Pro Landscaper February 2017

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

Cherry picking HOW TO CHOOSE FRUITFUL LEADS

THE REALLY WILD SHOW LEICESTER CHAMPIONS BIODIVERSITY

February 2017

CATHERINE MACDONALD LANDFORM CONSULTANTS

LOW POLLEN FLOWERS AND GRASSES

Garden trends

FOR 2017

Super natural ANTHEA HARRISON GARDEN DESIGN COVER FINAL.indd 4

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WELCOME

Concept to Delivery DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

February 2017 | Volume 7, Issue 2

Cherr y picking

Welcome to February 2017

HOW TO CHOOSE FRUITFUL LEADS

THE REALLY WILD SHOW

February 2017

CATHERINE MAC LANDFORM CON

DONALD

SULTANTS

LOW POLLEN FLOWERS AND GRASSES

LEICESTER CHAMPIONS BIODIVERSITY

Garden trends FOR 2017

Super natural

Welcome to the February issue of Pro Landscaper. Thankfully for most in the UK, January passed without major incident weatherwise, and now we look ahead to the start of the landscaping season.

Most people involved with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will already be busy preparing, with materials being sourced and structures being planned and put together.

This month we interview Catherine MacDonald, lead designer at Landform Consultants, who in one way or another has been involved with RHS Chelsea for ten years. We find out about her career change and what this year’s show has in store for

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 EDITORIAL Editorial Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579

her. In the local authority sector of landscaping, we take a look at Leicester City Council’s parks department, which has had to deal with the all too common issue of providing a quality service with ever increasing budget cuts. With a reported 91% of people using parks in the city, one innovative way of dealing with the cuts has been a sustainable planting strategy that encourages biodiversity, and has resulted in beautiful meadows appearing across the city.

On pages 54-55, Anji Connell takes a look at garden trends for 2017 – well worth a read if you’re looking for ideas and inspiration.

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Meanwhile, Matthew Wilson explains how he worked with kitchen garden expert Amy Lax to create the fruit and vegetable gardens at Rudding Park Hotel near Harrogate in our Designer Plants feature.

There’s so much more I could highlight in this issue, it’s packed full – so if the weather does leave you at a loose end during February, you know how best to use the free time.

Lastly, congratulations to all who picked up awards at the SGD Awards 2016, another great evening celebrating the best in garden design.

Have a great month,

@jimeljays

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an affiliate member of BALI

Design – Kara Thomas, Fay Pritchard, Mandy Armstrong Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd – Connecting Horticulture Pro Landscaper’s content is available for licensing overseas. Contact jamie.wilkinson@ eljays44.com

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

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MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson Managing Editor Joe Wilkinson Cover image: © Andrew Banks (Monty’s Photography)

Pro Landscaper / February 2017

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CONTENTS

February 2017 INFORM

8

Agenda Do you buy, lease or rent your plant machinery and why?

10

News Our monthly roundup of industry news

12

21

News Extra Pro Landscaper reports back from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017 preview

15

The latest updates from efig, SGD, BALI, RHS, APL and Parks Alliance

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Association News

Let’s Hear it From COVER STORY Catherine MacDonald of Landform Consultants

24 Company Profile We speak to Sarah Hughes-Clarke to get the details on idverde UK

Concept to Delivery

February 2017

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

Cherry picking

CATHERINE MACDONALD LANDFORM CONSULTANTS

LOW POLLEN

HOW TO CHOOSE FRUITFUL LEADS

FLOWERS AND GRASSES

THE REALLY WILD SHOW LEICESTER CHAMPIONS BIODIVERSITY

Garden trends

FOR 2017

Super natural

27 It’s Not Easy Being Green As major European cities move closer to banning diesel, Angus Lindsay wonders where we should turn for greener vehicles

28 The Digital Age? Andrew Wilson considers why digital models haven’t yet overtaken the art and value of hand drawn designs

31

Sharing the Passion Whose responsibility are plants on site, and how do we make sure plants are properly taken care of, asks David Dodd

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32 Cherry Picking

COVER STORY Pete Jones gives his advice on how businesses can best decide which leads to pursue

35 The Really Wild Show Pro Landscaper pays a visit to Leicester to find out how the local authority seeks to turn the city into a haven of biodiversity

COVER STORY

INSPIRE

41

Golden Green Alladio Sims Garden Landscape Design revitalises a Victorian townhouse garden with cedar cladding and pleached hornbeam

44 Super Natural

COVER STORY This grand project by Anthea Harrison included a natural pool, walled kitchen, open pavilion and more

48 Plastic Fantastic Hultons Landscapes brought out the ‘wow’ factor in a science and innovation campus in Cheshire

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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CONTENTS

66

The F Word Plants that will lift your February blues from interior plant specialist Ian Drummond

69

Low Pollen: COVER STORY Flowers and Grasses Jackie Herald and Shenagh Hume talk low pollen planting for public spaces

71

Nursery Visit Crowders Nurseries

72

Topsoil: Fit for a King A closer look at the soil used in the BALI Grand Award winning King’s Cross project

74

Latest products Topsoil and wildflower seeds

EDUCATE

78

Step to it How steps can add dimension to flat gardens, from Sean Butler

80

Painting With Light Robert Webber shows how to create the ‘floating’ light effect in gardens

82

41 52 Out of Africa The interior planting scheme meticulously designed for an African-themed space in London,

by Rowan Landscapes

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88

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COVER STORY Anji Connell talks the top garden trends predicted to take hold in 2017, from ‘tidy 64 gardens’ to vertical planting

David Dodd of The Outdoor Room talks work and play

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Nurture News

65

Designer Plants

91

Andy McIndoe tackles the divisive topic of plants with dark foliage

Latest Products Commercial Vehicles We get the view from the experts on which commercial vehicles they prefer

92

Sole Survivor John Dabb of Hyde writes on how to protect your feet from boggy, damp conditions on site

Jamie Butterworth reveals the gardens he’s most excited for at Chelsea 2017

Dark Star

Remote Mowers Decking stains and artificial grass

Matthew Wilson discusses the planting for award-winning hotel grounds

Sneak Preview

Look Out For Kirsty Wilson

86

54 Garden Trends for 2017

56 Life/Style

85

NURTURE

A roundup of news from the UK’s growing sector

What I’m Reading Richard Wanless reviews Garden Design by Sylvia Crowe

98

The Little Interview Quick-fire questions to those who make up our industry

Pro Landscaper / February 2017

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INFORM

SPOTLIGHT ON

CONTRIBUTORS

Pete Jones Business development and sales manager at LDP Ltd

Robert Webber

Anji Connell

Ian Drummond

Founder of Scenic Lighting

Interior architect and landscape designer

Creative director of Indoor Garden Design

This month, Pete Jones elaborates on a topic discussed at FutureScape 2016: how to realistically choose which leads to pursue and which not to chase.

Pete believes that businesses must be selective rather than trying to attain every possible job, but be highly committed to those jobs which it does choose to target.

Continuing his series on how to create simple but impressivelooking lighting effects in the garden, Robert Webber explains the ‘floating’ effect. Robert pulls on many hours of research to give his best advice on how to add this subtle, classy finish to outdoor spaces and make the garden a useable space year round.

In this month’s column Anji Connell rounds up the garden trends that are predicted to take hold in 2017. From ‘tidy gardens’ and minimalistic plant schemes to indoor gardens for health and wellbeing and vertical planting, Anji’s expertise spans a range of stylish design options you can use to inspire your clients.

Ian Drummond takes on the February blues, using uplifting and visually appealing plants as his ammunition against the low moods of the post-New Year period. Grey weather has nothing on Ian’s selection of plants as he lights the way to spring, and shows again how indoor plants brighten our lives.

ldp.uk.com @LandDesignPete

sceniclighting.com

anjiconnellinteriordesign.com @anjiconnell

indoorgardendesign.com @IndoorGdnDesign

Other contributors Angus Lindsay Head of fleet at idverde

Jamie Butterworth Plant manager at Hortus Loci

Andrew Wilson Garden designer and lecturer

Andy McIndoe Leading horticulturist

David Dodd Landscaper and lecturer

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

ContributorsFEB.indd 7

Sean Butler Director of Cube 1994

Jackie Herald Designer and freelance writer

Pro Landscaper / February 2017

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INFORM

AGENDA

DO YOU BUY, LEASE OR RENT YOUR PLANT MACHINERY AND WHY?

A frequent conundrum which presents itself to many landscapers is whether to buy, lease or rent plant machinery. Pro Landscaper spoke to a range of top landscapers to find out what they believe to be the best way of dealing with this financial difficulty

Brian Herbert Director, Outdoor Options

At Outdoor Options, we like toys at our disposal, bought and paid for, hence owning a selection up to 3.5t plus kit to transport. The reason is very simple – for us, it saves money. Our market is domestic schemes that last, on average, between six to twenty weeks. Hence the finances work compared to hired plant needed at intervals, but is not worth off-hiring due to transport and rehire costs. We also make stealthy savings where the machine is available for smaller tasks or moving materials that may have needed to be done manually if hired plant had left site.

This works for us as the capital outlay is based upon five to seven years ownership, good scheduled maintenance and trained operators that respect the kit. Our smallest digger we just changed after ten years, and apart from maintenance its cost was zero for three years. Our bigger kit is new, but is likely to pan out the same.

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I gather this may be an old school approach talking with industry colleagues, but we like it, and it leaves us braced well to ride financial storms.

Also, if a job overruns or bad weather halts progress, the incurred cost is easier to absorb.

Steve Moody Director, Frogheath Landscapes

Hiring versus owning your own machinery – in essence, there is no ideal solution. Hiring excavators and dumpers, with no maintenance costs, initially appears to be a sensible option. In practice, it means you feel obliged to do a job based on the hire period of the machine and not necessarily on the natural order of things to be done. No one wants to see a 13t digger standing idle for days on end when you are paying to have it on site. You therefore feel pressurised into finding jobs for it.

Of course, if you own your own machinery, you are able to utilise it as and when required.

Obviously, you want it to be used on site as often as possible, as the hire charges to the client go towards the purchase cost and the (sometimes considerable) maintenance costs. However, the frustration, expense and inconvenience when something breaks down can take its toll.

Having owned Frogheath Landscapes for more than 25 years, this is something I constantly review.

We currently own much of our machinery and hire specific items when necessary for a particular job.

Mike Long Company director, Genesis Landscapes

A little over a year ago we decided to buy our first mini digger, a 1.7t Kubota – up until then we had always hired plant as prices are exceptionally good. Hire prices remain strong, but what we came to realise was that we only ever hired when we needed to excavate, and digging is only half of what diggers can do for you. We borrowed a friend’s digger for a couple of weeks at no charge and noticed that we were using it for loading up barrows and shunting bulk bags around, ultimately saving us a great deal of time. We purchased our Kubota mini digger on finance as payments are very affordable and were equal to what we spent on plant hire each month anyway.

Jo Hardingham Commercial director, Grace Landscapes

We do a combination of purchase and hire of plant and machinery. Our fleet includes 7.5t vehicles, and as such we are limited to a maximum of 3t in weight, and we purchase plant 360 excavators and dumpers to suit. We believe it makes economic sense to purchase as opposed to leasing this type of machinery as the resale value is good given we can provide evidence of www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/01/2017 10:38

INFORM

service and maintenance according to the manufacturer recommendations. We buy telescopic handlers for use in our working yards for loading, unloading and moving materials around.

Chippers are also purchased as these can be easily towed to and from site.

We hire larger machinery for use on sites from specialist firms for several reasons. They regularly update their machines and can offer a wide variety of sizes and types suited to operational requirements. Hiring large kit removes the hassle of servicing, maintenance and repairs. We use hire companies with nationwide branches so we can hire machinery across the region and, as they are set up with the correct transportation for machinery too heavy for our vehicles, we can have it delivered to site when needed.

Darren Skidmore Director, Skidmores Ltd

We tend to hire all of our larger equipment in, for example heavy plant like 360s and dumpers.

The smaller items like grinders and whacker plates, we buy our own.

The main reason for this is because landscaping is so varied – one job can require many different types. You may need plant and equipment in all shapes and sizes in one go, so we find it easier to just hire it in and off-hire as and when. That way you haven’t got a yard full of plant not being used if not required. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Agenda.indd 9

The equipment hired in is usually fairly new and sites expect to see maintenance check sheets before use. This will all be done by the hire company which saves us the cost of fitters etc.

The smaller equipment is different, as the initial outlay is less and it can be stored and maintained more easily when not required.

Matt Killingley Managing director, NT Killingley

NT Killingley Ltd has a policy of buying equipment that is regularly used and keeping it for three years before trading it in or selling it. We prefer to own our equipment, as it means it tends to be better quality and more productive than hired plant. A strong focus on maintenance and care helps keep resale values at a good level. Selling in three/four years reduces down time and seems to be a sweet spot in terms of residual value. We never lease, as we prefer straightforward hire or hire purchase. Leasing complexity has often been problematic for us.

We hire kit and vehicles to top up our requirements as necessary, but we always insist on good quality equipment and won’t accept inferior hired plant or vehicles.

I think buying kit can help a business achieve its business plan goals, as it forces a focus on certain work types. New technology and equipment will also help you achieve a competitive edge and motivates staff who use it.

Stephen Etheridge Owner, ESSE Landscapes

We prefer to hire larger plant and machinery but purchase smaller items, such as stone saws and strimmers. From a practical standpoint, we choose to hire for two main reasons. Firstly, it ensures we can always use the optimum-sized machine for the work being undertaken, rather than making do with what we have or needing to keep a wide range of machines (that are often standing idle). Secondly, we avoid expensive down-time caused by unexpected breakdowns and regular servicing.

From a financial point of view, hiring allows us to readily allocate costs on a job-by-job basis and keep a firmer grip on margins. Without a disciplined approach, there would be a danger of true costs being forgotten or not charged and simply absorbed into the business overheads.

NEXT MONTH

DO YOU THINK THAT THE SGD RECOGNISING PRACTICES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS IS A GOOD DECISION? Have your say: editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Pro Landscaper / February 2017

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INFORM

NEWS London Planning Awards shortlist includes important new open space The recently announced shortlist for the 2016/17 London Planning Awards includes an important new open space in Deptford.

The Surrey Canal Linear Park lies on part of the route of the former Surrey Canal. The Landscape Partnership (TLP), which worked with the London Borough of Lewisham to masterplan the park, has just completed the design and contract administration for the third and final phase of the project.

The project is particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing select committee inquiry into the future of public parks. The Landscape Institute’s written response to the inquiry, submitted

in September 2016, argued that parks should be recognised as key components of the UK’s green infrastructure network.

The park’s design celebrates the heritage of the site, emphasising the linear space. A grass lawn extending the length of the park represents the canal, while a resin-bonded gravel surface reflects the tow path.

Oliver Lee, director at TLP, said that residents view the park ‘as a positive transformation of the character and appearance of the local area’. www.londonfirstevents.co.uk

Brighton & Hove publishes new open spaces strategy Brighton & Hove City Council has published a new open spaces strategy that will shape the future of parks and open spaces in the city.

The results of the ‘Big Conversation’ consultation on open spaces last autumn, which attracted more than 3,500 responses, have guided the draft strategy.

Councillors will discuss how to create more opportunities to fund parks and manage open spaces in new ways at the environment, transport and sustainability committee on 17 January.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the committee, said: “Councils up and down the country are facing the challenge of how to fund parks and opens spaces with reducing budgets. We will learn from the successes of other local authorities

and build on the excellent work already being done in Brighton & Hove, in particular by volunteers.

“As the city grows, preservation of open space becomes even more important, providing areas for play, relaxation and exercise. Parks are among the most used public assets and highly valued by residents. We have taken their views into account in drawing up this strategy and will continue to involve them.” www.brighton-hove.gov.uk

The Landscape Agency appoints new managing director

Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition 2017

Landscape architect practice The Landscape Agency has announced Alex Robinson has been promoted to managing director.

Alex joined The Landscape Agency in 2010 as senior landscape architect, progressing to associate director before being appointed to his new and current role.

Commenting on his recent promotion, Alex said: “After nearly seven years with the practice I am very excited by the challenge

This year the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition returns to its roots for the 27th annual competition final. The Grand Final is to be held on May 6 at the University Centre Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury was home to Percy Thrower whose trust provides an impressive £2,500 travel bursary to the competition winner each year, alongside major sponsorship from the Shropshire Horticultural Society.

The competition was last held in Shrewsbury in 2000 with its winner, Mark Harwood-Browne, going on to visit Madeira. Mark is currently

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ahead and proud to have been appointed to take The Landscape Agency forward. I hope to build on our strong past and continue the success achieved by the team over the years in this new chapter of The Landscape Agency’s history.

“As a landscape architect, I’m passionate that landscape solutions of any scale should be based on an understanding of the context to ensure the next phase builds and adds to the sense of place.” www.landscapeagency.co.uk

thriving within his horticultural career as head of horticulture at Hartpury College.

Lawrence Wright, winner of Young Horticulturist of the Year 2016, said: “Winning the 2016 competition has helped immensely in securing my new job at Tregothnan, on graduating RHS Wisley in August. YHOY is an invaluable platform for horticulturists to expand their knowledge. Taking part exposes you to other talented young horticulturists as well as seasoned pros alike.” www.horticulture.org.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/01/2017 09:15

INFORM

© Valerie Bennett

Introducing Gustafson Porter + Bowman

Award-winning landscape practice Gustafson Porter, which has designed projects including the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and Old Market Square, Nottingham, becomes Gustafson Porter + Bowman in January 2017.

The change of name reflects the evolving nature of the growing practice and the pivotal role Mary Bowman has played in its development since joining in 2002.

It also reflects the wider ownership of the practice by its partners: Kathryn Gustafson, Neil Porter, Mary Bowman, Sibylla Hartel and Donncha O’Shea.

Mary Bowman said: “The growing leadership of the practice recognises the valuable contribution made by all partners who are in turn supported by our talented team of architects and landscape architects.” www.gustafson-porter.com

Stage One of Snow Hill public realm project complete The first potential interventions in a major project to transform the city environment around Birmingham’s business district have been identified following the completion of a public realm masterplan.

The aim of the multi-stage project being designed by Broadway Malyan is to deliver more comfort for pedestrians and cyclists with a public realm that can host a variety of activities, add value for tenants and attract investment.

Broadway Malyan has now completed a framework

across the whole Snow Hill area, which stretches from Steelhouse Lane to Victoria Square, and identified six project areas that will now go forward for detailed design development. www.birmingham.gov.uk

EVOTRAK

Institute for Apprenticeships publishes new guidance

Guidance from the Government to help ensure all apprenticeships are of the highest quality and deliver the skills that employers need have been set out by the Government, with further details of how the new Institute for Apprenticeships will operate. www.gov.uk

Poolscape wins International Natural Pool Award for ‘Secret Forest’ design

UK coastal towns set for economic boost as National Lottery invests £33m in public parks The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund have announced grants totalling more than £33m that will help restore and revitalise 13 public parks across the UK. Five of the grants will benefit parks situated in coastal communities, many of which suffer from higher than average levels of deprivation.

Coastal parks receiving grants are: Venetian Waterways in Great Yarmouth; South Cliff Gardens in Scarborough; Ramsgate’s Ellington Park; Mount Garden in Lancashire; and Stanmer Park in Brighton.

NEWS IN BRIEF

HLF’s chief executive Ros Kerslake said: “For coastal communities the role of parks is even more critical. Often a central part of their tourism offering, this investment will empower local people to maximise the potential of their park.” www.hlf.org.uk

DELTRAK 2.5

A stunning, secluded natural pool, located in the heart of a forest in the Brecon National Park in Wales, has scooped a major award for its designers, Poolscape Ltd. The ‘Forest Pool’ has won a BIOTOP International Natural Pool Award for the best atural ool design eating o entries from around Europe. www.poolscape.co.uk

RHS Director General recognised in New Year’s Honours 2017

The RHS has announced that its Director General, Sue Biggs, has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year’s Honours 2017. www.rhs.org.uk

QUATRAK

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INFORM

Pro Landscaper was invited to the press preview of one of the most anticipated events in the horticultural calendar, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The preview is the first real glimpse of what visitors can expect to see at the world-renowned 2017 show

RHS CHELSEA 2017

Breaking Ground

Garden designer James Alexander-Sinclair, an elected member of the council of the RHS, led the presentations of the preview day, which was held at the M&G Offices in London on 12 January. James introduced the main theme and highlights that can be expected at this year’s show, with RHS Chelsea show manager Tom Harfleet joining him to run through the highly anticipated gardens.

A total of 23 show gardens have been confirmed so far – nine on Main Avenue, nine Artisan Gardens and five Fresh Gardens – and 106 floral displays are set to appear in the Great Pavilion. The RHS Greening Grey Britain Garden, an unjudged garden and highlight of the annual event, will this year be designed by Professor Nigel Dunnett.

