highlighted the differences for him between British and international shows.

“It was an amazing experience to go to Singapore and see how the process works.

It was a different challenge to RHS Chelsea or Hampton Court, and a completely different palette of plants.”

THE YEO VALLEY ORGANIC GARDEN FOR RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2020

As well as show garden awards, Tom also received The Society of Garden Design student award, just one year after receiving his 30 Under 30: The Next Generation Award in 2015 – both for commercial design and residential design – which he said was “a great boost to my early career."

When asked about the advice he would pass on those entering the industry, he said: “It’s important to get your work out there. Enter awards, apply to shows, speak to the RHS, talk to designers, and find out how other people got to where they are.”

Discussing future plans, Tom stated that he is generally “happy with where he is right now”.

He is able to work on interesting residential gardens as well as having show garden involvement, which he really enjoys doing.

He said: “Show gardens allow you to talk about interesting themes that maybe you can’t touch on in a private residential garden. They offer that outlet for creativity that I find really interesting.”

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/03/2020 11:01

PEOPLE

WHY I...

# LOV E H O RT I C U LT U R E Butter Wakefield OW N E R , B U T T E R WA K E F I E L D G A R D E N D ES I G N LT D

I

think horticulture is in my blood; it is my childhood and now it’s my adult life, my profession and it’s my unbridled love of nature and all things outdoors. I grew up on a small farm outside of Baltimore. It was a simple life; as children, my siblings and I spent our entire summer holidays playing outside.

Here, we were lucky enough to have a stream at the far end of the farm. We spent hours playing under a canopy of oak and pine trees surrounded by great tufts of smelly skunk cabbage and ferns, and we often built dams and bridges out of fallen logs along the banks, creating islands out of pebbles and rocks. If we weren’t playing in the stream, we were building forts with elaborate webs of tunnels in our hayloft or creating dens under giant forsythia bushes. Looking back, I understand that I came to appreciate nature without truly realising how happy it made me.

My father was also a huge influence. He was a measured, hard-working man who took great joy and comfort from the land.

Among hundreds of little life lessons, he taught us to care for the birds and keep the bird bath topped up and clean in the steamy hot summer months, something I do and enjoy in my own garden today. He also taught us to learn to recognise the trees on the farm, even in the winter when we had only their trunks and bark for identification. We walked his bird dogs and our Labrador together through the woods most weekends. Today, my walks along the river with my dog Wafer are essential to my sense of wellbeing and state of happiness.

Our house was surrounded by lovely mixed borders. My mother was a keen gardener, as was her father and mother before her.

We had a bountiful veg garden which fed us happily all summer long.

We of course had to weed in between the rows of tomatoes and beans before any merriment was had.

I love horticulture thanks to my parents’ love for the natural world and because, thanks to them, it takes and keeps me outside. It keeps me firmly fixed to the land with my hands in the soil. Horticulture is nature, and, in my mind, nature and horticulture are one.

IF WE WEREN’T PLAYING IN THE STREAM, WE WERE BUILDING FORTS

T W E E T U S @ P R O L A N D S C A P E R U K A N D T E L L U S W H Y Y O U L O V E H O R T I C U LT U R E U S I N G T H E H A S H TA G # L O V E H O R T I C U LT U R E

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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18/03/2020 11:56

PEOPLE

LOOK OUT FOR ...

JAMIE GOULD

J A M I E G O U L D , R OYA L PA R K S APPRENTICE AND WINNER OF T H E G EO R G E C O O K AWA R D 2 0 1 9, D I S C U S S E S H I S R O U T E I N TO T H E I N D U ST RY A N D T H E I M P O R TA N C E OF APPRENTICESHIPS FOR T H E YO U N G E R G E N E R AT I O N

What was your route into the industry?

When I came out of secondary school I applied for the Royal Parks apprenticeship. I wanted to go into an industry that allowed me to work outdoors. At that age I didn’t have a lot of experience, but I’d grown up with a passion for the nature. The Royal Parks saw a keen interest and took me on – I’ve been here for almost five years now.

The George Cook Award is awarded to the best Royal Parks apprentice in a given year – how did it feel to win?

It was amazing to receive that award!

Although not a requirement for the award, my apprenticeship was a four year one, with an extra year of education on environment and conservation. So, I had to wait an extra year to get the George Cook Award. I remember when I first started the apprenticeship I thought it would be amazing to get the award in the years to come. Earning it felt fantastic after waiting and working towards it.

teach the children about the plants, wildlife and conservation.

