Pro Landscaper February 2024

Let's Hear it From

ARTISAN LANDSCAPES WILL COOKE

HOW DIVERSE IS THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY?

Results of an industry-wide survey revealed

PARTNERING WITH PRISONS

Thinking outside the box for recruitment

SUMMER KIT SPECIAL

Looking ahead to the warmer months

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Landscaper

Welcome

This month will see the return of National Apprenticeship Week (5-11 February), a chance to celebrate both the apprentices themselves and the businesses that are supporting them and giving them opportunities. It also serves as a reminder that there are more ways than one to introduce new team members to your company. Recruitment was raised as a key challenge by a few of our interviewees this month, from Artisan Landscapes’ Will Cooke, who is based in Bristol, down to Kingston Landscape Group working in the South East – in other words, this is not a regional problem. As many of you will be aware, this is an industrywide issue, making it more important than ever to think outside the box in terms of how to bring more people into the industry.

A recent survey (page 8) shows that around 81% of the industry is British, and the same percentage identifies as straight. Are we doing enough to attract those outside of these majorities, or to show that the horticulture industry embraces a diverse workforce?

It’s not just about ED&I either. There are various initiatives across the UK to re-engage people back into work, from those who are homeless to rehabilitating offenders. Glendale has been focusing on the latter, engaging with His Majesty’s Prison Service to help promote horticulture to those looking for employment upon their release and exploring how it can offer the right training and environment to ensure their success (page 61).

And then of course, once we draw more people into the industry, we need to retain and nurture them. Business consultant Neil Stead has a wealth of suggestions for building a high-performing team on page 25.

We talk about the skills gap an awful lot – it's been the topic of this leader on quite a few occasions – but it’s action, rather than words, that will make a difference. We’d love to hear from you if you’ve found new and interesting ways to recruit – please do get in touch with us!

©Kingston

PHOTO

14

Coming Up Roses

Kingston Landscape Group kickstarts the year with new premises and a positive outlook for the months ahead

21

How can I avoid underpricing when trying to build my portfolio?

It’s not easy, but Jake Catling offers advice for those tempted to go too low in their quotes and the potential of show gardens

31

Let’s Hear It From...Will Cooke

The managing director of Artisan Landscapes has big ambitions for the design and build company

43

CONTENTS

February 2024

37

43

49

11

First Steps Towards a Sanctuary for Survivors

The Freedom from Torture garden at this year’s Chelsea offers a peaceful respite for those who have suffered

61

Partnering with Prisons

Could offering opportunities for rehabilitated offenders be one answer to addressing the skills shortage?

65

Summer Kit Special

The latest technology, innovations and products as the industry prepares for the warmer months

PEOPLE

77

Accelerating Towards Net Zero Ground Control is set to reach the target 12 years ahead of the government deadline, explains Jason Knights

81

The Year of Resilience

It’s a key theme at this year’s Chelsea, but also for garden designers outside of shows, says Mark Straver

83

Five Minutes With: Debbie Carroll

The garden designer on juggling two businesses and influencing outdoor spaces in the care sector

8

How diverse is the horticulture industry?

A new survey shows the level of ED&I across the horticulture industry, with those behind it exploring steps for progression

18

Thirty and Thriving

Over three decades, PC Landscapes has celebrated a wealth of achievements, from award wins to growing its sustainable approach

54

Take a Seat

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to outdoor seating, so James Smith walks us through the options

ALL ABOUT PLANTS GARDENS ANNOUNCED FOR CHELSEA 2024

The lineup for this year’s All About Plants category at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been announced, featuring gardens with a twist that offer a different take on the story of a garden. The category, which is supported by Project Giving Back, will include an edible skate park, a growing for gut health garden and a tropical forest full of rare and unusual plants.

Gardens include: The Planet Good Earth Garden, designed by Betongpark and Urban Organic; The Size of Wales Garden, designed by Daniel Bristow; The Pulp Friction: Growing Skills Garden, designed

ROUNDUP Industry Updates

SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR SOILSCON 2024

The speakers have been announced for SoilsCon 2024 as the conference returns after a four-year hiatus. The one-day conference will take place at Phyllis Court in Henley on Thames on Wednesday 28 February, with a focus on practical approaches and solutions to the key soil issues and challenges facing industry today.

The speakers are: Tim O’Hare, principal of Tim O’Hare Associates; Tim White, senior associate at Tim O’Hare Associates; Helen Elks-Smith FSGD, principal of Elk-Smith Landscape & Garden Design; Dr Iain Gould, associate professor in soil science at University of Lincoln; Jennifer Mui CMLI, director of

MRG Studio; Katherin Iles, senior geotechnical engineer; Ryan Coghlan, senior landscape architect at Arup; and Kevin Barton CMLI FLI, director of Robert Bray Associates. Topics include: soil health and functions in landscapes; solid considerations for the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain; maintaining soil quality in garden construction; organic matter and soil quality; low-fertility soils in climate change-resilient landscapes; and much more.

The conference will also include a Soil Surgery, with members of the Tim O’Hare Associates team on hand to help attendees with specific soil issues. toha.co.uk/soilscon2024

by Will Dutch and Tin-Tin Azure-Marxen, Dutch Landscape Architects Ltd; The Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden, designed by Katherine Holland; The Bowel Research UK Microbiome Garden, designed by Chris Hull and Sid Hill; and The Panathlon Joy Garden, designed by Penelope Walker. Helena Pettit, director of shows, commercial and innovation at the RHS, says: “There is such a broad spectrum of ideas running through the All About Plants gardens this year and it’s great to see new takes on old trends coming to life in the designs.” rhs.org.uk

NEW STUDY SUGGESTS GENDER IMBALANCE COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE NATION’S SKILL SHORTAGE

It is no secret that Britain is going through a skill shortage – falling short by 225,000 tradespeople to keep up with current demand, and a ‘serious gender imbalance’.

The UK construction industry is on track to lose almost £100bn of economic growth by 2030 as a result of a shrinking pool of skilled tradespeople.

An estimated recruitment of 45,000 workers per year is needed to meet government demands by 2027, while data from the Office of National Statistics reveals only 15% of the workforce is currently made up of women.

With shortages already impacting the country, a recent survey revealed that 19% of participants had to cancel or postpone projects in the last five years due to a lack of suitable tradespeople.

Current figures suggest that doubling the number of women in the industry could boost annual growth by over £800m, but without action, the current projected shortages could cost the nation up to £12bn annually in missed economic growth by 2030. ons.gov.uk

THE TERM ‘HORTICULTURALIST’ IS “UNNECESSARY INFLATION” SAYS MONTY DON

Monty Don, presenter of the BBC’s Gardener’s World on and off since 2003, expressed his distaste for gardeners describing themselves as ‘horticulturalists’.

In a thread on X (formally Twitter), the BBC presenter said that “there are a lot of words and expressions in current use that irritate me.” He goes on to say that horticulturalist is “particularly pertinent” and seems “utterly unnecessary,” posing the questions, “Since when did the term ‘horticulturalist’ replace gardener? And why?” to his almost 300,000 followers.

Don’s thread caused quite a stir across the platform. One user wrote what they

believed to be the distinction between gardener and horticulturalist. Don replied: “A gardener is someone who gardens. The idea that a horticulturalist is a kind of superior gardener is absurd.”

Don added to the statement that gardening has a “poetry inherent” but horticulture is “all function”. montydon.com

GROUND CONTROL TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO MORE THAN A DECADE AHEAD OF GOVERNMENT TARGET

Ground Control’s continued commitment to reaching net-zero has been recognised by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The company is on course to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2038 – 12 years ahead of the official target date of 2050 set by the Government. Reduction targets submitted by the maintenance and biodiversity company show a predicted 90% cut in its direct emissions (5% of its overall emissions) by the end of the decade.

The remaining 95% of emissions emerge from its supply chain, with the biggest source attributed to its field teams (43%), the purchasing of goods and services (32%), and operational waste (10%).

Jason Knight, managing director at Ground Control accredits the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero by 2038

to its “dedication to leave the world in a better place than we found it.”

He goes on to acknowledge the “incredibly challenging” nature of the company’s targets but combats this by saying; “We are acutely aware of the need to act quickly. We now have a much better understanding of what it means to be net-zero and what we need to do to achieve it. We are taking on this challenge by placing net-zero at the heart of all our decision making.”

Ground Control’s commitment to biodiversity and nature includes the opening of its Centres for Environmental Recovery – Wildfell in 2022, and Devana in 2023 along with achieving B Corp status.

Read more about Ground Control’s commitment to net zero on page 77. ground-control.co.uk

Anew guide has been launched for Pro Landscaper’s Business Awards in association with Caribbean Blinds to help interested parties with their submissions. The guide – available to download on the Business Awards’ website – details a step-by-step guide on how to enter the awards, as well helping entrants choose

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM 2024?

We take a moment to consider what this next year could have in store for us. prolandscapermagazine.com/ what-can-we-expect-from-2024

PLANNING YOUR PLOT WITH RHS GOLD WINNER ZOE CLAYMORE

Zoe Claymore is empowering renters to get into gardening in her new ambassador role. prolandscapermagazine.com/planning-yourplot-with-rhs-gold-winner-zoe-claymore

THE SHOW GARDEN JOURNEY WITH CONAL MCGUIRE

Following his success at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2023, McGuire reminisces on the journey. prolandscapermagazine.com/the-showgarden-journey-with-conal-mcguire

the most relevant category. An in-depth view on the categories and criteria, a look at previous winners and a list of top tips for submitting a great entry can also be found within the guide. Deadline for entries is 12 February 2024, with the award ceremony scheduled to take place on Friday 19 April 2024 at Old Billingsgate, London. prolandscaperbusinessawards.com

How diverse

Results of a new ED&I survey show a baseline from which associations and their members will strive to improve upon

IS HORTICULTURE?

Just over a year ago, a charter was signed by our trade associations.

Those scrawling their names on the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter for the horticulture, arboriculture, landscaping and garden media profession were doing more than just making a statement – they were committing to work together to create an inclusive culture and measure how we engage and improve representation. The intention was to break down barriers and increase access and progression for all.

To do this, they set out to discover a baseline figure of ED&I within the industry. After all, you need to know what you’re improving upon in order to know whether you’re making a difference.

More than 650 people from various sectors responded to a survey created by the signatories,

and the results are perhaps not surprising in some areas and more surprising in others.

That the majority (81%) are British (English, Welsh, Northern Irish or Scottish) is arguably to be expected; that 65% identify as a woman is maybe more of shock (considering most would consider this a male-dominated industry) and over a third (39%) are self-employed.

are a primary carer for a child or children aged under 18.

The ED&I survey has been a huge benefit, not just to the landscaping industry but the whole of horticulture

Mollie

Then there’s the 11% who look after or care for someone with long-term physical or mental ill health caused by disability or age, and not in a paid capacity. A third (32%)

co-founder of the Young People in Horticulture Assocation

“It will be interesting to see the differences between the various areas of the sector and explore some of the reasons behind those differences,” says Michelle Ryan, chair of the Arboricultural Association. “Taking this project forward is really exciting and the baseline data from this survey will help us monitor any progress from the initiatives we implement.”

As intended, the survey poses a few considerations for the industry.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Questionnaire

What is your religion or belief?

Are you a primary carer for a child or children under 18?

How are we taking into account those who are carers, be it of children or others, for instance? And the fact that those aged 16-24 are making up less than 3% of respondents highlights the challenge the industry has to attract young people too.

Whilst just 5% identified as a different gender to their sex registered at birth, are there policies in place for workplaces to support those within this figure? And as an industry, could we be doing more to embrace and attract those from the smaller baseline groups or from lower socio-economic backgrounds or those with different religious beliefs?

“The ED&I survey has been a huge benefit, not just to the landscaping industry but the whole of horticulture. It holds us accountable and gives us the ability to actively change and improve the industry,” says co-founder of the Young People in Horticulture Assocation, Mollie Higginson. “As YPHA, we want to strive to push this industry to be seen as a strong career choice; this survey helps us be able to see what target areas we are missing and continue to improve this industry.”

What the charter also represents is a collaboration between the associations and

respondents in order to attract a more diverse workforce. “The great number of responses to the survey has shown that, within the industry, there is a recognition of the importance of diversity and a commitment from organisations, businesses and individuals, to address it in all aspects of our work,” says Darryl Moore, the Society of Garden Design’s council member for education, diversity and inclusion.

Wickham, vice-chair of the British Association of Landscape Industries. He and the association’s chair, Tessa Johnstone, both spearheaded the charter initially.

The more awareness we can continue to bring to the wider industry and its members the better Adrian Wickham, vice-chair of the British Association of Landscape Industries

“It provides an important snapshot of where we are today, providing a benchmark we can use to measure our progress going forward in unison. The next steps will be exciting as we use the data to confront our weaknesses and begin to implement changes towards ensuring the industry becomes as welcoming and inclusive as possible.”

Following the results of the survey, there will be further promotion of ED&I as a whole for the industry, says Adrian

Do you consider yourself to have a disability according to the definition in the Equality Act 2010? Which gender do you identify with?

“The more awareness we can continue to bring to the wider industry and its members the better,” says Wickham.

“Raising awareness and changing the culture around ED&I is significant – identifying all the protected characteristics, not just colour and gender, all of which will help us attract new people into this prosperous and growing industry.”

Last year, the group brought on board Gamiel Yafai, an ED&I consultant and founder of Diversity Marketplace, who Wickham says will lead them and their combined memberships through the journey. Yafai and his team will be hosting two free, industry-specific ED&I presentations to educate and inspire attendees, as well as to establish some leaders and foster

Do you consider your gender identity to be different from your registered sex at birth?

British/English/Welsh/ Northern Irish/Scottish

Any other White background

Irish

Any other mixed/multiple ethnic background

Prefer not to say

White and Asian

White and Black African

White and Black Caribbean

Gypsy or Irish traveller

understanding and conviction – to try to remove the ‘fear of getting it wrong’ which Wickham says can be paralysing.

“Via Diversity Marketplace, we will have access to up-to-date information, policies and laws around ED&I and some further stakeholder mapping, to see how we can create some procedural changes. However, more importantly, we will be reviewing our governance and the ability to raise funds for more industry wide diversity and inclusion projects. Over the coming years there will be more engagement before implementation as that in itself may take years as we live in this ever-changing world.”

It’s so important that we get as much data as possible initially, to enable a clear tracking of whether improvements are being made or whether we are standing still

Holly Youde, chair of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL)

Holly Youde, chair of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), agrees that it will likely take time as it’s a huge subject, and encourages those in the industry to get involved where possible. “The ED&I survey is one of the first steps to find out where we are as an industry and what steps we need to take to collectively improve accessibility and diversity wherever possible throughout all the different parts of the industry.

“It’s so important that we get as much data as possible initially, to enable a clear tracking of whether improvements are being made or whether we are standing still. We hope the charter will help guide the industry in making clear

steps towards improvements and change wherever possible.”

Jennifer Pheasey, director of public affairs at the Horticultural Trades Association, along with the APL’s general manager Phil Tremayne, says they “wholeheartedly endorse” the charter and its associated initiatives. “Supporting our members and the broader sector, we aim to address diversity gaps and foster an industry that is both accessible and inclusive.

"Environmental horticulture presents exciting and rewarding roles, diverse career paths, and an array of opportunities aligned with the Access All Areas EDI charter. Working with partners across the sector, we hope to see growth in the diversity of our industry and workforce."

This year, the Pro Landscaper Business Awards will be recognising the companies taking strides and implementing successful programmes with a new Diversity & Inclusion Strategy category, one we hope will help inspire others and showcase practical examples of how businesses are trying to move forward and progress in this area.

Do you look after or care for someone with long term physical or mental ill health caused by disability or age (not in a paid capacity)?

Thinking back to when you were aged about 14, which best describes the sort of work the main/ highest income earner in your household did in their main job?

What is the highest level of qualifications achieved by either of your parent(s) or guardian(s) by the time you were 18?

At least one has a degree level qualification

O Level, CSE, GCSE/intermediate apprenticeship NVQ2

A Levels/BTEC diploma or certificate/ advanced apprenticeship NVQ3

No formal qualifications

Foundation degree/ Higher National Diploma HND

Higher National Certificate (HNC)/ higher apprenticeship NVQ4

Don’t know

Qualifications below degree level

Other

Not applicable

SANCTUARY FOR SURVIVORS First steps towards a

Debut designer Emma O’Connell and show garden regular John Warland are joining together for this year’s Chelsea to create a garden for Freedom from Torture

WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN

For her RHS Chelsea Flower Show debut, Emma O’Connell has teamed up with multi-award-winning show garden designer, John Warland. Having worked together previously, both were keen to continue the partnership, and when the opportunity came up to work with each other at Chelsea and for a great charity too, it was too good an opportunity to miss.

O’Connell first opened her practice, Emma O’Connell Garden Design, in 2017 and has been making a name for herself ever since, working on domestic designs across central London and down into Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. She hasn’t always been a garden designer, though. After working towards a degree in Music, O’Connell spent 10 years in the arts sector, predominantly in the orchestral world, in development and fundraising. “My background was in the creative industry, but more on the finance and project

management side of things. But I had always wanted to be a garden designer. Like many people in our industry, it just took me a little longer to really have the confidence to make that leap, but I am very happy I did it,” says O’Connell, who is now reaping the rewards of that leap of faith by designing her first Sanctuary Garden at Chelsea – the Freedom from Torture Garden.

One of the marketing directors at charity Freedom from Torture, who had worked with Project Giving Back, approached the organisation – which helps to fund and support UK charities to have a garden at Chelsea – to discuss working together again. Warland’s name came up in conversation as a recommendation for the project. He was put in touch with the charity and visited the centre, and after a couple of meetings was eager to help design a garden on its behalf, bringing O’Connell and her creative outlook into the fold to introduce her to the world of show gardens.