Described by Nigel as ‘a new vision for the places where we live and work’, the Greening Grey Britain Garden will reflect an urban environment, with features of biodiversity and ‘high impact, low input’ planting. The garden, to be constructed by Landform Consultants, will also include a 12m urban street art installation by Faunagraphic and Rocket01, the first of its kind to appear at RHS Chelsea.

Title sponsor M&G has enlisted James Basson to create its Main Avenue show garden this year, which

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Pro Landscaper / February 2017

News Extra Chelsea press.indd 12

PRESS PREVIEW

draws on the ecological garden called ‘Hagakure’, diversity and sustainability meaning ‘hidden leaves’. of Malta and will feature Other designers in this plants never category include Gary before seen Breeze, Adam Woolcott outside of Malta. and Jonathan Smith, Also on Main Catherine MacDonald, Avenue, Lee Bestall will Graham Bodel, and be creating a garden to celebrate debut designer Fiona ‘500 years of Covent Garden’, Andrew Cadwallader.

Wilson and Gavin McWilliam will be highlighting Designing a Fresh garden this Royal Bank of Wellington College’s determination to break year is Jack Dunckley, one of Pro Canada Garden down barriers to education, and charity Landscaper’s 30 Under 30s 2016, Maggie’s will have its debut presence at the who will be creating ‘The Bermuda Triangle’ garden. show with a garden designed by Darren Hawkes.

Debut designer Manoj Malde is inspired by Mexican For the third year, Chris Beardshaw will be architect Luis Barragan for ‘Beneath a Mexican Sky’, designing a garden for Morgan Stanley, whilst and Ian Price draws on his own experience of Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins will be depression for his garden sponsored by the incorporating a ‘Silk Road’ bridge into their Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health. The garden sponsored by the Chengdu government.

‘City Living’ garden has been designed by Kate Jin Yang will be creating the ‘Musen Landscape Gould for an urban apartment block, and Ruth SEEK Garden’ inspired by famous botanist Wilmott has been commissioned to design a garden Ernest Henry Wilson, while Charlotte Harris and for Breast Cancer Now. an all-female design team will be reflecting the With a number of award-winning designers and a vast lakes and forests of Canada in the garden wealth of new faces, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the Royal Bank of Canada. Tracy Foster takes 2017 is set to demonstrate, yet again, why it is the inspiration from the Yorkshire coastline for the world’s most prestigious flower show.

Welcome to Yorkshire garden.

The Artisan category, with a record number of gardens this year, will see Sarah Eberle create a garden for Viking Cruises inspired by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, and Ishihara Kazuyuki will be using a selection of plants typical of Japanese gardens in the ‘Gosho No Niwa’ garden. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will be featuring a Centenary Garden designed by David Domoney, and Shuko Noda will be creating a www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/01/2017 09:19

GROUND BREAKING VERSATILITY.

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ASSOCIATION

INFORM

NEWS

SGD bulletin SGD Spring Conference – ‘Way Out West’ Saturday 25 March 2017

Boost your professional prospects and quench your thirst for knowledge with a ticket to the SGD Spring Conference on Saturday 25 March.

Exploring the theme ‘Way Out West’, our inspiring panel of speakers aims to lift the lid

on the trail-blazing gardens and landscapes of North America, as well as explore the garden and landscapes of the West Country, closer to home.

Our speaker line-up includes: • Chelsea Gold Medallist Darren Hawkes (top image) • Garden Curator Mike Nelham (centre image) from Tresco Abbey Gardens on the Isles of Scilly

• Lisa Delpace (bottom image) from Oehme van Sweden, Washington DC • Hallie Boyce from The OLIN Studio of landscape architects in Philadelphia and LA. Breaking boundaries and taking risks is the order of the day with presenters from both garden design and landscape architecture exploring new and innovative approaches to design and planting.

One further speaker will be announced shortly to continue the journey across North America. The conference will be chaired by Stephanie Mahon, Editor of the society’s Garden Design Journal magazine.

Discounted ‘early bird’ tickets are available until Tuesday 28 February 2017.

Visit the events page on the SGD website to read more and buy tickets online. Don’t miss this inspiring day. www.sgd.org.uk

APL update

APL Awards Come and see the best in domestic landscaping at the APL Awards ceremony, sponsored by Bradstone, which takes place on 17 March 2017 at The Brewery in London. The awards recognise the outstanding landscaping carried out by members of the APL and places are booking fast. Visit: www.hta.org.uk/event_ listing/apl-awards-2017

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APL brand exposure As part of the APL’s strategy to become the go-to organisation for domestic landscaping, the APL is now associated with the website that sells National Garden Gift Vouchers, www.thevouchergarden. co.uk. Visitors to the website can now link directly to the APL site, giving them exposure to domestic landscape companies.

APL Avenue at BBC Gardeners’ World Live winners Following last year’s launch, the APL Avenue competition will return to BBC Gardeners’ World Live in 2017. The competition is

an opportunity for contractors and designers to feature as one of five gardens which are inspirational, aspirational and relatable.

The five gardens within APL Avenue give visitors the opportunity to witness firsthand what can be achieved in a small space when engaging the skills of professional design and build. To ensure top quality design and construction each garden will receive a contribution towards the build with Marshalls and Veolia supplying garden products.

The five finalists for the 2017 competition are:

• Artemis Landscapes (Kent), designer Viv Selcombe • Lanwarne Landscapes (Hertfordshire), designer Martin Lines • Living Garden Designs (Lancashire), designer Peter Cowell • Big Fish Landscapes (Herefordshire), designer Cherry Carmen • Pro-Gardens (Oxfordshire), designer Jamie Langlands. www.landscaper.org.uk

Pro Landscaper / February 2017 15

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INFORM

RHS report

RHS London Early Spring Plant Fair, 14-15 February The RHS show season will o cially launch with the ondon arly pring lant Fair, which will be held on 14-15 February at the RHS Lawrence and Lindley Halls in Westminster. Formerly known as the ondon lant and otato air the show o ers

a wealth of inspiration to help visitors get their horticultural creativity going o e of the highlights of last year s show included old edal winning displays from exhibitors, expert advice from nurserymen and growers and new and unusual plants available for purchase.

RHS London Botanical Art Show, 24-25 February The RHS Lindley Halls will host the RHS London Botanical Art Show on 24-25 February to celebrate botanical art and horticultural masterpieces from around the world. The show will champion the skills of the world’s best botanical artists and display previously unseen work.

Winter Garden Weekend at RHS Garden Harlow Carr The RHS’ Yorkshire Garden arlow arr will e hosting a Winter Garden Weekend on 11-12 February, which will be packed with practical gardening tal s and de onstrations for eginner and advanced gardeners panel of gardening e perts including dvisor artin

ish will e focusing on how to get the est out of your garden during winter and how to prep for the year ahead. Visitors will also have the chance to pose their ost urning gardening uestions and get first hand advice fro the e perts lease visit our we site to find out ore www.rhs.org.uk

efig outline

Happy New Year from efig Can you believe we’re already a month into 2017? We hope your New Year resolutions are still intact! e now that any efig members will either have already submitted their entries for this year’s awards or are a out to s the udges eet on 11 of this month for their first assess ent of the entries and to discuss the schedule for visits, we hope they will have a good atch of entries to consider.

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The awards ceremony This year’s awards ceremony is rea ing with tradition and oving to an afternoon slot the idea eing that this makes it more accessible for members who live outside of London to come for the day.

The date for the ceremony is 21 April and the venue is the Terrace at the Barbican which overlooks its planted atrium. e ers and their guests will be invited to arrive for 2pm. After drinks the awards will be presented, followed y light refresh ents ore drinks and a chance for ingling and networ ing The whole thing will e over y p allowing e ers

who want to get ho e at a reasonable time to do just that. lternatively those wishing to a e an evening of it have ti e to hit the right lights of the city efig strategy meeting On 8 February we have a strategy day which is open to all e ers The day will o er

an opportunity to loo at efig s direction and will also o er all members a chance to have their say about what they would li e efig achieve When the location is confir ed e ers will e notified and full details will e published on our website. www.efig.co.uk

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19/01/2017 13:55

INFORM

Parks Alliance matters

Pushing forward in 2017 This year we all need to continue to make the case for our green spaces.

Before Christmas, the CLG select committee published a survey of over 13,000 people from all over the UK who shared their views and experiences of their local parks. Over 70% had a very positive opinion with just under 90%

saying that their local park had a very positive impact their health and wellbeing.

Some 45% also visited their local park two or three times a week. We know the importance of parks to people but we are still at the start of the battle.

The Alliance is keen to engage and take forward recommendations. It was interesting to note that the parks minister Andrew Percy stated in his evidence that he will set up a cross-government group of policymakers and stakeholders to look at the

The CLG select comittee published a survey of over 13,000 people from all over the UK Just under 90% of those surveyed said that their local park had a very positive impact on their health and wellbeing

recommendations of the parks inquiry. The minister wanted the body to resemble the Future High Streets oru ercy is also the first minister who has added the ‘parks minister’ title to the

Over 70% had a very positive opinion towards their local park 45% said that they visit their local park two or three times a week

CLG website. There is a long road ahead of us, but we want as many people as possible to get involved and help us shape the future of our parks and the Alliance itself.

BALI briefing GO Landscape building real careers

GoLandscape gets underway BALI members have begun giving presentations on career opportunities in the landscape industry as part of BALI’s GoLandscape outreach programme. On 18 January a BALI representative talked to students at Solihull School in the West Midlands during their Careers Convention, and on 19 January BALI board director Richard Kay and technical o cer ichard

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Gardiner were invited by the British Forces Resettlement Service to Aldershot Garrison, to speak to service personnel who are about to leave the armed forces. Invitations from schools and organisations are coming in and GoLandscape needs more BALI member volunteers to give talks at these events. If you feel able to give a little time to promote your industry, please contact: darren.taylor@bali.org.uk.

BALI redesigning its quarterly Landscape News BALI is redesigning its quarterly member magazine to create a more contemporary, fresh design with new editorial sections. including a Letters to the Editor page. If you have

something you wish to air with the association or fellow industry colleagues, please send your letter to Denise Ewbank, editor of Landscape News: denise.ewbank@bali.org.uk.

‘Out and about with BALI’ BALI’s marketing and communications manager, Darren Taylor, has started visiting organisations to better understand their business models and support them through BALI’s events, marketing and promotional items in 2017 and beyond.

If you would like to arrange a visit, please contact: darren.taylor@ bali.org.uk.

And finally...

Ecobuild 2017 at ExCeL – Bookings are now being taken for stands on the BALI Pavilion at discounted rates. Contact darren.taylor@bali.org.uk.

E-newsletter – With a fresh new look and new online advertising opportunities, the BALI weekly e-newsletter has now gone live. Member news and events are needed so make sure you send them in.

A warm welcome to BALI’s newest Landscape House team member, e ership o cer Neeta Swinden.

Twitter: @BALI_ Landscape

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19/01/2017 13:56

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INFORM

Let’s Hear it From

CATHERINE MACDONALD

Landform Consultants You may be surprised to learn that Catherine MacDonald has been involved with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for over ten years. We met up with Catherine to find out about her career swap, show gardens and her role leading the design team at Landform Consultants in Surrey Talking to Catherine, it seems she was destined to forge a career in at least one of her favourite subjects from her school days. She enjoyed studying and learning and excelled at biology and art, so it seemed a natural progression that she would find a career based around one of these. She decided upon the former and took a degree in biological sciences, going on to complete a PhD in the field of genetics. Jobs followed at the agricultural research institute Rothamsted Research and the Natural History Museum, but her creative instinct was calling, and a visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2005 led her to contact Philip Nixon, who was that year exhibiting with a Chic Garden ‘The Gallery Outside’ in conjunction with designer Marcus Barnett. “I knew Philip I GUESS THAT INSPIRED had come into the industry ME INTO GARDEN DESIGN – from a career in the city, and this garden inspired me to LINKING AND USING MY contact him and ask his advice DESIGN TALENT WITH MY on where and how to start LOVE OF PLANTS learning about garden design.

It was a really useful conversation as he suggested I contact Andrew Wilson, who he recommended as a really inspiring teacher. At that time Andrew was teaching at The Oxford College of Garden Design, so I signed up for the part time course and also asked Andrew if he would be willing to tutor me privately to expand my knowledge.”

Art and garden design So, backtracking a little, we ask how her love of art led to garden design. “As a child I’d always enjoyed gardening with my parents and was given an area in the garden to look after. I discovered an interest in alpines and built a collection; I really enjoyed working with plants. I guess that inspired me into garden design – linking and using my design talent with my love of

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INFORM

plants. Also my dad was an architect, so I had picked up a lot of information about design and measurements from being around that growing up.”

For people making a career change, there are usually a number of factors to consider and one of these is how to fund yourself. We asked Catherine how she dealt with this: “I used my savings to help me through the year as I also had a mortgage and financial commitments. Plus my parents very kindly supported me.

“Once I decided to make the change, I moved forward quite quickly. I didn’t feel nervous – I was happy to be starting something new and exciting. The course helped me gain confidence in myself and my artistic ability.

“I completed the course in 2006 with a distinction. That same year I entered the first SGD Student of the Year competition and was joint winner. Christopher Bradley-Hole attended

I WORKED WELL WITH CONTRACTORS, I THINK BECAUSE I NEVER FELT I HAD LEARNT EVERYTHING – I WAS NEVER AFRAID TO ASK FOR THEIR HELP

our final college exhibition as the guest of another student, and after seeing my work he offered me a part time position at his studio.

I admired Christopher’s work style and learnt a lot in the six months I worked with him.”

In the summer before starting her design course Catherine signed up for a five day course which was taking place at Landform Consultants, run by her tutor Andrew, and this is where she first met Mark Gregory, who also went on to help her career.

“Following my graduation, Mark took me around some of the gardens Landform had built and at one he had a meeting scheduled with Luciano Giubbilei. Luciano mentioned that he

was looking for someone to work in his studio, and although he wanted someone full time he agreed to take me on, to work on the days I wasn’t with Christopher. I took on a full time role with Luciano in early 2007.

“I worked together with Luciano on project management of the installation of his designs. On the first job I was involved in, Landform was the contractor and the foreman was Mark Britton, who many will know is now my husband! I worked well with Mark and other contractors, I think because I never felt I had learnt everything on my course – I respected the experience of the people who were building the projects and was never afraid to ask for their help.”

© Gary Rogers

RHS Flower Shows In 2007 Catherine had her first taste of working on a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. She took holiday from her work at the studio to help with the planting for Philip Nixon and Marcus Barnett’s Savill Garden, and returned to help Philip on the Savill Garden in 2008.

With Chelsea firmly under Catherine’s belt, it was natural that she would be involved when Luciano exhibited his first show garden in 2009.

Together they project managed the garden and worked with build contractor Crocus to create The Laurent Perrier Garden. Catherine remembered, “It was an amazing experience and we got a Gold medal which was fantastic.”

Early in 2010 Catherine felt she wanted to start using her own style to express herself, and she was fortunate enough to be offered the 22

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INFORM

opportunity to work at Landform, through her friendship with Mark Gregory. Her first day on the job was planting on his Children’s Society Garden, a Main Avenue exhibit, with Adam Frost.

At Chelsea this same year she also oversaw the design detailing for James Wong’s Tourism Malaysia garden, which Landform was building.

Catherine said: “Every year since 2011 I have carried out Landform’s project management for Chelsea. Mark and I work well together – with his show experience he’s fairly unflappable and is great at the big picture, while I love the details and work closely with the designers.”

We wanted to find out about RHS Chelsea 2017. “This year I have an Artisan Garden for Seedlip, a drinks company founded by Ben Branson, which developed the UK’s first non-alcoholic spirit.” Catherine explains that the company, which started only just over a year ago, was launched when Ben became interested in alchemy, apothecaries and a book called The Art of Distillation, published in 1651. “During the 17th century, remedies were distilled alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and with a modern approach to distillation Ben created these non-alcoholic ‘grown up’ drinks, first stocked in Selfridges.

With my scientific background this garden has a particular personal interest to me, so I’m very excited to get going with it.”

And what of Hampton Court? “I’ve really enjoyed the years I’ve been involved with Hampton Court. Winning two Golds and Best in Category, followed by Gold and the People’s Choice Award last year with the Squire’s 80th Anniversary Garden, were real highlights.”

Aside from RHS shows, Catherine leads the design team at Landform and is involved right the way through the process, from initial contact to meeting clients and producing outline designs, concepts and planting plans.

Influences Many designers are influenced and inspired by people in the industry and we asked Catherine www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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© Steve Wooster

MARK GREGORY AND I WORK WELL TOGETHER – HE’S GREAT AT THE BIG PICTURE WHILE I LOVE THE DETAILS

whose work she has admired. “Christopher Bradley-Hole – early on I found his designs inspiring and still do. I love the front garden at Bury Court in Surrey, which was why we chose it as our wedding venue. The garden at the back was designed by Piet Oudolf, and I love his planting combinations. Of course, I learnt a lot from Luciano and love his design style – although I tend to lean towards a mixture of structural and soft planting in my designs.”

Future plans With a history of almost seven years at Landform, we asked Catherine about her future plans: “I’m very happy at Landform. Mark gives me freedom to run the designs myself although I do regularly go to him for advice. We are growing the design side of the business, which currently consists of myself and landscape architects Fran Keith and Rhiannon Williams, who joined us after an internship here.”

Outside of work As with most demanding professions, it’s important to find ways to switch off and relax. How does

Catherine achieve this? “My main sport is rock climbing – I used to climb regularly in the Peak District whilst doing my PhD. I also have a Hartley Botanic greenhouse in which I grow fruit and vegetables, although Chelsea interrupts the growth so I have had some failures. I also enjoy yoga, which perhaps complements my more extreme hobby of rock climbing.”

1 The Seedlip Garden design, Chelsea 2017 (Illustration by Helen Thomas) 2 The Hartley Botanic Garden, Chelsea 2016 3 The Squire’s Garden, Hampton Court 2016 4 The Squire’s Garden, Hampton Court 2016 5 The Landform Garden, Hampton Court 2012

CONTACT Landform Consultants Ltd The Nursery Bagshot Road, Chobham Surrey GU24 8DB 01276 856 145 www.landformconsultants.co.uk

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COMPANY

PROFILE

In 2015-16, The Landscape Group and Quadron Services Ltd were acquired by the largest green service provider in France to form idverde UK. Pro Landscaper spoke to Sarah Hughes-Clarke, strategic development director, about the merger and the services the company provides Can you tell us about idverde UK? We’re a green service company led by chief executive Nick Temple-Heald, covering everything from parks management to landscape construction. When idverde France first bought The Landscape Group, we agreed at our very first meeting that the company would stay green, rather than diluting its offer into cleaning or indoor facility management. idverde France carries out more construction than maintenance with more private customers than in the public sector, whereas the UK operation is the other way around.

Why did idverde decide to venture into the UK market?

When idverde France separated from ISS, it received private equity backing from Chequers, a French investment firm. idverde France had an ambitious strategy, to become truly European, and it was already the largest of its kind in France with little room for expansion. It looked at the UK market, which was fragmented with a large number of different providers, and saw an opportunity. It’s currently looking at expanding into other countries as well.

Why did you merge two companies together to form the UK division? idverde wanted a platform in the UK, which is why it bought The Landscape Group (TLG) in 2015. It was important to acquire the right management team, and TLG was at the right stage of its development as its private equity backing was coming to the end of its cycle. Quadron was then acquired in 2016 as it was the TLG management’s first choice of firms, and Quadron was also at the point of looking for a new home.

We’re not interested in simply buying contracts – it’s first and foremost about the 24

people, and the senior management of Quadron had to be keen to take part. The most important thing was to not unsettle any key staff from either legacy company, and we’ve integrated in a managed way, bearing in mind the 2016 growing season. We’re now rebranding fully as idverde.

This merger gives us more resources to grow, and it’s no secret that we’re looking at further acquisitions, though these will probably be in slightly different skill sets, as Quadron and TLG had similar customer bases.

WE’RE NOT INTERESTED IN SIMPLY BUYING CONTRACTS – IT’S FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT THE PEOPLE

idverde UK

in numbers Employees 1,800 Turnover £90m Breakdown 5% Arboriculture, 3% Professional Services, 10% Construction, 82% Grounds Maintenance Apprentices 53 Green Flag Parks Managed 100

How many permanent staff does the company employ?

In the UK, we have around 1,800 permanent staff, which rises by roughly 500 people on fixed term contracts in the summer. There are 160 managers included in this total, and one of the great things about idverde is that it’s keen to

What services does idverde UK offer?

