Pro Landscaper July 2018

Concept to Delivery

July 2018

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

Writtle University College PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A CAREER IN LANDSCAPE

Preview RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

PRO LANDSCAPER LIVE

MANCHESTER & LEEDS

EXCAVATORS Rent or buy?

PORCELAIN PAVING

GROUTING

Let’s Hear it From

SIMON KITCHIN RANDLE SIDDELEY

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Image courtesy of Paul Newman Landscapes

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WELCOME

Concept to Delivery

July 2018 | Volume 8, Issue 7 DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

July 2018

Writtle University Colle PREPARING STUD ENTS FOR A CAREER IN LANDSCAPE

Welcome to July 2018 The value of meeting clients and industry colleagues cannot and should never be underestimated. This year, Pro Landscaper has been touring the UK with its Pro Landscaper LIVE brand; we have been to Bristol, Guildford, Manchester and Leeds and met around 400 landscapers, garden designers, landscape architects and industry suppliers.

All the events were buzzing with great conversations, people sharing industry experiences and generally exploring how the industry can work better together. For us it’s great to meet people and companies, to understand

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 EDITORIAL Editorial Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579 Features Editor – Abbie Dawson abbie.dawson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 604 Content Manager – Claire Maher claire.maher@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 601 Production Editor – Charlie Cook charlotte.cook@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578 Subeditor – Kate Bennett kate.bennett@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 597

the issues facing the industry and to see the passion, skill and the undoubted ability of those working in the landscaping sector, and the great enhancement it can bring to the general public.

We would like to thank everyone for their positive feedback from the events and we look forward to hosting more of these shortly.

On our travels we popped into Gardeners’ World Live this month and have to congratulate The APL on pulling together The APL Avenue - members produced some great gardens that really show the general public the real quality of UK landscaping.

Well done to all those involved.

ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 588 Deputy Sales Manager – Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587 Horticulture Careers – Laura Harris laura.harris@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 580 Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 589 MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Tel: 01903 777 570 Subscription enquiries – Emily Maltby emily.maltby@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

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Preview RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

PRO LANDSCAPER LIVE MANCHESTER & LEED S

EXCAVATORS Rent or buy?

PORCELAIN PAVIN G

GROUTING

Let’s Hear it From

SIMON KITCHIN

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Finally, we really hope you enjoy this packed issue, check out our interview with Simon Kitchin, managing director of Randle Siddeley, why and how Bournemouth parks continue to attract visitors and Writtle University explains how it is equipping the next generation of landscape industry people.

Have a great month and look forward to seeing some of you at RHS Hampton Court.

@jimeljays

Design – Kara Thomas, Kirsty Turek Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd – Connecting Horticulture Pro Landscaper’s content is available for licensing overseas. Contact jamie.wilkinson@ eljays44.com Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2018 subscription price is £95.

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

Whilst every effort has been made to maintain the integrity of our advertisers, we accept no responsibility for any problem, complaints, or subsequent litigation arising from readers’ responses to advertisements in the magazine. We also wish to emphasise that views expressed by editorial contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Reproduction of any part of this magazine is strictly forbidden.

@lisaeljays

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an affiliate member of BALI

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

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

MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson

Cover image ©Randle Siddeley

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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CONTENTS

July 2018 INFORM

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Agenda How can small companies take the next step?

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News Our monthly roundup of industry news

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News Extra

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Pro Landscaper LIVE Manchester and Leeds

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RHS Chatsworth 2018 Coverage

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Association News The latest from plants@work, RHS SGD, BALI, APL and Parks Alliance

22 The Chelsea Diaries Robert Barker and Ed Burnham

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

Writtle University College PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A CAREER IN LANDSCAPE

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July 2018

PRO LANDSCAPER LIVE MANCHESTER & LEEDS

EXCAVATORS

Preview RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

Rent or buy?

PORCELAIN PAVING

GROUTING

24 30 Under 30: Noticeboard Updates from previous winners

27 Let’s Hear It From

Let’s Hear it From

Simon Kitchin, Randle Siddeley

32 Company Profile

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SIMON KITCHIN RANDLE SIDDELEY

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Kebur Landscaping

34 Landscape Architect’s Journal Strata Design Ltd

36 View From The Top Marcus Watson

38 The Cost of Everything Andrew Wilson

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Buzz Kill Angus Lindsay

42 #LIAWARDS Update Adam White

45 Living History We take a look at Bournemouth’s parks

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INSPIRE

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Simple Pleasures McWilliam Studio

54 Mirror, Mirror Gillespies

58 Level Best Living Landscapes

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Going Coastal Wheelbarrow

64 More Space, Less Fuss Anji Connell

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Love Horticulture Rae Wilkinson

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Porcelain Paving Case Study: Alfresco Floors

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Latest Products Grout for porcelain paving

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Fencing options Screening products

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CONTENTS

EDUCATE

109 Pro Landscaper Business Awards: Winner Profile

Butter Wakefield

110 Writtle College University How to equip students for the workplace

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Finish Line Robert Webber

115 Measure for Measure Sean Butler

117 CED Stone A look at the products used at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show

118 Artificial Grass Top five installation tips

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Excavators Is it worth buying one?

124 What I’m Reading Manoj Malde

126 Trading With

54 RHS HAMPTON COURT SPECIAL

NURTURE

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Cause for Celebration Ann-Marie Powell’s BBC Countryfile 30th Anniversary Garden

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A Very Modern Problem Pollyanna Wilkinson and Ed Burnham discuss their garden

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Show Gardens A look at this year’s show gardens

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Other Gardens Exploring World Gardens and Gardens for a Changing World categories

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Quick-fire questions with some of the individuals who make up our industry

Nurture News Designer Plants Terka Acton

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Flower Bomb Andy McIndoe

30 Under 30 Gardens Previous winners showcase their designs

130 Little Interview

An insight into the UK’s growing sector

Grow your Own This year’s RHS feature garden

Global Stone

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Ditch the Dirt Ian Drummond

100 In the Know Noel Kingsbury

103 Delicate Beauty Jamie Butterworth

104 A Growing Problem Jonathan Bourne

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21/06/2018 16:54

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INFORM

SPOTLIGHT ON

CONTRIBUTORS

Angus Lindsay

Anji Connell

Jonathan Bourne

Ian Drummond

Group head of assets and fleet management, idverde

Interior architect and landscape designer

Sales director, Bourne Amenity

Creative director, Indoor Garden Design

Following a visit to the annual Commercial Vehicle Show earlier this year, Angus Lindsay shares his thoughts on the event. The article features the hot topic of electric vehicles and the viability of electricity as a commercially workable power source. Angus asks and answers the questions; when can we realistically expect the electric revolution, what does this mean for businesses and how cost effective can it be?

City living often means working with a compact garden or balcony, so in this month’s issue, Anji Connell takes a look at multi-functionalism outdoors, selecting the most inventive products on the market to maximise space. Inspiring us with multi-functional outdoor furniture, lighting and heating ideas, these useful and creative products are guaranteed to pack a whole lot of living into the smallest of spaces.

Since the 2012 Olympics, materials such as topsoil have come under increased scrutiny, generally leading to much improvement across the UK landscaping industry. But where does the supplier’s responsibility for the performance and quality of soft landscaping materials end? This month, we welcome Jonathan Bourne of Bourne Amenity, who shares his experience and views on the issue.

