COASTAL PARADISE Sub-tropical Trebah Garden in Cornwall TAKE THE PLUNGE BLUEFISH LANDSCAPING CONTRACTORS
SUCCESSFUL STARTERS says Gareth Wilson
Train new staff to reap rewards,
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So, whilst we look back over the last decade and the achievements within it, let’s not forget to look ahead – what could the next 10 years have in store?
Studio©CW
On top of that, amongst these pages, you’ll see that Manchester-based landscape architecture practice CW Studio has been
WOODLAND HOUSE VIEW, WIRRAL BY CW STUDIO
A
WHILST WE LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST DECADE AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN IT, LET’S NOT FORGET TO LOOK AHEAD
NINA
WELCOME
As you can see, a decade is a running theme this month. I recently spoke to Andrew Grant about Gardens by the Bay celebrating its 10th anniversary since opening (more on this in the next issue), and the point came up that whilst a decade is a significant milestone, it’s not an end point. There have been a few articles about the Olympic Park recently which speak about it not having achieved its legacy – but this legacy is ongoing. Landscapes evolve, companies evolve, brands evolve.
decade sounds like a long time, but it feels like just yesterday that we were cheering on Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. In our London supplement, you’ll find an article celebrating the legacy of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10 years on from the Games. And it’s not the only one commemorating its 10th Photographeranniversary.Paul Scott, who we invited to join us on our site visit to the Olympic Park in June, is also celebrating a decade of his business, Front Elevation, as is Garden Club London. The design-and-build company has grown its reputation to become one of the most prolific names in its field, and we spoke to managing director Tony Woods about how its success comes down its people.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 3 WELCOME
delivering its impressive schemes for the last 10 years. and it’s now working on some bold sustainability goals as it continues to develop.
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Increasingly, clients in the public domain opting for fitted with
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prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 20226 CONTENTS 3531302925221410 4339 53475963676871 News Our monthly roundup of industry news Let’s Hear it From Gareth NurtureKirkwood, 30 Under 30 Update Ben Poulter Blind to Biodiversity Loss? Jason Knights Finding Value Katie Flaxman Not All Going to Plan Andrew Wilson Achieving Success: Lessons from the Saddle (Part 2) Marcus Watson Get On Board Christopher Martin UK Landscape Barometer Industry feedback and statistics for May 2021/22 Neither Fish Nor Fowl Neil Edwards Roman Restoration Urquhart & Hunt Take the Plunge Bluefish ContractorsLandscaping Architect'sLandscape Journal CW Studio Talk of the Trade Debs Winrow PLBA 2022 – Award-worthy Garden Design Company PLBA 2022 – Award-worthy Landscaping Company £1M-5M Planters With Purpose Latest products 63 INSPIRE INFORM IQ 14 53 59
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 7 CONTENTS AUGUST 2022 AUGUST 2O22 LET’S HEAR IT FROM GarethNurtureKirkwood,Group ROMAN RESTORATION Urquhart & Hunt recreate gardens for a Somerset villa SUCCESSFUL STARTERS Train new staff to reap rewards, says Gareth Wilson COASTAL PARADISE Sub-tropical Trebah Garden in Cornwall TAKE THE PLUNGE BLUEFISH LANDSCAPING CONTRACTORS Cover.indd9895939290898887 Feature Garden Trebah Garden Solar Power Nick Coslett UndersellingUnder-pricing, Lewis Normand Hit The Roof Achieving success with green roofing Salary Reviews: Are They Mandatory? Oracle Solicitors Setting Up For Success Gareth Wilson It Pays To Talk Alison Warner The Fragility of Technology Angus Lindsay Choosing Cordless Makita Gravelrings Overlay Application Beauxfort Drainage Tips on domestic and commercial drainage Little Interviews Questions with the individuals who make up our industry To receive a copy of Pro Landscaper, please contact Joe Wilkinson. Email joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com or call 01903 777 587. 47 92 75 83 EDUCATE NURTURE 83828075
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Quick progress isn’t always good progress. As businesses feel pressured to hire new staff in the summer, Gareth explains that to stay successful it’s imperative to take the time to train new staff. How can companies ensure they’re not failing the next generation of landscapers?
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How can COP15 help drive forward biodiversity goals, and the collective responsibility businesses have, to deliver a momentous change? Jason discusses how one million species face extinction across the planet by 2039, “apocalyptic predictions” that should be a warning.
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“Feeling undervalued is not the same as your work not being valuable,” Katie tells us of how landscape architects are often overlooked, as modern society teaches us to value our needs over those of the environment. It’s “a field ahead of its time” but are widespread Ecocentric views around the corner?
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Botched landscaping and too-good-to-be-true plants are scrutinised by Lewis in his article regarding public impressions of the industry. As some look to offer poor quality work for a quick payday, are accredited tradespeople missing out as the public falls for fashionable lies?
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Sarah Eberle was honoured with the RHS Iconic Horticultural Hero award for her professional career spanning over 40 years, and in recognition of being the most decorated designer across all RHS shows with 21 Gold medals. Helena Pettit, RHS director of gardens and shows says:
MATTHEW CHILDS WINS BEST SHOW GARDEN AT HAMPTON COURT
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN THE SOCIETY OF GARDEN STUDENTDESIGNAWARDS 2022NEWS
GARDEN BY CHARLOTTE O'DONNELL
A garden symbolising the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and reflecting the country’s culture and tradition won in the Global Impact category. What Does Not Burn, created by Ukrainian designer Victoria Maynolo and Netherlands based Carrie Preston, features a burnt-out structure that represents a typical Ukrainian cottage, set within a field of barley interspersed with field weeds and fruit trees.
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202210 INFORM
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ardens created for a disabled children’s charity, to raise awareness for the conflict in Ukraine and a planting starter kit for home-workers won awards on the opening day of the 2022 RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
The Best Show Garden was awarded to Over The Wall by Matthew Childs Design, a conceptual garden space to highlight the inspiring work of the Over The Wall charity which supports children living with rare and serious illness or disability. The team also received the Best Show Garden Construction award with contractors Yoreland Design, as well as winning a Gold Medal. Takeda.
“The Awards are a fantastic springboard from which to launch a new career and a great opportunity for the Society to support and celebrate the achievements of its student members. We are looking forward to revealing the winners at the Awards ceremony in September.”
MacGregor©RHS/Luke
Lynne Marcus MSGD, chair of the Society of Garden Designers says: “The SGD represents the gold standard of garden design and has always been passionate about nurturing new design talent for the future, so it’s inspiring to see such a high standard of entries once again this year.
T
he best emerging talent in the garden and landscape design industry has been selected for the shortlist in the SGD Student Awards 2022 recently announced by the Society of Garden Designers.
Nine designers representing a range of colleges including Capel Manor College, KLC School of Design, The London College of Garden Design and The University of Greenwich have been selected across two categories for Commercial Design and Domestic Design, with 12 projects making theJudgedshortlist.this year by SGD fellows David Stevens FSGD and Sarah Morgan FSGD, they remarked on the impressive quality of the graphic presentations and the creativity displayed in the designs. They were also delighted to see an increased understanding of the importance of sustainability across all the projects.
The finalists can be viewed in full at: sgd.org.uk
“Congratulations to all of the award winners at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. The breadth of design and ideas behind each one was really thought provoking and inspiring, as well as visually beautiful.
“We are also honoured to recognise Sarah Eberle in celebration of her life-long career in horticulture, as well as her continued contribution to the profession. Her garden will be adored by visitors and will offer a fantastic experience for them to walk through and get up close and personal to her cleverly planted design.” rhs.org.uk
As it looks to its 20th anniversary this year, Majestic Trees is holding an industry open day on Tuesday 13 September. It is inviting members of the industry to join it in celebrating its achievements, viewing how to handle specimen trees displays, and to consider future challenges for the industry. It has compiled a full symposium, led by industry experts. majestictrees.co.uk
marklanedesigns.com
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Mark was one of ten ‘inspirational individuals’ to be awarded an honorary degree and is now a Doctor of the University. His ‘inspirational career in garden design and media’ was cited.
when he joined BBC TV Gardeners’ World. He has since become the regular gardening presenter on BBC Morning Live and also runs Mark Lane Designs Ltd, an award-winning landscape designMarkpractice.says:“This came as a total surprise. I received a letter from the vice chancellor and president in 2021 and had to defer receiving the Honorary Doctorate until now because of other work commitments. I am truly honoured and extremely humbled to have received this award. My mum always wanted a doctor in the family and now it has happened.
NEWS IN BRIEF
utureScape has announced that the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI)’s GoLandscape initiative will be sponsoring the Training, Education and Employment Village at this year’s event.
F
Mark became the UK’s first BBC gardening presenter in a wheelchair
New images have memorialGladefullyshowingreleasedbeenthecompletedofLightinManchester
Wayne Grills, chief executive of BALI, says: “We are delighted be supporting FutureScape’s Training, Education and Employment Village with the Association’s careers’ initiative GoLandscape. The partnership will offer us a fantastic opportunity to promote career opportunities in the landscape industry and in turn help to bridge the current skills gap.”
CROWDERS BECOMES PLANT HEALTHY CERTIFIED
FutureScape will be taking place for the second year in a row at the ExCeL London from 15-16 November. Keep an eye out for more announcements on the seminar programme and the awards taking place at the two-day event. futurescapeevent.com
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Crowders announcedhasthat it has become Plant Healthy certified. The Plant Healthy certification scheme helps to identify businesses that trade and grow plants to the high plant health and biosecurity standards. With input from the Government, Plant Healthy sets out key requirements to achieve success in plant health management. crowdersnurseries.co.uk
The Training, Education and Employment village is a new addition to FutureScape this year. The area will be aimed at those looking for career advice, training information and new opportunities to go and make the right connections. There will be space for exhibitor stands and a seminar theatre with various workshops taking place across the two GoLandscapedays.was launched by BALI as an education, skills and careers initiative to encourage new recruits into the industry and help to combat the ongoing skills shortage.
roadcaster and landscape designer Mark Lane has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent.
“To have my work in garden design and broadcasting recognised by such a prestigious an international university, University of Kent, must show that I am doing something right and I thank them for this honour.”
– a significant design project which commemorates the victims of the 22 May 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. The memorial has been designed by BCA Landscape (BCAL) working in conjunction with Smiling Wolf. bcalandscape.co.uk
MARK LANE RECEIVES DOCTORATE FOR HIS ‘INSPIRATIONAL CAREER’
BALI AND GOLANDSCAPE SPONSORING THE TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT VILLAGE
MAJESTIC TREES TO HOST ANNIVERSARY OPEN DAY
NEW GLADE OF LIGHT MEMORIAL UNVEILED IN MANCHESTER
Homes England will provide loan financing to help tackle high up-front infrastructure costs. This includes investment to support a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across Royal Victoria Dock, the restoration of the Millennium Mills and the repair of the dock walls. New public realm will provide local people with access to the water at the Royal Docks via new bridges, wider canal walkways and jetties. gov.uk
6,000 new homes and support the creation of 1.8 million sq. ft of next-generation business workspace, alongside new space for cultural and community events and a vibrant new town centre for the Royal Docks.
GOVERNMENT PLEDGES £233M TO BRING DOCKLAND SITE BACK TO LIFE
'GREEN RISE' BY TONY WOODS FOR SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2022
ExclusivesOnline
MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION
This year’s Festival will take place from 30 July to 7 August 2022 at ION Orchard and Ngee Ann City along popular shopping belt Orchard Road, and 30 July to 9 August 2022 at the UNESCO World Heritage site Singapore Botanic Gardens. This is Tony Woods' first participation at SGF, and he will be participating in the highly contested Show Garden Competition.
Sitting within London’s only Enterprise Zone at the Royal Docks, the Silvertown site in Newham has been derelict for the last 40 years and is one of the largest brownfield sites in London’s historic docklands.
We speak to ofmentorshipaboutWilsonGarethhisMitchellSalthouse
The major regeneration project will include improvements to the infrastructure around the site and will support The Silvertown Partnership (TSP), a joint venture between Lendlease and Starwood Capital, to build
Housing Minister Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP says: “This major investment will revive London’s historic docklands to deliver vital new homes, create jobs and boost the local economy with new state-of-the-art facilities.
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Shutterstock.com/BaxterG©A
of June, allowing its staff to work Monday to Thursday without a reduction in pay. Tyler Grange speaks to us about how the company is getting on in its ‘four-day work week’ trial. its-four-day-week/how-is-tyler-grange-faring-in-prolandscapermagazine.com/
TONY WOODS TO COMPETE AT SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2022
of Everest Garden Landscape, who is building The Covid Recovery Garden at the RHS Tatton Flower Show for garden designer Rachel Platt. mentoring-the-next-generation/prolandscapermagazine.com/
atworkaintroducedGrangeTylerfour-dayweekthebeginning
With smallthissearchtheforyear’sproject
Most recently at the Chelsea Flower Show, Tony Woods took home a Gold medal for his sanctuary garden titled ‘A Garden Sanctuary by Hamptons’.
BIG IMPACT (spBI) Award winners well under way, Pro Landscaper speaks to headline sponsor Provender Nurseries’ marketing manager Liz Hughes on why people should be vying for the top trophies. all-mixed-into-one/creativity-and-general-knowledge-the-spbi-awards-sustainability-prolandscapermagazine.com/
In its eighth edition, the biennial event has established itself as a premier tropical garden and flower show, where garden and floral designers with at least one top accolade in the recent two to three years are invited to participate.
THE SPBI MIXEDANDSUSTAINABILITY,AWARDS:CREATIVITYGENERALKNOWLEDGEALLINTOONE!
make use of plants for shadow, shape, texture and drama which is intensified by the urban back drop.”
omes England will provide £233m of infrastructure loan funding to bring to life a new £3.5bn neighbourhood at Silvertown, East London.
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HOW IS TYLER GRANGE FARING IN ITS FOUR-DAY WEEK?
ounder of Garden Club London, Tony Woods, will be heading to Singapore to compete at the international garden and flower show Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) 2022, organised by the National Parks Board (NParks).
Tony Woods says: “I am hopeful that my designs demonstrate the interaction between modern cities, urban architecture and the natural environment. My designs
H
This year’s competition will feature a total of six Show Garden plots. As anchor displays, the Show Gardens will bring together seven celebrated luminaries from four countries for a showcase of creativity and horticulture excellence. Judges can hand out Gold, Silver and Bronze medals with the overall winner being awarded the “Best of Show” title. gardenclublondon.co.uk
urture Landscapes has seen significant growth for a company founded on April Fools’ Day in 2008. Back then, it was just four people, with its growth being driven by ambitious founder Peter Fane. A combination of organic growth and carefully considered acquisitions has allowed Nurture to expand exponentially into a nationwide group of three leading brands over the last 14 years.
Gareth Kirkwood received an OBE in his role as managing director of AA’s roadside services division for the organisation’s support during the pandemic. It offered free breakdown cover for NHS staff, for instance, and offered support for London and East of England ambulance services.
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JOINING THE NURTURE GROUP FROM THE AA, CEO GARETH KIRKWOOD IS BRINGING A WEALTH OF EXPERTISE TO ENSURE THE GREEN SERVICE PROVIDER IS AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME
GARETH KIRKWOOD Let’s Hear it From THE NURTURE GROUP
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Before the AA, he spent 22 years at British Airways, including four years running its regional airline, and then six years at the helm of World Cargo. He was announced as the new CEO of Nurture in January this year, with Peter assuming the position of executive chairman.
Earlier this year, though, Peter Fane made the decision to step down as CEO, which may have come as a surprise to many. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, Peter is not stepping away entirely from the business. And perhaps even less surprising is that the new CEO is just as ambitious and has his own string of successes, including a special honour from Her Majesty.
2 Jubilee Gardens in July 2019
3 Nurture senior training manager and bee keeper, John Beavan
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THE COMPANY HAS BEEN BUILT ON ACQUISITIONS ; I THINK THE COMPANY’S BEEN BUILT ON THE SERVICE TO CLIENTS AND THEREFORE THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THE SERVICE
in his strong Scottish accent. “I focus on the day to day, the business and trading, business development, and so on. That allows Pete to keep on looking at acquisitions. It’s very much a partnership.”
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“I was incredibly proud of what British Airways does, both in terms of the passenger side of the airline, which is more well known, but I ran the cargo business for six years and became very passionate about freight – which is perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m very proud of that business.
“Nothing has changed in terms of Pete’s day-to-day involvement in the business. But growing as quickly as it has grown, with a big growth agenda ahead of us, Pete wanted to make sure that there was more than him leading a company of this size,” says Gareth,
“And again, the last four years of my career have been spent at the AA, which is an iconic brand, one you could feel really proud of; it’s all about helping people in their hour of need. So, this job at Nurture was very much a no-brainer because I can be really proud of what the organisation does. We make the world a more beautiful place –
5 Howbery Park, Biodiversity Award 2020
4 New kit: Flail Banks Mower
From an airline to a motoring association and now to a green service provider, Gareth has explored various industries throughout his career, but he says there is a common theme. “For me to get the most out of a job that I do, I have to be doing something that I feel connected to, that I’m proud of what it is that the organisation actually does.
1 Chiswick Park #Enjoy-Work
There’s one other big reason why Gareth wanted to join Nurture – its environmental ambitions, with many of its sites striving to make a difference in terms of biodiversity and sustainability. It has already achieved carbon neutrality and is aiming to be net zero by 2030, with a sustainability manager recently recruited to help the company work towards its goals.
“But the charisma of Pete is a big part of that as well. He’s a very charming, energetic, driven, smart individual and someone I got on with straight away, and my respect for him has only grown over the time.”
that’s the bottom line at the end, for our clients and everybody we work with, all day, every day. So, having that connection with what it is the company does is really important to me.”
Gareth started his career as a gardener and then a groundsman at a cricket club, and when he spotted the role at Nurture, he said it was the most compelling option, having been considering a couple of other roles at the time.