It provides everything to do with amenity horticulture, from designing landscapes to building and maintaining them, to managing them as well as monitoring biodiversity – the full spectrum.

Which of these provides a higher percentage of turnover?

The largest part of our turnover – over 80% – is grounds maintenance for local authorities, which is a huge market. The breakdown of our turnover may shift with acquisitions, but our priority will always be long-term contracts or long-term relationships.

What is the company’s turnover?

For 2017, with the new contract awards that we secured last year, it’s going to be about £95m, an increase of around 7% from the previous year.

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18/01/2017 15:53

INFORM

APPRENTICESHIPS ARE ABSOLUTELY KEY FOR US. QUADRON BROUGHT WITH IT ITS OWN E-LEARNING PACKAGE, WHICH IS A FOCUSED AND COST EFFECTIVE WAY OF GETTING MESSAGES ACROSS TO PEOPLE

offer investment to a number of its managers – a lot of the senior managers are actually shareholders in the business.

What type of projects does idverde UK undertake in terms of size, value and length?

We can build a small, one-off landscaping project worth £1k or we can enter into a £4m contract for 24 years. If we have a presence there, we will consider any size of work. We’re looking to set up more branches nationwide as it’s important we can service customers who aren’t looking for huge projects. We encourage local managers to take ownership of their own patch and provide whichever services they feel are appropriate for that area. idverde’s charity Growing a Greener Britain, doesn’t carry out work itself, but does fund smaller community projects.

We also do a fair bit of arboriculture, around £5m a year, which can be packaged with a grounds maintenance contract or be separate. I would love one of our next acquisitions to be an arboricultural company.

We have some great skills already, particularly in the Midlands and the south west, but we have a weaker presence in the south east. I’d quite like us to acquire a small design practice as well. We have four landscape architects in the team, and it would be great to have more www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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and be able to carry out more design and build projects ourselves.

What geographical area do you cover?

The legacy of TLG and Quadron was to focus on the local authority market, and therefore we have less presence in the north of England where there is far less outsourcing. This is also the case in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Part of our strategy is to become truly national with all of our services, however. We have plenty of business in London and the south east, and quite a bit in the Midlands and the south west, and we’re looking to expand into other parts of the UK in a controlled manner. We’re very interested in talking to firms who operate where we don’t, are in the same market to us and might like to be part of the idverde family Does the company offer training or an apprenticeship scheme?

Before TLG was bought by idverde, the company was planning to set up a learning academy, which will still be going ahead under our new ownership. Apprenticeships are absolutely key for us. For the second year in a row, we are in the top 100 apprenticeship employers, which has been great. We offer a lot of apprenticeships at the moment, but in a slightly fragmented way, so we’d like to do it differently. Quadron brought with it its own

e-learning package, which is a focused and cost effective way of getting messages to people.

Management development is also something we’re really keen on as a company. There’s a real shortage in this industry of skilled management, so we want to make our industry attractive to young managers.

What are the future plans for idverde UK? We want to broaden our customer base, build up some of our smaller services, and forge ahead with the best staff development in our sector.

1 Sarah Hughes-Clarke 2 Queen’s Park, Loughborough, BALI Award 2016: Grounds Maintenance, Free Public Access 3 Exchange Quay, Salford, BALI Award 2016: Hard Landscaping Construction (Non-Domestic), cost over £1.5m 4 Tibetan Peace Garden, Southwark, BALI National Award 2016: Grounds Maintenance (Free Public Access) 5 Apprentice at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

CONTACT idverde UK, Landscapes House, 3 Rye Hill Office Park, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry CV5 9AB Tel: 02476 405 660 Email: coventry@idverde.co.uk Twitter: @idverdeUK Web: www.idverde.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / February 2017 25

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INFORM

IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN ANGUS LINDSAY

Angus Lindsay asks where we have to turn for greener vehicles as major European cities move closer to banning diesel With the use of diesel and even the internal combustion engine under threat in many major cities across Europe, Berlin is looking at a complete ban by 2030. With changes to the London congestion zone brought forward, where do we go next? Reducing diesel use is all well and good and will undoubtedly improve air quality, but what are our options? Electric, hybrid, LPG, CNG, and hydrogen are all now available in cars, buses and heavy trucks, with the supporting infrastructure getting better by the day – but what of the 3,500kg workhorse that is the backbone of our industry?

Diesel has been the standard in commercial vehicles for several years, with manufacturers spending vast amounts to give us clean Euro 6 engines. Now these too face being banned from our cities. There used to be petrol options for these vehicles but these are now a distant memory, no longer giving us the ability to convert to LPG. So what else? With more and more hybrid cars on the market, why not in commercials? Yes, they’ll be expensive and there will be an effect on payload, but it could make sense for our industry.

On the face of it, electric vehicles would seem to be the ultimate in low emission power, but consider where the electricity comes from: power station, wind turbine or solar panels – how green are they

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exactly? The electric vehicles currently on the market are ideal for a couple of people moving small amounts of equipment, but larger load carrying variants are few and far between, extremely expensive, and lacking in payload.

Next year we expect to see Renault and Volkswagen launch fully electric panel vans with a range of up to 150 miles. Ideal for delivering parcels but not much use for the tree gang towing a chipper – where do the chippings go?

Come to think of it, will the diesel engine in the chipper still be allowed?

What of the other diesel powered equipment we use? Will this, too, eventually fall foul of the ban? There’s no problem with power tools as there are plenty of options available, but we can hardly cut parks and playing fields with pedestrian electric mowers. And what of heavier landscaping operations? There are now electric road sweepers, earth movers, and ride-on mowers on the market, so what’s the problem?

As cities strive for cleaner environments they are also struggling with budget cuts, and cleaner technology comes at a price; for instance, there is no way that an electric mower will run for eight hours on a low frequency verge mowing regime.

Again, LPG used to be an option but seems to have fallen out of favour in the UK, though it is gaining in popularity in the US where, ironically, both petrol and diesel are considerably cheaper.

I have talked before about hybrid power units and learning from other industries – there would seem to be a glimmer of light from the dark recesses of several manufacturer’s development workshops, so watch this space.

I’M ALL FOR REDUCING POLLUTION AND IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT FOR IT TO WORK EFFECTIVELY THERE HAS TO BE MORE JOINED UP THINKING BETWEEN ALL STAKEHOLDERS

The electric ride-on – the future with the right cutting regime

The electric tipper is not that far away

I’m all for reducing pollution and improving our environment, but for it to work effectively there has to be more joined-up thinking between all stakeholders, otherwise things will never move forward. As an industry we are the keepers of our cities’ green lungs and we should take the lead in this revolution by educating staff, clients, the public and politicians in how to get the best from our green spaces – it’s not just about vehicles and machines. Cutting regimes, water conservation, sympathetic landscaping, sensible tree planting and tree management all play their part, so let’s get on with it!

ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAY Angus spent several years working on arable farms in Scotland before joining VSO in Egypt, implementing a mechanisation programme, managing field operations for a commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and working as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen.

He gained an MSc in agricultural engineering and mechanisation management at Silsoe, joining Glendale as machinery manager in 1994 and then in 2009, idverde UK as group head of assets and fleet.

Contact: angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / February 2017 27

18/01/2017 15:30

INFORM

THE DIGITAL AGE? ANDREW WILSON

Digital models once seemed set to squeeze out hand drawn designs, but Andrew Wilson believes pencil and paper is more than holding its own in the digital age Sadly, I’m long enough in the tooth to pre-date the use of computers in both my work as a designer and my garden design teaching.

My first drawing board in the studio at Manchester Metropolitan rested on a couple of bricks to create the required incline for drawing – yes, drawing!

I can remember various periods of training when CAD first came on the scene, only to have to retrain when the software was superseded or totally new software was launched. I’m no Luddite but I often catch myself saying ‘you can’t go far wrong with pencil and paper’.

In 2008 we saw the launch of the London College of Garden Design, and took the decision to be drawing board free from day one. Many architectural practices had already divested themselves of drawing boards, but it seemed to us that our launch year represented something of a watershed in the use of CAD. While drawing boards were recommended for students at home, SketchUp

MANY CLIENTS WILL COMMENT ON THE QUALITY OF A HAND DRAWN PRESENTATION YET REMAIN SILENT WHEN PRESENTED WITH THE DIGITAL VERSION and Vectorworks would be the order of the day in studio sessions. We taught, and still teach, manual drawing production and rendering in the opening weeks of the course, as a failsafe in some ways, but walk into our studio sessions now and you’ll see laptops, iPads and sketch books.

For any graduates seeking employment 28

Pro Landscaper / February 2017

Andrew Wilson.indd 28

designers will ask first and foremost for skills in SketchUp and Vectorworks.

Many architects with whom designers might work now supply drawings in the form of SketchUp models, around which designers can build their virtual landscapes and most other professions seek digital drawings and electronic distribution.

As I looked forward in our launch year I saw drawing as a manual technique disappearing gradually and yet, as with sales of vinyl, the opposite has proved to be the case. Any drawing courses we offer at Wisley with the RHS are sold out, many often with a waiting list. I’ve also recently been approached by the SGD for drawing workshops.

Well, a number of thoughts come to mind. I still interview several students each year who have never used a computer. For them the use of the computer itself seems like a mountain to climb let alone the design software loaded onto it. In my naivety I had thought that by now everyone would be computer literate, but this doesn’t seem to be the case and this situation does not pertain only to the older student.

For those who study on a day course here and a short course there, the production of design ideas with pencil, pen and paper is accessible and achievable, especially if they work in isolation from home. Financial constraints may apply not only to the cost of courses but also to the purchase, training on and use of a suitable laptop, desktop or both.

But how tangible is an electronic drawing, or a whole package of them, or a whole client presentation produced as a digital document?

Many clients will comment on the quality of a hand drawn presentation yet remain silent when presented with the digital version (which

Sketch elevations from Andrew Wilson’s postgraduate design project 1984

incidentally might have taken much more time).

Is the craft of the electronic age quantifiable?

Is the client as happy to pay for an electronic design delivery or will they always expect a hard copy alongside? Is a printable scale drawing likely to deliver a more accurate setting out of works on site than a digital version viewed on an iPad? In some ways, perhaps, only time will tell – but I’m not planning on ditching paper just yet, in the design studio or in my teaching.

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

www.wmstudio.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/01/2017 10:10

February_Adverts.indd 39 43 Advert template JAN17.indd

17/01/2017 16:18 08:43 11/01/2017

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February_Adverts.indd 64

18/01/2017 11:20

INFORM

SHARING THE PASSION DAVID DODD

David Dodd responds to Andrew Wilson’s column in our last issue, addressing the issues over whose responsibility plants are on site and offering a way forward I read Andrew Wilson’s column ‘Passion for Plants?’ with great interest last month. I both agree, and sympathise, with many of the points he’s raised, but I also believe many of them are easily answerable and, dare I say it, resolvable!

Andrew starts on the issue of designers supplying plants to ‘top up’ their income. For years I’ve been against this because as a supplier, the designer automatically blurs the lines of representing the client’s best interests. We’re currently working with some fantastic landscape architects and designers who wouldn’t dream of supplying plants. This isn’t just due to the liability issues or working to professional codes of conduct, but simply down to the fact that they value what they do and charge appropriate fees for their service.

Monitoring plant quality is essential for all projects

responsibly for quality control, and if, as a designer, you’re supplying plants make sure you get off your backside and check they’re healthy and fit for purpose! Be on site when the plants are delivered and make sure you’re happy with the quality. It isn’t fair that you make all the profit and expect someone else to do all the work.

I think many contractors take the attitude that if they’re not supplying the plants, they’ll just do it

I THINK MANY CONTRACTORS TAKE THE ATTITUDE THAT IF THEY’RE NOT SUPPLYING THE PLANTS, THEY’LL JUST DO IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO GET ONTO THE NEXT PROJECT Some designers claim they like to supply plants to ensure the quality is right and this obviously can’t be entrusted to a contractor. Well if it can’t, then in my opinion they are using the wrong contractor. Is it also just an excuse when the designer doesn’t even visit the nurseries or selects the plants? The plant list is emailed to the nursery, delivered to site, offloaded, set out and planted by the contractor. Where no one has bothered to monitor quality at the nursery I’ve seen bone dry, diseased and dying plants being delivered to site, so at this point I really do have to ask, where is the planting love?

This question can’t always be directed at the contractor. I know profit margins are tight for nurseries, but surely they must take some www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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as quickly as possible to get onto the next project. Some haven’t even priced for offloading, watering or monitoring plant health. If they start rejecting plants they haven’t supplied, delays will occur, resulting in further financial losses whilst waiting for replacements.

Companies tend to keep the same ‘landscaping team’ from start to finish on a project. This doesn’t always work – we’ve got some brilliant hard landscapers who aren’t interested in planting, so they move onto the next project and our horticulturists move in for the planting. Boom! Everyone’s happy and we have the right people for the right jobs.

Let’s now look at resolving this problem instead of moaning about it. If the contractor isn’t going to

The Outdoor Room’s Amanda Miller

supply the plants, or any other materials, they need to ensure they are properly charging a Profit and Overheads mark-up for any such items they will be handling on a project where they are the appointed landscape contractor. This should be a percentage of the materials value and added on top of any labour costs required for installation. It needs to be itemised and clearly shown on the quotation and not hidden in a lump sum figure. It also needs to state whether or not this mark-up covers liabilities for any losses. The designer needs to check this cost has been covered by all contractors tendering for them.

Regarding Andrew’s comments on iPads, he’ll be pleased to know that these days I generally only use mine for a game of Angry Birds, and won’t be using one for setting out his RHS Chelsea garden!

ABOUT DAVID DODD David Dodd has been in the landscape industry since the age of 17. Having studied and then taught at Merrist Wood College, he set up The Outdoor Room in 1995. In 2013, he went into business with landscape architect Joe Perkins to form Longview Design Ltd. David has also lectured in design and construction for over 20 years.

www.theoutdoorroom.co.uk

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CHERRY PICKING

PETE JONES Pete Jones expands on a topic from FutureScape 2016 – how businesses can decide which leads will be the most fruitful Having had the absolute pleasure of sitting on The Beauty is in the Build panel at FutureScape 2016, I left feeling that I hadn’t given a satisfactory response to a question related to potential leads and enquiries.

The process of sorting the wheat from the chaff isn’t always as straightforward as it should be. Progressing suitable leads and politely declining those you don’t wish to pursue can be difficult. It can be affected by numerous factors and in some cases, just when you thought you had a formula working for the selection of appropriate leads, the criteria will change according to the current economic situation or your business needs.

There are clear considerations in the process that can lead you to make the right decision for your business: scope, location, potential client and current responsibilities, to name a few.

Once considered altogether, these factors will provide the correct formula and solve the conundrum as to whether to invest your valuable time attempting to secure a project.

I’ve heard many thoughts over the years on this topic and there can be gulfs between points of view, and the reasons behind the routes businesses should take to select their opportunities. Surely, though, it’s of paramount importance to ensure you filter out those opportunities that don’t fit your criteria, be highly selective and extremely committed to securing the work you choose to target. In my opinion, those businesses that take a volume approach to pricing, pursuing anything that lands on their desk, waste so much time and money on trying to ensure the numbers hit the magic targets, that they lose sight of the cost of such a haphazard strategy.

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IT’S OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO ENSURE YOU FILTER OUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT DON’T FIT YOUR CRITERIA, BE HIGHLY SELECTIVE AND EXTREMELY COMMITTED TO SECURING THE WORK YOU CHOOSE TO TARGET invested in generating fewer, more realistic leads in the first instance rather than relying on a ‘law of averages’ return from a high volume of work priced. We’re all searching for ways to streamline our businesses and make sure we’re able to respond to changes in our external environment should they arise. This broad approach can be a large inefficiency that is relatively easy to refine.

It’s easy to discuss matters such as these when the industry is in a buoyant position and organisations are able to cherry pick their leads due to the sheer amount of opportunities available. What of those darker times, when we’re faced with a competitive marketplace and make decisions to chase work we otherwise wouldn’t, just to keep our individual ships sailing the seas? In the past, these times have provided me with the best opportunities to innovate and evolve, and perhaps navigate a different path to that which we had previously been accustomed to in our business.

With some thought and the development of

a sound strategy, the consideration of potential leads available to your business can become a more streamlined process, saving the business time and, more importantly, money. It’s always disappointing to lose work that you’ve made a conscious effort to secure. The ‘hidden’ cost of tendering and time invested in unfruitful negotiations, however, is a cost that we ought to focus on and one that demands respect and consideration. The more time invested to generate the right opportunities, the more comfort you have to invest additional time further down the line.

ABOUT PETE JONES After 20 years in the landscape industry working across many sectors, Pete Jones is now creating and maintaining award-winning landscape solutions with LDP Ltd. He is a BALI NCF and BALI South Thames committee member investing time and effort to improve our industry wherever possible.

Twitter: @LandDesignPete

www.ldp.uk.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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The

REALLY WILD show Pro Landscaper takes a trip to Leicester to find out how its local authority is attempting to turn the city into one of the most biodiverse locations in the country

I

n recent years, Leicester has developed a higher public profile than at any other time during its history, at least among those interested in sport and pop music.

For instance, it’s the home to defending Premier League champions Leicester City, who defied the odds by knocking Manchester United, Chelsea and the like off their long occupied perch. Also – as readers of both Pro Landscaper and NME will know – the town is where chart-toppers Kasabian come from, a band which has never been shy about its origins in outlying villages such as Blaby and Countesthorpe.

One thing that doesn’t get as much publicity as it should however is Leicester’s managed park areas. At 1,630 hectares out of 7,300, they take up around 22% of the city’s surface area and include everything from traditional gardens and woodland to skate and BMX parks. They www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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also consist of some of the most beautiful and well kept green spaces in the country.

Macabre beginnings Pro Landscaper asked Leicester City Council’s head of parks and open spaces Stewart Doughty to give a short history of the city’s parks offer. As it turns out it has an unusual – and to be fair, somewhat macabre – origin, beginning in what might best be referred to as an ‘overspill’ church yard, in the middle of the 19th century.

Stewart said: “Leicester’s first public open space was a cemetery on Welford Road, which opened in 1849 due to the growing population.

It included ornate lodges, gates and flower gardens, and eventually became a venue for the elite to meet and promenade in their carriages to ‘take the air’. It’s the third oldest cemetery in the country and is still used for burials, as well as having a grade listing in the English Heritage register of parks and gardens.”

Stewart Doughty Head of parks and open spaces, Leicester City Council

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He continues: “The first proper park created in Leicester was Abbey Park, which is still the city’s premier green space. It was built on land purchased from the Earl of Dysart under the Leicester Improvement Act 1876, a bill containing an obligation on the part of Leicester Corporation to ‘appropriate the land... for the use and enjoyment of the inhabitants of the town.’

“In 1878 a design competition for the park was won by the firm of William Barron and Son of Derby, with construction beginning a year later. The Prince and Princess of Wales opened Abbey Park on Whit Monday, 29 May 1882.”

Anyone that’s ever taken a trip to Abbey Park will understand why it remains so popular with both residents and visitors to Leicester, attracting a total of 550k users in 2015.

Originally built on marshland to the north of the city, it’s blossomed into 57 acres of formal gardens with attractions including a boating lake and the remains of Cavendish House, which was torched by Charles I’s forces during the English Civil War. In 2005 meanwhile, the council developed a ‘lavender maze’ using former rose beds, through which visitors can wander and lose themselves in the smell of that gorgeous plant.

Richard III’s remains According to Stewart, in 2015 Leicester’s parks and green spaces attracted around 8m visits from members of the public. In a city with a population of 330k, this shows just how valuable they are to those who live in the area.

We asked him about the level of investment required to keep these prized assets in top condition. “The current annual maintenance budget for parks is £3.3m,” he said. “The amount was reduced last year as part of a corporate spending review of £1.5m, which saw a reduction in grass cutting and pruning, as well as a 50% reduction in management. We’ve also reduced vehicles, plant and equipment.

“In terms of our specific areas of investment going forward, we’ve focused mainly on the development of high profile sites, as well as infrastructure. Again, this is to help visitors get the most out of what the parks have to offer, and make them a more pleasant environment.”

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WE’VE FOCUSED MAINLY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH PROFILE SITES, AS WELL AS INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS IS TO HELP VISITORS GET THE MOST OUT OF WHAT THE PARKS HAVE TO OFFER, AND MAKE THEM A MORE PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT 90th birthday in 2016, as well as Leicester Cathedral gardens which were re-landscaped in parallel with the discovery of the remains of Richard III in 2012. The creation of Ellis Meadows on the banks of the River Soar meanwhile has provided eight hectares of parkland as part of a major flood relief scheme.

(Flood relief has been an integral part of the story of Leicester’s parks from the beginning,

with the creation of Abbey Park also taking place as part of a flood defence effort.)