Ian Drummond explores the latest trend for soil free planting, showcased at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Ian reveals the elegant simplicity of growing in water, appealing to anyone who has ever had to deal with soil spills whilst battling to re-pot plants. Offering exciting suggestions on how to make your plants look great in a new and interesting way, Ian unearths the joys of soil-free planting.

idverde.co.uk angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk

anjiconnellinteriordesign.com @anjiconnell

bourneamenity.co.uk @Bourne_Amenity

indoorgardendesign.com @IndoorGdnDesign

Other contributors Marcus Watson Managing director Ground Control

Andy McIndoe Leading horticulturist

Robert Webber Founder Scenic Lighting

Andrew Wilson Garden designer and lecturer

Noel Kingsbury Garden designer and writer

Sean Butler Director Cube 1994

Adam White Director Davies White Ltd

Jamie Butterworth Horticultural consultant London Stone

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

AGENDA HOW CAN SMALL COMPANIES TAKE THE NEXT STEPS IN GROWTH?

Growing your business can be the hardest thing to do when you’re a relatively small company. Lots try and fail, some don’t bother, and a few succeed. We’ve asked what the industry thinks it takes to move your business onto the next step.

Lee Bestall Managing director, Bestall & Co

This is an easy one. Daydream. As a designer, I spend a lot of time daydreaming (in fact I actually get paid for it!), so I’m well practiced, but it’s super important to daydream and create a vision for what your business will look like in the future. Spend time away from home or work, somewhere you can relax, and imagine ‘what if’. My most productive time (work wise) is when I’m laid by the pool on holiday. You can reflect on three very important questions: Where am I now? Where do I want to be?

And how do I get there?

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Paul Downer

Rod Winrow

Managing director, Oakview Landscapes

Chairman, APL & Managing director, Garden House Design

The first point would be to change your mentality, stop thinking it’s a small business and put plans and procedures in place that would normally be found in larger companies.

Fully systemise your business; have documented ‘how to’ procedures, manuals and processes, and set a strategy for growth – focus on monthly new work, secured targets, as well as sales turnover. Build your team; invest in staff, focus on IIP, training, development and retention, have a staff reward and recognition strategy in place and look to employ specialists across all areas of the business. Set simple SMART KPI’s and recruit an experienced business coach/mentor to support and guide you. Focus on targeted marketing, aim to increase business with all your existing clients first before looking for new contracts, and develop strategic alliances with garden designers and landscape architects.

Finally, use awards to raise your company’s profile and reputation.

This is a huge question, not only for your business but your lifestyle and perhaps family life. My advice is to have a plan, we tend to grow our business by expanding the team and putting more vans on the road. Is this the only way?

First stage, write a 3-year business plan, include the numbers and your own objectives, i.e. 3 teams in year 2 or retire in year 3! Take advice from other companies; the APL has an informal mentoring scheme. Most landscapers are great at building gardens but perhaps need help with the business aspects of our companies. The APL runs business courses at heavily subsidised rates and Phil Tremayne uses content from these, informally and for free, at cluster group meetings. All members and invited guests are welcome. In summary, plan, decide the plan, involve your life partner, work hard and go for it. Good luck! www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Holly Youde

Ross Conquest

Creative design director, Urban Landscape Design Ltd

Managing director, Conquest Creative Spaces

Taking a small company to the next level is a big jump, however having a love for the industry and belief in yourself goes a long way to achieveing this. Implementing a plan with vision, courage and determination to carry it through, along with the ability to adapt to changes (it rarely goes to plan!) ensures you always keep your business moving forward. We have found that networking, both in and outside of the industry, has been invaluable to our growth and being members of trade associations such as the APL has helped immensely with business growth and recognition. The information and advice you gain from respected colleagues is invaluable, this industry is incredibly open and friendly and there are so many willing to help, advise and even mentor. Entering awards has also helped us gain recognition and additionally inspires confidence within the team which helps solidify your goals.

A mixture of having the bottle to expand, and not biting off more than you can chew. Understanding your market and the demographic of your clients is quite important. Who makes you the most money, how quick did you turn the project around? Was it worth the stress? Did you enjoy yourself? Cash flow is king; it’s important to make sure all your eggs aren’t in one basket in case things go wrong, because it doesn’t matter how good you are, they will. Business is a real rollercoaster journey, with extreme highs and lows followed by a constant snag in your mind about what’s coming next. It’s not really about taking the next step, but more a question of, are you doing things right at the moment?

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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NEXT MONTH

What enhancements could there be to make the best flower show in the world, RHS Chelsea, even better?

Have your say: editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

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INFORM

NEWS Wienerberger transforms gloomy shed space into student social square at Roehampton University Located on one of London’s most beautiful campuses, the University of Roehampton is situated across three major sites.

Tucked away and rarely ventured onto by students, ‘The Yard’ of the University featured nothing but old storage buildings and sheds.

However, thanks to a master plan by architectural practice Henley Halebrown, along with Wienerberger’s use of Slim Pave clay pavers, The Yard has been transformed into a generous open space, connecting the historic and contemporary sections of the University, whilst also creating an area for students to sit, study and socialise.

The project, which took a total of nine months to complete, needed to effectively unify the old with the new, whilst complying with the restrictive requirements of monument conservation and creating a shared space on campus. In order to successfully

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achieve this, the architects decided to use brick in the form of clay pavers as it offered the versatility needed for the task. Structural openings were made to open up views from the chapel and a café to The Yard, whilst the University’s historic boundary wall had to be reduced in height in order to make it structurally sound. Additional openings with flat arches were also introduced, linking the historic Froebel garden to the courts, whilst copings were made of cast and etched reconstituted stone, and benches were built into niches, encouraging university students to take advantage of the newly created space. www.wienerberger.co.uk

Tivoli launches, following acquisition of ISS Landscaping Following completion of its acquisition of ISS Landscaping on 1 June, Tivoli (Tivoli Group Limited) has begun trading. Tivoli Group Limited is owned by private individuals as part of the Sullivan Street Partners portfolio of companies.

As a well-funded independent business, the company will cement its place as the UK’s leading specialist grounds maintenance provider. The strategy is to continue to self-deliver grounds maintenance, landscape construction, arboriculture, winter maintenance and interior plants and floristry services to its public sector, defence and corporate clients across the UK. Underpinned by its values of innovation, passion and accountability, Tivoli’s purpose will

be to deliver beautifully managed spaces, improve the environment and manage all forms of growth on behalf of its clients. Tivoli’s evolution will be supported by its regional teams of 1,500 staff, all of whom share its passion to improve the appeal of public and private spaces for the communities in which it works.

In a representation of Tivoli’s commitment to effective delivery and sustainable best practice, the new branding depicts a bee within a flower.

Phil Jones, managing director, said: “This is a new and exciting opportunity for the business to take hold of its independence and concentrate on what we do best which is to deliver excellence to our clients. Focused on our talented and committed people, our community spirit and our passion to create and transform our landscapes into safe, functional and beautiful spaces, Tivoli will become a real force to be reckoned with.” www.tivoliservices.com

21/06/2018 08:52

INFORM

Winner announced in the Welwyn Garden City Centenary Garden competition The Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation (WGCCF) has chosen Heather Appleton of Appleton & Co Design as the winner in a competition to design a Centenary Garden which will have its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2020, and then return to the town for all to enjoy.