“A lot of people have said that the company has been built on acquisitions; I think the company’s been built on the service to clients and therefore the people who provide the service, and that’s a big draw for me. There are plenty of organisations who would claim to have the same service ethic, and that may well be the case, but it’s very obvious when I go around sites that the service and the customer service to the client is front and centre for all the people that work here, and that’s a massive part of why I’m here.”
It’s hard not to admire the journey through which Peter has navigated Nurture,
that makes a difference, and that certainly was the case.
HISTORY IS LITTERED WITH ORGANISATIONS WHO’VE GROWN AT A RATE FASTER THAN THEY CAN COPE WITH , SO WE’RE BUILDING A PLATFORM FOR FUTURE GROWTH . YOU DON’T GO TO A WORLD CUP AND START TRAINING WHEN YOU GET THERE
“The growth story to date and the potential were a massive draw, as far as the organisation’s concerned. Everybody who looks into a CEO position wants to make a difference and be part of an organisation
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and thanks to this likeability and Nurture’s nurturing ethos, more than 30 companies have felt comfortable in becoming part of the Nurture Group and being absorbed into the Nurture Landscapes brand. The only two acquisitions which have been kept as two separate brands are Gavin Jones, with more than 100 years of history, and Rokill Pest Control Services, both of which hold the Royal Warrant to Her Majesty the Queen.
Thehere.”goal
“So, there’s a tremendous business channel, charismatic Peter, some great people and a tremendous service – the business makes the world a better place, and the biodiversity and sustainability agenda is something to be really proud of. It’s a great honour to be CEO of this business.”
THERE’S PLENTY OF RUNWAY AHEAD OF US IN TERMS OF GROWING BOTH ORGANICALLY AND BY ACQUISITIONS
7 Nurture and Mapp, ‘Champion of Champions Award’, Green Apple Awards
is to become the number one national in the sector, which Gareth says is measured first and foremost by the service provided to customers. “But it is also measured in terms of the size and scale of your operation, the turnover of your business, your national footprint. We have always been a business built on grounds maintenance, and I think we can legitimately claim to be a national provider in terms of that; but there are other parts of the business as well. In the last few years, we have gone into winter gritting and are
As it’s such a great company, some might wonder what there is for Gareth to do to make his mark. The answer is perhaps obvious – set it up for further growth.
building our national presence there. We’ve always offered interior and exterior planting, and we have probably been strongest in the south of England on that, so we’re building that to a national level too.
“And then towards the back end of last year, we got into pest control with the acquisition of Rokill. Rokill’s strength is mainly in the southern half of the country, so we will be looking to acquire businesses and to grow into the north of England and into
beforehand to know that you’re ready when you get there, and it is a similar type of job that myself and the team have got to do
“So,Scotland.there’s plenty of runway ahead of us in terms of growing both organically and by acquisitions.”
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"History is littered with organisations who have grown at a rate faster than they can cope with, so we are building a platform for future growth. You don’t go to a World Cup and start training when you get there; you train forevenmonths,years,
8 Uxbridge Business Park
“We got into landscape construction when we acquired Gavin Jones, and we have just brought together the north and the south governance under one person so that we start to have a clear national presence as far as landscape construction is concerned.
“A big part of my role is making sure that we are building and have built an organisation that’s fit for the future. Clearly, we, and others in our sector, intend to grow over the next three or four years, so it’s important that our platform that we build – the systems, the training, the people, the customer service – are fit for growth.
6 Stockley Park, Green Flag Award
To help each offering grow, Gareth has given them their own identity, with each service – from landscape construction to winter gritting – having its own managing director and separate P&L. However, Gareth is set on Nurture not losing its customer service ethic as it grows. “We mustn't become the kind of organisation that loses sight of that, because that's right at the heart of what the company is all about.”
To ensure it maintains this, the company is setting up a Nurture Academy to provide in-house training and help to set out career paths for those at Nurture. “We’re now 1,500 colleagues, and if we aren’t developing our people and aren’t engaging those who work in the business, then we’ll never deliver that top quality customer service, because the way that individuals feel about the company that they’re working at and the way they deliver service are intimately connected.”
“There’s absolutely no reason in my mind why this industry has to be different from any other. If we could have success in the AA with attracting more women to become mechanics servicing cars on the roadside, then there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t have the same success in this industry. We have quite a few women within Nurture and it’s something that I want to build
Noon.”matter which way you look at it, the future for Nurture with Gareth at the helm is growth but the right type of growth and with the right systems – and most importantly, the right people – in place to do it, whether that’s through training and development or ensuring a more equal workforce. And there are, of course, more acquisitions in the pipeline. Gareth is tight-lipped as to what these will be but says they will be targeted to growing its national presence. For Nurture, the only way is up.
TheCONTACTNurtureGroup
Tel 0800 755 5265
Email info@nurturelandscapes.co.uk nurture-group.co.uk
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9 Bali award-winning installation at Tradedesk 10 Rokill Team outside their H/O
IF WE COULD HAVE SUCCESS IN THE AA WITH ATTRACTING MORE WOMEN TO BECOME MECHANICS SERVICING CARS ON THE ROADSIDE, THEN THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY WE CAN’T HAVE THE SAME SUCCESS IN THIS INDUSTRY
The academy will help to retain “colleagues”, but also recruit new members of staff, and Gareth would like to see as inclusive a team as possible. One of the areas he worked on at the AA was gender balance for the organisation. “When I first started there, we had single figures of female patrols. By the time I left, we were up to about 40 or 50, which is great to see women coming into what has traditionally been a male dominated role. We had the same in senior management; 60% of my team at the AA were female, which made for a far better decision-making environment.
JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London
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I USED OUR FAMILY GARDEN AS A PLANT LABORATORY TO TEST MY OWN DIFFERENT PLANTING STYLES AND DEVELOP PLANT COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD THRIVE TOGETHER
This was tricky as the soil was mostly heavy clay and quite wet in winter and rock hard and dry in summer. It was a really good learning curve that involved lots of failures but lots of successes and this experience of learning from experimenting with plants has stayed with me ever since.”
I
t likely won’t come as a surprise that a winner of the RHS Young Planting Designer of the Year competition started out in the industry thanks to a passion for plants. “I first learnt about plants from my grandparents,” shares Ben Poulter. “My nan was a very keen gardener with a strong interest in plants. She taught me how to grow and care for them.”
Garden design was part of Ben’s horticulture course, but he was drawn to the public realm so decided to pursue
Ben teases that there is potentially another show garden on the horizon, though admits he cannot reveal too much at this stage. He hints it may be more of a personal show garden, though. “I think show gardens should be about highlighting how gardens and green spaces can benefit people, so whether through a charity organisation or [another sponsor], there’s a heightened meaning behind it.”
CHAOS TO COASTLINE PLANTING
Alongside his work at Ironside Farrar and looking ahead to a second show garden, Ben is also working to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulturists, with a long-term aim of developing a design practice and plant nursery to combine two passions – though he says he’s enjoying being part of a practice at the moment and refining his approach, so this goal is not in the near Regardless,future.there will undoubtedly be plenty of achievements in the near future and beyond.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT BEN POULTER IS AN AVID PLANTSMAN AND HAS THE TITLE TO PROVE IT
also increases biodiversity, improves air quality and improves quality of life.”
Ben has worked as a landscape architect at Scottish practice Ironside Farrar since 2019 and became a chartered member of the Landscape Institute two years later. His projects tend to focus on reducing environmental impact or being able to create new natural ecologies. One recently completed project was to reduce the hard surfacing in a city centre, improving cycle lanes to allow for active travel and creating a network of green infrastructure.
At the opposite end of the scale, Ben has also finished working on a cemetery where the clients wanted a more sustainable approach, celebrating natural ecosystems.
COWLEY GARDEN TESTER BEDS
Designer of the Year. “They can be stressful. You obviously get the benefit of the award, but it was getting feedback from the public which I found most rewarding.”
From here, Ben undertook a horticulture course, and used the family garden as a test bed. “I used our family garden as a plant laboratory to test my own different planting styles and develop plant communities that would thrive together.
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landscape architecture. “When you design a private garden, you’re doing it for the individual, whereas a landscape architect can change villages, cities, streetscapes; taking a street and putting in trees can completely change the character of it, but
BEN POULTER
GOLD MEDAL WINNING CHAOS TO COASTLINE GARDEN AT RHS FLOWER SHOW TATTON PARK 2017
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COWLEYTESTERGARDENBEDS
Howell©Tim
30 UNDER 30 UPDATE
He also embraces his garden design talent, winning a Gold medal for Chaos to Coastline at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2017, as well as RHS Young Planting
To embrace his horticultural roots, Ben has been volunteering at Cambo House in Fife, Scotland for the last two years, starting during the pandemic. “I just wanted somewhere where I could help out, meet people with similar interests and I couldn’t have asked for such a brilliant place to work. When we weren’t allowed to travel in lockdown and things started opening up, Cambo Gardens became a place of refuge.”
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GOVERNMENT INACTION SHOWS
the pandemic or cost of living crisis. And while carbon net zero targets are difficult to reach on a national or global level, targets
methods to assess progress than biodiversity. The interrelation of organic life on earth with the environment and natural resources is a complex web that spansPartmillennia.ofthereason
WHILE CITIZENS HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY KEEPING UP PRESSURE ON THEIR GOVERNMENTS , THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS NOW UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO HELP DELIVER THE CRUCIAL CHANGE NEEDED
ou don’t have to look far to see reports of the dire state of global biodiversity. Over half of the UK’s plant and wildlife has been lost since the industrial revolution and the future isn’t looking much brighter. At current rates, the UN predicts that one million species on the planet will be extinct by 2039, one eighth of the total species alive on Earth today.
like reducing industrial emissions or taking a certain number of cars off the road give industry clear marching orders and easier
BUSINESSES NEED TO LEAD BIODIVERSITY CHANGE AHEAD OF COP15, SAYS JASON KNIGHTS
In contrast, recently the first academic study into the cost of biodiversity loss led by the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge confirmed that the destruction of the world’s natural assets will have catastrophic economic effects on the future global economy. Economies particularly reliant on natural resources for their fast growth, such as China and Indonesia, are expected to be worst affected.
Y
The cultivation of monocultures in agriculture (the vast majority of the world’s food consumption comprises just five grains) is also working in tandemlosspollutionwithandtheerosionofhabitatstocreateaviciouscycleofdestruction.Monoculturesarerapidlyleadingtotheoftopsoil
Now finally scheduled to take place this December in Montreal, Canada, the signs are pointing toward a lack of consensus being agreed and further delays in preventing the loss of the world’s precious natural life. While citizens have an important role to play keeping up pressure on their governments, the private sector is now uniquely positioned to help deliver the crucial change needed.
To date biodiversity has often been ignored as a global issue in favour crises‘urgent’otherdeprioritisedconsistentlywhichsustainability,ofalsogetsovermorelike
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JASON KNIGHTS BLIND TO BIODIVERSITY LOSS?
for the inaction on biodiversity loss to date is that it has been accepted as an inevitable part of human progress, clearing large swathes of land to create cities, motorways and other infrastructure. Some have even tried to blame biodiversity loss on nature itself by suggesting the death of species is simply down to the latest cycle of evolution.
Reading such apocalyptic predictions can be disheartening, but what has been more demoralising is the response of global leaders to the threat. Disruption caused by the COVID pandemic, political disagreements and calculated self-interest have all been at play as the world’s foremost biodiversity conference, the COP15 summit, has been delayed four times.
Jason Knights joined Ground Control as managing director in 2020 following 10 years in leadership roles at Wates. His last role was as managing director of SES Engineering Services, now a division of Wates Construction Group, following Wates’ acquisition of Shepard E Construction Services in November 2016. A specialist M&E services business, Jason grew SES and created its excellent reputation in the industry, transforming it from lossmaking to profitability in four years. www.ground-control.co.uk
are governments doing about it? Unfortunately, not much so far. In the leadup to COP15 we have seen two international conferences on biodiversity take place at Bonn, Switzerland and most recently Nairobi, Kenya. While the UN has collectively proposed that countries commit to preserving 30% of natural areas to prevent biodiversity loss, reaching above 15% or even getting certain countries to commit to any binding targets at all has been a Somestruggle.80%of current draft legislation is undecided and countries like Brazil have
Bodies including Greenpeace have described the recent talks as having, “a notable absence of the high-level political engagement, will and leadership to drive through compromise and to guide and inspire the commitments that are required.” In the face of such glacial progress, what can be done to help drive the change needed?
ABOUT JASON KNIGHTS
Clearly the action of government bodies is not enough to deliver change at the pace the world needs. We need action at a system level, bringing together businesses as well as governments and citizens, who should be an active part of accelerating the change.
completely resisted change, despite being one of the world destroyers of natural environments through allowing increased logging of the Amazon rainforest.
As landscapers and grounds biodiversitytoproviders,servicewealsohavearesponsibilitymakecut
COP15 is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to drive forward the biodiversity agenda, but it is the collective role of society to hold its leaders to account and take direct action to drive the change the world so urgently needs.
So,rivers.what
INFORM which cannot replenish itself quickly enough, which in turn risks global food supply chains, increases the use of refined fertilisers and threatens surrounding lakes and
As landowners and custodians of natural areas, businesses have a key role to play in protecting biodiversity and making sure that further losses don’t go unnoticed. The few pockets of biodiversity remaining in places like the UK are preserved by the actions of bodies such as Natural England but also overseen by large landowners like
www. prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202226
water companies, railway operators and property development companies.
across everything we do, from the plants we choose to the methods we use to maintain natural spaces and the advice that we give to businesses both large and small. We have seen that attitudes toward biodiversity are shifting across generational divides, from the most senior business leaders to the youngest schoolchildren, but they need more education to help them drive biodiversity net gain.
While recent legislation committing developers to biodiversity targets is positive, we should also look to connect islands of biodiversity by creating corridors for natural plant and animal life to spread from one part of the country to another. The UK should also keep a close eye on developments in Europe for inspiration, where the EU is proposing the first legally binding targets for biodiversity, going against the grain of international inaction.
WHILE RECENT LEGISLATION COMMITTING DEVELOPERS TO BIODIVERSITY TARGETS IS POSITIVE, WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK TO CONNECT ISLANDS OF BIODIVERSITY BY CREATING CORRIDORS
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This is a concern for many reasons; because landscape architecture has a tough time attracting the new talents of design and horticulture students, because those in positions of power over our landscapes aren’t aware of the value LA’s add to schemes and because people can’t advocate for what they don’t understand.
world. It made sense. We prioritise our needs over those of our environment. Perhaps this began as a way to meet our basic needs – food, shelter, safety – but we’ve reached a point now where nature is a ‘nice but not essential’ element of our built environment and thus landscape professionals are ‘nice but not essential’ too.
ABOUT KATIE FLAXMAN
All is not lost though. Planning authorities are shifting their weight behind nature, actively looking for landscape input, advocating for landscape strategies and many times granting planning permission only with landscape conditions. Architects are designing biophilic buildings driven landscape and using natural materials, renewable technologies and low carbon footprints. The wellness industry is bringing into public consciousness the connection of nature with health, and clients (who perhaps were initially cautious about employing a landscape professional) are having positive experiences and going on to recommend and repeat that experience.
J
Nature itself is designed perfectly. It eliminates waste, creates symbiotic relationships, self-regulates and supports life. Each organism has a role with a ripple effect that in turn helps other organisms to thrive. It doesn’t take more than it needs and when it does, has fail safe mechanisms to put those imbalances back in check. It is the source of all life for humans – water, food, building materials, even the air that we breathe and yet, so often, we operate outside it. It's ironic isn’t it. That the systems we use causingareusharmwhenvaluinglandscape
I’ve yet to meet someone who hasn’t heard of an architect. The architects we work with, advocate for landscape architecture. Outside our practice though, we also see many professionals who do not value landscape input or worse devalue it through trying to do this work themselves. Landscape architects' fees are many times less than their architect equivalent and relative budgets allocated to landscape far lower than those for buildings. Despite this, landscape aspects are almost always the first to be value engineered.
We’ve a long way to go and some days it’s difficult to feel undervalued, but what I said to that colleague is that feeling undervalued is not the same as your work not being valuable. Knowing we work in a field ahead of its time, that is creating change and that promotes an eco-centric view is, in my opinion, valuable enough to keep on doing it.
Katie Flaxman is co-founder and director of Studio 31 Landscape Architects. Studio 31 is an award-winning, adventurous and environmentally conscious landscape architecture practice working across the residential, public realm and health sectors. designstudio31.co.uk
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS OFTEN GO UNDERAPPRECIATED, AS DO THE LANDSCAPES THEY CREATE, SAYS KATIE FLAXMAN
It's disheartening and I’ve been pondering of late, why this is. I hit upon an article in Landscape Matters highlighting havehumansview,anthropocentrictheweastypicallyofthe
IT'S IRONIC ISN’T IT. THAT THE SYSTEMS WE USE ARE CAUSING US HARM WHEN VALUING LANDSCAPE WOULD IN FACT ALLOW US AS HUMANS TO THRIVE, GROW AND REGENERATE
would in fact allow us as humans to thrive, grow and regenerate. There’s even evidence to suggest it creates healthier, more prosperous, and happier communities.
ust this week, I exchanged knowing glances with a colleague as he mentioned his profession to a new acquaintance and was met with an obligatory “a what?” He is, of course, a landscape architect. It sounds amusing but their response highlights a genuine problem with the profession; that it very nearly doesn’t exist outside the industry itself.
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KATIE FLAXMAN FINDING VALUE
ANDREW WILSON
planting is one of the most time-consuming aspects of our work with therefore a substantial fee attached. The likelihood of a client being in a position to brief on such detail when nothing has yet been started on site is slim. There is also every possibility that such a briefing would change once the development has started.