Fortunately, their design made an impression. “The Project Giving Back application process is quite speculative. It's open to almost any charity, or any designer, pretty much from across the world – and we were lucky enough to be successful as one of the 15 gardens that will be exhibited at this year's show,” says Warland.

Although he has no personal connection to Freedom for Torture, Warland‘s family has worked with prisoners abroad and Warland himself has also worked closely with World Vision at multiple Hampton Court and Chelsea shows.

THE FREEDOM FROM TORTURE GARDENA SANCTUARY FOR SURVIVORS

OF DECORATIVE BASE FOR THE COMMUNAL BREAD OVEN

“It's fair to say that if we didn't believe in the charity and in their work and can't get behind what they do, then we wouldn't be doing a garden on behalf of the survivors,” says Warland.

The Freedom from Torture Garden is designed to be a place of sanctuary, of peace and hope where horticultural therapy calms, heals and restores survivors of torture on their journey to recovery. And with Freedom from Torture being one of the first horticultural therapy programmes within the United Kingdom, Warland believes that no matter what a person has been through in their life, reengaging with the natural world and the plants and the soils and growing again and reestablishing connections is great for mental wellbeing.

The Freedom from Torture Garden is designed to be a place of sanctuary, of peace and hope where horticultural therapy calms, heals and restores survivors of torture on their journey to recovery

For O’Connell, one of the other reasons to get involved in the garden was that it is strongly plant led. By working with Beth Chatto Gardens and Plants, a nursery that is a leader in its field and has been for many years, O’Connell plans to truly encapsulate the phrase ‘right plant, right place’ throughout the garden.

“Whether that's mind, body, or soul, whether the plants are edible or medicinal, or herbal or so forth, this is for me a really fascinating opportunity to be able to get under the skin of the horticulture within the design,” says O’Connell.

With sustainability being more important than ever at this year’s Chelsea, all the materials used on O’Connell and Warland’s garden, which is being built by Living Landscapes, will be reused, recycled, or self-sustaining. O’Connell hopes that this will be clear to the visitors at Chelsea.

The garden is due to be relocated after the show to Finsbury Park in north London, where it will be used as part of Freedom from Torture’s cultural therapy programme at the charity’s headquarters and used as a place for its clients to go to see the community. With plans to include a bread oven into the design of the garden once rehomed, it can be used as a functional space for the group of aspiring bakers to share together.

At this stage in the process, O’Connell and Warland estimate to be 90% complete in terms of the plans and are now busy working with the growers to establish their seedlings. It has taken a while to get to this point, though.

If you want to do it, just get out there and do it. Take every opportunity that comes your way and have fun with it

Emma O’Connell, Emma O’Connell Garden Design

“In terms of Project Giving back, the project rolls on for up to two years to establish the garden in its fullness.

So overall, it's probably, for each project given that guidance, a four-year project end to end, I imagine.”

From winning a chance to attend the Royal preview of the Chelsea Flower Show in 1992, to now designing her first garden for the 2024 show, O’Connell has come full circle and is excited to be teaming up with Warland. She offers a few words of wisdom to up-and-coming aspiring designers: “If you want to do it, just get out there and do it. Take every opportunity that comes your way and have fun with it. Anything is possible.” O’Connell is proof of that, and together with Warland will be creating a lasting legacy with the Freedom from Torture Garden.

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Kingston Landscape Group has found its “sweet spot" and is reaping the rewards

WORDS: NINA MASON

ROSES Coming up

Kingston Landscape Group (KLG) is just two years away from celebrating four decades in the industry. The London-based landscape contractor has spent that time building a glowing reputation, with enviable clients and a personable approach with its employees.

It took another step in its growth towards the end of last year when it moved its office staff into a new headquarters in Egham, Surrey. It had outgrown its rented site in Whitton and decided it was time to purchase a new office. Before this, KLG had been operating out of a series of site cabins which managing director Steve Evans compares to

AND ABIGAIL EVANS

a train, where he’d be in one carriage at the end and would have to walk down the carriages to speak to different teams.

Moving all the office staff under one roof allows for better communication and a more efficient business, says Evan’s wife Abi, who runs the company’s Otter Nursery in Ottershaw. “We bought this for the staff to give them as much security as we can. We needed the space and we needed to give them a better environment.”

With recruitment being so hard at the moment amidst an industry-wide skills shortage, companies need to do everything they can to attract candidates, says Abi – and retain them too. Most of those in management positions have been with KLG for around 15 years, working their way up the ranks.

22 years; he started as a gardener and is now our senior contracts manager. Ishan Hosali, operations manager, also celebrated 20 years with KLG in 2022. And a lot of the nursery staff have been at Otter Nursery since we bought the site. So, staff culture is really important to us,” explains Evans.

We’re better equipped than we’ve ever been – all the things that we have striven for over the years are there and in place, as long as there’s work to do

There are now 75 full-time members of staff, 25% of which are female, and Evans and Abi both work from the Egham office rather than from home or another location. They build a ‘family feel’ to the business through events such as the annual bonfire and fireworks display which staff and their families are all invited to attend, an event which has grown in size with the company.

“Virtually everyone, apart from the accounts team, started off on the tools and have all progressed. Simon Whitlock has been here for

“The money hasn’t always been there, we have struggled at times, as all businesses do; but now that things are really coming to

STEVE

fruition and we’re turning over more money – £15m for 2023 – we are able to offer all staff attendance bonuses, private healthcare, birthday vouchers, and put funds behind staff training.”

It might come as a surprise to some to hear that a commercial landscaping company is thriving at the moment. In 2022, big industry players including Cultura and Kings Landscapes went under, and towards the end of last year, DF Clark also went into liquidation.

“That’s quite sobering, isn't it? When you operate in a market where people are going bust,” says Evans, who suspects late payments are likely to be one of the biggest causes of these companies’ struggles. The margins are tight in commercial landscaping. “You just have to be on it. We have credit control meetings twice a month and we keep an eye on everything. The minute something is overdue, we’re on the phone chasing it. If housebuilders are not selling houses, then the only way they can keep going is delaying those payments.”

And it has been a difficult few months for housebuilders. At the start of this year, Aberdeen based housebuilder Stewart Milne Group fell into administration, sparking fresh fears for the sector. Not long after that, British housebuilder Persimmon revealed its new home completions were down by a third (33%) and it anticipates that market conditions will remain “highly uncertain” in 2024.

“It’s doom and gloom in the housebuilding sector, but we’ve never been busier,” says Evans. “Our year-on-year turnover is going up. It’s because the houses have been built and they’re not going to get to that point and not put in the gardens. This year might be different; ‘stay alive ‘til 25,’ that’s what people are saying. But we have around £8m worth of work guaranteed this year. We’re better equipped than we’ve ever been; all the things that we have striven for over the years are there and in place, as long as there’s work to do.”

Fortunately, KLG’s client base is not solely housebuilders and hasn’t been since the

2008 recession encouraged the company to diversify. “All of a sudden, we found that we were working for more civil contractors, working on hospitals and that type of work. It was great, and when the housing market came back in, we retained all those clients too. We’ve kept both of those going since. We now do a lot of work in hospitals, schools, parks and for local authorities.

“We’re in a sweet spot in what we do and the size of the projects we take on. The jobs we do are too big for the one-man-bands and we’re not competing against the big companies, so there’s a swathe of work in the middle which is ideal for us.”

And while there might be macroeconomic factors at play, people still want to invest in London, says Evans. KLG is working on an array of projects across the capital, including the 53-acre masterplan being delivered at Canada Water over the next 12 years for Rochford Construction, on behalf of its client British Land. The masterplan will transform the area into a new town centre, with 35% being public open space, including a 3.5-acre park, revitalised wetlands and a new town square. Then there’s the phase three works for Hallsville Quarter, a new £600m town centre that is part of a £3.7bn regeneration project in Canning Town and Custom House in East London.

Evans says the company was also proud to be involved in the landscaping for The Oak Cancer Centre, a new research and treatment facility at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, which was opened back in June by HRH Prince William. It supplied and installed around 40 trees and more than 6,000 plants.

It has three London-based projects that have been shortlisted for the 2024 APL Awards too, with the winners to be announced in March: the Brentford Project in Hounslow for

NINE ELMS, VAUXHALL

HANOVER SQUARE, LONDON PHOTO COURTESY OF EUROPLANTERS LTD

Ballymore, where KLG built a second-floor podium garden; a mixed-use development called High Street Quarter, also in Hounslow, for Barratt London; and a remembrance garden for the North East Surrey Crematorium for the Royal Borough of Richmond and Wandsworth Borough Council.

KLG also takes on work further afield in the surrounding counties. For instance, it’s working on The Landing in Maidenhead, a £250m regeneration in the town centre where KLG is carrying out the soft landscaping for the ground floor, three podium areas and for high-rise terraces.

It continues to grow its client base whilst retaining key clients; two of the largest housebuilders in the UK, Berkeley Group and Barratts, have been with KLG almost from the start. From the outset, Evans wanted to work for commercial clients. He founded the business back in 1986 using Margaret Thatcher’s Enterprise Allowance Scheme. It guaranteed an income of £40 per week for those who were unemployed to set up a business – providing they had £1000 in the bank and a suitable business plan, which Evans did. He joined the likes of the founders of Superdry and Creation Records, as well as artist Tracey Emin, in taking advantage of the Conservative’s scheme and making it a success.

Evans started off by operating at home before acquiring a dedicated business premise, with a team of around five people. As the company grew and took on bigger clients, it leased a new site in Whitton in 2001 to use as office and yard space, and in time opened Sempervirens Plant Centre which is still trading strong today.

The jobs we do are too big for the one-man-bands and we’re not competing against the big companies, so there’s a swathe of work in the middle which is ideal for us

Sixteen years ago, KLG also acquired the 18-acre Otter Nursery in Ottershaw, which Abi has been running. She joined the business from a background in recruitment.“I said I’d come and help with the marketing for a while – and that was 20 years ago! I did the marketing, then I ran the nursery at Twickenham and then we acquired Otter Nursery for a different location.

At Twickenham, we weren’t growing any plants, so Otter Nursery enabled us to grow plants as well as have a facility to sell landscaping supplies.”

It made a difference on the client side, enabling KLG to respond more effectively to demanding clients. “The quality is better as well because we’re seeing the plants before they go to site,” says Abi, who says the nursery is now trialling peat-free alternatives ahead of

the ban coming into effect.

Needless to say, whilst it offers both hard and soft landscaping, KLG focuses more on the soft. “I genuinely like plants and nature, and it gives us an advantage,” says Evans.“A lot of clients bundle hard and soft landscaping into one, and we’ve had to take on a certain amount of hard landscaping to qualify for these jobs; but there are less and less people who know about plants. That’s why it’s really important that the people we have who are good at setting out and caring for plants pass on their knowledge to the new people coming through.”

KLG has around two to four apprentices at any one time, for instance, who can benefit from its knowledge and staff culture. “They’ll work with people who have been here for a long time, and that’s invaluable to them.” There’s a variety of work too, both on the domestic side – which makes up 20% of the business – and the commercial side, where there are plenty of opportunities going into this year, such as the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain legislation in January, a push to regenerate brownfield sites, and a seemingly better appreciation of the value green space can add to a development. There’s also talk by the Labour party of encroaching on the green belt to meet housing demands.

So, overall, the outlook from KLG is a positive one. “We have a good name that people know and recognise, we have a good reputation,” says Abi. The company has worked for a long time to get to this position, adds Evans. “Now, it’s bearing fruit. Our service is good, and we retain our clients, so if there is even a little bit of economic activity out there, those people will come to us,” putting KLG in a prime position to continue to prosper.

DICKENS YARDS: WINNER OF BALI PRINCIPAL AWARD 2017

ABI, ISHAN AND SIMON IN EARLY 2000

WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN

Celebrating 30 years of great successes and stories, PC Landscapes continues to prepare for its future whilst reminiscing those everlasting achievements

AND THRIVINGThirty

From a childhood hobby to head gardener at a private estate in Yorkshire, a trip to Chelsea Flower Show in the late eighties led Paul Cowell to move south to study at Merrist Wood college in 1990. Soon after, Cowell became a sole trader and the embryo of PC Landscapes Ltd was born. Sub-contracting for Chelsea designers such as Stephen Woodhams gave Cowell further opportunity to develop, and joining both the SGD and BALI provided that additional momentum for both business and self-development.

Now celebrating 30 years of the company, Cowell has truly made his mark, with an extensive list of achievements to be proud of. After creating a timeline of events and pinpointing a small selection of these achievements, Cowell shares how “they’re all important to me” from achieving an RHS Gold medal, Best in Category and the Best Construction Award, to meeting King Charles at the unveiling of a garden they built to mention just a few.

PC Landscapes has continued to work on several RHS show gardens over the years, which

We never really set out to be a ‘show garden type of company’ but looking back, it's mad to think how many we’ve had a hand in!

somewhat surprised Cowell; “we never really set out to be a ‘show garden type of company' but looking back, it’s surprising to think how many we’ve been involved with.”

In the third year of college, Cowell became foreman to build ‘The Drought Resistant Garden’ for Merrist Wood College in 1993 at RHS Chelsea. This garden presciently highlighted the concerns of climate change.

As the business developed, designers at PC Landscapes created additional climate focused schemes, such as Anita Smith for the ‘Gambling Environments’ Garden at Hampton Court in 2008, followed by Charlotte Murrell in 2014 on the ‘Ocean Spray’ garden also at Hampton Court, and then for the ‘Extending Space’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2014. After winning silver gilt across the board, 2019 then presented them with the gold medal, Best in Category and Best Construction for the company’s ‘Stop and Pause’ garden, designed by Dave Green. Repeating and reinforcing the same sustainable techniques across all gardens, PC Landscapes continues to lead the way with its outlook on working towards a sustainable future.

“Show gardens are a great adrenaline rush in many ways, with so many important messages that highlight a large number of great causes but also a great place to demonstrate how we can be innovative in the face of climate change,” says Cowell, who

1 The Stop and Pause Garden at Hampton Court: triple winner

2 Op ening ceremony for Exbury centenary garden by Balston Agius

3 Wide view across the BALI Award-winning Exbury garden

PC LANDSCAPES THROUGHOUT 30 YEARS

• Paul Cowell is foreman on the 1993 drought resistant garden for Merrist Wood College winning a silver medal. It’s a garden that highlights plants that are more drought tolerant –a low waste garden that is rebuilt back at the college.

• In 2005, PC Landscapes wins its first British Association of Landscape Industries Principal Award for a Guildford Garden that re-used existing stone, soil, incorporating water harvesting. It is its first Design and Build BALI award.

• In 2008 PC Landscapes builds a show garden at Hampton Court – Gambling Environments by Anita Smith, designer at PC Landscapes. This is a re-use, recycle garden winning a Silver-gilt. It is then relocated at Elstead school, Surrey.

• In 2010 Cowell attended a symposium on biodiversity during the international year of biodiversity in London. It is a pivotal moment, leading to IEMA environment management training and the start of his chartership training.

• Between 2010-2012 Cowell becomes British Association of Landscape Industries national chairman and attends APPGHG meetings to lobby government on behalf of the landscape industry.

• In 2013 PC Landscapes wins one of several British Association of Landscape Industries awards it’s achieved for a favourite garden in Farnham, using natural stone walling, water harvesting, soil re-use, wildflower planting. It is its first award building for another designer, Andy Sturgeon.

• 2014-2016 On behalf of British Association of Landscape Industries, Cowell assists in the development of cross industry certificate of water conservation with Water UK, the Horticultural Trades Association, British Association of Landscape Industries, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Institute of Groundsmanship, and the Society of Garden Designers.

• In 2017 PC Landscapes gained ISO 9001 & 14001 accreditation.

• In 2019 a British Association of Landscape Industries Award is won for Exbury garden by Balston Agius, which was opened by Prince Charles. It includes onsite water management, natural stone, and UK-sourced diverse planting areas.

• In 2023, PC Landscapes undertakes IEMA training on sustainability training for all the team.

• PC Landscapes is shortlisted for a Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Award in 2023

currently sits on the RHS sustainability panel and has been an RHS judge for the last eight years.

But with PC Landscapes its day-to-day work is focusing on residential gardens, working collaboratively with architects, drainage engineers and ecologists, these typical processes can be lengthy and drawn out depending upon the project. “There's lots of planning, lots of toing and froing to ensure you've got everything in place” says Cowell. But collaboration is where Cowell sees the greatest benefits that have allowed the company to thrive.

Cowell discovered early on the benefits of interacting within the wider landscape industry. “It's always nice to work with others. Having those external collaborations provides the opportunity for a fresh perspective and new conversations,” notes Cowell.

Winning its first British Association of Landscape Industries’ Principal Award in 2005 for a Guildford Garden, reusing existing stone, soil, and incorporating a water harvesting system became PC Landscapes’ first design and build award, but by no means the last.

Cowell realised that offering residential clients a complete design and build package for everything outside a building’s footprint worked well when working with architects. This allowed the company to have a greater flexibility on how we deliver a project, it's important for all areas of the design and construction team to be “singing from the same hymn sheet.”

And this is just one of the life lessons that Cowell reflects on over his 30 years. “Transferring the knowledge that I’ve acquired back to my team and colleagues, sharing experiences and stories, that’s what makes the projects more enjoyable,” he says.

"PC Landscapes are a small professional company of which has grown organically," notes Cowell, who takes great pride in the ways in

which he has always invested in his colleagues by providing encouragement, support and additional training, making the decision to assist his team where possible by upgrading all aspects of machinery, office equipment and software so that they can achieve their best whilst providing a great service.

Looking to the future of PC Landscapes, the team is busy working towards a rebrand and relaunch of its website with regards to its look, new logo, and overall presentation. Cowell acknowledges that change is inevitable and “being 30 has allowed a brief moment of reflection” but Cowell is determined to portray the business as being exactly what its achievements would suggest – 30 never looked so good.