The infrastructure Stewart spoke about includes a new parks toilet programme across the city, the development of numerous outdoor gym areas, and the creation of a processional route from London Road to the Victoria Park war memorial, known as Centenary Walk. This has involved the development of a new tree-lined avenue, as well as an increase in the number of parking spaces available in one of the most visitor-rich parts of the city.

Returning to the subject of crewing, we ask how many people the council now employs following the cuts Stewart spoke about earlier.

“Parks employ 68 full time operational staff,” he says. “That figure’s broken down into 51 gardeners, eight supervising gardeners, five team leaders and four green keepers, www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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supplemented by ten agency staff who we use in the summer.

“In terms of structure, the city is divided into three geographical areas for grounds maintenance, whereas the park wardens we employ are city-wide. We have a high retention of staff, most of whom have completed their NVQ II or equivalent. Our head gardener provides refresher training, bespoke to the team’s needs.”

Estate management Like a lot of authorities, Leicester City Council is having to cope with ever-increasing budget cuts.

This is a situation which shows no sign of abating, thanks to the government’s ongoing austerity project.

As anyone involved in local government will tell you, there are a variety of different ways of dealing with an anticipated shortfall in budget, including investing in labour-saving technology and something often euphemistically referred to as ‘estate management’. (Or in common parlance, ‘selling off the family silver’ in the form of community centres, fire stations and in some locations, parks.)

When it comes to parks and green spaces however, estate management has another meaning, with many local authorities trying to find innovative ways of putting to use what they already have. One method of doing this is to transform planting strategy into something more sustainable, which for many councils means (relatively) low maintenance wildflower and meadow-based models across their sites.

This is something that Leicester has embraced wholeheartedly in the past few years, with the council’s ‘wilding’ strategy directly linked with its desire to make the city a haven for wildlife. Speaking of ongoing efforts to encourage biodiversity, Stewart said: “Most of our parks and green spaces have at least a small area set aside for wildlife, and we’ve made a concerted effort to introduce good pollinating plant material across the board. There’s a network of meadows across the city.”

He continued: “Leicester City Council plants over 124k annuals as part of its bedding displays each year. In 2012, 60% of those were good pollinator plants such as Cosmos, Salvia, Petunias, Antirrhinum and Rudbeckia. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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“We’ve also reduced our reliance on F1 and F2 hybrids which have a high flower impact but lack pollen, or are difficult for insects due to their complex petal structure. The level of material planted which is good for pollinating insects is now 100%.”

MOST OF OUR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES HAVE AREAS SET ASIDE FOR WILDLIFE, AND WE’VE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO INTRODUCE GOOD POLLINATING PLANT MATERIAL ACROSS THE BOARD Evidence of how serious Leicester City Council is about wildlife can be seen in a variety of locations across the city, including the wildflower meadows in Castle Hill country park, and even in the more formal bedding displays of Evington Park. Initiatives such as the nectar garden in Abbey Park have led to Leicester being acknowledged as a leader in best practice by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

We ask why it’s become such a focus for the council. “It all contributes towards objectives set out in the city’s biodiversity action plan, relating to climate adaptation, surface water management, green infrastructure and sustainable urban drainage,” explained Stewart.

“These are all incredibly important areas for the future of the city and its inhabitants.”

He continues: “Thinking of the nectar garden in particular, we’ve used perennial material

whilst incorporating insect boxes and bee posts to provide habitats for solitary bees. We want to show people they can support bees and butterflies in their own gardens – we gave away 10k packs of wildflower seed for people to plant and each primary school in the city was given ten seed packs to plant in their grounds.”

Into the future Parks and green spaces have always been integral to the life of Leicester as a city. Pro Landscaper is pleased to report that this fine tradition is not just being upheld by the city council, but pushed forward into the future.

With that in mind, the final word has to go to Stewart. Speaking of the relationship between the people of Leicester and their parks and green spaces, he said: “Ninety one per cent of people report using parks in the city. That value is something which has been acknowledged by the government and health sector for many years, with numerous documents stressing the importance of open spaces and recreation.

“Well-designed and implemented policies for open spaces are incredibly important for delivering wider objectives such as urban renaissance, promotion of social inclusion and cohesion, and improved health and wellbeing.

And as I said, we want to promote a sustainable environment as well.”

Long may it blossom.

1 Troon Way bee meadow 2 The Portwey highway verge spring bulbs 3 Goodwood Road highway verge summer meadow

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ALLADIO SIMS GARDEN LANDSCAPE DESIGN Revitalising a Victorian townhouse garden

SUPER NATURAL ANTHEA HARRISON

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A magnificent project spanning a natural pool, kitchen, pavilion and more

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HULTONS LANDSCAPES Giving a science and innovation campus the ‘wow’ factor

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17/01/2017 08:45

GOLDEN GREEN ALLADIO SIMS GARDEN LANDSCAPE DESIGN Raj sandstone, cedar cladding and pleached hornbeam revitalise a Victorian townhouse garden in Fulham

PROJECT DETAILS Project value £25k Build time August to April Size of project 52m²

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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T

his project involved the garden of a classic Victorian townhouse in Fulham, West London. The client had purchased it as two flats and was in the process of turning it into one house with a separate lower ground floor flat.

The brief The project brief came in two forms. An interior designer had produced some sketches showing a couple of planted areas and a terrace in the middle. The client also provided a verbal brief on how he envisaged the garden and its use. The client’s brief was a garden serving the upper house, where he lives, and the basement flat that was linked but separate. The flat was to be used as a guest apartment and therefore occupied only occasionally, so the courtyard was to be considered part of the main garden area. The kitchen of the upper house is on the first floor, so

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the main view of the garden was from the balcony at first floor level. The garden was very overlooked, as most townhouse gardens in London are, and there was a need to introduce some privacy.

Another key factor was that the house refit was of a very high standard, so the garden needed to link into that.

Design The design solution was the creation of two distinct terraces with different paving surfaces but linked by the use of cedar wall cladding. The careful use of pleached hornbeam of different clear stem height created a high level of privacy in the upper terrace and at the same time a real feel of intimacy. The main planted area was located so as to be visible from the balcony above and out from under the pleached trees planted within it.

The lower courtyard was fully paved in crisp sawn and sandblasted Raj sandstone and populated

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with a selection of pots and plants. The main contractor for the house was chosen to carry out the hard landscaping for the garden and the soft landscaping was done by Landform Consultants.

Challenges The most challenging part of the process was the pointing on the stone. Having decided upon the use of the ‘BMW’ of brush-in-grout solutions that could be laid even in the rain, what was not apparent was the effect it would have on the stone, which unfortunately was dramatic and shiny.

1 Night view from the balcony 2 Concept sketch presentation 3 The lower terrace viewed from the stair landing 4 Soft and hard textures meet 5 View to the garden from the ground floor

DESIGN SKETCHES

6 The intimate upper terrace 7 Illuminated hornbeam

REFERENCES Garden design Alladio Sims Garden Landscape Design

020 7732 3996 hello@alladiosims.co.uk www.alladiosims.co.uk Raj sandstone Rock Unique

www.rock-unique.com Clay pavers Chelmer Valley Brick Co

www.chelmervalley.co.uk Hard landscaping

Phillip Banks Development Limited

www.phillipbanks.co.uk

ABOUT ALLADIO SIMS GARDEN LANDSCAPE DESIGN LTD

Photography © Adrian Lyon. Photos 3 & 6 client’s own

Soft landscaping Landform Consultants

Alladio Sims Garden Landscape Design Ltd was established in 2015 after Jon Sims and Emanuela Alladio Sims Alladio collaborated on a Silver Gilt winning show garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The two directors continue their collaborative approach throughout their practice with Jon’s background in interior architecture giving distinctive spaces and Emanuela’s passions for plants and photographic eye adding great texture and contrast.

Garden Landscape Design

www.landformconsultants.co.uk Cedar cladding Silva Timber

www.silvatimber.co.uk Painted trellis The Garden Trellis Co.

www.gardentrellis.co.uk Garden furniture Barbed Ltd

www.barbed.co.uk

www.alladiosims.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PROJECT DETAILS Project value £800k Build time Initial contact with clients April 2012. Final planting November 2015 Size of project Approx 14,000sq m

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SUPER NATURAL ANTHEA HARRISON Anthea Harrison put her stamp on this grand four-year project with a natural swimming pool and swathes of beautiful planting

W

hen garden designer Anthea Harrison first met the clients back in April 2012 they were living in an unattractive house on the site they were looking to develop. The existing house was due to be knocked down and a significantly larger and more traditional looking property built in its place. They were passionate about their garden, regular Chelsea goers and wanted lots of planting. Other features to be included were a new driveway and main entrance, a walled kitchen garden with greenhouse, a main seating area plus several smaller ones, a swimming pool, hot tub and changing rooms and an open pavilion. An old

tennis court was to be replaced with a new one in a similar position, and the house benefited from some fabulous mature trees.

Design and build At the initial consultation Anthea persuaded the clients to look again at their requirement for a swimming pool. They had requested a traditional pool at the side of the house. Instead Anthea suggested a natural swimming pool as the main feature to the rear of the property, with everything else arranged around it. The initial concept was to divide the filtration bed and the main body of water connecting the two with a rill leading from one part of the garden to another.

1 Main view from house 2 View up rill looking back from filtration bed towards the pool 3 Outdoor kitchen and adjacent walled garden 4 View across pool towards back of house

WINNER Design Excellence Award, Overall Scheme over ÂŁ50k category

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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After approval for the concept and sizes of these water bodies from natural pool company Gartenart, the idea was fine-tuned to incorporate a water feature starting at the main dining patio which would use the filtration bed to keep the water clean.

A ‘hot’ garden, including the sunken hot tub and most of the Corten steel panels, separates the pool from the ‘strolling’ garden, a large area of planting with intertwining paths leading to a wrought iron gazebo. This area helps the garden blend in with the countryside as it is more informal and features a number of the new trees that were planted on site.

Water flows from the swimming pool via a rill which steps down through a series of waterfalls to a large circular seating area at the side of the house which is partially surrounded by the filtration bed. Stepping stones through the filtration bed maintain access and views to the strolling garden. The kitchen garden features a built in BBQ, pizza oven, sink and cupboards and is between the house and main dining patio. There was only one location really suitable for the walled garden, although its proximity to a large tree and its roots caused some issues.

The whole garden is blended into the countryside setting through trees and planting,

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the aim in the long term is for the yew hedging to make the pool more private and to help divide the garden.

The result is a stunning space that has really excelled in giving the clients multiple areas to entertain and plenty of space for their teenage children to enjoy with friends. They had a garden opening party and said they used every area including retiring at the end of the day to the open pavilion for cheese and coffee.

Problems, issues and their solutions There were several large trees on site which had to be given special consideration and all the landscaping plans had to be approved by the local planning authority. In particular the root protection zone of the Blue Atlas Cedar near to the house was enormous.

The whole site is in a conservation area and one tree in particular caused a headache with the garden walls. The tree was misshapen and close to the end of its life so an application was made to remove it. The structural engineer also worked to find some solutions, but by the time it came to building the walls permission had been granted to fell the tree.

The soil became an issue after the phenomenal excavation works for the pool and basement of the house. Everything within about 20m of these turned to 1m-deep slushy clay. In the end there was no choice but to wholesale remove the affected areas and import top soil, continually checking drainage.

It took some time to agree with the client the exact nature of the Corten steel panels in the walled garden so this batted to and fro for a while, but otherwise the client was enthused and stuck to the original concept of the design which was very rewarding,

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especially given the number of plants put in – over 5,000 perennials, grasses and shrubs and about 20 trees.

The project in all from concept to completion took nearly four years and through this time numbers of drawings were issued and revised once the builders were on site.

ABOUT ANTHEA HARRISON We are a boutique consultancy who provide a high level of personal service to our clients over a range of projects. Gardens vary from several acres to small urban town spaces but our attention to detail and creativity de ne us as a design company. We are registered designers with both BALI and the SGD and work mainly in Hertfordshire and Essex. www.antheaharrison.co.uk

REFERENCES Design Anthea Harrison

01279 647305 anthea@antheaharrison.co.uk www.antheaharrison.co.uk

1 Island in pool looking back towards pavilion

4 Pool before being filled

2 Planting around the rill that connects the main pool to the gravel filtration bed

5 Site beforehand

Pool Gartenart

3 View from slate water feature in dining area across the pool

6 Water feature in dining area before tiling 7 Gravel filtration bed before planting and filling with water

www.gartenart.co.uk Metalwork Anwick Forge

www.anwickforge.co.uk Paving St Albans Stone

www.stalbansstone.co.uk Porcelain for rill, steps and pool facing Alfresco Floors

alfrescofloors.com Slate water feature Dan Rodgers

www.sculpturalgardens.co.uk

BEFORE/DURING

Furniture Indian Ocean

www.indian-ocean.co.uk Landscaping and brickwork NGC Construction

www.nextgenerationconstruction.co.uk Plants Provender Nurseries

www.provendernurseries.co.uk Trees Barcham Trees

www.barcham.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PLASTIC FANTASTIC HULTONS LANDSCAPES

Adding wow-factor to a science and innovation campus in Cheshire

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ci-Tech Daresbury is a national science and innovation campus established in 2006. In December 2010 a new joint-venture company was created to spearhead the longer term development of the site. Partners in the company are developer Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and Halton Borough Council.

footpaths and public open spaces around the existing woodland. This consisted of tree management to the existing woodland, creation of formal footpaths, extensive ground remodelling using topsoil won from the site, with integrated hard landscaping to encourage use of the new seating and outdoor facilities which were surrounded by extensive soft landscaping works. This incorporated 75

The brief Hultons Landscapes was employed to undertake the construction of a new linear park within the existing infrastructure of the campus.

The contract was to build a park, formal

1 Communal area for business development

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2 Pathways leading to leisure activities 3 Main hub 4 Table tennis

PROJECT DETAILS Project value ÂŁ150k Build time Four months Size of project 23,000m2

5 Designed for outdoor dinning

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WINNER Soft Landscaping Construction (Non-Domestic) Cost under £300k

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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semi-mature trees (for which Hultons offered value engineering solutions to upscale the size of the trees to maximise the instant impact of the park), 14,000 containerised plants, 6,000m2 of turf and 700m of wildflower turf. A natural Capinus hedge and fencing works were also installed.

Design and build The project was constructed while the science park was fully operational and, with over 2,000 people coming and going each day, logistics and programming were key to construction.

Issues like single file traffic during roadside construction and car park closures were put in place along with diverting pedestrians away from the project due to footpath closures.

With the park being linear and paths not being very wide, the construction team persevered with the logistics of transporting over 90 trees into position, some of which were large 25-30cm trees. Most of the items had to be wheelbarrowed in as the gradient of the park did not allow for a pallet-type truck to attend.

During construction of the plaza area, the road remained live and the teams had to set up traffic management systems to keep themselves safe. Soils were imported by hand due to turning areas for cars and vans being confined to the minimum.

Any plant used if possible was with 1tn or 3tn sized machines. Other contractors working in the area completing works such as the concrete path, decking construction and lighting schemes were also a challenge.

ABOUT HULTONS LANDSCAPES Established in 1968 Hultons is a leading provider of fully integrated landscaping solutions from design concepts to landscape construction and grounds maintenance projects. Our purpose built premises in Lymm, Cheshire combined ith oďŹƒces in Wales and the Midlands allow us to serve a large area of the UK. www.hultonslandscapes.com

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REFERENCES Precedent images - for reference only

Landscaper Hultons Landscapes

0161 928 1274 www.hultonslandscapes.com Lawn Professional Lawns

www.professional-lawns.co.uk Trees Specimen Trees

www.specimentrees.net Fence Hales Sawmill

www.halessawmills.co.uk Plants Dingle Nurseries

BEFORE/DURING www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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www.dinglenurseries.co.uk

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PORTFOLIO

OUT OF AFRICA ROWAN LANDSCAPES Choosing the right plants and containers for an African-themed office based in London

S

onangol Ltd is an oil company based in central London. In 2014/15, workplace consultants company Peldon Rose Group Ltd was chosen to redesign Sonangol’s Project value Knightsbridge office and create £10k a new corporate London HQ, which would reflect its heritage Build time and future as a leading oil Office refurbishment: producer in Africa.

26 weeks Peldon Rose integrated three New office plants: Four to six weeks existing buildings on the Brompton Road into one. They Size of project refurbished each of the buildings 2,800m² and created a reception area that previously didn’t exist. They briefed Rowan Landscapes as to the new plants and containers that would be needed once the refurbishment was complete.

PROJECT DETAILS

The brief

The brief for the new office planting was for it to be ‘big and bold’ and to use architectural pots and plants for effect. Wherever possible the plants selected should have an African connection.

Planters

Large contemporary style planters were supplied by Livingreen Design Ltd. The Hex and Beehive vase ranges feature the handmade look, feel and texture of real ceramics and terracotta pots.

The plants included Zamioculcas zamifolia, Sansevieria and Dracaena deremensis ‘Lemon Lime’. All three choices have an African origin as was requested by the planting brief.

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PORTFOLIO

REFERENCES Interior landscaper Rowan Landscapes

106B Ashmore Rd, London W9 3DQ 020 8962 1692 www.rowanlandscapes.co.uk Plant containers Livingreen Design Ltd

www.livingreendesign.com Plants Arnott and Mason Horticulture Ltd

www.arnottandmason.london Designer Peldon Rose Group Ltd

www.peldonrose.com

ABOUT ROWAN LANDSCAPES

1 The front reception at Sonangol Ltd, Knightsbridge 2 Large Sansevieria plant in tall beehive vase 3 Linik planters featuring low planting Zamioculcas zamifolia 4 Hex ceramic style planter with large Zamioculcas zamifolia 5 African artwork with tall beehive planter 6 Zamioculcas zamifolia dressed with black polished stones

Rowan Landscapes is a small family run business that specialises in providing high quality horticultural services to schools, businesses and private clients throughout London. We provide our clients with a hi h level o personal service and oer a coordinated programme of interior and exterior landscaping.

www.rowanlandscapes.co.uk

WINNER Interior Landscape – Installation only

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18/01/2017 15:33

INSPIRE INSPIRE

GARDEN TRENDS FOR 2017 Anji Connell looks at the trends predicted for 2017, from planting for wellness and health to minimalist ‘tidy gardens’ and vertical planting

According to Garden Media Group’s annual Garden Trends Report 2017, ‘Grow 365’, gardeners will be mindful of health and wellness this year, growing food and plants indoors and outdoors without the use of pesticides and chemicals. As consumers, we are increasingly demanding ‘clean’ products that are ‘free’ from pesticides, antibiotics and preservatives.

Tidy gardens Tidy gardens are the new vogue. With good design and defined oundaries these decluttered spaces have a minimalist plant palette, coinciding with the general zeitgeist of downsizing and our migration from the suburbs to the city, and the smaller spaces that come with it. New varieties of dwarf plants and edibles take up less space with bountiful harvests. Growing plants in large containers instead of many small ones maximise space and looks fabulous.

Pesticide free gardens Garden Media Group reports that we will be using plants that attract birds and bats, installing shelters for them to combat pests from. A single bat can eat up to 1 1,000 mosquito-sized insects every hour.

Wellness Gardening indoors gives everyone access to growing fresh, healthy food. Herbs and edibles such as vitamin-packed micro-greens and medicinal plants can be grown on the windowsill, under lights or on the kitchen counter. Botanical cocktails remain very much on trend, plant and pick lemon verbena, thyme, and rosemary to make fresh, zingy and utterly delicious drinks.

Advances in hydroponic and aquaponic systems are fuelling our ability to grow food indoors, especially important with little or no outdoor space. IKEA is embracing micro-living and urban gardening with the Krydda range of indoor cultivators.

Mini gardens Smaller homes and higher numbers of renters who typically spend less on gardens, has led to a trend for indoor plants and miniature gardens, including modern terrariums (plants in glass bowls), window boxes and hanging plants.

Tillandsia, commonly known as air plants or Aeriums, are epiphyte so survive without soil, obtaining water and nutrients from the air and grown in a Tillandsia planter, a glass hanging globe with holes in it to increase air flow or

1 IKEA hydroponic gardening kit, Krydda Vaxe series 2 3 Purist monolithic kitchen island with revolving herb bed designed by Martin Steininger, Steininger Designers

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Armchair ordering It’s predicted that more plants and garden products will be ordered online and delivered to our doors, further feeding our culture of ‘Uberising’ and ‘Amazoning’!

4 Hanging gardens

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mounted on boards, walls or tiles. All are useful in combating indoor air pollution and have a feel-good factor.

Mini gardens can be created in the floor as long as they are watertight and irrigated with drainage.