If changes are required to the proposal this can also be easily undertaken within this same part of the early design process at little additional cost.
WHEN PLANNERS REQUEST DETAILED PLANTING PLANS FOR ALL AREAS AS PART OF THE PLANNING SUBMISSION THERE ARE SEVERAL CONCERNS THAT SPRING TO MIND
Thirdly, this requirement has an impact financially and is threatening to destabilise the fee earning process. Clients initially have to pay detailed design fees up front for a scheme which as yet is not approved. Changes occur on any construction or design scheme which may well result in this
A
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Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden design consultant, director of the London College of Garden Design, and an author, writer and lecturer.
lcgd.org.uk
The main issue is that increasing calls for detail directly impact on the design process. Planners are now requesting detailed construction treatments, material palettesand detailed planting plans as part of the initial package.
The client at this stage will have already faced a wide range of decisions concerning a property that is still a hypothetical possibility. Sketch design, masterplan or outline design stages are entirely appropriate for the application for planning. These would include suggested material palettes and would show areas of planting, key trees, meadow, lawns and so on. Planting can be easily zoned in this way and supported by a design rationale. This is surely sufficient to gaining an understanding of the design rationale.
When planners request detailed planting plans for all areas as part of the planning submission there are several concerns that spring to mind. Firstly, as all planting designers know the production of detailed
Perhaps of greater concern is the fact that once permission is given on a fully detailed submission, clients can then ignore the support of the designer and undertake the development themselves, finding their own landscaper or builder and foregoing any further design input. For any reader out there who has experience of this, the end results are often disappointing to say the least with many important elements value engineered away.
s planning applications become more ambitious, we are seeing a new phenomenon in which planning officers are requiring an increasing amount of detail as part of the initial submissions. In many ways it is good that the planning system places greater emphasis on the garden or landscape treatments associated with new build. This is in some ways a recognition that garden design has progressed considerably over the last few decades.
For any planner out there reading this, where or what is the benefit? Answers gratefully received.
ANDREW WILSON EXPLORES PLANNING REQUIREMENTS THAT FRONT LOAD THE DESIGN PROCESS, AND NOT ALWAYS TO GOOD EFFECT
NOT ALL GOING TO PLAN
early work becoming redundant or changing significantly enough to require a redesign. More cost is therefore incurred at this stage. Planting especially is one of the latest elements to be designed in any scheme exactly for these reasons.
Secondly, I wonder what the planning officers do with this detailed information and how it helps the planning application process. Does it prove in some way that this planting will happen because of the commitment to detail and that therefore the masterplan stage is not to be trusted? I am aware that many planning authorities have tree officers and ecologists, but I am not aware of them employing planting designers to advise on the nuances of a scheme.
ABOUT ANDREW WILSON
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Wisdom: the value of good judgement and experience, both yours and other people’s Experience is defined as having gained knowledge through direct observation or participation. What looks good in theory or on paper may not be so in reality. For instance, Google Maps will tell you that the flattest cycle paths, and therefore one presumes the easiest, are to be found alongside canals. Thanks to a few trial runs and a prior trip, my experience is that canal paths are often in poor condition, used jointly by pedestrians and dog walkers, and often have width restriction barriers which prevent not only motorcycles but also bikes with paniers. They also tend to be narrow
ast month, I shared lessons in setting an unambiguous vision and ambition that clearly articulates what success looks like, supported by a plan that balances detail, actions and planning constraints whilst allowing sufficient flexibility to cater for unknowns, creating resilience in the process. Now what?
Success mindset
MARCUS WATSON ACHIEVING SUCCESS: LESSONS FROM THE SADDLE (PART 2) SUCCESS AS HE REFLECTS ON SOCIETY
Of course, the most memorable experiences will be those you have lived but, although less “sticky”, experience can also be gained through observation of others. A dear friend of mine hurt himself fairly badly in a cycling accident (broken bones and more). He wasn’t knocked over; his bike just slipped from under him on a roundabout in London.
Having started my cycle ride, after some good but imperfect planning, at no point did I think that I would not complete it. I had the tools and resources to complete the task, I was physically and mentally prepared and I expected to adjust my plan along the way. Whether you are the only employee in a start-up or leading a large organisation, in the wise words of Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, with ascanalgenerallytaughtexperienceThisontofeetcanalwant(andplaceslimitedtoescapeyoudon’ttobeinthewithyourcleatedabike!).real-worldmetoavoidtowpathsaccesscan
MARCUS WATSON DRAWS PARALLELS FOR BUSINESS AND PERSONAL
HIS SOLO, UNSUPPORTED 1,370 MILE CYCLE RIDE TO THE FOUR POINTS OF MAINLAND BRITAIN IN SUPPORT OF ALZHEIMER’S
you’re right.” Having done your homework, you must believe in yourself and your plan. The most crucial step in your journey is the first one. Alan Partridge of NorwichRadio once cleverly summarised strategy as: “Plan, do, that’s it!” This is different to blind faith where beliefs are not supported by either thinking or action.
The lesson to learn here is to be curious and to soak up real-world, practical ideas from test runs, training courses, conferences, books, films, friends and observing colleagues and competitors in similar situations.
be tricky, progress slow and risks still exist.
YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE WISE AND OF SOUND JUDGEMENT THE MORE YOU ARE ABLE TO DIP INTO A LARGE POOL OF EXPERIENCES , BOTH LIVED AND OBSERVED
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Returning to the scene some weeks later, he saw an inspection cover in the road that was worn smooth by traffic, and he remembered that it had been raining lightly on the day of his accident, making the polished metallic surface slippery. I am glad not to have had to learn his lesson the hard way as I became alive to the dangers of ironworks, potholes, traffic and the general vulnerability of cyclists on the road.
The parallel in business is clear; imagine being in month three of your five-year business plan and it’s already boring, hard work and not going as planned. After five years of slog, if you are lucky, you achieve your goal. You have a party and celebrate, just before the launch of the next five-year business plan. Is this what it’s all about?
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destination after 28 days in the saddle was somewhat of an anti-climax; I had achieved my goal but there was no fanfare, no balloons. All that effort for a photo opportunity by a signpost in Scotland and a big cheque in aid of my chosen charity?
Marcus Watson joined Ground Control in 2011 and led the company for close to a decade, handing over the reins to Jason Knights in January 2021. Marcus remains with Ground Control as non-executive director and a shareholder. Marcus believes that business is a force for good and that business leaders have the opportunity and indeed duty to build a vibrant and more sustainable economy that cares for our environment and the communities we live in, allowing us to lead prosperous, ful lling lives without mortgaging our children’s futures. ground-control.co.uk
The excitement of my journey’s start in Cornwall was soon forgotten as the daily grind and monotony of cycling uphill in some discomfort settled in. It wasn’t necessarily that it was hard, it was just hard work and repetitive. Reaching my
From day three, I started to experience discomfort but pedalled through it. Each day, the pain got worse, and by day seven, the pain was relentless and unlike anything I had experienced before. I feared I would have to drop out of the ride. Fortunately, I managed to compensate, albeit very inefficiently, and ride through the pain which over time became manageable. This episode taught me a very valuable lesson: don’t ignore the niggles! Be attuned to your body/business/family/health. Be mindful and listen carefully so as to pick up the
My advice is to be curious, take a look and either discount the issue because there is nothing to see or deal with it before it becomes a problem. If you lead a larger business, this may require you to have systems in place that can pick up these niggles, but nothing beats keeping in touch with a variety of colleagues, customers and suppliers regularly and asking: “How are we doing for you?” If you don’t like the answer, deal with it immediately.
As the (cheer)leader for your business or team, your mood will have an impact on how your team feel. A critical key to success is to make the journey enjoyable every single day for you and your team. Give people something more than a distant goal to make them want to come into work tomorrow, and for the next 1,800 days, to share the journey with you.
ABOUT MARCUS WATSON
Don’t ignore the niggles Niggles left unchecked could be disastrous because of their unknown cumulative effect. My first long distance cycle trip was in 2019 when my childhood friend Vinny and I cycled 920 miles from Land’s End to John o’Groats. Untrained and inexperienced, I threw caution to the wind, ignoring sage advice to wear padded shorts and to use plenty of chamois cream.
You are more likely to be wise and of sound judgement the more you are able to dip into a large pool of experiences, both lived and observed, and kept fresh and relevant by being open to encounters that are worth remembering whilst setting aside those that aren’t.
slightest deterioration. It may be nothing. It probably is nothing. But it might not be. And so, I developed the habit of dealing with every niggle immediately. The squeaky running gear, the rattling mudguard, the sore joints, the sun burn, the horsefly bite, the bad diet. A stitch in time saves nine and makes for a far less risky journey.
Feel free to visit the fundraising site at: drmarcuswatsonjustgiving.com/fundraising/
And so, it is the same in business. You have worked hard to set up the business and the team. Things run smoothly at first but then you start to notice tiny things not being quite right – a slight delay to a supplier payment, a rejected expenses claim, partisan office gossip, a slight rise in sickness rate, an unexpected resignation.
was a doubled-edged sword; in the early days, it was quite depressing to see the little progress I had made despite the hard work. Later on, as achievements against my plan became more material, these analytics did boost my mood.
Throughout my journey, in between the hard work, headwinds, sore bum, close calls with motor vehicles, I took the time to celebrate each small victory and enjoy the simple pleasures: meeting new people, witnessing how daffodils were still blooming as I travelled North, looking back at a challenging hill just conquered, taking a detour to glimpse seals lazing in the sun, absorbing the changing landscape – this became a habit which made monotonous days not only bearable but enjoyable.
NIGGLES LEFT UNCHECKED COULD BE DISASTROUS BECAUSE OF THEIR UNKNOWN CUMULATIVE EFFECT
Savour the journey
Receiving messages of support from friends, family and colleagues and the charity made a big difference, more so when people joined me for a day now and then. Monitoring progress on my trip computer
NAME THE FILM – ANSWERS MARCUS@GROUND-CONTROL.CO.UKTO
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This negative response by some in undoubtedlysocietystems from not understanding the culture, akin to ‘society’s’ view or misconception of
If we do not manage to achieve this then we are not creating spaces for young people, or for teenagers, and we are not nurturing culture or delivering democratic spaces in cities. We are not engaging in placemaking.
Christopher is an influential urban designer and planner working all over the globe to help communities improve their public spaces; as well as supporting cities and governments to develop strategy, change policies, and make great places possible. He is co-founder and director of Urban Strategy at Urban Movement; a trustee of the UK charity for everyday walking – Living Streets; vice chair of the UK Urban Design Group; and is a member of the United Nations Planning and Climate Action Group. urbanmovement.co.uk
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around 60,000 regularly active skateboarders in the UK, and it’s estimated that if you include casual skateboarders that number rises to around 300,000.
PROPER PLACEMAKING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE, SAYS CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
Looking at all the measures dotted around the city raises a larger, more structural question for me. Why is skateboarding tolerated and invited in some places and cities, but shunned in others? And why, in both cases, is it often viewed as a nuisance? Urban skateboarding takes the everyday, the municipal, or the often ill-conceived and forgotten parts of a city, and transforms them into active, culturally rich and fun parts of a city. We pay people to do this, to transform the dreary into the engaging, so why do we not extend this respect to the skateboarding community?
Today there are about 1,500 skateparks in the UK, with the largest being the Kaos Park in Glasgow, while the oldest is at South Bank in London which remains free to use. There are
movement rather than just a sport also coincided with the rise of punk and hip-hop, inevitably shaping the style we see today.
alking down the street, sitting in the park, or perching at a bus stop, have you ever wondered why our lives are filled with miserable anti-skateboarding measures – mostly a regrettable bolted on addition, but sometimes designed into the bench, planter or table?
CHRISTOPHER MARTIN GET ON BOARD
There is more to do, however, as it seems that the democratic space of skateboarding itself is not being reflected in the space we create for skateboarding in cities, with academic research being consistently clear that skate parks are highly male places reflecting and reproducing patriarchal norms.
sub-culture in general, and this gave skateboarding a space within culture that was attractive to many and attracted the true spectrum of society into its fold. This rise of skateboarding as a cultural
ABOUT CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
URBAN SKATEBOARDING TAKES THE EVERYDAY , THE MUNICIPAL , OR THE OFTEN ILL-CONCEIVED AND FORGOTTEN PARTS OF A CITY , AND TRANSFORMS THEM INTO ACTIVE, CULTURALLY RICH AND FUN PARTS OF A CITY
Skateboarding was viewed negatively by many traditional groups, with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents coming out strongly against it, claiming that up to 4,500 British children could be hospitalised each year. This is despite the fact that, in a study conducted at the time, skateboards were only ranked 25th on a list of dangerous equipment, with ‘beds’ sitting much higher at eighth.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 35 INFORM
Skateboarding as a democratic space and a positive act is how we need to see this cultural activity, enlivening spaces that might otherwise be quiet, and inviting people into public space who might otherwise stay at home. Giving space over in cities for this cultural activity is important as a way of nurturing cultures and public activity.
One of Sport England’s key principles for getting more women engaged in exercise and sport is ‘don’t expect women to change to fit the sport’ and we have to apply this principle to the facilities we design and programmes we create so that women and girls feel genuinely invited into this democratic space.
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PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS MORE CONFIDENT COMPARED TO
n this issue of the UK Landscaper Barometer, we are focused on the trading month of May 2022. The national turnover has decreased significantly compared to May 2021 to May 2022, most likely contributing to the overall lack of confidence within the industry (according to the statistics that have been shared). There are perhaps a multitude of reasons why this decline is happening so drastically: the cost-of-living crisis, people returning to offices, and the effects of Brexit on the supply business. Yet despite this, companies are still “just ticking along,” according to one respondent. Perhaps this decline should simply be considered the new norm after the boom of 2021?
NATIONAL 100%40%30%20%10%0%50%60%70%80%90% Nov DecJan Feb MarApr May JunJul AugSepOct
I
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 39 IQ
If you would like the full report or would like to contribute to the UK Landscape Barometer moving forward, please send an email to Jessica Dean-Hill at jessica.dean-hill@eljays44.com or call on 01903 777 594 Please note that all statistics are based on those surveyed and compare May 2021 and May 2022.
Despite a growing lack of confidence most aspects of May this year have stayed similar to May last year. The majority of respondents have confirmed that the number of projects this year is the same as the number of projects last year with only 10% claiming their May 2022 projects are less than May 2021. In addition to this, 43% have claimed their turnover in May 2022 was higher than May 2021, also implying that there is a rise in turnover, just not at the same level as there was in 2021. The main thing to consider is that during May 2021 many people started working from home which encouraged more people and companies to renovate their spaces.
LAST MONTH 202020222021 LowerEqualHigherTURNOVERENQUIRIES LowerLowerEqualHigherPROJECTS EqualHigher STAFF LowerEqualHigher CONVERSION HigherLowerEqual 36% 43% 21% 11%33%56% 10%10%80% 50%20%30% 27% 46% 27%
YEAR ON YEAR 0%0% 20%20% 40%40% 60%60% 80%80% 100%100%HigherHigher MAY 2022 PROJECTSTURNOVER2022MAYMAY2021MAY2021 ENQUIRIES THE SOUTH THE SCOTLANDMIDLANDSAND THE NORTH GARDEN DESIGN DESIGN AND DOMESTICCOMMERCIALBUILDLANDSCAPINGLANDSCAPING Higher 0% 20% 40%60%80%100%EqualLower PROJECTS THE SOUTH THE SCOTLANDMIDLANDSAND THE NORTH DESIGN AND DOMESTICCOMMERCIALBUILDLANDSCAPINGLANDSCAPING HigherEqual Lower 0% 20% 40%60%80%100% CONVERSION THE SOUTH THE SCOTLANDMIDLANDSAND THE NORTH GARDEN DESIGN GARDEN DESIGN DESIGN AND DOMESTICCOMMERCIALBUILDLANDSCAPINGLANDSCAPING Higher 0% 20% 40%60%80%100%EqualLower TURNOVER THE SOUTH THE SCOTLANDMIDLANDSAND THE NORTH GARDEN DESIGN DESIGN AND DOMESTICCOMMERCIALBUILDLANDSCAPINGLANDSCAPING 0% 20% HigherEqual40%60%80%100%Lower
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202240 IQ
Turnover in each industry has remained consistent with Commercial Landscaping, Design and Build, and Garden Design all reporting a 50% increase in turnover. One respondent commented: “Quieting down with recession talks but there's still plenty of work. Landscapers are retiring and there [aren’t] replacements; there is a skill shortage.” Within a recession there could be a dramatic fall in projects and turnover which would be very visible in the upcoming UK Landscape Barometers.
Projects have stayed extremely consistent with the majority of subsections reporting that their numbers are the same as May 2021 or higher. The only two subsections that have reported hav-ing less projects by 50% are Garden Design and The Midlands. Despite this seeming like a dra-matic drop at first glance, it must be noted that lockdowns may have contributed to the rise of projects within May 2021.
Confidence has stayed relatively consistent with four subsections reporting their confidence as the same or higher than May 2021 by 50%. One respondent has gone as far as to say they are “fairly confident but cautious and prepared for change.”
Interested to find out more or see what the confidence and staff statistics look like?
Despite the overall confidence of May 2022 being lower than May 2021, the statistics have suggested that most companies are performing relatively the same as they did in 2021 regarding projects and turnover. The lack of confidence may be down to economic uncertainty due to the cost-of-living crisis and the looming threat of a recession.
“Fairly confident but cautious and prepared for change.”
“Cost of living crisis and reflective wage rises impacting pricing and conversion rate if rises aren’t consistent across industry. Mileage recovery rate not reflective of current costs incurred by staff. Potential risk of losing staff due to cost of travel, etc. Inflation still presents issues with project costs. Timescales for entering contract protracted as schemes are revisited to ascertain affordability.”
“I feel there is now inconfidencelessthemarketgenerally.”
