Pro Landscaper August 2016 by Eljays44

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August 2016

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

PEOPLE POWER PARKS INNOVATION IN MANCHESTER Heavenly

OUTDOOR SHOWERS

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

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WELCOME

Concept to Delivery DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

August 2016 | Volume 6, Issue 8

August 2016

PEOPLE POWER

PARKS INNOVATION IN MANCHESTER Heavenly

OUTDOOR SHOWERS

Welcome to August 2016

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

Front Garden spe

Welcome to the August issue of Pro Landscaper. Firstly, congratulations to all the participants of the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, it was another great week with some exceptional gardens created and built by the best in the industry. See our review feature in this month’s issue starting on page 60. This month, we tackle the somewhat difficult topic of the standard of our landscape courses currently available in colleges around the country, in our Agenda feature. It’s clearly something that needs further debate and scrutiny, and it is fundamentally our duty as people working within the industry, in all capacities, to help resolve any issues, so that

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 EDITORIAL editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Editorial Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579 Deputy Editor – Iszara Morgan iszara.morgan@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 574 Editorial Assistant – Nina Mason nina.mason@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 583 Production Editor – Susie Duff susie.duﬀ@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578 Subeditor – Charlotte Cook charlotte.cook@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

those who make horticulture a career choice get the best education to take them forward. Following on from last month’s look at Bristol City Council’s parks, this month sees the focus on the City on Manchester and its development of green spaces in the city on page 29. It’s well worth the read. With the anticipation of an ‘Indian summer’ (that’s us being hopeful), Anji Connell explores outdoor shower products and offers advice on how and where to place them within a design scheme. Also, as the Three Peakers Ride Again event draws ever closer, we take a look at the road and mountain bikes the riders will be using to get them through their challenging routes.

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Pro Landscaper wishes the team all the best with their final preparations. Lastly, thanks so much for all the positive feedback from last month’s London supplement. We have much more planned leading up to the end of this year and beyond which we hope you will enjoy. There are lots more people, projects and products, which I don’t have the space to mention, in this issue, so why not kick back and lose yourself in landscaping for a while? As always, have a great month.

@jimeljays

Design – Kara Thomas

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Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2016 subscription price is £95.00. 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.

MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson Managing Editor Joe Wilkinson Cover image:Artist illustration courtesy of Rendered Image LTD

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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CONTENTS

August 2016 INFORM

8 Agenda Is the curriculum covered by landscape courses at colleges producing a high enough quality of landscape worker?

News A monthly roundup of industry news including the latest updates from efig, SGD, BALI, RHS, the Parks Alliance and APL

Concept to Delivery

30 Under 30

FutureScape

Heavenly

OUTDOOR SHOWERS

Let’s Hear it From

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

Front Garden special

FRONT ROW

Power To The People COVER STORY

NIGEL L PHILIPS

How Manchester City Council involves the city’s residents so closely in its planning for parks

PEOPLE POWER PARKS INNOVATION IN MANCHESTER

All the information you need to know about this year’s event

Chris Harrington and James Porter from Harrington Porter

August 2016

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

How to enter this year’s inaugural 30 Under 30: The Next Generation competition

COVER AUGUST.indd 4

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View From The Top Why Phil Jones thinks it’s time to get over Brexit, buck up and embrace the new challenges ahead

Before The Flood Landscapers have a role to play in facing up to extreme weather and keeping our land resilient, says Lesley Malone

Bright Young Things Updates from David Dodd on the new Go Landscape initiative

Dishing The Dirt Andrew Wilson explores the unrealistic expectations he continues to face from clients

Stand Your Ground Landscapers must charge the value of their

INSPIRE

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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work if they want clients to understand that value, says Pete Jones

JSC Paving and Landscaping carried out a complex site remodelling to create a stunning modern terrace

Safety First Advice from Angus Lindsay on keeping your equipment safe and deterring potential thieves

Front Row COVER STORY With the use of formal topiary Nigel L Philips transformed the front garden of a Georgian home

Street Smart

42 On Yer Bike! Adam White says we should all make cycling in public space a priority

43 Finding The Way Forward Bee Emmott from the Garden Bridge Trust responds to Lesley Malone’s article from last month’s issue

Silver Lining

Since 2013 Glendale has been working in partnership with North Somerset Council to deliver a range of park and street services

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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CONTENTS

Tough It Out Advice from Andy McIndoe on plants to survive exposed conditions

Trooping The Colour Jamie Butterworth gives us his favourite plants at this year’s RHS Hampton Court as pastels give way to summer colours

Site Visit Bourne Amenity

Seeds Suppliers’ top five picks

EDUCATE

Another Level Think outside the box with a sunken patio or garden, says Sean Butler

Lock Down Robert Webber advises on the most effective security lighting to deter burglars

Send It Direct Email marketing is the most effective way for a business to digitally engage with its audiences, says Ross Hewitt

47 NURTURE

Summer Showers COVER STORY Outdoor showers provide a refreshing way to cool down whether you have a pool or not, says Anji Connell RHS Hampton Court COVER STORY Palace Flower Show All the Gold Medallists from the show, plus a Q&A with Stephen Hall and the Pro Landscaper team’s pick of their favourite show gardens

Life/Style Garden designer Richard Miers

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Designer Plants Jack Dunckley talks through his planting scheme for a Tuscan courtyard in Sussex

Blooming Bromeliads Bromeliads are perfect for a tropical burst of colour this summer, says Ian Drummond

What I’m Reading Adolfo Harrison’s review of Vista: The Culture and Politics of Gardens

Turf The TGA’s Tim Mudge on the turf laying process

Nurture News UK nurseries talk about the impact of Brexit

Latest Products Woodcare

Latest Kit Ride on mowers

Three Peaks Find out what bikes the Three Peakers will be riding this year

Look Out For Jack Shilley

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INFORM

SPOTLIGHT ON

CONTRIBUTORS

David Dodd

Anji Connell

Jamie Butterworth

Garden designer and lecturer

Landscaper and lecturer

Interior architect and landscape designer

Plant manager at Hortus Loci

Landscape and garden designer Andrew Wilson splits his time between running a successful design studio in London with business partner Gavin McWilliam and working as director at the London College of Design. In this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s column he discusses some of the unrealistic desires he faces with his clients and their gardens. Not to be missed on page 38.

This month David Dodd updates us on the new Go Landscape initiative on page 37, which has been set up to encourage more young people to reach their potential. David set up the Outdoor Room in 1995 and in 2013 joined forces with landscape architect Joe Perkins to form Longview Design Ltd.

We seek inspiration from Anji Connell on the latest outdoor showers available on the market on page 58. An internationally recognised interior architect and landscape designer, Anji has been working with artisans and craftsmen to create bespoke interiors for clients since 1986.

With flower show season soon drawing to a close, RHS Young Ambassador Jamie Butterworth talks us through his favourite plants that made an appearance at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Check it out on page 75. Jamie works as joint show plant manager at Hortus Loci as well as being an associate director of YoungHort.

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Andrew Wilson

Other contributors Phil Jones MD of ISS Facility Services Landscaping

Adam White Director of Davies White Ltd

Ross Hewitt Managing director of Secret Pie

Lesley Malone Freelance writer and photographer

Pete Jones Business development and sales manager at LDP Ltd

Sean Butler Director of Cube 1994

Ian Drummond Creative director of Indoor Garden Design

Robert Webber Founder of Scenic Lighting

David Dodd Landscaper and lecturer Angus Lindsay Head of fleet at The Landscape Group

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Andy McIndoe Leading horticulturist

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

18/07/2016 16:18

INFORM

AGENDA

IS THE CURRICULUM COVERED BY LANDSCAPE COURSES AT COLLEGES PRODUCING A HIGH ENOUGH QUALITY OF LANDSCAPE WORKER? Following the recent launch of the National Land Based College, Pro Landscaper spoke to lecturers as well as former students about whether the current curriculum at land based colleges across the UK is preparing students to a high enough standard for entering the workplace

Ben Wincott Lecturer, Writtle College

The QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) was designed as a generic group of interchangeable units that would enable the freedom for some students to create bespoke skill sets. This means that the full depth of training in specific industry areas cannot truly be met by qualification alone. Writtle College has had to be innovative and forward thinking by working with external support, to ensure that students have the right skill sets that will enable them to initiate themselves into this varied industry. We aim to deliver freethinking and problem-solving people to fit into multiple potential job roles and experiences within their career. Colleges are not there to fuel one sector or to produce carbon copies of a single skill set; our role is to inspire people to want to learn, which makes for a good employee that can adapt to every changing and challenging environment in the UK, Europe and further afield. 8

Agenda.indd 8

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

Sam Dodd Former student, Merrist Wood College

My first year was much more practical, with basic skills taught. We’d be given a practical lesson one week and be assessed the following week. I felt it was rushed and only touched on what was required to become a landscaper. I think the college is out of touch with the industry and focus is put on assignments that have little to do with landscaping. I spent over a month learning about newts when only half a day was spent on setting out a site. If I was asked what I would score the course out of ten, I’d have to give it a two and that’s being generous!

kingdoms in a realm of educational turmoil. I speak as a college lecturer and business owner, so before anyone levels a retort, back off! With funding being reduced and lecturers expected to deliver excellence and inspire with limited resources, there is no wonder they leave the colleges and move on. This circle then spirals with less experienced members of staff being appointed, paid less and doing more – this is where I feel we are with the curriculum at the moment. Don’t despair, though. There are pockets of brilliant teaching going on out there, and with several million disparate initiatives launched every week to combat the situation, the future’s got to be looking bright, hasn’t it?

Paul Cowell Landscape architect, PC Landscapes

Jody Lidgard Director of operations, Bespoke Outdoor Spaces

I think the easy answer to the above statement is ‘not really’ and that’s being very polite indeed. This is a topic very close to my heart; I studied at college back in the early Nineties, at a time when colleges still had their pedigrees and interviewing was a gruelling event. Plant ID was even part of the initial interview. Fast forward to today, and we have an educational system that has allowed itself to be knocked around year on year, feudal

To get high quality landscape workers from any of our land based colleges, we first need high quality students having been educated to a high standard by our schools. This is fundamental, but unfortunately not the case. It’s long been known that our colleges are getting the lowest 10% of academic achievers; in effect they have become a dumping ground for pupils the schools couldn’t handle, teach or just didn’t have the resources to help. With further education funding reduced, this is worsening the problem (or is it just passing the buck?) – are we in the industry expecting these colleges not only www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/07/2016 14:29

Both images © Writtle College

INFORM

to stay up to date with current professional landscape practices, but also deliver a curriculum so that these students will leave with the knowledge and skills we expect? I think we all know the answer here. The recently established National Land Based College provides further evidence that collaboration is key and more needs to be done. A report in 2012 by Natural England (NECR092) clearly shows the barriers and the economic benefits – perhaps the question should be: ‘Is the national curriculum providing a good starting point for producing high quality landscape workers?’

Barrie Duesbury Lecturer in Horticulture

I feel that it’s not just about whether the colleges produce a high enough quality of landscape worker; we as a society are underselling and devaluing horticulture and landscaping as a career, and on reflection there is no incentive for a young generation to enter this career. There is in the country a very large shortfall of skilled horticulturists and landscapers to secure our future of skilled people. The industry needs to be involved with the colleges and work with them. All colleges need to open their doors and be willing to listen to our industry’s needs. As a horticultural education provider for Berkshire, we see many practical skilled learners come through our doors, joining Level 2 diploma in horticulture. We are able to deliver a cross www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Agenda.indd 9

section of horticulture, enabling our learners to be equipped in basic skills within their nine months at college and be ready to work in hard and soft landscaping.

Tony Begg Lecturer in Landscape Construction, Merrist Wood College

At Merrist Wood we have been offering landscape courses and apprenticeships at all levels, full and part time, for almost 50 years. However, colleges have seen big changes over the last few years. Our landscape courses are attracting more school leavers rather than adults, due to reduced funding and government initiatives and policies, which pose new challenges for colleges and the industry. Students are spending less time in college on full time programmes following a syllabus that needs to be updated to keep up with trends and technology. Employers are more likely to employ people over the age of 20 as they prefer more experience. Standards are set nationally by awarding bodies and, whilst we feel that these need updating, a new structure at the college has given us the opportunity to be innovative in the design of our study programmes, with the addition of employability courses and the use of work experience to meet the skills gaps. We are also trying to fill these gaps by offering professional full cost courses and industry tickets.

Nigel Bowcock Director, Acre Landscapes I believe there is a gap between college curriculums and employer requirements. Almost all BALI members that responded to Go Landscape’s survey this April highlighted the need for colleges to engage employers in the landscape industry, to co-develop courses that offer both academic qualifications and practical skills. Employers can be discouraged from the task of training graduates in basic skills that could be included as part of their course content, giving college leavers a better chance. OFSTED’s 2013 Annual Report and the government’s own FE strategy does bring hope to the industry, stipulating that colleges need to involve and liaise with industry and organisations such as BALI to bridge the gap between academia and actual job prospects.

NEXT MONTH

TV GARDENING SHOWS – ARE THEY GOOD OR BAD FOR THE INDUSTRY? Have your say: editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Pro Landscaper / August 2016

18/07/2016 14:30

INFORM

NEWS RHS Young Landscape Contractor award winner announced

Oak View ends great year with two new board appointments

Yorkshire-based Ewan Sewell, 25, has been presented with the inaugural RHS Young Landscape Contractor award, supported by BALI. The Coastal Retreat garden that he constructed at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, held from 20-24 July, won Ewan the competition and also received an RHS Gold medal as well as the Best Construction Award. Ewan and the two other shortlisted finalists Matt Beesley from Cheshire, and Sam Hunt from

Oak View Landscapes has completed its three year growth plan with exceptional results, culminating in two new internal appointments to the Board. The role of commercial director is being taken on by Matthew Selby, building on his extensive contracting experience in the landscaping industry. With his long term relationship with Oak View and his client base knowledge, Matthew is well placed to drive forward Oak View’s future growth plans. Jakki Jenner has been appointed operations director, providing the opportunity to use her 25 years of financial, legal and compliance experience to the full in the control and organisation of the company’s internal operations. Managing director Paul Downer

Gloucestershire, partnered the three finalists in the RHS Young Planting Designer 2016 competition to build and plant a garden designed by the 2015 RHS Young Designer Tamara Bridge, with judges deeming Ewan’s garden worthy of a Gold medal. BALI chief executive Wayne Grills said: “Ewan has shown that youth is no barrier to achieving professional excellence and I predict great things for him in the future.” www.bali.org.uk

commented: “These promotions are recognition of their commitment, drive and leadership and I look forward to continued success with them over the coming years.” www.cnp.org.uk w

Ground Control wins contract with Highways England L-R: Wayne Grills, Monty Don, Sue Biggs and Ewan Sewell

John O’Conner announces new service for housing contract John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) Ltd has announced that the Newlon Housing Trust, one of the three housing contracts it was awarded earlier this year, will include maintenance of green roofs, which is a new service to the 10

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

News New August.indd 10

business. The other two contracts that were secured after a series of competitive tendering exercises, adding to its housing sector portfolio, were Stonewater and Sovereign Housing Association. www.johnoconner.co.uk

Ground Control has been awarded landscape construction works as part of a £300m maintenance and repair contract in the East Midlands. The contract will see Ground Control working on a range of Highways projects throughout the East Midlands, providing ecology and landscape construction services over a five year term. Construction works commenced on 1 July, and a new framework for delivering these includes provision for a range of services, including

landscaping engineering. Ground Control’s senior construction manager, Rory Chisholm, commented: “This has been a great achievement for all involved at Ground Control to be selected as the exclusive landscaper on this framework, and we are really looking forward to supporting Highways England with these works, and working closely with the wider Framework Community on some very exciting projects across the Area 7 Region.” www.cnp.org.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/07/2016 12:23

INFORM

National Lottery invests £30.7m in 16 parks

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund have announced that they have awarded more than £30.7m to 16 parks across the UK. The news came at the start of Love Parks Week and prior to the second report by the HLF, due to be published in September 2016. The first State of the UK Public Parks report was in June 2014, and found that declining resources and rising maintenance costs were putting parks at risk, though at the same time parks were becoming increasingly important to people and communities. The latest funding will be used to restore and transform coastal, country and city parks from Aberdeen to Dorset, with improvements for wildlife, opportunities for people, and sustainable futures for parks being

NEWS IN BRIEF SureSet launches permeable paving app

SureSet has launched its own app, Permeable Paving by SureSet, to enable customers to access information while on the go. Now available to download for free in Google Play and iTunes. www.sureset.co.uk

Winner announced for Bradstone 60th competition

key themes for the project. HLF’s chair, Sir Peter Luff, said: “It’s clear that our parks are important to us in countless ways…It’s also clear, however, that public parks must work in news ways to respond to the funding challenges they face and this investment, thanks to National Lottery players, will help them to do this.”

During the projects receiving funding, more than 6,000 volunteers and trainees will be involved in everything from archaeological excavations and river clean ups to prevent flooding, to gaining a qualification in woodland management or becoming a horticultural apprentice. www.hlf.org.uk

Re-form Landscape Architecture marks milestone opening of Leeds’ Court The first new city centre public space in Leeds for than a generation has now opened to the public. Designed by Leeds-based public realm specialists, re-form Landscape Architecture, the £2.5m Sovereign Square scheme sets the standard for public realm in the city centre. The new square, situated on the Leeds City Council-owned Sovereign Street site, features undulating lawns, a tree grove, a www.prolandscapermagazine.com

News New August.indd 11

diverse range of seating which is soon to feature WiFi, water features and a large rain garden. It will be a thriving public space for hundreds of workers and visitors, as well as an attractive new link from

the city centre through to the Council’s South Bank Leeds regeneration area. Andrew Price from re-form Landscape Architecture said: “It’s fantastic to see our concept brought to life. We worked to combine each feature of the square, from the plant species to the seating types and the movement and light generated by the water rill, to create a beautiful place that is a setting for public life in the heart of Leeds. We hope that the square will be well used by local people for years to come, and sets the benchmark for more high quality public realm in Leeds.” www.re-formlandscape.com

Bristol-based landscape installer Robert Knight, of Red Oak Landscaping & Garden Services, has won an Isuzu D-Max Utah 4x4 pick-up truck as part of a competition to mark the 60th anniversary of hard landscaping manufacturer Bradstone. www.bradstone.com

Atkins appointed sustainability advisor for Old Oak Common

Atkins has been appointed to help make the £26bn Old Oak and Park Royal, London’s largest opportunity area, one of the most sustainable urban developments in the UK. Atkins will integrate green infrastructure with urban planning and design, and exploit emerging smart technologies, with the aim of pushing targets beyond those of the existing London Plan. www.atkinsglobal.com/en-gb

Award-winning display comes to the Royal Garden Hotel

Garden designer Charlie Albone has replanted his RHS Chelsea Flower Show creation outside the Royal Garden Hotel on Kensington High Street for guests to enjoy. The Husqvarna Garden, which received a silver-gilt medal at this year’s show, was inspired by Charlie’s Australian roots. www.inspiredexteriors.com.au

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21/07/2016 12:24

INFORM

Mule Tipper Inserts launches ground-breaking new design Mule Tipper Inserts has launched a ground-breaking and innovative new concept that allows everyday pick-up trucks to transform into a tipper without bodywork changes. The unique design comes from a trio of friends with specialist backgrounds in Formula One, metal structural construction and hydraulics who decided to create Mule Tipper Inserts after seeing a similar design in the USA and wanted to bring a version to Europe. The process has taken over one year to complete, after creating various prototypes and re-modelling the concept. The final product works by taking the

World Vision garden wins gold medal at RHS Hampton Court

tailgate off the truck and dropping the Mule Tipper Insert into the space. The loading space is secured through the chassis and the power cable is wired through to the vehicle’s main battery. A master electric cut-off switch is positioned inside the vehicles cab and the Mule Tipper Insert is operated via a wireless controller. The Mule Tipper Insert based unit starts at £2,695 and will be fitted to the truck’s specifications with the option to add extras.