I put together the presentations myself; the largest group I’ve presented to was around 180 children. I bring in deer antlers, badger skulls and nests – it’s good to get the kids involved. I wish I had had it when I was at the school.

Recently, the school gave me £600 to build a raised pond which we are currently building.

The school are going to run an after-school club and use it for activities, such as pond dipping. I’m going there soon to teach a reception class – they are currently doing a topic on wildlife, so they GUNNERA AT THE have asked me to come in ISABELLA PLANTATION and teach the children.

What does the role involve?

I currently work on the estates team which involves the management of the almost the whole of Richmond Park. My day-to-day jobs could be repairs, tree planting, pond management, habitat conservation and more. Each day is completely different, you get up in the morning and you don’t know what’s going to happen.

My favourite part of the role is how varied it is.

What are your future plans?

I finished my apprenticeship last year, I’m employed here now so my short-term plan is to stay on within the park.

Long term, my goal would be to work my way up the ladder within the park.

RECEIVING THE GEORGE COOK AWARD AT IRONMONGERS' HALL

124 Pro Landscaper / April 2020

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SHIRE HORSE LOGGING AT THE PEN PONDS

Does your work involve the local community in any way?

I’ve given talks at my local school, Christ Church Primary School – so far, I’ve done around four or five. The talks and presentations promote the Royal Parks as well as

How important do you think apprenticeships are for the industry?

I think getting an apprenticeship at a younger age after you come out of school is really good, you can pursue your hobby as a job. It’s hard to get an apprenticeship at a younger age because you’re competing with adults who have a lot of background experience.

IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE MORE YOUNGER PEOPLE ENTER THE INDUSTRY Within the industry, I think younger people need to be promoted more. At Richmond Park I’ve been the youngest since I’ve started. In the future, it would be great to see more younger people enter the industry.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/03/2020 12:39

It’s not only Pro Landscaper that’s had a makeover, the Friday wrap has a new look too.

Email laura.harris@eljays44.com to sign up for the weekly newsletter brought to you by Pro Landscaper

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18/03/2020 20/02/2020 15:19 16:28

PEOPLE

H AV E YO U R S AY Robert Frier CHARLESWORTH DESIGN

T

here can’t be many of us left who deny climate change. The prophecies of Sir David Attenborough and predictions of Greta Thunberg are all too obvious. There was also an excellent article by grower Lewis Normand on plastic pots in Pro Landscaper last month, but having digested all of this, we really need to take action now; no-one else is going to do this for us. Garden designers, landscapers, landscape architects and the associations are in the best possible position to take this to the next level and what better time than a new year to resolve to do this.

PUT YOUR NURSERIES ON NOTICE THAT FROM NOW ON, YOU WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTING PLASTIC FREE DELIVERIES; THEY WILL SOON GET THE MESSAGE Put your nurseries on notice that, from now on, you will only be accepting plastic-free deliveries – they will soon get the message.

Start by returning the black plastic pots to the nursery to show you mean business, force them to deal with the problem rather than you having to deal with their unwanted waste.

Yes, there are companies now emerging that can turn the worst plastics back to their petrochemical state so that even more plastic can be reformed, but surely prevention is better than cure? It’s not as though there aren’t better alternatives already out there – pots made from

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Have your say.indd 127

coconut fibre, taupe, recycled paper, even cow manure are available amongst many others – all of which break down naturally and all of which add something back to the soil.

Climate change is forcing us to change what we do. Remember when every cup of coffee we bought was served in plastic? We would now, quite rightly, expect it to be made from (ideally recycled) paper, and good to know we have moved on from plastic. We can do the same with single use pots!

One could argue that we should be equally concerned about the credentials of composite decking, issues over plastic grass, and the amount of heat required to vitrify porcelain tiles; but not all gardens have all of these things in them, they might just have one. What they do all have is plants, and plants in black plastic.

I would also argue that, regardless of climate change, plants are horticulturally better off out of plastic. The black plastic absorbs the scorching heat of the sun in summer causing plants to wilt and dry out.

I remember watching my father in his greenhouse potting on plants. His pots were actual pots, made from clay, though some were peat. Both gently absorbed water, smelt great,

HIS POTS WERE ACTUAL POTS, MADE FROM CLAY, THOUGH SOME WERE PEAT. BOTH GENTLY ABSORBED WATER, SMELT GREAT, AND THE ROOT SYSTEMS PARTICULARLY THOSE IN PEAT WERE WELL DEVELOPED and the root systems particularly those in peat were well developed, reaching out rather than going round and round in circles as you find with plastic.