‘Attentive gardening’, mindfulness in horticulture and ‘forest bathing’ or ‘spending time in the forest’, the Japanese trend developed in the Eighties, are the new yoga!

Gardening and simply being outdoors in nature reduce stress and increase overall wellbeing.

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Planning and design With more of us using our outdoor space as an extra room, the design of our gardens is becoming even more important. Garden planning book sales are up, as is the use of professional garden designers.

Garden kitchens continue to be attractive additions with ever more gadgets, from fire pits to pizza and tandoori ovens with integral planting in countertops and allocated planting drawers. Colour trends will take inspiration from cityscapes, island getaways and lush countryside scenes with the saturation bumped up, making them energetic yet luscious. Colour blocking, a fashion trend that originated from the artwork of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, is ‘in’. Gold-coloured foliage will be big this year, including varieties such as the 3 Japanese maple ‘Katsura’, ‘Rising Sun’ redbud, arborvitae ‘Goldy’, Heuchera ‘Caramel’ and goldentinged carex. Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2017, ‘Greenery’, is described as: “A refreshing and revitalising shade symbolic of new beginnings that evo es the first days of spring.” www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INSPIRE

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Furniture and fittings

Behance, a leading online platform to

record. Sustainable gardens and the

showcase and discover creative work, says

use of native plants to particular

cushions will remain our favourite way to bring

habitats will thrive in gardens that

personality to our outdoor spaces and 2017 will

mimic their wild conditions.

8

ADVANCES IN HYDROPONIC AND AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS ARE FUELLING OUR ABILITY TO GROW FOOD INDOORS, GIVING EVERYONE ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD

see more lively contrasting colours and small details. Abstract and geometric patterns will be the top choice followed by stripes, botanical graphics, ethnic/tribal patterns, animal prints, tropical graphics, and lastly solids. Pouffes and beanbags in patterned, solid and woven are must-haves for 2017. We will be welcoming more comfortable seating outside – no more hard wooden benches or metal chairs. Look out for unusual shapes, day beds and swinging seats.

Lighting

Lighting gardens has moved from practical to decorative through a growth in shapes and styles. Fairy lights seen in 2016 continue to hold

Vertical gardening Growing upwards is increasingly attractive as our gardens get smaller, or if we don’t have a garden at all. Rick McKeever’s USP Creation’s Wonderwall and Macpac’s letterbox plant packaging both won innovation awards at October’s Gro South.

Moss tiles make a unique living wall and are virtually maintenance free; they need no watering, fertiliser or direct sunlight relying on ambient humidity alone. Employ a moss graffiti artist to create a unique wall slogan or install a moss living ‘rug’.

their popularity, alongside quality solar powered lights and the use of colour changing lights to decorate areas.

Keeping it local

Many of us are buying locally sourced food and handmade products, and this is a trend we will

(Right) ‘The Big’ Bang’Anna Garforth, moss graffiti artist (Below) Moss grafitti, diyprojects.com ‘How to make moss graffiti’

AS RENTERS SPEND LESS ON GARDENS, A TREND FOR INDOOR PLANTS AND MINIATURE GARDENS IN GLASS BOWLS AND WINDOW BOXES HAS EMERGED

COLOUR TRENDS WILL TAKE INSPIRATION FROM ISLAND GETAWAYS AND LUSH COUNTRYSIDE SCENES

GOLD-COLOURED FOLIAGE WILL BE BIG THIS YEAR WITH VARIETIES SUCH AS THE JAPANESE MAPLE ‘KATSURA’, ‘RISING SUN’ REDBUD, ARBORVITAE ‘GOLDY’ AND HEUCHERA ‘CARAMEL’

see in gardens this year. ‘Hyperlocalism’ is not only using locally made products but also using

PANTONE’S COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2017, ‘GREENERY’ IS DESCRIBED AS: “A REFRESHING AND REVITALISING SHADE THAT EVOKES THE FIRST DAYS OF SPRING

plants native to the local area.

Weather roo ng

Dr Ross Cameron, senior lecturer in landscape management at the University of Sheffield, spoke last October at an HTA conference on gardening in a disruptive climate. He said: “Climate change affects gardening: we need to produce new plants that are resilient to a warmer climate and increased floods and drought.” The World Meteorological Organization reported 2016 was the driest on

4 Arborvitae ‘Goldy’ 5 Japanese maple ‘Katsura’ 6 Pantone Colour of the Year 2017, ‘Greenery’ 7 Swinging seats (Pinterest image)

POUFFES AND BEANBAGS IN PATTERNED, SOLID AND WOVEN ARE MUSTHAVES FOR 2017

8 DIY hanging moss planter

ABOUT ANJI CONNELL

IKEA’s Krydda home gardening cultivator

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

IKEA planters

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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www.anjiconnellinteriordesign.com

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© Charlotte Rowe Garden Design

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INSPIRE

WORK

Best project I’ve been lucky enough to work on so many great gardens built by the team at The Outdoor Room, so it’s hard to pinpoint just one. At a push, I think I’d choose Orchard Lisle, a courtyard at Guys and St Thomas. It was our first real commercial project – I was always anti, but Joe Perkins talked me round. The reason I love it so much is because every time I walk past, it’s packed. When I see people using public green spaces for relaxation and recreation, it gives me an enormous amount of pleasure and pride in the landscape industry as a whole.

Colleagues Everyone who works for me becomes part of The Outdoor Room ‘family’. We’ve got a great management team and the site staff never cease to amaze me with the work they produce. To me, everyone is equally valued.

Mentors I’ve never had a ‘professional’ business mentor. In fact I’m a bit suspicious of people who call themselves professional mentors – if they’re such experts why aren’t they doing it for themselves? I’ve learnt so much from various people as life goes on. I love teaching and helping others where I can, but I don’t do any of that Feng Shui or Kung Fu nonsense.

The most important advice I can give to anyone is to just be yourself! Hang on, does that make me a lifestyle guru?

Issues to address Personally, I haven’t been to church in months and I feel terrible about it. In business, I need to get back out on site more with my site staff. I miss them!

Best learning curve Doing my first project over £100k in 2005. I was terrified. It overran by two months and we lost £20k. We survived and the learning curve made us stronger for it. It taught me to never give up, take the hit and don’t shaft anyone, move onwards and upwards.

Highest point of your career Winning our first BALI Award followed by our first RHS Chelsea Gold medal.

Lowest point of your career Leaving full time teaching in 1995. I left with a very heavy heart.

What you hope to achieve in the next 12 months To see GoLandscape growing nationally, for Longview Design to double its turnover, and to win another RHS Chelsea Gold medal.

LIFE/STYLE David Dodd

The managing director of The Outdoor Room and co-founder of GoLandscape talks business, travel, family and more

INSPIRATION People So many people in this industry inspire me, but in particular, new students coming into landscaping.

Gardens US National Arboretum in Washington DC, Sheffield Park in Sussex and the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park.

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INSPIRE

PERSONAL Hobbies Crystal Palace home and away.

Palace fans are unique and show passion beyond any other club. To relax, I love walking, especially the South Downs.

Design tastes My tastes are very varied. I think to have one particular taste narrows the mind. I currently live in a Georgian house on a high street but we’re in the process of having an ultra modern German house designed and built in a woodland!

Most treasured possessions It sounds soppy, but my family. All four of my children are completely different, but they all make me laugh. I’ve been with Heidi since I was 18. I’m a nightmare to live with so she’s incredibly tolerant, and very funny.

Favoured dress style I have a very good relationship with my tailor; Gresham Blake in Brighton. He’s made me around 15 suits over the years, each one unique.

Food Look at the size of me! I love food! My favourite type would be Sri Lankan, by quite a long way. If you get a chance try Apollo Banana Leaf or Jaffna House in Tooting.

Drink I’m lucky to have a lot of friends in the wine trade so I get to drink a lot of fantastic (and very expensive) wine. I also love going wine buying in Burgundy with Nick Coslett from Palmstead. At heart though I’m a beer drinker. I find brewing fascinating and a real art. My favourite brewery is Dark Star and luckily it’s only five minutes from my office. As a rule, I don’t touch spirits.

Most fun you’ve ever had Playing ‘knock down Ginger’.

TRAVEL Places you would like to go The Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA. The Dole Cannery Maze in Hawaii (the world’s largest maze) and anywhere in the world my eldest son is going to be (he’s travelling and I miss him like mad).

How you like to travel I don’t like travelling full stop, so when I do, I just want it to be over with as quickly as possible. I do tend to go first class on trains and business flights as I just want a comfortable seat with a half decent cup of coffee.

Favourite continent Our planet is a beautiful place, but out of everywhere I’ve travelled, Europe still holds the most hidden gems.

How you like to stay when you’re on holiday I don’t have many holidays, but when I do I want a bit of luxury. It’s a reward for working hard. I want a good location with a comfortable room, a decent bar, restaurant and room service. I absolutely hate camping! I can’t understand why people want to crap in a bucket under the guise of ‘being closer to nature’. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Readyhedge.

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The Readyhedge range of instant hedging is unrivalled in the UK, giving designers and landscapers all the choice they need from over 25 varieties, available at varying heights in one-metre troughs or in our unique Readybags, ready-spaced and ready to plant.

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READYHEDGE

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MATTHEW WILSON Planting fruit and vegetables for a hotel grounds in North Yorkshire

LOW POLLEN JACKIE HERALD

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Jackie Herald and Shenagh Hume discuss low pollen flowers and grasses

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CROWDERS NURSERIES Pro Landscaper visits Crowders in Lincolnshire

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An in-depth look at the King’s Cross project and the topsoil specified for the job

NURTURE

DESIGNER PLANTS

65 PLUS...

NURTURE NEWS (P61) JAMIE BUTTERWORTH (P64) ANDY MCINDOE (P65) IAN DRUMMOND (P66)

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NURTURE

NURTURE NEWS RHS Chelsea’s most decorated designer to attend Hillier open days Last year, Sarah Eberle became the most decorated designer in the history of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show when she received a Gold medal with the Hillier in Spring garden she designed for Hillier Nursery and Garden Centres.

Sarah will be working with Hillier for the 2017 show, and to celebrate this partnership Hillier has announced that Sarah will be

attending its wholesaler trade days on 7 and 8 February.

The event will start at 9am at the Brentry Nursery Glasshouse with a welcome from Robert Hillier OBE, Hillier’s chairman. This will be followed by a tour of the Brentry site before moving to the Woodland’s Specimen Nursery for a second tour and a presentation from the head of research and development.

Glendale Horticulture appoints new managing director

Glendale Horticulture has announced that Laurence Scowen has joined the business in the role of managing director effective from January 2017.

Laurence has a varied background, initially in life sciences and agriculture, working with international companies including Schering Agrochemicals and Covance Inc. More recently he has operated for almost seven years in a similar managing director role for DLF Trifolium UK Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of one of the largest temperate grass breeding and marketing companies. He also held responsibility as regional manager for a team of field agronomists covering the south west for one of the leading UK agronomy companies. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Commenting on his appointment, Laurence stated: “I am delighted to be joining Glendale Horticulture at such an exciting time in the development of the business. One cannot fail to be excited by the breadth, depth and quality of the product range and I believe my relevant background, coupled with my experience in a number of similar internal projects, will prove invaluable as the business shapes itself for the future.” www.glendale-horticulture.co.uk

Chris Francis, wholesale and retail director of Hillier, commented: “Our open days are a great chance for us to meet with customers and for them to explore the nurseries.

We are delighted to be joined by Sarah and look forward to hearing her speak about her RHS Chelsea experiences. She might even reveal details about the 2017 design.”

The open days are invitation only; please contact 01794 368 733 or email sales@hillier.co.uk. www.hillier.co.uk

Nurseries encouraged into tree scheme The Woodland Trust is encouraging forest nurseries to register interest in a voluntary scheme launching this year which assures the provenance of native trees.

The charity’s scheme aims to reduce the reliance on imported planting stock and the risk of importing pests and diseases.

Eighteen nurseries have so far registered an interest in the Trust’s ‘UK Sourced and Grown Assurance Scheme’ (UKSG) which guarantees that those trees grown by participating nurseries marked with the UKSG badge are raised from seed sourced only from the UK and grown in the UK. Nurseries that choose to participate can still produce non-UKSG stock and it does not exclude them from seeking to use the label on their current qualifying stock. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

‘At Home with Plants’ by Ian Drummond and Kara O’Reilly out in April As houseplants become an increasingly important element of interior design, creative director of Indoor Garden Design, Ian Drummond, and interiors editor Kara O’Reilly have created ‘At Home with Plants’, a book which shows readers how to transform their interiors using plants.

The book, to be published in April, tells readers which plants will work best where and how to care for them, with essential advice from award-winning interior landscape designer Ian and Kara, interiors editor at luxury lifestyle magazine The Resident.

Including specially commissioned photography by Nick Pope, ‘At Home with Plants’ looks at the practicalities of growing houseplants, inspiration for each room, and an A-Z plant directory. www.indoorgardendesign.com

SEND US YOUR

NURTURE NEWS!

editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

01903 777 570

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NURTURE

Designer PLANTS Matthew Wilson talks through the fruit and vegetable planting for an awardwinning hotel grounds in North Yorkshire

Rudding Park is a former stately home and now a multi award-winning hotel just outside of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. I’ve had the good fortune to work with the owners and management team for the last nine years on a variety of interesting landscape projects.

The Kitchen Garden was completed in 2014 on a site just outside of the walled kitchen garden, which dates back around 200 years. The wall of the old garden forms the backdrop and provides an east facing aspect for growing space for wall-trained fruit such as Morello cherry.

The brief for the garden was to provide locally relevant heritage and unusual fruit and vegetables for the chef brigade in the hotel kitchens. Pleasing aesthetics were equally important as the garden would be open to 62

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visitors and play host to events.

To make sure the right fruit and vegetable plants were selected, we worked with kitchen garden expert Amy Lax. Amy and I had worked together when we were both at the RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

Fruit trees with local significance or proven ability to cope with the growing conditions of Harrogate were chosen, including apple, pear, quince and cherry. The majority of these plants came from RV Roger of Pickering; they’re not only expert fruit tree growers but also keepers of unusual heritage varieties specific to the north. Using specialist growers like RV Roger can really take the strain out of sourcing, but there was still a lot of work to do once the plants were in. The aim was to train these trees as cordons, espaliers and step-over forms, and while some came with

the initial pruning framework in place others needed a couple of years of formation pruning to get them right. The most notable aspect was how much the fruit trees grew – using smaller stock almost always results in better, faster establishment. Marshalls supplied Jerusalem artichoke, while globe artichoke and asparagus came from DT Brown.

Not everything went smoothly. Almost all the sea kale (Crambe maritima) failed – or at least we thought it failed – due to poor rootstock. But, remarkably, the following year a considerable amount of it re-emerged and is now growing strongly. In retrospect it was probably a consequence of cold, wet conditions at the time of planting. The garden team at Rudding Park grew a significant number of plants from seed, which was a huge help in making sure everything went in the www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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NURTURE

Companion plants like marigolds are grown with main crops

Rusted steel is used to make plant supports, such as the central pergola

ground at the optimum time and size, and in the right weather conditions.

Two and a half years on, the garden is a well-established and much loved part of the hotel grounds. Guests love it, and seem to really appreciate the fact that a fair amount of the food on their plate has been produced just a couple hundred metres away from the restaurant. The chef brigade has access to interesting varieties they would otherwise never have come across, and Rudding Park is now a regular exhibitor at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show.

ABOUT MATTHEW WILSON GARDENS Award-winning garden and landscape designer atthe

Wilson offers a ran e o services rom

design to consultancy. His show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016, ‘God’s Own ountry

arden or or shire

on the

People’s Choice Award.

www.matthewwilsongardens.com

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Raised beds, made from oak from the Rudding Park estate, encourage earlier crops

Plant list

• Cumin • Dill ‘Domino’ • Fennel (Florence) Finale • Jicama • Kale ‘Scarlet’ • Bull’s Blood ‘Olympia’ • Pea ‘Shiraz’ mangetout • Pea ‘Golden Sweet’ mangetout • Mizuna ‘Red Devil’ • Mustard ‘Green Frills’ • Mustard ‘Red Frills’ • Nasturtium ‘Black Velvet’ • Nasturtium ‘Empress of India’ • Oca NZ Heirloom • Allium cepa ‘Red Brunswick’ • Roscoff pink onion • Orach ‘Scarlet Emperor’ • Pak choi Yuushou • Pak choi Tatsoi • Papalo • Parsley ‘Lisette’ • Parsley ‘Laura’ • Golden cayenne pepper • Chili pepper ‘Purple Jalapeno’ • Pumpkin ‘Rouge vif d’etampes’ • Radish ‘Amethyst’ • Radish ‘Red Flesh’ • Radish ‘Japanese Minowase’ • Rocket ‘Victoria’ • Rocket ‘Serrata’ • Saltwort ‘Okahijiki’ • French sorrel • New Zealand spinach • Spinach ‘Perpetual’ • Spinach chard red • Spinach chard rosa • Spring onion ‘North Holland Blood Red’ • Spring onion ‘Rossa Lunga di Firenze’ • Squash ‘Musquee de Provence’ • Summer savoy • Tagetes ‘Lemon Gem’ Pro Landscaper / February 2017 63

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NURTURE

Jamie Butterworth spills the beans on his favourite gardens planned for this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show

A

s I write this article there are 132 days to go until press day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017. That may sound like a long time, but as we all know, in reality it’ll be gone in a flash.

I’m now once again starting to feel that cocktail of nerves, excitement and adrenaline that is all too familiar to anyone involved in the show. This elation is stronger than any drug, and I’m pretty sure would be diagnosed as an unhealthy addiction. The following weeks will bring with them a lack of sleep combined with lethal amounts of stress. But hey, that’s why we do this every year, right?

Having been growing these Chelsea babies since June, we can now finally reveal which amazing designers we’ll be working with at the show. Based on the dynamic and inspiring designers involved, I have a feeling we’re really in for a treat this year.

Below are my three personal favourite gardens to keep an eye out for this year.

Breaking Ground – Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam Chelsea favourites Andrew and Gavin return to the show after a year’s break. They will be designing a full-size Main Avenue garden for sponsors Wellington College.

The planting will be an inspiring mix of blues, indigo purples and creamy white umbels inspired by neuron and synapse connections.

SNEAK PREVIEW

Jamie Butterworth

RBC Garden designed by Charlotte Harris

The Seedlip Garden – Catherine MacDonald Returning to Chelsea once more, the ever brilliant Catherine sets out to create a 17th century apothecary garden for sponsors Seedlip, a dynamic non-alcoholic spirit company. The planting will be inspired by Seedlip’s botanicals and species used to

Andrew and Gavin’s clever planting combinations are always a highlight of the show for me.

The Royal Bank of Canada Garden – Charlotte Harris Plant genius and Chelsea legend Charlotte will this year be designing her first ever own Chelsea garden, for the Royal Bank of Canada.

The planting for this garden will be evoked by the forests, broad wetlands and exposed bed rock of Canada. This is by far the most technically challenging garden we’re growing for this year, once again testing our plant knowledge and broadening it to Canadian natives.

The Seedlip Garden by Catherine Macdonald

create its drinks. The colours for the planting will play off the copper pipework and water channels that are crucial to the distillery process; rusty oranges will very much lead the colour palette.

The starting gun has sounded, and now it’s a race to the finish line. Who will be the last man standing?

ABOUT JAMIE BUTTERWORTH Graduating from RHS Garden Wisley with a distinction in summer 2015, avid plantsman Jamie now works as show plant manager at Hortus Loci, growing the plants or major o er sho s such as Chelsea, Hampton Court and Tatton. Jamie is a YoungHort associate director and RHS Young Ambassador, promoting horticulture to young people across the UK. Jamie is also a gardening broadcaster for BBC Radio London.

The Breaking Ground garden designed by Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam

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Email: Jamie.butterworth@hortusloci.co.uk www.hortusloci.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/01/2017 12:17

NURTURE

Andy McIndoe takes on a divisive topic: plants with dark foliage

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ark foliage is essential to many designers and shunned by others.

Some consider that it adds depth and drama; others think it leaves black holes in a planting scheme. Some find dark leaves exciting, others find them dull.

It may be a matter of taste, but often it’s more to do with how dark leaved plants are used. Out of the context of a planting scheme many find dark flowers and plants enticing; so-called black varieties of tulip, sweet pea, calla and rose are enduringly popular. Black aeoniums, phormiums and heucheras remain among the most photographed and sought after impulse plants.

But these are individual subjects – how about dark foliage in a planting scheme?