Mitie Landscapes appoints new QHSE manager Mitie Landscapes has announced the appointment of its new QHSE (quality, health, safety, environment) manager, Ceri Harris. Ceri joins Mitie with considerable experience in QHSE practice, forging her skills in the Education and IT sectors. She will be working closely with Russell Bone, head of Mitie’s QHSE Specialist Services, driving developments in Mitie’s health and safety culture, promoting sound practices, awareness and knowledge. Ceri will responsible for planning, compliance and management of quality health, safety and environmental 12

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protocols for over 800 staff in Mitie Landscapes working all over the UK; this includes maintaining Mitie’s compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 140001. One of Ceri’s first tasks in her new role is to secure the new ISO 45001 accreditation for Mitie, a landmark international standard for occupational health and safety management systems that will be introduced late in the year. Russell Bone, head of Mitie QHSE Specialist Services said: “We are pleased to have Ceri on board and her experience will prove a valuable asset for our team as we move forward.” www.mitie.com

World Vision UK’s garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show has been awarded a highly coveted gold medal at the event, which took place from 5-10 July. The garden, designed by John Warland and constructed by The Garden Builders, was an expansion of an original concept shown at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year, providing a 15x10m installation that allowed visitors to RHS Hampton Court to walk through, and under, ribbons of turf that had been moulded over mild steel. Ricky Goodwin, landscape

manager at The Garden Builders, said: “Executing this expanded RHS Chelsea fresh garden as a larger show garden at RHS Hampton Court was a huge challenge. We are ecstatic for World Vision, John Warland and the whole team at GB in achieving a gold medal and exposure for the excellent work World Vision undertakes.” www.gardenbuilders.co.uk

Gavin Jones Ltd acquires Turfsoil Award-winning landscape construction and grounds management company Gavin Jones Ltd has announced the purchase of the entire share capital of Sofnol Ltd, the parent company of Turfsoil Ltd, a long established Kent-based grounds maintenance contractor. Managing director of Gavin

Jones, Will Clark, said: “We are delighted to confirm this, our latest acquisition. Turfsoil has forward orders of £20m to the end of 2025, comprising significant grounds maintenance contracts. We very much look forward to welcoming them to the Gavin Jones team.” www.gavinjones.co.uk

ARE YOU GOING? AUGUST 4-7 RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show www.rhs.org.uk 18-21 Southport Flower Show www.southportflower show.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 21 Palmstead Soft Landscape Workshop www.palmstead.co.uk DATE FOR THE DIARY TUES 15 NOVEMBER

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/07/2016 12:25

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21/07/2016 11:24

INFORM

ASSOCIATION

NEWS

Parks Alliance matters

Select committee inquiry The Parks Alliance’s principal focus over the next 12 months is making the case for investing in parks and the people that maintain them. This month has seen some signiﬁcant developments for those that love parks. Firstly, the Communities and Local Government select committee in the House of Commons has announced

services of local government, are widely valued, but they are coming under further budget restrictions. Focus must be on the next steps. While we all recognise the value of parks and the funding crisis, we need hard evidence and solutions to convince MPs, Ministers and decision makers. The Alliance will be gathering evidence and submitting it to the inquiry and it is crucial we all get involved and oﬀer solutions,

its inquiry into parks, with evidence sessions expected this autumn. The committee will be issuing its terms of reference but the inquiry will be short and focused speciﬁcally on parks. The select committee knows that parks, like other

not just highlight the problems. We all need to consider how parks might be ﬁnanced in the future, what they might look like and how they might be managed. Evidence should be submitted by Friday 30 September 2016. The Alliance this month has also had a meeting with the Minister with responsibility for parks, Marcus Jones MP. This allowed us to brief the Minister of our concerns prior to the publication of HLF’s second State of UK Public Parks report and the inquiry. www.theparksalliance.org Twitter @ParksAllianceUK

SGD bulletin Final call for entries in the SGD Student Awards The deadline for entry forms and fees for the SGD Student Awards is Friday 12 August with actual submissions due by Sunday 4 September. Open to all SGD student members, the SGD Student Awards is the perfect springboard into a career in garden design. With categories

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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including commercial and domestic student projects, the vigorously contested awards covers all aspects of student work. This year renowned landscape and garden designer, and SGD fellow, Andy Sturgeon FSGD joins the judging panel, which includes Arabella St. John Parker from Awards media partner Homes & Gardens magazine. Shortlisted ﬁnalists in this year’s Student Awards will

Joanna Midwinter

also have the opportunity to have their work displayed at Pro Landscaper’s FutureScape event on Tuesday 15 November 2016.

For further information and examples of the work of previous winners, please visit the SGD Awards website. www.sgdawards.com

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20/07/2016 09:52

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RHS report

RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show This autumn, garden lovers are invited to experience the RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show, which is taking place from 4 to 6 August at RHS Garden Hyde Hall. Now in its seventh year, this horticultural delight will feature 60 specialist nurseries ith beautiful oral displays, garden trade stands, a magniﬁcent oral art mar uee and a new art zone. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional, there

Dahlias at the RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show 2014

is inspiration and guidance to be found at the show, with mini show gardens and a huge range of quality plants, o ers and tools. S experts will be on hand to answer gardening queries, oﬀer gardening advice and help visitors make informed plant choices. For more information please visit: www.rhs.org.uk/hydehall

The Orchid Show at RHS Garden Harlow Carr This month visitors are invited to enter a world of beauty and enjoy the opulent orchid displays at the Orchid Show taking place at RHS Garden Harlow Carr from 6 to 7 August. This two-day show ill oﬀer garden enthusiasts the chance to acquire a wide variety of orchids as well as get useful tips from plant experts about how to care for these delicate o ers. or more information please visit: www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr Surrey Sculpture Society Trail at RHS Garden Wisley RHS Garden Wisley will host its enchanting annual Surrey

Sculpture Society Trail from 20 August to 25 September. The garden grounds will be adorned with over 60 inspirational sculptures ranging in style from contemporary to traditional designs. The event will give visitors the opportunity to explore works of art by some of the south east’s ﬁnest artists. www.rhs.org.uk

The Wisley pavilion in autumn

BALI briefing ELCA Trend Award 2016 On Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 July, six judges from the European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA) travelled from She eld to Gloucestershire, on to Kent and then to London to visit the four shortlisted domestic schemes submitted by BALI Registered Contractors James Bird Landscapes, Graduate Gardeners, Linden Landscapes and Bartholomew Landscaping for this biennial competition.

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The judging panel was accompanied by marketing and communications manager Darren Taylor and communications o cer oss Hutchinson. Chief executive Wayne Grills joined during the ﬁrst day of udging. technical director and ELCA vice president Neil Huck was part of the judging panel. The judges completed their deliberations at the RHS’s incent S uare o ces, and the recipient of this year’s prestigious ELCA Trend Award will be announced in advance of the presentation at GaLaBau in Nuremburg on 14 September.

BALI Who’s Who Directory 2016/17 The latest edition of the BALI Who’s Who Directory is now on its way to BALI members. The invaluable guide to the association and its registered membership is sent to landscape architects, speciﬁers, local authorities, landscape and environmental consultancies, land based colleges and more. If you require additional copies, email contact@bali.org.uk. BALI National AGM This year’s AGM will take place at the fascinating Hill Close Gardens, Warwick (hillclosegardens.com) on

Tuesday 6 September and calling papers will be with full members very shortly. We hope you will take this opportunity

to come along and hear from BALI board members about the association’s exciting plans for the future, and enjoy a tour of the Victorian gardens, which are hidden gems amongst residential Warwick. www.bali.org.uk

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efig outline

New appointments At our AGM at the end of June we appointed a new committee and made plans for the future of eﬁg. We were very pleased to accept nominations and votes for a new chairman and vice chairman as well as new members to the committee. We now have a fuller team at the top than we have had for a few years: • Chair: Chris Jenkin, MD at Enterprise Plants Ltd • Vice chair: Jimmy Gilchrist,

MD at GP Plantscape reasurer ark erriman, at reen eam Interiors • Social secretary: Carole luckaard of oberg post unchanged • Committee members: William Braid, MD at lant esigns td and Kenneth Freeman, head of innovation green and enriched environments at mbius. Ian Drummond, creative director at Indoor Garden esign td, stood do n from his post of chairman after three years in o ce. We’d like thank Ian for all his contributions over the years.

Going forward he ne committee under Chris Jenkin’s leadership will focus on membership in the ﬁrst instance, trying to build membership and encourage e isting members to get more involved. hris plans to meet as many members as possible in person to gauge ho this can be encouraged. eﬁg also plans to bring training up to date ith courses available online.

A new initiative As part of the celebrations to mark efig s years, the committee decided to honour some past chairmen with the position of ambassador. his ill be an annual honour besto ed at efig s to those who have contributed to the industry in a notable ay. he first past chairman to accept the title was Ian rummond. ther past chairmen to accept this role are: • Kenneth Freeman of Ambius lan age, ranchise irector of Urban Planters om alfreyman, of rban Planters Franchise • Andrew Bradley, Flora-tec Ltd www.efig.co.uk

Hampton Court Palace lo er Sho this year. he winners are: Show Gardens old S uire s th Anniversary Garden, Landform Consultants old he orld ision Garden, Garden Builders • Silver-Gilt – All the orld s a Stage, iving Landscapes • Silver-Gilt – PMS: Outside Inside for NAPS, Landscape Associates Ltd • Silver-Gilt – Crabtree & velyn he otanical Studio, Garden House esign Conceptual Gardens • Gold and Best Conceptual

Garden – UNHCR: ‘Border Control’ Garden, Landform Consultants • Gold – Near Future Garden, Landscape Associates Silver ilt reenhouse ﬀect, Eden Landscape Projects Summer Gardens • Gold – CCLA: A Summer Retreat, Arun Landscapes • Silver – Katie’s Lymphoedema Fund: Katie’s Garden, rogheath landscapes World Gardens Silver ilt he oute of the Camellia, Bowood Landscapes Water Gardens • Silver – Perennial Immerse, iving andscapes. www.landscaper.org.uk

efig chairman, hris enkin presents an rummond ith a certificate marking his role as an efig ambassador

APL update

WorldSkills semi-finalists n uly, the semi ﬁnalists for the orldSkills andscaping ompetition began their challenge. he competitors had 18 hours over three days to complete the test piece. he semi ﬁnalists ere • Jake Abell, Gardenscapes acob otting, yerscough ollege • Aaron Byrne, Reaseheath ollege • Ross Conquest, Conquest

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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ard andscaping osh o , S atridge onathan ong, • Shea McFerren, CAFRE hristopher age, undee and ngus ollege. o ﬁnd out ho made it through to the ﬁnal, visit www.landscaper.org.uk Success for APL members APL members have had great success at S

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ALL ABOUT

30 UNDER 30 Following a successful launch last year, Pro Landscaper has begun the search for this year’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation

WHY? Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation initiative was launched in 2015 to help young people working within the horticulture and landscape sectors gain recognition and celebrate their career achievements to date. The inaugural event was a huge success and we are already receiving a high level of interest with applications to be part of this year’s group. Members of the final group in 2015 commented that it was a fantastic accolade and has helped already in furthering their career within the industry.

WHO CAN APPLY? Firstly, you have to be 30 or under on 1 January 2016, and working in any capacity within the horticulture, garden design and landscape sector. You may work for a design and build company, within a nursery, be a garden designer, landscape architect, arborist, landscaper, grounds maintenance operative or product supplier – any of these would be a prime candidate for the 30 Under 30: The Next Generation, the more job variety of applicants, the better!

HOW DO I APPLY? You can be nominated by a manager, or simply put yourself forward, application is simple, just send an email to nina.mason@eljays44.com and she will reply with an attachment, which you can print, complete and email back. We will accept handwritten or typed replies. We will require a few personal details, plus a short paragraph describing your current role. If you have been nominated by a manager, in a few words they will need to explain their reasons why they think you are an ideal applicant, and if you apply yourself we would need a short personal statement telling us what you feel you have accomplished in your role.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE? Remember to complete and return your application before 31 August which is the cut-off date for this year’s award.

APPLY

TODAY! 18

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WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF I HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AS ONE OF THIS YEAR’S 30 UNDER 30? The final 30 will appear in the November issue of Pro Landscaper (published at the end of October 2016) and a ceremony for the group will be held at FutureScape event on Tuesday 15 November.

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REGISTRATION FOR THIS YEAR’S FUTURESCAPE WILL OPEN ON 1 AUGUST 2016 WWW.FUTURESCAPEEVENT.COM This year we celebrate our fifth event and it promises to be bigger, better and even more engaging. We have a seminar programme packed full with crowd pleasing live debates and informative and inspiring speakers. We have over 200 exhibitors, leading suppliers from right across the industry, and the largest gathering of nurseries supplying the UK landscaping sector. This year we also have some new and exciting features. We have been working with the Landscape Institute to launch a full day’s seminar programme for landscape architects and building developers. The Landscape Summit will look at apprenticeships within the grounds maintenance sector and there will be a debate on the future of this market. Plus Go Landscape, the BALI initiative, will officially launch at the event.

For information on all the seminars, live debates and the events, check out the website www.futurescapeevent.com. You will also be able to see a list of exhibitors and products. It’s free to enter, free parking and we look forward to seeing you on 15 November 2016.

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Pro Landscaper recently met Chris Harrington and James Porter, owners of Harrington Porter Landscapes based in Fulham, south west London, to talk about how the business started, their partnership and the work they undertake

James, when did you set up the business? We started the business in October 2002. We met through mutual friends who were renovating a restaurant and we were both doing decorating work there. We were moaning about ‘bosses’ and working for other people and Chris discussed wanting to set up his own business. I was at a crossroads, we met for a drink and the rest is history. We started a few weeks later, both young lads really, with little other than a few quid, some basic tools and our hands, we bought a beaten up old pick-up for £1,000 and set to work. Chris, was your background in landscaping? It was a combination of art and horticulture. I started a graphic design course at university, but it was coursework based and I wasn’t one for the classroom back then. I’d worked on building sites through school holidays and by coincidence fell in with a garden designer while on the look out for some cash work, before I knew anything about the London landscaping scene. She was an old-school ‘gardener’ and I had my eyes opened to plants and horticulture which was a lovely change from a cement mixer and a broom. I enjoyed the combination of hard graft, the variety of working outdoors in different types of garden, the artistic element and the satisfaction

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James Porter (left) and Chris Harrington

Let’s Hear it From

HARRINGTON PORTER of seeing an end product on a daily basis. Before too long a friend of a friend was looking to have a redesign of their garden in Notting Hill. I went to see it and somehow they were convinced by what I was talking about. The budget was £8,000, which at that time seemed like millions. I roped James in to help (I like reminding him he used to work for me!), we did the best job we knew how, and our good working relationship was the basis for starting up our business a few months later.

James, what about you? My dad had a big garden when I was growing up. I loved helping him so I was used to doing gardening work and lots of it. I also enjoyed being outside, working with my hands and seeing an end product. When did the business start to be successful? Chris: It depends on how you define success but there have been a few landmark moments. Getting work through word of mouth would be one. We started on the tools ourselves and we must have been fairly decent at it because we landed repeat work without any advertising. Then as jobs became larger, more frequent and more skilled we needed extra pairs of hands. One of the turning points was when we hired a couple of Polish lads. We soon realised they were significantly better than our ‘out of work’ mates – skilled, hardworking and keen. So the standard of our work improving would, for me, be a sign of success. Thereafter design and building any garden on budget, on time and with a happy client is a mark of success in my book. James: It took a while to get into a position where we made money. We started in our twenties Pro Landscaper / August 2016 25

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without much experience so it wasn’t plain sailing initially. As our standards improved, and we spent less time running around like headless chickens making and remedying mistakes at our own cost, we saw a direct improvement in our bank balance, which for me meant we were being successful. When did you move to your current premises? James: We found this place in February 2009. That was our next big step. At the time we had around 12 people working for us and to be more organised we needed a central base. It was a big leap, not least the new overhead, and we moved just as the credit crunch hit. But we weathered the storm and the premises and its location have been brilliant for us. Do you design and build? Chris: Yes. We champion ourselves as designers and builders who genuinely care about the design. The design is integral to what we do and is key to not only building great gardens but also to the planning process. We do build for other designers; sometimes that’s a nice change as it takes away some of the headaches in terms of decisions. Though it does depend on who you’re building for! What does a typical job look like? Chris: A typical job would be the design and build of a small to medium London garden. For

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this a typical client budget would be in the region of £20,000 to £40,000. Is your work centred around south London? James: It’s mostly in London but occasionally we’ll head down the A3. There are pros and cons to working in London. The further out you go, the more you tend to get side or rear

FOR PASSION, INTEGRITY AND QUALITY WE RECKON WE’LL GO TOE-TO-TOE WITH THE BEST LANDSCAPERS IN THE AREA access, and you don’t have the added worry of getting a parking ticket and problems with unloading. South of the river seems to be more appealing as there’s more of a balance. Everyone loves the idea of Chelsea and the riches there, but quite often you’re working for developers or clients you never meet, which takes away one of the parts of the job we enjoy. What’s the structure of the company? James: Chris and myself are the Directors and we employ approximately 20 other people. We have five landscaping teams who build the gardens. Our maintenance manager looks after

our three maintenance teams, and we have help in the office with an office manager, two project managers, a garden designer, and a book keeper. Tell us about your base, it’s a shop in Fulham? Chris: When we first saw this place we were looking for somewhere half the size and not necessarily in Fulham. It was an abandoned railway arch and needed a lot of work but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity it presented. It’s good for West and South London and town. It’s also positioned at a very congested junction so works well as an advertising tool too with everyone sitting twiddling their thumbs in rush hour traffic. We also run an artificial plant company from here, Fake It Flowers, which is going from strength to strength and our shop doubles as our landscaping office and a showroom for Fake It. How do you think you win work over your competitors? Chris: Being an honest bunch who genuinely care about what we do gives us a pretty good starting point. For people who are looking to skimp on a few quid, we’re probably not the cheapest, but for passion, integrity and quality we reckon we’ll go 1 Landscape and artificial flowers showroom 2 Classic contemporary garden in Richmond 3 Chris’ garden in Battersea

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toe-to-toe with the best landscapers in the area. We’ve been working in the same part of town for a while now and I believe we have a decent reputation and this serves us well. James: A large part of this is trust. Trust that we’re value for money, trust that we’re going to treat their house with respect and leave their site tidy, trust that we care about what we’re doing. Do you offer maintenance on your projects? James: We will always offer maintenance if we’ve built a garden. By the time we’ve built a garden the clients have built up a relationship with us, which works in our favour. I think if you’re going to spend several thousand on creating an amazing garden it’s worth spending a few hundred on keeping it looking that way. Where do you see your business going in the future? James: That’s something we talk about a lot, actually. At the moment we’re streamlining a little to make sure everything we are doing is working as well as it should. This job is satisfying when everything is tight, when clients are happy, when your boys are building cool projects, where everything is planned and running smoothly (easier said than done sometimes!). Expansion is tempting when there’s lots of work around as seems to be the case these last few years, but it’s important not to get over excited. At the moment we just want to do what we are doing, but get better and better at doing it. Of course there are pipe dreams of larger premises, more teams and Chelsea golds, but we don’t want to get above our station for a little while yet. Do you think finding staff is an industrywide problem? James: Definitely. We struggle finding the required quality of temporary staff during the busy months. People we speak to in the same industry all say the same thing. Interesting to see how Brexit affects things. Do you think salary is an issue, and one reason why recruiting is difficult? Chris: The horticulture industry’s never been brilliantly paid. Good landscapers are being paid just as much as good builders and possibly there is a bit more money in developing and building – so we often find ourselves competing with those salaries. But the key thing is to keep our www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Let's Hear it From NEW.indd 27

standards up and if our clients are prepared to pay for this quality, we can pay the right wages for the right guys. Can you ascertain how much a job will cost purely by speaking to a prospective client over the phone? Chris: Ninety per cent of our designs get built because we know how much things cost. We’ve been building gardens for 15 years so can design a garden to someone’s budget. If a client wants to spend £50,000, we know how to design a

BEING AN HONEST BUNCH WHO GENUINELY CARE ABOUT WHAT WE DO GIVES US A PRETTY GOOD STARTING POINT garden that will cost £50,000. Budget is one of the first conversations I’ll have so we can design and build to their expectations. Occasionally this can blunt the creative edge but we work hard to strike a balance between creativity and getting a garden built to budget. But we’d always need a site visit to be able to give the client a ballpark guide. Access, levels, amount of clearance, amongst others things, need to be gauged before you can estimate cost. What’s your minimum cost for a design and build project? Chris: Probably about £10,000. There can be good money in smaller and more basic landscaping works – straightforward stuff that doesn’t require lots of client meetings to agree,

but we’re then competing with one-man-bandtype companies who can potentially put up a fence or lay a few slabs at a more competitive rate. We try to sell our service as a complete design and build package which we believe comes at a higher cost. And when you’re not working? Chris: We’re both keen sportsmen. We had a company five-a-side football team for a while, we both play cricket and I play touch rugby. We’ll always have a chat about the latest sporting results in the morning before setting about our work. And I recently became a father so things have been pretty hectic. Taking two weeks paternity leave in the middle of spring was interesting!