Are you interested in having your say?

Get in touch via content@eljays44.com.

We’d love to hear from you.

ABOUT ROBERT FRIER Robert has been a registered member of the SGD since 2001 and has been designing gardens since he was a child. He has lectured in garden design for more than 20 years and taught landscaping over the past three. A designer of award-winning show gardens, Robert has won Best of Houzz for the past five years and is a recipient of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. www.charlesworthdesign.com

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 127

18/03/2020 11:30

JOBS

For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk Call 01903 777 570 or email ben.cumberland@eljays44.com with your vacancy

LANDSCAPE ESTIMATOR ELITE LANDSCAPES Location: Buckinghamshire

A chance has opened up to join Elite Landscapes’ estimating team. It requires an experienced estimator who can assist the senior estimator in preparing and submitting soft and hard landscaping tenders. Day-to-day responsibilities will include the use of software such as Bluebeam, the production and pricing of tender documents, and attending site visits and tender meetings. The ideal candidate will have a professional and proactive approach and have experience in tender preparation. Good organisation and time management skills are essential as well as Microsoft Office skills and experience and a full clean driving license.

GROUNDS/GARDEN MAINTENANCE OPERATIVE GROUNDTEL LTD Location: Middlesex

A grounds/garden maintenance operative is required to join Groundtel Ltd. It is looking for an experienced, motivated, hard-working, trustworthy and reliable person with a working knowledge of all aspects of grounds and garden maintenance to achieve high standards of work as part of a team on all commercial and residential sites. Candidates should be experienced in the use garden machinery to be able to carry out tasks such as grass cutting, strimming, shrub pruning and general associated maintenance ensuring that sites are kept tidy and presentable.

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

CONTRACTS MANAGER

TEAM LEADER/MAINTENANCE GARDENER

ELITE LANDSCAPES Location: Buckinghamshire

Elite Landscapes is looking for a contracts manager to join its team to work on commercial landscape construction and maintenance projects ranging from £100k to £10m. The successful candidate needs to have a professional manner, CSCS card, SMSTS, ISOH regulations, full clean driving license, understand health and safety compliance and have proven experience in contract management. Duties include the production of contract programmes.

LIVING COLOUR GARDENS Location: London

An opportunity has opened for a maintenance gardener to run a team of one to two operatives for various sites throughout south-west and Central London to ensure the delivery of a high-end service. Responsibilities include managing client relationships through efficient communication and site meetings, ensuring service is of the highest standard and that client requests and observations are formally recorded and dealt with. Suitable candidates will have a minimum of two years’ experience in a similar role or three years as a maintenance operative or designer.

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

GARDENER

ARBORIST CLIMBER – BEDFORDSHIRE

Allium Gardeners is looking for an experienced gardener to join its talented and busy team, delivering high quality garden maintenance and landscaping services in West Essex and East London – Epping, Loughton, Chigwell and surrounding areas. A passion for gardening is a must, alongside experience in mowing and tending lawns, weeding, strimming and general garden maintenance. A horticultural qualification is desirable and PA1 & PA6 certificates would be an advantage.

The successful candidate needs to be self-motivated with a flexible and willing attitude and good communication skills.

Bartlett Tree Experts has exciting opportunities for professional, self-motivated, experienced arborists for its office near Biggleswade. The role will involve working in a team undertaking a wide variety of tree work including ground-based chainsaw work, aerial tree surgery, pruning, identifying basic trees and shrubs and plant healthcare services. Applicants must have minimum of CS30, CS31, CS38 and CS39 (or equivalent) and a full driving licence, ideally C1+1. Bartlett Tree Experts is an Arboricultural Association approved contractor and is CHAS accredited with ISA certified arborists.

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

GARDEN MAINTENANCE MANAGER

ARBORIST CLIMBER – ST ALBANS

This is an opportunity to join a long-established award-winning company as a garden maintenance manager. As part of a knowledgeable and friendly team, the successful candidate will work on an interesting mix of small gardens, courtyards, roof terraces, London squares and large country gardens. At least five years’ experience in aftercare is required, with three of those in a team leader/foreman role. Candidates should also have a working knowledge of plants and the ability to recognise and treat problems as well as qualification to at least Level 3 or equivalent. This role will be 40% office based and 60% site based.

Arboricultural Association approved contractor Bartlett Tree Experts is looking for professional, self-motivated, experienced arborists for its office near St Albans.