Purple, plum or wine coloured foliage is a great mixer, it works with any other colour. It acts as a contrast to other flower and foliage shades and has a powerful effect on other colours alongside it. Lighter colours seem lighter and

Berberis ‘Rose Glow’

brighter, deep shades glow and hot colours get hotter. However, it only works in open sunny situations. Purple foliage loses colour and takes on a brown, muddy hue in shade as green starts to dominate.

Dark foliage undoubtedly adds depth and weight to a planting scheme. What some regard as ‘black holes’ in the planting could be regarded as space, giving neighbouring plants more definition, but that comes down to the planting design. Just like yellow leaves and variegated foliage isolated specimens rarely work, they need balancing through the planting picture to make it successful. If you add purple foliage on one side, then add more on the other and through the picture – never one dark blob. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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DARK STAR

bring another dimension in late summer. Good autumn foliage colour is another benefit. They can be rather lax and unruly in habit, but hard pruning in winter from an early age helps to promote vigorous, more upright shoots.

Andy McIndoe

Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’

Purple foliage shrubs are the most versatile and useful subjects in most planting schemes, especially those of medium size and vigour.

Although some may consider Berberis an amenity subject, there is no denying its durability.

The larger deciduous varieties such as Berberis x ottawensis ‘Purpurea’ are dramatic background shrubs in situations where they can be allowed to grow freely; however, they suffer badly with mildew. There are better alternatives: the smaller growing Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Rose Glow’ or ‘Harlequin’ (virtually identical) are useful, used either individually or in small, well-spaced groups in larger schemes. They have a long season of interest, are drought tolerant and wildlife friendly.

Purple-leaved smoke bushes, such as Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’, are useful for their different leaf form and flower plumes that

The almost black-leaved Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’ is easier to manage and one of the most useful foliage shrubs. Planted where it can be allowed to grow as a large, loose background shrub it has an upright but graceful habit. It’s best used as individual plants as too much of its dark foliage can appear lifeless.

There are a number of purple leaved elders and recent years have seen further introductions.

Sambucus ‘Black Lace’ at Rosemoor

In reality, the cut-leaved Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ is the only one that is very different. It’s a stunning foliage subject, but it’s definitely at its best on alkaline soils. On light, sandy acidic soils it sulks. Young plants must be pruned hard in winter to promote vigorous shoots.

ABOUT ANDY MCINDOE

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’

Andy McIndoe is a practical horticulturist with more than 30 years’ experience in ornamental horticulture.

He has designed and advised on gardens of all sizes and has been responsible for 25 Gold medal winning exhibits at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Twitter: @AndyMcIndoe

www.andymcindoe.com

Pro Landscaper / February 2017 65

18/01/2017 12:11

NURTURE

F

ebruary can be a grim month – it’s difficult to talk around this. All the best bits of winter are behind us, the enthusiasm and sense of purpose with which we greeted the New Year is no longer shiny and new, the daylight hours continue to feel negligible, and spring, well, we’ve got a way to go before we can surface, blinking into the daylight. But before we all reach for the Xanax, let’s have a look at a couple of plants which are so unshakeably stoic, so relentlessly cheerful, so visually upbeat, that it’s impossible for some of that positive energy not to lighten the mood of everyone in their vicinity.

Just consider the foliage of the Dracaena Marginata, spouting upwards and outwards like a beautiful green firework, lighting the way to spring, and you’ll start to feel better. The slender leaves offer visual interest with colour variegation lining the edges in dark red, green or warm mustard. New foliage is produced when the trunk grows stems, so you have to be careful to keep them pruned otherwise this plant’s natural optimism will have it sprouting all over the place.

Fortunately, it’s not difficult to keep pace with it and this is one of the many benefits of Dracaena being a slow grower – it will take around ten years to reach 6ft in height. It’s certainly worth the 66

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THE F WORD

Ian Drummond

wait because it looks lush and full from quite a young age, and this happy state continues regardless of the attention it receives – I’ve known one to survive for half a year with nothing, not that I would recommend that sort of neglect.

Feed it every month in the growing season and it will reward you.

Like the Yucca tree, the leaves will periodically die away at the bottom of the plant, but this is nothing to worry about – it’s just natural shedding and the tidiest way to deal with this is

CONSIDER THE FOLIAGE OF THE DRACAENA MARGINATA, SPOUTING UPWARDS AND OUTWARDS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL GREEN FIREWORK, LIGHTING THE WAY TO SPRING to remove them. A word of caution here: watch out for domestic or office pets who might like to have a chew on the leaves. It’s highly toxic to both cats and dogs, and poisoning fatalities aren’t going to lift anyone’s February mood.

Another Dracaena of note is the fancifully named Song of India plant (Dracaena Reflexa), which has a vibrant yellowedged variegation on its glossily arching leaves and grows up to 3ft tall indoors. It’s lively and fresh looking and as such, a perfect antidote to what’s going on outside.

Look after this one by positioning it with the best chance of bright light and humidity, with soil kept barely moist – the worst case scenario would be water-logged soil and draughty, low temperatures, so bear this in mind. Prune in the same way as the Marginata by taking away superfluous sprouting and removing the lower leaves as they fade. Give the healthy leaves an occasional wipe to maintain the gloss, and you’ve got the perfect horticultural antidote to the February gloom.

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

www.indoorgardendesign.com

Images ©thejoyofplants.co.uk

Ian Drummond talks plants that can lift that dreary February mood

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/01/2017 14:05

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19/01/2017 08:38

NURTURE

LOW POLLEN FLOWERS AND GRASSES

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Jackie Herald (pictured with Shenagh Hume) informs on the misconceptions about what causes our allergies, and offers alternatives for high pollen flowers and grasses

e’re talking low pollen, not no pollen. The reason? To reduce the super-fine airborne pollen that contributes to air pollution, and which is a trigger for hay fever and asthma.

If you ask the average punter whether trees, grasses or flowers are the main triggers for hay fever, the most common response is ‘flowers’.

In fact, while several species of trees and shrubs emit allergenic pollens, in the UK 85% of people with hay fever are allergic to grass pollen.

Also avoid using highly scented plants. This requires being very specific about your choice of bloom, down to the cultivar. For example, generally flowers in the rose family emit relatively low amounts of pollen, but the degree of perfume varies enormously. Lovers of scented plants might ask, what’s the point of a garden without perfume? But if you know someone with asthma triggered by perfume, you have your answer.

In our presentation ‘Unintended Consequences’ at Palmstead’s 2016 soft landscaping workshop, Shenagh Hume and I stated that ‘right plant right place’ may be an acceptable approach for the horticultural good of the plant, but does not adequately take people into account. The context and purpose of landscape and planting design are crucial.

Comparisons between urban and rural settings,

Images © Shenagh Hume

WHILE SEVERAL SPECIES OF TREES AND SHRUBS EMIT ALLERGENIC POLLENS, IN THE UK 85% OF PEOPLE WITH HAY FEVER ARE ALLERGIC TO GRASS POLLEN In principle, for a healthy planet the more herbaceous flowers and flowering trees and shrubs, the better. The key is in the shape of the flower.

Aim for forms in which the pollen is hidden inside, and to which beneficial insects have adapted to probe. This includes bell, funnel, labiate and tubular shapes, and double rather than single blooms. The snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) has often been cited as the perfect low allergy plant.

The antithesis, for example, is Callistemon on whose bottle brush tips the pollen is exposed. It’s a plant that is spectacular to get up close to, and so it tends to be sited next to paths where the pollen is easily brushed off onto clothing and skin – the allergic reaction for some kicks in hours later, by which time the source of the problem has been forgotten and a different association is often suggested. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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and between public and private space highlight what’s at stake: the forces of nature on one hand, and on the other social responsibility to generate sustainable green spaces for the enjoyment and health of all.

For example, an airy country garden offers more room and choice of where to walk and sit, and plenty of soft surfaces to absorb the pollen; this might mean the garden designer can be more relaxed in the choice and density of planting. By contrast an enclosed, largely paved pocket park in an inner city may trap copious but invisible amounts of allergenic pollen with the dust and other particulates of urban life that bounce from one hard surface to the next. In the latter circumstance, keeping pollen and perfume levels low is particularly critical to respiratory health.

There, it’s advisable to dot lavender rather than mass plant a border. Watch out for air conditioning units which suck particulates into a

TOP TIPS • • •

• • • •

Choose flower shapes where pollen is more enclosed Prioritise insect pollinated flowers to sustain bees and people Generally avoid ornamental grasses; consider grass-like, low pollen herbaceous perennials Keep lawns regularly clipped Double flowers are lower pollen than single There is a big choice of low pollen flowering climbers, including Clematis Avoid highly scented blooms, especially in enclosed spaces

building; pollen is exceedingly fine and readily passes into the interior airflow.

Plant maintenance is always integral to the initial design. For low pollen levels, lawns must be mown regularly, and ornamental grasses should be cut back before their flowering season to avoid pollen. For every high pollen flower or grass there are several alternatives for yearround colour and floral interest; for instance, in designing a mixed border, you could consider the evergreen grass-like Libertia grandiflora in place of an ornamental Miscanthus or Molinia.

The bottom line is that planting for healthier landscapes takes science and statistics into account as much as colour, form and texture.

With thanks to Shenagh Hume, garden allergy advisor for Allergy UK, for her allergy and asthma advice.

1 Clematis and Trachelospermum jasminoides 2 Echinops with bees 3 Passiflora caerulea 4 ‘Elodie’, perfume and pollen free lily

ABOUT JACKIE HERALD Jackie Herald is an award-winning designer of school gardens, winning the SGD’s Community Spaces Award in 2013 and 2014. Contact Herald and Hume for design and consultation on low pollen planting: jackieherald@aol.com and gardendesignadviser@gmail.com

Pro Landscaper / February 2017 69

18/01/2017 12:51

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Green-tree is a trading style of Green-tech Ltd

18/01/2017 14:55

NURTURE

SITE VISIT

CROWDERS NURSERIES Following the announcement of Crowders Nurseries being awarded the HS2 contract, Pro Landscaper spoke to commercial manager Tom Owen about the nursery, the tender bid for the contract, and what it will mean for Crowders over the next ten years Lincolnshire-based Crowders Nurseries has been awarded the largest contract ever to be handed out by the government to the horticultural sector.

The family-run nursery will grow 7m trees and shrubs to be planted alongside High Speed 2 (HS2), the new rail link between London and Birmingham.

The ten-year contract is also the largest the nursery has ever undertaken. Founded nearly 220 years ago, Crowders Nurseries has been in the family for seven generations, and is now run

by Robert Crowder. The company has been involved in a number of prestigious projects including the development of Elephant & Castle, numerous phases of the Royal Arsenal Riverside development supplying almost 25k plants, and a £180k contract for planting as part of a large infrastructure programme for Mersey Gateway, a new six lane toll bridge over the Mersey that is set to be completed this year.

The nursery supplies across the UK using FORS accredited subcontracted haulers.

Crowders operates across three sites, with the head office managing dispatch alongside 30ha of container production, another adjacent site of 100ha of tree production fields, and a third 50ha site in Woodhall Spa for forestry production.

Tom Owen, commercial manager at Crowders, tells us: “The majority of our www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Crowders Nursery visit.indd 71

customers are landscape contractors based all over the UK, but we also work closely with garden designers and architects on a regular basis. Our customers expect a fast and efficient service, which often means sourcing items to complete projects.”

Clearly, this is a system that works, as Crowder’s order book has seen a 100% increase on this time last year, excluding the HS2 contract, which Tom suspects has a lot to do with client retention; 10 to 20 customers make up around 80% of the company’s business.

The HS2 contract itself was awarded to Crowders after a tenacious tendering process which involved completing an ITT, of which only 40% was based on the pricing of the contract.

from the procurement of seeds, the regional zone or provenance, to how many seeds have germinated,” Tom explains.

“Part of the tendering process included that once the trees are planted, they will each have a physical tag with a QR code that anyone will be able to scan to find out what type of tree it is and where it has come from.”

CROWDERS SCORED A RARE 98.5 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 100 FOR ITS ITT, MAKING IT THE CLEAR CANDIDATE FOR THIS SUBSTANTIAL CONTRACT

The remaining 60% was providing information on the nursery’s ability to complete the project to the strict requirements. Crowders scored a rare 98.5 out of a possible 100 for its ITT, making it the clear winner for this substantial contract.

Part of the tender process included the need to show a workable database for information to be available at all times to the growers and those managing HS2. “We’ve carried out sessions showing them how the TSD WinTree database works, showing the visualisation and traceability,

Provenance is key, Tom explains: “The total supply for HS2 will be in the region of 7m trees.

Part of the remit is to cover the environmental impact of global warming to mitigate the issue, so we’ll be using tree seed from areas that we believe will handle future temperature changes.”

Crowders has already been issued the first growing instruction for HS2, with planting expected to begin later this year. We look forward to following the nursery’s progress.

CONTACT Lincoln Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 5LZ Email: enquiries@crowders.co.uk Tel: 01507 525 000 Twitter: @CrowdersNursery

www.crowdersnurseries.co.uk

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NURTURE

TOPSOIL FIT FOR A KING Pro Landscaper takes an in-depth look into the project that won Willerby Landscapes the BALI Grand Award 2016, exploring the topsoil and subsoil specified by Tim O’Hare Associates in the prestigious regeneration of King’s Cross

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water and nutrient retention, whilst at the same time he regeneration of the King’s Cross area providing the necessary structural loading for the is a tremendous transformative project, paving. The sustainability of the soil profile was a factor using underutilised industrial land to that had to be considered when selecting topsoil for create stylish social environments and lawn areas. Most sand rootzones usually require regular open spaces. Willerby Landscapes’ involvement as applications of fertiliser to maintain nutrient levels. To contractor led to its being awarded BALI’s Grand combat this obstacle, the Award in 2016. distinctive blend prescribed for the The soil strategy for the project included a high proportion project was designed and of nutrients in an organic, specified by Tim O’Hare slow-release form, which are Associates. A number of soil naturally released over the course types were used to support the of several years. varied demands of the When going through the landscape scheme. Over Client King’s Cross Central construction element of the 10,000m3 of topsoil was used Ltd Partnership project, Willerby Landscapes had in which over 440 different to take into account the species of plants and trees are Contractor requirements of the client. The first planted. Three types of Willerby Landscapes was ensuring that construction manufactured topsoil were used had minimal environmental impact to cater for the needs of tree, Soil consultant in areas such as air and noise shrub and herbaceous planting, Tim O’Hare Associates pollution. Increasing biodiversity high-use lawn areas, and trees Supplier upon completion of the project planted in hard landscape areas.

Freeland Horticulture also had to be considered, which As the planting list contained and Tarmac Topsport was achieved through working species that had varied closely with the London Wildlife demands from the soil, the main Trust. Carefully selected planting topsoil possessed specially for the gardens in King’s Cross was the first step selected properties in fertility, pH, lime status and towards this, providing a safe haven for wildlife. drainage to satisfy the full planting palette.

The subsoil selected by Tim O’Hare Associates was An urban tree sand was selected to surround trees chosen for its compaction resistance and waterlogging set in hard paving – this offers high fertility and good

PROJECT DETAILS

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NURTURE

prevention, with pure sand being used for lawn areas and sand-based soils mixed with silt and clay for tree and shrub areas. This was done to ensure the optimum balance of water retention for uptake by different plants and to reduce their reliance on irrigation. One of the subsoil’s main functions is to attenuate rain water and act as a ‘reservoir’ for the plants to draw water from. Surplus water is able to drain out through a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS).

A prominent challenge that presented itself was that the soils needed to withstand immediate high usage levels, anticipated upon completion of the project. A land drainage scheme was incorporated into the design for Lewis Cubitt Park, the principal green space in the project to ensure a dry surface and healthy turf throughout the year. Given the number of visitors and the anticipated high ‘wear and tear’ placed upon the lawns, a detailed maintenance programme was also developed by Tim O’Hare Associates. This included decompaction and aeration treatments, scarification, top dressing and overseeding to make sure that the lawn areas look pristine year round.

Soil contamination also had to be considered at the start of the project, as the existing site soils had physical contaminants such as glass and other chemical residues. This was combated, in coordination with contaminated land consultants, by agreeing the depth of clean subsoil and topsoil in order to prevent the ground below from affecting the performance of the turf and plants above it.

The scope of this regeneration combined with its high profile location and huge popularity – with over 33,000 daily visitors – make it a truly impressive achievement and a well-deserved winner of BALI’s most prestigious accolade.

1 Ground modelling using site clay 2 Imported subsoil and lawn topsoil being spread 3 New turf already rooting 4 Semi-mature London Planes with drainage 5 Soiling works at Lewis Cubitt Park 6 New trees and turf for a new public park 7 Ornamental planting at Pancras Square 8 Trees in hard landscape 9 Completed tree pit with up-lighters 10 Lewis Cubitt Park with pond under construction 11 Grass mounds at Gas Holder 8 www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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NURTURE

Topsoil

The Woodhorn Group (Earth Cycle) BS3882 Topsoil Price: from £21 per tonne exc. works Best use: Landscaping, building sites, infrastructure, sports fields Screening size: 10mm Delivery locations: Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and London WWW.EARTHCYCLE.CO.UK

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Hort Loam Green-tree Roof Garden substrate – intensive, 1.7m3 Bags Price: from £95 per m3 delivered Best use: Green roof construction projects and containerised planting Screening size: 0/8mm Delivery locations: Nationwide WWW.GREEN-TREE.CO.UK

Price: POA Best use: Premier planting soil for shrub beds, vegetable planting projects, retained planters and rootball tree planting Screening size: 20mm Delivery locations: Nationwide WWW.BSTOPSOIL.COM

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/01/2017 09:15

NURTURE

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Flowers Corncockle, meadow buttercup, cornflower, corn marigold, white campion, corn chamomile, field poppy, scentless chamomile, forget-me-not, field pansy Price per m2 54p Best use Provides a first year annual display for public gardens due to bright colours

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Flowers 28 different species including corncockle, poppy, selfheal, cowslip and more Price per m2 57p Best use Where impact is required in the first year as well as a long lasting meadow

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91 19/01/2017 09:49

EDUCATE

STEP TO IT Steps are an essential element in gardens with changing levels. But what about flat gardens?

Sean Butler explains the value an extra dimension can add Steps create a feeling of change, dimension, scale and pace. They transform the dynamics of a garden. Flat gardens are fine as one dimension, but you need a great planting plan from your designer to add changes in level, scale, texture and colour.

Can steps in a garden add value? Designing and building gardens is all about delivering a

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concept that your clients will embrace because it looks remarkably different from their current garden.

If you can do this, the value a client perceives is greatly enhanced and they are more likely to proceed with the project.

Steps should be constructed from a good quality paving like sandstone, limestone or granite. The tread can be bullnosed on site if you have the right tools and skillset within your team, or you could ask one of the many stone suppliers that offer this service such as CED or London Stone.

Wooden treads are a hazard so avoid using reclaimed railway sleepers or tanalised soft wood timber. Whilst they’re alright when dry, they’re extremely slippery when wet.

When considering steps to change the dynamics of a garden, you should also consider future users of the space; if possible, include gentle slopes for less able people to enjoy the garden.

Steps can be softened with planting or lighting. Clipped Buxus planted to the left and right of stairs softens the edges and doubles up as a retaining wall. Buxus can also be placed in between the treads for a real design statement.

The size of the steps will dictate pace.

Changing the widths can either slow down or speed up the way you want people to use the garden. Wide steps create a slow pace, allowing the user to fully embrace their surroundings and making them feel relaxed. Narrow steps mean a faster pace. The enclosing of a space makes people feel uncomfortable, claustrophobic and,

STEPS CREATE A FEELING OF CHANGE, DIMENSION, SCALE AND PACE unconsciously, people rush through it. Just think about steps you use daily: the London underground, escalators in shops, your stairs at home. How do they make you feel? Do you rush up and down them or amble along restfully? I bet most of the time you use them at a quick pace.

Have you ever been somewhere grand that has very wide steps leading to or from a garden or building? An example of this is the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square – the sense of real space around you puts you at ease and allows you to enjoy your journey, a key element of any design.

Whether essential or aspirational, steps may just be the de rigueur for gardens in 2017.

ABOUT SEAN BUTLER Sean Butler is a landscape designer and director of Cube 1994. With a background in civil engineering, Sean has an in-depth understanding of the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built landscape. www.cube1994.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/01/2017 12:45

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17/01/2017 09:05

EDUCATE

Robert Webber continues his series on lighting by explaining how to achieve the ‘floating’ effect for a subtle, classy touch to a garden scheme The beauty for us at this time of year is that it’s easy for clients to see immediate effects we create in their gardens.

The colour of the night sky can have a dramatic effect on the seen light within a garden.

When it’s overcast, the light source below can be fully exploited for its purpose, but you need to consider that as soon as the heavens clear, nature’s chosen nocturnal light appears: the moon. This floods the garden with natural light from above, which whilst beautiful, can have a detrimental effect on the subtleties of carefully placed lighting. In normal ‘modus operandi’ you don’t really consider light from the moon.