4 Family garden in Wimbledon 5 Garden, Battersea

CONTACT Harrington Porter 419 New King’s Rd, London SW6 4RN Tel: 020 7731 3552 Email: office@harringtonporter.com Web: www.harringtonporter.com

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 27

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POWER to the PEOPLE Pro Landscaper examines the innovations currently transforming the City of Manchester’s parks into some of the most user-focused in the country

IN SOME AREAS THE WORK IS CARRIED OUT BY THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES. YOU COULD SAY THAT IT’S SPRUNG UP ORGANICALLY

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Last month, we looked at parks run by Bristol City Council, which was fascinating in terms of its history and the use of the green spaces themselves, as well as the amount of effort put into their maintenance by the council. Arguably even more interesting is Manchester, whose recent progress in the development of green spaces continues the city’s historical tradition of innovation. The city council looks after a total of 143 green spaces, ranging from smaller recreational areas to larger parks, which are now regarded by the council as ‘destinations’. The two largest of these are the 600 acre Heaton Park, and Wythenshawe, the designated local nature reserve situated in the middle of the city’s huge housing estate of the same name. Kylie Ward is the council’s lead officer on parks. We spoke to her about the level of investment that green spaces have received in recent years, and how that money is being spent. “We have a budget of around £3.5m a year,” she said. “That’s to fund the ground maintenance programme, staffing, and so on. In the past two years, we’ve also spent an additional £5m on capital projects, such as the refurbishment of children’s playgrounds. We have around 100 in the city. “A major development in terms of funding is ‘Clean City’, which came out of a £14.5m dividend that Manchester City Council received through its shareholding in Manchester Airport. The aim of it is to develop ‘green’ projects, ideally through the involvement of volunteers and local residents. “We see a share of that money, and it’s something that’s helped us start looking at innovative ways that we can maximise our parks, both in terms of how good they are, and ultimately the value that we can get out of them.” Let them grow The projects linked to Clean City have taken various forms, such the Heaton Park Community Garden, as well as an initiative called ‘Clean Your Urban Stream’. They are volunteer-focused and put a emphasis on health, quality of life and sustainability. Pro Landscaper / August 2016 29

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One of the most impactful schemes however, and one in which the city council plays a central role, is the transformation of a large area of Brookdale Park in Newton Heath. According to Kylie, the project is not only an exemplar of various aspects of Clean City itself, but also a reflection of the parks department’s willingness to experiment. Discussing the development of Brookdale, she says: “The project part which involved us transforming an area the size of 14 football pitches into meadows came out of the public consultation ahead of our 10 year strategy. “We wanted to test in isolation whether we actually need to manicure all the parks to the same intensity, and if the public would appreciate wilder spaces. That was particularly pertinent for the park in question, the area around which is very urban.” She continues: “If we start to consider the different available landscapes, rather than simply mowing everything to within an inch of its life, we could see some real benefits – not least in terms of wildlife and the plants themselves. “This is happening already with the rhododendrons that are coming back to the dells in Brookdale. We’ve spent the last 80 years trying to cut them back, but they look absolutely phenomenal.” Ask the experts Chaz Farghaly is the local authority’s grounds maintenance lead. We asked him to go into more detail about the city’s planting and maintenance strategy, and how it’s being achieved in terms of the workforce. He said: “We’ve got about 120 people working full time across the city. We break those down into two teams, with one side looking at high-volume tasks – hedging, weeding and so on – and the other concentrating on the more technical side of things. They include tree surveyors, arborists and a ‘fine turf’ team, which looks after things like bowling greens. “The technical work takes place more on a city-wide basis, with the core staff based out of three geographical areas. That way, they can work closely with local partners, and don’t have to travel large distances to get where they need to go.” There’s also a further benefit in each team having its own patch, in that they can take ownership of that particular area. According to Chaz, this is something that is actively encouraged. “We’ve asked the teams to look at maintenance options when they’re out in the field, taking into account cost, visual impact and suitability for the local area,” he says. “They’re the experts, after all. 30

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Chaz Farghaly

Kylie Ward www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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“They’ve come back with quite a lot of suggestions, especially about planting, which I would say is one of the reasons the city’s become much more ‘naturalised’. In the last couple of years, they’ve argued for increasing the number of bulbs (we’ve planted about 2m) and wildflowers, as well as feature planting with things like palm trees. “We really don’t do a huge amount of what you might call the ‘old style’ bedding plants now, other than maybe in the city centre. We have quite a lot of planters and pots, and in some areas all that kind of work is carried out by the residents themselves. You could say that it’s sprung up organically.” Staying on the subject of crewing, I ask why a couple of years ago, the park maintenance was brought completely back in-house. “It’s always been at least 50%,” Chaz says. “We brought it all back in primarily to make sure we had the right flexibility across the teams. It’s worked really well, and there’s a cost benefit, too. “The other advantage of running your own crews is the room to move it offers when it comes to training and recruitment. We’re just in the process of doing a full refresh on skills, following an audit of the whole organisation.”

1 Heaton Park 2 Fletcher Moss Park 3 Alexandra Park 4 Didsbury Park 5 Fletcher Moss Park 6 Heaton Park www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Customer-focused Manchester City Council has adopted numerous innovative approaches in the landscaping of its parks, with the amount of ‘wilder’ areas now becoming comparable to more traditionallymaintained spaces. However, in an era of ongoing budget cuts there is clearly a need to keep green sites ‘sustainable’ in a different sense as well. I asked Kylie how, with no plans on the horizon to charge people for their use, the city aims to maintain the level of care and innovation that the parks have benefitted from in recent years. Are there any public/private partnerships in the works? She said: “There certainly could be. We tested people’s appetite for some things as part of our consultation and there are aspects of service that people are willing to pay for. It makes sense for us to take advantage of that. “We’re currently looking for unique opportunities to develop attractions and features. For instance, we’ve just secured a partner to build a new ‘tree-top adventure’ facility in Heaton Park. “We’re also examining the possibility of working with food producers. Clearly, we’re not suggesting partnering with McDonalds, but maybe a local

WE’VE SPENT 80 YEARS TRYING TO CUT BACK THE RHODODENDRONS AT BROOKDALE, BUT NOW THEY LOOK PHENOMENAL dairy can provide us with ice cream. There are two farms in the city as well, so perhaps we could open our own farm shop.” In exploring Manchester City Council’s parks offer, the one theme that’s come up repeatedly is the willingness of local people to get their hands dirty and care for the green spaces themselves. Also vital however, and perhaps the thing that will really ensure that Manchester’s parks thrive in the coming years, is that residents’ opinions are sought at every stage of development. Alert readers will have already noticed at least one mention of this year’s public consultation, in relation to which the local authority received around 2,000 responses. This was followed up by numerous workshop sessions. Just as impressive as the consultation itself is the various means by which the council found to carry it out. In the first instance, this meant traditional methods of information gathering such as a survey accessible via the council’s website, as well as paper copies for the tech-averse. At the same time meanwhile, they were also getting the message out via social media, while asking people to take photos of their favourite parks, as well as things that need improvement. According to Kylie, it’s all about achieving buy-in. “You need to let residents know what you’re doing – and of course give them a real voice on what you’re planning to do going forward. Communication’s a big thing with us, whether that’s via the consultation itself, or educating people about what we’re doing.” Power, as they say, to the people. Pro Landscaper / August 2016 31

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21/07/2016 11:27

VIEW FROM THE TOP PHIL JONES

Enough of the post-Brexit misery, says Phil Jones – it’s time to buck up, get positive and rise to this new challenge What a few weeks it has been. Brexit – The Result, came first, with the predictable purveyors of uncertainty following closely on its heels. This alongside the Tory and Labour leadership contests. The inevitable downcast trudge of the British people meandering along behind politicians and media alike, who set themselves up as potential candidates for leadership or people of influence, in the guise of expert pundits, followed. Narrow this down to the horticultural industry, be it growers, nurserymen or landscapers and we see little deviation from the national norm. In the past few days I’ve only seen comments supporting the view that Brexit will be a disaster for the horticultural sector – that there is a real danger of losing all the environmental protections we’ve worked hard for 40 years to secure, and the struggle ahead if we lose our non-UK workforce. In a recently published survey, those in landscaping and parks and gardens related roles expressed a greater degree of concern for the future than those in production horticulture. What a surprise! Or, rather, not a surprise! Ask someone who is involved in parks and gardens at the moment for their view on the future of the sector, and they will almost certainly begin with the disasters. They’ll tell you a www.prolandscapermagazine.com

View From The Top.indd 33

catalogue of negatives, of how hard done by they are and how little hope they have for the future. Contrast this with the generally more upbeat mood of growers and retail specialists. Is this because they have more to be optimistic about? I wouldn’t say so. They have different difficulties, but they have difficulties nonetheless. The difference is that over the

TO MY MIND THE KEY AREAS TO FOCUS ON ARE THOSE SUCH AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW MORE OF OUR OWN past 20 years, they have had many challenges, from the initial threat of imports from Holland, Belgium and Italy to the most recent recession that began in 2008. Throughout this time, growers and garden retailers have identified and tackled each challenge and made themselves more successful in the main because of these obstacles. I am certain they would say things aren’t perfect by any means, but they seem to rise to the test each time. What does this mean, then, for our industry at the moment as we move into a period of, let’s say from now onwards, ‘challenges’? One of my great beliefs in life is that we generate our own positivity, mostly by being positive. There are numerous, consistent examples of where negative thinking only leads to lower performance, whether it be business or sport, or

anything else for that matter. Recessions don’t start with negative thinking, but I have no doubt that they are exacerbated by less than positive outlooks. To counter this we have to move to a position where we are over positive. This encourages those who do not take this view, to join us in the positivity. To my mind the key areas to focus on at present are those such as the opportunity to grow more of our own, instead of importing so much plant material. The UK imports £1bn of plants a year but exports just £50m. Addressing this will take time, but the sooner we get started, the sooner we can not just be more self-sufficient, but also more outwardlooking as an industry. Just as with plants, if we are to suffer a shortage of labour across our industry, we should be looking for further ways to grow our own, interested, motivated and skilled employees. Again, this will take time and needs energy behind it immediately. Energy and positivity! In the words of that great song: ‘Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch onto the affirmative, don’t mess with Mister In Between’.

ABOUT PHIL JONES Phil Jones is managing director of ISS Facility Services Landscaping and is based at the company’s head oﬃce in Wo in urrey. e ained an in landscape construction and moved into rounds maintenance early on in his career urther ainin an . e has been ith the company since and as ell as runnin the landscapin business he sits on the UK operational management board of ISS Facility ervices and is chairman o . ollo hil ones @philjonesISS ollo andscapin @ISSLandscaping

www.isslandscaping.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 33

20/07/2016 11:13

INFORM

BEFORE THE FLOOD LESLEY MALONE

Extreme weather is beginning to feel less and less extreme. Disastrous floods in particular plague northern England, and landscapers have a role to play in building resilience to flooding, says Lesley Malone Complaining about the weather is a traditional national pastime. Summer in Britain is now synonymous with damp disappointment: rainy bank holidays, washed out Wimbledon and mudbath music festivals. And of course we grimly joke about the inevitability of it all, now that wet summers are the new normal. This year’s great British summer has seen more record-breakingly bad weather: June 2016 gained the dubious honour of being the wettest June on record, well before it was even over. Not long before, December 2015 became the wettest month ever recorded (and the warmest December ever) seeing double the average rainfall, and leading to devastating floods across northern England. Flooding doesn’t happen just because of a spell of heavy rain, of course, nor is it inevitable – much as it currently feels that way. And we can’t control the weather, although it’s a near certainty that human activity and man-made global warming have helped create the climate conditions that make alarming weather so much more common now. We can however increase or decrease the likelihood of flooding, and we can

control what happens to rainwater. Now that extreme weather is no longer extreme, and catastrophic flooding is becoming commonplace, experience should have taught us how to prevent the worst, and minimise the damage. But we don’t seem to be learning anything. In fact we seem to be going backwards.

NOW THAT EXTREME WEATHER IS NO LONGER EXTREME, AND CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IS BECOMING COMMONPLACE, EXPERIENCE SHOULD HAVE TAUGHT US HOW TO PREVENT THE WORST, AND MINIMISE THE DAMAGE Here’s a case in point. Residents of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire have campaigned for several years for a ban on the burning of moorland heather and draining of the moors on the Walshaw Moor grouse shooting estate, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, upstream from the town. (Burning encourages new roots, which grouse feed on, and more grouse to shoot means more profit for the estate owner.) Backed by scientific evidence, they argued that repeated burning and draining has made the peat bogs less able to hold water, increasing

the risk of the town being flooded. And sure enough, after torrential rain last December, Hebden Bridge was indeed flooded. If the upstream peat bogs had not been damaged and were able to act as a 6,500 acre sponge, would this have still happened? Who knows. But a single landowner and their profit from bloodsports seems to have been given a higher priority than the safety and best interests of the town. The government seems to be going backwards at a national level too, as shown in the failure to implement the Flood and Water Management Act of 2010, which mandates the use of SuDS. More recently, an amendment proposed by the House of Lords that would have encouraged SuDS and compelled developers to reduce flood risk to new housing was rejected in the Commons. We treat each new extreme weather event as a one-off; they aren’t. We know how to increase resilience and minimise the impact of prolonged heavy rain, but we fail to act. We talk about climate change as though it’s something that will happen in the future; it’s happening now. The landscape sector needs to lead on demanding planning, management and design to prevent flooding. Neither time nor the weather are on our side. ABOUT LESLEY MALONE Lesley Malone is a freelance writer, editor and photographer, with a focus on public space and regeneration. She is online at lesleymalone.com and tweets at @tangentials

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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21/07/2016 11:27

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS

INFORM

DAVID DODD Behind the scenes at Go Landscape David Dodd says foundations are being laid that will encourage more young people to achieve their potential within the landscaping industry As Nigel Bowcock and I were driving up to Landscape House for a BALI board meeting back in March, it suddenly dawned upon us what a huge task lay ahead for everyone getting involved with Go Landscape. Nigel’s been busy working on the development of the website, www.golandscape.co.uk, which is coming along nicely and I’ve been looking at various marketing tools for career events. I always thought we’d have a booklet to hand out, but the BALI board brought me up to speed with the modern world by suggesting we give school children a memory stick complete with all the information about landscaping, along with lovely pictures and testimonies from young people who have chosen it as a career. I ordered some samples and did some research with about 25 of my daughter’s classmates and they all went for the same one, which looks like a cross between a mini-maglite and a James Bond gadget (see below). Personally I liked the one that was also a bottle opener, but this possibly gives the wrong signals as to what a career in landscaping might lead to! Next we had a meeting with an app designer and this tool is being looked into in more detail as we need to see if the costs are really going to bring value to Go Landscape. We’ve also got some cool display stands being designed, so come September we should be looking

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

David Dodd.indd 37

professional and really appealing to school leavers. Since March, everyone has been in his or her ‘silly-busy’ season and Nigel and I have been no exception, so admittedly things have been slow. However, BALI has stepped in to give its full support in making sure the autumn pilot launch (starting with BALI South Thames region) becomes a reality. Darren Taylor and Ross Hutchinson from BALI told me about ‘gamification’ and I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about... Come on, I’m a landscaper, not a computer nerd! But, pending the obvious

THINGS ARE SLOWLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS SHORTENING THE SKILLS GAP THE INDUSTRY SO DESPERATELY NEEDS costs, they explained how children could potentially use an app for identifying plants. Apparently you can just point your phone at a plant and it’ll tell you what it is. This did get me a little bit excited, but for now it’s remaining in the pipeline pending the success of the pilot. Another person I was having a chat with was some guy called Jim Wilkinson (I know, I’d never heard of him either) who apparently has an event on in November called FutureScape. He convinced me it was quite a big deal and I have to admit that I was thrilled when he offered Go Landscape its own seminar. We want this to be jam-packed with new students from every land-based college in the UK and invites will be sent out shortly. The format will be young landscapers talking about

why they chose landscaping as a career and where they see it taking them. There’ll also be older landscapers from every sector of the industry talking about what landscaping has given them over the years. The aim is to give students the drive as to what can be achieved both during and after their courses. Finally, during the Chelsea Flower Shower BALI chief executive Wayne Grills, Nigel and myself had a very positive meeting with the RHS’s Sarah Cathcart (head of education and learning) and Andrea Van-Sittart (head of regional development). It was lovely to hear about the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and both BALI and the RHS are now planning to link across websites, share joint promotion of events and the RHS is also looking for BALI members to become mentors for its Green Plan It Challenge. There’s still so much work to do, but things are slowly moving in the right direction towards shortening the skills gap the industry so desperately needs. ABOUT DAVID DODD David Dodd has been in the landscape industry since the age of 17. Having studied and then taught at Merrist Wood College, he set up The Outdoor Room in 1995. In 2013, he went into business with landscape architect Joe Perkins to form Longview Design Ltd. David has also lectured in design and construction for over 20 years.

www.theoutdoorroom.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 37

20/07/2016 11:28

INFORM

DISHING THE DIRT ANDREW WILSON

Andrew Wilson explores some of the less realistic desires people can have for their outdoor spaces, reminding us that clients will never cease to amaze I had once thought that after perhaps 10 years or so I would know how to deal with clients and their whims, but 30 years on I’m still amazed at what they throw at us. As I say to my students, some clients will become great friends; others you will only too gladly kiss goodbye. I have come to the conclusion that some people just don’t understand the concept of ‘outside’ and how this might differ from the concept of ‘inside’. The latter, being ultimately controllable, has become a safe and sanitised world. The former is, for some deluded souls, just as controllable until they consider plants – growing, living organisms that lurk around the house and live in dirt! For many in the world of garden design and horticulture, these organisms are the very reason they took up the profession. For many clients they are virtually the enemy. I have actually had a client who ‘didn’t want any dirt’ in the garden. Well apart from recognising significant OCD tendencies at play, I diplomatically pointed out that dirt was of some importance if the client wanted plants to grow. Another client was concerned that dirt was appearing on her paving after watering her antique limestone pots. “Perhaps,” she

MOSTLY ONE HAS TO LAUGH, BUT THE DISCONNECTION WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT IS WORRYING

drying out – what should she do? We agreed that we would adjust the irrigation as necessary and that in the interim she should use the hosepipe to water the dry areas. By return she thanked us for the advice but admitted that it was ‘unlikely that she would be picking up a hosepipe any time soon!’ So the thinking is that we must watch the planting that we have invested in slowly wilt, as it is so terribly demeaning to pick up a hosepipe?

THE THOUGHT THAT OTHERS WANT TO STERILISE AND SANITISE THIS WORLD OF OURS FILLS ME WITH DREAD

Two days later the same client was up in arms because the protected walnut tree in her garden had shed dead flowers all over her paving – what should she do? Brushes are obviously in the same league as hosepipes I think, so momentarily we were stumped as to the advice we should give. The client has a housekeeper, but it seems that her remit stops at the doorstep. Mostly one has to laugh, but the disconnection with our environment is worrying. ‘Interior design syndrome’ is affecting many and is of growing concern. Flaws in natural paving that are unacceptable in a perfect world, plants that actually get bigger as they grow, specks of dirt that fall in every raindrop and affect the surfaces we have recently laid – how can these people sleep at night? I often wonder when OCD might have started; when we were cave dwellers perhaps or in our mud huts brushing the dirt floors, when animals used to sleep in the same dwellings, when we threw our shit into the street or carried nosegays to hide the stench of human existence? Although I’m a secret minimalist and a blatant modernist enjoying a crisp edge here and a sharply clipped box cushion there, I revel in the outdoors – it makes me feel alive. I wallow in the contrasting mix of controlled materials and wild, fecund planting. The thought that others want to sterilise and sanitise this world of ours fills me with dread. I leave you with a word that possibly thrills and horrifies in equal measure – petrichor. Look it up and enjoy! ABOUT ANDREW WILSON

suggested, “we could block up that hole at the bottom to prevent this.” I politely suggested that she just hosed down the terrace afterwards. And talking of hosepipes, a recent client complained that some of her planting was 38

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden designer and a director of Wilson McWilliam Studio. He is also a director of the London College of Garden Design, an author, writer and lecturer.

www.wmstudio.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/07/2016 15:30

INFORM

STAND YOUR GROUND PETE JONES

The bar has been set too low in recent years and has led to conflict between what clients think they should pay and the actual value of our work, says Pete Jones There is undoubtedly a glut of opportunities in the landscape industry at present. It’s becoming ever more apparent that there are those with a lesser skill level and ability to deliver a quality service who are benefiting from those of us who are extremely busy, and who cannot react immediately due to a robust order book. Great in one sense for those that are busy, but definitely not ideal while those less reputable are picking work up where clients have inflexible time constraints. It is clearly not only the ability to commence projects that is making it challenging for contractors and designers alike, but the age-old conundrum of the project cost, as you would expect. This is omnipresent and in some ways keeps the industry honest, as long as the playing field is level.