4 PC Landscapes sustainability project entry, 2023

5 2005 Guildford garden: PC's first BALI principal award winner

AS K THE EXPERTS

How can I avoid underpricing when I’m trying to build my portfolio?

Jake Catling shares how to balance portfolio growth and finances

How can I avoid the pricing pitfalls when trying to build my portfolio? This is a question

I've been asking myself since the very beginning. You really want to win projects that are going to be eye-catching and thought-provoking to clients.

The truth is that you're trying to attract more of that type of work.

It's easy to be lured by the allure of a visually stunning or substantial project, leading us to the perilous path of "buying work" through underpricing. Yet, this approach carries substantial risks. While the prospect of adding a coveted project to your portfolio is exciting, if the delivery falters, the entire effort could be in vain. So, how can we capture those attention-grabbing projects without jeopardising our financial standing?

That intriguing project you're eager to tackle may be tempting, but always analyse the numbers first. Avoid going in blindly

may be tempting, but always analyse the numbers first. Avoid going in blindly; be competitive in your pricing but ground your decisions in facts rather than emotion. Trust in the process and stay the course. This is the safest way to build your portfolio. But for the bold, let’s now delve into the realm of small show gardens – an area where a slightly different approach may be warranted. Why? Show gardens command attention on the big stage so they will have a higher yield of return and they often serve a greater purpose which I believe is something to always keep in mind. They have fixed timelines and budgets, so the parameters are set which helps with analysing risk. So, engaging in this discipline can be a strategic move for your portfolio.

The panel

HOLLY YOUDE

Chair of the APL, Holly Youde, is a director at Urban Landscape Design in the North West and The Landscape Academy, a purpose built training centre dedicated to landscaping in the UK.

JAKE CATLING

Jake founded his domestic landscaping company, The Landscaping Consultants, aged just 24. He is now a BALI board director and the BALI South Thames chairman, and has delivered various awardwinning gardens and outdoor spaces.

KEN WHITE

Ken White, former chairman of the APL, leads the multi-award-winning Frosts Landscape Construction, which carries out large commercial and private estate projects across the UK.

When contemplating a project and envisioning it in your portfolio, a critical question arises:

How much do you truly want it?

What would the cost be that I am willing to incur from the business, considering the potential future returns, or should you be looking at a competitive pricing strategy instead? Only the individual can answer that question.

In the realm of everyday projects, cultivating patience is key to successful portfolio growth.

That intriguing project you're eager to tackle

Notice I use the word ‘discipline’ because show gardens are a different beast altogether and are not like delivering a residential project. But for portfolio growth, they can be excellent if you can cover all project costs and allow for a contingency to mitigate risks. It's a feasible route for some companies.

However, exercise caution. As mentioned above show gardens are not straightforward. There are a lot of moving parts, a huge amount of pre-planning is needed, and all eyes are on you and the stakes are higher. A stumble on the stage is witnessed by all. So, before stepping into the spotlight, ensure you have a solid delivery team and meticulously account for every cost. The success of your show garden venture hinges on collaboration, careful planning, budget control and execution.

ROSEMARY COLDSTREAM

Rosemary has won numerous awards for her work, creating high-quality gardens for both domestic and commercial clients. She is a fully registered member of the SGD and sits on the board of directors at BALI.

SARAH EBERLE

Chelsea’s most decorated designer boasts a collection of RHS medals and is a member of the LI, SGD and the Institute of Horticulture. Sarah strives to create as sustainable gardens as possible.

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12 February 2024

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Awards ceremony: friday 19 april 2024

HIGH-PERFORMING TEAM How to build a

There are more benefits from a high-performing team than you might think – Neil Stead shares his tips for getting the most from your team whilst helping them meet their own goals

Why do some teams perform better than others? What sets these teams apart from the rest? Constructing a high-performing team is more than simply assembling a group of talented individuals with the right skills; it involves deliberate investment and development to generate the traits, behaviours, and best practices that help the individual to develop and your business to succeed.

A landscaping business requires a really collaborative working environment, and a high-performing team will stand out as the driver for greater business success. Not only will these teams more often than not exceed expectations, but they can bring a number of other advantages to the table, with increased profitability being a key outcome!

Key benefits of a high-performing team

The best performing teams are known for their efficiency in achieving goals by working together seamlessly and leveraging each other’s strengths. They complete tasks and projects more quickly and effectively, leading to increased productivity

These teams often foster a culture of innovation, bringing diverse perspectives and creative solutions to various challenges. This approach can lead to the development of new ways of working or more efficient processes, positively impacting your bottom line.

A high-performing team will contribute to a more positive work environment. If your employees are part of such a team, then they are likely to be more engaged, satisfied, and motivated. This, in turn, can reduce staff turnover and your recruitment costs.

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to adapt to change is crucial. High-performing teams are often more agile and responsive, ensuring that your business can navigate challenges and capitalise on opportunities swiftly, which can positively affect profitability.

Building a high-performing team doesn’t happen overnight. It takes commitment and an investment in continuous growth and development. Here’s some ideas to help get you started.

A shared purpose

For your staff to connect with your business, a shared purpose is crucial. This is where the significance of your vision, values and goals comes to the forefront.

Leaders of high-performing teams understand their ‘why’ - the direction they are looking to take their business. They understand their ‘what’ - exactly what they do and who they do it for. They understand their ‘how’ - their core values and guiding principles. These all help a group of people function together as a team and work towards a common business goal.

These should be regularly communicated with your team, ensuring they are clear on your vision, goals and progress. Additionally, make time for one-to-one conversations to monitor individual staff progress, align your key priorities, and verify that their work is in line with your own vision, values and team goals.

Doing this not only encourages an individual sense of purpose, but also ensures that the team collectively pulls in the same direction to enhance your business performance.

Encourage decision making at all levels

High-performing teams are empowered to make decisions, take ownership of their tasks, and are not hesitant to introduce new ideas or solutions.

Rather than feeling apprehensive, the business owner acknowledges that encouraging employees to take initiative whenever they identify opportunities is the most effective way to achieve peak performance.

Nurturing a sense of ownership and accountability will cultivate a culture of trust and empowerment.

Keep in mind that recognising these contributions regularly can help your employees to understand how their work is positively impacting the business. This leads us to…

Building a high-performing team doesn’t happen overnight. It takes commitment and an investment in continuous growth and development

Rewards and recognition

Acknowledging and celebrating individual and team accomplishments is essential for cultivating and sustaining a high-performing team. Recognition and rewards will elevate morale and inspire team members to strive for excellence.

You should take time to regularly express your appreciation to recognise the efforts of your team. A quick one-to-one provides a great opportunity for you to show your appreciation –it doesn’t take much to say “thank-you”.

Keep in mind though that the business owner is not the sole participant

in delivering recognition. You should encourage team members to acknowledge and appreciate each other's contributions, in turn developing a positive and engaging workplace at every level.

Employee growth & development

To consistently achieve exceptional results, you should develop a culture of continuous learning and improvement, creating team members that want to learn and grow.

When teams consistently expand their knowledge and learn from past errors, they become more effective, efficient, and innovative. And you can elevate team performance by investing in the growth and development of your employees. Take the time to talk to your staff to identify their own development and training thoughts and create a plan that addresses both the needs of your business and the aims of the individual. Supporting their development will contribute to their increased motivation, empowerment, and better-equip them to excel in their role. The landscape industry has a number

of excellent resources available that are dedicated to providing courses that are tailored for the training of professional garden designers, landscapers, installers, and gardeners. These include TASK Academy, The Landscape Academy and Holly Landscape & Training.

In summary

The strategic investment in building and maintaining a high-performing team is a pivotal driver for enhancing the overall profitability and sustainability of your business. By deliberately placing focus on creating and nurturing a team that excels in efficiency, innovation, and collaboration, you are setting yourself up for success. And the positive impact can extend beyond immediate financial gain – it encompasses employee satisfaction, heightened creativity and adaptability.

By embracing the notion that a high-performing team is a valuable asset, businesses can fortify their foundations, ensuring longevity and resilience in an ever-evolving business landscape.

NEIL STEAD

Neil is a business consultant, coach, advisor and sounding board, who spent 30 years working for one of the UK's most-trusted brands. In 2021 he set up Steady Consulting to work with the owners of small and medium sized businesses and help them to build a better business – for their customers, for their employees and, perhaps more importantly, for them. He now specialises his services to the horticulture and landscape industry where he provides expert, hands-on guidance, advice and support – tailored to the needs of the individual business. steadyconsulting.co.uk

In with the NEW

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, technological advancements play a crucial role in driving productivity, efficiency and safety in the workplace. Introducing new equipment can bring about transformative changes and enable employees to perform their tasks more effectively. So, what considerations should businesses take into account during this process?

Employers’ duty

Employers have a general duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees.

To maintain health and safety, employers are required to ensure that all workers receive adequate training when using work equipment, including appropriate techniques, potential hazards associated with it, and necessary safeguards. These requirements can vary depending on the job, existing competence of workers, circumstances of the work (i.e. degree of supervision) and work equipment.

Improved safety standards

Careful planning, effective communication, and compliance with regulations are crucial to ensure a successful implementation

Upgrading equipment with improved safety features or replacing outdated machinery with more reliable options reduces the risk of accidents and injuries. For instance, industries such as construction or manufacturing can benefit from using advanced personal protective equipment, automated safety systems or machinery designed to minimise physical strain on workers.

Considerations for introducing new equipment

If competent internal staff provide training, it should be done so to the level required to guarantee health and safety. They should possess the necessary experience, knowledge, and expertise to put the training into context. They must also be able to evaluate the acquired skills.

Training should be carried out in the course of working hours at no cost to the employees and if the training is to take place outside their normal working hours, it should be considered as an extension of their working time.

Furthermore, employers should make sure to provide further training in response to changes in the work system or new equipment.

While the benefits of introducing new equipment are evident, employers must consider several factors to ensure a smooth transition:

Conduct a thorough needs analysis: Before investing in new equipment, businesses should assess their specific requirements, such as operational needs, budget, and potential return on investment.

Plan for implementation and training: This will minimise disruptions and maximise the benefits of the new equipment. Adequate training programmes should be provided to ensure employees are proficient in using the technology effectively and safely.

There are plenty of benefits to introducing new equipment at work, and Danielle Ryu explains what you need to consider when you do so

Compliance with regulations: Ensure that the new equipment complies with relevant health and safety regulations and any industry-specific standards. Also, get advice if you are not sure on your policies and procedures.

Communication and change management: Clearly articulate the reasons for introducing new equipment, address any concerns and highlight the potential benefits for both the organisation and its employees.

Maintenance and support: Establish a system for ongoing maintenance and technical support to ensure the new equipment remains in optimal condition.

Introducing new equipment at work can bring numerous benefits for businesses. Careful planning, effective communication, and compliance with regulations are crucial to ensure a successful implementation. By embracing technological advancements and investing in modern equipment, businesses can position for success in an increasingly competitive marketplace while fostering a safe and productive work environment.

ORACLE SOLICITORS

Oracle Solicitors is an awardwinning law firm with a deep understanding of the landscape industry and expertise in employment, commercial, litigation, property and contract law. Oracle Solicitors, founded in 2002 has since grown to include offices in London, Belfast, Dublin, Frankfurt, Naples, Tirana and Poznan – please visit: oraclesolicitors.co.uk

Bespoke British Made Outdoor Kitchens

Combining style with extreme durability, KönigOutdoor kitchen cabinetry is created using sintered stone external surfaces and an internal weatherproof structure.

Each KönigOutdoor kitchen is made to order in Britain with turnkey advice and support available from design through to aftercare for you and your client.

www.konigoutdoor.co.uk

Kitchen design by Stevens Design Refurbishment & Build

If you were to ask all the landscapers in the UK what their biggest challenge of 2023 was, I reckon at least 80% would say the weather and the constant rain. It wasn’t uncommon in the past year to experience three solid working days of rain in a week – and in some cases more.

Now, we all know you can't beat the weather, but there are things we can do to mitigate the various problems it can cause the landscaper. Here are some of the common wet weather issues I’ve come across over the years.

Firstly, wet spells are going to slow down your current project, and this in turn affects start dates for future clients.

Weathering A STORM

As storms such as Henk batter parts of the UK, Gareth Wilson offers guidance on how to avoid the bad weather ruining a project

always be protected. It is also worth noting that any ply sheets on a lawn should be lifted every two days – in the morning – and replaced to allow the grass to breathe overnight. Don’t find yourself incurring an extra cost of relaying the client’s lawn!

Your site should always be a safe place to work, but in poor weather conditions, keeping a site safe becomes more challenging. Ensuring all your tools are 110 or battery powered, and all your RAMS and a CDM are in place, is standard procedure, but extra care should be taken where clients enter and exit the property.

Do not be tempted to rush finishing touches during poor weather to get a job finished. I've seen it tried many times and it usually fails

Communication here is key. Keep your current client up to date on when their project is likely to finish and keep future clients in the loop as to when their project is likely to start.

Keeping a site clean can become a full-time job in relentless rain, but a few rolls of Visqueen and ply sheets can save you a lot of headache with clients. Areas such as driveways, pathways, existing patios and lawns should

Storing materials such as timber deck joists to ensure they are kept dry is essential, as saturated timber is likely to shrink and warp as it dries out and this can lead to significant issues down the line with your deck and a costly reinstallation at your expense.

Do not be tempted to rush finishing touches during poor weather to get a job finished. I've seen it tried many times and it usually fails. For example, grout installation

– depending on the chosen jointing material to be used – can only be done on dry days.

Planting trees and borders in wet weather is only going to cause major mess and over-compaction of the soil, so again it is better to wait until a suitable time.

A final word of bad weather advice: popup gazebos are often used on site to keep contractors dry, but in high winds they can end up several streets away and cause some costly damage. Make sure they are properly secured and taken down each evening.

Our climate is changing, so we might predict more unpredictable and unruly weather in the future. Nevertheless, I shall cross my fingers for better landscaping weather in 2024!

GARETH WILSON

Leaving college at 17, Gareth has worked in the landscape industry since 1989. Progressing onto high-end projects, he has picked up seven RHS gold medals. He is a member of multiple professional bodies. He provides technical and product advice to large companies, mentors and trains contractors and garden designers in landscape construction and on show gardens logistics across the UK. Gareth also provides mediation services, he is a member of the BS7533:102 committee and is an industry awards judge.

gkwilsonlandscaping.co.uk

Re-Elming Britain with Resista® Elms

Over 50 years of breeding and cross breeding has led to the Resista® Elm range. These have fantastic form, leaf colour, vigour and hardiness and have been bred to be 100% resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Hillier Nurseries are proud to be the sole UK grower and supplier of Resista® Elms consisting of Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, Ulmus Fiorente and Ulmus ‘Rebona’.

Tracing provenence

While they are on the Hillier nursery, each Resista® Elm tree is micro-chipped so they are all traceable. This is important to protect the decades of research and should any problems arise, their provenance can be traced. Tens of thousands of these new resistant Elms have now been planted the length and breadth of the British Isles and in Europe — from Madrid to the Steppes of Russia – with no incident of any succumbing to Dutch Elm Disease.

Protecting an endangered species

A further positive outcome has been the ability of the Elms to become a habitat for the endangered White-letter Hairstreak butterfly that relies on the Elm trees to breed. This once common butterfly experienced a catastrophic decline in population in line with the demise of the native Elm.

Lungs of the city

These Elms screen pollutants out of the air, they easily adapt to urban environment, tolerate stress be it drought, frost, salt, high water, compacted soil – they grow vigorously and they are beautiful: Elms are perfect trees for cities.

Characteristics of Resista® Elms

• 100% resistant to Dutch Elm Disease

• Tolerant of pollution

• Tolerant of salt (making them first class coastal trees)

• Tolerant of drought

• Tolerant of short-term waterlogging

• Very quick establishment

• Fast growing

• Tolerant of weather extremes – hot and cold temperatures

• Great for insects, in particular the endangered White-letter Hairstreak butterfly

Resista® Elm Cultivars

Ulmus ‘Rebona’

Its leaves are a little smaller and darker shades of emerald. This Elm is extremely tolerant of adverse conditions. It will succeed in highly exposed locations, even next to the coast with salt spray.

Ulmus New Horizon

This medium to large tree forms an attractive rounded canopy in maturity. The trunk thickens fast; the dense growing, healthy leaves create a highly aesthetic appearance.

Ulmus ‘Fiorente’

Strikingly beautiful. Its dominant central leader is surrounded by graceful branches that flow and cascade upwards. A hybrid of Ulmus pumila and Ulmus minor.

“IF YOU’RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, GIVE IT EVERYTHING AND DO IT PROPERLY, AND DON’T ACCEPT ANYTHING OTHER THAN GREAT”

Artisan Landscapes is a force to be reckoned with as managing director Will Cooke sets his sights on it being at the very top of the industry

WORDS:

NINA MASON

The goal of Artisan Landscapes has always been to become synonymous with great gardens, and you could argue that it already is. It swept the board at the APL Awards in 2021, winning eight Gold medals and four best in categories, including the Design and Build Award and Designer of the Year. The only year it entered before that, the Bristol-based company submitted just two gardens and won a Gold medal, as well as topping the highest value project category. This initial success fuelled its confidence, says founder and managing director Will Cooke – though the bumper year in 2021 might be hard to top, he admits.

But it’s not all about winning awards to reach its goal. The quality of the landscapes has to be high, as does the customer service. “I would like Artisan Landscapes to be industry leading in all areas of what we do – the landscaping, the designs, every aspect of it. If you were to

think of the best in the industry, I want Artisan to be a name that’s part of that group, and that comes down to process. The client process needs to be as clear and seamless and as personable as possible, one that is as considered and as well engineered as the end result.”