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 41 IQ
THROUGH GRAPEVINETHE BY THE NUMBERS Turnover increasedlandscaperscommercialforby National Conversionincreasedturnoverbyratesroseby ENQUIRES DECREASED for garden designers Projects for design and companiesbuild REMAINEDTHESAME Projects landscaperscommercialfor REMAINEDTHESAME increasedEnquiriesby 50% 43% Turnover for design and increasedcompaniesbuildby 50% The South saw an increase by for staff 33% increasedEnquiriesby 50% 27% 50% increasedProjectsby 10% 20% Turnover for garden designersroseby Conversion rates for domestic landscapers increased Projects for gardendecreaseddesignersby 50% 50% 66% Turnover increasedlandscapersdomesticforby 33%Average lead time for landscapersdomesticwas 6 MONTHS Design and Build saw an increase of in staff forlandscaperscommercial
quotes happening with private clients. Commercial work is extremely busy as a result of longer project lengths but building companies are reporting a slowing of demand for new projects which is a cause for concern for 2023 as there will be fewer projects to price.”
Please email jessica.dean-hill@eljays44.com or visit our website to download the full report.
“Quieting down with “Someplentythere'stalks,recessionbutstillofwork.”topslicingof
“Artificial grass is on the decline for sure!”
“Landscapers are retiring and there replacements;[aren’t]there is a skill shortage.”
15 - 16 November 2022, ExCeL London Eventwww.futurescapeevent.compartnersJessMcCabeDirectorofDevelopment 01903jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com777588 SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING FOR YOU! To book your stand, get in contact with the team: The Machinery Mile is coming to FutureScape this November. We will be speaking to industry experts about the latest innovations, health and safety training, picking the right tool for the job and LIVE product demos. Tom CommercialDennisonManager 01903tom.dennison@eljays44.com777581
O n the face of it,
A good deal of that disquiet comes from beyond the industry; fuel costs, the availability and price of materials, and creeping inflation have conspired to make even the most optimistic industry forecasters narrow their eyes with concern. Contracts recorded in June 2022 were down 19% on the month of May; and the number of contractors winning that work was down by 20%.
buildersconference.co.uk
RATHER THAN ENTERING THE SUMMER PERIOD WITH A SPRING IN ITS STEP, THE SECTOR APPEARS TO BE LOOKING OVER ITS COLLECTIVE SHOULDER
league table total that fell just a whisker short of £6bn should be cause for celebration; for the construction industry to pat itself on the back on a job well done. Furthermore, 13 individual companies won contracts worth more than £100m each to ensure that they can afford a punnet or two of strawberries at Wimbledon.
NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL
But there is a growing disquiet in construction circles. So rather than entering the summer period with a spring in its step, the sector appears to be looking over its collective shoulder.
More interesting for the landscaping fraternity, Winvic also won a new build contract in Redcliffe, Bristol. The £128m project will provide residential dwellings, flexible retail and office floorspace. It also involves the creation of amenity space, car and cycle parking provision with vehicular access, servicing arrangements, public realm works and extensive landscaping.
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARDS FOR JUNE 2022 HIT A VERY HEALTHY £5.9BN. BUT WITH THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS AND THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES WINNING CONTRACTS MARKEDLY DOWN ON THE PREVIOUS MONTH, IT IS DIFFICULT TO PAINT THIS IN A WHOLLY POSITIVE LIGHT. NEIL EDWARDS DELVES INTO THE DETAILS TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL
IQ prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 43
Neil Edwards is CEO of Builder’s Conference, the construction industry’s leading trade body. It provides its members to sales leads and market intelligence, as well as statistical data and networking opportunities. BCLive is a real-time league table of construction contract award activity. Operated by the Builders’ Conference, the BCLive league table monitors more than 6,000 new contract awards each year with a combined value of more than £80bn.
Those Countryside Properties projects were among 110 new housebuilding projects secured during the month that were worth a combined £1.27bn. This meant that housebuilding retained its position as the
Regionally, not only did London lose its familiar top slot, but it also failed to break the £1bn mark it has enjoyed for so long, accounting for just £815m split across 92 individual projects. The nation’s capital was beaten into third place by the South West (£1.22bn) and the West Midlands (£1.2bn). Scotland delivered a comparatively poor £223m in new work while Wales continues to languish, contributing just eight new contract awards valued at under £37m.
Helping to maintain the dominance of the housebuilding sector is Countryside Properties which secured £257m of new work divided across five individual contracts. The most notable of these is a £200m contract award for the creation of 750 new residential units for client The Guinness Partnership at Signal Park, Tolworth in Surrey. According to the developer, public realm and landscaping will feature heavily in the project.
ABOUT NEIL EDWARDS
busiest sector, narrowly pipping the factories and industrial (£1.14bn) into second place. Roads, pathways and cycleways contributed a further £667m while offices eased back (£363m this month against £592m last month).
Based upon the BCLive league table for June 2022, it is not yet time to launch the lifeboats. But it might be wise to check that they are still seaworthy.
Despite all this, the Winvic team will unquestionably be in self-congratulatory mood. The company bagged the biggest single contract of the month – a £1bn project for the construction of a mammoth industrial hub in Cannock, Staffordshire for client Oxford Properties.
BCLivemonthlya
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ituated in the Somerset countryside, Villa Ventorum takes its visitors back to the fourth century. It has been seven years in the making, bringing to life an authentic reimagining of the Roman villa that once stood in its place on the impressive Hadspen estate.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 47 Project (inclusiveValueofVAT): Confidential Size of project 2500m2 Build time Seven PROJECTyears DETAILS URQUHART & HUNT VILLA VENTORUM, THE NEWT OF SOMERSET ROMAN RESTORATION
S
Hadspen Roman Villa was discovered in 1832, but excavations of the site didn’t take place until between 1968 and 1970. This revealed structural remains, pottery, coins and part of a mosaic floor which suggested a substantial villa. Further excavations in 2015 revealed its true extent and its outbuildings; it had been built, adapted and enlarged from the third to the fifth centuries AD. The Hadspen grounds now houses The Newt of Somerset, a luxury hotel, garden and supplier of fresh apple cyder which wanted to recreate the site’s history.
INSPIRE
Period planting
Glorious gardens
1 View to Roman Villa across wild ower border
Urquhart & Hunt worked with plant historian Maggie Campbell-Culver and archaeologists to research plant varieties which had either been found in British Roman villas which existed around the same time or were documented in paintings and writings from around 350AD.
But what magnificent Roman villa would be complete without magnificent gardens to match? Somerset-based landscape design practice Urquhart & Hunt, which this year scooped Best in Show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, was appointed to recreate the gardens. The design included a pergola ‘Moon Garden’ dedicated to Luna, goddess of the moon. There is also a pond, a ‘Roman style’ planted meadow and an orchard of ancient fruit varieties, beneath which are herb meadows sown for bees. Urquhart & Hunt also added a medicinal garden, a kitchen garden and a garden of lavender, yew and myrtle topiary. Closer to the villa, there’s sweet chestnut and hawthorn, with fig espaliered against a wall.
3 Ornamental pond anked by kitchen borders
2 Wild ower border with Roman tool shed
“Evergreen shrubs and climbers hold the scents, form and presence of the borders through winter, along with some dry flower
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202248 INSPIRE
Urquhart & Hunt say: “Seasonal change would have been palpable through a shifting colour palette: fresh greens and whites (such as anemone nemorosa and narcissus poeticus) celebrate the arrival of spring, followed by a broad mix of hot pinks, blues and deep purples in summer (gladioli byzantinus, centaurea cyanus and salvia pratensis), with autumn bringing a paler version of the summer tones (aster tripolium).
A team of archaeologists, architects, engineers and craftsmen were brought on board to undertake the biggest reconstruction of a Roman villa in Britain, creating Villa Ventorum, or “Villa of the Winds’, which is now open to the public.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 49 INSPIRE
"Urquhart & Hunt worked with plant historian MaggieCampbell-Culver and archaeologists to research plantvarieties which had either been found in British Roman villaswhich existed around the same time or were documented in paintings and writings from around 350AD"
Alongside the kitchen garden is the medicinal border, where the area closest to the steam room is themed around aromatherapy. For the area nearest the outdoor dining area, herbs such as rosemary, sage and calendula have been sown. Aromatic mint has been planted at the base
Medicinal varieties
of the stibadium, the outdoor reclining seating where diners would lie to digest their food.
In the Night Garden
Rose petals were used in cookery and to make oils, so roses have been planted in wide, symmetrical borders within the garden to frame the central water feature. These have been underplanted with violas and saffron crocus.
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202250 INSPIRE
Within the Moon Garden, where a statue of the goddess Luna is positioned at the end of a pergola, a “nocturnally-themed border” has been added leading up to the statue. A silvery palette of Helichrysum italicum, Ruta graveolens and Echinops sphaerocephalus has been planted, alongside scented varieties such as Viola odorata alba and Lilium candidum. These are interspersed with night-flowering plants, including Hesperis matronalis albiflora and Lonicera caprifolium
heads for seeds, such as alliums, reminders of the past seasons.”
Everything from the plants used in the medicinal border to the number of trees chosen for the orchard has been carefully considered. The lucky number for the latter is eight, chosen as a symbol of infinity as well as representing the eight months of productivity in an orchard, from April through to November. The species chosen – apple, pear, cherry, damson, almond, mulberry, quince and mediar – are those that were imported to Britain during the Roman period.
Throughout the scheme, flowering plants have been sown into mixed informal beds in a nod to the cottage garden-theme planting at the time of the original villa. A more formal layout has been used in the kitchen garden, where plants are grown in clear blocks for ease of harvest.
To the east of the garden, Urquhart & Hunt is adding water-meadow planting around a larger body of water that would have been used as a vivarium to store live fish in place of refrigeration.
Urquhart & Hunt says: “For us, the journey has been a magical one – working with an incredible specialist team and bringing
Newt
Plantingstonewoodbuilders.co.uk
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 51 INSPIRE
stonewooddesign.co.uk
Sourced from various nurseries
Builders
Stonewood
ABOUT URQUHART & HUNT
Focusing on organic principles, they use native plants wherever possible to increase biodiversity and natural habitat health, whilst their sensitivity to cultural history brings the much-needed human dimension into the landscape.
urquharthunt.com
agapanthuslandscaping.co.uk
Urquhart & Hunt is a landscape design studio dedicated to nature, with an impeccable design and fulfilment process. The practice specialises in contemporary restorations of older gardens and their wider landscapes, bringing nature into gardens as part of ecological restoration.
5 Moon Garden with statue of Goddess Luna
6 View of kitchen and medicinal garden
Agapanthus
Architecture
The villa is an impressive recreation, with a planting palette fit for the wealthy owners who would have once resided on the Hadspen estate – and now for visitors who can enjoy the Roman villa experience.
Estate Architect Department Contractorthenewtinsomerset.com
Stonewood Design
Arborista
Softarborista.co.uklandscaping
All photographs ©Dave Watts.
Courtesy of Urquhart & Hunt at the Roman Villa, at the Newt in Somerset
REFERENCES
Landscaping
together all the plants that would have been either introduced from the continent for the first time, or grown at that period in Britain. The estate holds a historic importance for British horticulture and plantsmanship/ plantswomanship and this garden no less, as it will forever be an accurate historical reference for plants in Roman Britain.”
4 Wildflower and topiary borders
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The swimming pool complex area was to be an entertaining space for the clients, with a newly designed pool and terrace featuring a statement fireplace.
Project value £230k (exc. VAT) Build time 32 weeks Awards BALI £100k-£250kBetweenDomesticLandscapeNationalAward,GardenPROJECT DETAILS BLUEFISH LANDSCAPING CONTRACTORS THE SWIMMING POOL TERRACE TAKE THE PLUNGE INSPIRE prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 53
new swimming pool terrace was needed to make a splash at a home in Hampshire. The property was already undergoing extensive works, with BlueFish Landscaping Contractors as the principal contractor overseeing the day-to-day management of the wider 68-week project which included a new pool house and biomass building.
A
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202254
INSPIRE
This arch had to be craned into position onto the brick piers which BlueFish had previously built. It was secured into position using steel threaded rods that were chemically fixed into the reinforced concrete within the centre of the brick piers. The arch was hand pointed on site by BlueFish using the same batched mortar that all of the brickwork had been laid with to ensure colour consistency.
kitchen has been created alongside it, with polished granite tops, a Belfast sink, and a raised worktop serving as a bar area too.
radius and detailing. BlueFish Landscaping
Contractors then supplied a variety of bricks being used in other brickwork across the rest of the project to specialist brick cutters, who cut these down to 30mmthick slips. These were glued to the aluminium substructure which formed the finished face of the arch.
Featuring a more traditional aesthetic, the outdoor kitchen has main support posts formed out of chunky oak with exposed rafters within the roof. The roof covering and guttering were made from red pigmento zinc, and the units were constructed by a local carpenter out of brick with bespoke Iroko frames and doors fitted within.
This part of the wider project needed to be easily accessible from the house whilst maintaining the great views from the garden from its elevated position, with a natural filtered pool to help it complement the greater landscape.
Adding al fresco Liz Frost and Darren Lincoln, the lead designers from Nettles & Petals Design, were brought on board to create a design proposal for replacing the clients’ existing swimming pool terrace with a space where they could relax with family and friends, enjoying the fireplace and hot tub, as well as to cook and socialise.
Steps from the pool house now lead to a porcelain terrace. An oak-framed outdoor
Heating up
At the end of the swimming pool is a brick fireplace, which reflects off the dark tiles within the pool. The fireplace had been fabricated off site using a steel framework and clad in aluminium to form the correct
2 Brick arch replace from across the pool
For yet more consistency, the boundary wall of the terrace was constructed using bricks to match the newly created pool house. Four arrow slit windows were added to the wall to allow in light and glimpses to the landscape beyond for those in the sunken cedar hot tub which sits within its own Iroko deck, but also to break up the solid nature of the wall. The back of the slits has also been subtly lit to add interest in theWithevenings.thevarying ground levels across the length of what would be the new pool, a subterranean plant room was formed at the end of the new swimming pool. This required considerable structural blockwork
and facing brickwork in view of the planned brickwork that came above the level of the swimming pool terrace to form the log store at the base of the fireplace and the rest of the brickwork that wraps around the end of the pool.
1 Re ecting pool
"The swimming pool complex area was tobe an entertaining space for the clients,with a newly designed pool and terracefeaturing a statement fireplace"
3 Outdoor kitchen – cosy and convenient
Easy access
Due to the location of the swimming pool terrace within the garden, it needed to be accessed from the main driveway of the property. So, the decision was made to
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 55 INSPIRE
area, BlueFish was then able to set up a scaffolding platform and ramp that formed its access from the site compound over the top of the tree root protection area – which was put on and around the existing beech tree avenue that runs adjacent to the edge of the new swimming pool terrace – and into the main working zone of the swimming pool terrace.
entirety of the project and were fenced off to stop personnel and machinery being able to cross over the root systems or damage the bark of the trees. The entire working zone of the swimming pool terrace was fenced off with Heras fencing and a secured entrance gate at the opening of its access ramp.
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202256 INSPIRE
ABOUT LANDSCAPINGBLUEFISHCONTRACTORS
BEFORE
4 Arrow slit wall with seating
5 Sunken hot tub beside the pool
BlueFish then had an aluminium floor matting laid to form the base of its compound that allowed it to set up the site with its storage container, office and canteen, and portaloos. This created a durable, hardstanding area to be used for parking, material storage and turning around lorries, ensuring the site could run efficiently no matter how many personnel were on site as well as through the winter periods with no issues with unstable ground
BlueFish Landscaping Contractors is an award-winning company creating high quality gardens and landscapes throughout Surrey, Hampshire and the South East. It offers professional landscape construction and garden maintenance, working alongside some of the UK’s leading garden designers. bluefishlandscapes.co.uk
Through careful planning and excavation, BlueFish was able to avoid damaging any of the roots to the established trees whilst the swimming pool terrace was constructed. All the trees were wrapped in hessian for the
Fromconditions.thecompound
Within 32 weeks, the swimming pool terrace had been completed, creating the perfect spot for a dip in the pool and al fresco dining.
remove a post and rail fence adjacent to the driveway which then allowed access into the adjoining field.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 57 REFERENCES Principal contractor BlueFish ContractorsLandscapingLtd Constructionbluefishlandscapes.co.uk–swimming pool and subterranean plant room Clear Water Revival Gardenclear-water-revival.comdesign Nettles & Petals Design Lightingnettlesandpetalsdesign.co.uk Light Your Garden lightyourgarden.co.uk Brick arch fabrication AJ Brick Cutters Ltd andZincajbrickcutters.co.ukroofcoveringguttering GSL Southern Porcelaingslsouthern.com London Stone Hotlondonstone.co.uktub Riviera Hot Tubs Ltd riviera-hottubs.co.uk INSPIRE DURING WORKS
ldham town centre is undergoing a revamp, and there’s arguably no better studio to undertake the design than CW Studio. The Manchester-based practice is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and over that time it has been transforming spaces in around the northern powerhouse, and further afield, into exceptional and award-winning landscapes.
“Ten years have just flown past since I decided to set up as an independent practitioner,” says founder Carolyn Willitts. “We are currently a team of four landscape architects and a wonderful studio manager who holds us all together with HR and admin. We also have a couple of excellent freelancers who we call on, and amazing long-term business relationships with developers, architects, and more recently, the public sector.”
There’s the detailed design of its Central Street project in Bolton, which includes the Croal riverbank restoration, and gardens like Woodland House in the Wirral and Offchurch in Warwickshire, which requires “a sensitive touch to develop the wider meadows.”
VOX 15 TH FLOOR
THE TEAM
CW Studio is looking expand its team further too as it experiences a post-lockdown boom in work. Its launch of a new landscape design for Oldham Town Centre is one of a string of projects on which the studio is currently working.