SELL THEM THE QUALITY AND POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES THAT YOU PROVIDE OVER YOUR COMPETITORS AND GET PAID WHAT YOU PERCEIVE TO BE FAIR MONEY It is interesting to listen to people at association meetings and on social media discussing the difficulties around being able to command enough money for their services, or indeed win any work. I see this as a twofold problem. On the one hand, there is not being able to compete strictly on price when this is the driver, and on the other the inability to sell their own value to the client when faced with a competitor. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Pete Jones.indd 39

When the client is very price orientated and it appears they are only looking for the lowest price, I understand it can be off-putting to try and discuss value. However, in this circumstance, is this not the most appropriate time to raise it? The primary focus should not be whether you are charging less or how you can reduce the price to match a competitor, but to justify your price, show how you are more equipped and how you can provide a superior service. The education of clients in exactly what it is that you are trying to achieve as a contractor or designer should always be the main focus of your engagement with the client. If you feel that you are unable to compete on price, perhaps ask yourself why and then tell the client. Don’t admit defeat simply on price. Earn your money and tell the client how it is, and what it is that you bring to the table that no one else will. Sell your value at every opportunity. I have had many discussions on the subject of reducing prices and value engineering, and any other ways that surveyors and clients want to dress up the disheartening fact that you are too expensive. I have also discussed it many times with colleagues and peers with regards to the devaluing of the industry, while margins were

decreasing as we all fought for the better work. Without fail, everyone blames someone else for the situation. The simple answer is that we have brought it upon ourselves and can’t really blame clients about what they think they should pay. We’ve set the bar far too low over recent years. It’s not all doom and gloom. It would appear that there is a slow upturn in the margin and we should all be feeling positive about the future. More and more now, there is the ability to be selective over potential work. It’s a great time to be confident on your costs and stand by them in front of the client. Sell them the quality and positive attributes that you provide over your competitors and get paid what you perceive to be fair money. If we all make a conscious effort, it can only benefit the industry as a whole. ABOUT PETE JONES After 20 years in the landscape industry working across many sectors, Pete Jones is now creating and maintaining award-winning landscape solutions with LDP Ltd. He is a BALI NCF and BALI South Thames committee member investin time and eﬀort to improve our industry wherever possible. Twitter: @LandDesignPete

www.ldp.uk.com

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 39

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14/07/2016 16:16

INFORM

SAFETY FIRST ANGUS LINDSAY

In an industry prone to theft and the reselling of goods, Angus Lindsay gives his advice on how to keep your equipment as safe as possible by deterring would-be thieves I doubt anyone reading this article hasn’t suffered from a theft of some sort, from the opportunist lifting a hedgecutter from a vehicle to the lifting of turf from a construction site. No matter how small the loss, the disruption, cost and feeling of violation can cause lasting effects. Our industry is particularly vulnerable due to the equipment and materials we use, both of which can be easily moved or unknowingly sold back into the market. Securing equipment in strong boxes or chaining machines to vehicle bodies are little deterrent to the determined criminal armed with bolt cutters or an angle grinder. I have seen the carrying handles of blowers smashed to free them from their security chains, even though it somewhat reduces the resale value. It’s not just small kit, either – commercial vehicles, mini diggers and tractors are all viable targets and are increasingly being stolen. So what can we do? What follows is not rocket science, but a few pointers to think about and hopefully make the would-be thief think twice. In the depot try to keep equipment locked or chained in containers or cages. It probably won’t deter the thief, but it will make life difficult and noisier for them to get what they want.

If you have recently taken delivery of new equipment, dispose of the packaging carefully so it doesn’t advertise that you have something valuable on site. Consider painting power tools, strimmers, chainsaws, disc cutters and the like with bright coloured paint – it may not look pretty, but it will make them difficult to shift at a car boot sale or in a pub car park.

OUR INDUSTRY IS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE DUE TO THE EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS WE USE, BOTH OF WHICH CAN BE EASILY MOVED OR UNKNOWINGLY SOLD BACK INTO THE MARKET

Mark machines with asset or plant numbers. Make it visible and permanent using a heat gun, engraving tool or welder (again, not pretty). Park equipment in such a way that it makes things difficult for an intruder to gain access to equipment and materials. This may be a pain to sort out the next day, but not as soul-destroying as turning up to find the depot ransacked. Look around your yard or depot and inspect the fence or wall to ensure that it is secure. Repair any damage, or as a short term fix block it with something large and immobile like a skip. Consider where there are buildings and containers near fences; could access be gained by this route? Consider wheel clamps for vehicles, track locks for mini diggers, engine immobilisers or Not even cement has stopped coping stones being stolen from a 60-year-old wall removing the batteries.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Angus Lindsay.indd 41

Old school but it just might make the opportunist thief think twice

Before the weekend or holiday breaks spend ten minutes looking around the depot and yard to ensure all is secure. Consider blocking the main gates, doors and entrances with a vehicle, tractor or implement. This may just make someone attempting to gain access think twice. Where vehicles are taken home make sure you know where they are parked and how they are secured. Trackers are all well and good but not infallible, so consider a highly visible crook lock. Check your alarm system to make sure it works, and if you have CCTV make sure it is switched on and recording, and that the camera lenses are clean and facing the right way. Finally, keep an eye out for any suspicious activity or visits which could be construed as ‘casing the joint’. Make a note of registration numbers and descriptions, especially if there are suspect characters in the area. ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAY 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 gained an MSc in agricultural engineering and mechanisation management at Silsoe, joining Glendale as machinery manager in 1994 and then in 2009, The Landscape Group as group head of assets and fleet. Contact: alindsay@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 41

18/07/2016 15:37

INFORM

ON YER BIKE! ADAM WHITE

Adam White shares his thoughts on why prioritising cycling in public space design should be a prime concern for all We know that attractive and well connected, permeable street networks encourage more people to walk and cycle to local destinations, improving their health while reducing motor traffic, energy use and pollution. Many modern towns and cities throughout Europe recognise that providing space for cycling creates efficient and attractive places to live. I saw this first-hand on a recent trip to the Netherlands. Cycle friendly towns and cities experience its benefits in terms of attractive streetscapes, economic use of land, simplicity of moving around, and healthier lifestyles. The Cambridge Cycling Campaign’s ‘Making Space for Cycling’ is an easy to understand guide for open space designers and developers for achieving this in the UK. It explains the different ways of thinking that are needed and how the patchy, inadequate provision that has characterised most developments in the UK has failed. The guide shows how high quality cycle infrastructure leads to high levels EU CYCLE LANE

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Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?

of cycling, and the benefits this brings (www.makingspaceforcycling.org). The design of high quality public space infrastructure requires landscape architects, urban designers, architects, engineers and planners to have a good understanding of, and access to, current design guidance and examples of best practice. Guidance from Sustrans, the UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport also aims to offer broad advice on key issues around highway design, with an emphasis on cycling. Towns and cities with an efficient transport network and high levels of cycling have achieved this by investing in cycle infrastructure. Examples are Copenhagen in Denmark, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Ghent in Belgium, Bordeaux in France, Malmö in Sweden and Freiburg in Germany. Cycling in these countries is seen as something that everybody can do, easily and quickly. It is a commonplace mode of transport used for every type of journey, from work to leisure. The Dutch don’t have a cycling culture; it is the culture. They actually understand that for short trips (> 5km) bikes are superior on numerous levels. When it comes to cycling we shouldn’t be ignoring mainland Europe – we

Create direct cycle routes between housing areas, major destinations and open green spaces. Cycling through parks and green spaces is the pinnacle of cycling provision. Convenient cycle infrastructure means avoiding stop-start travel caused by obstructions, lack of priority and narrow pavements shared with pedestrians. Cycle parking at each destination. Reduce user conflict between cyclists and motor vehicles with protected space on main roads. Two thirds of people say this is the main reason they do not cycle regularly in the UK. should be looking, listening and learning. For the past couple of decades almost all UK cycle infrastructure has failed to recognise these requirements. Putting blue signs on pavements and painting logos on the road does not provide a direct or convenient way to get about. Thankfully, attitudes and priorities are gradually changing. The ‘Space for Cycling’ campaign from the charity Cycling UK is calling on local UK councillors to pledge their support for high standards of cycle-friendly planning and design. London’s Cycle Superhighways are also a pedal in the right direction. Many sections of the highway are now totally car free and give a much safer and direct journey into the city. ABOUT ADAM WHITE FLI Adam White FLI is a director at Davies White Ltd, a multi award-winning chartered landscape architects’ practice in Kingston upon Thames. He is the youngest landscape architect to be made a fellow of the Landscape Institute and an RHS Gold Medal and BBC People’s Choice Award winner. Twitter: @davies_white www.davieswhite.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/07/2016 12:55

INFORM

In last month’s issue, Lesley Malone wrote that the Garden Bridge was a negative strain on the public purse. Bee Emmott, executive director of the Garden Bridge Trust, puts forward the case for why the bridge will be so worthwhile It is a shame that Lesley Malone chose to reference half-truths peddled by opponents of the Garden Bridge in her article ‘A Bridge Too Far’ in last month’s Pro Landscaper. The Garden Bridge will be a stunning addition to central London, a truly innovative project that is quintessentially London. It is the first of its kind – both a bridge and a garden. It will be a beautiful new green space floating above the Thames, a graceful copper-nickel bridge and an enchanting space in the middle of the city, giving people a chance for enjoyment and tranquillity in a beautiful, ever-changing garden. It will be open 365 days a year and free of charge. The garden, designed by Dan Pearson, consists of several sequential spaces, designed to reflect a number of different characteristics of the rich cultural heritage of the capital’s river and both river banks. The south end will have a relaxed aesthetic, featuring plants reflecting the South Bank’s marshland history such as willow, birch and primrose. At the north end, planting will be inspired by Temple Gardens’ history of ornamental gardening, featuring wisteria, magnolia, roses and summer snowflakes.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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FINDING THE WAY FORWARD A NEW SPACE FOR LONDON

The bridge has received public money from the Department of Transport and Transport for London (TfL) because there are clear transport and health benefits. It is a new way to cross the Thames for commuters completing their journeys from Waterloo. The Garden Bridge is part of TfL’s overall strategy to build 13 new river crossings throughout London. This funding was also given to kick-start the private funding drive for the bridge. Seventy seven per cent of the funding for the Garden

Bridge comes from private sources; such a vision could not happen without private investment. The guidelines for the bridge’s use are straightforward. It will have conditions of use very similar to the Royal Parks and other open spaces in London. Like the Millennium Bridge, cyclists will be asked to dismount and push their bikes across. The conditions of use will keep people safe and let them savour the experience of five garden glades, over 100,000 new plants and 270 new trees. Extensive visitor modelling has been done and it is simply scaremongering to suggest there will be queues. On weekdays it is forecast that over 9,000 people will use the Garden Bridge to commute to work. Five per cent of bridge users will be new visitors who come to the area specifically to visit the bridge – generally less than 1,500 people each day spread across 18 hours of daily opening. Any wi-fi tracking done will be to assist with this visitor modelling and not to monitor individuals. The bridge will pay its way. The Garden Bridge Trust has an extensive business plan and we have planning permission to host up to a maximum of 12 evening events per year in order to raise money for the estimated £2m maintenance costs. The bulk of this will be spent on upkeep of the bridge. The Garden Bridge is an inspirational project that will bring economic benefits to the area and jobs for the landscaping industry. It is something that the gardening world should be proud of.

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 43

20/07/2016 12:05

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21/07/2016 11:32

JSC PAVING AND LANDSCAPING

Adding detail and polish to a modern terrace

FRONT ROW NIGEL L PHILIPS

Using formal topiary to transform a front garden

STREET SMART GLENDALE

Delivering a range of park and street services with North Somerset Council

HAMPTON COURT RHS FLOWER SHOW

60 64

The Gold Medal-winning gardens from the show, and our personal picks

INSPIRE

SILVER LINING

PLUS...

ANJI CONNELL (P58) RICHARD MIERS (P64)

58 INSPIRE section cover.indd 45

19/07/2016 09:56

supplying 80,000m² of wildflower turf to the 2012 olympic games and 2013–14 transformation works

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21/07/2016 11:35

PORTFOLIO

SILVER LINING JSC PAVING AND LANDSCAPING Adding detail and polish to a basic brief produced this stunning modern terrace The brief The clients were looking for a professional company to carry out a somewhat complicated site re-modelling. The existing terraced area of paving was tired and dated, and no longer worked for the clients in terms of their use and enjoyment of the space. The site included a sloping garden which dropped away along with some tall mature pine trees, which when viewed from the upper terrace gave a real feeling of open space. The clients had already decided to considerably extend the small upper terrace to www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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transform it into an entertainment area connected to the main house and conservatory. This incorporated a new location for the steps down to one of the new mid terraces, to form a smaller, cosier area with lighting and a pergola to offer shade in this south-facing garden. Another set of steps led down to a small landing with access to the store room underneath, with the final steps leading down to the lawn. The brief was to follow an architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2D plan showing a basic concept of what the clients were hoping to achieve. Additional features were

PROJECT DETAILS Project value ÂŁ33k Build time 12 weeks Size of project 94sq m

added and some details were changed to make a more balanced and proportionately finished project. The clients were looking for a very clean and sharp finish, very modern in its aesthetics with great attention to the finishing detail. Design and build The design and build was a combination of the original plan coupled with the new design ideas put forward to the clients, which they agreed Pro Landscaper / August 2016 47

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PORTFOLIO

would be beneficial to the overall finish of the project. A structural engineer was introduced for the steelwork and detailing regarding extending the upper terrace with block and beam, as well as a concrete surround for the fixing of the stainless steel and glass balustrading and test bore holes to determine the depth required for the footings to support the new upper terrace and store room. The build aspect was 12 weeks in total, with six weeks spent on groundworks alone removing in excess of 100t of material by hand. A further six weeks were spent completing the project. Being Marshalls Accredited, JSC Paving and Landscaping was able to advise the clients on the suitability of the Marshalls vitrified paving range, as they suffered from heavy leaf fall and staining on the existing paving from their surrounding trees. Vitrified paving was an ideal 48

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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product to counter the issue long term and it gave the client the high end, clean finish and colour choice they desired. Marshalls Stoneface slate cladding was recommended instead of render, which made the store room a feature wall on its own and added a real visual impact to the overall finish. Challenges Extracting the waste materials from the site proved to be difficult. The route consisted of a long uphill slope of approximately 80m from the site to the waste area and over 100t of concrete had to be removed by hand. Deep foundations were required for the underpinning and new footings for the upper terrace and the concrete pumped into site. The various changes in levels across the site made for a challenging environment to work in, and also to install the large pre-fabricated channel. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO 1

Multi-level colour blended paving and gravel creates a clean finish

Marshalls Stoneface slate cladding adds to the contemporary look

Different laying patterns heighten interest

The glass and steel balustrade and planting matches the contemporary style

5-8 The existing terracing was demolished in preparation for new construction 9

A spacious seating area formed part of the new design

REFERENCES Contractor JSC Paving & Landscaping

22 Walton Rd, Poole BH15 3PA 01202 743386 Architect Friars-Robles Design

www.whitefoxgroup.co.uk Paving/cladding Marshalls

www.marshalls.co.uk Stainless steel and glass fabrication MPR Metal Design

www.balustradesandhandrails.co.uk Lighting Zip Led Lighting

www.led-zip.co.uk

BEFORE/DURING

ABOUT JSC PAVING AND LANDSCAPING JSC Paving and Landscaping is a Marshalls Approved landscape contractor and driveway installer, and Marshalls Regional Award Winner in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 for hard landscaping. Based in Poole, JSC undertakes all aspects of residential and commercial hard landscaping, incorporating design and project management.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

PROJECT DETAILS Project value Up to Â£25K Build time One year from concept to completion in 2009 Size of project 150sq m

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

Front garden

SPECIAL

We will be featuring a front garden portfolio every issue for the next six months â&#x20AC;&#x201C; look out for the next one!

The brief The back garden of this beautiful Georgian house had been finished the year before, and the second phase of the project was to complete the front. This needed improvement both visually and practically as the front path didn't line up with the front door and nothing had been done for several years. The Georgian architecture needed to be shown off to its full advantage, so a straight path to the front door meant that the building could be viewed from the best angle.

FRONT ROW NIGEL L PHILIPS Using formal topiary to create a warm welcome to this Georgian home

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Design The space was awkward as it was triangular, which meant that part of the space was going to be unused and unwanted. The front gate clearly needed to be moved to line up with the front door, although the client was initially reticent as they had lived with this not being so for many years. This took up the space along the straight side of the triangle. It was decided that there needed to be a strong pattern of planting to fill the unused space. Topiary On cutting back the beech hedge to make room for the newly positioned gate, we revealed a mature box tree, which had been hidden in the beech hedge for at least 30 years and had reached a height of 4m. We creatively pruned the box tree into a very fashionable cloud shape. This gave us the idea of positioning pruned box Pro Landscaper / August 2016 51

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PORTFOLIO

plants in the shape of spheres (mirroring the newly pruned box tree shapes) and equally spaced them into the remainder of the triangular area, increasing in number as they approached the house and the front door. These were then lit with LED lighters to allow easy access to the front door at night. For the brick paving secondhand pavers were used to help match in with the Georgian age of the house and provide some unity. Planting The planting was an important part of the overall effect. As the area was north facing and in shade for most of the day close to the house, a simple pallet of cream and green was chosen to help lighten this rather dark space. Hydrangea 'Annabelle' and Viburnum davidii suited each other's company, along with Alchemilla mollis and Philadelphus and Iris for the sunnier parts closer to the front gate.

BEFORE

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

1 A reclaimed brick path leads to the front door 2 Box spheres mirror the newly pruned box tree 3 Before the gate was realigned with the front door 4 View from the front door looking towards the box tree hiding in the hedge

REFERENCES Designer Nigel L Philips

Email nigel@nigelphilips.co.uk Web www.nigelphilips.co.uk Contractor Second Nature Landscapes

www.secondnaturelandscapes.co.uk Plants/box balls Provender Nurseries

www.provendernurseries.co.uk Outdoor lighting Ornamental Garden Lighting Ltd

www.ornamentalgardenlighting.com Secondhand pavers Chandlers

www.chandlersbs.co.uk

ABOUT NIGEL L PHILIPS Nigel Philips trained at Merrist Wood College and has been a practising garden designer since 1981. He has run his own design and build company and now lectures in related subjects and runs various courses on garden design at Plumpton College in Sussex. He is a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers and a BALI designer member. He resides in Sussex and works mainly in the South of England. www.nigelphilips.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

STREET SMART GLENDALE

Glendale has been working in partnership with North Somerset Council since 2013 to deliver a range of park and street scene services, including grounds maintenance, arboriculture, street cleansing, beach management and recycling

PROJECT DETAILS Project value ÂŁ17.5m Build time Seven years with potential for a further seven year extension Size of project All green space within the district of North Somerset

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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he Glendale North Somerset team is made up of more than 75 staff and is responsible for over 900ha of green infrastructure, over 600ha of parks and public open spaces and the street cleaning of 1,100km of roads and pavements. The company has helped North Somerset Council achieve significant savings through a more efficient and streamlined contract. The council is keen to ensure that social value remains at the core of the contract, with Glendale committed to supporting local organisations to ensure benefits are shared throughout the community. As part of this, Glendale has been working with the Groundwork Trust to launch the

North Somerset Academy, which sees four apprentices per year undertake a bespoke training scheme offering an NVQ Level 2 in horticulture and a Level 2 diploma in front line public service. Park briefs Grove Park, Weston-super-Mare - Horticulture (shrubs and flower beds) - Ornamental mowing - Mechanical sweeping Clarence Park, Weston-super-Mare - Cricket pitch maintenance - Horticulture (shrubs and flower beds) - Grass cutting, triple and gang mowing

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

1 Grove Park in Weston-super-Mare 2 Glendaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team undertake flood defence training on Drove Road Recreation Ground 3 Team leader Gareth Annetts and streetscene operative Nicolas Derrick on Marine Parade 4 Ashton Williams carries out work experience with Glendale in Grove Park 5 Richard Heaney, streetscene operative, cleansing Big Lamp Corner, Weston-super-Mare 6 Grove Park in Weston-super-Mare

Prince Consort Gardens, Weston-super-Mare (Green Flag site) - Litter removal and litter bin emptying - Horticulture (shrubs and flower beds) - Grass cutting and hand mowing Lake Grounds, Portishead (Green Flag site) - Manual cleansing of skate and play parks and picnic areas - Mechanical sweeping of promenade - Grass cutting, triple and gang mowing Salthouse Fields and Green Beach, Clevedon - Manual cleansing of skate and play parks and picnic areas

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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- Mechanical sweeping of promenade - Litter removal and litter bin emptying Development A community clear-up kit has been introduced as a result of this partnership. The kit comes complete with tools including litter sticks, hoes, rakes, brooms and shovels, as well as bin bags and safety equipment such as gloves, hi-vis clothing and risk assessments. Glendale also offers up to ÂŁ500 in cash, goods or services to community groups in the region to enable them to run projects or events to improve open spaces across the area as part of the Glendale Community Grant Scheme.