This determination and drive for perfection has been instilled in Cooke since he was a child. “If you’re going to do something, give it everything and do it properly, and don’t accept anything other than great” is the lesson he learned.

He’d always been active, playing rugby and enjoying being outdoors. So, when a neighbour and close family friend needed seasonal help with their landscaping company, Cooke started working for him at just 13 years old.

“And I loved it. It was fortunate that I was only working during the school holidays and hadn’t quite had a winter of minus five and wet weather, but I started learning a bit.

new management or construction techniques or tips for client management. He did go to college, to study for an NVQ in Sport and Recreation, but funding was cut after the first term.

So, Cooke went back to what he knew best – landscaping. “I was still doing it throughout college, and when I finished, I had the opportunity to go work with someone I’d worked with in landscaping before who had started his own company."

He was taking on different projects to what I’d done previously, which had been more small domestic gardens. He was moving more into the commercial sector and staying away from home. "It was a real mixture of work, but I ended up not enjoying the travelling so much and my interest for landscaping started to fade.”

If you were to think of the best in the industry, I want Artisan to be a name that’s part of that group, and that comes down to process

"There’s only so much you can learn during six weeks, so it was a long period of just being a labourer, but at that age you love it; you’re getting paid, you’re outside all day, you’re doing something creative.”

Mainstream education wasn’t particularly enjoyable, says Cooke. The learning itself wasn't the problem though – that's something that Cooke enjoys even now, be it learning

A few years later, he moved to Bristol to join a few friends who were there for university and explored landscaping once again. It was then that he realised that, to truly be immersed in it, he needed to be doing it for himself. “I’d been toying with the idea for a while, when I was working for other companies, where there was no future, no room for progression.

"At that point in my life, I realised typical education hadn't suited me and I wanted to further my career. I was at

a crossroads in my early 20s when my friends were graduating and had all these options in front of them and I didn’t have that –I had to make my own destiny, as cheesy as that sounds.”

That’s why, when Cooke started Artisan Landscapes in 2013, it was always with the ambition of becoming a key industry player. “I was ambitious and driven to build a successful company – and in the beginning that success wasn't necessarily financial. It’s an industry that you go into because you love it, and you get that satisfaction and success from creating amazing spaces and having an interesting approach to the way you do things.

“I had no business experience – other than a window cleaning business when I was 15,” says Cooke, laughing. “Will Cooke Window Cleaning – that was my first foray into entrepreneurship. But I had a friend in marketing who gave me a hand setting up Artisan Landscapes.”

Which is likely why the branding is such a strong part of the business. “It's one of the four most important factors after great gardens, client satisfaction and employee satisfaction. You can see it in other industries, with companies such as Apple – well-known brands with a simple, clean aesthetic and with names that can be shortened to one name. We called the business Artisan Landscapes, but everyone just says ‘Artisan’.”

The name ‘Artisan’ itself was carefully chosen by Cooke, at a time when artisan products such as bread and coffee were becoming more popular. The name and the branding were all chosen to make the company stand out. “I was only 23 at the time, with no portfolio, and social media was still in its infancy. So, the company needed to sound and

feel more established. It’s about building trust, which doesn’t just come from your relationship with a client; it also comes from how that client perceives your company. If you have a name and a brand that feels reliable because it’s been considered and thought through, then that already starts building the trust. It all starts with the branding.”

As Artisan has become more established, the company has made more of a name for itself, and it has a reputation on which to win work. But if it comes down to three companies all vying for work with a similar

offering, Cooke says having a strong brand with a branded van, branded uniforms, branded paperwork and a memorable name can help put you above the rest.

It’s an approach that’s clearly been working for Artisan, which has grown significantly over the last decade.

It has gone from offering solely landscaping – taking on more elaborate projects after it was approached by a local designer to build more creative gardens – to being a design and build company for the last four years or so.

to bring in specialist contractors to support us in delivering the clients dream garden.”

Switching to design and build was another notably pivotal moment for Artisan, taken around the time the covid pandemic struck and the horticulture industry seemed to experience a boom.

It’s an industry that you go into because you love it, and you get that satisfaction and success from creating amazing spaces and having an interesting approach to the way you do things

“Our business doubled in size that year, but it was, up until recently, the most challenging period in the company’s history; it was so unknown, and we’d just taken a leap as a business by becoming design and build and I’d also taken the decision to come off site and employ extra people to the build team.”

Its in-house garden designers – Emma Harrison, Emma Holland and Gaby Pill –are designing around 25 gardens each year, and all that are converted to build are constructed by Artisan. “We predominantly build all our own projects. But as the business is changing, we’ve grown and we’re becoming busier and busier, so it’s becoming more and more realistic

Fortunately, “the phone was ringing nonstop” and “enquiries were off the hook”. About 18 months into the pandemic, the

1 Artisan's first APL award-winning garden

2 Classic courtyard garden in Clifton – APL Gold

3 Artisan's most significant project to date –One acre in Cheltenham

4 Award-winning Japanese-Inspired Sanctuary

build team was then starting to realise all the design work that had come in.

"Everything fell into line, and we were able to manage the influx of work –cautiously at first, because it was only really the design side that was impacted, and then slowly increasing the build team whilst using the options available to us and investing.”

Now that Cooke is officially off the tools, he’s able to focus more on the business rather than working within it and is eager to become more involved in

the industry, something which he hasn’t had the opportunity to do before now. “I haven’t felt like I’ve had the headspace to think about anything but the business.

"If we’d stopped growing, say, four years ago, then I would have been more engaged with the broader industry much earlier on; that’s a bit of a catch 22, because if I had spent more time focusing on the industry as well as the business, the business would have benefitted.

If you have a name and a brand that feels reliable because it’s been considered and thought through, then that already starts building the trust. It all starts with the branding

"I would have made more connections, gotten more insight from talking to the right people, or developed my own skillset. Now, I want

to be able to be more of a contributor to the industry.”

Artisan Landscapes is already a member of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). This was “an early goal for the company”, says Cooke – to become accredited and show clients that it was working to a code of practice and that its quality of work had been vetted by the leading industry bodies.

It’s paid off too, says Cooke. Its initial success at the APL Awards, for instance, led to Artisan being asked to be involved in the The Perennial Lifeline Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, designed by Colm Joseph and Duncan Cargill. Ross Conquest, now a friend of Cooke’s, was the main contractor. “I really enjoyed that; you feel like you’re in the landscaping Olympics; the best landscapers and best designers in the world are there.”

Artisan’s BALI membership is a more recent achievement and milestone as Artisan started to take on high value schemes. “What the APL does fantastically is it represents from grassroots up and it has a core membership of those smaller organisations, helping them to establish their values, principles and process.

"But as we've grown, we're now looking to the bigger companies for inspiration about how to operate, manage, and process the way that we do things, so a bit more of a top-down insight from BALI. Every year, we

undertake projects ranging from £40,000 to more than £300k, so we’re edging towards the BALI award categories and projects; you’re considered more in line with the more established, well-known pillars of the landscaping industry.”

Now that Cooke is well on his way to achieving his goals from when he founded the company, he wants to offer the career opportunities that were not available to him previously. “Upskilling is really important, and our performance matrix enables us to provide progression. You see it within the team, not just from a skills perspective but what upskilling does for morale and enthusiasm.

"One of the reasons I set up Artisan was that I felt stagnant in a lot of roles – and that’s not down to those companies, but the nature of the industry, where it’s difficult for small companies to be forward thinking and facilitate up-and-coming members of the team when there’s no path for progression.”

We're now looking to the bigger companies for inspiration about how to operate, manage, and process the way that we do things

makes a difference. It’s now perceived as more highly skilled, and Cooke thinks part of that is because the industry is arguably more highly skilled now than ever.

Over the last 10 years, the industry has grown and improved, and the industry awards successfully showcase this.

win, which is great; it shows that the calibre is being increased.”

Artisan itself is eager to play a part in pushing up those standards, especially now that Cooke is solely office based. Nothing is set in stone yet, but current considerations for the future include hiring additional staff members to help with project management and other administrative support.

Company health – financially and in terms of employee satisfaction – are therefore particularly high up on Cooke’s list of priorities. “To make sure that everyone feels that they have a place and that they feel rewarded, that they feel that there’s a route for them here and an opportunity above just doing their job, that they feel that they are a contributor to the company’s success, is so important.”

The often mentioned industry-wide skills shortage still makes recruitment an issue at all levels, says Cooke. The other big challenge Artisan faces is the weather, especially as its projects have grown: “When you’re doing a small town garden, you can mitigate the weather to some degree; you can tent over things, use protective matting, work around a smaller space.

"Once you go up to much larger projects and you’re dealing with thousands of square metres of open soil and excavations, then two days of heavy rain can turn the whole site into a bog."

It’s about managing client expectations, suggests Cooke. Landscaping is more widely appreciated in the present day as a legitimate trade though, he adds – and that

“If you look at the top landscaping or design projects from a few years ago, most would be from a well-known designer or landscape company; now, it seems like more and more small companies and lesser-known designers are meeting those premier standards – the standard has been lifted within the industry. The awards are becoming more difficult to

“Then I am purely focused on developing the business, which is sort of a new passion for me; building and designing amazing gardens will always be the primary passion but now I also get my kicks out of developing processes.”

He avoids micromanagement by having a clear set of values and principles for how Artisan interacts with clients and for its build team, which all plays into working towards becoming one of the industry leaders. “I keep referencing Apple, where there’s a certain expectation that people have of them; people buy into them, not necessarily because of the quality of the phones, but because of what they’re buying into. I want Artisan's clients to have that same experience and relationship with us.”

So, expect Artisan to continue striving to maintain its award-winning status, be that for its projects or its business practices, and expect to see Artisan’s name at Chelsea one day. Cooke himself is bursting with ambition, and after everything he has achieved already in 10 years of running the company, there’s nothing to suggest he won’t become synonymous with the best of the industry.

5 Corten water feature/Shou Sugi Ban cladding

6 Family town garden in Cotham, Bristol

7 The Artisan team

8 Artisan's first APL award-winning garden

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ADAM VETERE AND JJH LANDSCAPES A JAPANESE-INSPIRED GARDEN

Acomplete redesign of a south-facing, rear garden into a sustainable, modern, and beautiful Japanese-inspired space. The client had a significant love and appreciation of traditional Japanese design, which would form part of the design inspiration for a more contemporary take on traditional Japanese moss gardens, rock gardens and Ikebana flower arrangements. At the design phase, Adam Vetere extracted the beauty of traditional Japanese gardens and represented it in

PROJECT DETAILS

Project value

£28k

Build time

6 weeks

Size of project 30m2

a modern, minimalist style, leveraging the contrast of rocks and greenery. The underlying geometry of the design was further inspired by the offset nature of a ‘Yatsuhashi’ bridge – a traditional form of footbridge in Japan.

Whilst enjoying views of the garden from the sitting room, the current garden design did little to entice the client to want to spend time in it. She rarely ventured into the garden and as a result the space became increasingly ‘soulless’.

Having previously been professionally landscaped as a Japanese-style garden 10 years prior, the client expressed her disappointment with the design and how it did not fully meet her needs. It was important therefore for the redesign to offer seating areas and vistas from which to enjoy the

tranquillity of the outdoor space. In turn, a small water feature and lighting to enjoy the space into the evening was also requested.

Recycling and reusing the materials from the current garden was imperative, as being as environmentally friendly/sustainable as possible was a core value for the client. The target was to recycle and reuse 80-90% of the existing hard landscaping materials, retaining the statues and garden ornaments which had sentimental value. Some of the existing plants and pots would also need to be considered for inclusion in the redesign.

The client spoke of how increasing biodiversity within the space was hugely important, so the soft landscaping areas within the garden would be increased. Maintenance of the redesigned garden needed to be relatively low and simple, although the client was very happy to weed and prune the trees, shrubs, and perennials.

When taking on the project, JJH Landscapes arrived to find a small, wooden deck constructed from the conservatory into the outdoor space, with a paved area sited

towards the end of the garden. A 'magatama'shaped lawn edged with setts ran through the centre of the garden, where a pathway of round stepping-stones intersected, leading to the back gate. The rest of the garden was filled with pebbles and rocks of varying sizes. Relatively obtrusive, ground level outdoor lighting and strategically placed lanterns provided some light in the garden.

The planting in the garden was overwhelmed by the existing bamboo and pine tree. The bamboos had spread throughout the garden, lifting the existing hard landscaping and beyond the client’s curtilage into the neighbouring gardens and common land to the rear of the garden. The pine tree had outgrown the space, blocking light into the client’s conservatory.

In general, the diversity of the existing planting was low and there was little reason for wildlife to venture into the garden.

At the beginning of the construction phase, JJH Landscapes set about clearing the site, carefully setting aside over 85% of the client’s existing hard landscaping materials such as stepping-stones, setts, rocks, pebbles and cobbles. These would be recycled and reused in the redesign, as were the client’s statues, garden ornaments and some existing plants.

The existing, rotting fence posts and panels were replaced with duraposts and feather edged panelling. The posts were

chosen for their longevity and sustainability. The panelling was painted black to aid longevity, to make the garden appear larger and to later showcase the planting and the client’s Japanese ornaments.

The client’s existing rotting decking was removed and replaced with London Stone Jura Grey porcelain paving, chosen for its high quality, durability, and high anti-slip rating. It was also selected for its natural appearance, which mimics natural stone in terms of texture and variation. The limestone effect of the porcelain added a natural softness to this contemporary take on a traditional Japanese garden.

JJH Landscapes introduced a rock seating area and further flexible seating areas within the garden, so the space could be enjoyed from different vantage points. The limestone sitting rock, sourced from a redundant quarry in Somerset, was carefully selected to be both functional and to complement the muted tones of the porcelain paving and recycled hard landscaping materials. Incorporating rock is an essential element in Japanese garden design.

A small, Corten steel, water bowl was installed for visual appreciation and a rock water feature (from an existing rock) was created, with circulating water for sound.

Inobtrusive lighting was installed throughout to the garden to uplight the

specimen and cloud pruned trees, so that the garden could be enjoyed into the evening.

Throughout the project JJH Landscapes had to overcome a series of challenges. Access to the site was incredibly difficult. Access via the client’s garage/conservatory was not suitable for conveying materials and machinery, therefore the only option was via the estate’s communal, rear pathway and through the rear garden gate.

Work vehicles had to obtain parking permits to park within permitted parking bays in the private road. Likewise, access for deliveries was difficult given the space and parking restrictions within a small housing development. Lay down space for materials and storage of waste material was equally limited.

Installation of the 0.5 tonne sitting rock required detailed logistical planning and timing was essential, ensuring that access through the garden to install the rock was maintained. The clever, yet safe use of slings and the excavator ensured that the rock was installed with minimal fuss.

1 View towards the house

2 View from the terrace

3 Boulder and drought tolerant planting

4 A rejuvenated cloud pruned tree

5 A bird’s eye view of the project

Another significant challenge on site was the presence of the existing, invasive, giant bamboo, which had been planted by the previous landscape contractor. For it to be removed from the site, excavation works involved heavy machinery and digging down one metre to install bamboo root barriers.

JJH Landscapes was contracted for a month to clear the existing garden and construct a new one to the specified design. Doing so late into the year, they then returned in April to assist with the planting phase.

The client commented on the level of care and attention to detail JJH Landscapes showed when cutting-in the rough-hewn granite stepping-stones to the smooth, porcelain slabs. She commented on ‘how easy the team made it look’, despite it being quite the opposite.

By incorporating essential elements of Japanese garden design – rocks, water, plants, and ornaments and also adopting the five Japanese garden design principles – asymmetry, enclosure, borrowed scenery (Shakkei), balance and symbolism – Adam Vetere and JJH Landscapes have successfully created a tranquil, contemplative, outdoor space from which the client can relax, unwind and escape the pace of modern life.

By increasing the soft landscaping to 65% of the garden space, the client has also observed a huge increase in birds, bees, butterflies and other insects now enjoying her new garden.

6 Seating rock alongside bursts of varied, drought tolerant planting

Photographs ©Ellie Walpole

REFERENCES

Garden designer

Adam Vetere

adamvetere.co.uk

Contractor

JJH Landscapes

jjhlandscapes.co.uk

Paving – Porcelain

Jura Grey Limestone

London Stone

londonstone.co.uk

Cobbles

Rivar Sand & Gravel rivarsandandgravel.co.uk

Rocks and boulders

Rock Farm Quarry

Plants

Premium Plants

premium-plants.co.uk

Water feature accessories and irrigation

Landscape Plus landscapeplus.com

ABOUT

JJH Landscapes, multiaward-winning landscape contractor covering Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, works closely with both private clients and garden designers to create outstanding outdoor spaces, with acute attention to detail and quality.

jjhlandscapes.co.uk

Adam Vetere is a multiaward-winning garden and landscape designer and a member of the APL, who has been honed from a unique background in horticulture, graphic design training, practical landscaping and business design. He is enthused by his continued passion for plants and sustainable design. adamvetere.co.uk

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THE CITYBlossoming in

Based overseas, the client makes this house in Chelsea their home each year throughout the spring and summer months and so was looking for a calm outdoor retreat from busy life and an inviting space to enjoy afternoon tea. They wanted a space to relax, unwind and enjoy the British summertime.

The garden needed to be low maintenance and to be at its best in the spring/early summer when the client would be spending the most time there. The hard materials used outside were to be light in colour to echo those of the internal walls of the house, with this theme continuing to the planting scheme, for which white flowers were the client’s preference.

When Studio Cullis (led by founder and director George Cullis) took on this project in Chelsea was to create a naturalistic, generously planted garden which formed a small, tranquil oasis for the client. As the garden is visible through large glazed, sliding doors that span the width of the house, the client thought it was important to show lots of planting and consider the partial view from the remaining rooms in the house with sight of the garden. With overlooking neighbours to consider, screening above the side boundary walls was required, to be camouflaged in amongst an evergreen backdrop against the rear wall.