ARCHITECT’SLANDSCAPE JOURNAL
CW STUDIO
CW STUDIO IS CELEBRATING A DECADE SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN THE VIBRANT CITY OF MANCHESTER
O
WOODLAND HOUSE VIEW,
WIRRAL INSPIRE
Dolby©Helena
WE LOVE RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF A SITE AND ENSURING THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN IS CONNECTED TO THE PLACE’S HISTORY OR LOCAL ECOLOGY
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 59
Tel 0161 464 3895
“If there’s good quality existing materials that can be kept or repurposed, then it’s our duty as sustainability-first landscape architects to use it.
Just 10 years in, CW Studio already boasts a catalogue of successes, and its big goals and impressive drawing board ensure it remains one to watch.
Email info@cwstudio.co.uk cwstudio.co.uk
“During COP26, we announced our sustainability pledge, which is to reach Net Carbon Zero by 2030, working with an independent validation company and continuing towards becoming a B-Corp business, an ongoing journey,” says Carolyn.
Then there’s the Stockport town centre Merseyway redevelopment project which it's been working on the last couple of years.
“We're working on two new headquarters now for different companies, and both projects have come to us directly from our designs for Moneypenny with like-minded clients who appreciate the value of nature and focusing on employees’ health and wellbeing. The first is Arden Square HQ for a company working on electric vehicle charging and will feature an outdoor yoga terrace in the woodland corner which links to public footpaths through the woods.
IF THERE’S GOOD QUALITY EXISTING MATERIALS THAT CAN BE KEPT OR REPURPOSED,THEN IT’S OUR DUTY AS SUSTAINABILITYFIRST LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS TO USE IT
CWCONTACTStudio
“During the pandemic, some of the streets in the Northern Quarter were temporarily closed to traffic which allowed cafes and bars to spill out into the street which created joyous public spaces in sunny afternoons with a very 'Manchester' vibe.
“Reuse and recycle is important to our whole ethos as a practice, where we always design with sustainability at the heart of a project. For Church Wharf, a mixed-use development in Bolton that we are designing, we adopted the concept Lost & Found, and are reusing cobbles and edging a pocket park with a wall remade with stone from the original steel foundry which is a lovely way of weaving threads of history through a landscape.”CWStudio is clearly enjoying a raft of projects on the drawing board, and it’s not the only one, as construction in Manchesterseeminglyisthriving.“Constructionhascertainlybeenboomingin
“This was so successful that now Manchester City Council wants to make some of these street closures permanent and we are working on some colourful concepts for introducing cycleways and funky artwork and murals by local artists, while ensuring accessible access for pedestrians and space for outdoor bars and other local businesses.”
The studio’s flagship scheme when we spoke to Carolyn back in 2017 was the landscaping for Moneypenny headquarters in Wrexham, part of a wider £15m project to create an inspiring environment for its staff.
Manchester since we last spoke back in 2017 – the crane city really did return after the credit crunch crash.
CW Studio has just moved into a recently renovated studio in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. From here, Carolyn says the plan is to “keep designing and bringing joy into our work wherever possible” and to continue on its sustainability journey.
For Carolyn, it’s important that many of the studio’s projects incorporate the history of the site, where possible. “This is my favourite part and probably links back to when I was a theatre designer which was all about telling a story,” says Carolyn, who worked in theatre design before going into landscape architecture. “We love researching the history of a site and ensuring the landscape design is connected to the place’s history or local ecology.”
For its scheme in Oldham, where it is redeveloping Spindles shopping centre, CW Studio is designing artwork of a long-eared owl, the civic symbol of Oldham. This will be inset into stone seating terraces and will reflect the owl columns in the Old Town Hall redevelopment. It will also be reusing materials from the existing site.
ARDEN SQUARE: WOODLAND CORNER YOGA AREA
“There are a number of phases to this project, and we are exploring some fun playful concepts and are keen to include as much planting as we are allowed. Maybe this will be our new flagship scheme.”
CENTRAL STREET, BOLTON
“The second I can’t name yet, but it’s a big sports fashion retailer in the UK, and we are designing a running track that leads from the building around the site and through a woodland glade. It will also feature some funky, accessible outside gym equipment (that looks more like sculpture), and pathways that lead into the adjacent nature reserve.”
“We still love Moneypenny HQ and visit quite regularly as we are now designing a private garden for one of the original founders. We pass by Moneypenny on the way, and it’s great to see how the landscape is settling down and how staff are enjoying the meadows and wetland walks.
“The city has seen some other fantastic developments, not just with housing and office space, but leisure and social spaces have really developed too. For example, we are looking forward to seeing Mayfield Park open, the city centre’s first public park.
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202260 INSPIRE
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TALK THEOF TRADE
Cubic Outdoor Kitchens had a fantastic stand where its range of display kitchens did not present any gas BBQs within them but instead launched its integrated gas hobs and highlighted how integrated induction hobs are making the design headlines for outdoor kitchens to come.
DEBS WINROW REPORTS BACK ON THE BIGGEST TRENDS AT THIS SPOGA+GAFAYEAR’S NEW: DELIVITA GAS & WOOD OVEN NEW: INTEGRATED GAS HOBSVLAZE OUTDOOR KITCHENS
Bringing other elements to its range like integrated fridges, dishwashers, weatherproof cupboards and drawers along with four distinctive design styles, certainly allows us to design with a more open mindset than that of a traditional BBQ grill station in the garden. Not that its range of gas BBQs isn’t also a wide and fabulous choice, as it also launched its “black” range
Cooking trends
A
back to visiting the world’s largest trade fair for garden lifestyle – spoga+Gafa. Based in Cologne, the three-day event is spread over a huge 215,000m2 (roughly 17 Chelsea Flower Shows) across 11 halls, some two floors each – we certainly got in our 10,000+ steps each day!
INFORM CUBIC OUTDOOR KITCHENS
Manufacturers were also keen to encourage more sophisticated cooking done outside from teppanyaki plates to wok cooking, grilling, frying, steaming, even outdoor standalone ovens made an appearance.
With 1,800 exhibitors – 67% from abroad – it is definitely the place to see innovation, trends and styles set to lead purchasing decisions and desires from our clients in the year to come. Whilst we have quite specific products we look for, and we already are fortunate that some of our partners were also there, I will try and summarise my own take on the show and what we found interesting.
fter greatgap,two-yearaitwastoget
Being the largest BBQ trade fair in the world and nicknamed the ‘hotspot of the grill scene’ it would be quite easy to spend your whole time in these halls. Whilst it was great to see sleeker design coming through, it was also extremely exciting to see the introduction of electric as an option; if not
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 63
already here, then in the next wave of BBQs from all the top manufacturers. This will play well for apartment urban living which is becoming a good and strong market for outdoor design as clients seek more function from their outdoor spaces and wish to have some of the lifestyle elements like outdoor cooking even on a small balcony.
ABOUT DEBS WINROW
Watch this space as you start to see us and others incorporate their latest finds from some incredibly talented and clever manufacturers.
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202264
lots of gorgeous sofa sets, with the L shape still being a big trend to keeping everyone relaxing together, but with the addition of, say, two armchairs to create a cosy space. Central were coffee tables and/ or gas fire pits, making the area sociable for drinks and light meals. They were designed more low level, than the more traditional upright pieces of the past taking inspiration from boutique hotels and private clubs.
WOOD PLAYED A BIG PART ACROSS EVERYTHING, PULLING PIECES BACK TO NATURE AND ALLOWING SOFT FURNISHINGS, KITCHENS, CABINETS, FIREPITS TO BLEND IN WITH WELL PLANTED OUTDOOR SPACES
Colours
OUTDOOR
Outdoor weather resistant fabrics continue to open the possibilities of creating outdoor furniture that is good enough to be spotted in the absolute best living rooms. There was a broad range of pricing, with manufacturers still offering container loads of wicker, but thankfully these were less, and you could certainly spot the higher quality and longevity of products available for your customers who will pay more if they can get something different and stylish without losing the option to keep outdoors all year
SEASON
The continuation of the wood-fired ovens, a lot with the new dual wood/gas function, got a little funkier with palettes of pastels, the gas oven from DeliVita allowing space to cook multi pizzas at once, large joints and other more traditional dishes just outside is exciting.
Wood played a big part across everything, pulling pieces back to nature and allowing soft furnishings, kitchens, cabinets, fire pits to blend in with well planted outdoor spaces which after all is what we are trying to achieve.
Gas lanterns from small tabletop sizes to freestanding higher pieces also caught our eye, with bamboo and concrete elements making them great to fit into lots of different garden designs.
SIDEBOARDS COLOURS
Debs Winrow, creative director of awardwinning landscape company Garden House Design, is an avid trend spotter, responsible for seeking out the latest and best outdoor living products, and developing an expansive portfolio to offer to both consumers and fellow landscapers and designers. gardenhousedesign.co.uk
and greys, but we also saw a lovely coral hue across many collections, soft dirty pink, olive greens, a coastal blue and a hint of yellow – a lovely combination of colours to mix with fauna so we will be excited to get these into our designs.
Furniture
Outdoor storage pieces, like outdoor tall cabinets, handy sideboards with drawers and cupboards were also great to see complementing outdoor kitchens and furniture sets. We love to create bars and serving areas within our own designs so there were definitely a few purchases in this area!
We’re continuing to see amazing innovation in this sector, with the most beautiful lanterns and lamps that really will add another dimension and level of lighting to any garden scheme. It was also nice to see some of the pieces hit attractive price points allowing lighting to be included even in a small budget. Imagine three or four beautiful paper lanterns with LED lights operated by remote hanging in a tree for underThere£150.was still lots of solar, but not sure in our opinion that you will be able to do a whole garden just yet, but it is hopefully not too far away.
INSPIRE
Thereround.were
keeping contemporary and sleek design at the forefront.
Soft muted palettes continue with the welcome shades of Greige (a combination of beige and grey) keeping up front. Beside this are still the traditional whites, blacks,
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Outside of the SGD, garden design companies are looking toward how they can help the next generation coming through. Garden Aspect has been
Garden CompanyDesign
Shortlisted companies in this category are also eager to be involved in the trade association. After a number of years as a pre-registered member, designer Matt Haddon became a registered member of the SGD at the beginning of last year and quickly joined the thenowcouncil,holdingposition teammembershipoflead.Oneofthemembers
A LOOK AT AWARD-WORTHY GARDEN DESIGN COMPANIES
Sponsored by
GardensHaddon©MattKossack©Joanna prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 67 INSPIRE
Matthew has been regular panellist on BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time for more than a decade, for instance, and regularly gives talks, contributes to publications, and appears on television programmes.
Matthew Wilson Gardens has lectured at the City of London CASS Business School on a module in supportwithextensiveasEntrepreneurship,andBusinessEnvironmentalGreenwellasworkthemediatotheindustry.
THE PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS 2022
events. Their efforts have been appreciated too, with positive feedback from members in countries across Europe and North America.
working with local schools for the last eight years, holding ‘greener classes’ and offering free advice for school ground
improvements, often donating excess plants and materials. Essex-based Consilium Hortus last year committed to providing two guest lectures at Writtle GardeningviaintodesignersmentorsAssociatesRuthCollege,UniversityandWillmottnewcomingtheindustrytheEnglishSchool
CATEGORY HARRINGTONWINNER:PORTER
O
ne of the greatest things a well-run company can do is to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences with others. In other words, to be a company which seeks to have a wider impact on the industry in which it works. Garden Design Company of the Year, Harrington Porter, does this in abundance, partly through its membership of the Society of Garden DirectorDesigners.ChrisHarrington has been a registered member for years, and Harrington Porter has been a registered
There are a variety of ways companies can go above and beyond to help progress the landscaping sector, and those shortlisted – and of course our category winner – are exemplars of how this can be done without sacrificing success, profit and reputability.
and speaks at schools on careers in landscapeLookingdesign.beyond,
MATT GARDENSHADDONLTD GARDENLEEDSDESIGN
practice for the last three years (practice membership having only been offered by the SGD since 2017). They have been active members too. Chris Harrington has contributed to local cluster groups and was due to work on the SGD stand at the postponed RHS Chelsea Flower Show to share the benefits of the society with the general public and promote the industry.
MATTHEW WILSON GARDENS
CONSILIUM HORTUS
GARDEN DESIGN COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TOWARD HOW THEY CAN HELP THE NEXT GENERATION COMING THROUGH
NORTH
GARDEN ASPECT
RUTH WILLMOTT
HARRINGTON PORTER
of North Leeds Garden Design is based in Spain, and so volunteered to be the international co-ordinator for the SGD, managing and organising virtual CPD
Landscaping Company
A LOOK AT AWARD-WORTHY LANDSCAPING COMPANIES (£1M-£5M TURNOVER)
W
ManagementTPaseachtrainingadedicatesalsosignificantbudgetmonth,doesTheGroup.Vegetation
So, what are some of the initiatives which earned Tony Benger Landscaping such a glowing review? Firstly, it spends a considerable amount of its turnover on training, which it says is essential to producing the consistently high-quality work for which it is known. To push this point further, it has hired a full-time trainer, a technical manager as well as three supervisors – all in-house appointments – who are focused on upskilling their colleagues.
IT’S ALL WELL AND GOOD HAVING GREAT RELATIONSHIPSSUPPLIER AND AN IMPRESSIVE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY , BUT THESE ARE NOT ACHIEVABLE WITHOUT THE HELP OF A SKILLED AND DEDICATED TEAM
Training videos are also available to staff, showing best practice and technique, and at the time of applying, Tony Benger Landscaping had just received the first copies of its grounds maintenance best practice and general specifical booklets for both clients and site teams.
Recognising that not all staff benefit from a ‘classroom’ approach, ‘Day in the Woods’ training has been introduced, a chance for outdoor activities, and more practical group sessions are provided each year. Seeing that one size does not fill all extends to technology, as the company is rolling out IT training to those less confident in this area.
This is something that category winner Tony Benger Landscaping not only recognises but also goes above and beyond to ensure it has in place. The team – a stage full of them – was ecstatic on the day to collect their award, and it was well deserved. One of our judges said of the company: “Tony Benger Landscaping is an inclusive company who genuinely and refreshingly puts doing a good job ahead of commercial profits. This company mantra has led to the success and continued growth over significant 35 years of operations. They have grown the business by developing and maintaining strong and lasting relationships with
their clients, suppliers and staff, providing opportunities for personal and professional development.”
hen it comes to the Pro Landscaper Business Awards, every aspect of the application is important, but perhaps one part our eagle-eyed judges are particularly interested in is how these companies are helping their staff to develop and progress. It’s all well and good having great supplier relationships and an impressive corporate social responsibility, but these are not achievable without the help of a skilled and dedicated team.
Of course, those shortlisted in this category are also striving to offer staff training and development opportunities. Panoramic Landscape Contractors say that its policy is driven towards the enhancement and enrichment of each member of staff, and as such it
PANORAMICCONTRACTORSLANDSCAPE THE TP GROUP INSPIRE prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202268
£1m-£5m Turnover
Services goes so far as to have its own training division, Vegetation Management Training and Education. More recently, it took part in the government’s Kickstart programme to help those with no training achieve qualifications enter the industry and
CATEGORY WINNER: TONY BENGER
LANDSCAPING
Sponsored by
TONY LANDSCAPINGBENGER
Asprogress.askillsshortage remains high on the agenda for the landscaping industry, companies offering in-house training and funding external training too are to be recognised and rewarded, and we’re proud of those companies finding new and interesting ways to improve industry standards and engage their staff.
THE PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS 2022 MANAGEMENTVEGETATION SERVICES
OR A COLLEAGUE
ENTER YOURSELF
Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation is back for its eighth year. To date, we have celebrated 210 winners from a variety of sectors within the industry – from sales to arboriculture, from construction to design, from maintenance to landscape architecture. These awards should not only highlight the up-and-coming talent within the industry, but also the diversity of horticulture and those working within it. Why not put forward yourself or a deserving colleague for a chance to be recognised?
Proudly supported by
Entering Landscaper’sPro 30
Who?Why?
Simply email 30u30@eljays44.com to request an entry form. Fill out the form to the best of your ability, picking out key moments from your career and showcasing some of your best work. Email the form back with a high-resolution (at least 1MB) headshot by 31 August 2022.
Under 30: The Next Generation is a great way to gain recognition for your own work or the work of someone you know. Previous winners have expressed that winning the awards is a wonderful way to enhance their careers.
www. prolandscapermagazine/ May 2022 .comPro Landscaper ’S CONTACT DETAILS www.prolandscapermagazine.com/30under30 For more information on how to enter, contact 01903 777570 or email 30u30@eljays44.com
How?
The rules are simple. You can nominate yourself or a colleague, as long as the nominee was aged 30 or under on 1 January 2022 and currently works within the workedsector.designarboriculture,horticulture,gardenorlandscapeEntrantsmusthaveintheindustryfor at least one year.
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Are there bespoke options available?
Lead planters are at times a little too heavy for some applications. Redfields makes stainless steel planters which are then clad with lead. This will help with planting schemes on window areas and roof tops where weight restrictions apply without compromising on quality. Redfields’ stainless clad lead planters reduce the weight of solid lead by anything from 40% to 60%. These reinforced planters can also be used to design very large planters that my not otherwise be possible with solid lead.
The Kyoto planter is available in several sizes, and the Kyoto 90 shown here is ideal for a small tree (height 700mm, diameter 900mm). Fibre-reinforced cement is exceptionally strong but only around 50kg so easy to handle on site.
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The standard colour is anthracite grey, but custom colours are possible. A very versatile planter that has been supplied into privateschemescommercial/publicmanyrealmaswellasgardens.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 71 INSPIRE
THESE GORGEOUS PLANTERS WERE DEVELOPED TO HELP SOLVE SPECIFIC LANDSCAPING CHALLENGES
Yes – constructed using a modular approach, the BioCube has the flexibility to meet the needs of any site. Talk to BioScapes about your site design and your objective and the company will work with you on a configuration, installation and delivery plan that suits your needs. For commercial installations they can also be branded.