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PORTFOLIO

REFERENCES Contractor Glendale

www.glendale-services.co.uk

1 Grove Park in Weston-super-Mare

Bedding plants

2 Four of Glendaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apprentices with the North Somerset Academy

Glendale Horticulture

www.glendale-horticulture.co.uk Equipment

Glendale also supplies 25,000 bedding plants to community groups to support such initiatives through its annual community bedding project. Equipment The contract utilises over 150 pieces of machinery, from a fleet of Ransomes Highway and Etesia Pro 46 mowers for amenity lawn maintenance, to Dennis FT610 cylinder mowers for sport pitches and fine turf maintenance. Kubota M180s are used for beach management and side arm failing, and the contract boasts a full range of sweepers including Johnston VT650s and CX201s, Scarab Minors, applied 414 sweepers and a 600HD Barber Surf Rake. Glendale has a workshop in Weston-superMare which oversees maintenance and management with the support of local suppliers. A fleet of Ford Transits, Ford Connects, Iveco 6.5t vans, Ford Rangers and Farid RCVs on Isuzu 7.5t vehicles complete the suite of equipment. Awards In 2014, the contract achieved recognition from the Department for Communities and Local Government as an example of Good Practice in Local Government Savings. The contract was

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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also shortlisted for a Local Authority Innovation Award, as part of the National Recycling Awards in the same year. In the three years since the Glendale North Somerset partnership began, six parks within North Somerset have received Green Flag status, and Portishead in Bloom has maintained its gold award for the past three years running, as well as securing gold and category winner in the National in Bloom campaign.

Ransomes Jacobsen

www.ransomesjacobsen.com Etesia UK

www.etesia.co.uk Dennis Mowers

www.dennisuk.com Kubota UK

www.kubota-global.net Johnston Sweepers

www.johnstonsweepers.com Dealers Dawson Rentals

dawsonrentalssweepers.co.uk Lex Autolease

www.lexautolease.co.uk

ABOUT GLENDALE Glendale delivers an unparalleled portfolio of nine specialist green services including grounds management, arboriculture, supply of plants and semi-mature trees, woodland management, estate management, vegetation control, landscaping, cleansing services and golf course management. We pride ourselves on the professionalism of every aspect of our services and put the people e employ and or ith rst. www.glendale-services.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/07/2016 11:30

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21/07/2016 11:36

INSPIRE

Create a Balinese-style haven with an outdoor shower to inspire the al fresco bather in your clients, says Anji Connell

With warmer summers and more frequent heatwaves, outdoor showers provide a refreshing way to cool down on hot, muggy days. We no longer have to live in places such as Bali or Ibiza to experience an outdoor bathroom or spa. Invigorating and enjoyable, you can add an outdoor shower to a tiny nook, courtyard or on a rooftop. They require little space, and you need no more of a view than your own bit of sky and a breeze on your face. Luke Albery from Encompass tells me: “Ninety-nine point nine per cent of our outdoor showers are used with pools.” However, if your client can’t have a pool, an outdoor shower is the next best thing. The basics The simplest outdoor shower consists of a sprinkler head and a hose connected to an outdoor tap or a garden hose, with no additional plumbing needed. Of course, this is cold water only – for a warm shower look to see where you can pick up on a hot water feed from an existing bathroom or kitchen. Colonna Paravento by Kos

SUMMER SHOWERS A standalone shower away from the house is more complicated and expensive but a worthy investment, especially if you have a beautiful view you want to capture. Design While most outdoor showers are used with a pool or hot tub, on their own they are an excellent way to cool down after a run, clean up after a day’s gardening or wash your dog after a muddy walk. They’re a perfect option for a beach house, too, to wash away unwanted sand. Place the shower in the sun if you can. As well as being more pleasurable it will allow it to dry out and prevent rotting, and avoid putting them under a roof overhang or tree as debris will accumulate in the shower. It makes sense to extend out into our gardens as we are squeezed into smaller and smaller homes. It adds an indulgent and luxurious touch, and it reconnects us to nature. Adding doors to your existing bathroom to access an outdoor area, or building an adjoining

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Doccia Rainbow from Mohd

walled outside room, allows you to enjoy the best of al fresco bathing with some protection during the cooler months. Designer Abigail Bliss says of one of her projects: “At Feldman Architecture’s House Ocho, the outdoor shower services a hot tub hidden by a retractable wooden deck and looks out over the rolling hills of Carmel, California, a lovely place to relax.”

Kos Wazebo

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/07/2016 09:43

Jason Yung of Jason and Caroline Design placed a client’s shower on a balcony leading from the bathroom with a ‘borrowed’ green view. This can also work where you look out onto a wall such as with garden or basement flats; a shower is a great way to use the space, and filling it with greenery looks fabulous. There are many showers to choose from. Mohd, Kos, and TradeWinds and Zucchetti are all popular options. Encompass has an extensive range, and the Viteo shower is the most popular from Albery followed by the slick Roshults model. Viteo is a fun, circular shower that sprays water upwards. Materials Water-resistant non-slip, natural materials such as stone, slate, wood and pebbles all work well. Decks, lawns, gravel, stone patios and paths are all fine to place your shower, and growing thyme between pavers releases a lovely perfume. Cover up Think about where to place your shower. If fully open bathing isn’t suitable, find a sheltered spot surrounded by planting or opt for a curtain – one that’s made to withstand outdoor elements and is mildew resistant, or alternatively, screening such as bamboo wood. A beach hut makes a perfect home for an outdoor shower; interior designer Alexandra Angle did exactly that in her Fire Island project. Oborain has some fabulous pre-fab models available. The enclosure comes complete with the shower fixture; Jim Lobley set up the company with friend Kirsten Oxbel after searching unsuccessfully for a model for his own

design and build firm: “We wanted our materials to be absolutely beautiful.” The result is a collection of pre-fab showers made of dark red meranti, a sustainable hardwood from Malaysia, ash, cedar, and farmed teak, held together by a stainless steel frame that takes under 30 minutes to put together. Disassembled, the pieces are easily stored in winter. The kits also come with fixtures by Hansgrohe and Axor that are connected to a garden hose. The Plover combines the light, airy feel and deliciously fresh scent of cedar with a Sunbrella shower curtain and a Kohler or in-house copper or brass shower fitting. The Circle Shower is a bit more traditional and nautical in style, with crisp blue and white striped outdoor fabric, dark hardwood and stainless steel. Hung from a floating ring at the top, the curtains create an airy feel to the shower while being weighted and hooked at the bottom, to prevent them from blowing in on the bather. Other models include their signature Fjord, the Cove and the more modern Azore. Falper’s outdoor shower comes fitted to a frame with planting, providing green privacy. Construction You will need a builder to make a firm level surface that can withstand water and build a trench for water pipes and drainage pumps, and lag the pipes to prevent them freezing. • Add a pressure valve to avoid scalding. • Locate the water shut-off valve inside and lay the pipes with a Pasaia Doccia Verbena downwards fall to stop water from Mohd collecting and freezing. Röshults Garden Shower from Encompass

Viteo Urban from Encompass

Outdoor shower by Falper

Drainage The most common way to drain an outdoor shower is to let the water seep away into the ground. Avoid placing it too close to the house as water build up can lead to long-term foundation issues. Test your soil by emptying a bucket of water and timing how long it takes to flow away. If it is slow draining and forms puddles on the ground, you might want to consider a dry well or French drain. If you choose to site your shower abutting the house, a French drain will help in water removal. Make sure you use protective water resistant material on the side of your building. Shower drainage pans As used in your indoor showers, drainage pans connected to a hose collect and direct water away from the house into the garden or an existing drain. Oborain is a good option. Waking up to an invigorating outdoor shower will make an everyday routine special – and feel like an adventure. 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.

John Pawson

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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www.anjiconnellinteriordesign.com

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INSPIRE

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW 2016 All of the Gold Medal-winning gardens from the annual event showcasing the absolute best and beauty of garden design and construction

Show gardens

Capability Brown garden

1 Dogs Trust: A Dog’s Life Garden 2 Zoflora: Outstanding Natural Beauty 3 Squire’s 80th Anniversary Garden 4 The World Vision Garden

1 Reflecting the Landscape

Water gardens 1 The WWT Working Wetlands Garden supported by the HSBC Water Programme 2 The Viking Cruises Scandinavian Garden

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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Conceptual gardens

INSPIRE

Q&A

Stephen Hall Pro Landscaper caught up with Stephen Hall, designer behind the Viking Cruises Scandinavian Garden How did you end up designing a garden for Viking Cruises? Viking Cruises came up with the brief, which was quite short and sweet; all about exploration, discovery and adventure, with a Scandinavian heritage. I didn’t have much time to send something back, so I had to come up with a watercolour sketch, which I photographed and emailed over to the RHS. Within two hours, Viking Cruises phoned and said I could do the garden. At the time, I didn’t realise that the water garden category was coming back – I just naturally used water as part of the Scandinavian theme. It’s usually nice to have more time to plan your planting and materials, though, because four months is a bit of a short timescale.

1 Near Future Garden 2 The Red Thread 3 Rolawn: Why? 4 The Outdoor Room: Inner Demons 5 UNHCR: ‘Border Control’ Garden

Summer gardens 1 CCLA: A Summer Retreat 2 The Bowel Disease UK Garden for Crohn’s Disease 3 The Lavender Garden

Were there any challenges? The biggest challenge is actually being here, contending with the amount of rain, and also my trees have been an issue. I had to replace the Salix caprea and the Alnus incana because for whatever reason, possibly weather-related, they both wilted. I had to lift them out last Friday and replace them, so it was a bit last minute, and I’m still contending with one tree, the Betula pubescens, that’s gone yellow, but the actual construction was fairly straightforward. Does the end result reflect the initial design? Yes, with a bit more water. That’s how I wanted it to be, even the boulders are in roughly the same place. When I first did the illustration, I left the windows and the door open, so we did intend to actually go inside it, until we presented it to the RHS and they wanted structural calculations for timber to support the earth – then it became quite a problem. So we’ve just shown it as a disused building that’s been neglected for several years, with doors and windows shut.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INSPIRE

Pro Landscaper’s PICK The editorial team choose their favourite gardens at this year’s show...

Jim

Lisa

Managing director

y personal favourite garden – this year it’s a difficult choice but I’m going to say ‘Border Control’, designed by Tom Massey and John Ward and constructed by Landform Consultants. Standing in the garden really made me reflect on the situation of refugees; the very clever use of planting on both sides of the barbed wire fence gave a sense of hope, whilst the floating lifejacket had the opposite effect. The planting in general was amazing and the quality of the hard landscaping was excellent. Great concept, brilliantly executed – well done team.

Editor

his is a really hard choice for me this year, and I have more than one favourite. However, my choice has to be the summer garden The Abbeyfield Society: A Breath of Fresh Air designed by Rae Wilkinson and built by Outdoor Options because I was lucky enough to help out with planting for a day, and experience the fabulous atmosphere of the whole event. The garden aimed to create a place for residents who suffer from dementia, for quiet contemplation. The Squire’s 80th Anniversary Garden came a very close second – exquisite.

Iszara

Nina

Deputy editor

here were so many fantastic gardens at this year’s show but my personal favourite was the Dogs Trust: A Dog’s Life designed by Paul Hervey-Brooks and built by GK Wilson Landscapes. I really love the dog-friendly features that were incorporated such as the sniffer tracks and tunnels. The dog sculptures were also a unique element of the garden, which reflected the fun nature of dogs. On the flipside thousands of dogs are abandoned every year, highlighted through the use of still water running down the side of the garden. Happy 125th anniversary, Dogs Trust. Keep up the great work!

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

Hampton Court.indd 62

Editorial assistant

he garden that stood out the most for me was The Red Thread designed by Robert Barker and constructed by Terraforma Landscapes. The design itself is mesmerising, with red rope tied around oak posts of varying heights, resembling cat’s cradle, but it’s the concept behind it that really makes it come alive. The rope represents the red thread that, in ancient Chinese myth, the gods tie around our ankles when we are born, which is attached to all those we are destined to touch in some way, making any visitor including myself surely think about their own lives and the people they have met.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/07/2016 10:28

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21/07/2016 11:36

INSPIRE

WORK

Best project: A classical-contemporary 15 acre garden for a house designed by Adam Architects in Wentworth, Surrey. It was a whirlwind year of intense creativity. Colleagues: I work with Philippa Symington, my assistant, and over the years I have built up a book of various skilled contractors and specialists around the country that I call on when needed. Mentors: My love of gardening derives back to my school days. My headmaster’s wife was a big influence and instilled my love of herbaceous borders, as did my old boss, the much revered Arne Maynard. I started working for him in 1997 and spent almost ten years driving around the countryside from project to project with our two dogs. His concentration when driving was sometimes scary as he was always looking out the window for interesting landscapes and landscape features! Arne has that rare ability to understand the essence of a site in just a few seconds and has an innate feel for what will work best. Issues: Finding a sponsor so I can build a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017 – and getting to grips with social media. Best learning curve: Spending so many years as Arne’s right hand man.

Career highs: The Gardening World Cup in Japan 2012 was great fun but a real rollercoaster! It was amazing meeting and working with other designers from across the world all aiming to finish their gardens on time for an Oscars-style award ceremony. This all takes place in a completely bonkers Disney-esque replica Dutch town called Huis Ten Bosh near Nagasaki. Career lows: I remember a particularly difficult client who kept on changing her mind. She had me do eight revisions of a small planting plan, but the client is always right. Leadership style: I like to lead by example and try to instil an ownership mentality. What you hope to achieve during the next 12 months: I’d like to have at least four more gardens built for private clients as I love the whole process. It’s amazing to think that some of the trees I’ve placed and planted will be there for hundreds of years. I also want to have procured a sponsor and designed a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

LIFE/STYLE INSPIRATION People: Arne Maynard and Jacque Wirtz, because of their use of living sculptural hedges and plants that carry the garden through the winter months, providing interesting plays on the shadows between light and dark. Gardens: Mapperton in Dorset, with its simplicity and topiary. I went there on a school trip when I was eight years old and was blown away by the atmosphere those giant green sculptures create. Also, Chiswick House in London. The combination of the owner Lord Burlington and William Kent creating formal areas near the house and bleeding out into tamed wilderness further away, but still with enough framed views and eye-catchers to keep you interested. Sometimes, however, the landscape movement that Kent was forbearer of went a little too far with its stripping away of gardens near the house for my liking. 64

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

LifeStyle.indd 64

Richard Miers Garden designer Richard Miers talks aspirations, inspirations and everything in between

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

26/07/2016 09:56

INSPIRE

PERSONAL Hobbies: Gardening, of course, tennis and Boris biking around London. Design tastes: My style is pared down classic minimalist; traditional with a contemporary twist. For example, I recently completed a garden in Kensington that had a classical formality to it, but with bespoke neon light artwork that illuminates at night to read: ‘You can’t arrest me, I’m a rockstar – Sid Vicious’. Most treasured possessions: My daughters and a gold propelling pencil I was given as a christening present by my godfather. I use it every day, even on site, though I have also spent hours looking for it when I’ve dropped it in the mud. As William Morris said, ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’ I think better still, they should be both useful and beautiful. Favoured dress style: Classical with a twist; in winter I layer it up, putting a body warmer and an old worn denim jacket under my classic jacket. I also like to add a splash of colour with a pink or purple pocket handkerchief. Food: Italian. My relaxed favourite would be gnocchi from my favourite café just off Kensington high street called Café Phillies. It’s also pretty special having lunch in the old greenhouses at Petersham Nurseries. Drink: I love a ‘Dark and Stormy’ which is a simple dark rum-based cocktail. Most fun you’ve ever had: Now that would be telling…

TRAVEL

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

LifeStyle.indd 65

Places you love: I love the Greek islands, especially Crete, Naxos and Ikaria. Crete is so big you can always find hidden valleys and sandy coves away from the main tourist strips. Naxos had been a Venetian town and the decadent elegance of the mansions in the old walled town had me gasping at every turn. Ikaria had been a communist outpost for many years and was a mixture of lush greenery on one side of the island and barren wilderness on the other. I love the juxtaposition of the two. I’m also working on a garden in the north east of Sardinia, and the gigantic wind-honed granite rocks littered around the landscape and beaches are simply stunning. Favourite continent: Europe. How you like to travel: If I’m on holiday by the coast, I like to arrive by boat as the sense of arrival and seeing the land unfold in front of you is amazing. I also imagine what it must have been like for those doing the same 2000 years ago and what their lives must have been like. Although, aeroplanes are quicker. Pro Landscaper / August 2016 65

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21/07/2016 11:37

JACK DUNCKLEY

The planting scheme for a courtyard garden with a Tuscan twist

TOUGH IT OUT ANDY McINDOE

Andy McIndoe’s picks for plants that can survive in exposed conditions

TROOPING THE COLOUR

JAMIE BUTTERWORTH The spring colours of RHS Chelsea transition to the bold, bright schemes of RHS Hampton Court

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NURTURE

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78 NURTURE section cover.indd 67

18/07/2016 15:56

NURTURE

NURTURE NEWS SoilsCon 2016 launched

Soil scientist and landscape consultant Tim O’Hare has announced that a second industry soils conference is to be held on Wednesday 5 October 2016 at Phyllis Court, Henley-onThames, Oxfordshire. The event, which is likely to become annual, comes in response to the positive feedback from delegates who attended the inaugural soils conference hosted by Tim last October at Howbery Park, Wallingford. The feedback indicated that a soils conference for landscape architects, contractors, developers and other industry professionals would be a welcome addition to the industry conference calendar. SoilsCon 2016 has already secured a line-up of speakers, including Tim O’Hare himself, along with senior associates at his consultancy Rob Askew and Tim White. Andy Spetch, national Topsoil manager at British Sugar Topsoil, has also been confirmed, along with Alistair Bayford, regional operations director at The Landscape Group and Luke Fay, managing director of Treework Environmental Practice. The complete line-up of speakers and details will be issued soon, and anyone wishing to attend can email info@toha.co.uk. www.timohare-associates.com 68

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

Nursery News.indd 68

Green-tech unveils new gtSedum roof cassettes Award-winning landscaping supplies company Green-tech has expanded its green roof product range to include the new gtSedum roof cassettes. Designed specifically for extensive green roof installations, the new cassettes have a minimum of eight types of sedum incorporated into them. Sedum is the ideal choice for extensive green roofs as it requires minimal maintenance, is drought tolerant and requires a minimal substrate layer. It is a well rooted, low-growing plant therefore is ideal for the harsh, open environments typically associated with green roofs. Technical and export manager at Green-tech, Chris Swan, commented: “The new sedum cassettes are a great find and we are already receiving great

Glyphosate licence extended for 18 months On Friday 24 June, the EU appeals committee met to discuss the re-licensing of glyphosate. In a final effort by the committee to have the chemicals’ licence expiry extended, the meeting concluded with a ‘no opinion’ result, putting the future of glyphosate entirely in the hands of the European Commission, which will be

feedback from customers. For our customers wishing to explore the green roof market for their clients, this is a system that has all of the crucial elements of a successful green roof combined in a convenient cassette. The system is simple to install, saving more time and resources than traditional green roof build ups. The product is widely used and recommended in Europe, and is the ideal addition to Green-tech’s comprehensive green roof product range.” www.green-tech.co.uk

meeting on 27 July to discuss the issue. The EU has previously held three meetings about extending glyphosate’s licence, but each time has failed to obtain the necessary votes to reach a majority decision. The European Commission is now expected to move back the expiry to the end of next year to enable completion of research on the chemical by the European Chemicals Agency. www.echa.europa.eu

Wyevale Nurseries launches 2017 promotional catalogue Wyevale Nurseries has launched its promotional catalogue for 2017, which will include 37 new plant promotions. Adam Dunnett, sales and marketing director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “Some of the best plants in the catalogue include the Jacobinia Firefly, voted Best New Plant Introduction by visitors to our nursery open day in March.” Other new promotions include the Phormium Chocomint being supplied in a unique ice cream tub style pot wrap, and the Buddleia ‘Dreaming Lavender’ being supplied in a bespoke pot wrap. Next year will also see Wyevale Nurseries become the sole UK grower of the Hydrangea Magical Series. To request a catalogue, please email Carol Dickinson at carol@ wyevale-nurseries.co.uk. www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk

SEND US YOUR

NURTURE NEWS! editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

01903 777 570

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/07/2016 15:52

NURTURE

SURVEY SPECIAL: BREXIT The historic referendum held on 23 June resulted in 52% of British voters opting to leave the European Union, the resignation of then-Prime Minister David Cameron, and Britain losing its AAA credit rating. Former Home Secretary Theresa May has now taken on the role of leading the country, and is expected to invoke Article 50 next year, which will start divorce proceedings.