Appleton & Co Design was chosen from a shortlist of four design teams, selected from over 80 competition entries.

Heather Appleton, who has won multiple Gold medals at RHS shows and whose gardens have

twice been named ‘Best in Show’, said: “Opportunities to design and deliver a Main Avenue show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show are very rare and the Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation should be applauded for its time and energy in organising the competition.”

The competition, which launched in January 2017, was organised in conjunction with the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) and was open to both members and non-members.

The eight strong judging panel

was chaired by David Green CB QC, master of The Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

David Green commented: “All the entries in the final judging phase were of a very high standard.

Ultimately, we settled on a scheme which will catch the eye at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2020 and then successfully make the transfer to its new home in WGC.” www.wgccentenary.org

New Therapeutic Garden opening at St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey The Mayor of Runnymede, Councillor Chaudhri, and other dignitaries were present on 9 May 2018 to celebrate the official opening of the new Therapeutic Garden at St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey. The garden was donated by Twickenham based landscape contractors Kingston Landscape Group, with the design

by Teddington landscape architects Outerspace.

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a calming safe space for inpatients at the Abraham Cowley Mental Health Unit, which is run by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

MD Steve Evans drives past the unit every day on his way to work and felt that the neglected space was not benefiting patients, so he approached Surrey and Borders Partnership to see what could be done. “We create beautiful gardens and communal spaces every day for our clients. I felt it was time

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we gave something back to our local community and especially for people who are going through a difficult period in their lives. It can happen to any of us.”

The garden was installed earlier this year during a traditionally quiet period in the landscape calendar. All manpower, plants and equipment were donated free of charge by Kingston Landscape Group. www.klguk.com www.outerspaceuk.com

NEWS IN BRIEF Record numbers gaining RHS qualification

With the number of graduates more than doubling in the last year, the RHS’s Master of Horticulture qualification is now accepting applications for its October 2018 intake. The award gives horticulturists the chance to expand their knowledge and skills at management level.

Application deadline is 25 July. www.rhs.org.uk/mhort

Glendale management team receives a big boost

National green services supplier Glendale has appointed Daniel Watson as its new contract manager. Daniel will be responsible for overseeing various contracts within the company’s portfolio, managing the service operations and the supervision of staff. www.glendale-services.co.uk

Brewin Dolphin wins People’s Choice Award at Chatsworth Brewin Dolphin has won the People’s Choice Award for the second consecutive year, in the Installations category with The Brewin Dolphin Installation, designed by Paul HerveyBrookes. www.gardening. brewin.co.uk

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INFORM

NEW

International call for ideas to reimagine London’s Grosvenor Square Grosvenor Britain & Ireland has launched an international call for ideas to re-imagine Grosvenor Square in London.

Architects, designers and creative thinkers from across the world are invited to submit proposals to re-imagine the historic square, with the aim of reinstating it as a leading public space.

The return of management responsibilities for Grosvenor Square to Grosvenor in May has presented the opportunity to redefine and improve the square’s contribution to

Mitie extends relationship with Whitbread Mitie has expanded its landscaping contract with Whitbread PLC, following a competitive tender process. The three-year contract is an extension of services already provided by Mitie to include additional sites in the Midlands, Wales and the south; almost doubling the number of sites on the contract.

Whitbread is the UK’s largest hospitality company, owning Premier Inn, Costa Coffee and Beefeater. Mitie will deliver grounds maintenance to 440 Premier Inn

London and the world.

Grosvenor, the owner of Grosvenor Square, has brought together an independent panel of experts to review submissions from architects, horticulturists, placemakers, urbanists, artists, gallerists, retailers and designers.

The owner has a 20 year vision to transform its London estate, in the next 10 years it will invest £1bn in future proofing its estate to help it meet the challenges of population growth and to deliver the vision. wwww.grosvenor.com

sites and their associated restaurants.

The landscaping team will manage grass cutting, plant bedding and weed control services as well as tree, hedge and shrub maintenance.

Mitie will be investing in new technology as part of the contract, having developed a web portal called Live Landscapes that will provide live data and management information across the estate. Tim Howell, managing director of Mitie Landscapes, said: “We are delighted to have expanded our relationship with Whitbread to maintain the grounds of Premier Inn sites across the UK. We have developed an excellent working relationship and look forward to enhancing our service”. www.mitielandscapes.com

ON THE

website www.prolandscapermagazine.com Beth Chatto obituary

Beth Chatto OBE sadly passed away on 13 May 2018 at the age of 94 at her home near Colchester. An accomplished gardener, plantswoman and writer over a six-decade long career, Beth won numerous awards including 10 consecutive Gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Brian Herbert on the BALI Leadership in Action Development course

Brian Herbert of Outdoor Options tells us about the new BALI South Thames Leadership in Action Development course, targeted towards business owners and project managers within the landscaping industry.

Battling skin cancer after a decade in landscaping

Pro Landscaper sits with southern sales director of Talasey, Shane McCormick, to discuss his personal battle with skin cancer after working outdoors as a landscaper for over a decade. Shane shares how this has affected his life, and offers advice for those currently working in the industry.

A simple guide to securing tools on site

Tool theft in the UK has increased by over 30% in the last full year, with tradespeople in Yorkshire and the Midlands particularly at risk. Pro Landscaper gains insight from Andy Palmer, master locksmith at Grays Locksmiths, on securing landscaping tools and equipment on site.

- Treat Your Turf • 25L capacity covers 625m2 • 1 meter spray width • Suitable for most chemicals • Non drip nozzle valves • Optional boom cover

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Compact innovation designed on proven performance.

B1 Series: Kubota reliability and simplicity built-in Small but powerful, the B1 Series gives you outstanding compact performance Powerful, manoeuvrable and efficient, the B1 Series is designed to take on a wide range of tasks, including garden, estate or horticultural work Easy to operate and excellent value for money; choose from three small but powerful models – 16, 18 or 24HP

Reliable, powerful and economic Kubota 3-cylinder diesel engine Highly versatile with simple manual transmission (6FWD/2 REV/9 FWD/3 REV), selectable 4WD plus mid (B1181 only) and rear PTO options

Contact your local dealer or visit our website for more details. www.kubota.co.uk

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INFORM

PRO LANDSCAPER

F

or this year’s third instalment of Pro Landscaper LIVE, we revisited The Mere Golf & Country Club, where we hosted the inaugural Pro Landscaper LIVE Manchester event last year. The event, sponsored by CED Stone Group, took place on Thursday 31 May and was another huge success.

A total of 90 people attended, and spent the day listening to talks by experts and enjoying delicious food and drink while networking with old and new friends. The debates covered working together, media coverage and choosing the right plants, and visitors enjoyed talks from Marcus Chilton Jones, curator at the RHS, who gave an insight into the new RHS Garden Bridgewater and Giles Heap, managing director at CED Stone Group.