The main workhorse of any light is the actual lamp. This is often the part that’s not given careful thought to. Again, the light fitting is just a canister for the lamp – it’s like specifying the finest crystal wine glass without giving any thought to the wine inside. Specifying the correct lamp is a continually

RATHER THAN USE THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE A JUNCTURE OR DIFFERENCE IN LEVELS, YOU ACTUALLY POSITION THE LIGHT SO THE JUNCTURE ISN’T VISIBLE

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PAINTING WITH LIGHT

changing art form. I’m often asked what lamp is best for which situation; it’s difficult to give a definitive answer, as lighting is a theoretical and subjective science. One person’s ‘too bright’ is another’s ‘not bright enough’.

I spend hours each week researching and testing lamps, fittings, switching systems etc. so that we can offer the best solution for our clients with complete confidence. It’s an added benefit of using a specialist installer – most general electricians would purchase lamps through a wholesaler. Most don’t have the range needed to create the effects required within a garden.

So, with all of that in mind, let’s explore another simple lighting effect: floating.

The floating effect is often neglected in the garden but is used frequently inside the home.

The idea is to use light in a slightly different way; rather than use the light to illuminate a juncture or difference in levels, you actually position the light so the juncture isn’t visible. Thus your eyes can’t see where the two levels meet, so it appears as if it’s floating on the light source. The classic place to use this is under a deck, a spectacular effect when done right.

The principles are fairly simple. The light source has to be continuous, with the same amount of light output (lumens) along its length, the same linear distance between the two objects along the length, and a hidden recess to hide the light source itself.

We used this effect for Philip Nash Garden Design in a suburban London garden. Phil wanted to make the three stepping stones across a water feature appear as if they were floating. The steps were constructed so that the finished height was about 10mm above the water level. With a depth of water at 120mm by hiding the supports of the stones and illuminating the gap underneath, you trick the mind to believe the stone is floating. This effect works great, but it’s imperative that you don’t then over-light from above.

I used the image pictured here from John Cullen Lighting in my December 2016 article to illustrate lighting effects. We did not credit the image to its rightful owner. I would like to apologise and give credit where it’s due.

ABOUT ROBERT WEBBER Robert Webber is the founder of Scenic Lighting, a specialist exterior lighting company based in Berkshire.

He designs and installs garden lighting throughout the UK and internationally. Robert can be contacted on rob@ sceniclighting.com or via his mobile on 07766 051 000.

www.sceniclighting.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/01/2017 12:39

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17/01/2017 13:25

EDUCATE

WHAT I’M READING Richard Wanless, Twigs Landscape Design

Title Garden Design (2nd Edition) Author Sylvia Crowe Publisher Packard Publishing Ltd

CROWE HAS A PRACTICAL, COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO SOLVING DESIGN PROBLEMS AND DESPITE ITS AGE THE BOOK IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY Dame Sylvia Crowe was one of this country’s most eminent landscape architects. Regarded by many as the ‘mother of garden design’, her comprehension of the landscape was indisputable. This is evident throughout her book Garden Design, which is divided into four parts – history, principles of design, materials of design and specialised gardens – and gives a broad introduction to an immensely wide subject. Despite its naïve line drawings and black and white photos, it’s an inspiring book that encourages you to reconsider your perception of landscape.

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SYLVIA CROWE Crowe was a very talented and much sought after landscape architect, designing diverse landscapes such as those around power stations and university campuses and as the Forestry Commission’s first landscape consultant, for a change that resulted in its woods becoming aesthetically pleasing as well as productive.

She wrote a series of books confronting the challenges of new landscape issues, and her textbooks on garden design are considered classics.

DESIGN INSPIRATION Crowe has a practical, common sense approach to solving design problems and despite its age the book is still relevant today.

I recently referred back to it whilst planning a shelter belt on the Sussex Downs. There’s an excellent chapter on the use of plant material and sage advice regarding tree groupings.

The chapter on the art and science of reflecting water in the UK climate has influenced the design for an upcoming contemporary water feature of mine, as have her fierce words regarding ‘sturdy shaped buttresses’ being ‘far more expressive than emaciated piers’ for a walled garden.

I particularly enjoyed the chapters regarding the principles of design at the Mughal garden in Kashmir, the Villa Lante in Italy and Vaux-leVicomte in France,

RICHARD

WANLES S

notably the influences that were subsequently adopted into the English landscape and that are still in use in contemporary design today.

However, it is the subject of ground contouring, a recurrent theme throughout the book, that I enjoy the most. Shaping the ground is the basis of most of the great gardens of the world – the featured gardens are discussed in detail and land form is tackled again in its own stand-alone chapter.

Whether you’re into contemporary gardens, large expansive rural estates or something in between this book is a terrific resource and offers a practical insight for both designer and contractor.

ABOUT THE BOOK English landscape architect Dame Sylvia Crowe DBE (1901-1997) was once president of the Landscape Institute which was then known as the Institute of Landscape Architects. Her influential book Garden Design, first published in 1958, takes the reader through the history of garden design, exploring the principles used in famous gardens around the world and how these can be applied to the modern landscape.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/01/2017 12:57

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18/01/2017 14:59

PEOPLE

LOOK OUT FOR...

KIRSTY WILSON Pro Landscaper spoke to new associate director of YoungHort, 25-year-old Kirsty Wilson, about her goals for the future and her role as glasshouses supervisor at St Andrews Botanic Garden, Scotland

What first encouraged you to pursue a career in horticulture?

I was always an outdoor girl and fascinated by nature – I enjoyed designing miniature gardens in trays. As a teenager I started to grow and propagate plants.

What was your route into the industry?

I’m currently working as the glasshouses supervisor at St Andrews Botanic Garden in Scotland. I have a degree in Horticulture with Plantsmanship from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and have worked at both Highgrove Gardens in the UK and Longwood Gardens in the USA since graduating.

How did your work experience at Highgrove and Longwood Gardens help to develop your skills?

Straight after graduating, I gained skills in the organic production of fruit, vegetable and cut flowers at Highgrove. After this, I worked as an international trainee in America’s top public garden, Longwood Gardens, gaining an international perspective on design and display in ornamental and production horticulture, integrated pest management and marketing.

Working with 200 other skilled horticulturists was truly inspirational and I visited many of the top

gardens on the east coast of the US. I would recommend it, the experience was great for networking too.

EMPLOYERS NEED TO PAY BETTER SALARIES AND VALUE A PROFESSION THAT MIGHT SOLVE THE WORLD’S FOOD PROBLEMS AND DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE What does your current role involve?

I manage and curate an extensive collection of plants in 13 glasshouses ranging from desert, temperate and tropical to display areas. I’m bringing design skills from Longwood Gardens to a traditional botanical collection.

How did you become involved with YoungHort as an associate director?

I’ve always felt passionate about encouraging young people into a career in horticulture. I became a YoungHort Ambassador first and met with Jack Shilley, founder of the initiative, when he visited Longwood. When I returned to the UK I took up the new role of associate director when Jamie Butterworth stepped down. The team at YoungHort has been instrumental in

The team at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, USA www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Look Out For.indd 85

raising awareness and I would like to feel that I can now promote that further in Scotland.

What are your main goals within this role over the upcoming months?

YoungHort is appointing five new ambassadors and planning a conference for next year. I recently gave a presentation to launch the RHS Green Plan It challenge at Glasgow Botanics and will be giving a presentation at a Grow Careers event at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in February.

How do you think we can encourage young people into a career in horticulture?

Firstly we need to raise awareness using social media and continue the good work started by the RHS with schools, career advisers and parents.

Employers need to pay better salaries and value a profession that might solve the world’s food problems and deal with climate change. Too many young people live urban lives divorced from the natural world, but I have been encouraged in seeing them embrace the Planet Earth II series – David Attenborough is one of my heroes.

Twitter: @meadowmania Blog: www.getplanting.wordpress.com Pro Landscaper / February 2017 85

18/01/2017 12:32

EDUCATE

Attila SKD EXX Drive New for 2017, Etesia UK will be launching the Attila SKD EXX Drive, developed by Etesia SAS’s partners, FeBroLift. The EXX Drive is the latest technology in remote operated mowing, controlled via an iPad application and is being made available in February 2017. One reason for the launch of this technology is to provide additional safety when mowing on banks or steep inclines, as the operator is able to dismount and switch to remote use of the mower while retaining its full ride-on capabilities. The remote also includes a power cut-off to the mower should the throttle be released.

The SKD EXX Drive is highly versatile in the way it can switch between mower and brushcutter settings for rough management. The remote operation of the mower comes in the form of an iPad, which comes as standard with the SKD EXX Drive, with an app preinstalled to control the mower in both direction and speed as well as adjust the cutting height and monitor the usage of the mower.

For additional incline capabilities, the standard model can be fitted with a duel wheel kit on the rear of the mower to allow access to steeper banks and inclines.

The mower itself retains the standard qualities of an SKD Etesia mower, such as an 85cm cutting width along with steel reinforcement, specifically designed ensure it can withstand difficult mowing conditions over a long period of time.

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Evotrak Remote Mower Up to 50° slope capability • 30hp engine • Tracked remote tool carrier • 125cm flail head suitable for amenity grass and scrub cutting • 810kg weight Price: from £39,000

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/01/2017 09:30

KIT

Technical specification

• Dimensions: L201 x W97 x H99cm • Weight: 300kg

EXPERT VIEW: HOW SAFE ARE REMOTE MOWERS AND HOW HAS THEIR SAFETY IMPROVED?

Motor specification • Two cylinders • 18HP • Unleaded fuel 95/98 • Fuel tank capacity: 10L

The biggest factor when it comes to the safety of remote mowers is the operator.

A prominent way of improve the safety of these machines is to ensure that thorough training is implemented – a high degree of skill and practice is

Remote specification • Range: 140m Wheel transmission specification • Transmission: Hydrostatic • Wheel drive: Two • Forward speed: 10km/h • Reverse speed: 7km/h • Turning radius: 1m

• Working angle: 30% when operated manually • PTO: No

needed to use them effectively. Regular breaks must also be given every hour in order for operators

ROB GOATER MACHINERY MANAGER, JOHN O’CONNER

to retain concentration levels.

Another effective way to improve safe operation of these mowers is to pair a supervisor with the operator, which provides multiple perspectives.

Power cut-off switches have become a staple in

modern remote mowers, with these switches now being implemented into both the controllers and the machines themselves. This means that the power can be cut off directly at the machine should there be a connection error between the remote and the mower.

The remote seems to me to be the main safety issue with the mowers

Mower specification

• Output (theoretical): 8,500m²/h • Number of blades: One • Cutting width: 85cm

as it’s more susceptible to issues, whether that be damage suffered from being dropped or power running out. This is being corrected through the use of hard wearing materials in the construction of the remotes, however this does still require further development.

Overall, remote mowers have improved mowing safety when used on banks, as the operator’s safety is not compromised in

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Robocut Up to 55° slope capacity • 40hp Isuzu diesel engine • 150m working range • High-grip tracks and spikes available • Hydrostatic transmission • Max speed 7km/h • 1,000kg weight Price: from £47,300

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Pro Landscaper / February 2017 87

19/01/2017 09:30

EDUCATE

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/01/2017 09:24

EDUCATE

Cheshire Artificial Grass ADLINGTON This new product is an evolution of Cheshire Artificial Grass’ bestselling grass with further improvements made in the quality of the product material. With the new ‘Adlington’ product, the company is expecting to improve on its output for 2016 of 62,000m² of grass sold to customers.

• 25mm pile height • 16,800 stiches per m² • 2.1kg per m² • Tuft gauge: 3/8in • dTex: 6200/8 + 3,800/8 Price from £12 per m² www.cheshireartificialgrass.co.uk

Namgrass UK NABREEZE With a 45mm pile height and unique ‘open’ structure, this product has been designed to completely contrast some of Namgrass’ most popular products by offering a more ‘wild’, and therefore more natural, look.

• 45mm pile height • Pile weight ca. 1,100g per m² • Total weight ca. 2,235g per m² • UV stability > 3.000 hours UV-A • Water permeability 6.10-4 m per second Price £23.99 per m² www.namgrass.co.uk

Hi-Tech Turf Ltd HT INSPIRE This will be replacing Hi-Tech Turf’s current top of the range product HT Perfection, as it is striving to improve the quality of its top end ranges of lawn turf.

• 40mm pile height • Cushioning materials for improved softness • Two colour blade and two tone thatch • Incorporation of advanced yarns to improve longevity Price £28 per m² www.hitechturf.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Artificial grass.indd 89

Artificial Grass Direct Ltd REGENT The Regent is ideal for use in landscaping, schools and nurseries. This is an improved version of Artificial Grass Direct’s current Regent, and with new technology and yarns this is expected to be its most popular.

• 40mm pile height • Muti-tone colours to give a spring-like lush lawn year round • Diamond shaped memory yarn to reduce flattening • High stitch rate for density • UV protection and porous to meet European Standards Price £18.95 per m² www.artificialgrass-direct.com

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Smart Direct CLUMBER The Clumber incorporates high grade materials to provide a soft texture, available in 35mm and 25mm pile heights. This product has replaced preceding versions of itself.

• New super soft C 6+6 yarn technology • Improved longevity and recovery time • Total weight (g/m2) 3247 (+/- 10%). 35mm. 4 – Tone • New lightweight materials for additional softness • Available in multiple pile heights Price £14.50 per m2 www.smart-direct.co.uk

iGRASS iCON iGrass introduces a grass to its range with increased levels of softness to give a more realistic feel. The iCON is not replacing any existing range but increases its offering to existing and potential customers.

• 30mm pile height • Turf gauge: 3/8in • V blade intelligence yarn • 2.3kg per m² • 16,500 stiches per m² Price from £17.99 per roll www.igrass.co.uk Pro Landscaper / February 2017 89

19/01/2017 09:37

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February_Adverts.indd 54

18/01/2017 14:51

KIT

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Expert view

NSIT FORD TRA TIPPER 35 C/C 1W

VARA NISSAN NA OUTLAW

The Ford Transit is perfect for soft landscaping – DIRECTOR, PAXMAN reliable, adaptable and lightweight.

LANDSCAPES UK LTD We can make our own modifications to suit carriage and access on site and we know we have the back up of maintenance and servicing should we need it. The Transit allows us to make the best use of on-board storage and means we can adapt to challenges on each project – and still look good when we arrive.

JUSTIN PAXMAN

We choose Volkswagen commercial vehicles for the BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT build quality and their ability to suit our DIRECTOR, specific needs, as well as their strong OUT THERE SERVICES residual value. We already own a range of Volkswagen vehicles including Caddys, Crafter Tipper and Flatbed versions as well as the normal Crafter Vans. Carrying various types of equipment, we need strong and reliable vehicles to carry to all of our sites and the Crafter does this exceedingly well.

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Commerical vehicles.indd 91

ROSS CONQUEST

FORD TRANSIT FORD TRANSIT, D RANGER COURIER & FOR

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The Nissan Navara Outlaw is the best pickup for your money MANAGING DIRECTOR, without being too scared to scratch it, it’s a CONQUEST HARD great working vehicle. With the addition of a LANDSCAPING LTD 2in suspension lift for added clearance in and out of tough spots and larger wheels, this vehicle is ideal for our needs. I normally kill a truck once a year and this one has been with us for three years already and still going strong, making it my recommendation for anyone.

At Ground Control, we choose the Ford range due to the brand’s fantastic value for money and range of vehicles.

FLEET MANAGER, GROUND CONTROL We work with large construction projects as well as grounds maintenance and arboriculture in which the Ford Ranger allows us to tow trailers with mowers, woodchippers, MEWPS and other plant. Our site managers and supervisors require smaller vans and we have found none better than the Transit Couriers which allow for small carrying capacity, providing fantastic fuel economy of between 55-60mpg.

RYAN WINGRAVE

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19/01/2017 09:40

EDUCATE

SOLE SURVIVOR

One of the perils of landscaping is the necessity to work in all weathers, and the UK climate means that more often than not boggy conditions are underfoot. What can be done to protect feet from becoming soggy, uncomfortable and even bad for our health? John Dabb, sales and marketing director at Hyde, distributor of safety boot brand Base, looks at some remedies When it comes to suitable footwear for landscapers, boots that will keep feet safe, clean and comfortable are the most common prerequisites. Far less emphasis is placed on the need for footwear that keeps feet dry, despite landscaping often being a boggy job.

With the UK not renowned for its dry season, landscapers are regularly exposed to damp and often water-logged conditions. Regular safety boots may tick most of the boxes for health and safety, but they do little to prevent feet getting soaked. Add to this cold and icy conditions that come along in the winter months and the water within the boot often freezes, making feet very uncomfortable, very quickly.

The problem goes beyond having to put up with working in soggy socks though; being exposed to such conditions can actually have quite serious consequences on the state of your feet. It doesn’t take prolonged exposure to wet footwear for this to be the case either. In a very short space of time, foot immersion can cause problems, with one of the most common, and troublesome of complaints, being trench foot.

One of the most treated issues at the Glastonbury Festival during its muddiest years, foot immersion is a problem among landscapers too, and if not treated effectively can have 1 & 2 Any wet environment, be it from excessive sweating to wearing damp socks and shoes can cause trench foot. It can take less than a day of exposure to poor conditions for it to develop and six months to recover

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potentially serious consequences.

Caused by exposure to damp, cold conditions, the condition is essentially the blood vessels constricting in an attempt to keep warm, by reducing blood flow to the extremities. This reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients to the feet, which can result in tissue and nerve damage. The foot becomes numb, changes colour, swells and starts to smell due to damage to the skin, blood vessels and nerves in the feet. Left untreated, tissue and nerve damage occurs, swelling increases and a ‘pins and needles’ sensation begins. In extreme cases, blisters and ulcers develop, skin starts to peel off and tissues begin to die, resulting in gangrene.

REGULAR SAFETY BOOTS MAY TICK MOST OF THE BOXES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY, BUT THEY DO LITTLE TO PREVENT FEET GETTING SOAKED Unlike with frostbite, trench foot doesn’t require freezing temperatures, in fact it can develop in temperatures up to 16°C. Any wet environment, whether it’s from excessive sweating to wearing damp socks and shoes, can cause the condition. Worryingly, it can take less than a day of exposure to poor conditions for trench foot, also known as immersion foot, to develop and it can take up to six months to fully recover.

The main way to avoid such a painful and potentially career limiting condition is for landscapers to choose footwear that ensures feet are dry and comfortable, regardless of how wet and cold conditions may become underfoot. For maximum effect, the best solution is to invest in a pair of boots that feature the latest technology, such as a

3

BASE Be-Dry safety shoes feature advanced technology that keeps feet as dry as a bone, without compromising on safety or comfort

4

BASE OutDry boots have a waterproof and lightweight breathable barrier that keeps feet dry, cool and comfortable in all weathers.

Fitted with a slim metal-free toe cap, composite midsole and microfibre thermal insulation, the boot’s double-density sole maximises comfort in all terrains too

5

Providing stability underfoot in even the wettest conditions, the slip-resistant sole on BASE Be-Dry boots is thin, flexible and ultra light, with a superior shock absorption

waterproof and lightweight breathable barrier.

Far from a gimmick, this will keep feet dry, cool and comfortable in all weathers and saves having to pay out for more with the changing of the seasons.

Landscapers should be on the look out too for footwear with a slip-resistant sole. One that is thin and flexible yet tough enough to make light work of rough and uneven surfaces is the ideal, as it won’t weigh heavy on the feet.

CONTACT For more details, call Hyde on 0121 704 2324 or visit www.brianhyde.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/01/2017 14:10

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The Specialist Horticultural Recruitment Agency Finding the right people for your business since 1989 McMurtry Ltd, Park Farm, Stancombe, Dursley, Glos, GL11 6AT www.mcmurtryltd.co.uk www.mcmurtryltd.co.uk 01453 544135

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JOBS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX Location:

Xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxxxxx xxx xx For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

For full details on all jobs, please go to For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk. www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

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

Call 01903 777 574 or email liam.colclough@eljays44.com with your vacancy

SOFT LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT LOCATION LANDSCAPES Location: Hampshire

SKILLED HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPERS HILLIER LANDSCAPES Location: Hampshire

This is a full time position for an experienced soft landscaping and maintenance assistant.

Location Landscapes is a soft landscaping and maintenance specialist company based in Petersfield, Hampshire. The successful candidate will be experienced, motivated and reliable and work well as part of a team. Most of our work is carried out for private clients so you must be well presented, polite and conscientious. You must have at least two years’ experience within the horticulture industry and good plant knowledge.