It is really difficult at this stage to be accurate with any comment about Brexit. We, as people and as a business, are still coming to terms with it, though for the meantime and probably for the next two years we are still in the EU. UK landscapers and garden designers rely heavily on plants and materials from abroad to complete their projects. Will the exit negotiations strengthen UK trade border inspections and phytosanitary conditions for importing plants? Will the government protect UK growers by saying that all plants need to be bought via UK growers, in a similar process to Sweden? I think we will just have to wait and see. Nick Coslett, marketing manager, Palmstead Nurseries

I think in the long term, Brexit will be better for UK nurseries as they will start to grow more of their own products instead of relying on imports from Europe. If a tariff is imposed, this will just get loaded onto the overall costs and every nursery in the UK will be in the same boat, though unfortunately the client will pay in the end. It’s bound to be a struggle in the short term, but we have franchises in Europe, and I don’t see trade altering tremendously for us. There might be some health and safety issues to address and we will have to be more vigilant, but a lot of the EU regulations will stay in place as a lot of them are beneficial.

Following this significant outcome, Pro Landscaper asked UK nurseries what they thought the impact of ‘Brexit’ would be on their businesses and whether it could actually mean a boost for UK growers. Impact of Brexit on UK Nurseries

Simon Williamson, director, Readyhedge

Impact of Brexit on UK Nurseries

THE FIRSTAnswered: FEW 6YEARS AFTER LEAVING THE EU? Skipped: 2

COULD IT MEAN Agrowers? BOOST Answered: 6 Skipped: 2 FOR UK GROWERS?

Yes

Answer Choices Yes No Total

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

75% 83% 100%

70%

80%

90%

100%

SAID THAT IT WILL NOT MEAN LESS SPECIMEN CHOICE

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Nursery News.indd 69

SAID PRICES WILL INCREASE IN THE UK

50%

Q5 Do you think we will import less plants 4 after the exit? Responses

Answer Choices Yes

Q 2

DO YOU THINK WE WILL IMPORT Answered: 6 Skipped: 2 50.00% LESS PLANTS AFTER THE EXIT? 50.00%

No Total

Yes

Answer Choices

Yes

Impact of Brexit on UK Nurseries

Responses

OF UK NURSERIES 66.67% THAT TOOK PART SAID 33.33% BREXIT WILL AFFECT THEIR BUSINESS

No 50%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Responses

Yes

50.00%

Total

70%

80%

90%

100%

SURVEY RESULTS

Q7 Could this mean a boost for UK

Q2 Will there be an impact on profits within THERE BEafter AN IMPACT ONEU? PROFITS WITHIN theWILL first few years leaving the

3 3 6

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 69 3 3

20/07/2016 12:50 6

NURTURE

Plant list • Mature Cupressus sempervirens • Yew hedges • Agapanthus • Olive tree • Buxus sempervirens • Clematis armandii • Iris sibirica ‘Perry’s Blue’ • Verbena bonariensis • Chamaerops humilis

Designer PLANTS The property is a converted farmhouse and outbuildings in Sussex. The owners wanted to transform their large outdoor gravel car park into a contemporary colourful Tuscan courtyard garden. The client had an idea of the style of garden they wanted, but were unsure how to achieve it. To transform the space into the style they had in mind, the plants needed to be from, or reflect, the Mediterranean. Colour was important, so I used a lot of blues and purples, as well as evergreen and low 70

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

Designer plants.indd 70

maintenance plants so that the client would have minimal upkeep. Many of the plants I chose like well-drained soil, so we used a blend of sandy loam and a rich layer of compost to allow for good drainage. I incorporated mature Cupressus sempervirens trees to line the back of the garden and planted these with a jurassic-style rockery made up of large boulders. I also planted large 4ft yew hedges around the elevated garden perimeter. Some of the other plantings included Agapanthus, Tuscan olives, Buxus sempervirens, Clematis armandii, Iris sibirica ‘Perry’s Blue’, Verbena bonariensis and Chamaerops humilis. Drip line irrigation will soon be installed as part of the maintenance.

There were no real challenges when sourcing the plants as most were grown on site at my nursery in Sussex. The Italian Cyrpus were sourced from Italy and the Agapanthus, which were slightly more difficult to find, were from Holland.

ABOUT JACK DUNCKLEY Multi RHS award-winning designer Jack Dunckley runs a garden and landscape design studio situated at his own plant nursery in Sussex. Jack and his team design and build gardens of any si e oﬀer a maintenance service and supply the highest quality plants to wholesale and retail customers. Tel 01273 494058 Email design@jackdunckley.com

www.jackdunckley.com

Photographs © Charles Marriott

Jack Dunckley talks us through his planting scheme for a Tuscan courtyard garden in Sussex

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/07/2016 12:58

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21/07/2016 11:40

NURTURE

hile we may wish for August to be a scorcher from start to finish, we will have to see what the weather rolls out for us. With plants, it’s easier. Tropical plants capture the essence of their country of origin. They have their own energy and deliver a welcome visual reminder of holidays, heat, sunshine and warmth. So if you’re looking for a ‘scorcher’, look no further than the bromeliad family. Originating from the southern states of the US, South America and West Indies, these fiery air plants are laden with architectural bracts in a colour wheel of tropical intensity that remain in flower for their entire growing season. Even the foliage doesn’t disappoint; the wide leaves which are sword shaped or scoop-like offer their own unusual flourish in shades of red, green, orange, yellow or purple, complete with spots, stripes and other vibrant combinations. It’s often assumed that these are hothouse plants are beautiful, but temperamental, when in fact they are easily adapted to regular indoor conditions. In general they thrive in the same

BLOOMING BROMELIADS Ian Drummond

conditions as the epiphytic orchid varieties, which have become so popular in recent years. In fact, bromeliads and these orchids often grow together naturally, so this is a particularly good combination.

COLOUR THEMING IS EASY AND WHEN GROUPED TOGETHER THEY CREATE A ‘WOW’ As air plants, bromeliads in their natural environment happily grow on stumps, trees and branches, meaning they thrive when their roots are able to ‘breathe’ and are free of soil. For the indoor garden designer, this frees up the positioning of them considerably – they can easily be elevated, perched or suspended anywhere and look particularly quirky when hung upside down. Colour theming is easy (they are not subtle) and when grouped together they create a ‘wow’, but single displays have their own impact and draw the eye when placed strategically within planting schemes. If the mood is right, go all out and mix up the colours to create a horticultural carnival of colour and form. Rio, here we come!

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

Ian Drummond.indd 72

Images ©Joy of Plants

While the summer sun struggles to break through, Ian Drummond expresses why bromeliads are perfect for an exotic, tropical burst of colour

ABOUT IAN DRUMMOND Ian Drummond is the creative director of Indoor Garden Design, Europe’s leading interior landscape design company. Based in Highgate, north London, IGD has been bringing nature into offices for over 40 years.

www.indoorgardendesign.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/07/2016 16:04

NURTURE

Andy McIndoe gives expert advice on plants that are resilient enough to survive exposed, windy conditions

any plants fail on exposed sites. Wind, lack of shade, drought and salty air can prove challenging conditions for a plant to survive. Plants that cope with these conditions are the ones that are well adapted, often with tough, reflective or well-insulated leaves that resist desiccation. They often originate from higher altitudes in arid regions or on exposed seashores. A windy site can have its advantages. Diseases are few because fungal spores are blown away by air circulation. Shrubs often need less pruning and stay compact, producing little in the way of lush, vigorous growth. However, wind and sun can be very drying, and plants are quickly under stress before roots are well established to draw water. Even the toughest subjects need good soil preparation and initial irrigation until established. Some larger growing shrubs can provide shelter for less tolerant and more decorative varieties. Elaeagnus x ebbingei is often planted as a shelter subject on exposed sites, especially by the coast. It can be trimmed to form a dense hedge, or allowed to grow freely into a large shrub. Many prefer it to the brightly variegated types and it is a good structure shrub for other planting.

Elaeagnus ‘Quicksilver’

Elaeagnus x ebbingei

TOUGH IT OUT

Andy McIndoe

The deciduous Elaeagnus ‘Quicksilver’ is also a very wind-tolerant subject, although its growth habit can be unruly and a little awkward as a young plant. It responds well to hard pruning in winter and is perhaps the best large growing silver foliage shrub. It’s brighter and more eye-catching than the sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides. The latter is a real survivor on windy, coastal sites and good on well-drained soil inland. It is best planted as young whips and can be coppiced.

Hippophae rhamnoides

Tamarix ramosissima

It can also be trimmed as a dense, twiggy hedge, not necessarily as a boundary hedge but to create an undulating cloud effect. This is easy to maintain and suits contemporary schemes alongside lavender, rosemary and cistus.

WIND, LACK OF SHADE, DROUGHT AND SALTY AIR CAN PROVE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS FOR A PLANT TO SURVIVE Tamarix can be a sprawling, unruly shrub. It flowers on the current season’s wood so should be trimmed in early spring to promote a compact habit. It will then produce light, feathery, soft green foliage with a mass of rose-pink fluffy flowers in summer. Alternatively it can be trimmed more regularly and used in the same way as Hippophae, to create a cloud hedge effect. Grown in this way it can be kept to 1.5m or less and fits in well with a regular maintenance programme. Rosa rugosa is a native of Japanese seashores. It is a disease-resistant rose with pleated, bright green leaves and upright thorny stems to 1.5m, forming a shrub of similar spread. This is a rose that succeeds where others fail and is remarkably deer and rabbit resistant. The cultivar Rosa ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup’ has large, pale pink single blooms resembling large dog-roses, followed by red, tomato-like hips in autumn. Lower growing, tough, deciduous shrubs are ideal in windy situations. Potentillas and Spiraeas in particular grow well on dry, exposed sites and provide welcome summer colour. Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’ is a hardy little shrub that forms a low mound of mid-green foliage up to 30cm in height with a spread of 45cm. Smothered with heads of deep pink flowers in summer, it is very attractive to bees and butterflies and sits well with grasses and low perennials.

ABOUT ANDY MCINDOE Andy McIndoe is a practical horticulturist with more than 30 years’ experience in ornamental horticulture. He has designed and advised on gardens of all sizes and has been responsible for 25 Gold Medal winning exhibits at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Twitter: @AndyMcIndoe Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’

Trimmed Tamarix ramosissima

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Andy McIndoe.indd 73

Rosa ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup’

www.andymcindoe.com

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 73

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NURTURE

The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show takes us into summer with palettes of bright, bold plants. Jamie Butterworth talks through some of his personal favourites

mazingly, there is a world after Chelsea. Who knew? It does however involve the direct run-up to the largest annual flower show in the world. Sleep is overrated. The best thing about Hampton Court Flower Show, in the first week of July, is that the palette of plants available to use suddenly explodes, becoming much more exciting. As we transition from the soft pastel spring colours often found at Chelsea, we enter a far more bright and colourful array of perennials from which to choose. This allows designers to be more creative, and potentially try some fresh, new and exciting planting and colour combinations. This year at Hortus Loci we are supplying a whole range of fantastically diverse gardens, each of which require a completely unique palette of plants – one of the things I love most about the show.

TROOPING THE COLOUR Jamie Butterworth

• Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’ For texture, colour and form, it’s difficult to beat this stunningly beautiful sedum in the ground cover department. Planted in large clumps it can provide quite the statement. A great plant for full sun, it was very popular among our designers at this year’s show.

• Echinacea ‘Big Kahuna’ I love this for its name if nothing else. This easy to grow Echinacea is one of many new exciting introductions. It boasts dramatic, bright ginger flowers that will add a real zing to any planting scheme. • Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Chocolate Tips’ My favourite plant of all time. A very versatile plant to incorporate into a host of different planting combos. Its chocolate-coloured floating bobble heads wave through planting, adding texture and structure to any border.

Echinacea ‘Big Kahuna’ The only downside to the timing of the show is that it opens up the whole new problem of unpredictability. It is virtually impossible to predict what the weather will be doing in the last few weeks of June leading to the show. This makes it impossible, and also unwise, to definitively say what plants will be featured in any one garden too early. For this reason, we grow somewhere in the region of 50,000 extra plants that we know flower in and around this time frame, allowing our designers an element of flexibility and choice when it comes to making the final selection. A selection of my favourite plants featured at this year’s show include the following… www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Jamie Butterworth.indd 75

Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’

Daucus carota ‘Dara’ • Daucus carota ‘Dara’ My favourite umbel, boasting masses of dusty plum flowers which are always popular among show garden designers. It brings a natural feel, giving the planting that impression of being aged and wild. Most umbels will flower naturally in and around the end of May to the beginning of June. However, this will flower reliably for Hampton, and was a real star of the show this year. ABOUT JAMIE BUTTERWORTH Graduating from RHS Garden Wisley with a distinction in summer 2015, avid plantsman Jamie now works as joint show plant manager at Hortus Loci, growing the plants for major o er sho s such as helsea ampton ourt and atton. amie is a oun ort associate director and oun mbassador promotin horticulture to youn people across the . amie is also a ardenin broadcaster or adio ondon.

Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Chocolate Tips’

Email: jb@hortusloci.co.uk www.hortusloci.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 75

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21/07/2016 11:43

NURTURE

SITE VISIT

BOURNE AMENITY Bourne Amenity has been supplying hard and soft landscaping materials for over 40 years. Pro Landscaper’s Nina Mason visited Bourne’s Newenden site to explore how the specialist topsoil supplier does business

Founded over 70 years ago as an agricultural merchant John Bourne & Co’s successful offspring, Bourne Amenity, is now one of the largest suppliers of topsoil in the south east. Its head office, and original site, is based rather unexpectedly in Newenden, one of the smallest villages in Kent. Bourne Amenity is now headed by Jonathan Bourne, the third generation, who joined the company six years ago: “My father always wanted me to get into the business, and I spent the first few years getting to know those who worked for the company and all the operating facilities, which I think is key.” Bourne Amenity is unique in owning its own fleet of branded vehicles, all of which have recently received FORS silver accreditation. “We have control over the manufacturing process as well as the haulage, so our eyes are on the product the whole time.” Most of the fleet is kept at the head office, where there is also a modest non-UKAS laboratory for testing soils. “The lab helps us to determine the basics of a material with a quick turnaround time. We can only test about 5% of the parameters needed on the British standard, and still have to go through the official channels, but it gives us an idea.” The Newenden site is also where sister company Gardenscape is based, retailing garden products. Gardenscape also manufactures under licence to Bourne Amenity a whole range of specialist landscape materials, including roof garden soils as well www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Site Visit.indd 77

as their own nursery mixes. Drew Wetherell, sales account manager, says: “We’ve always got loads of material on site ready to go, all created by specialised manufacturing and blending kit.” Drew also tells me that Bourne Amenity averages a 12-15% increase in turnover each year, and part of this is surely down to its involvement in major projects such as the three storey roof garden at 20 Fenchurch Street (more commonly known as the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ building), the Crossrail station at Canary Wharf, and possibly the most prominent, the Olympic Park. Along with its Newenden site, the company also rents part of a Lafarge Tarmac sand quarry in Sevenoaks, where it predominantly blends high-end dressings for the sportsturf industry and high performance lawns. It also operates a third site in the Moorhouse sandpit in Westerham, Kent which Jonathan describes as a “mutually beneficial relationship with the quarry owners. We bring in a wide range of organic materials to mix with the clean indigenous sand to suit the increasingly technical requirements of high end landscaping projects.” Further arrangements are in place with independent sand quarries to the North of London allowing Bourne Amenity to expand its coverage around the UK. Jonathan reiterates the need to ensure that rapid expansion does not prejudice the focus on attention to detail when dealing with customer requirements. A refreshing attitude, and one we can certainly agree with. CONTACT Bourne Amenity Ltd, The Wharf, Rye Road, Newenden, Kent TN18 5QG Tel: 01797 252 299 Twitter: @Bourne_Amenity

www.bourneamenity.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 77

21/07/2016 11:40

NURTURE

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21/07/2016 11:39

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18/07/2016 13:03

21/07/2016 11:44

SEAN BUTLER

Thinking outside the box can mean building into the ground with a sunken space

LOCK DOWN ROBERT WEBBER

The importance of security lighting – and how to install it without disrupting your garden

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90 89

EDUCATE section cover.indd 81

The TGA’s chief executive runs through the perfect turf laying process

EDUCATE

ANOTHER LEVEL

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93 21/07/2016 11:05

EDUCATE

ANOTHER LEVEL A sunken garden or patio space can add a stylish point of interest to any build, says Sean Butler

When a flat garden is just not cutting it, we can consider another dimension. We often build up, but how often do we think of building down? Building a sunken patio, courtyard or multi-purpose entertaining area has its difficulties but they are not insurmountable, and certainly worth considering if the client’s budget allows. The possibilities are endless; you can create a hidden oasis, an additional room with a view or even somewhere to plant at waist height for those less able. So what do we need to consider here apart from cost? Foundations Drainage Heating Lighting Size

Foundations From our own experience, the best type of foundation is a raft construction with a toe edge. Drainage Many years ago I designed a simple solution to this and we use it in multiple applications. Quite simply it involves a tank, a pump and a few other components, which we use to pump any water away from the catchment tank to any existing drains or soakaways. Drainage is not only a consideration from within the sunken area but also the ground water building up around the walls on the outside and any adverse effect this might have. Heating A simple log fire pit can be added retrospectively but if you want something cleaner, easier to use and highly contemporary, I would recommend Rivelin’s bespoke fire tables. There is a big difference in price between a fire pit and a fire table, so a consideration of the budget is vital. A fire table can be run from LPG or mains gas, you just need to make sure you incorporate ducting to service the table. Lighting Subtle, warm and inviting lighting is all you need in a sunken space, for example wall downlights and step lights. If you’re choosing a fire table, built in LED lighting adds a great effect. Ensure you keep everything serviceable by including ducting to all lighting points. Size Seating capacity can depend on the finished depth of your sunken garden. A low sunken

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

Sean Butler.indd 82

patio as in this photo (above) has the retaining walls set at 500mm high and allows for at least 16 additional people to sit and socialise. The contemporary fire table completes the overall enjoyment of this space. You will find that when using a fire table or fire pit, heat is retained within the walls longer than if it were at ground level. In the photos above right and bottom left you can see the two seating areas, dining area and a relaxing sofa area in this large sunken garden. At 1m deep it creates a different perspective to view the surrounding plants – a little oasis hidden by the dense planting surrounding it. The fire pit gives a more rustic heating style, and subtle lighting and of course the mandatory champagne bucket is added to complete this alternative dimension in garden design and build. When considering your options on how to create the ‘wow’ factor, one should sometimes think in an alternative dimension. ABOUT SEAN BUTLER Sean Butler is a landscape designer and director of Cube 1994. With a background in civil engineering, Sean has an in-depth understanding of the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built landscape. www.cube1994.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/07/2016 11:37

EDUCATE

Robert Webber advises on how to incorporate security lighting into your garden to deter burglars without compromising on ambience

Yes, it’s that time of year again when we squeeze the whole family into the car and head off on holiday. We’re looking forward to arcades and crabbing on the beach in rock pools – the great British holiday. So, who’s looking after your home while you’re away? It’s a known fact that an unoccupied property with poor lighting is a target for thieves. Last month there were 32,000 burglaries on UK properties reported to the police. That’s a successful burglary just over every minute. After leaving a door open, the second biggest cause is poor or no security lighting in a vacant property. Security lighting has come a long way since I was young, when we had a 1,000W floodlight on the shed. The lamp would blow every week and the sensor would trigger at the sight of a caterpillar. Luckily, we’ve moved on. Your options as to how you apply security lighting are varied. You can still have floodlights placed up high that are triggered by movement within the garden. It’s all LED these days, so an old 500W light has become a 30W LED – they’re cheaper to run and won’t burn a hole in your shed roof. When we approach security we like to think outside the box. We seek to offer a solution that is sensitive to its environment but also effective when needed. After all, you don’t want to light

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Robert Webber.indd 83

LOCK DOWN

SECURITY LIGHTING your house like it’s something out of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The placement of security lighting is very important. Like all functional light, it is always placed above and often high up, which eliminates anyone tampering with the lights to

IT’S A KNOWN FACT THAT AN UNOCCUPIED PROPERTY WITH POOR LIGHTING IS A TARGET FOR THIEVES disable them. You then need to think about the trigger method to turn the light on. In most situations this will be a PIR sensor, which detects movement at night. It’s imperative to place these correctly so they don’t trigger too often and cause a nuisance, and that they sense the correct movement and body heat. It’s this sensor that forms the main interface in the garden and this is where good money needs to be spent. For us there is only one manufacturer and sensor we trust: Steinel. They offer a great range of sensors with varying degrees of angle so they can be positioned to look at the exact area you require. They’re not triggered by nearby trees or

shrubs moving in the wind and they work on body mass and heat, so our smaller nocturnal friends won’t set them off. What’s vital for you is to have a point of isolation where the security lighting can be turned off. Obviously this switch should be inside the house. I’ve been to many houses and installed garden lighting, only to know that the security lights flood the whole garden at night. It’s important to have isolation for your enjoyment when you don’t need that level of brightness. We try and incorporate security into our designs. A classic way to achieve this is by moon lighting, placing a light high in a tree so it shines downwards through the canopy, creating a moonlight effect. Recently we experimented with a system where in normal operation the light would only come on at 30% of its brightness, and when a sensor at the front gate was triggered it would turn up to 100%. Light Symphony is a cost effective control system to help achieve this. So, to know that your house is in safe hands when you’re away, fit a system that you can depend on. The cost of a good security light and sensor is around £200. The average cost of a burglary is £2,500. You can do the maths. ABOUT ROBERT WEBBER Robert Webber is the founder of Scenic Lighting, a specialist exterior lighting company based in Berkshire. He designs and installs garden lighting throughout the UK and internationally. Robert can be contacted on rob@ sceniclighting.com or via his mobile on 07766 051000.