Two weeks later, we headed up north again for Pro Landscaper LIVE Leeds. Sponsored by Tarmac and held at Yorkshire County Cricket Ground, we welcomed 70 visitors for this year’s final Pro Landscaper LIVE event. Seminars covered plant diseases, show gardens, building a business and the future of landscaping.

We’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time out of their busy schedules to attend one of our LIVE events this year, as well as the excellent exhibitors and sponsors. See you next time!

Leeds

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LIVE

LIVE

Manchester

We’re looking forward to @ProLandscaperJW LIVE Manchester this afternoon #networking #educate #inform #inspire Glendale UK @GlendaleUK Panel discussion on our industry at great Pro Landscaper event @ProLandscaperJW #Horticulture #Manchester David Keegan @Dkgarden

LIVE

31 MAY 2018

Fantastic to listen to Landstruction’s very own @TommyWellies thoughts and views on landscaping’s North vs South debate. Great to meet new people and catch up with old friends! Thanks to @ProLandscaperJW for putting on a great LIVE event in Manchester.

@The_APL member @UrbLandscapes Holly takes the stage @ProLandscaperJW #manchester in the first live debate of the day.

Landstruction @Landstruction

Phil Tremayne @apl_philt

Only a light load in the truck today! Heading over to Yorkshire for @ProLandscaperJW LIVE in Leeds @emeraldstadium #SeeYouThere Matt | The Turf Group @TheTurfGroup

All ready at Pro Landscaper’s show Leeds #inspiringbeautifullandscape #cedstonegroup Chris Collins @Tiersales_Chris In Leeds today?? Pop over to the @ProLandscaperJW Live event and say hello, we’ve got samples and brochures and all sorts! #ProLandscaperLive CED Stone Group @CEDNaturalStone

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RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2018 Back for a second year, the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show was a roaring success. Held from the 6-11 June at the Chatsworth House estate, visitors explored an array of beautiful show gardens and installations. A grand total of 90 medals were awarded at this year’s show to both gardens and floral exhibitors.

Five show gardens were awarded medals

by The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) at the 2018 RHS Chatsworth show, partnered

by Wedgwood. The Great Outdoors by Phil Hirst was awarded Gold medal and the highly sought-after title of ‘Best Show Garden’.

Silver-gilt medals were awarded to The John Deere: 100 years of Tractors garden by Elspeth

Stockwell and Jo Fairfax, The Macmillan Cancer Support Legacy Garden by Michael Coley, and CCLA: A Family Garden by Amanda Waring and Laura Arison each receiving the accolade. Chris Myers took home both the Silver medal and the People’s Choice award for his garden Hay Time in the Dales.

Aside from the show gardens there were plenty of other of things for visitors to enjoy.

Attractions included the RHS and Gardeners’ Question Time (GQT) Bloomin’ Healthy Garden, a fantastic display of orchids from Jonathan Moseley and a variety of talks throughout the day. We can’t wait to see what next year’s show brings.

Wildflower Meadow Sculpture ©RHS/Lee Beel

The John Deere Garden: 100 years of Tractors SILVER-GILT MEDAL Designer Elspeth Stockwell and Jo Fairfax Contractor David Greaves Sponsor John Deere

CCLA: A Family Garden SILVER-GILT MEDAL Designer Amanda Waring and Laura Arison Contractor GK Wilson Landscapes Services Sponsor CCLA 16

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INFORM

Choice e’s A pl

rd wa

Peo

Hay Time in the Dales SILVER MEDAL Designer Chris Myers Contractor Creations & Installations Sponsor Johnsons of Whixley and Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust

WINNER Show gardens

Orchid Display – Great Conservatory ©RHS/Tim Sandall

The RHS & BBC Gardeners’ Question Time Bloomin’ Healthy Garden Designer Stephen Hall Contractor Castle Gardening Sponsor BBC

The Macmillan Cancer Support Legacy Garden SILVER-GILT MEDAL Designer Michael Coley Contractor Smartscape Cardiff Ltd Sponsor Macmillan Cancer Support

The Great Outdoors GOLD MEDAL Designer Phil Hirst Contractor GardenStyle Sponsor Allgreen Group, Handspring Design, and Knowl Park Nurseries www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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WINNER Best Show Garden

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 17

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21/06/2018 09:13

ASSOCIATION

INFORM

NEWS

plants@work outline National Plants at Work Week Spreading the word about the benefits of plants even more strongly than usual, the plants@ work team will host National Plants at Work Week (NPWW) from 9-13 July. Focusing on how plants can boost health, happiness and productivity in the workplace, the campaign will include a surprise one-day pop-up as well as social media elements, which will also play host to our ‘photos of the week’ gallery.

Of course, plants@work members will be notified of our plans, not just for the main ‘pop-up’ event but also so they can get involved in promoting plants and their benefits in the workplace. Last year this involved pop-up stands, plant give-aways, a school visit and leaflet handouts.

plants@work member, Urban Planters London West with their Kokedama pop-up workshop 2017

Favourite Office Plant of the Year To coincide with NPWW, we will also announce the Favourite Office Plant for the year. Nominations have been published and members have been voting. By the time you read this, the judging panel will have met and chosen their favourite from the shortlisted three.

Book launch Our second book ‘Plants for Wellbeing’, about how plants affect us positively, will also launch during this week.

The early research, started in the 1980s famously by Dr Bill Wolverton about the aircleaning properties of plants, has grown massively in the years since then. Scientists and academics from all over the world have looked at how plants affect us in our homes, our workplaces, our schools and colleges, our hospitals and even in care homes. A synopsis of all the main points to date will be included in the book with a couple of guest interviews and articles. We can’t wait to show you! www.plantsatwork.org.uk

BALI briefing Best in Show for BALI members at Gardening Scotland It was another successful year for BALI members at Gardening Scotland 2018.

‘The Garden Retreat: A Place for Living’, designed

by BALI Associate Designer member Lynn Hill of Lynn Hill Garden Design and built by BALI Registered Contractors Endrick Landscapes and

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Ashlea Landscapes, took a Silver Gilt medal and Best Show Garden with most of the hard landscaping materials having been supplied by BALI Registered Affiliate CED Stone Group. Other medals awarded were: GP Plantscape ‘The Green Office’, Gold, and SRUC ‘A Wee Natural Gallery’, Silver.

students studying horticulture and landscape courses and in work placed apprenticeships to visitors to the show. Students will help build the show garden ‘Best of Both Worlds’, closely mentored by senior level landscaping professionals in a true demonstration of industry collaboration.

BALI GoLandscape students to build Hampton show garden BALI GoLandscape students are to design and build a show garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July. The garden will promote

BALI to launch new website in partnership with NetXtra BALI will launch a new website

by January 2019, supporting over 900 of its active members.

Following an extensive 12-month review of its website,

BALI has now selected a new partner, NetXtra, to deliver a fully integrated website aimed at delivering next generation membership engagement and enhanced promotional features to help generate leads for BALI members. www.bali.org.uk

Best of Both Worlds

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 19

21/06/2018 11:27

INFORM

APL update building a show garden at these the best of luck!

APL member success at RHS Malvern and Chelsea Flower Shows Huge congratulations to APL members who came home with one of the 16 awards from RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and 7 from RHS Malvern Spring Flower Show.