An opportunity has arisen for skilled hard and soft landscapers to join Hillier Landscapes in Hampshire. The ideal candidate will be working as part of a team and should possess a range of landscaping skills to implement high quality private garden schemes and commercial soft landscaping projects. If you think you are the right person you must be motivated, enthusiastic, reliable and possess an eye for detail. Experience in the use of machinery and small tools and the ability to interpret detail drawings would be preferred. CSCS card is preferred as well as a full clean driving licence.

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

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

HARD LANDSCAPE SPECIALIST

HARD LANDSCAPING TEAM LEADER

Nigel Jeffries Landscapes is seeking to recruit a hard landscape specialist. The ideal candidate would have a minimum of two to three years’ experience and be able to work on their own or in a team of two to five. This could be an opportunity for an individual who wishes to enhance and develop their skills as we offer appropriate training and actively aim to develop our staff. Evidence of previous horticultural or allied training would be a great advantage.

Woodburn Landscapes is currently looking to recruit a highly skilled and motivated landscaper to run a landscaping team. The ideal candidate must have experience running a team, and possess good organisational and time management skills to work within deadlines. A high standard of work and attention to detail is essential, with the ability to work from design drawings. A knowledge and understanding of all legislation and healthy and safety aspects are also essential. A clean and full UK driving licence is required, with a willingness to travel.

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

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

SKILLED LANDSCAPER

MAINTENANCE GARDENER LEADING TO TEAM LEADER AND HEAD OF MAINTENANCE

NIGEL JEFFRIES LANDSCAPES Location: Surrey

CHAMPIER-CLARKE LTD Location: Gloucestershire

Champier-Clarke bespoke gardens is looking to recruit a passionate skilled landscaper.

Champier-Clarke builds high end bespoke gardens as a whole package, but have also built a good reputation and constructed gardens for other designers.The candidate must have excellent attention to detail and wide ranging skills.The ability to read and implement scale drawings is important, as is excellent communication skills.

WOODBURN LANDSCAPES LTD Location: Buckinghamshire

LIVING COLOUR GARDENS Location: Central and South West London

An opportunity has opened for an experienced, self-motivated maintenance gardener to join our well established and dynamic team. The role will lead on to team leader and head of maintenance. We currently seek an experienced garden maintenance operative to run a busy team of one to two operatives, travelling to sites across central and south west London to ensure the delivery of a high-end service maintaining domestic gardens.

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

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

CONTRACT SUPERVISOR

SKILLED LANDSCAPE GARDENER

Contract supervisor positions have become available within idverde’s Winchester group of contracts. This role will be based in Winchester reporting directly to the contract manager and will assist in the day to day running of the contracts. The contract supervisor will be responsible for performing quality inspections on work carried out on site. Your responsibilities will fall across several areas, including relationship building, client/customer care, people management and contract delivery.

The Outdoor Room is a multi award-winning garden design and construction company.

The knowledgeable, experienced team offers a comprehensive service to private clients, developers, garden designers and landscape architects. The Outdoor Room is looking to recruit skilled landscape gardeners who can deliver high quality work.The right candidate should be presentable, self-motivated, enthusiastic, and be able to use their own initiative.The ideal candidate must have experience in all areas of both hard and soft landscaping, be able to read plans, have a CSCS card (preferential, but not essential). A full, clean driving licence is essential.

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

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

idverde Location: Winchester

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Jobs.indd 95

THE OUTDOOR ROOM Location: West Sussex

Pro Landscaper / February 2017 95

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4Forchoose and download your issue all horticultural and Garden enquiries please contact Martin Pinchbeck, Spalding, Fax: design 01775 760451 / 714970 PROFESSIONAL WLincolnshire www.tamlynsprofessional.co.uk onPE11 077653PE 188725 e-mail: or email info@martincadams.co.uk sales@drsimmons.co.uk All products manufactured in the Cotswolds using sustainable timber.

nursery of distinction

nursery of distinction www.oxfordplanters.co.uk

Ride-On Mowers Compact,Tractor lightweight mobileSince shredder 1936 John GT235, SD deck, 18hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 355 hrs goesDeere wherever it’s48” needed IJohn N NProviders O VX320, AofTEnglish OR IN APlanters N 2WD, DS C A–P195Ehrs PLANTS Deere 48” SDS deck, 22hpLpetrol, HST Handcrafted and Outdoor Furniture Makes easy work of branches, • Suppliers top quality container grown John Deere GX355D, 48” SD deck, 16hp or diesel, 2WD, HSTshrubs, – choice of 2 inofOak, Iroko Accoya. grasses, herbaceous, climbers & specimens wet green-waste and mixed leafage Piranha® fit diesel, Stihl2WD, MS201T JUST •John Complete ofto24hp HNS Deere X495, range 48”Chain SD deck, HST – 1922 hrs £5.50* Other services include a of bespoke joinery forlitre interior • Suppliers of top quality grown shrubs, •year Good range in service 3container and 10 pots 4 Season shredder for Deere X740, 54” SD deck, Low-Tip Collector –allchoice of & 2 exterior •John 110 hectares production Great performance for a fraction of the price design. herbaceous, climbers & specimens John Deere X748, grasses, 48” RD deck, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – 1380 hrs round effectiveness •For B&C bred low maintenance varieties

• Cash and carry service more information email info@oxfordplanters.co.uk or call 01608 683022 upRDtodeck on the top10brand Etesia Save Bahia, 32” & collector, •66% Good range in 2WD 3 and litre potschains Produces easilycompostable •Etesia Quick response toHi-Tip enquiries H124DS, 48” RD deck, Collector, 25hp diesel – 828 hrs operation cost cut dramatically For Monthly all horticultural and Garden design enquiries please contact Martin and carry service BioTech™ chips •Etesia Highly organised logistics Attilaon Bank Mower (Ex• Cash Demo) low hours 07765 188725 or email– info@martincadams.co.uk

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• Trading over 60 years email: sales@jacksonsnursery.co.uk SurreyCompact GU24 8SX Tractors John Deere X748, 54” Snow Blade, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST choice of 2 £6’750 web: –www.jacksonsnursery.co.uk Chobham, Woking, www.psdgroundscare.co.uk Contact: IainLoader, Wilson Mob: 07974-950301 JD 4600 & Front 43hp, iain@boot.nl 4WD, G.Box, Power Reverser – 4331hrs *Excludes£7’750 Vat email: sales@jacksonsnursery.co.uk Surrey GU24 8SX

John Deere 3320, 33hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1230 hrs ent?

JD 4410 & Front Loader, 34hp, 4WD, Power Reverser – 2279 hrs Jacksons ofG.Box, Chobham Kubota24 B2410, 24hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1720 hrs Auctions QP advert templates.indd PSD2700 - ELIET ProLandscaper Adverts 58x90.indd 2 of4WD, distinction Kubota B2410 & Frontnursery Loader, 24hp, HST – 1076 hrs 19/03/2015 11:44 18/07/2013 15:43

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TA6 7RS wet green-waste and mixed leafage Ride-On Cylinder Mowers 25th April:forThe Oak Tree Saturday 4 Season year JD 2653A, 26” shredder 8 blade units, spiral rollers, scrapers choice of 2 from £4’500 Arena, Edithmead, M5 J22, Somerset, JD 2500 (A)effectiveness (E), 22” 11 blade, groomers, brushes, boxe choice 3 from £5’750 round TA9 4HA £6’500 Hayter LT324, 6 blade units with 10” fixedto heads choice of 8 from Pro Landscaper readers Produces easily- compostable £12’500 Hayter T424,to 5 gang, 6 blade –56 30”High units. Deluxe Cab – 2659 hrs Enquiries Tamlyns, Street, BioTech™ chips £37.50+VAT (25% discount) £9’950 Ransome Highway 3 – 1308 hrs Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3BN RRP £49.99+VAT Ride-On Front Rotary Mowers Call: 08450 773 773 T John 01278 458241 £4’500 Deere F1145, 62” RD deck, 28hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres – 2887 hrs Classifi ed USE DISCOUNT CODE PRO25 ON www.psdgroundscare.co.uk EJohn ross.whitcombe@tamlyns.co.uk Deere 1445, various deck sizes and hours choice of 7 from £6’500 £8’500 John Deere 1445 with Cab, 60” SD deck, Serviced – 2126 hrs PROFESSIONAL www.tamlynsprofessional.co.uk WPlantoil Brickworker.co.uk website 59x91mm_Layout 1 16/09/2011 15:56 Page 1

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Buyat from manufacturers and save Buy John online JD 2653A, 26” 8www.lws.uk.com blade units, scrapers choice of 4 • Goodspiral rangerollers, in 3 and 10 litre–pots JD 2500 (A) (E), 22” 11savings blade units, on groomers, brushes, grassfilters! boxes Also big pumps and • Cash and carry service -choice of 3 Why not visit our website!

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£13’900 John Deere 1545 c/w Ryetec 60” flail, 34hp, 4WD, HST – 900 hrs £9’000 Plantoil 59x91mm_Layout 1 16/09/2011 15:56 Page 1 £9’750 PSD2700 - ELIET ProLandscaper Adverts 58x90.indd 2 13/03/2013 12:38 £6’90015:43 18/07/2013 Timber Products 13/03/2013 12:38 £7’900 £13’750 Timber Products £7’500 £12’500 needs.£7’500 Balmers GM Ltd, Manchester Rd, Dunnockshaw,

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New Holland TN55D with cab, 55hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 1751 hrs ForYanmar all your golf, sportsturf and landscape irrigation FE280H, 28hp diesel, 4WD, turf tyres, roll bar – 262 hrs

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£13’750 Kioti DK551C with Cab, 54hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 612 hrs £8’000 Kubota B2530, 25hp diesel, 4WD, HST, roll bar – 809 hrs www.psdgroundscare.co.uk £8’750 PL App Ad.indd 1 21/01/2015 12:17 Kubota B2230 & front loader, 22hp diesel, 4WD, HST, turf tyres 1117hrs Unwanted grounds maintenance equipment? £7’500 Holland TC27D, 27hp, 4WD,58x90.indd HST, turf tyres, PSD2700 New - ELIET ProLandscaper Adverts 2 roll bar – 2312 hrs 13/03/2013 12:38 Don’t scrap it SELL it at Tamlyns Outdoor Auctions £7’500 Yanmar FE280H, 28hp diesel, 4WD, turf tyres, roll bar – 262 hrs 18/07/2013 21/01/201515:43 12:17

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John Deere 1445, various deck sizes and hours – choice of 8 from: £6’500 John Deere 1445 with Cab, 60” SD deck, Serviced – 2126 hrs £8’500 John Deere 1545, 62” RD deck, 31hp, 4WD, HST – choice of 2 from: £9’750 CLASSIFIED class.indd 98 TEMPLATE.indd 123 For John all your golf, sportsturf and landscape irrigation needs.

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-choice of For more information email info@oxfordplanters.co.uk or Turn call 01608 683022 £2’250 Etesia Bahia, 32” deckand & collector, 2WD – 36”, 48” 52” Zero timber JD 3235B £4’750 Etesia H124DS, 48” RD deck, Hi-Tip Collector, 25hp diesel – 828 hrs d ol ForSAW all horticultural and Garden design please contact Martin £ POA CHAIN SAW OIL 2-STROKE OIL SAW BLADE OIL JD 3235B CHAINAttila OIL Mower 2-STROKE OIL BLADE OIL Etesia Bank (Ex Demo) –SAW low hoursenquiries Joseph Rochford Gardens Ltd, on 07765 188725 or email info@martincadams.co.uk JD 3225C All products manufactured in the Cotswolds using sustainable timber.

Pipers End, Letty Green, Hertford, SG14 2PB Tractors Tel 0345 9697 www.lws.uk.com Jacobsen TelCompact 0345 230 230 9697 •• www.lws.uk.com Tel: 01707 261370 Fax: 01707 262847 FOR MORE INFORMATION: EMAIL INFO@OXFORDPLANTERS.CO.UK OR CALL 01608 683022 FREEPHONE 0800 013 7363 www.plantoil.co.uk FREEPHONE 013 John Deere X748, 54” 0800 Snow Blade, 24hp 7363 diesel, 4WD,www.plantoil.co.uk HST – choice0808 of 2 Hayter LT www.landmarktimber.co.uk 0808 129 3773 www.landmarktimber.co.uk 129£6’750 3773 Email: sales@rochfords.net JD 4600 & Front Loader, 43hp, 4WD, G.Box,www.prolandscapermagazine.com Power Reverser – 4331hrs Hayter T4 £7’750 John Deere 3320, 33hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1230 hrs Ransome £9’000 www.prolandscapermagazine.com / March 2015 98 Pro SNOW CLEARANCE NEEDED ONwww.prolandscapermagazine.com A NATIONAL www.prolandscapermagazine.com JDLandscaper 4410 & Front Loader, 34hp, 4WD, G.Box, www.prolandscapermagazine.com Power Reverser – 2279 hrs BASIS Ransome £9’750 www.prolandscapermagazine.com magazine.com GM Manchester QP advert templates.indd 24Balmers 18/07/2013 15:43 Kubota B2410, 24hp, 4WD, HST,Ltd, turf tyres, roll bar – 1720Rd, hrs Dunnockshaw, £6’900 Oxford Planters.indd 1 04/06/2015 14:33 Do you have a tractor / teleporter?

We you to clear BB11 5PF Ride-On Kubota B2410 & Front Loader,Burnley, 24hp, 4WD, Lancs, HST – 1076 hrs need £7’900 18/06/2015 09:02 snow as part of our winter maintenance programme. Ideally Kioti DK551C with Cab, 54hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 612 hrs £13’750 John Deer we would like you to work locally to your base and clear class.indd 99 New Holland TC27D, 27hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 2312 rates hrs £7’500 18/02/2015 14:42 class.indd 98 18/02/2015 14:42 John Deer snow from our clients’ sites.

Competitive offered New Holland TN55Ddependant with cab, 55hp, on 4WD,machinary Gear Box – 1751 hrs £12’500 For all Johnyou Deer type. alvanised Yanmar FE280H, 28hp diesel, 4WD, turf tyres, roll bar – 262 hrs £7’500 John Deer mbled in Buy online Contact us at gritting@ground-control.co.uk ForJohn all Deer yo Ride-On Cylinder Mowers John Deer BuyJacobsen onlin John Deere 900 Commercial Triple, 30” fixed units – choice of 2 £5’500 JD 2653A, 26” 8 blade units, spiral rollers, scrapers – choice of 4 from: £5’500 Ransome JD 2500 (A) (E), 22” 11 blade units, groomers, brushes, grass boxes Ransome -choice of 3 from: £5’750 g Sundries JD 3235B with Cab, 22” 8 blade units, grooved front rollers – 2708 hrs £6’500 Commer 01473 328272 www.schsupplies.co.uk JD 3235B, 22” 8 blade ESP units – 2691 hrs £7’500 Huge cho JD 3225C, 7 blade light-weight units c/w rear roller brushes – 2217 hrs £8’000 01473 328272 www.schsupplies.co.uk www.ground-control.co.uk British built, robust equipment Jacobsen G Plex, recently serviced & extra set scarifying units available £5’500 The Stables, London Road, Billericay,Essex CM12 9HS Tel 0345 23 Hayter LT324, 6 blade units with 10” fixed heads – choice of 10 from: £6’500 Bespoke orders takenbuilt, – werobust can build to your specifications British equipment Hayter T424, 5 gang, 6 blade – 30” units – choice of 2 from: £9’000 Bespoke orders taken – we Pro can build to your specifications 99 67 www.prolandscapermagazine.com Landscaper / November 2015 93 December www.prolandscapermagazine.com Pro Landscaper / October 2015 Tel 0345 2 Ransome Highway 3 – choice of 2 £ POA Pro Landscaper / March 2015 99 www.prolandscapermagazine.com Pro Landscaper / February 2017 97 Ransome Parkway 3, 30” 6 blade units – 1970 hrs £ POA 50 December 2012 PL App Ad.indd 1 21/01/2015 12:17 Ride-On Front Rotary Mowers 50 December 2012 CLASSIFIED 22/10/2015 11:01 LifeStyle.inddTEMPLATE.indd 67 19/11/2015 15:01 11:50 John from: £6’500 Classifieds.indd 93 Deere 1445,99various deck sizes and hours – choice of 8 22/09/2015 Classified.indd John 97 Deere 1445 with Cab, 60” SD deck, Serviced – 2126 hrs 18/01/2017 15:18 £8’500 18/02/2015 14:44

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Go to the app store search ‘PRO LANDSCAPER’ • free app download the • choose and download your issue

ALL MATERIALS The Major 4S Mobile Shredder

PEOPLE

JOANNA HERALD Designer, Joanna Herald Garden Design www.joannaherald.com Go to reference book Christopher Lloyd remains an inspiring individual with a unique turn of phrase.

And don’t we all turn to the internet for reference and inspiration?

Favourite sandwich filling Lots of leaves and something spicy.

Pro Landscaper asks quick-fire questions to gain a small insight into the people who make up our industry. To take part email joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com

Karaoke song of choice If you had heard me sing, you wouldn’t have asked.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Bob Hoskins, on some days.

i

ALISON GALBRAITH Associate director, Terra Firma Consultancy Ltd

Favourite seasonal plant Currently, I’m loving Camellia sasanqua ‘Versicolor’. Its sweet fragrance and delicacy helps me get over the fact it’s a Camellia!

Ideal project in five words or less Something urban and edgy.

www.terrafirmaconsultancy.com

Favourite sporting memory Every time I get back a return when I play tennis – or the Paralympic 100m final at London 2012.

The atmosphere (and landscaping) was brilliant.

Best moment of your career Cliché, but it’s every time a client gets the thrill from their new garden.

One piece of technology you can’t live without Pinterest. Hours, days, weeks gathering images.

98

Pro Landscaper / February 2017

Little Interview.indd 98

Top of your bucket list Horse riding through Patagonia – my husband isn’t keen…

Go to reference book Hillier Colour Dictionary of Trees and Shrubs.

Favourite seasonal plant Bluebell.

Ideal project in five words or less Rich, enthusiastic client with taste.

Best moment of your career Being told I had been awarded a First Class for my undergraduate degree – yay!

One piece of technology you can’t live without My smartphone – communication is so important.

Favourite sandwich filling Bacon and brown sauce.

Karaoke song of choice Help! by the Beatles – I learned the harmonies as a teenager.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Meryl Streep.

Favourite sporting memory Beating Serena Williams to win Wimbledon (in my dreams).

Top of your bucket list Beating Serena Williams to win Wimbledon (I don’t really have a bucket list).

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/01/2017 09:26

PEOPLE

NINA MASON Features editor, Pro Landscaper www.prolandscapermagazine.com Go to reference book Pro Landscaper style guide!

Favourite seasonal plant White lily.

Ideal project in five words or less I don’t really have one!

Best moment of your career Of course, being on the

editorial team for Pro Landscaper and presenting the 30 Under 30 awards last year.

One piece of technology you can’t live without Laptop, otherwise my job might be slightly difficult!

Favourite sandwich filling Prosciutto, mozzarella and green pesto.

Karaoke song of choice Give me any song by Britney (and you’ll hear a horrendous rendition).

Who would play you in the film of your life?

If the question is who I would want to play me, I would choose Emma Watson. If

ADAM MARTIN

STEVE VINEY

Director, Queen Thorne Landscapes

Contracts manager, Bawden Group

www.queenthorne.garden Go to reference book Turfgrass: Science and Culture by James Beard.

Favourite seasonal plant Viburnum plicatum ‘Lanarth’.

Ideal project in five words or less Capability Brown scale.

Best moment of your career RHS Chelsea 2002.

One piece of technology you can’t live without Smartphone, van, PA.

Little Interview.indd 99

Favourite sporting memory Catching out our sales manager during rounders!

Top of your bucket list Cage diving with sharks.

www.bawdengroup.com Favourite sandwich filling Coronation chicken.

Go to reference book TripAdvisor.

Favourite sandwich filling BLT.

Karaoke song of choice Whoomph!

(There It Is) by Clock Crew.

Favourite seasonal plant Fuschias.

Karaoke song of choice Mack the Knife.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

The man who played Jaws in James Bond – Richard Kiel.

Favourite sporting memory Winning the college rugby cup with Writtle College.

Top of your bucket list Smiles on my kids’ faces.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

it’s who should play me, it would probably be Sloth from The Goonies…

Ideal project in five words or less Maintaining a high profile site.

Best moment of your career Apart from winning a BALI Principle Award in 2006, joining Bawden Managed Landscapes as amenity horticulture manager.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Ricky Gervais.

Favourite sporting memory Playing in the FA Cup for Wokingham Town FC. Top of your bucket list To own an Aston Martin DBS.

One piece of technology you can’t live without Google.

Pro Landscaper / February 2017 99

19/01/2017 09:29

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