www.sceniclighting.com

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 83

21/07/2016 11:33

ted on new eries where, n re-planted This gives a to the trunk m a seed in

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Test results

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From the results, he was able to determine that trees with foliage, which were planted in sandy humus soil at Bad Zwischenahn in Germany, didn’t need any additional anchorage up to storm force 10. Of the trees planted, 74% were able to take up to storm force 11 and 48% still didn’t need support up to storm force 12. This determines that only a relatively small support is actually necessary. In addition to the newly planted trees, further trees with a standing time of one to three were tested to determine how long a tree should be supported it can methods be left on its own. Oaks, chestnuts, horse chestnuts, maples, Possibleuntil securing sycamore and linden trees were used, groups all of the typical planting size of 25cm – 30cm trunks as well as trees with 50cmor– rigid 70cm systems diameterare trunks Therediameter is a simple principle in solitary engineering, that stiff not were able to used. Theand results show that additional anchorage should dynamic absorb dissipate imposed loads. Dynamic systems on be the used other for hand are ableand to do biological reasons. just that. This means that a if a tree is supported or anchored by steel cables or stiff

POLE POSITION

THE ARBORFIX SYSTEM AVAILABLE FROM WORKWARE When commercially grown trees are sold, they are removed from ground by a three bladed shovel or with what is more commonly used now, a circular knife. The root balls are covered by a bale cloth so that the roots are not exposed and the bale is then enclosed in wire netting. The root system on a commercially grown tree is considerably smaller than the bale on a naturally grown tree, hence the reason for some type of securing system when planting The most commonly used method for stabilizing newly planted trees, is a wooden tripod or its derivatives. This is not an optimal solution, neither esthetically, nor with concern to the physiology of the tree. Consequently more and more underground anchorage systems are being used. Underground systems are superior to tripod The round knife Shapes ball systems allowing the tree to be amore esthetically displayed, and allowing the tree to develop correctly and

Ball - socket

This gives a bilizing newly planted trees, is a wooden tripod to the trunk olution, neither m a seed in esthetically, nor with concern to more and more underground anchorage systems superior to tripod systems allowing the tree to ld, they are ing the treeorto develop correctly and establish a d shovel round knife agea also removes the problems associated The with w, circular Shapes a ball alism, continual maintenance, the chance of ale cloth so nal baledifficulties is then in maintaining grass around the

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bilizing newly planted trees, is a wooden tripod underground olution, neither esthetically, nor with concern to ortant to make more and more underground anchorage systems you consider superior to tripod systems allowing the tree to stion hastree been ing the to develop correctly and establish a horage a Artificial windage alsodoes removes the problems associated with search continual by Dr alism, maintenance, the chance Tension-tool of load ognized as the in maintaining grass around the Zugversuch nal difficulties on, and using of inclinationsecuringInclinometer underground is that it is acceptable as in connection em, crown or roots and that the bale diameter is a crown, you riate. The bale should not be compressed or aph rootsand can ree can safely on more than underground

ortant to make Evaluation of torsion-forces you consider stion has been horage does a search by Dr ognized as the on, and using Advert .indd 40

Artificial windload Tension-tool Zugversuch

tripods, all of the winds force goes into that construction, the tree does not participate in

Biodynamical the absorption background and the support system is unnecessarily strained. This results in the

necessary over-dimensioning of these systems or, if that is not done, the support A mechanism young tree will strives grow asalso tall allows as possible. Without fail.toThe tree for this support in its system and remains too any stimulus by for wind, most of the trees resources go into thin and weak its height. Fig 1 vertical growth. During the vegetation period, there a Test results also showed that rigid systems with steeliscables that are kept under tension, constant flow of auxin from the tree tops to the roots. This lead to a tightening of the cables and a constriction of the stem which, results in a boosts the vertical growth and therefore inhibits the predetermined breaking point. budding of side shoots, the growth of a wide crown andtothe If the principle that load distribution, is supposed function between the tree and its swinging is good main root system. contrast, in movements a tree that sways naturally securing system,Inthe possible and the maximum bend of the tree the have to be for the development in known. the wind, phytohormone ethylene is produced. This This was also examined at a tree nursery at Bad Zwischenahn, and it wasof found the tree hormone auxin a movement for training itself. If that it isinhibits possiblethe to transportation provide a tree of with part and of itscreates possible growth cells radial direction. This results in a and stable way. this is of done, thein treea can develop in a biologically healthy redistribution of the trees growth resources with a reduction of vertical growth and the reinforcement of stem growth and of the mainorroot system.above Therefore, trees level. should be Anchorage Support ground grown without additional support or anchorage. Supporting with stakes The most common form of support is a tripod, but often a set of four stakes may be used. Both hinder the movement the tree, causing influence establish a healthy root system. This of connection with an an analysis of the on the hormonal of the tree, which needs natural type of anchorage also removes the development Optical wind pressure on a crown, you can movement for optimal development to get enough bothersome problems associated with stimulation above getroot a generalized in its system. Itinclination is also a graph fact that the system is forgotten and the stakes are not removed Aftercare ground securing, such as vandalism, and about can determine the maximum after the roots have grown sufficiently. This can take continual maintenance, theyears chance wind force a tree can safely take. Dr and from an aesthetical viewpoint this is not of litigation due to obstruction and TheWessolly tests on as the acceptable. bindings conducted can also gothese into the stem Fig 2 tree grows around causing a predetermined breaking additional di culties in maintaining moreit,than 12000 trees. point. grass around the planting.Another Supporting important with pointropes which must be taken into consideration isAnchorage the often fatal of strimming. Often The general thoughts and or effect Support Supporting with ropes is not enough room between the stakes andorthe tree. Supporting trees with any kind of cable rope guidelines on undergroundthere securing Hamper the optimal above ground level The work has atolotbe and often there is a needs of done space quickly and can create pitfalls. They development of tree is that it is acceptable as long as amount Supporting with stakes (Fig 1) Supporting trees with any kind of cable or rope certain of indifference by the worker. This can are totally unacceptable in pedestrian areas result ofand thecan tree and possible death. The only advantage of stakes needsThe atolotthe of stem space create pitfalls. They the system does not damage thein damage most common form of support is the possible use unacceptable for advertising posters or to hide bad planting materials from the are totally in pedestrian areas Static anchorage stem, crown or roots and that the is a tripod, but often a set of four nursery.

! !

bale diameter is large enough and Staticstakes may be used. Both hinder There areanchorage anchorage systems on the market which the ground is appropriate. The the movement of theanchors tree, causing use steel cables and ground made of an Therean areinwedge. anchorage on is theinstalled market which bale should not be compressed aluminum system by uenceThe onsystems the hormonal use steel cables and ground anchors made then of an it into the earthtree, with a peg, or disturbed in a way that would hammering development of the which aluminum wedge. The system is installed fastening it with a ratchet to tighten the cable.by damage the roots. There are several hammering needs natural movement forisa stiff it into the earth with peg, and then Using this type of system the tree fastening it with to the cable. above ground and underground rigidly optimal development to tighten getsupported enough anchored asa ifratchet they were by Usingstimulation this typethis of system the tree Naturally the same disadvantages. securing systems available and stakes. in has its root system. Itis stiff and rigidly anchored astheif problem they were supported by This system also has that if it is important to make direct is Naturally also a fact that system is the trees stakes. this hasthe same disadvantages. stem thickness increases, itthetightens the cables comparisons before choosing whatwhich forgotten and the stakes This system alsoabout hasthethe problem that if the trees then depress cambiums, resulting in stem are thickness increases, it the tightens the by cables you consider to be the best for you.grooving, not removed roots especially if theafter fastening is done a which then depress the cambiums, resulting in Dr Lothar Wessolly of Germanysling. have gro n su ciently. his can grooving, especially if the fastening is done by a who is recognized as the world’s years and from an aesthetical sling.take Dynamic anchorage leading expert on tree stabilization, viewpoint this is not acceptable. The Dynamic anchorage and using his “inclomethod” whichThe bindings can also goof into the stemisasits advantage of this type anchorage natural growthit,of the tree. uses the angle of inclination under suitability a the for treethe grows around causing a The Thecanadvantage of this anchorage is its tree sway freely and type growofstrong. However so called “wind supplement load” in suitability predetermined breaking point. for the natural growth of the tree. The

systems with screw in anchors require exact tree can freely and grow the strong. However placing andsway adjustment. To install anchors you systems with screw anchors exact must operate outside the in planting hole,require which can Supporting with rope (2) placing and adjustment. To install the anchors you cause Supporting problems trees when with setting because of any kind must operate outside the planting hole, which can obstruction by stones. or rope needs a lot of causeof problems when setting because There arecable other systems which use shockof obstruction by stones. space and can create pitfalls. absorbers or soft synthetic ropes. These They are rather There arebecause which problematic ofsystems the synthetic materials and areother totally unacceptable inuse shock or soft ropes. Theseorare rather itsabsorbers vulnerability to synthetic vandalism. A knife pocket pedestrian area. problematic because of the synthetic and lighter is enough to severely damage materials the support itsconsequently vulnerability the to vandalism. A knife or pocket and tree. The relative movement is enough severely damage support Static anchorage oflighter the bale withinto the planting holetheis(3) not and consequently the On tree.lawns, The relative completely eliminated. there ismovement also the There are anchorage of the bale within the planting hole is not possibility of damage my mowers systems on the completely eliminated. On lawns, theremarket is also the possibility of damage my mowers

Sling

damage Steel-rope

Sling

damage

Steel-rope Tension-tool Tension-tool

Fig 3 Alu-anchor Alu-anchor

Synthetic rope

Reinforce the roots

Synthetic With shock rope absorber

Reinforce the roots

Fig 4

With shock absorber

Anchor in soil Anchor in soil

21/07/2016 11:55

All inte The inte the dev Ba ten By non wh sys com can con pol dis

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advertisement feature which use steel cables and ground anchors made of an aluminum wedge. The system is installed by hammering it into the earth with a peg, then fastening it with a ratchet to tighten the cable. Using this type of system the tree is stiﬀ and rigidly anchored as if they were supported by stakes. Naturally this has the same disadvantages. This system also has the problem that if the trees stem thickness increases, it tightens the cables which then depress the cambiums, resulting in grooving, especially if the fastening is done by a sling.

Bale pressing using aluminum earth anchors and tensioning ropes By using polyester slings and aluminum anchors, non-rotting materials are inserted into the ground, which is not really satisfactory. With this type of system, attention also has to be paid to the possible compression of the roots. Uninterrupted root growth can only happen where there is no sling, consequently, after the tree’s roots have grown through, the polyester slings and ropes must be taken out and disposed of.

Bale interlocking (Fig 6) This systems development started with consideration right from the start of the extraction of the tree at the nursery. The tree is taken from ground by a circular knife which results in a spherical bale. The Fig 1 bale is immediately covered with a jute bale cloth, which is secured in wire netting. In its new planting hole, itsecuring would obviously stand like Underground a ball in a socket. A sphere has no securing systems avoid anyhas visual Dynamic anchorage (Fig 4) All underground resistance to turning, so this interference and are aesthetically more pleasing. The advantage of this type of The trees can to grow be prevented in its new location. unmolested, because there is no anchorage is its suitability for the grow tap with central ring of the wire netting. The interferenceSome to the trees naturalnaturally sway and therefore hormonal interdependency, allowingcommon the tree to system works well with densely natural growth of the tree. Thethe tree roots; therefore it makes develop to its optimum potential. can sway freely and grow strong. sense to employ this principle when Bale pressing using aluminum earth anchors and rooted bales without damaging However systems with screw tensioning in replanting trees. the roots. ropes slings and has aluminum anchors require exact placing By andusing polyester A new system been anchors, The practical proof of this non rottingdeveloped materials are inserted the ground, adjustment. To install the anchors taking intointo account system was demonstrated after which is not really satisfactory. With this type of Pre-stressed you must operate outside the system, attention this principle. asthe firstpossible belt hurricane Kyrill which Aluminium occurred on also has to rbofi be paid to anchor planting hole, which can cause the GaLaBau compressionintroduced of the roots.atUninterrupted root growth 18th January 2007 Twenty one canof only exhibition happen where there Germany, is no sling, newly planted acer plantenoids problems when setting because in Nürnburg consequently, after the tree’s roots have struck, the obstruction by stones. and was immediately awarded polyester slings and ropes must be taken out and with stems of 18cm – 20cm had There are other systems whichdisposed use of.the coveted award for innovation. been planted in a relatively light shock absorbers or soft synthetic It is produced in four sizes to substratum using the rbofi Bale pressing using wood different diameters ropes. These are rather problematic accommodate securing system. planting This system has advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that theThe system uses site because of the synthetic materials stem. rbofi isthem fitted ithisonly wasroot notgrowth. completed, and the istrees force on theofbales by pressing which not good for The advantage that A the wood will totally this takes longer it takes on for steep the treesided to be hills and its vulnerability to vandalism. 3 blows of a decay. malletHowever, through the werethan standing standing knife or pocket lighter is enough to securely. Underground securingthe support Bale severely damage and interlocking consequently the tree. All underground securing systems avoid This any visual systems development started with consideration interference and are aesthetically moreright pleasing. from the start of the extraction of the tree at the Underground securing The trees can grow unmolested, because nursery. there is no The tree is taken from ground by a circular interference to the naturalsecuring sway andsystems therefore with results in a spherical bale. The bale is All underground knife which the hormonal allowingand the tree to covered with a jute bale cloth, which Fig is 6 immediately avoid interdependency, any visual interference develop to its optimum potential. secured in wire netting. In its new planting hole, it are aesthetically more pleasing. Bale pressing using aluminum earth anchors would and obviously stand like a ball in a socket. A Theropes trees can grow unmolested, tensioning sphere has no resistance to turning, so this has to be By using polyester slings andinterference aluminum anchors,in its new location. Some trees naturally prevented because there is no non rotting materials are inserted into the ground, grow tap roots; therefore it makes common sense to to the natural sway and therefore which is not really satisfactory. With this type this of principle Pre-stressed employ when replanting trees. Aluminium belt the hormonal system,with attention also has to interdependency, be paid to the possible A new system has been developed taking into account anchor compression of the roots. Uninterrupted root growth allowing the tree to develop tothis its principle. Arbofix was first introduced at the can only happen where there is GaLaBau no sling,exhibition in Nürnburg Germany, and was optimum potential. consequently, after the tree’s roots have immediately struck, the awarded the coveted award for polyester slings and ropes must be taken out and It is produced in four sizes to innovation. disposed of. Bale pressing using wood This system has advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that the system uses Advert force .indd on the41bales by pressing them which is not good for root growth. The advantage is

made of the substratum. The trees were not supported on the sides by the planting holes. Despite the severe hurricane force winds, no tree was unearthed or even pushed over. The planting site was an unprotected high plateau in the black forest. Several other healthy trees which had been planted on the same site with other systems overturned or were badly damaged. his clearly sho ed the beneﬁts of the rborﬁ system.

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21/07/2016 11:56

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21/07/2016 12:00 21/07/2016 10:23

EDUCATE

SEND IT DIRECT Email marketing, according to Ross Hewitt, is the best and most effective way for a business to digitally push a message out to its audience Email marketing is not difficult to set up even if you’ve never done it before. It used to be, but online platforms such as MailChimp and Campaign Monitor have made it easy for beginners to get going with step by step help and free templates that are easy to customise for your business. You can even use MailChimp for free if you have less than 2,000 subscribers on your list. The technology behind the broadcast has become simple to use – everything else is down to good planning and sharing compelling calls to action and content. Email marketing works, but only if you send great emails that are of interest to your audience. The best preparation for that is to not be thinking up content and writing it the morning of the day you are supposed to send it. Start planning Like everything else in digital marketing, it’s best to plan ahead. If you do already send a monthly newsletter out, then you should know in March what your April and May newsletters are going to cover and why you will be sending them. If you think through your activity in advance, you will send a newsletter out on a regular basis driven by a plan, and not by a calendar. If you don’t plan your activity, you will be scratching around for content and slapping mediocre messages together in a rush just to hit the deadline. A great plan and great content makes up most of the email marketing recipe for success. There are a couple of other important

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considerations that do need some attention if you haven’t reviewed them in a while. Think portable Your email newsletters need to work perfectly on a mobile device as well as in Outlook, Gmail or Hotmail, so be sure to test your newsletters by sending them to yourself and viewing them on your mobile. A recent study from Campaign Monitor has shown that around 53% of email newsletters are now opened on a mobile device. The same research has suggested that 69% of mobile users delete emails that aren’t optimised to view on their device. Get personal A personalised subject line makes an email 26% more likely to be opened. Personalisation is easy to do in email marketing, but you need the recipient’s name. If your data capture only records email addresses, change it to capture a name as well. If you’re not ready for personalising

THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE BROADCAST HAS BECOME SIMPLE TO USE – EVERYTHING ELSE IS DOWN TO GOOD PLANNING AND SHARING COMPELLING CONTENT emails, review your subject lines anyway – that is the biggest barrier to emails getting opened, and is always the first hurdle in getting results. ‘Company X email newsletter’ is not an engaging subject line. ‘Great offer this month’ is better, whereas ‘Hi Ross, there’s a great offer for you this month’ is spot on. So, an email that isn’t optimised for a mobile device, and with a bland or non-personalised subject line, is not likely to be opened or read by many people. All that well-planned and wonderful content will end up wasted. That’s no fun. I’ll leave you to get testing your templates and thinking about those future subject lines. Good luck. ABOUT ROSS HEWITT Ross Hewitt is managing director of digital marketing consultancy Secret Pie and author of ‘Savvy Social Media’. Ross began his digital marketing career in 1998 when social networking was ‘something you only did in a pub’. He set up Secret Pie in 2010 and has been helping clients get discovered and loved online ever since. www.secretpie.co.uk Twitter: @Secret_Pie

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/07/2016 11:58

EDUCATE

RRISON A H O F L

ADO

Title Vista: The Culture and Politics of Gardens Author Edited by Tim Richardson and Noël Kingsbury Publisher Frances Lincoln RRP £16.99

GARDEN DESIGNERS ARE, IN A WAY, PSYCHOANALYSTS OF PLACES Tim Richardson, Psychotopia, Vista, 2005 Vista is a book I stumbled across by chance after I had completed my garden design course, when really it should have been shoved under the students’ noses from the very first day. I had crossed over from the art world believing that the designed landscape might be a more relevant medium in contemporary culture, looking at the direction in which the world is heading. That belief took

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WHAT I’M READING Adolfo Harrison, co-director of Cityscapes

a bit of a pounding on the course – none more so than during the single garden history lecture, in which the tutor focused on who did what, where and when, but excruciatingly, never stopped to ask why. I wanted some insight into why on earth others and I had this urge to make gardens. Compare that with my MA Fine Art course, which was a vigorous interrogation of each artist’s discipline, that saw history and critical theory as the key to understanding the complex reasons why we do what we do in order to develop our practice with honesty. That is precisely what Vista sets out to address in 16 wide-ranging sociological and philosophical essays, by writers and designers such as Giles Clement, Tony Heywood and Fernando Caruncho. Subjects range from the the usual ‘Are gardens art?’ debate to ethnicity, femininity and psychology. THE BIG IDEA Within this 11-year-old book you’ll find the ideas manifested of how planting design would shift from the new perennial movement to the stewardship of designed ecosystems that we see today. Taken as a whole, the book indirectly gives us a template on how garden design education could shape its syllabus to ensure each pupil, and therefore the industry, reaches its full potential within the wider cultural sphere. Indeed Tim Richardson, Tony Heywood and Martha Schwartz did just that when they applied this

approach on their courses at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Instead of recycling fashion, pupils can be given the analytical and critical tools necessary for the ongoing development of their career in a truthful and inquisitive manner. LASTING INFLUENCE The book gave me hope and suggested my heart might be in the right place after all. Not long afterwards I teamed up with the garden writer and sound artist Darryl Moore and set about curating the rolling garden festival that would become Cityscapes. We wanted to give other designers a platform to bring thoughtprovoking and multi-disciplinary gardens to the public in the same way as you would, to quote Vista, “the ballet or theatre, singing or reading”.

ABOUT THE BOOK Tim Richardson and Noël Kingsbury’s book came out of an influential series of symposiums they hosted at the Garden Museum. This book was actually designed to be the first in a series. There’s still time.