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INSIDE NURTURE THIS MONTH PAGE 75 FEATURE GARDEN: TREBAH GARDEN, PAGE 80 NICK COSLETT, PAGE 82 LEWIS NORMAND, PAGE 83 HIT THE ROOF: GREEN ROOFING TIPS NURTURE HIT THE ROOF: ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF GREEN ROOFS P 83 ©Mobilane
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the Fox era, the garden changed hands regularly and Darren explains there was somewhat of a “broken history”, with various owners trying different ways to generate income. One significant period was between 1906 and 1939, when the Hext family owned the garden. They added a lot of planting, had a garden team of 15 and created the series of three ponds through the garden, as well as bequeathing the Constantine playing field to the local community. Decades later, Major Tony Hibbert would purchase the garden in 1981. The Cornwall Garden Society convinced him and his wife Eira to restore the garden, bringing continuity and opening it up to the public. Then, in 1990, the Trebah Garden Trust was formed. “[This] has given the garden security of tenure to move forward. So, we have a board of trustees and development plans as to how we manage the garden.
“Now, it’s about not just preserving but also enhancing and adding to the interest. That’s what
GARDEN FEATURE TREBAH GARDEN
W
The garden is an amalgamation of previous owners, says head gardener Darren Dickey. Charles Fox purchased the land in 1838 and started developing the woodlands. He cleared the area within the wooded ravine and started to plant more exotic plants, as well as the shelter belt to protect these varieties, screening them from the winter weather coming off the sea.
HEAD GARDENER DARREN DICKEY AND HIS TEAM ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE THIS EXOTIC OASIS MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY THAN EVER
“It was in the Victorian era when plant hunters were introducing wonderful plants collected from these extraditions. Charles Fox had great contacts and his family were ship agents of Falmouth, so were perfectly placed to bring back some of these plants,” saysFollowingDarren.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 75 NURTURE
alk past monkey puzzle trees and through a maze of bamboo to feel the sand between your toes and hear the sound of waves crashing against the shore – and all without having to step on a plane. Trebah Garden in Cornwall offers its visitors a sub-tropical paradise within the UK. The 26-acre garden boasts its own secluded beach on the Helford River and more than four miles of footpaths to explore. It’s Trebah’s plant collection, though, which is the real star of the show.
keeps us coming back for more and keeps us inspired as gardeners to be involved with Trebah. We only have a small team of four, but it’s a good-sized team and along with our volunteers we work well to develop, enhance and maintain what we have.”
"Being very close to the sea, we get the benefit of the gulf stream warming our waters and milder winters. There’s also
in 2002 was promoted from deputy to head gardener.
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202276
NURTURE
Darren started at Trebah 31 years ago, having trained previously at andknowledgeGlendurgannearbyGardens.Hewastakenonafterthestormof1990asaseasonalgardenerandafterafewmonthshewasofferedafull-timeposition.Hegainedexperienceandofthegardenhowtomanageit,and
Part of the reason Darren has stayed at the garden for the last three decades is the mix of planting and the microclimate. “It gives us the opportunity to add plants that perhaps wouldn’t survive elsewhere in the country.
The herbaceous areas in the summer are the most intensive, says Darren. “We have a few more areas that are planted up for colour through the summer, such as borders at the bottom of the garden and through the middle and the water garden. We don’t have too much grass thankfully; most of what we have is fairly wild, so we
6
7 Bamboozle: a maze of pathways
Open 12 months of the year, the garden boasts year-round interest. In spring, hundreds of specimens form the Rhododendron Valley, followed by the Gunnera Passage being a popular attraction in the summer alongside the herbaceous perennials. The Hydrangea Valley comes
YOU ONLY REALLY GET BAMBOO THAT SIZE IN CORNWALL BECAUSE WE HAVE MILDER WINTERS AND MOIST SPRINGS , SO THEY REALLY DO LOVE THE CONDITIONS AT TREBAH
2 Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana Magnolia campbellii
plenty to develop in the garden; even though it’s only 26 acres, we’ve been able to clear open areas and gradually improve and add to the interest, the biodiversity and the plant collection.”
into its own from mid-summer onwards and continues flowering right the way through the autumn, bordering the Mallard Pond where visitors can catch an iconic view up to the house. In winter, Trebah’s champion trees – of which it has eight in the UK – tower over visitors and the plants from the southern hemisphere begin to flower.
5
1 Looking out to sea over Mallard Pond
3
8 Chilean Coomb panorama
4 Gunnera manicata Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana Magnolia campbellii
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 77 NURTURE
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202278
It's the herbaceous areas which have seen the biggest changes over the last 10 years, with more summer colour “dotted around”. The laurel areas have also been cleared and the team has opened up areas to be able to see some of the specimen trees. Now, they’re developing the collection of winter flowering bulbs to continue to add an extra layer of interest at that time of year.
NURTURE
Trebah’s unusual microclimate allows it to grow tropical bamboos and some of the more unusual varities such as timber bamboo, which grows to the same size as the canes in its native environment in China. “You only really get bamboo that size in Cornwall because we have milder winters and moist springs, so they really do love the conditions at Trebah.”
don’t have too much intensive strimming and cutting, which is always a bonus.”
WE’RE LUCKY TO HAVE A VERY DYNAMIC TEAM WHO ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE THE WAY TREBAH WORKS
Because of this, Trebah has created what it calls the Bamboozle, a maze of paths formed with its collection of 47 different species and varieties of bamboo. “A lot of the collection has always been here, but they were moved to integrate the Bamboozle in the garden in the early 90s, when I first started. They create these windy paths you can walk through, in a very informal maze fashion. It’s somewhere children can run around and enjoy. It added an extra interest in the garden without it becoming a bamboo garden; we would never go that far.”
Darren says the team is also adding more biodiverse areas and moving towards being more environmentally friendly, using fewer chemicals and reducing its use of machinery with more wild areas to encourage wildlife in theThegarden.visitor
9 Mallard Pond and beach from Healeys Hill
10 Rhododendron 'Glory of Penjerrick' 11 Trachycarpus fortunei
“We’re lucky to have a very dynamic team who are always looking to improve the way Trebah works. We have a Green Team, and we’re part of the Green Tourism Scheme and have been accredited Gold the last three times we have been assessed.
As with any garden, it’s continuously evolving, and Darren has plenty of thoughts and ideas for Trebah’s development.
centre has a solar photovoltaic system fitted, and a ground source heating system has been installed beneath the site for the new walled garden to provide heat and hot water to the visitor centre.
12 Rhododendron 'Glory of Penjerrick'
“We also work with the local schools and community groups. We have two days when we’re closed, Thursday and Friday, so we have our events and creative teams engaging with local schools and getting them to use the garden in creative ways.
NURTURE
A walled garden is under construction too, which will be a more formal space on top of the old tennis court at Trebah. “We can get away with very formal here because it’s separate to the garden.
It’s up near the carpark and is a good way of people accessing an area of interest necessarilywithouthaving to get around the steeper areas of the garden. So, it will be a flat, level garden with good disability access and so a nice area for those who perhaps cannot make it all the way around the garden.”
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13 Hydrangeas on Davidia Walk
For Darren, one of the key things at Trebah is how it engages with families and ensuring that it is fun and helps to educate children while they’re here to encourage them to visit with their own children one day. “It’s about inclusiveness. Families are key and we have always had great family values at Trebah, and we’re dog friendly too, so it’s a whole rounded experience which makes Trebah so special.”
ABOUT NICK COSLETT
write during a week of hot weather in mid-June, a week when temperatures have hit 33 C°. So, I have been trying to work in the shade, but my solar panels have been working hard generating and earning me 14.3p per unit generated, while it costs me 37.2p a unit when I switch a light on. My installation is now seven years’ old and has paid back the installation costs. However, it is surprising that the south facing roofs across my village have so few panels. The 45% increase in electricity may prompt more to invest as electricity will only get more expensive and panels do pay back.
However, do solar farms offer an opportunity to landscapers? There are more solar farms appearing across the country and they offer opportunities for grazing below the panels (as long as the sheep don’t eat the cables) but also space for biodiversity with sowing of native wildflowers benefiting invertebrates and the wider ecological food chain. In our ecologically depleted countryside, we need to encourage more wildlife. So, the opportunities for landscapers are in the construction and seeding of wildflower areas and for the less enlightened client mowing of the grass on an maintenanceagreedcycle, as dry grasslandposes
I got into a Twitter spat this week too. The Superbloom created by Nigel Dunnett and Landform and others in the Tower of
a fire risk to solar farms and vegetation could grow and shade panels.
However, an (unnamed) ecologist criticised the lack of native wildflowers in the plantings and the absence of wildlife. He was wrong; there are native and non-native plants flowering, providing a massive nectar boost to the local invertebrates. Just like the Olympic Park, build it and they will come, and it’s much, much better for wildlife than the mown grass sward which existed before. In case you are wondering that non-natives don’t benefit our wildlife, the RHS Native or Non-Native research found that they do; there was only a slight preference for invertebrates to go to native plants with many being opportunists.
Australia’s intense sun was a win-win for farmers and generators. These findings have been repeated in American studies in Oregon too where panels protected the grass sward in periods of drought, increasing biomass production by 90%. So, solar farms can be good for dual land use – generation and agriculture. While it may cost a little more in the first place to protect cables from curious nibbling sheep, there are wins in the longer term, with sheep controlling the vegetation and reducing dry grass fire risks.
SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATIONS COULD OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDSCAPERS, EXPLAINS NICK COSLETT
I
London moat is a spectacular display of flowering plants and now very much open to visitors. Just Google “Superbloom” to book online and I’ll see you there.
Just look at the RHS list of ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ to see how many non-native plants are very beneficial in providing a nectar source often at times when native plants are not. I’m amazed and saddened this message has not percolated to all sectors by now.
SOLAR POWER
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Nick is now retired but has worked in landscape o ces, parks management and horticultural nurseries. For the past 20 years, he has also run soft landscape workshops at Coblands and Palmstead. He has been involved in BALI at a regional and national level, and is a trustee of the BALI Chalk Fund, as well as an awards judge.
Recent research in Australia has shown over a four-year period that the wool of sheep grazed under solar farms was better in quality and quantity. It would appear the better grass grown in the shade of panels in
THERE ARE MORE SOLAR FARMS APPEARING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THEY OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRAZING BELOW THE PANELS... BUT ALSO SPACE FOR BIODIVERSITY
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ABOUT LEWIS NORMAND
We can’t expect the public to be master plantspeople, just as we can’t expect them to be craftspeople and expert specifiers. Instead, we must help them find the professional bodies who can guide them to great practitioners and expose those who seek to offer poor quality work and lies.
including some who are obviously just deceiving their potential customers. On eBay and Amazon, I have long lost memory of the first time I saw a doctored image of bright blue, jet-black or rainbow-coloured roses. Similarly, tomato plugs and seeds often get this multicoloured treatment – clearly an example of false advertising.
On to the plant trade industry then – I’m not saying nursery industry, because ‘plant trade’ has far wider connotations here. Recent changes to plant passporting have meant that professionals, keen amateurs and collection holders who sell plants must sell them
Despite the relative ease of securing an expert in their field at a fair price-point, there has and will always be someone who will undercut price to secure work. Logic dictates that if you can undercut a price, there must be a saving to be made elsewhere and so people who opt for cheapest option quotes may well be their own worst enemy. The argument for seeking five or more quotes for work to better understand the market price-point is a strong one.
LESS REPUTABLE CONTRACTORS AND PLANT SELLERS ARE RUINING IT FOR THE REST OF US, SAYS LEWIS NORMAND
I have, of late, found myself despairing at various aspects of the landscape industry, particularly the charlatans and the grossly offeringunder-skilledservicesthat they
simply cannot deliver. Word of mouth recommendation or accreditation from a professional body is almost always enough to ensure success for projects and I’m confident that none of the images Gareth Wilson shares on social media of awful landscape work he has had to act as an expert witness on are the result of accredited professionals.
plant is now traceable through its lifetime via the plant passport. Although it has added cost and time to the supply of plants, it improves the biosecurity and overall honesty of the product, which can ultimately only be a good thing.
Sadly, not all plant suppliers are doing as they should, with the worst offenders often found lurking on eBay and Amazon and in markets and boot sales. I should point out that there are some excellent plant suppliers trading on these platforms as well, but there are issues with other suppliers
This treatment of plants as a fashion item, that will only ever lead to disappointment when they are purchased and grown, really harms the impression the public have of the industry. Just as a botched patio or awful driveway harm the reputations of all good landscape contractors and builders, nurseries and reputable plant sellers are seen as less trustworthy because of the shysters who doctor plant images or fail to give cultural information on how to grow plants ill-suited to the UK to a largely ignorant public.
EACH PLANT IS NOW TRACEABLE THROUGH ITS LIFETIME VIA THE PLANT PASSPORT
The attention to the general public of the APL in particular is a good thing to help encourage people to purchase works through a recognised and audited professional. I’m not suggesting that not having accreditation from a professional body makes you less skilled or that you are a producer of inferior work, but because it can’t be measured against a professional standard, you inevitably fall within the same category that the very lowest quality work does – a good argument to seek professional recognition of your work if ever there was one.
UNDER-PRICING, OVERSELLING
under the licence of a plant passport. This removes the old risk of plants being covertly substituted for something similar, helps with pest and disease spread prevention and protects plants with royalties, as each
Lewis has worked in a wide variety of roles within horticulture over a 20-year career. He has lectured on garden design and horticulture, and designed gardens in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Since 2011, Lewis has focused on nursery sales, now working as sales manager at Bernhard’s Nurseries, and has helped to launch a number of new plants into the UK plant market. He is a specialist supplier to show gardens, supplying more than 100 gardens at major shows.
NURTURE prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202282
MOBIROOF ECO
• Dead-heading flowers, usually from mid-September. Fine cuttings may remain on the roof, but larger cuttings should be removed.
MobiRoof ECO is a circular product and is sustainably and locally produced.
• General checks
1. MobiRoof ECO can be installed as it is, with no further action required. If you wish to install MobiRoof ECO on a steeper gradient anchoring is required, for example L-shaped profiles.
3. Gravel can be added around outer roof edges, roof windows, skylights and drainage piping for example, to stimulate the micro-climate and prevent wind reaching under the cassettes.
Top tips for installation
2. The system can be adapted to local requirements and combined with any type of hard and soft landscaping or green roof.
System helps reducing the risk of surface flooding taking pressure from the public sewerage systems in heavy rain events.
3. Provides all other beneficial features of green roofs or landscaped podiums, i.e. improving the microclimate, increasing noise protection, etc.
Roof drains must be cleaned regularly from any debris, weeds must be removed and the irrigation needs to be checked.
As a blue roof system includes a sophisticated drainage system, this should be regularly checked for blockages or root damage to ensure continued functionality.
2. Apply root-resistant permeable sheeting on the roof before installing the cassettes when the roofing does not include a root-resistant layer.
The ‘maintenance must’
HIT THE ROOF
2. The cassettes are easy and quick to install and low in maintenance.
The ‘maintenance must’ MobiRoof ECO requires very little maintenance. Pruning and fertilising once a year is sufficient. The maintenance tasks are as follows:
Mobilane MobiRoof ECO Tuinhuis
©B.V.BeneluxZinCo©ZinCo www. prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 83 NURTURE
ZINCO MANAGEMENTSTORMWATERROOF
• Fertilisation in the spring using sedum fertiliser
ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THESE GREEN ROOFS WITH TOP TIPS FROM THEIR SUPPLIERS
3. MobiRoof biodiversity.contributesECOtowards
Mobilane MobiRoof ECO IN Murnau, Germany
MobiRoof ECO is a ready-made green roof system with sedum that is directly applicable to flat or slightly sloping roofs. MobiRoof ECO is a circular green roof system. The cassette is made of recycled material and is fully recyclable. The cassettes are locally pre-grown with cuttings from our own nursery. mobilane.com/en
Plough Lane Sedum and Podium Blue roofs
The ZinCo Stormwater Management Roof is a blue roof system that combines a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) with a green roof or landscaped podium build-up. Different types of spacers forming the core of the SuDS allow for substantial temporary rainwater storage in the case of heavy rain events. The retained rainwater is released through a special flow controller that predefines and controls the delayed rainwater run-off into the sewerage system. zinco-greenroof.com
1.Benefits
Further maintenance work depends on the type of green or landscaped roof with which it is combined. While a sedum roof requires only little maintenance, a roof garden or landscaped podium needs as much care as any ground-level garden.
1.Benefits
Stormwater Management Roof, Soho, Amsterdam
An additional OASE FM-Master purchase is required, which allows for up to ten individual OASE Control enabled products to be controlled. Using the app ensures an advanced level of safety due to error messages being sent immediately to the app. Furthermore, the app also allows users to easily see their energy usage. For example, your client can lower running costs by setting a filter to run less intensely in winter. Light timers can also be set to help limit energy Integrationconsumption.forwireless
READY-MADE SUSTAINABLE SEDUM CASSETTE
Visit our website for more information: www.mobilane.co.uk
MobiRoof ECO is a circular green roof system. The cassette is made of recycled material and fully recyclable. The cassettes are pre-grown locally with cuttings from the own nursery. The unique lightweight cassette system is planted with 6-8 different types of Sedum.
T +44 (0)203 741 8049 E office@mobilane.co.uk
Total control with OASE
products is easy and allows them to be turned on and off with the press of a button. The increased control and convenience provided by the app will ultimately improve your client’s overall garden experience. Find out which OASE Control products you can add to your next project today.