Working with the shady conditions to create a green haven, Studio Cullis chose a palette focused on the varying hues, tones, and textures of foliage with floral accents through spring and summer. Including a variety of repeating white florals from Crocus biflorus 'Miss Vain' and Narcissi jonquilla 'Pueblo' to Astrantia major 'Snowstar', Thalictrum aquilegiifolium 'Album' and Galanthus elwesii

The garden was lowered by 90cm from its original level, resulting in the side boundary walls and new trellis top measuring 2.7m tall. It was important to soften the impact of the walls in this space to reduce the constricting feel of the small courtyard. Proposals included climbing plants, such as Wisteria floribunda f. alba 'Shiro-noda' and Trachelospermum jasminoides, as well as vertical greening for this purpose.

The planting was installed over a couple of days with assistance from Wes Shaw, the head gardener of the Horniman Museum and Gardens at the time. Studio Cullis also collaborated with Tom Barnwell of Barnwell Gardens who assisted in the installation of the irrigation systems.

The garden was designed with longevity and sustainability in mind. Featuring British-sourced supplies such as Yorkstone, native trees and herbaceous perennials, the new garden has increased the planted areas to create an ecosystem where there wasn’t one before. The increased planting and soil used support insect and invertebrate communities, including

London BAP identified species such as stag beetles. It also supports foraging for birds and small mammals.

Pollinator plants have been introduced including night flowering pollinators, such as Disporum longistylum 'Night Heron', which attract moths which in turn support bat populations. The new garden reduces surface water runoff discharging into drains by increasing the permeable surfaces by 50%.

Combining the newly created ecosystems with locally sourced products, Studio Cullis chose to reduce waste as much as possible by reusing and repurposing wherever possible, in particular with the existing pots that were redesigned to fit the new garden scheme, supplemented with new terracotta pits. Despite the size and seemingly simple nature of the space, this project did not come without its challenges for the team at Studio Cullis.

Presenting the garden design, a week before the first lockdown and then working with London based Studio30 Architects, the housebuilder and a client based in Singapore throughout the pandemic brought its own unique challenges.

Site visits were kept to a minimum during 2020 when the garden was being built, with more direction and decision

1 Garden furniture surrounded on all sides by natural planting

2 Extended view of the seating area and planting – potted plants add an extra dimension to lower-level greenery

3 Lush, varied planting almost literally bursts onto the scene

4 Up close: the garden is defined by its thoughtful variety

5 Sparks of lightly coloured flowers poking out

6 View through the rear door's glazed sliding door – all decisions were made with the indoor sightline considered

making made away from site than is Studio Cullis’ usual way of working. Arranging orders with suppliers, agreeing important actions with the client, and following up with the building contractor were all slow and disjointed.

Designing and constructing the garden across a four-month period in conjunction with the year-long build on the entire property, Studio Cullis created a finished project that fulfilled the client’s brief and, with a set of chairs perfectly placed on the sunny side of the space, the client can enjoy their afternoon tea whilst soaking in the last of the summer rays.

ABOUT

Studio Cullis’ ethos is to deliver calm, thoughtful and refined spaces underpinned by the use of beautiful materials and naturalistic planting. Studio Cullis tailors its design response to each project, through thoughtful consideration of the client’s personality and requirements of their space combined with the site’s unique context. studiocullis.com

7 The sun dapples the adjoining wall – overlooking views for neighbors were considered Photographs ©Studio Cullis Ltd

REFERENCES

Crab apple tree

Deepdale deepdale-trees.co.uk

Herbaceous perennials and shrubs Kelways kelways.co.uk

Architectural Plants architecturalplants.com

Bulbs de Jager dejager.co.uk

Yorkstone Bingley Stone bingleystone.com

Iroko slats Champion Timber championtimber.com

Topsoil Bourne Amenity bourneamenity.co.uk

Climbing wires S3i Group s3i.co.uk

Sedum mat for storage cabinet Wallbarn wallbarn.com

Furniture Massproductions massproductions.se

Lighting Hunza Outdoor Lighting hunzalighting.com

Pots Italian Terrace Italianterrace.co.uk

Calling all landscape architects, landscape contractors, developers, civil engineers and groundworks contractors

Book your place at SoilsCon 2024

9am - 4.30pm, Wednesday, 28th February 2024

Phyllis Court, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

Long-awaited after a four-year break, SoilsCon 2024 will focus on practical approaches and solutions to the key soil issues and challenges of the day. A great line-up of eight respected industry speakers will present on the following subjects:

• Soil health and functions in landscapes – a practical approach

Tim O’Hare, Principal, Tim O’Hare Associates

• Soil considerations for the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain

Tim White, Senior Associate, Tim O’Hare Associates

• Maintaining soil quality in garden construction

Helen Elks-Smith, Principal, Elks-Smith Landscape & Garden Design

• Organic matter and soil quality

Dr Iain Gould, Associate Professor in Soil Science, University of Lincoln

• Low-fertility soils in climate change resilient landscapes

Jennifer Mui, Director, MRG Studio

• The use of biochar and dolerite in the landscape

Katherine Iles, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, and Ryan Coghlan, Senior Landscape Architect, ARUP

• Hard-working soils: the challenges of bioretention raingarden soils

Kevin Barton, Director, Robert Bray Associates

During the day’s networking periods members of the Tim O’Hare Associates team will be on hand to help delegates with their specific soil issues at the popular Soil Surgery

The conference is being supported by the following leading landscape industry’s soil and landscape supply firms – British Sugar TOPSOIL, Green-tech, Bury Hill Landscape Supplies, Bourne Amenity, Rolawn – who will be exhibiting their products and be available for delegates to talk to.

Places on this conference are limited so book now to secure your attendance. LI, BALI and SGD members can obtain a special delegate rate of £95 + VAT per person (non-members £125 + VAT), to include lunch and all refreshments throughout the day.

Phyllis Court has excellent transport links by road (M40, M4) and rail, with collection from Henley railway station available on the day.

SUBURBIA Sculpting

VMS

B1B MILTON KEYNES

Nestled in suburbs of Milton Keynes lay a new housing development in need of a safe space for local children in the community to play and explore. Just 40 minutes south of the VMS headquarters, when approached to take on this project, the team were eager for the opportunity to create a space that would stand the test of time. It was asked to undertake the landscaping and ground preparation, as well as planting, turfing, and tree installation as per the design. VMS needed to work around other trades to ensure all landscaping works were completed

PROJECT DETAILS

Project

within the four-week timeframe to hand over to the client ready to open to the public.

The project was designed as a public open space on a new build housing development for the new residents to enjoy a new play area, large grassland areas with picnic benches, ornamental and decorative beds with lots of new trees, shrubs, and plants.

As the project manager for this project, Lee Knight, head of the landscape and fencing department at VMS, set out a detailed landscape programme to ensure that everything, from the enquiry to the end result, was in line with the original plans. This involved setting project goals from the scope, breaking down the schedule with the team, setting up the resource plan, calculating the budget,

discussing and ruling out any risk or hold ups and constantly communicating with the client to make sure that the project was successfully taken from drawing and brought the design to life.

For the soft landscaping, all plants, shrubs, trees, and turf were checked for damage, stress and disease before being installed. Knight imported non-contaminated topsoil across the site to add nutrients and help extra oxygen to reach plant roots, resulting in better plant health and growth overall across the site. The beds were finished off with ornamental bark mulch to help to protect roots by locking in beneficial residual ground warmth and to prevent the plants from suffering from moisture loss. VMS also imported topsoil for the turfed areas due to poor quality soil on site to give the turf the best start in adapting to its new environment.

Once all materials were installed, Knight then set up a one-month maintenance package to ensure all stock was regularly watered, beds hand weeded, and to give the grass its first cut before handing over the project to the client in a healthy state.

Knight encountered several challenges throughout the project; as

mentioned previously, he identified that the ground conditions weren’t suitable for the turf, plants, and shrubs, so he reviewed the options to avoid any materials dying once planted and discussed these with the client. The decided upon solution from this was to import fresh topsoil to all areas required to ensure all materials would survive the installation

At the same time, the weather was hot which made the ground conditions worse, so once the topsoil had been installed, another issue was keeping the materials hydrated and alive, leading to a maintenance programme being set up until all the material had established. This proved to be the best decision as the foliage continued to thrive after the transfer.

Over a one-month period, Knight and the team at VMS visited the site two to three days a week

1 Lawn scene with bike racks and growing trees around play area

2 Raised camera view of the varied play structures

3 View of the main building against the backdrop of the space

4 Rows of planted trees will serve as a growing geometric sight line

using 3,000L of water per day on the public open space; by doing this they successfully handed over the project with no remedial works to carry out.

Despite the trials and tribulations that this project presented, Knight’s project management skills assisted in leading the team to not only fulfil the brief set out but meet the design expectations and create a space ready for the new community to enjoy.

5 A green place to sit, to swing or to slide Photographs ©VMS Ltd

ABOUT

Established in 2017, VMS has one goal in mind: to be the contractor of choice in the United Kingdom in the sectors in which it operates. It is passionate about what it does and has established a highly qualified and experienced team to provide its clients with the highest quality of service, while also adhering to best safety practices and always having sustainability in mind. vmsltd.net

REFERENCES

Timber Linnell brothers linnellbros.co.uk

Turf George Davies Turf georgedaviesturf.co.uk

Plants, shrubs, trees

Crowders Nurseries crowdersnurseries.co.uk

Play area and equipment

Miracle Design and Play miracledesignandplay. co.uk

BINGLEY STONE

Scout Yorkstone

FEATURED IN PORTFOLIO 2:

Chelsea Courtyard Garden by Studio Cullis

A vanguard of landscape design, Yorkstone epitomises timeless beauty. We love the balance of lush, leafy greens against the cool blue-greys of Scout Yorkstone in this perfect courtyard retreat. bingleystone.com

PORTFOLIO

Explore a selection of products featured in this month’s portfolios

FEATURED IN PORTFOLIO 3: B1B Milton Keynes

Transform your outdoor space with Linnell Bros. From fencing and gates to sleepers and decking, its 140-year legacy ensures top-notch, sustainably sourced timber. Visit Linnell Bros in Silverstone, or contact its team. linnellbros.co.uk

LINNELL BROS

First choice for timber

products

KELWAYS PLANTS

Trachelospermumjasminoides

FEATURED IN PORTFOLIO 2: Chelsea Courtyard Garden by Studio Cullis

Experienced plant supplier and contract grower for projects of all sizes, supplying top quality plants to schemes across London and nationwide with excellent customer service. kelways.co.uk sales@kelways.co.uk

Take a Seat A

garden without seating is like a car without wheels, a pair of secateurs with a blunt blade, or my running trainers without laces – they just do not work. Including a seating option within a garden is the best way to immerse yourself within an outdoor space. It is the same when it comes to designing a garden; one of the first things that clients talk about is the seating areas throughout their new garden and how many people they would like to entertain.

One of the biggest challenges when thinking about outdoor furniture is where and what type to use and these go hand in hand. Starting with the where, it is important that the seating is in a location that is suitable for the garden size and the

James Smith walks us through the options for outdoor seating and a few points to bear in mind when including it in a design

client’s needs and wants. There is little to no point in putting a huge, over scaled furniture set in a small, intricate garden as it will overpower the space and the rest of the garden will be lost.

Typically, the first space that usually requires furniture is directly against the property. This area is closest to the house and the best place for a relaxing sofa set to enjoy the created garden and being close to the

property; this is also an excellent location for an outdoor BBQ.

If the space allows it, dining tables are a staple of any garden design. I know it might not be everyone’s cup of tea but having the option of dining outside within a beautifully designed space is such a relaxing feeling. It is also another way of creating an area to entertain family and friends. However, an outdoor dining table should not be placed directly adjacent to one that is indoors as the first thing you do not want to be looking out on in a beautifully designed garden when dining is another table.

Another point to think about is the orientation of the garden, what aspect and where the sun hits the garden and what parts are going to be in the shade. The best thing about sitting in the garden is being in the sun, so when designing a space that is going to include seating try and position it where it is going to get the most sun as you are more than likely to want to sit in the sun in your garden rather than the shade.

Furthermore, when thinking about positioning, try and orientate whatever the chosen type of furniture is towards a focal point that is either within the same area or further down the garden. This is because it will make the seating area visually appealing

POOL SIDE SUN LOUNGERS, POSITIONED TOWARDS SUN

and a functional space with a focal point being to catch the eye of the viewer and having a space where you can easily view whatever the focal point may be then the whole space will start to link.

There are a few different types of outdoor furniture that you can use in a garden. Benches are a fantastic way to create a seating area to view different parts of the garden; they can be used as a stopping point along a path, engulfed in the planting or as a focal point using a bench that is a feature within itself such as the Lutyens bench or one that looks like modern art. This does depend on the style of the garden.

Try and orientate whatever the chosen type of furniture is towards a focal point that is either within the same area or further down the garden

If you are fortunate to have or to be designing a garden with a swimming pool, then this is going to need some form of furniture around it to really bring the space together. Having a joining decking or terrace area to the swimming pool is the best location for some sun loungers and it is always ideal to position them towards the sun. There is nothing like having a couple of sun loungers to relax on when getting out of the pool and enjoying the British sun.

If space is limited and you are looking to create a stylish seating area to have a morning coffee to an evening dinner, then

a bistro set is an ideal solution. That being said, a bistro table featured in a larger garden is brilliant when used in a secret area. This is a versatile furniture option that works brilliantly in both traditional and contemporary schemes; personally, I prefer to use this style of furniture in more traditional and rustic designs. With more and more people wanting to make the most of the very limited amount of sunshine we get in our summers, having built-in furniture in a sunken area of the garden around a fire pit is increasingly being requested. Having a built-in option within the garden also allows for the furniture to be designed in a bespoke manner where the added extra storage beneath the seat can be included. Built-in furniture does not always have to be used in a fire pit setting; it can be used anywhere throughout the space.

JAMES SMITH

James Smith is an awardwinning landscape and garden designer for The Landscape Service who is passionate about plants, creating green spaces for everyone to enjoy whilst focusing on working on large scale commercial designs and private residential gardens. thelandscapeservice.com

with three top choices

Garden House Design

CUBIC Lounge

Outdoor chairs & sofas in different sizes for all year outdoor use. Equipped with cosy cushions and matching side tables available. Covers are included.

Price: From £2,000 gardenhousedesign.co.uk

Weaver Green

Acorn Dove Grey Chair Cushion

Made entirely from recycled plastic bottles this beautiful cushion is fully water and mould resistant and perfect for outdoor use.

Price: £40 (including the inner pad) weavergreen.com

Sitting Spiritually

The RHS Four Seasons Swing Seat

New for 2024, the RHS Four Seasons Swing Seat features four seasonal hand carvings. It’s made in FSC Oak and licensed by The RHS.

Price: From £3,599 sittingspiritually.co.uk

BUILT-IN FURNITURE, SURROUNDING FIRE PIT

’’Ver tEdg

a re volutionar y ne w a ar tificial l g rass s edging g system.’’

VertEdge is a new revolutionary artificial grass edging system. VertEdge addresses these problems providing a neat 100% adhered perimeter, which is safer, neater, and stronger than any other product or method on the market today. VertEdge offers paying customers a system that is purpose designed, easy to understand and value for money.

Available at:

• Jewson

• ArtificialGrass.com

• ArtificialGrassDirect

• LazyLawn

VertEdge is a new revolutionary artifi cial grass edging system

In an age of Covid-19 and lockdowns where we are spending more time at home than ever before, artificial grass has never been so popular.It’s easy to see why. It’s low maintenance, long Who wouldn’t want to wave goodbye to the lawnmower? And weeds!

• NoMow.co.uk

For many people, the trickiest piece of the jigsaw when laying artificial grass is the edging. In particular, finding a reliable – and long-term –method of securing the grass to the perimeter.

The good news is there’s a simple way to put these artificial lawn-laying headaches out to pasture.

• Amazon.com

And yet, although artificial grass is hassle-free, installing it can be quite the opposite…

VertEdge, the new industry standard.

Fixing the perimeter of an artificial lawn is one of installation. Traditional methods are dated, flawed, and improvised. When the lawn perimeter is nailed, screwed, or stapled every 10cm, just 10% of the lawn is fixed, leaving 90% unfixed. Not to mention

When the lawn perimeter is glued on to a cement haunch, ghosting lines are visible through the lawn almost immediately or certainly once the

Fixing the perimeter of an artificial lawn is one of the most important parts of an artificial lawn installation. Traditional methods are dated, flawed, and improvised. When the lawn perimeter is nailed, screwed or stapled, just 10% of the lawn edge is fixed. This has the potential to lift and become dangerous, leaving 6 inch nails in the ground to secure the lawn is clearly dangerous and should be avoided.

When the lawn perimeter is glued on to VertEdge, using the VertEdge adhesive, a 100% adhered perimeter is achieved. With no need for nails or screws, VertEdge creates a safe, child and pet friendly environment for your garden.

VertEdge is a new revolutionary artificial grass edging system. VertEdge addresses these problems providing a neat 100% adhered perimeter, which is safer, neater, and stronger than any other product or method on the market today. VertEdge offers paying customers a system that is purpose designed, easy to

• 100% adhesion to the artificial grass, providing an enhanced natural finish to the perimeter

• 100 % no nails

• 100 % safe for children and pets

• 100% Recyclable ♻

VertEdge offers customers a system that is effective, easy to install and value for money. VertEdge is neater, stronger and safer than any other artificial lawn edging product or method on the market today.

For many people, the trickiest piece of the jigsaw when laying artificial grass is the edging. In particular, finding a reliable – and long-term –method of securing the grass to the perimeter.