With more shows happening throughout the rest of the year, we wish everyone

Welcome to Yorkshire - RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018

There’s still space on our Business Development course 2018 Following on from the success of the previous APL Business Development Programme, this course is once again returning.Taking place over four days, it is limited to 10 attendees, ensuring dedicated one-to-one guidance and will cover all you need to further develop your business. Make sure you book your place quickly as there are a maximum of 10 places available, which will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Email Natalie.Ilsley@hta.org. uk or call 0333 003 3550 for further details.

Plant and disease alert – Xylella fastidiosa The HTA has compiled a pack containing information on what Xylella is, material on plant passporting, a poster for use in your business, and various other tools.

Some members have been using the information within this document to hold cluster meetings to promote best practice and work together to help reduce the threat.

To find out more and download the pack, visit www.hta.org.uk/xylella.

Date for diary: APL seminar –‘It’s Time to Plant’ September 25 2018 We have paved, built walls and even faked it, but now for the finishing touches… It’s time to plant! This seminar will explore: • Plant design • Plant handling • Planting standards • Planting combinations • Planting budgets • Right plant, right place • Pest and diseases • Ongoing maintenance • And much more…

Email Natalie.Ilsley@hta.org. uk or call 0333 003 3550 for further details and to book your place. www.landscaper.org.uk

SGD bulletin Design trends at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from members of the Society of Garden Designers Members of the Society of Garden Designers were back in force at RHS Chelsea this year, with 16 staging garden exhibits at the event.

Amongst them a number of trends emerged, giving a glimpse of the planting, features and design styles we can expect to see in the months ahead.

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Metalwork was a central feature for gardens by Stuart Towner and Tony Woods MSGD, and Jo Thompson’s Wedgwood Garden featured a stunning bronze pavilion.

Elsewhere, sculptural seating featured in gardens by Matt Keightley MSGD, Naomi Ferrett-Cohen, Kate Savill and Tamara Bridge, and Nic Howard’s garden included a

Nic Howard ©RHS

sculptural bench referencing the DNA helix.

Trends in planting included lupins, Salvias, and Astrantias, and roses saw a comeback in 2018. Popular colours for planting included purple, bronze and rust alongside yellows, oranges and deep reds. The incorporation of edibles into floral displays was also evident.

Inspiration for designs came from all over the world. The artisan garden

by Sarah Eberle FSGD was inspired by the Moghul gardens of North India, Tom Massey’s garden was filled with Middle Eastern

Catherine MacDonald ©RHS

references and planting in Patrick Collins water garden was a celebration of Chinese flora.

Ecology was a central theme in many of the gardens.

Tom Stuart-Smith MSGD created a garden using recycled plants and materials, while Kate Gould MSGD incorporated energy harvesting paving. www.sgd.org.uk

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INFORM

RHS report Mass planting of Verbena ©Anca Panait

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Surrey (3-8 July) 2018’s RHS Hampton Court highlights will include the introduction of an annual celebration of internationally renowned figures in horticulture; this year we welcome plantsman extraordinaire Piet Oudolf, who will be creating beautiful summer borders of herbaceous perennials. Also, a new immersive feature ‘Evolve: Through the Roots of Time’ will take visitors on an interactive journey of plant evolution.

www.rhs.org.uk/showsevents/rhs-hampton-courtpalace-flower-show RHS London Plant and Art Fair, Lindley and Lawrence Halls (10-12 July) This event will showcase the very best of botanical art and photography, with UK and international artists from Australia, the USA and Japan.

The show will also explore the art of the Japanese garden, with features including Ikebana workshops and an inspiring

summer floral installation by Zita Elze. A programme of free talks will take place, offering inspiring perspectives on summer planting and unique insights into the world of botanical art and Japanese garden design. The launch of the 2018 Photographic Competition will also take place at the show, featuring a selection of winners from various categories. www.rhs.org.uk/showsevents/rhs-london-shows/ RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, Cheshire (18-21 July) Celebrating its 20th anniversary, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park has some amazing highlights in store this year. Visitors will be invited to step inside The

Poisonous Garden and discover the gruesome and deadly nature of some of the UK’s best loved plants. There will also be a sunshine field of over 5,000 Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’ in the shape of the giant daisylike flower. On Friday 20 July a colourful birthday parade will steal the show! www.rhs.org.uk/showsevents/rhs-flower-showtatton-park/plan-your-visit www.rhs.org.uk

Sunshine Field Illustration ©Anca Panait

Parks Alliance matters

Action on Parks conference As a member of the Government’s Parks Action Group (PAG), The Parks Alliance was delighted to be involved in the recent LGA Conference ‘Action on Parks’.

It was heartening to listen to both Clive Betts MP (Chair of the Select Committee parks inquiry) and our Minister for Parks and Green Space, Rishi Sunak MP, who both

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spoke passionately about parks and the multiple benefits that they offer. However, it soon became clear that the funding crisis affecting local authorities is having a huge impact on the quality and sustainability of many of our parks and green spaces. greenspace scotland It is interesting to observe that in Scotland, evidence and research set out in greenspace scotland’s Third State of Scotland’s Greenspace Report regarding the benefits of green space and concerns about the link between budget cuts, reduced maintenance and lower

levels of use, has been presented to the Scottish Parliament Local Government and Communities Committee. Congratulations to Scottish green space professionals who have been keen for the Scottish Parliament to hold an inquiry into parks.

Have a Field Day The Fields in Trust initiative ‘Have a Field Day’, a national celebration of our parks and

green spaces, takes place on Saturday 7 July. Thousands of people across the UK will come together in their parks and green spaces to celebrate why they are so special to their local communities.

Love Parks Week The Keep Britain Tidy ‘Love Parks Week’, from 13-22 July, clearly demonstrates the importance of parks to their communities, and will involve thousands of events planned in parks to get more people involved in caring for and protecting their favourite green space. www.theparksalliance.org

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21/06/2018 11:28

INFORM

THE

Chelsea Diaries

Designer Robert Barker and contractor Ed Burnham reflect on the success of their respective show gardens in the final instalment in The Chelsea Diaries series

Ed Burnham Burnham Landscaping Garden The CHERUB HIV Garden: A Life Without Walls Designer Naomi Ferrett-Cohen Sponsor CHERUB Silver Gilt!

Everyone involved is over the moon with the result for our debut Chelsea garden. It really has been a solid team effort. From the guys at Aztec Modelmakers, and Hortus Loci who supplied our

plants, to material supply and advice from CED Stone Group and Loknan, everyone really went the extra mile.

From a construction point of view, the Burnham Landscaping squad did a sterling job. The team put in huge shifts and worked relentlessly in the heat. It’s not easy being a landscaper and having to work so hard in full sunshine all day.

For all the effort put in, I myself am truly thankful.

It’s only right to give thanks to the incredible planting team too. I can’t say enough how much of team effort it is to bring a design to life. We’ve all got to know each other so well, including our sponsors at CHERUB, and in particular, its been a pleasure to work with the garden’s designer, Naomi Ferrett-Cohen. So my final thank you goes to her; it’s been a truly amazing journey which was all brought together by Naomi.

A fantastic medal for a debut

Silver Gilt garden, which was also well Medal Winner received by the public who came in their thousands to see it; a huge success all round.