CONTACT Adolfo Harrison is co-director of Cityscapes and runs his own design practice Adolfo Harrison Gardens. www.cityscapes.org.uk www.adolfoharrison.com

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 89

18/07/2016 16:29

EDUCATE

TURF LOVE Temperature, watering and ground preparation are all part of the turf laying process, says Tim Mudge, chief executive of the Turfgrass Growers Association Laying purpose-grown cultivated turf will enable your customer to enjoy a lawn of instant beauty without the inconvenience, wastage or delays associated with seeding. A TGA approved turf can also add value to property, especially if it’s going on the market in a year or two. When potential buyers see a lawn that’s well looked after, they’re going to assume the house is too. To help ensure optimum results, the TGA recommends you follow the guidelines here. Turf consists of a mass of living, breathing plants, and applying appropriate care and attention will enable it to grow to its full potential.

Ordering Measure the proposed lawn area accurately in square metres or square yards. Turf is supplied in compact rolls for easy handling and laying and must be laid as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of delivery, and in hot weather delivered turf must be kept in the shade. Ground preparation Proper ground preparation is essential for the establishment and future wellbeing of the lawn. Existing turf should be removed by slicing beneath the grass with a spade. The soil needs to be turned over thoroughly to a depth of 15cm using a spade or powered cultivator, and the area cleared of stones, weeds, old turf and other debris. 90

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Raking The ground should be raked to produce a smooth, level surface. Lightly roll or tread the surface by foot to reveal any soft patches which can then be raked level. Laying the turf Ensure that the underside of the new turf has full contact with the soil below and avoid using small pieces at the edges as these can dry out and perish.

How long does it take for turf to root itself into its new soil? During the summer this will take 10 to 14 days (weather permitting), slightly longer in the winter. Why is it best to lay it in spring or autumn? The temperatures at these times are generally milder. This helps with turf shelf life and also with establishment of turf, as soil temperatures aren’t too hot or too cold.

Watering Initially the turf needs to be well watered, but we urge people not to over water. It is a precious resource and if rain is forecast, don’t water. Between March and October, newly laid turf should be watered within half an hour of installation. This watering should be repeated at least once a day until the roots are established. As a guide, at least two hours per day of watering is essential across the complete lawn area. The TGA has helped to establish an e-learning course along with many other trade associations, WaterWise and Water UK.

What preparation can be done to help avoid failure? Getting a good topsoil and a free draining root zone. A good soil will produce a good lawn. Some recommend ‘shaping’ the lawn area with a slight camber to help run off in heavy rain and stop puddling. ABOUT TIM MUDGE Tim has been chief executive of the Turfgrass Growers Association since 2006 and has worked on projects ranging from the specification for turf at the Olympic Park to the recent TGA e-learning course for water conservation in the garden. Twitter: @TGATurfandWater www.turfgrass.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/07/2016 11:41

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21/01/2016 10:00

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EXPERT VIEW: WORKING WITH RIDE ON MOWERS

DAVID NEWMAN

NEWMAN LANDSCAPES

Newman Landscapes opts to use the new John Deere ride on machine which is provided to us by Farol, Hinckley. Farol also assists us in training our staff. Ride on mowers can be dangerous pieces of machinery that people take for granted. The training that Farol and Newman Landscapes provides to staff will show the operative how to use the machine correctly and the time limit they are

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allowed on it. We also have an age limit on our mowers which is 21. It’s not just driving the ride on which can be dangerous, but also transporting it on a trailer. All our operatives will be put through their trailer licence and also shown how to ratchet the machine down. If your ride on mower is going to be on the road you must register the vehicle with the DVLA and get a

number plate for it. Our policy is to only send the machine on the road if it has lights, indicators and a beacon. To summarise, you need to provide your operative with support. A good ride on can both earn you thousands and save you thousands in repair bills. Make sure all your risk assessments are in place and all your machinery service history is clearly understood and accessible.

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 93

21/07/2016 11:31

BIKE

PEOPLE

s p e cs

THE THREE PEAKERS

RIDE AGAIN With the Three Peakers Ride Again challenge looming, Pro Landscaper catches up with some of the riders to find out their choice of bike for the fundraising journey from Snowdown to Land’s End, although many asked us not to tell their wives about the prices...

Mountain bike riders

RICHARD GARDINER NAG SOLUTIONS

Model Trek Fuel EX 8 Why I chose it I had my beloved Trek Fuel EX 9 stolen, and a friend was selling his EX 8. It’s not the same, but it does the job. Price Usually £2,200 but £800 in this case

PAUL COWELL PC LANDSCAPES

Model Whyte T-129 RS Why I chose it Good spec level, five star rating and good reviews coupled with suitability for our type of terrain. Price £2,750

Pro Landscaper / August 2016

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GREG SKILBECK SILVERLAND STONE

Model Schwinn Cross Country Bike Why I chose it I bought it in 2002. Jim Brasier proved last time it’s determination that will get you round, not cash. Price £450

DAN FLYNN (RIGHT) GARDENLINK

Model Trek Fuel EX 8.9 Carbon Why I chose it It was light and comfortable. Price £3,000

BRIAN HERBERT OUTDOOR OPTIONS

Model Orange Five Why I chose it It’s British and made in Halifax. Price £3,300

DARREN SKIDMORE SKIDMORES OF HERTFORD

Model Specialized Camber Comp Carbon FSR 650B Why I chose it I’ve always liked Specialized bikes. Plus, it’s better than O’Conner’s. Price £3,000 (told the wife it was £1,500)

RICHARD CURLE LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATES LTD

Model Kona Process 134 Why I chose it Fits the bill for the challenge. Full suspension is not essential but will make the ride more comfortable. Price £3,000, ex-demo for £2,000

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/07/2016 10:40

Road bike riders PEOPLE

ARMANDO RAISH

PAUL DOWNER

TREEBOX

OAK VIEW LANDSCAPES

Model Giant frame 105 Shimano Why I chose it Recommendations from a friend, in addition to the fact that it suited my size and budget. Price £900, on sale for £690

ROB CROWDER CROWDERS NURSERIES

Model De Rosa R848 Why I chose it I was shamed into buying it after the Three Peaks Extreme challenge. This is the entry level carbon frame model. Price £1,700

JOHN WYER BOWLES & WYER

Model Merida Ride 93 Why I chose it It was within my budget of £150 (and the rest!) and was comfortable. Price £1,400

Model Trek Mondane 2.6 Why I chose it Supremely comfortable and very light, made of carbon fibre. It’s black and my colleagues call it ‘stealth-bomber’. Price £3,600

KATJA GRIFFITHS DESIGN BY KATJA

Model Scott Contessa Spark 700 Why I chose it Everyone recommended full suspension and a light bike. With a limited budget I was lucky to come across this one. Price £2,700, secondhand for £750

MATT O’CONNER

MARK GARTHWAITE

JOHN O’CONNER

QUADRON SERVICES

Model Giant Anthem 27.5 SX 2 Why I chose it It’s green, I think that will help. Price £2,000

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Model Felt F5 Why I chose it The Felt brand has an excellent heritage. It looks amazing and was race ready. Price £1,200

DONATE! To donate to the Three Peakers Ride Again team, who hope to raise over £50,000 for Perennial this year, visit www.justgiving.com/teams/threepeakers-ride-again To find out more about Perennial, the horticulture industry’s charity dedicated to helping all UK horticulturists with tailored one-to-one support, financial assistance and advice, visit www. perennial.org.uk or call 0800 093 8510

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 95

20/07/2016 10:41

PEOPLE

LOOK OUT FOR...

JACK SHILLEY Jack Shilley recently became senior horticultural team leader at the RHS Wisley Garden Plant Centre, Surrey. Pro Landscaper’s Nina Mason spoke to Jack about his new role, how the YoungHort initiative was founded, and why the horticultural industry needs a stronger online presence

What does your new role at RHS Wisley involve? The role encompasses management of teams, ordering, making sure we have the right amount of stock, and covering for the plant area manager when she is away. What first motivated you to pursue a career in horticulture? I’ve been interested in horticulture since around the age of six when my parents bought me a small pop-up greenhouse. At secondary school the gardening club I was involved in had a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Seeing the inspirational people at the show was a real turning point for me, where gardening went from being a hobby to what I wanted to pursue as a career. What route did you take to get into the industry? I did a Level 3 extended diploma in horticulture at Sparsholt College, and whilst I was there I worked weekends at Longacres Garden Centre in Bagshot. When I graduated in 2014, I decided to go on a three-month internship to the National Tropical Botanical Gardens (NTBG) in Hawaii to study tropical plants in their native environment. When I came back, I became Longacres’ new online plant supervisor, which involved setting up, running, and managing the online plant side of the business. An opportunity then arose at RHS Wisley. What did the internship at NTBG involve? We had to maintain the gardens on the south shore of the island, as well as learn nursery and 96

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Look Out For.indd 96

propagation skills, and about conservation; we went hiking into protected areas on the island and reintroduced native plants to their natural habitat. To do that was incredible – to know that the impact our group made when we planted them back into that particular area was going to benefit the ecosystem for many years to come.

THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY NEEDS TO GET BEHIND YOUTUBE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE NEXT AUDIENCE IS GOING TO BE Can you tell us a little bit about YoungHort and how it started? In December 2013 I was thinking out loud on my Twitter feed after a debate in class about young people in horticulture. I tweeted that there should be an event for young horticulturists to get together to build a platform and a forum for the future of the industry, as well as to promote more young people to pursue a career in horticulture. The post received lots of interest, and that was the push I needed. In March 2014 we had our first event at RHS Wisley. We’ve now got about 450 members and we have another event happening on 7 August, for details contact younghortcontact@gmail.com. How do you plan to develop YoungHort? At the moment we are trying to get a proper organisational structure in place, then hopefully we can formulate a business plan that we can

pitch to supporters to try to raise funds for creating things such as apps and lesson plans to go into schools. We’re hoping to use the event in August to show people that we’re still here and to showcase what we’re working on. You also have your own personal YouTube channel. What does this cover? I had my first YouTube channel when I was about 15, and it’s developed since then to have about 1,500 subscribers and over 100,000 combined views. It started off with a few videos about different plants that I was interested in, and has now developed into ‘How to’ videos, show highlights and other things. Do you think the social media presence in horticulture could be stronger? The horticultural industry really needs to get behind YouTube and social media, because ultimately that is where the new audience is going to be. Those in secondary school and young adults are the age groups predominantly using social media, and they’re the ones we need to focus on. If we can get behind social media and modernise the industry in that respect then hopefully we can attract the right audience. What are your future career ambitions? I would like to do the RHS Master of Horticulture programme, which I’m hoping to pursue here. My ultimate aim would be to own a garden centre or move down a journalism and media broadcasting route in horticulture. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/07/2016 11:22

JOBS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX Location:

Xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxxxxx xxx xx For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk. For full details on all jobs, please go to For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk. www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

Call 01903 777 587 or email ellie.downes@eljays44.com with your vacancy. Call 01903 777 570 or email hortcareers@eljays44.com with your vacancy

LANDSCAPER / GROUNDS MAINTENANCE OPERATIVE BARGE GROUP LTD Location: Erith

Barge Group Ltd is expanding and requires new crew members to join its dynamic company. Barge Group operates from its main depot near Dartford in Kent and undertakes a range of services, serving a multitude of sectors including trafﬁc management, highway vegetation management, arboriculture, hard and soft landscaping, fencing and 24/7 emergency callout. Applicants must have a full clean driving licence. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

LANDSCAPE TEAM LEADER GAVIN RHODES LANDSCAPES Location: Mirﬁeld

Gavin Rhodes Landscapes has grown signiﬁcantly over the last few years and requires a high quality, experienced landscape team leader to facilitate the continued development of the business. The ideal candidate will take pride in their work, pay attention to detail, be polite, friendly, conﬁdent and reliable both with clients and in the supervision of team members. A full UK driving licence is essential. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

MAINTENANCE AND PLANTING ASSISTANT

HEAD GARDENER

GardensforLife is a high quality garden design and maintenance company based in Hatﬁeld, Herts. We are looking for a hard-working, enthusiastic maintenance and planting assistant to help our experienced team. Our work is of the highest quality and in prestigious gardens mostly that we have designed and built with our teams. The candidate must be a plant lover and willing to learn, happy to be guided or work as part of a team. Ideally the candidate will be starting out in their career and ready to learn.

The Windmill Village Hotel is currently in the process of starting a three-year project of re-landscaping its grounds and gardens. The main duties of this role will be to manage all garden project activities to ensure they are carried out on schedule and within allocated budgets, to plan, instigate and monitor plant and tree care problems, research and development, management of plant collections, and leading garden staff. The candidate must have relevant qualiﬁcations and previous experience in horticulture.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

SURVEYOR / TECHNICIAN

DEPUTY HEAD OF GARDENS

Our client is a specialist contractor providing treatment and removal services for invasive weeds. They have teams which operate nationwide for both commercial and domestic clients. Due to an ever-increasing workload they are looking to recruit a surveyor with occasional spraying and excavation duties. This will be a home based position with regular travel throughout the UK. The role will predominantly be surveying, and from time to time will include spraying, exploratory digs and excavations.

We are looking to appoint to the post of deputy head of gardens. The gardens team is responsible for 100 acres of high proﬁle gardens, ensuring that the senior and prep school gardens look their best all year round. The successful candidate will be formally trained in gardening and/or groundwork and have at least ﬁve years’ practical experience.

GARDENSFORLIFE Location: Hatﬁeld, Hertfordshire

HORTICRUITMENT Location: East of England and London (home based)

WINDMILL VILLAGE HOTEL Location: Allesley, Coventry

KINGSWOOD SCHOOL Location: Bath

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

HIGHLY SKILLED LANDSCAPER THE OUTDOOR ROOM Location: Cowfold, West Sussex

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled landscaper to join our award-winning company. The right candidate should be positive, self-motivated and be able to use their own initiative. They also need to be ﬂexible, organised and willing to undertake any required training. The ideal candidate must have at least ﬁve years’ experience in all areas of both hard and soft landscaping, be able to read plans and a full clean driving licence is essential. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

JOBS ProLan.indd 97

TURF GRADES FOR EVERY GARDEN OR LANDSCAPE DELIVERED THROUGHOUT THE UK T: 01759 321 000 · F: 01759 380 130

e: alex@inturf.co.uk or stephen@inturf.co.uk www.inturf.com

Pro Landscaper / August 2016 97

21/07/2016 13:15

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Ferris Dual Drive – 52” width of cut. Service choice of 2 £3’750 Scag 36” Mowers – 36” rotary mower choice of 14 from £2’250 Scag 52” Mower, twin wheel kit, serviced 2 available £3’250 Scag 52” Velocity Plus Mower, twin wheels 3 available £3’750 £3’400 Abei HC44 Scythe mower – 65” working width, 2WD, HST, 11hp £1’950 Allett Buffalo 24” Cylinder Mower £1’950 Allett Shaver 24” Cylinder Mower £2’000 Allett Buckingham 20” Cylinder Mower £ POA Allett Tournament 20” Cylinder Mower £3’500 Applied 414RS Greens Sweeper – 2WD, HST, only 125 hours £2’500 Hustle Trimstar – 36” Rotary RD deck, 2WD, HST Timber Products £2’200 Lloyds Paladin Cylinder Mower t? £1’250 Ransome Marquis 51 Cylinder Mower maintenance equipment? Unwanted grounds 1 21/01/2015 12:17 £1’700 Ransome 61 Super Certes Cylinder Mower ctionsPL App Ad.indd Don’t scrap it -Mower SELL at Unit Tamlyns Outdoor Auctions £2’500 John Deere 180c Greens – 11it blade (18”) £ 21/01/2015 500 John1Deere JX90C – 21” commercial rotary mower PL App Ad.indd 12:17 £1’200 BCS 710 Scythe Mower – 38” width of cut Next Sale Days: Compact, lightweight mobile shredder £ 750 Camon C8 Rotovator – choice 3 from Saturday 9th July: The Sale Field, goes £ 750 Camon turfwherever cutter it’s needed Blakes Road, Wembdon, Bridgwater, £2’950 Compact, lightweight mobile shredder Charterhouse Core Collector 3000 Makes easy work of branches, TA6 7RS £ 475 Eliet turf edger goes wherever it’sand needed wet green-waste mixed leafage ‘Fred The Edge’ turf edger choice of 2 £ 300 30th July: The Oak Tree Saturday Makes easy work of branches, Season year John 4 Deere E35shredder turf edgerfor choice of 2 £ 500 Arena, M5 J22,leafage Somerset, wetEdithmead, green-waste mixed £ 1’250 Sisis Auto Outfield Slitterand – 30” working width round effectiveness TA9 4HA esign. £1’500 Sisis Auto Turfman Aerator 4 Season shredder forwith yearhollow tines

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ALL MATERIALS ALL MATERIALS The Major 4S Mobile Shredder the interactive app •The Major 4S Mobile Shredder •1 Go to the app store •2 search ‘PRO LANDSCAPER’ the free app •43 download • choose and download your issue • Call: 08450 773 773 Classified ALLCLASSIFIED YEAR Call: 08450 773 773 Classified ALL MATERIALS ALL YEAR W. Godfrey &IRRIGATION Sons Ltd The Major 4S Mobile Shredder Wholesale Herbaceous Growers • ��r�i��o� • • • Call: 08450 773 773 Classified ALL YEAR

Producestoeasilycompostable Enquiries Tamlyns, 56 High Street, Compact roundTractors effectiveness BioTech™ chips 01473 328272 www.schsupplies.co.uk Bridgwater, TA6 3BN £6’500 John Deere 855 easily&Somerset, frontcompostable loader, diesel, 4WD, HST, PTO, turf tyres Produces £7’750 Deere 4300 & front loader, 32hp diesel, 4WD, HST, turf tyres 01278 454500 TJohn BioTech™ chips British built, robust equipment £8’500 John Deere 4300, 32hp diesel, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar www.landmarktimber.co.uk 0808 129 3773 ross.whitcombe@tamlyns.co.uk E Bespoke orders – we candiesel, build to your specifications £10’500 www.psdgroundscare.co.uk John Deere 4500 & fronttaken loader, with Cab 39hp gearbox - 1709hrs PROFESSIONAL W www.tamlynsprofessional.co.uk £13’750 Kioti DK551C with Cab, 54hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 612 hrs

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Ride-On Tractor Mowers John Deere GT235, 48” SD deck, 18hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 355 hrs John Deere X320, 48” SD deck, 22hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 195 hrs JohnBuy Deere GX355D, SD deck, 16hp diesel, and 2WD, HST – choice of 2 from 48” manufacturers save £££! John Deere X495, 48” SD deck, 24hp diesel, 2WD, HST – 1922 hrs on pumps andoffilters! JohnAlso Deere X740, 54”savings SD deck, Low-Tip Collector – choice 2 John Deere X748, 48” RDnot deck,visit 24hp diesel, HST – 1380 hrs Why our4WD, website! Etesia Bahia, 32” RD deck & collector, 2WD Etesia H124DS, 48” RD deck, Hi-Tip Collector, 25hp diesel – 828 hrs Etesia Attila Bank Mower (Ex Demo) – low hours

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For alleasy your golf, and4WD, landscape needs. John Deere 1565 withsportsturf cab, 62” HST – 1044irrigation hrs £9’750 Makes work of branches, wetRD, 38hp, John Deere 1600T Wide Mower with canopy – choice of 2 green waste andat mixed leafage Contact us atArea gritting@ground-control.co.uk Ride-On Tractor Mowers Buy online www.lws.uk.com John Deere 997 Zero Turn Mower, 60” deck, 30hp – 291 hrs

from: £8’500 £1’500£9’000 £2’500£ POA from: £12’000 £3’000 £ POA £5’500 £6’250 £6’750 £2’250 £4’750 Etesia H124DS, 48”www.ground-control.co.uk RD deck, Hi-Tip Collector, 25hp diesel – 828 hrs The Stables, London Road, Billericay,Essex CM12 9HS £ POA Etesia Attila Bank Mower (Ex Demo) – low hours

John Deere GT235,is 48” SD deck, 18hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 355 hrs 4 Season shredder effective in all Jacobsen HR6010 Wide Area Mower – 1615 hrs John Deere X320, 48” SD deck, 22hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 195 hrs conditions Ransome HR6010 Wide Area Mower – choice of 2 John Deere GX355D, 48” SD deck, 16hp diesel, 2WD, HST – choice of 2 Smooth and easy suction Ransome HR300, 60” RD deck, 4WD, HST – choice of 4 John Deere X495, 48” SD deck, 24hp diesel, 2WD, HST – 1922 hrs feed system John Deere X740, 54” SD deck, Low-Tip Collector – choice of 2 Commercial Pedestrian Mowers Produces easily compostable John Deere X748, 48” RD deck, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – 1380 hrs HugeBahia, choice of RD Ferris Scag mowers BioTech™ chips32” Etesia deckand & collector, 2WD – 36”, 48” 52” Zero Turn mowers.

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