The good news is there’s a simple way to put these artificial lawn-laying headaches out to pasture.

VertEdge, the new industry standard.

The outdoor living trend is here to stay. People expect to have more indoor amenities accessible, with kitchens being an obvious choice to bring outside living spaces to life

Afantastic social centrepiece, and a great way to create a focal point in any garden, the demand for outdoor kitchens is growing rapidly and Lucy Hinde who works on the brand development of Grillo Living Ltd is a key advocate for this evolving way of life. “Are there really any disadvantages to creating lasting memories with loved ones as you gather, grill, and let the warm glow of your outdoor kitchen illuminate your evenings? I thought not. The only disadvantage of getting an outdoor kitchen, is it’ll make you wonder why you didn’t have one sooner.”

“It’s a new entertainment space for your home, additional space and perfect for family use and entertaining too, adding increased value to your property and quality of life,” says Debs Kibbler of Primo Grill UK, which offers large cooking and preparation areas, making outdoor cooking a very easy and popular option.

The demand for outdoor kitchens is growing rapidly

With designs available for everyone, to fit individual budgets and spaces, Kibbler says more and more people are incorporating Primo Ceramic Grills into their outdoor kitchen designs with everyone wanting to spend more quality time outdoors with family and friends.

Richard Hibbert, managing director for outdoor kitchen supplier, KSL, has found that lots of people like being able to use different cooking techniques; being able to smoke and use different fuels without being confined to an indoor space is a huge advantage.“Just taking advantage of the outdoor space and the ease of keeping it clean really does make all the

ON THE MENU for 2024

difference. It’s a lifestyle choice. It's a love to entertain, love to cook, enjoy the different meals and how they you can make the most of the outside.”

As this way of living is becoming more sought after, the ranges are slowly becoming more accessible to all. Hinde says, “it used to be that if you wanted an outdoor kitchen, you’d have to get something bespoke, with all the cost and complexity that goes with it. Today, outdoor kitchens are much more widely available; you have every option from basic Ikea units at one end to a craftsmanmade solid oak outdoor kitchen at the other!” At Grillo, Hinde believes that its kitchens fit

somewhere in the middle, with solidly built, British manufactured supplies, it has taken the outdoor kitchen buying experience online,

meaning that the pricing is clear and fixed, with no hidden costs.

Along with accessibility is individuality, with personality being added to the design and the kitchen itself being incorporated into the overall garden. Coming into this market, Hibbert mentions how there was a significant lack of colour, with black being the most popular choice, followed by dark and moody, wooden themes. This year, however, there's definitely a bit of colour coming through.“Whether that's with things like the pizza ovens, now available in a huge array of colours, or the new preset modular ranges in sage, silk, or burnt orange,” colour is one trend on the rise, making the planting choices a new kitchen accessory.

KSL

GRILLO LIVING LTD

PRIMO GRILL UK

Homeowners seem to be stepping away from the use of synthetic materials, instead opting for wood, natural and cast stone products. So, Will Haxby – marketing, and sales director for Haddonstone – believes that the natural lawn edging theme will continue to be popular this year, with evergreen plants such as box and privet hedges being cleverly used to create interesting borders and verges. “Wildlife-friendly shrubs such as lavender will also continue to be used as a structural, natural lawn edging option, offering both colour and scent during the summer months,” says Haxby.

Straightcurve’s general manager Lennie Groenendijk, on the other hand, suggests that, based on the trends from last year, more landscapers and designers will gravitate toward modular steel raised garden edging products for challenging projects that call for level changes.“Sleepers, reinforced concrete, and rendered masonry will be replaced by high-quality modular steel panel products in landscape designs with level changes such as raised garden beds, terracing, and retaining walls,”

EDGE Gain the

As a perfect finish to a project, Edging remains in trend and in demand for 2024

according to Groenendijk. She adds that quality off-the-shelf steel edging products which are designed to be efficiently installed, will become increasingly popular as more landscapers discover their versatility, suitability, and cost-effectiveness.

The two trends blend into one as naturallooking materials that fit well with outdoor

for many years and have continued to be the go-to option for bordering patios.

According to feedback from customers at Straightcurve, clients have less money to spend, says Groenendijk. Meanwhile, the cost of materials and labour has gone up. As a result, the industry is being squeezed and clients are asking their designers and contractors to come up with more cost-effective ways of achieving their project outcomes.

Nustone, would be sandstone setts which have been a fantastic option for borders and edging

Where traditional hardscaping and retaining options are becoming prohibitively expensive, the trend continues, and modular steel edging products are being specified in more and more projects. Choosing the right product is essential on a job and what product EverEdge’s Hughes would recommend depends entirely on the nature of the project.

Haddonstone’s arcadian lawn edging system, for example, offers many benefits when designing or enhancing a garden, according to Haxby.“An extremely practical way to keep lawns, pathways, and flower beds tidy all year round, arcadian lawn edging works harmoniously in either contemporary or more traditional settings.” As well as providing a clean look, it is designed to be wide enough to accommodate lawn mower wheels, and therefore Haxby is proud to promote a product that will help to make sure that lawn mowers stay on the lawn and off the flower beds.

HADDONSTONE

NUSTONE

STRAIGHTCURVE

EVEREDGE

CORE LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS

WILD SIDE

Sowing the seeds of change with extraordinary wildflower turf

PICTORIAL MEADOWS

'Patchwork Quilt' turf

Pictorial Meadows 'Patchwork Quilt' turf was employed on a difficult slope, where the client's goal was to achieve an instant, striking perennial flower display for the upcoming growing season. Their requirements for a high flower content that would captivate visitors and serve as a haven for pollinators, showcasing a commitment to biodiversity, were seamlessly met. This turf addressed the issue of a drying slope during the summer, proving to be exceptionally drought tolerant. With 30 specially chosen species, this mix can transform challenging landscapes. pictorialmeadows.co.uk

WILDFLOWER TURF LTD

Max Flora

MeadowSow™ Seed

Max Flora MeadowSow™ seed mix is a carefully curated blend designed to create vibrant, biodiverse wildflower meadows. With a diverse range of 29 native and naturalised species (75% perennials and 25% annuals), this mix ensures a succession of blooms throughout the growing season, supporting pollinators and wildlife. Easy to establish and maintain, this mix is ideal for enhancing ecological value in gardens, parks, and larger landscapes. Wildflower Turf Ltd grows and harvests its seed onsite in Hampshire for unmatched quality and germination rates. wildflowerturf.co.uk

LINDUM TURF

Lindum

Wildflower Turf

Lindum’s Wildflower Turf provides the instant solution for growing wildflowers that are notoriously difficult to grow. It is a balanced mixture of 27 different species of wildflowers, herbs and flowering perennials, growing in a plastic free biodegradable mat. Its wildflower provides a colourful and biodiverse visual for any garden or landscape area. Lindum’s Wildflower Turf is not only beautiful but also helps to increase local biodiversity and contribute towards supporting the survival of incredibly important pollinators such as butterflies and bees. turf.co.uk/wildflower

GRASSLANDS TURF

GRASSLANDS CLOVER RICH ECO TURF

Developed by Grasslands as an economical, biodiverse and end-user friendly alternative to species rich and conventional turf, this is a mix of a dwarf clover and Grasslands’ Rysport turf. It can be maintained as normal turf but it also allows for less frequent mowing and is a perfect option for those committing to No Mow May. grasslands-turf.co.uk

GRASSLANDS WILDFLOWER

SPECIES RICH TURF

OUR SPRING CROP IS NOW READY TO HARVEST

Enjoy huge savings and win contracts with our rate of £7.75/m2 plus £80 delivery (both subject to VAT)

• Our Wildflower Species Rich Turf is a mix of wildflower species, selected for their environmental, sustainability and aesthetic benefits, with fine grasses for added interest and durability. Generally, the wildflower element will amount to 80%+ as it matures.

• Our Wildflower Species Rich Turf does not require low fertility soils to thrive. However, it may be better to avoid laying on green waste-rich manufactured soils.

• Our Wildflower Species Rich Turf comes palletised in easy-to-lay conventional rolls, as does our conventional Rysport turf, not awkward slabs.

• In the warmer months, our Wildflower Species Rich Turf is chilled to alleviate sod heating.

• Simply lay our Wildflower Species Rich Turf as you would Rysport. THE MOST CRITICAL ELEMENT IS WATERING!

• Our Wildflower Species Rich Turf is PROUDLY PLASTIC FREE and comes on recycled and recyclable pallets.

Every effort is made to provide this broad range of species. However, our Wildflower Species Rich Turf is a natural product and some species may not survive or thrive subject to local conditions.

For further details please contact

Frank: Mobile 07747 863398

Email frank@grasslands-turf.co.uk

grasslands-turf.co.uk

with PARTNERING PRISONS

WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN

As the industry faces the ongoing struggle for recruitment, the UK prison system has been exploring new partnerships to better aid rehabilitated offenders into rejoining the workforce

As of June 2023, the UK had a total prison population of approximately 95,526 people, and with hundreds of prisoners being released on a daily basis, some with no stability and nowhere to go, it’s no wonder why the reoffending rate is over 24% for adult offenders and over 31% for juvenile, according to government statistics.

To address this, the government launched a month-long recruitment drive, focusing on getting ex-offenders into particular sectors that were facing staff shortages,

including construction. Following this, the proportion of prison leavers finding work within six weeks of release has increased from 15% to 19%, with a further 30% in work after six months, up from 23% since April 2022 – and the landscaping sector is one of the industries playing a part in this.

So many of them just want to be given a chance to hear that somebody believes in them and can look beyond their past

It’s a strategy put in place by the Ministry of Justice that has already seemingly proven its worth. If you can employ a prisoner upon their departure from prison, the combination of employment and accommodation reduces the likelihood of them reoffending by 80%.

Nationwide green service provider Glendale Services has been working alongside the British prison system over the past year to kickstart a series of training and recruitment opportunities across the company. It was first approached by business consultant for the Dutch Quarter Consultants, Sally Smith, who had been working with His Majesty's Prison Service on the prison probation services. It then set about exploring the options of working with and employing ex-offenders.

Deric Newman, head of development and estate services at Glendale

Working with a team of like-minded management, Deric Newman, the head of development for estate services at Glendale, who has been with the company for nearly 25 years, is keen to add his personal touch and truly make an impact.

“It's a great collaboration. And they really are an employer that literally does exactly what he says on the tin,” says Sally about Glendale’s approach. “Whatever they do, and wherever they talk about, they follow through with it. And particularly when you go into a prison, that's something that doesn't happen very often.”

Sitting on the employment advisory board at Warren Hill Prison,

Grounds maintenance with Glendale

Sally originally invited Deric and his Glendale colleagues to visit the prison to discuss employment opportunities within the landscaping industry.

“They spoke with true passion about what they're looking to achieve, and how they were really wanting to find that pathway to sustainable employment”. As a business consultant, Sally had several connections to the prison system so was eager to work with Glendale to assist in setting up training courses, employment talks and workshops.

Going the extra mile to practice what it preaches, a quarterly newsletter was even created specifically for the prisons to hand out, exploring ideas around what Glendale does, how it works, what opportunities there might be and how it is adapting a lot of different processes internally to make sure they can meet the needs of what the prisons are looking for.

“Glendale is a huge company with a massive turnover. They employ loads of staff, but for me, for them to be able to put the time aside to visit around 25 prisons since March 2023, that really says something about the company”. Sally mentions how Glendale has gone out to lots of prisons to talk about the different employment pathways, as well

New opportunities with Glendale

as the health and wellbeing aspects of being able to be outside and do gardening.

Part of the group setting up recruitment and employment hubs in prisons is Alison Renville, regional employment broker for Ministry of Justice. Alison is working to set up opportunities for prisoners to explore work experience before they are even released. Similar to a job centre, Alison runs “unlocking events” where different sectors can promote their work.

The Unlocking Horticulture event, new to 2023, was where Glendale made its mark. “Horticulture as a concept was represented; they had charities there that grow trees and plants and looking after green spaces, things like that. And then Glendale was in there as a commercial partner to say, you know, this is what this side of the industry looks like,” says Deric.

“We lock up lots of people and today there are over 88,000 people locked up. There will always be more people admitted into the system and a lot of them will reoffend, so then the cycle goes on and on.”

As far as we’re concerned, what's happened in your past has happened, and that's your past. It's not our place to judge you

Deric Newman, head of development and estate services at Glendale

With all of that in mind, a few years ago, the government released these statistics and within the next year, it had set up a small department in the Ministry of Justice called the New Futures Network to connect prisons with employers. "We know that there have always been fantastic charities and fantastic people doing things around employment or release. However, it had never been done in a particularly strategic way,” says Alison.

Speaking with Alison, the statistics were at the forefront of her research and goals whilst working with Deric. And despite the reoffending rates reducing significantly when there is employment on release, the basic needs in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs also include housing, and that’s where some of the main issues can evolve.

“If somebody's got the basic needs, and then they get a job on release, then the statistics are really, really good,” says Alison,

Looking for employers with a new way of thinking and a belief in people’s ability to change, Alison came to work with Glendale. “As soon as I met them, it was clear. They are such a committed bunch of people and that was obvious from the first time they came into Warren Hill Prison,” says Alison.

There are 141 prisons scattered across the UK, with a mixture of categories ranging from A – high security, to D – open prisons, and the range of prisoners varies significantly. Some people may be far from the point of release whereas others may be being slowly reintroduced to society.

©Pascale Amez/Unsplash

Deric says that “there are people being released every day; we're just waiting for the right opportunity in terms of the right person being released in the right area and having the ability to get to work.”

With a strong belief that this is the right course of action from a societal point of view, Deric explains how it makes sense from a commercial perspective too; there will always be the need for staff in grounds maintenance, landscaping, and horticulture, “And certainly, there are not enough staff in any of these areas, full stop.”

Deric says Glendale not only aims to support its own company needs and those of its staff, but also to hopefully encourage the wider industry and other companies to share the same outlook when it comes to hiring ex-offenders. “Despite accepting work across the country, we can't always place people where they're released. So, what we say to the prisoners is, wherever you're released, they'll always be these companies

around where you can find this type of work.”

Since his journey with the prison system started at the beginning of 2023, Deric has found the process to be so much more enthusiastic than he has expected. “It's very interesting, going into the prisons to meet with the people and understand a little bit about what their hopes and expectations are for when they leave prison. And so many of them just want to be given a chance to hear that somebody believes in them and can look beyond their past.”

Part of our role is changing the hearts and minds of those scared to welcome a community of previous offenders

So, looking at the bigger picture, there are over 95,526 people in prison and only 66 of those will not be released, meaning there are thousands of potential job candidates out there; as a society, we need to be more open to providing opportunities for those proving their worth as a free citizen, says Alison.

Alison Renville, regional employment broker for Ministry of Justice

A huge part of this initiative for Glendale is the ability to reinstate a person’s humanity, looking beyond their past crimes and seeing them as a rehabilitated member of society.

“As far as we’re concerned, what's happened in your past has happened, and that's your past”. Deric is insistent that Glendale just wants to be part of their future. “It's not our place to judge you.”

People might always have mixed feelings, but in the UK, according to Alison, there are only 66 people at this moment in time who will never be released. “And even then, those people tend to be very notorious serial killers that will never ever be released. Everybody else has a target release date or a type of parole tariff.”

"Part of our role is changing the hearts and minds of those scared to welcome a community of previous offenders.”

Now, Deric and the team at Glendale are putting together plans for a series of Unlocking Horticulture events throughout prisons, starting in England and Wales. It will then move onto establishing training and qualifications to allow rehabilitated offenders to better their chances upon release, and plan for a stable future.

Glendale is proud to now have a seat on the prison employment advisory board, bringing its ideas into real life practice using information and methods encouraged by the prison teams and local government. It’s a win-win – addressing the skills shortage in the industry as well as helping exoffenders get back on their feet and become a force for good.

*Please note that pictures of Glendale operational staff and the persons shown are not ex-offenders

©Kenan Kitchen/Unsplash

AVANTI LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES LTD (T/A BRITISH FLORA) TO MERGE INTO PHOENIX AMENITY SUPPLIES LTD

Avanti Landscape Supplies Ltd (T/A British Flora) and Phoenix Amenity Supplies Ltd, leading providers of high-quality grass and wildflower seed, plants and associated products, are thrilled to announce a strategic decision to consolidate Avanti Landscape Supplies Ltd (T/A British Flora) under the well-established Phoenix Amenity Supplies brand.

As of 1 February, the products previously marketed under the British Flora tradename will be seamlessly integrated into the Phoenix Amenity product line. This consolidation is part of our ongoing commitment to improve our service and bring our products under one easily identifiable brand.

20 Years of Service

We are a family-owned business that began in 2004. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Phoenix Amenity Supplies –a milestone of having delivered two decades of product quality and excellence of service. We will offer the same, consistent level of service our customers have come to know and expect, from both these businesses.

We will continue to offer:

• Grass, lawn, and environmental wildflower seed mixtures

• Planting and maintenance supplies and equipment

• Specialist ecological and erosion control products

• Bioengineering products

• Aquatic plants

The Phoenix Amenity Supplies

grass seed range covers grass mixtures suitable for use in landscaping, lawns, paddock, and pasture grazing as well as sports ground and golf courses.

We offer native wildflower, grass and sedge, marginal and aquatic plants, including large quantities of Phragmites australis We offer our own ecologically formulated, site-specific perennial and annual native wildflower seed mixes developed from our experience

Hydroseeding

of wildflower establishment and habitat creation.

Offering the expertise of 20 years of continued service with a new, streamlined approach that should make life easier for our customers to navigate as we begin our next 20 years of business.

For further information, visit: phoenixamenity.co.uk, or contact our customer service team at sales@ phoenixamenity.co.uk or call on 01684 212 020.