The OASE Control app for garden management CONTROL FIND OUT MORE manage con ex
Find your nearest OASE distributor here
MobiRoof ECO ®
OASE
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The OASE control app revolutionises pond and garden management. With a simple press of a button or a voice command via Alexa or Google Assistant, the user can manage lights, pump flow rates, on/off status and energy consumption. Regardless of if your client is in the comfort of their home, on the go or enjoying their holiday – the app allows for safe, easy and convenient control.
INSIDE EDUCATE THIS MONTH PAGE 87 ORACLE SOLICITORS, PAGE 88 GARETH WILSON, PAGE 89 ALISON WARNER, PAGE 90 ANGUS LINDSAY, PAGE 92 MAKITA: CHOOSING CORDLESS, PAGE 93 BEAUXFORT: GRAVELRINGS, PAGE 95 DRAINAGE, PAGE 98 LITTLE INTERVIEWS EDUCATE OVERLAY APPLICATION P 93 BEAUXFORT: GRAVELRINGS
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It will often be the case that an obligation on the employer to review the salary each year is included in the employment contract. If the employer wants to avoid any obligation to award an increase, or to award a pre-decided increase (in particular,
SALARY REVIEWS: ARE THEY MANDATORY?
If an employer links the salary review to the performance of the employee, it is important to be clear on the process and the discretion afforded to the employer. Employers should note that any salary review must be carried out in good faith, otherwise the employer will be in breach of the implied term of “mutual trust and confidence”.Inthecase where there is no salary review clause written into the contract, a right to a salary review or pay increase is not generally implied into the contract. This is not necessarily the end of the story,
EDUCATE prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 87
Is a periodic review of employees’ salaries legally mandatory for businesses and what should employers bear in mind on this topic?
JASON MCKENZIE AND KUMSAL KALELI OF ORACLE SOLICITORS EXPLAIN WHERE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES STAND WHEN IT COMES TO REVIEWING PAY
They can take many different forms: from a high-level business evaluation (without employee input) over whether an increase is affordable, to a more detailed performance review exercise of the employee concerned, against which targets are assessed.
For additional clarity, an employer can also specify particular circumstances in which there would be no salary review (for example, where notice of termination of employment has been served by either party).
A
ABOUT ORACLE SOLICITORS
s we all know, a salary review is simply an exercise where an employer considers the salary of an employee and determines whether the salary level is to be adjusted. The promise of a salary review can be a significant source of work motivation for employees.
It is important to ensure that any salary review clauses in contracts are considered carefully by employers and are drafted in a way that is clear for all concerned. This helps to manage expectations and mitigate the risk of disputes. As mentioned previously, it is also important for employers to operate salary reviews in good faith, regardless of the written (or unwritten) terms.
Oracle Solicitors is an award-winning law rm with a deep understanding of the landscape industry and expertise in employment, commercial, litigation, property and contract law. Oracle Solicitors, founded in 2002 has since grown to include o ces in London, Belfast, Birmingham, Manchester, Frankfurt, and Addis Ababa – please visit: oraclesolicitors.co.uk
Although there is no statutory obligation for employers to conduct salary reviews in the UK, more than 85% of employers have reviewed the salaries of their employees in 2022. This is mainly due to contractual terms of employment that specify periodic salary reviews (annually, or every six months, for example).
THE PROMISE OF A SALARY REVIEW CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF WORK MOTIVATION FOR EMPLOYEES
a salary increase if an employer were to increase the salary by a certain amount (or on a certain basis) each year (through “custom and practice”).
increases in line with changes in the Retail Prices Index, for example), wording to this effect should be expressly included within the contract. Failure to do so might lead to an implied contractual right to
Overall Incorporating written pay review terms (whether they guarantee an increase or not) reduces the risk of uncertainty on the issue for both the employee and the employer. They can also have a motivational benefit for employees.
The legal position
Requests for reviews (whether they are written into an employment contract or not) have understandably increased in recent times as a result of cost-of-living pressures.
however, as it is possible for such a clause to be implied by “custom and practice” – in other words, how such matters have been dealt with in reality in the past (as indicated above). Businesses should note that by operation of the law, by statute, by custom or practice, or by fact, a term that has not been expressly agreed between the parties may be deduced as implied into a contract.
Of course, we are now in the full swing of summer and, even if you’re a day or two late starting your next client’s project, they are sending emails and calling you. They want to get maximum pleasure from their investment in their outdoor space whilst the weather is good.
ABOUT GARETH WILSON
SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS
TAKE THE TIME TO TEACH NEW STARTERS, AS IT COULD TAKE MORE TIME (AND MONEY) TO RESOLVE THEIR MISTAKES IF NOT, SAYS GARETH WILSON
So, what can we take from this? It’s absolutely essential that, not only do you monitor your new employee on their first few projects only to see how they work, but to mould them into your way of working. I would even recommend that new employees shadow on a project and then you monitor them on the next project.
This is where the pressure starts to build and, with more work flooding through the door, you decide you need more staff. As I’ve mentioned many times, there is a shortage of very good landscapers, especially ones that work to a consistently high standard. This is where issues creep in.
pouring footings, etc. If the groundwork side of the project isn’t done correctly to specifications, the whole project is going to struggle, or is likely to fail entirely, which is likely to happen if new landscapers are not being fully briefed and monitored constantly.
Leaving college at 17, Gareth has worked in the landscape industry since 1989. Progressing onto high-end projects over the years, he has picked up 30 RHS medals, including Gold at Chelsea. Now a retained consultant to The Landscape Academy, Gareth is a member of multiple professional bodies. He provides technical and product advice to companies, mentors and trains landscapers across the UK, and provides arbitration and mediation services.
IF THE GROUNDWORK SIDE OF THE PROJECT ISN’T DONE CORRECTLY TO SPECIFICATIONS, THE WHOLE PROJECT IS GOING TO STRUGGLE
On another case, the new landscaper had laid the patio – in his own words, “to the back of the bubble” – on the spirit level. This, I might add, along with the term ‘turn
I
In one case, I heard the new ‘landscaper’ had spot-bedded the paving with no bonding mortar applied to the back of the slab. Although the finished article looked passable, what lay beneath the surface was far from the company owners’ standard, let alone British Standard.
As a landscaper, you’re already bombed out busy and every time the weather is fine for a prolonged amount of time, the phone rings even more from potential clients requiring quotes.
From what I’m seeing lately, companies are bringing landscapers in and throwing them straight onto a project – in many cases, just to keep clients happy that their project is starting. This is where it begins to go wrong.
Almost anyone can make quick progress at the ripping out stages – and quick progress keeps the clients happy. But before too long, you’re setting out levels, getting fall rates worked out and
gkwilsonlandscaping.co.uk
t’s safe to say that poor workmanship is certainly on the rise, judging by the amount of emails and calls I’m getting at the moment. The recurring issue on three out of the last seven Expert Witness commissions are new staff not working to standards.
of the bubble’, is where the bubble of the spirit level is just breaking over the line. These are my absolute pet hate phrases as that’s not how to work out fall rates in 2022, or for the last 10 or more years.
It only takes one failed project to put you in financial difficulties.
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I would also provide them with a full specification sheet highlighting ground conditions, sub-base specifications and laying the full range of work which you as a company carry out.
Here is my advice:
ne of the most Iquestionscommonhearfrom
Operate on a cost plus profit basis
IT PAYS
TO TALK
Order in bulk
Ensure you have terms and conditions in place that cover changes to costs Robust terms and conditions are there to protect both you and your customers. However, not everyone reads the fine print, so it’s a good idea to signpost relevant clauses in your covering email when you send over the contact. For example: "Due to the current environment, please note that material costs are increasing and therefore this quote is only valid for X days OR subject to change."
make time for tasks such as shopping around for the best price. This could be the difference between you remaining competitive and winning the contract, or not. You should ask your regular suppliers if they can match a cheaper price you’ve found elsewhere, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
Like anything in life, many difficult situations can be avoided with open and transparent communication. It’s always a good idea to manage expectations early on and reference the issue of increasing
If a price increase is forecast on a particular item, buy larger quantities (e.g. three months’ worth) three-six months ahead of time, making sure you have sufficient working capital in the business. It is also worth asking if you can negotiate a cheaper price per item for buying in bulk.
Be upfront, open and transparent
LIKE ANYTHING IN LIFE, MANY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS CAN BE AVOIDED WITH OPEN AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION
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ABOUT ALISON WARNER
It is often helpful to be open about how much mark-up you are placing on your materials, which can build a sense of trust. You can basically share the costs plus the margin, and then should the material costs increase, the customer can see this and have a greater understanding of why the overall price has also increased.
Shop around and don’t be afraid to ask The irony is that when we are in turmoil, best practice goes out of the window. I often hear: “I don’t have the time to do X, Y and Z.” But I would argue you should absolutely
EDUCATE Medienstürmer/Unsplash©Photograph
clients on our Build and Grow Academy is, “How do I tackle the issue of rising prices with my customers?” So you quoted on a large project a few weeks ago and won the work, but in the meantime prices of materials have gone through the roof! Not easy, but it’s something you can manage.
material and/or fuel costs during face to face or telephone conversations before the job is confirmed. This doesn’t have to be continual; just make sure that you reference it at least once. This way the email will not come as a nasty surprise and you will minimise the chances of people saying they were unaware.
To find out how Evolve and Grow can help you grow your business, take our free BUILD system scorecard, available on our website: evolveandgrowcoaching.com
O
Alison Warner is the founder of Evolve and Grow, a business coaching rm that specialises in the trades and construction industry. She is also the author of bestselling book ‘How to go from Tradesperson to Managing Director in the Construction and Trade Industries’. evolveandgrowcoaching.comhttps://amzn.to/2QIb467
WHY HAVING DIFFICULT CONVERSATION ABOUT COST HIKES WILL SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. TRADES COACH ALISON WARNER EXPLAINS HOW TO GRASP THE NETTLE
So, are we facing a dystopian future where a faceless figure on the other side of the world can take control of the software within our vehicles and machinery and render them redundant? As was seen in the Ukraine, this is now fact, not fiction, so we need to be wary of this hidden threat and protect ourselves.
echnology and its associated scams have, unfortunately, become part of daily life. Previously it would be a knock on the door or a phone call, but now we now get texts and emails from scammers; pertaining to be everyone from our bank to an online supermarket, they will try anything to access your personal data. But in some cases, an innocuous email link can lead to an all-out malware attack, crippling your business and costing hundreds of thousands to rectify. The fallout from such an event will stay with you for a long time.
I recently attended a demo of the latest electric tool-carrier from the Dutch manufacturer, AllTrec, a phenomenal machine able to give a full day’s mowing quietly and with zero-emissions (well, from the machine at least) on one battery charge, whilst constantly communicating with its
ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAY
ANGUS LINDSAY DELVES INTO THE EVOLVING SECURITY RISKS POSED BY NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY
AN INNOCUOUS EMAIL LINK CAN LEAD TO AN ALL-OUT MALWARE ATTACK , CRIPPLING YOUR BUSINESS AND COSTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO RECTIFY
The base power unit not only cuts grass but sweeps, weed kills, cuts hedges and clears snow, but with a six-figure price tag, which doesn’t seem to have daunted buyers in the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
No matter which way you look at it, technology makes our lives easier and will continue to do so, for everything from ordering a pizza to landing an aircraft, which is all well and good whilst we are in control; but when the bad guys manage to hack into our systems, be it for financial gain, technology theft or environmental blackmail, how well prepared are we to defend ourselves and what happens if they can take control of our vehicles and machinery?
The phrase ‘connectivity’ was being bandied about by several vehicle manufacturers at the Commercial Vehicle show in May; vehicles able to electronically communicate with their base and even each other to optimise delivery schedules and identify potential issues seems to be the way forward. Vehicles that know when they have a problem and its severity, can flag the issue up with the workshop, can ensure they have the parts available when the vehicle returns and minimise downtime has got to improve efficiency, hasn’t it?
T E C HNOLOGY T H E F RAGILITY OF
I would urge everyone to speak to their IT department and/or advisor and follow their guidance around system updates, password
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202290 EDUCATE
Angus spent several years working on arable farms in Scotland before joining VSO in Egypt, implementing a mechanisation programme, managing eld operations for a commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and working as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen. He has an Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation Management MSc from Silsoe, and joined Glendale as machinery manager in 1994, then idverde UK in 2009. angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk
base as to temperatures, battery condition, power usage, all manner of things – makes you wonder what the driver is there for!
changes, data back-up, firewalls and the like to protect yourself. I am no IT expert, far from it – I thought a dongle was something you hung on a Christmas tree – but having been exposed to a malware attack, it leaves you very vulnerable and you quickly realise how much you rely on your phone and laptop. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
I read with interest and some concern an article the other week around the vulnerability of farm machinery to attack by hackers via the equipment’s GPS and software systems, crippling equipment prior to harvest. Ironically, this same technology was used in reverse by a manufacturer to disable John Deere equipment stolen from farmers and dealerships in the Ukraine during the Russian invasion and render them unusable.
Recently an international tractor manufacturer and a national distribution organisation both suffered malware attacks which totally shut down every aspect of their operations, crippling their businesses.
T
LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES Renowned for the quality of our specialist soils and lightweight materials, which are developed with and tested to the British Standard and beyond by Tim O’Hare Associates. Our products are regularly specified by leading Landscape Architects and Designers and widely used by the Landscape and Horticultural Trades and Industries. Supplying orders from one bag to many thousands of tons, we can undertake the most challenging deliveries using our own fleet of Silver Fors specialist delivery vehicles. Please call us to discuss your next projects needs. SPECIALIST LIGHTWEIGHT SOILS DELIVERED EFFORTLESSLY REGARDLESS OF THE LOGISTIS! Tel: 01306 877540 or buy online www.buryhilltopsoilandlogs.co.ukatEmail:sales@buryhilltopsoil.com BUILDING AGGREGATES • WILDFLOWER TURF & SEED • DECORATIVE STONE•PREMIUM&CONTRACTSOILS•ERICACEOUS&SPECIALISTSOILS•LOWFERTILITY&BESPOKEBLENDEDSOILS •LIGHTWEIGHTROOFSOILS•SPORTSLOAMS&DRESSINGS•SOILCONDITIONER COMPOST&MULCHES•BARKS&WOODCHIP•PLAYSAND&PLAYGRADEBARK•LAWNTURF&GRASSSEED•• www.cadmap.co.uk • info@cadmap.co.uk Surrey 01483 429385 London 020 81111 385 Brighton 01273 027327 Southampton 0238 2023881 Cadmap Ltd provide detailed Topographical Land Surveys for award-winning landscape design architects, many who have won Gold medals at RHS Shows and other prestigious awards around the United Kingdom. Cadmap Ltd are experienced at providing detailed Land surveys for landscape design compared to standard Land Survey detailing for housing developments. The company is a full member of The Survey Association, fully insured and holds 5m professional indemnity cover. If you require a Topographical Land Survey please contact us on the below details and Cadmap Ltd will provide a fee proposal free of charge for any size project you require. Landscape Survey Specialists THINK DIGGER, THINK SANY THINK MC PLANT www.mcgroupltd.co.uk Paul Cogger – 07817 013970 Phil Elam – 07384 517574 MC Plant HQ – 01622 710811 For quality in stock SANY excavators please get In touch with us: unfogable mesh eye www.meshsafetyglasses.comprotection01254377467
Erecting structures
Makita’s LXT 18V platform comprises over 270 cordless products – including garden machinery equipment, construction tools for hard landscaping and on-site accessories including radios, heated jackets and coffee makers. Its powerful 40VMax XGT range of power tools is designed to deliver the high power needed to tackle high-demand applications and includes over 60 products – from construction power tools to hedge trimmers, pole saws and brush cutters, as well as the 40VMax blower.
CHOOSING CORDLESS
Being more sustainable
EDUCATE prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202292
When it comes to using materialslandscapinghardsuch as paving, stone, brick and wood to create texture and balance, cordless products offer flexibilitymaximumandenable
We’re finding more and more professionals looking to find ways to adopt more sustainable landscaping practices across all aspects of their work. Cordless equipment and the use of battery power as fuel can help to meet these objectives. Eliminating the need to transport and handle petrol, and with no fumes omitted during operation, cordless machinery that offers the power and performance of petrol alternatives are a great option for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
WITH THE WARMER WEATHER UPON US, NOW IS A BUSY TIME FOR LANDSCAPE GARDENERS CALLED IN TO REVIVE AND UPDATE GARDENS. MARK EARLES , OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT & CONTRACTS MANAGER AT MAKITA , LOOKS AT SOME OF THE COMMON OUTDOOR PROJECTS AND HOW POWER TOOLS CAN HELP TO ACHIEVE THEM WITH EASE
as variable speed operation, automatic torque adjustment and forward/reverse functionality, so users can easily extract the machine from the earth –which is a particularly useful attribute when working with high resistance soil such as clay – will all help make moreapplicationthisefficient.
Opting for cordless kit that uses the same battery platform can offer many benefits including improved productivity on site: When all machines can be operated using the same batteries (and charger), it is incredibly easy to switch between tasks as the batteries can simply be swapped from one tool to the next.
users to move around the work area freely for precise and comfortable cutting work.
differentCreating textures
To find out more about Makita’s outdoor power equipment, visit makitauk.com
MAKITA’S DG001GD201 XGT 40VMA
pergolas, arbours and built-in entertainment spaces are popular as householders look to enhance their outdoor ‘living’ space.
Featuresconditions.such
Landscapers will be aware of how structural installations can help to meet many design objectives and in residential gardens,
With an output equivalent to traditional two-stroke alternatives, Makita’s CE001G XGT 80VMax 355mm Disc Cutter delivers a 3,600W output and no-load speed of 5,300rpm to tackle high-demand applications and a cutting capacity of 127mm, so it is suitable for use on larger workpieces.
A cordless disc cutter is an ideal companion for stone, tiles, slate and block cutting tasks. Look for models that can be connected to a water supply kit to supress airborne dust and prevent exposure, as well as safety features that protect the tool and user from kickback by shutting down the motor if rotation speed suddenly slows down.