So to finish, I thought some numbers might better explain what goes into a Chelsea Show Garden: • Size of garden = 72sqm • Working hours on site = 1008 • Working hours in total = 2086 • Miles travelled = 2800 • Tea bags used = 672 Would we do it all again? Without any hesitation, yes. www.burnhamlandscaping.co.uk

Robert Barker Robert Barker Garden and Landscape Design Garden Skin Deep Contractor Terraforma Landscapes Sponsor The Skin Deep Group Through this column I have commented on how important it is to have a team around you that not only is willing to take pride in their work, but are also there to offer whatever support is needed. If you’re lucky, then that support comes from your

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landscaper (Skin Deep was my second show garden with the amazing Terraforma Landscapes), and a number of other people.

On this journey, Carl Salmon and his team at Chiltern GRC, and Steve Walley and the team at London Stone, offered not just products of amazing high quality but also care, relentless support and pride in their work. With this in mind, I am fully aware that thanking the team in such an article as this is a cliché; but cliché or

not, there are thanks to be made.

Due to budget constrictions we had to rely heavily on the help of volunteers. Without them, not only would the garden have suffered, but also the experience wouldn’t have been the same. For example, we had help from Trent Mahoney, a volunteer who travelled from Australia to join us.

He became a critical member of the team and kept moral up.

There are far too many unsung heroes to list, but from the RHS show managers

Silver Gilt Medal Winner

and the amazing problem solving clerk of works (Ned Harvey and Darren), to the ridiculously happy cashier in the canteen or the traffic warden that greeted me every morning, everyone plays a key part.

There are so many positives but one of the key things I have taken away from this whole experience was the pride I felt in being part of such a huge event. As the saying goes ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’. www.robertbarkerdesign.com www.skindeepgarden.co.uk

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PC_210x265_7_6_18:Layout 1 07/06/2018 13:30 Page 1

A Royal Celebration by Hillier at The Chelsea Flower Show 2018 Featuring Corten Steel Steps and Walls from The Pot Company

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21/06/2018 09:22

INFORM

S PROJECT

30 UNDER 30

noticeboard

ANCA PANAIT

ALEXANDRA NOBLE

Landscape architect and garden designer at Anca Panait Studio

Garden and landscape designer at Alexandra Noble Design

Collaborating with RHS Scotland, Anca was involved in the design and build of the ‘Grow Your Space’ interactive garden designed for Gardening Scotland. School students helped with the planting of the garden as part of the RHS’s continued support in developing horticultural skills for youth groups. After the show, the garden was relocated to a new community space that will benefit people suffering with Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

As well as working on her garden for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Alexandra designed a miniature garden for Chelsea in Bloom, referencing the Royal Wedding which took place the weekend before. The garden was built by fellow Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30 Jacob Catling.

SAM EAGLING-FERNANDEZ Regional Manager at Maydencroft Maydencroft, where Sam is regional manager, has several exciting project wins to announce this month. It recently won the soft landscaping package at Langley Park Hotel and is building a bridge in Maidenhead which will be inaugurated by Teresa May. The business is looking to expand its grounds maintenance division in Windsor to look after some high-end private estates.

ACHIEVEMENTS

ALASTAIR HENDERSON Associate at Aralia Alastair recently passed the adjudication process with the Society of Garden Designers and is now a fully registered MSGD! Congratulations Alastair!

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DOMINIC KNOWER Business development trainee at idverde Dominic worked with Manchester City Football Club to improve their Football Academy estate grounds. Dominic’s work includes writing a three-year improvement plan, which incorporates redesigning shrub beds to target pollinators, as well as installing a range of nest boxes.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 15:22

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21/06/2018 09:26

Let’s Hear it From

SIMON KITCHIN

MANAGING DIRECTOR RANDLE SIDDELEY It’s a rarity that the industry media is granted an interview with this prestigious landscape architecture, construction and maintenance company, so we were delighted to meet up with Simon Kitchin, managing director at Randle Siddeley. We talked about his career, his current role, and the company’s relocation plans for 2018

S

imon’s career started out quite differently to what it is today, trading on the financial futures market – but this left him feeling unfulfilled, he tells us.

Naturally attuned to nature, he decided upon a change in 1991, and took a break to think about his next steps. This ultimately led him into landscaping.

“A friend of a friend who was a lecturer at Hadlow told me about the charitable trust MacIntyre, which works with disadvantaged people of all ages who have a variety of learning difficulties,” he says. “Part of what they did at Boughton Manor in Maidstone involved providing life skills by training residents in horticulture.” The www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Let's Hear it From.indd 27

charity had an onsite residential care centre, and over the course of a year, Simon worked with a team to learn and then teach people about budding, grafting, sowing seeds and taking cuttings. A start was also made on restoring the garden and grotto in the grounds to its former glory. On occasion, guest lecturers would visit, and Simon was encouraged to undertake a BSc in Landscape Management at the University of Greenwich.

Starting as a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Landscape Management at Hadlow College, this was a sandwich course, and in the middle year Simon worked at Indoor Outdoor Group, based in Limehouse in East London. “I really

enjoyed my time there for the year, going back full time after I finished my degree,” he tells us. “The role started at the bottom, labouring, raking, turfing, planting and laying stone. It was good to put the skills that I had learned with MacIntyre to real life applications. At the time, the company was kept busy by the DLR extension, and the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) was disbanding, so developers were buying up the land for wharf developments – there were some fun and also some less exciting jobs in the rain!”

Simon went back to the company he had worked for during his sandwich year to take up a full-time position. “I went back to Indoor Pro Landscaper / July 2018 27

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INFORM

WE TAKE MORE TIME AND ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING THE QUALITY RIGHT, AND WE ALWAYS FIX DEFECTS WITHOUT HESITATION – USUALLY BEFORE ANYONE ELSE HAS NOTICED OR EVEN ASKED

Outdoor, and in 1996 came to an agreement with the owner Geoff Hart to take over the management of the company. I spent eight years growing the business, by which time we were working quite extensively on developments in the Docklands and further afield. We were afforded the opportunity to become involved in some prestigious projects across London and expanded into design and build, which enabled me to flex my creative muscles.”

Later, Simon sold the company and spent two years travelling before he met Randle Siddeley in 2006 – and they immediately hit it off.

The company was ready for fresh challenges, and Simon felt the opportunity to work in the prime residential market was too good to miss. He was brought in to run the construction division, as there were two businesses at that time – Randle Siddeley Associates (the landscape architecture arm) and Siddeley Landscape Designs (the construction division). After a few years with the company, he was leading the whole business alongside Randle Siddeley.

which can be a challenge,” he says. “In the past we have employed from competitors, but still have to train and mentor them to work to our standards. We do look after our people, but we also admit that we do ask a lot from them – we don’t settle for substandard work. If any of the team have to ask themselves if their work is good enough, I always say it probably isn’t.

They get to work on some of the best projects, both in this country in construction and internationally on designs, and we don’t settle for anything less than perfection.”