We will continue to operate Hydroseeding Supplies UK, offering a wide range of hydroseeding consumable products, alongside Phoenix Amenity Supplies Ltd, as a separate entity. This decision allows us to focus on delivering specialised products to create solutions for erosion control, revegetation, and landscaping projects. Learn more about our Hydroseeding services at hydroseedingsupplies.co.uk or call 01684 212 025

herbicides to tackle weed control problems, pests

diseases are available including a full range of application equipment.

• A wide range of geotextiles and ground cover products, miscellaneous fencing and netting products (including rabbit and newt fences) are also available.

• Erosion control matting for embankment and slope stabilisation including coir rolls (planted and unplanted) for use on lake edges, canals, streams and river bank stabilisation.

• Offering Tree Protection Spirals, Shelters, Stakes and Canes etc.

hree decades or so ago, a robot mowing the grass was more likely to be something on The Jetsons than in our own back gardens. Now, it’s somewhat old news. Manufacturers are looking for robotic mowers – of which there are a plethora of options on the market – to do more than just cut the lawn, and artificial intelligence (AI) could be at the heart of the technology’s development over the next few years.

Summer kit special GREENER? GRASS BE COULD THE T

Last year, global power tool manufacturer Husqvarna unveiled its new design concept, Strix. This smart robotic shuttle will hopefully within the next decade be carrying an autonomous workforce to a green space to carry out maintenance. This workforce won’t just scurry about mowing the grass and mulching leaves, though. Using artificial intelligence, they’ll determine the tasks that need to be carried out along with capturing data, such as soil health. On top of that, they’ll create a digital twin of a green space to optimise how that area is managed, from monitoring the climate to measuring the biodiversity.

At Husqvarna’s Living City event in Paris last October, senior director for product management Stefan Axelsson says that the technology might look “futuristic”, but it already exists, and “change is happening really fast now.” A “major leap forward in the world of robotic mower technology,” according to Husqvarna’s pro robotics product manager Mattias Mattson, is the off-grid solar charger it revealed at the event, which boasts 24-hour continuous operation. It’s a key area of development for Husqvarna

The scope for robotic mowers is growing, and they could become extremely useful teammates

that could have wider benefits than simply a well-maintained lawn.

“Husqvarna has been delivering marketleading robotic mowers since 1995. During that time, the innovation and progression in technology have been vast,” says Jake Gray, professional product manager at Husqvarna UK. “We know how important it is to offer the best solutions for commercial turf care, to make the working day easier. The benefits of autonomous mowing are not limited to sustainability alone, but the

quality of turf that can be achieved alongside the reduced cost of running and maintenance compared to conventional cutting makes them a popular choice in the industry.”

Gray adds that its commercial customers have seen their overall efficiency improved by using robotic mowers, as they alleviate the increased workload and allow the workforce to prioritise more skilled tasks with the time they now save.

Any turf care professional should be seriously considering the addition of robotic mowers to their machinery and exploring how it can benefit the business and the team

Jake Gray, professional product manager at Husqvarna UK

“Any turf care professional should be seriously considering the addition of robotic mowers to their machinery and exploring how it can benefit the business and the team.”

Husqvarna’s not the only manufacturer seeing the advantages of this technology, either. Market newcomer Kress, which has launched a range of battery powered equipment, has also invested in robotic mowers as part of its commitment to sustainable landscaping.

Jim Kirkwood, product director at Kress UK and Ireland, says the advent of RTK – or real-time kinematic GPS, a surveying or mapping technology that removes the need for a boundary wire – has been a “giant leap forward in this technology” by allowing much greater flexibility and speedy installation.

“Kress has invested in RTK and commercial

HUSQVARNA'S NEW DESIGN CONCEPT: STRIX

battery technology to ensure that it is easier for landscaping and grounds maintenance companies to make the change from the current reliance on fossil fuels and replace this with robotic and commercial battery solutions – products that can lower their carbon footprint, drastically reduce noise and vibration levels, and ultimately save money and extend the life of equipment,” says Kirkwood.

“The Kress proprietary RTKn network and technology means Kress robotic mowers can overcome all the downsides of other robotic mowers like limited distances to travel from a base, the need for fixed, ugly aerials and the shadows created by buildings, trees, and other obstacles. Centimetre level accuracy enables precise stripes, or even diamond/checkered patterns to be cut. These are more accurate than a human could cope with, even on uneven surfaces. The reality is that there are virtually no negatives any longer, only positives.”

Kirkwood adds that there will be more innovation from Kress later this year that will enable a greater range of locations where robotic mowers can be installed. “Broader access for small, large, regional, and national grounds maintenance companies will give them even more reasons to invest in robotic mower technology.”

It’s not easy to be outside in all weathers with large fields that need constant attention, including grass cutting and removing of grass arisings. With a robotic mower, this work is completed for you

Marcus Glover, director, Ground Tech

One company that could benefit from this is Ground Tech, which focuses on robotic grounds maintenance solutions and supplies solutions from Belrobotics and Kress. Nearly a third of people are concerned about their role being replaced by technology in the next three years, according to PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey last year. But Ground Tech director, Marcus Glover, sees robotic mowers as productivity boosters instead.

“Mowing grass manually can be a time-consuming and exhausting job in the world of grounds maintenance. It’s not easy

READY TO AUTOMATE?

to be outside in all weathers with large fields that need constant attention, including grass cutting and removing of grass arisings.

"With a robotic mower, this work is completed for you with an autonomous, GPS controlled system. The device is app-controlled, allowing you to check on cutting progress and set a schedule for mowing. The mowers are durable and work across a variety of terrains. This allows you to save time and therefore complete other tasks. Grounds maintenance teams can rely on robotic mowers to navigate even complex outdoor spaces as they can detect potential obstacles.”

They can operate across different sites and terrains too, including on softer ground, minimising weather interruptions compared to using heavy machinery, says Glover. Robotic mowers can also cut and maintain grass to different heights without manual adjustment, with powerful blades delivering optimum precision. Not to mention they’re arguably a more sustainable option than fuel guzzling mowers. “They are quiet with less noise pollution, meaning no disruptions to work or studying. Robotic mowers are also eco-friendly, emitting 90% less carbon than diesel and petrol mowers,” says Glover.

It’s hard to see the downside of embracing automated grounds maintenance – with humans at the helm, of course.

snapshot of the robotic mowers available

Ground Tech Kress Husqvarna

Belrobotics Bigmow GPS-RTK

The high-performing mower has the ability to maintain areas up to 75,000m2 using an electromagnetic guidance system to set boundaries, with remote control available via the app. It is recommended for sports pitches, driving ranges and public spaces or private estates. groundtech.co.uk

Kress RTKn mowers

No on-site antennas are needed with Kress’ RTKn robot mowers, which uses the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) for centimetre accuracy. The mowers can operate across large properties such as public parks and golf courses.

kress.com/en-gb

Automower® 520 EPOS

The newest addition to Husqvarna’s range of wire-free professional robotic mowers, designed for smaller commercial areas. It uses the manufacturer’s virtual boundary EPOS technology, a high-precision satellite navigation system, and will be available this year.

husqvarna.com/uk

Choice

Legacy Edging is made from solid steel providing strong, durable and subtle edging. It creates a clean edge between driveways and lawns, beds and pathways. We manufacture in galvanised, natural steel and corten. Available nationwide on a supply only basis or supply and install.

Pre-formed internal and external right angled sections

Flexible for gentle curved features

Securely fixed below surface

For further guidance, advice and information visit our website or call us:

www.legacyedging.co.uk

01664

431759

Botanical Skyline

Patchwork Quilt

Woodland Edge Breadth

Robust

RANSOMES

AURØRA ELiTE Lithium Electric Outfront Mower

• ELiTE Lithium technology means zero emissions and zero compromises

• Up to 80% lower running costs

• Road-safe with less noise Powered by ELiTE Lithium technology, this zero-emissions, road-worthy, quiet turf maintenance solution is meticulously designed to meet the demands of professional operators. ransomes.com

TICKET TO RIDE

New innovations for ride-ons are making mowing easier than ever

JOHN DEERE

ZTrack Z997R

• Heavy-duty frame with 183cm cutting width

• ComfortGlide seat for operators

• Equipp ed with JD Link technology

Zero-turn mowers are ideal for landscaping professionals who require a high-capacity machine which can work quickly in restricted/challenging spaces or around multiple obstacles. deere.co.uk/en

REESINK

Toro Groundsmaster 3300

• Engine: 24.7hp (18.5kW) and 37.4hp (27.6kW) Stage V emissions compliant Yanmar engine

• Choice of three decks, two rotaries and fine cut flail, and many cutting options and multi season attachments

• Innovative tilt-up deck for easy cleaning and maintenance

The solution for reduced mowing cycles, limited budgets and the requirement for year-round productivity. reesinkturfcare.co.uk

WHAT’S NEW? Summer kit special

If you’re looking to upgrade your equipment for the upcoming season, take a look at some of the latest launches

*All prices inclusive of VAT

MAKITA

LM004GZ 40VMax XGT Brushless 430mm Lawnmower

Cutting, collecting and mulching – this lawnmower features eight-stage cutting height adjustment to suit a range of mowing requirements and quick release handles and vertical storage ability for a small storage footprint.

• Continuous mowing area approx. 830m2

• Eight-stage height adjustment from 20mm to 75mm

• No load speed of 3,600rpm

Price: £355

makitauk.com

EGO POWER PLUS

CSX5000 PRO X

50cm Rear Handle

Chainsaw Demanding professional users need power, speed and reliability.

Ego’s next-generation rear handle chainsaw features a chain speed of 30m/s and is designed with a key focus on balance, ensuring the saw can be used for longer periods.

• 30m/s chain speed with efficient fast cutting and full 50cm chisel chain

• Centralised battery position for optimal tool balance

• LED innovative display screen showing battery capacity, adjustable speed setting and oil level

Price: £519

egopowerplus.co.uk

KRESS

Kress 47cm Commercial

Self-Propelled Lawn Mower KC720.9

Discover the newest cordless mowing solution for commercial use, eliminating the need for petrol. The powerful brushless motor, reinforced steel deck design and robust features ensure unmatched performance for extended landscaping sessions.

• Eight-minute charge time with the revolutionary CyberSystem.

• 9.5Nm torque – equivalent to a petrol 170 cc engine.

• Self-propelled speed of 6.4 km/h, to handle variable cutting conditions with ease for optimal efficiency

Price: £999 kress.com/en-gb

MAKITA

DUC150Z 18V LXT

Brushless 150mm Pruning Saw

A lightweight and compact solution for easy garden pruning. The retractable chain guard gradually opens wider as the chain cuts deeper into a branch to protect the user during operation.

• Lightweight and compact, weighing in at just 2kg with a 6.0Ah battery

• Tool-less change and tension adjustment of saw chain

• Automatic chain lubrication to minimise the chance of chain seizure and excessive wear

Price: £195 makitauk.com

MAKITA

UV001GZ 40VMax XGT

380mm Brushless Lawn Scarifier

Delivers 1.7kW of power to cut through the toughest thatching. It features a vertical cutting blade for scarifying to below soil level and a thatching blade for removing lawn clippings and moss.

• Working depth of +5mm down to -12mm for a range of applications

• Up to 41 minutes runtime with 2 x BL4080F batteries

• Constant speed control to maintain cutting efficiency

Price: £669 makitauk.com

STIHL

FSA 200 brushcutter

The new, most powerful battery powered brushcutter in Stihl’s AP System, offering unrivalled power and efficiency to professional users. Available in bike or loop handle versions.

• Boasts a power output up to 60% higher compared to the FSA 135, giving the FSA 200 a comparable performance to the petrol-powered FS 361 C-EM clearing saw

• Three speed settings allow users to tailor their cutting experience for different materials, maximising battery life and overall efficiency

• The professional antivibration system of the FSA 200 enables long durations of use with minimal vibration, promoting truly comfortable operation

Price: £719 (FSA 200, with bike handle) and £699 (FSA 200 R, with loop handle) stihl.co.uk

Summer kit special

TURN DOWN THE HEAT

Six tips for keeping cool throughout the warmer months when working outdoors

It might be hard to believe at the moment, as snow alerts are being issued across the UK, but the mornings are slowly getting lighter, and it won’t be long before we’re all complaining about how hot it is. And just like there are precautions when working in the extreme cold, there are measures companies need to take to ensure their staff are safe when temperatures soar too, from keeping people cool to protecting skin from sunlight’s UV rays.

Keep hydrated

Ensure staff are drinking plenty of water throughout the day. If you have the budget to do so, consider providing a reusable water bottle for each employee and try to provide opportunities for them to refill these throughout the day. This could be part of initial discussions with clients when completing a project for them throughout the summer months.

Provide PPE

Working outdoors can make it difficult to avoid the sun, but wearing the right PPE can limit the exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Make hats part of the summer uniform – ideally ones that cover the ears and the back of the neck. Don’t forget about eyewear too.

DYNAMIC CONTRAST SAFETY GLASSES

Stihl’s lightweight and comfortable safety glasses are ideal for use in bright sunlight, boasting UV protection, non-fogging interior, scratch resistant exterior, and side protection.

RRP: £16.10 (incl. VAT) stihl.co.uk

Wear ‘cool’ uniforms

Clothing with cooling technology, such as moisture-wicking fabrics, can help to avoid heat stress and also helps to encourage workers to keep on their tops, limiting skin exposure to the sun. Footwear also needs to keep feet cool to avoid discomfort and exacerbating other issues, as well as helping to reduce core body temperature.

HAIX BLACK EAGLE SAFETY

54 MID

The HAIX Black Eagle Safety 54 mid boots feature 'Sun Reflect' technology, effectively minimising the heating impact of direct sunlight on the upper leather. By reflecting sunlight, these boots keep the leather and your feet cooler, making them an ideal choice for working in hot weather.

Apply sun cream

Make applying sun cream part of a team’s daily tasks, with frequent reminders being put in place throughout the day to reapply on exposed areas and special attention to those areas that are most likely to burn, such as the nose, ears and back of the neck. Sun cream should be at least SPF 30.

Encourage breaks

RRP: £154.90 (excl. VAT – VAT 0%) haix.co.uk

Raise awareness of heat or sun-related conditions

Educate and remind staff on how they can recognise the symptoms of heat stress, such as muscle cramps, heat rash and fainting. Dizziness, nausea and moist skin can be signs of heat exhaustion, and hot dry skin, confusion and convulsions can be symptoms and heat stroke, which needs to be detected at an early stage. Encourage team members to check their skin regularly for unusual moles or spots as UV radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK.

If possible, provide a shaded area where staff can go to cool down, rehydrate and reapply sun cream. Frequent breaks help to regulate a body’s temperature throughout the day and could prevent heat stress. Consider also whether a day’s tasks could be reorganised to avoid staff spending long periods of time in the sun at the warmest times of the day.

Andrew Duff reminds himself of his end goal, and the rest of us in the process

The

END GOAL

Imay have just lost a whole morning on a well-known ‘image researching site’. It started off well intentioned; I just needed some images for a concept board. So, I searched for ‘Japanese style pathway’, and we are off – Japanese fashion, Japanese food, fish, fishing, sea fishing, island hopping and before I know it, I have booked next summer’s holiday.

It is fascinating to think about how the great and the good of the design world researched before us. There were, of course, books, great tomes about the art of garden design in Italy or gardens of the French riviera. For a privileged few, the Grand Tours of the 17th century provided a visual treasure trove of inspiration, all recorded in their memories rather than on a smart phone. If travel was not an option, then it was the richness of the local vernacular which proved so evocative; regional design languages helped identify individual parts of the country, indeed the world. When inspiration is so easily available, as it is

today, we have lost the distinctiveness which drew us there in the first place.

Remaining focused on the end goal is so important in our industry; procrastination, distraction, irritation –whatever you want to call it, it is difficult to remain ‘on task’ without a sound process. Look at Picasso; he didn’t ponder where to place the brush on his huge canvases, he didn’t Google ‘abstracted bull’ – he just painted. He painted repeatedly, the same subject matter, thinking visually with his brush strokes rather than trying to imagine it in his mind first.

When inspiration is so easily available, as it is today, we have lost the distinctiveness which drew us there in the first place

Increasingly, I find myself sharing more and more of my design process with my clients. Whether it is the use of the grid to explore the geometry of an urban space or images of historical references to inspire a larger country garden, I share this all with the client. This idea of sharing allows the client to become more invested in the final design; they feel that they have been on the journey with the designer.

So effective is the sharing of process that it recently backfired – a client added

a garden gym into the mix rather late into the design process. I skilfully – or at least I thought so – added the said building, and anchored it with planting, ensuring great views across the garden whilst exercising, only to be informed by the client that I had not followed the correct process and that the placement of the new building did not consider the architectural proportions of the house – job done!

This journey, this path – excuse the pun – helps remind us exactly what the end goal is. It is not a beautiful drawing on the drawing board, it is not hours on an ‘image researching site’, nor is it the books in colour order on our social media reels. It is the smile on our client’s face as they walk around their finished garden. It is the smell of that rose which reminds them of their childhood, it is the feeling of losing themselves in a good book whilst sitting under a tree – surely that is our end goal.

©MarianneMajerus

ANDREW DUFF

An internationally recognised garden designer, Andrew Duff MSGD has been designing gardens for over 30 years. In addition to running his practice, he is managing director of the world renowned Inchbald School of Design and is Chair of the Society of Garden Designers. sgd.org.uk

LEVELLING UP

There is one aspect of garden design that confounds many clients and that is a change of level. The need to think three dimensionally is probably at the heart of this issue but I do often think about what is in the client’s mind when they commission a garden designer.

Those with a sloping site want flat surfaces, and those with a flat site want interesting level changes; but start to discuss these changes and we have instant confusion. Most people find three-dimensional thinking difficult.