MAKITA’S CE001G XGT 80VMAX 355MM DISC CUTTER
Whatever the task at hand, cordless tools offer landscaping professionals with the freedom to move around site with ease. And with lower noise and vibration levels, operators can work more comfortably, for longer.
WHATEVER THE TASK AT HAND, CORDLESS TOOLS OFFER LANDSCAPING PROFESSIONALS WITH THE FREEDOM TO MOVE AROUND SITE WITH EASE
For the construction of these, an earth auger, such as Makita’s DG001GD201 XGT 40VMax can be used to effortlessly bore post holes and includes features to improve efficiency and make light work of different soil
a lengthy planning permission application process. Instead, the driveway contractor recommended a Gravelrings overlay application as it relies on the sub-base being pre-laid; aesthetically displeasing, cracked tarmac provides the perfect sub-base as it is without structural damage. With the sub-base fit for purpose, Gravelrings can easily be laid upon the existing surface and be back filled with gravel to transform the driveway.
ravelrings overlay application is a different method of installing Gravelrings gravel retention system without the cost and mess of ground preparation work, while simultaneously not sacrificing the performance of a traditional gravel driveway installation. This case study provides an insight into the benefits of installing Gravelrings in this method for both the installer and client.
BEAUXFORT SHARES ITS EXPERTISE ON A GRAVELRINGS OVERLAY APPLICATION, WHICH SAVED THE INSTALLER AND CLIENT RESOURCES – BOTH TIME AND MONEY
G
GRAVELRINGS HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEMS TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH LOOSE GRAVEL SURFACES
Fitting Gravelrings as an overlay application The fitting and laying of Gravelrings in an overlay application is straightforward. The contractor laid the grids upon the tarmac clipping the panels together with the firm clipping mechanism, secured them into place with an electric nail gun and backfilled the panels with gravel. The transformation of the existing driveway totalled a morning’s work. Now the contractor’s client has the beautiful gravel driveway they envisioned that stands the test of time.
GRAVELRINGS OVERLAY APPLICATION
How Gravelrings tackles the most challenging of landscapes
To toontobaseatheretheGravelringsanchorintogroundismesh-backedmouldedthesystemeliminatethe
CREATED WITH THE INSTALLER IN MIND
The client did not want to replace the tarmac surface as it is a costly process that demands a lot of financial resource and
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 93
When the contractor visited the site to understand the scope of the project, he noticed the driveway was a worn tarmac surface encrusted with loose shingle. The displeasing aesthetic aside, the driveway was also situated on a gentle slope. The contractor knew from experience that loose shingle would spread into the neighbouring shrubs and grip into the grooves of the car tyres causing them to lose traction, especially as the driveway had a gradient that meant it was more difficult to contain the gravel as it can travel and create inconsistent coverage.
base detaching and gravel slipping beneath. Gravel slipping beneath gravel grids can be a costly problem as overtime the stone will force the grids to lift, become exposed and cause a dangerous trip hazard. Gravelrings stabilises the gravel and eliminates the occurrence of gravel migration while reducing maintenance requirements for clients such as: topping the gravel up, raking the gravel back into place and weeding the driveway.
ADVERTORIAL
Order your free sample at www.beauxfort.com
Gravelrings has been designed to mitigate the problems typically associated with loose gravel surfaces. The circle ring design is comprised of the strongest geometric shape there is – the circle. The circle shape means there are no weak corners that can snap or break under the force imposed on the grids. The depth of the grids is 25mm; the shallow depth reduces the amount of gravel required to fill the panels, which decreases project and ongoing maintenance costs for the client. Sloped landscapes (subject to the gradient not exceeding 20%) can be conquered by Gravelrings because the cells securely compact gravel into the system so it cannot disperse.
ZinCo Green Roof Systems Ltd. office@zinco-greenroof.co.uk T: 01993 229700 www.zinco-greenroof.co.uk Blue Podium at Wimbledon Grounds, Plough Lane, London Suppliers of Green Roof Systems to Landscapers Nationwide Ltd.Pritchard&Pritchard© AD_Pro_Landscaper_198x128_mm_2021_Wimbledon_neu.indd 1 14.10.2021 16:13:40 Bespoke scheme using zinc clad steel planters and Iroko benching Download the FREE PRO LANDSCAPER app today 1 Go to the App Store 2 Search ‘ LandscaperPro’ 3 Download the free app 4 Choose downloadandyour issue Creating Inspiring Streetscenes CIS Street Furniture offer a diverse range of street furniture which will complement any location.Asaresult of the built environment compaction can inhibit or prevent natural root growth of trees. CIS SUDs compliant resin bound tree grilles are a great way of enhancing the sustainability of your project for future generations. Find out more at our website below.Tel:01483 www.cis-streetfurniture.co.uk203388
Also look at alternative planting schemes to support areas where drainage might be restricted – such as raised beds or consider a bog style garden/ area – think about trying to work with excess water where possible.
proposeresearchinvestigateThoroughlyandwhereyouforthewater
CORE SOAKAWAYWATERCRATE
CORELP.CO.UK ACO.CO.UK
to
FOR COMMERCIAL SETTINGS
CORE PRODUCTSLANDSCAPE
Cleaning water of contaminants: If water is allowed to flow freely into sewers and waterways, the risk of contamination is increased. Using an integrated SuDS scheme to manage water flow, especially when combined with treatment systems such as ACO’s V-Septor, can greatly reduce a site’s impact on the surrounding
drain away – there is no point installing a drainage system to purely move the problem elsewhere in the garden (or to a neighbouring property!) and ensure you can get enough fall where required so that the drainage system does carry the excess water away satisfactorily.
DRAINAGE
ACO WATER MANAGEMENT
FOR DOMESTIC SETTINGS
DO’S AND DON’TS FOR
Geocellular structures: In locations where space is tight, innovative approaches are often required. Stormwater attenuation crates offer a vital tool in delivering sustainable drainage here. Geocellular structured systems, such as ACO’s StormBrixx HD and SD, can provide high hydraulic capacity in a small building footprint. For ease of design, tanks can be configured online using ACO’s StormBrixx Configurator, based on parameters such as tank size and shape, volume of water to store, access locations, and more.
Don’t forget to check local bylaws – these often prohibit drainage water from gardens from being added to sewers or storm drains.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 95 EDUCATE
The CORE WATER soakaway crate is a step forward in drainage technology; advancing from old-fashioned and inefficient soakaways filled with rubble. The crate provides a safe and intelligent solution to rainwater management and is suitable for installation beneath gardens, pedestrian areas and domestic driveways. Our durable and robust crate will help to alleviate flooding by creating a structural void in the ground, allowing water to flow in from surrounding subsoil then slowly infiltrate back into the ground at a natural pace.
Material Recycled polypropylene Dimensions 800mm x 540 x 500mm (0.216m3)
Contain and maintain: Regular maintenance and good access are crucial to ensure ongoing performance of attenuation solutions. When working with ACO StormBrixx HD and SD, built-in access chambers combined with the open cell structure of the system helps to enable convenient maintenance and inspection.
applicationsaDevelopedenvironment.tosuitwiderangeof across small and large catchment areas, ACO Water Management’s Qmax high-capacity slot drainage system offers discreet and sustainable surface water management. Here are three key reasons to use Qmax. Material Recycled and materialsrecyclable Dimensions Available in six sizes: 150, 225, 350, 550, 700 and 900 QMAX HIGH-CAPACITY SLOT DRAINAGE
Pro Landscaper / August 2022 prolandscapermagazine .com96 JOBS For full details on all jobs, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk Call 01903 777 570 or email mark.wellman@eljays44.com with your vacancy.
For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
ALIGN JV (HS2 C1 PACKAGE)
ELMTREE GARDEN CONTRACTORS LTD
The ALIGN senior landscape clerk of works (LCoW) will be responsible for assuring the successful delivery of various landscape packages across the ALIGN C1 project. Scope of work includes: ensuring that consistently high standards of QC and supervision on landscape related works are carried out; and to check and consider site conditions with the contractor in advance of works, to identify on-site problems and to recommend corrective action.
For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
EXPERIENCED GARDENER
ALIGN JV (HS2 C1 PACKAGE) Location: Hertfordshire
WALWORTH GARDEN
This role would suit an experienced manager with a gardening and construction skillset. The landscaping manager will be responsible for all matters relating to the work of Walworth Garden Services Division (WGSD); to maintain and grow its reputation as an environment- rst landscaping operation, and to progress and implement innovative alternatives to the usual polluting processes of traditional horticultural behaviours and take sta and clients with them.
Elmtree is a landscape construction and grounds maintenance company based in Bristol. It was awarded Employer of the Year and Supreme Winner at the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2022. Elmtree has full-time permanent positions available for experienced fencing operatives. You will be carrying out duties such as erecting close board fencing, gates, post and rail fencing on some of the high-end new build schemes it is presently working on. It is looking for a person with a good eye for detail to maintain its high standards.
Location: Hertfordshire
The Oxfordshire Gardener’s philosophy is one of providing excellent and attentive garden care, and it is ready to welcome a new member to its team. If you’re keen to care for prestigious gardens through the seasons, have great communication skills, are well organised and are ready to grow in a place that will take your career to next level, you’ve found the right environment. Working with senior and head gardeners, you’ll be providing great horticultural care to a beautiful portfolio of town and country gardens.
GLENDALE MANAGED SERVICES LTD
Location: Surrey, Sussex
SENIOR LANDSCAPE CLERK OF WORKS
Gartenart Swimming Ponds is currently looking for a junior landscaper to join its swimming pond maintenance team. No prior experience is necessary; however, a willingness to work hard in a variety of weather conditions is essential. Work will consist of working alongside another maintenance operative to brush, vacuum, and carry out general cleaning of existing swimming ponds.
FENCING OPERATIVES
GARTENART
For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
SWIMMING MAINTENANCEPONDASSISTANT
THE OXFORDSHIRE GARDENER
For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
Location: Bristol
For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
People are Elmtree’s biggest asset; it has a high sta retention rate and has been Investors in People since 2012. Elmtree has a great reputation and is in demand for its services. It has full time permanent positions available for experienced landscape operatives. You will be carrying out duties such as planting trees and shrubs, tur ng, ground preparation on some of the interesting commercial and new build schemes it is presently working on. Commercial landscaping experience is required, as is a CSCS card.
Location: Lancashire
Are you ambitious? Are you a leader? Are you dedicated? Glendale has a great new opportunity for an assistant manager. The assistant contract manager should also be prepared to take the initiative and continually improve operational activity. The person requires ambition and a high level of commitment. The assistant contract manager is critical to decision-making processes within the business and must gain the trust and loyalty of all the stakeholders in the company.
The ALIGN landscape clerk of works (LCoW) will be responsible for assisting with assurance of the successful delivery of various landscape packages across the ALIGN C1 project. The construction of the Chiltern tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct are two of the most eye-catching and challenging engineering projects on the HS2 route. By joining Align you can become an integral part of this landmark project and develop your expertise.
For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
ELMTREE GARDEN CONTRACTORS LTD Location: Bristol
Location: London
FENCING OPERATIVES
ASSISTANT MANAGER – GEM NW
LANDSCAPE CLERK OF WORKS (LCOW)
LANDSCAPING MANAGER
Location: Oxfordshire
For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
Design, Installation & Maintenance of Landscape Irrigation Systems and Water Features 01963 824166 info@waterscapeslimited.com@waterscapesltd sales@screwshop.co.uk 0121 559 8866 FOR ALL YOUR FASTENER AND SCREW REQUIREMENTS rootgrow.co.uk • info@plantworksuk.co.uk • 01795 411527 www.access-irrigation.co.uk • sales@access-irrigation.co.uk 01788 823811 FOR ALL YOUR IRRIGATION NEEDS Design and Advice • Irrigation Parts Catalogue 24/7 Online Parts Ordering www.shadewww.shade- solutions.comsolutions.comShade SolutionsShade Solutions Tel 0345 230 9697 • www.lws.uk.com For all your golf, sportsturf and landscape irrigation needs. Buy online at www.lws.uk.com CLASSIFIED
What is your biggest pet peeve? Bringing problems not solutions.
prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper / August 202298 EDUCATE
Which garden inspires you the most? The Alhambra Palace complex.
Managing Furnitubesdirector, Garden designer, Roger Webster Garden Design CATHERINE BARRATT ROGER WEBSTER
Describe yourself in three words. Adventurous, positive, driven.
What is your biggest pet peeve? Gardens covered in plastic and chippings.
Which garden inspires you the most? My father’s garden in Norfolk; it has everything – rose garden, rope swings, mini orchard and veg patch with a huge wild meadow at the end and unbroken North Norfolk views. This garden keeps my 75-year-old father active every day and brings him so much joy.
If you had to live in another country, which would it be? France.
Besides horticulture, what are you most passionate about? Equal access to great outdoor spaces – especially in the urban environment.
Besides horticulture, what are you most passionate about? Fresh food.
What would you like to see happen next in the landscape industry? More collaboration.
If you could win an Olympic medal for anything, real or made up, what would it be? Skateboarding.
What is at the top of your bucket list? Australia – to visit my sister.
Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Don’t be afraid to turn work down.
Describe yourself in three words. What’s for lunch?
If you could win an Olympic medal for anything, real or made up, what would it be? Playing the hurdy-gurdy.
Best piece of advice you’ve been given? Just do it.
What is at the top of your bucket list? Going to France to collect my new hurdy-gurdy.
What would you like to see happen next in the landscape industry?
What was your first job? Waitress in a market town tearoom aged 13 – always loved a pay check.
For house developers to realise the value of outside space and for local authorities to insist on good landscape design.
furnitubes.com
webstergardens.co.uk
INTERVIEWLITTLETHEPRO TAKEASKSLANDSCAPERQUICK-FIREQUESTIONSTOGAINASMALLINSIGHTINTOTHEPEOPLEWHOMAKEUPOURINDUSTRY.TOPART,EMAIL ELJAYS44.COMCONTENT@
City break or beach holiday? Malaga, Barcelona, Marseilles, Nice – all have good beaches close by.
Besides horticulture, what are you most passionate about? Music and playing guitar.
If you had to live in another country, which would it be? Iceland.
What would you like to see happen next in the landscape industry? For our industry and the people within it to be truly recognised as skilled professionals.
Besides horticulture, what are you most passionate about? My allotment, garden and spending time with family and friends.
What would you like to see happen next in the landscape industry? To reduce hard landscaping and increase soft landscaping and planting in schemes; having a greater awareness of the seriousness of climate change and affecting lasting changes to help reverse it.
Sales and marketing director, Nurture Group
What is your biggest pet peeve? When people complain about something but don’t do anything about it, especially when it’s something easy to fix.
johnchamberswildflowers.co.uk
A good HB pencil! Not exactly a latest tool but essential none the less. I’m old school and still produce hand drawings.
What’s the latest tool you refuse to work without? Espresso machine.
Two computer monitors! It's become an absolute must.
nurture-group.co.uk
If you had to live in another country, which would it be? I think Italy. The food, the culture, the relaxed atmosphere – I’m sure I would love it.
Best advice you’ve been given? Treat others as you’d like to be treated.
If you could win an Olympic medal for anything, real or made up, what would it be? Cycling – any discipline.
City break or beach holiday? Beach holiday – I’m fortunate enough to live five minutes from the beach, so it’s like being on holiday every day!
paul-baines.com
What’s the latest tool you refuse to work without?
City break or beach holiday? Beach.
If you could win an Olympic medal for anything, real or made up, what would it be? Bringing up a family successfully!
Which garden inspires you the most? Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace.
At the moment it’s the Oudolf Field at Hauser & Wirth in Somerset.
What is at the top of your bucket list? Full Iron Man.
Which garden inspires you the most?
Describe yourself in three words. Generous, focused, hard working.
What’s the latest tool you refuse to work without?
What is at the top of your bucket list?
Which garden inspires you the most? I adore Gertrude Jekyll’s Garden created in 1911 on Lindisfarne. The National Trust and volunteers now look after it but it’s a lovely little garden with the castle in view in the background.
If you had to live in another country, which would it be? France.
City break or beach holiday? Probably a beach holiday, but either as long as there is sunshine and a nice drink!
Wildflower key account manager, John Chambers Wildflower Seed PaulDesigner,Baines Garden Design PAUL BEAN GEORGIA GILBERT PAUL BAINES MSGD
Besides horticulture, what are you most passionate about? Cycling, food and watching rugby.
What was your first job? Barber.
prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper / August 2022 99 EDUCATE
If you could win an Olympic medal for anything, real or made up, what would it be?
To live each day as if it’s your last.
Honestly, it's probably how quickly I can bring the washing in when I realise it’s raining!
The revolutionary MEDITE® TRICOYA® EXTREME (MTX) was the centrepiece of the garden structure. MTX is an innovative panel that has taken the construction, landscaping and design world by storm. Guaranteed for up to 50 years in the face of the elements and 25 years below ground, this high performance wood-based panel is incredibly versatile and can be used for planters, garden rooms, sculptures, playgrounds, building façades, furniture; your imagination is the only limit! Join the MEDITE MDF community online to receive the latest updates and a sign up gift: meditemakesitreal.com
Building the Future
Gold and ConstructionBestAward(ShowGarden)
MEDITE® SMARTPLY® showcased its sustainable and innovative product range in the ‘Building the Future’ garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2022. Partnering with acclaimed garden designer Sarah Eberle, the garden won two prestigious awards: Gold and Best Construction Award (Show Garden). The garden was themed around sustainability and the multiple applications and versatility of MEDITE® SMARTPLY® products. MEDITE® SMARTPLY® is committed to manufacturing products that contribute to sustainable building.
Dreamers welcome!
MEDITE® SMARTPLY®
at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
To find out more about MTX, please visit: www.mdfosb.com/mtx