Charging and projects It’s no surprise that standards of this calibre do not come cheap. “We are expensive, but not without good reason,” Simon explains. “We try to be artisanal in what we do, and on the rare occasion that there are any defects, we rectify them, immediately and without question. I have no problem in telling my team to rip up paving if I feel it could jeopardise our reputation, even if

the client is happy with it. This is one reason why we don’t compete for vast commercial construction projects, as the developers are looking for the best possible price. If an enquiry comes in where it is clear that the sole determining factor is cost, this immediately raises alarm bells, as our aspirations for the scheme may well not be aligned.”

The design division works 50/50 on UK and international projects, and currently there are eight projects in hand in China and in Hong Kong, where Randle Siddely is working on Kowloon Bay and Discovery Bay. Other international projects include private villas in Switzerland, the south of France and the Middle East.

In the UK, most design work is in the prime residential market. Simon adds that they have no base value, and that there’s nothing the company wouldn’t consider being involved in – it would even do a window box if it fitted with the Randle Siddeley image and reputation!

Recruitment Everyone who works at Randle Siddeley is employed on a full-time, permanent basis, and Simon explains that recruiting can be very difficult due to the high expectations of the company.

“Most people interviewed for positions have not habitually delivered to the level we demand, 28

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INFORM

Breakdown of work At present, the split between domestic and commercial construction weighs heavily on the domestic side, at around 80%, although the company designs more commercial projects than it builds out. The company’s maintenance group tends to grow more organically – when taking on the maintenance of a project, the team knows they’re in it for the long term, and many clients have been with the company since the early Noughties as they value the consistency and integrity of the teams.

Competition and new work When it comes to other companies that are working to the same level in terms of quality and service, Simon admits that Randle Siddeley is “probably slightly more expensive”, but also tells us that it makes no greater margin than competitors. “We just take more time and are committed to getting the quality right, and we www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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I HAVE NO PROBLEM IN TELLING MY TEAM TO RIP UP PAVING IF I FEEL IT COULD JEOPARDISE OUR REPUTATION, EVEN IF THE CLIENT IS HAPPY WITH IT always fix defects without hesitation – usually before anyone else has noticed or even asked,” he says.

The company has built up close relationships with interior designers, architects, cost consultants, project managers and property agents, and doesn’t advertise, preferring to rely almost solely on word of mouth. “Reputations are hard to build, but we are always conscious that they are quick to disappear if you are not constantly focused on delivery, which keeps the pressure on,” Simon tells us.

Design style Many know Randle Siddeley for its creations on country estates, but it also brings its style – classically English, with a contemporary twist – to many central London gardens, filling them with herbaceous borders, clipped hedging and avenues of trees.

The company designs more modern spaces, too, and is currently creating gardens for the Manhattan Loft Corporation at its site in Stratford, which has terraces on the 35th, 25th and seventh floors. It has also created roof gardens for Heron at the Guildhall School of Music, on the seventh-floor members club, and at Sushi Samba in Bishopsgate, London.

1 Riverside herbaceous borders in Twickenham 2 An informal dining terrace in Kensington 3 Rose arbours in Holland Park 4 A formal front garden in St John’s Wood 5 RHS Chelsea Flower Show for Hay Designs in 2018 Pro Landscaper / July 2018 29

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INFORM

The future In six months’ time, and after 20 years at its current location in Battersea, Randle Siddeley will be moving to an office in Wandsworth, which has 50% more floor space to accommodate the current team and allow for more flexibility and growth. The present set-up consists of three teams: the design section has 18 landscape architects, whose design work is split 50/50 between UK and international projects; the construction team includes 45 staff; and the maintenance side of the group employs 20 people. Each group has a director and an administration team, who report to Simon.

6 A courtyard oasis in Victoria

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7 Rooftop escapism in Kensington Photographs ©Randle Siddeley Limited

Downtime We ask Simon how he manages to forget about work or, indeed, if he ever does? “Since I moved back to London four years ago, having previously lived in the country, I miss the outdoor life – so I do like to visit public gardens. It’s bit of a busman’s holiday I admit, but luckily my partner is a landscape architect and is currently designing a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show, so it’s a shared passion.”

8 Stunning private gardens near Richmond

CONTACT Randle Siddeley, 3 Palmerston Court, Palmerston Way, London SW8 4AJ Tel: +44 (0)207 627 7000 www.randlesiddeley.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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T HE SCHO O L O F R ES I N 21/06/2018 09:28

INFORM

COMPANY

PROFILE

David Booton of Kebur Garden Materials’ Landscape Division sits down with Pro Landscaper to discuss the evolution of the company, his team, show gardens and future plans

When was the company founded?

Kebur as a business was formed around 1958 and it was my grandfather who initially started the company. In the beginning, the company was purely doing hard landscaping.

Later, the business evolved and decided to start making paving slabs and garden ornaments. The company then changed again, when landscaping got put to one side and Kebur became solely a supplier of landscaping products. Today, Kebur Garden Materials imports its own stone and porcelain collection from across the world and is a regional and national supplier of many big brand garden materials.

WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT PROVIDING MORE VISUALS TO CLIENTS, TAKING ON LARGER SCALE PROJECTS AND FURTHER STRENGTHENING OUR HIGH INSTALLATION STANDARDS How did the business change in 2012?

I came into the business about 15 years ago when my father decided he wanted to take more of a back-seat role. At that time, as a supplier, we were handing out business cards to anyone and everyone enquiring after landscaping services. It began to get a bit out of hand as we had no control over whether the enquiries would be responded to, and felt that it could be lost business.

So, in January 2012, we decided to start our own landscaping installation service.

Beforehand we had approached a number of our key account customers and talked about the possibility of passing all the enquiries 32

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KEBUR GARDEN MATERIALS’ LANDSCAPE DIVISION

in numbers

Established 2012 Number of Employees 12 Turnover 800,000 Net Awards 2015 Bradstone Best Patio Transformation Award

through them. The trouble was, most of these firms or sole traders were already heavily booked up with work, and were not overly keen on taking on extra teams to cope with the demand.

We noticed a gap in the market. In this industry, it’s all about supply and demand, and the demand was there for an installation service. We were getting so many enquiries about installations, not just one or two a week, but dozens. At this point, it seemed like a natural progression for us to start

David Booton

doing the installations ourselves alongside our supply business.

What are the size and scale of the jobs that you do?

Most of our work is one to two-week projects, because demand for these is high. We do get involved in three or four-week projects and larger schemes depending on our capacity. With the large network of landscapers who use Kebur and the APL, it always allows us to recommend companies or individuals to customers, should we not be able to accommodate the project.

Because we are an installation service, we will only install Kebur supplied products. This gives us the benefit of testing, understanding and informing the products that we sell as a business overall.

Do you work with garden designers or do you do all the designs yourselves?

We do some design ourselves, but it’s only basic AutoCAD plan view designs. We have started to work with designers and this may be an avenue we explore further in the future. To do this we would have to set up another team, as the jobs are likely to be on a larger scale.

How do you advertise your business and get your trade?

We focus on the Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire areas as most of our business derives from people coming into the Kebur Landscape Centre, who haven’t got a landscaper to carry out their project. We don’t tend to advertise the service and keep it quite low key. We only offer the service should customers ask. This brings in a large volume of work and that – with recommendations from previous work – allows us to keep busy. Currently, we are running four installation teams. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 13:07

INFORM

How do you structure your team?