Students also often struggle with this concept. The world is not flat and as soon as numbers appear – simple subtractions or additions for level changes – I can see a multitude of eyes glazing over in my audience.

designers should bear this in mind when they often assume that this career might escape maths. (In fact, maths is involved in virtually every aspect of garden design).

I think one of the biggest challenges is that a levels survey is a two-dimensional drawing full of spot heights (numbers) and/ or contours. The information delivered, however, is three dimensional in nature. The best way to tackle this drawback is to produce a range of cross sections across the survey, creating a series of profiles that can be measured to scale.

There is a need for all garden designers to know and understand levels in their work

There is a need for all garden designers to know and understand levels in their work as it is much easier and cheaper to work levels out on the drawing board or computer than to be faced with unresolved level issues on site when the build or regrading have to be changed. All hopeful

But in the age of 3D modelling, many ignore this advice and invest a disproportionate time in trying to see and understand the terrain. At the end of this process, a slice through in section form will still deliver the clearest view of slopes, steps and retaining walls.

The section needs a base line, however, which allows the terrain to be understood and measured, altered and quantified. It is possible for a survey to be linked to the Ordnance Survey levels should a benchmark be close by, but most surveyors will create an

assumed datum. The main point I would make here is that this should never be zero. Architects seem fond of this practice, and we have had several surveys submitted to us with negative spot heights. As an adjudicator for the Society of Garden Designers, I have worked through submissions in this form, together with the delivery of appropriate feedback.

In a smaller garden a datum of 10.00m would be appropriate and in a larger garden a datum of 50.00m would work on the basis that all measurements would be positives. Why make life more complicated? Each year I have one or two students who scratch their heads over these assumed figures or even the base line as a reference in their sections. The best method of teaching this is working through the process with each site survey on each project, giving confidence in dealing with surveyors, contractors and ultimately clients.

Andrew Wilson explores the need to understand levels in garden design which comes as a surprise to many would-be practitioners

Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden design consultant, director of the London College of Garden Design, and an author, writer and lecturer. lcgd.org.uk

ANDREW WILSON

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Jason Knights emphasises Ground Control’s commitment to net zero as its ambitious target of reaching this goal by 2038 has been officially validated

NET ZEROAccelerating towards

Our decision to commit to reach net-zero a full 12 years in advance of the Government’s deadline (page 7) is central to our goal of leaving the world in a better place. It’s a fundamental principle shared by our employees, most of whom joined Ground Control because it gives them the opportunity to work towards that goal.

Taking a wider view, as the guardians of natural landscapes our sector has a central role in responding to the climate emergency. Scientists are now telling us we’re unlikely to be able to prevent temperatures rising by less than 1.5 degrees, so we must act faster than the legislation’s timeline.

The challenges in our migration to net-zero are substantial. However, the risks of doing nothing are so potentially catastrophic that from a commercial point of view alone, it makes sense for sustainability to be at the core of what businesses are doing.

Activities and operations that we directly control account for 5% of our carbon footprint, so we’ve identified three key areas where reductions can be made: among our field teams, in the products and materials we buy, and with the waste we produce.

Along with weaning our field teams off petrol and diesel before 2030, we’re helping them identify what equipment they’ll need, when is the best time for them to switch and how we can help finance those upgrades. The reality is they can’t switch everything over to electric because the technology isn’t quite ready, but that’s constantly changing and we’re trialling new equipment as and when it becomes available.

In our supply chain, we’re looking at lower carbon alternatives to our most common purchases. It’s a challenge because a lot of what we buy is led by our customers, so it’s a case of working with them to see if we can change the specifications.

When it comes to waste, it’s about being sustainable and in many cases using it on site. That could involve creating log piles, bug hotels or spaces for local wildlife, but we’re also looking at ways of cutting the amount we create or finding alternative uses for it.

However, this leaves untouched the overwhelming majority of our carbon footprint – 95% - that emerges from our value chain. This is without doubt our biggest hurdle, as we plan to double the size of Ground Control while at the same time having to slash our energy usage.

To tackle this, we’ve created a governance structure with a steering group that meets monthly to monitor and report on progress. We have also appointed business-wide net-zero leads, who look after their own specific area of focus and drive each division’s net-zero journey.

If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it. So, we’re making sure we have the right IT infrastructure in place to help us gather data and turn it into something we can analyse, scrutinise and report on to our customers and suppliers to drive further innovation and change.

I’m proud to say that our net-zero goals are ambitious and challenging – they need to be for the future of both Ground Control and the planet.

JASON KNIGHTS

Jason Knights joined Ground Control as managing director in 2020 following 10 years in leadership roles at Wates. His last role was as managing director of SES Engineering Services, now a division of Wates Construction Group, following Wates’ acquisition of Shepard E Construction Services in November 2016. A specialist M&E services business, Jason grew SES and created its excellent reputation in the industry, transforming it from loss-making to profitability in four years. ground-control.co.uk

number one PUBLIC POLICY

Christopher Martin encourages us to see transport differently and puts forward the first of a few policies with this updated viewpoint in mind

With this being an election year, and in many places a multiple election year, there’s a lot to get right.

The way we move about and how we shape the places in which we live has both gained mass media attention this year and been the victim of political one-upmanship – with transport being used as a tool to pander to people and win votes.

The lesson here is twofold. Firstly, this is the year to influence policy decisions and get good policy commitments from those seeking power. Secondly, and perversely, the fact that mass media now sees transport as a tool to achieve other outcomes – in this sense, the perceived collection of votes – is in itself a huge win. Until now, transport has mostly been viewed as the end result, a product in its own right; but this is false, and not how we need to see transport. Transport is a tool at our disposal. Sure, we can use this tool to (try and) win votes; but, more importantly, we need to use transport as a tool to serve our collective quality of life. And as an aside, this is how you use transport to win votes.

drivers that we need to yield, and stronger indications to people walking and wheeling that, yes, we should feel safe to cross.

Throughout this year we’ll be using this space to set out transport policy that will serve our collective quality of life

So, with the above in mind throughout this year we’ll be using this space to set out transport policy that will serve our collective quality of life. It’s open source and offered to anyone seeking office and we’d love to hear from you if you have ideas you’d like to promote.

To kick things off, let’s start with a small thing that’ll have a massive impact. Anyone with a driving license will (should) be well aware of the changes to the Highway Code last year, making it mandatory to give way to people waiting to cross a side street if you're turning into that side street. This is a huge step forward for pedestrian priority and for making safer places in which people feel more empowered to walk and wheel – but we can do more. Whilst the Highway Code is clear, we need to see stronger indications to

Public Policy Number One – Side Street Zebras. You’ll all know zebra crossings; in the UK zebra crossings are well understood and well respected. You’ll know the white stripes; most will know the flashing Belisha Beacons; and some will know the zigs and zags that bookend the crossings. These features are all designed for zebra crossings in the middle of streets and to make sure that vehicles do not overtake each other in the approach to a crossing. At side streets however – and particularly given the Highway Code – these features aren’t all needed and so the side street zebra can be a lighter touch reinforcement of pedestrian priority. These zebras at side streets, without zigs zags and Belisha Beacons, mean that crossings can be right there on the desire line for people crossing the street. It also means they’re cheap to roll out and can have a huge impact on the attractiveness, experience and safety of walking and cycling around towns and cities. Lots of research has been done, with Living Streets finding that 83% of adults would feel more confident crossing streets with zebra markings. We need people to feel confident walking, wheeling and cycling – this is how we get more people to do it.

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN

Christopher is an influential urban designer and planner working all over the globe to help communities improve their public spaces; as well as supporting cities and governments to develop strategy, change policies, and make great places possible. He is co-founder and director of Urban Strategy at Urban Movement; a trustee of the UK charity for everyday walking – Living Streets; past vice chair of the UK Urban Design Group; and is a member of the United Nations Planning and Climate Action Group. urbanmovement.co.uk @ChrisCities

SIDE STREET ZEBRA TRIALS BY LIVING STREETS

The Goodwood Estate

Thursday 13 June 2024

The second Pro Landscaper and FutureScape Golf Challenge will be held on 13 June 2024 at Goodwood’s members-only The Downs Course. Golf has been played at Goodwood for over a century. There are two championship golf courses nestled into the spectacular countryside. The Downs Course was designed originally for the pleasure of the Seventh Duke of Richmond’s golf-mad children by the famous golfer and five-time Open Champion, James Braid in 1914, being described as the finest downland course in Britain.

2023

Golf package

• Tea, coffee, bacon roll on arrival

• Driving range token

• Course planner

• Golf buggies

• 18 holes on The Downs Course

• Evening meal

Prices

£275 per person

£1000 fourball

£1,550 fourball plus sponsorship

£75 per head for food option only

RESILIENCE The year of

Mark Straver explains why 2024 will be focused on futureproofing in garden design, with resilience being a key theme at this year’s RHS Chelsea too

You only need to speak to the plant growers to know that climate change is real. Being a third generation nurseryman, I've worked outside and monitored the weather every day for the last 40 years, and have seen first-hand how our climate has changed over that time by simply looking at what the plants around me are doing. As an example, when I first started working in nurseries aged 16, the Cornus alba would always lose its leaves in September with the first frost. By the time Bonfire Night arrived, it would be so bitterly cold we would go and watch the fireworks with hot jacket potatoes in our pockets! Nowadays, the first frost doesn't arrive until at least mid-November. Driving to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show every year in the third week of May, I used to look forward to seeing wisteria in full bloom, growing gloriously up the walls of the city's buildings. In recent years, I only get to see the last petals falling from the branches when I make that journey. At Hortus Loci, we're very aware of the ever-prevailing shifts in our climate and the impact it has on our gardens, so we’re excited to see that resilience is one of the key themes many designers are focusing on at the RHS flower shows in 2024.

When considering the way forward in addressing weather extremes over a prolonged period, we look to the tree growers for guidance

become more extreme. Our weather is also becoming either predominantly warm, pouring with rain, or both. We now watch the weather forecast with trepidation every week, because these extreme weather events we’re seeing more and more of are having a big impact on our business. When we had prolonged dry conditions in the summer of 2022 we had to purchase additional water by the lorry load, which prompted us to install three extra underground rainwater tanks to assist with rainwater harvesting (ensuring we’re self-sufficient for six months of the year, and partially sufficient for another three). But we're still lucky – in Barcelona, as I write this, it has not rained since November 2022. Watering plants there is now illegal, and Spanish nurseries are classifying their products based on the water each plant requires.

As nurserymen, it's our job to provide garden designers with high-quality plants that last, and we know that the answers to these problems can often be right in front of our eyes. When considering the way forward in addressing weather extremes over a prolonged period, we look to the tree growers for guidance. The trees growing in their nurseries have endured all types of weather extremes over several decades, so the growers know which high-tolerance species to focus on, and which less-resilient species to phase out.

As part of our long-term strategy, we're taking a leaf out of the tree growers' book by propagating and growing plants with high resilience. We notice which plants are thriving and increase the number of varieties. Many of the fabulous garden designers we are working with are choosing resilience as a key theme for the RHS shows in 2024, which we're very excited to see! RHS Chelsea 2024 is set to be our biggest show yet, and we look forward to sharing more updates about the gardens we are supplying in the coming months.

The great British weather is as unpredictable as it's ever been, but it has also

When it comes to finding solutions, gardens that feature resilient plants will be key, as picking one weather extreme to address in a planting scheme doesn't work in our climate. For example, with temperatures beginning to reach over 30°C every summer, designers started incorporating droughtresistant Mediterranean plants into their gardens. But in 2022, we experienced a rare two-week cold snap, with some areas hitting -10°C in December, and all the Mediterranean plants perished.

MARK STRAVER

Mark Straver is a thirdgeneration nurseryman based in Hampshire and has worked with plants since the age of 16. He is joint owner and director at Hortus Loci, which he founded with Robin Wallis in 2011. He’s known in the gardening world for his ability to source the best wholesale plants internationally, using his extensive knowledge, connections, and experience in the industry. hortusloci.co.uk

THE OCTAVIA HILL GARDEN BY BLUE DIAMOND WITH THE NATIONAL TRUST, DESIGNED BY ANN-MARIE POWELL

Behind

THE SCENES

As February means ramping up for show garden season, Lewis Normand reminds us of the unsung heroes involved in bringing these gardens to life and the opportunities they create

The shortest month of the year is always and interesting one. When I was out building gardens on my own, it was generally the one I hated most. Wet and cold, up to your knees in mud, with all the bills coming quicker than other months, but 30-day payment terms meaning your cash flow was lower. The enthusiasm of starting a new year may well have lost its lustre by February, but it is also a time when we can really start to see the beginnings of change; March is just around the corner and therefore spring.

Literally thousands of people across the UK nursery industry play a hand in plants that shine in wonderful gardens seen on TV each year

I look forward to show garden season each year with a mixture of excitement and also dread. It is a much tougher side of plant sales than most think and although the glitz and glamour of celebrity garden visits during the show may make some think they are magical events, the amount of work, sleepless nights and emotional turmoil that go into making a show garden should not go unmentioned. Each one, especially larger gardens, can be over a year of hard work for perhaps 200 people. This all culminates with a frantic two-week build and planting of a garden for a one-week show. As with all projects of this size, there are countless people in the process who go unmentioned.

From a nursery perspective, I am the main point of contact for show gardens and project manage the entire process for everyone we supply, but lots of our team members play a part in the process. Administrators help with data input. Purchasing staff buy young plants for growing on and help source larger specimens. Stock and quality control manage the biosecurity and plant quality of new stock and monitor plants. Nursery teams work tirelessly growing on plants to be ready for a specific day –feeding, watering, weeding, training, pruning, deadheading and otherwise preening for months on end. Our drivers and logistics team organise collections and deliveries, moving plants carefully from our nursery to the show ground. Our accounts department manage the budgets and invoice for payment. Finally (and hoping to have not missed anyone out) our managing director helps to oversee the whole process including everything from loading trucks to weekend watering.

Literally thousands of people across the UK nursery industry play a hand in plants that shine in wonderful gardens seen on TV each year. Many of them are anonymous, but it is important that we recognise them just as we do the superb garden designers, builders and planters that are more prominently featured in the show garden media. As well as thanks for the unsung heroes of show garden plant production, we should look to the myriad other professionals in horticulture making shows happen, creating and selling from trade stands, materials manufacturers, specialist craftspeople. There are so many skills on display in even the smallest show garden that it should be a showcase for the industry in which to highlight our diverse range of talents and how expansive the career routes are.

There is understandably an element of professional horticulture that does not like or engage with show gardens. I can see some of their concerns, and while there is still a long way to go, I believe that most gardens that get built now have excellent legacy projects and cause minimal environmental impact. Whatever your position on them, however, they are the biggest window to the industry on a national and international stage and if we want increased wages and better recognition and support for horticulture as an industry, the show garden world is surely the best placed scene to draw the attention of those who can impact on it!

Lewis has worked in a wide variety of roles within horticulture over a 20-year career. He has lectured on garden design and horticulture, and designed gardens in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Since 2011, Lewis has focused on nursery sales, now working as sales manager at Bernhard’s Nurseries, and has helped to launch a number of new plants into the UK plant market. He is a specialist supplier to show gardens, supplying more than 100 gardens at major shows.

LEWIS NORMAND

Five minutes with DEBBIE CARROLL

Celebrating two milestones this year, Debbie Carroll has become an influencer for the care sector, showing that garden design can make outside spaces more accessible to all

How did you first get into the industry?

Growing up in a house that ate what we grew, it was common practice for our household chores to include helping shell peas and harvest potatoes. I was given a small plot of ground as my own where I began growing different things like melons and experimenting with growing to attract wildlife. But it wasn’t until I had moved into a large terrace house with a junglelike, overgrown garden that turned out to have been an old nursery once belonging to plants woman Marina Christopher that I took a leap of faith and landed in a career in garden design. The garden had not been really cared for since she had moved and, although we had flower gardens growing up, I didn't know much about them, so I decided to do an RHS Advanced Certificate in Horticulture and a HNC in Garden Design.

In 2013, I was asked to redesign three dementia care home gardens, which had been designed before and had fallen out of use. And while I had an interest in that area, I wasn't a particularly experienced designer at that time. My colleague Mark Rendell and I thought we'd do a little project, with six care homes, to work out what was missing from the guidance. By chance we happened to come across a charity called NAPA (the National Activity Providers Association) who helped us find the homes to work with.

This ended up being one of the biggest research projects of its time in 2013. Working with 24 care homes across England and Wales which led to our first publication in 2014 and then last year our follow-on book, specifically aimed at the design sector.

Tell us a bit about your companies.

There are two companies: Debbie Carroll Garden Designs, which was formed in 2004 and provides domestic garden designs, and Step Change Design, which was formed in 2014 and deals predominantly with sharing the research link to creating actively used retirement gardens. So, I have two big birthdays this year: celebrating 20 years of garden design and 10 years of combining this with the care sector!

What have been your biggest challenges over recent years?

I am very fortunate; things feel very balanced for me. Since the pandemic, juggling both businesses was increasingly challenging as I went absolutely bonkers with my domestic garden design. But now I’ve got back to a nice balance between both businesses and back to providing workshops and other support with Step Change Design too.

And your biggest achievement to date?

During the pandemic, I got my BALI accreditation, which I did for my own benefit more than anything else. It was a significant moment in terms of proving to myself that I am at the same level as my peers.

And having written two books in a field that I would have never thought I would have been capable of, with the right support; it's amazing what all of us can do.

Words of wisdom for future generations?

Our sector is so diverse and there are so many opportunities. You might start down one field of interest but be prepared to be open that it might take you somewhere else. I never expected to be, in effect, a consultant within the care sector for dementia gardens, and that happened because of a series of opportunities that I had never expected. Never say never – who knows where a passion may lead?

CONTACT

Debbie Carroll Garden Designs

Email debbie@dcgardendesigns.co.uk

dcgardendesigns.co.uk

stepchange-design.co.uk