The role will involve working in a team undertaking a wide variety of tree work, including ground-based chainsaw work, aerial tree surgery, pruning, identifying basic trees and shrubs and plant healthcare services. Candidates should be able to demonstrate sound knowledge of health and safety, work to best industry practice, have an understanding of plant healthcare services, focus on providing a high level of customer service and have a desire to produce the highest standard of work.

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

ALLIUM GARDENERS Location: Essex

FRESH HORTICULTURAL CAREERS LTD Location: London

128 Pro Landscaper / April 2020

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BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS Location: Bedfordshire

BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS Location: Hertfordshire

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/03/2020 08:43

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PEOPLE

T H E L I T T L E I N T E RV I E W

PRO LANDSCAPER ASKS QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS TO GAIN A SMALL INSIGHT INTO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP OUR INDUSTRY. TO TAKE PART, EMAIL CONTENT@ EL JAYS44.COM

130 Pro Landscaper / April 2020

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DAVID HOUGHTON

IZABELLA CZEL

Director, Kings Landscapes

Assistant landscape architect, Harris Bugg Studio

www.kingslandscapes.com

www.harrisbugg.com

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

Either in construction or in the army.

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

I would love to be a curator in an art museum or a theatre set designer.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

The UK is the best in the world for design and landscape construction, but what does stand out is Singapore.

Amazing place!

What would you blow your budget on?

Travelling.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Meeting the tree gang and Tony Kirkham at Kew Gardens.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Payment terms and (this stupid idea of) not paying afterwards.

Best piece of trivia you know?

160,000 pints of beer are drunk per game at Twickers’ Six Nations, with an average of two pints per person.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Robbie Williams.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

My home country’s – the Hungarian landscape.

What would you blow your budget on?

Travelling.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

If he were still alive, Roberto Burle Marx.

I’ve read he had great dinner parties and plant hunting trips in the jungle.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Less computer work.

Best piece of trivia you know?

Cappuccino takes its name from the Italian Capuchin order. The monks and nun’s hoods, called cappuccio, have a similar colour as espresso mixed with milk.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Alicia Vikander.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

Lord of the Rings, gin and tonic, and chocolate.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

I would rather choose good company over any useful thing, so I would take two nice people and a dog (or three dogs).

Karaoke song of choice?

We Are the Champions by Queen.

Your favourite joke?

Instant coffee.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/03/2020 10:56

PEOPLE

STEPHEN WESTMORE

TIM REDWOOD

TRACY RICH

Senior arboricultural consultant, Lockhart Garratt

Owner, Redwood Stone – Folly & Garden

Landscape designer, Tracy Rich Design

www.lockhart-garratt.co.uk

www.redwoodstone.com

www.tracyrichdesign.com

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

Most likely a PE teacher, or some role that involved being outside for a good amount of time.

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

Probably long retired by now!

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

I previously worked in geographic information systems and considered a worthy career in international disaster relief mapping.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

Norway.

What would you blow your budget on?

Cars, motorbikes and spoiling the family.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Obviously not possible, but Alex Shigo would’ve been great to meet.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

More focus and support on getting young people into the industry.

Best piece of trivia you know?

Anatidaephobia – the fear that somewhere a duck/goose is watching you.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Ryan Reynolds?

What three things would you take to a desert island?

My family, coffee (along with the means to make it), and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Your favourite joke?

Told my wife I was going to build a car out of spaghetti. She didn’t believe me until I drove pasta.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Little Interviews.indd 131

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

Provence in France, as well as Italy.

What would you blow your budget on?

When the time comes, I want to build the craziest folly of all for myself.

Unbelievably, I don’t actually have one myself yet – I’m still practising.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

It would be a toss up between famous designers from different civilisations: Apollodorus of Damascus, William Joy, Henry Hoare II or Sanderson Miller.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

The sculptural deserts of the Middle East or the mossy rainforests of the Pacific North-West.

What would you blow your budget on?

Cake.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Julie Bargmann. Otherwise, a group of us Scottish designers.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

More collaboration.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

For sustainable landscaping materials to become widely available and understood.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Oliver Reed.

Best piece of trivia you know?

Honey bees can only see in black and white when flying faster than 5km/h.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

Guitar, spare strings and a flare gun would be my picks.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

Bear Grylls, WiFi, big machete.

Your favourite joke?

Unfortunately, I’m not sure that it’s suitable for publication!

Karaoke song of choice?

Albatross by Fleetwood Mac.

Your favourite joke?

Anything by Demetri Martin.

Karaoke song of choice?

I have a fuzzy memory of singing Bohemian Rhapsody very loudly at an LA karaoke bar.

Pro Landscaper / April 2020 131

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