We usually have a senior foreman, a skilled landscaper and a labourer in each team. We tend to try and match the job to the right team as we have qualified bricklayers, slab layers, fencers and timber specialists. All our landscapers are employed directly through the company.

Who are the key people in your team and how do you go about choosing them?

Due to the increase in work, I took on a contracts manager, Craig Deeley, in January.

He had previously run his own landscaping business for many years, so I knew him well and knew he would be a good fit for our business. Alongside him we have senior foremen Karl Smith, James Lucas, Matt Sharp and Charlie Longden and some really good skilled landscapers working with them.

We’ve got a good team and it’s important to us that we keep hold of them. I don’t always actively go out recruiting as I find we do better taking people on through word-of-mouth. If www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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good people become available, we pick up more work. We like to know the people that we hire, and we’ve got to be 100% confident that they’ll be up to speed. Each team could do three or four patios or driveways a month. Its key to us that we can produce high quality patio and driveway installations and that we maintain a high standard and consistency of work throughout the teams.

You’re involved with the APL at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year, tell us more about that?

We have never done a show garden before, so it will be a good stepping stone for us.

I approached Phil Tremayne and offered to provide the materials and landscapers to build the APL stand. It isn’t an overly complicated build, but it is good PR for us and we get so much out of our APL membership that it is nice to give something back to the association.

How long have you been APL members?

This is our third year of being members and

we find it brilliant, very beneficial. For us, it’s not about winning quotes or leads, but becoming better landscapers and running a more efficient business. We get the support to be able to do this from our interaction with the APL. What are your plans for the future?

At the moment things are going really well.

Going forward for the landscape division, as our capacity grows, we’re excited about providing more visuals to clients, taking on larger scale projects and further strengthening our high installation standards.

CONTACT Kebur Landscape Division Lynchford Lane, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 6JD Tel: 01252 515050 Email: landscapedivison@kebur.co.uk Web: www.kebur.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 33

20/06/2018 13:07

INFORM

Close up of 3D printed consultation model ©martingardner.com

Nature takes centre stage at Rushden Lakes ©The Crown Estate/Rushden Lakes

LANDSCAPE

ARCHITECT’S JOURNAL

Landscape architecture practice Strata Design Ltd talks about two very diverse projects currently on the books

F

rom large scale commercial projects to one-off domestic designs, young company Strata Design is making strides nationwide. After studying architecture at South Bank University and subsequently working within public and private practice, Richard Willmott naturally graduated towards the landscape side of architecture, setting up Strata Design in early 2017. The company has taken on numerous projects of various sizes, and prides itself on building strong relationships with its clients,

Suzy, Richard and Matt ©martingardner.com

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which often results in repeat work.

Strata’s approach concentrates on providing thoughtful and well considered responses, working closely with clients and teams to respond to briefs in an elegant and efficient way. The company takes care to pay homage to a building or area’s history and consider the layers of use for the space. Currently, the team is working on a large shopping, leisure and retail scheme in Rushden, Northamptonshire.

Richard previously worked on phase one of the £140m development occupying 30 acres of prominent brownfield land and incorporating a 14-acre lake as well as a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) woodland.

The development entailed the construction of three retail terraces and associated restaurants, as well as a boathouse for recreation and water sports, water features and an extensive boardwalk with alfresco waterside dining. For phase two, which has an estimated value of £30m, Strata has been involved with an additional retail unit which will open imminently, as well as a

Corten planters with integral seating ©martingardner.com

leisure terrace and a 14-screen cinema, due to open early next year. The brief was to retain the quality and character of phase one in the external proposals and deliver an active, engaging frontage to the leisure terrace, completing the pedestrian circuit around the site. The aim is to seamlessly integrate the new phase into phase one, particularly where the boardwalk wraps around the lake edge. Functional areas such as the car park also use similar treatments and planting to the first phase. Strata Design is also involved with

THE COMPANY PRIDES ITSELF ON BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH ITS CLIENTS, WHICH RESULTS IN REPEAT WORK phase five of the project, Rushden Living – a dedicated home and lifestyle development, complementing the existing offer at Rushden Lakes. The landscape proposals are sympathetic to the site’s surrounding environment and reflect the principles of sustainable design. A central street with a range of smaller units and a series of active and engaging public spaces will provide opportunities for social interaction and pop-up events. Rushden Living will involve several key green elements, including the integration of green www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 11:47

Rill meanders through central plaza ©martingardner.com

INFORM

Sinuous curves of balustrade lure visitors towards boathouse and woodland ©martingardner.com

St Johns Winchester - graphic plan Lakeside view of tessellated paving and pre-cast stone seating ©martingardner.com

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People enjoying central plaza and pre-cast seating space ©The Crown Estate/Rushden Lakes

Rushden Living masterplan

infrastructure into the proposals. This will achieve a sustainable drainage system of ponds and swales, which also provide a wetland habitat and space for nature. There will also be a central hub with free Wi-Fi and smart furniture with solar-powered charging points.

Strata Design is also working on a local project for St Johns Winchester Charity on new almshouse apartments within central Winchester’s conservation area. So far they have prepared design statements and visual www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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impact assessments supporting the detailed planning applications. The proposed developments on Chesil Street and Colebrook Street aim to provide 30 affordable apartments and support facilities to older people in financial or social need. Proposals for Colebrook Street focus on returning neglected areas of open space to a usable area for residents, greening selected facades and referencing the site’s history with a water feature, connecting to a historic dipping pool.

The location on Chesil Street lies adjacent to a high-footfall riverside walkway and several listed buildings, which Richard explains Strata Design had to be sensitive to when producing proposals. The design incorporates pleached trees, which will provide screening and create visual interest, and retains a significant amount of existing vegetation, minimising disturbance to the historic fabric.

So, what lies ahead for Strata Design?

Richard intends to keep the business relatively compact and focus on projects where the landscape has a meaningful impact. 3D printing is proving a useful service for clients and this is likely to expand in future. The practice is also transferring day to day drafting from Autocad to Revit.

Rushden Living Central Hub

3D printed consultation model

CONTACT Strata Design Ltd Tel 01962 856513/07972 656052 Email: studio@strata-design.co.uk Twitter: @stratadesignuk www.strata-design.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 35

20/06/2018 14:36

VIEW FROM THE TOP MARCUS WATSON Marcus Watson advises on considering the risks carefully before diversifying and expanding your business The purpose of diversification and expansion is primarily about achieving business growth, so the first question should be: “is growth right for my business?” Whilst it is seen as the unshakable aim of business, it’s not necessarily for everyone and there is much to be said for sticking to the knitting. However, without aiming for growth, a business could become stagnant and fail to spot new competitive threats, especially those from adjacent markets. (Kodak was side swiped by the digital imaging industry, Nokia by a computer company).

So: to diversify or to expand? Both require a business to do something new or different and so this means taking a risk. Businesses operating in a competitive environment are adept at evaluating and managing risks (the ones that are not, tend to die out!) The key is to determine the path that provides the lowest risk for the highest return. In this respect, each business will be different.

THE KEY IS TO DETERMINE THE PATH THAT PROVIDES THE LOWEST RISK FOR THE HIGHEST RETURN Diversification is the process of a business enlarging the range of products or services offered to its customers. If a business, such as many in the landscaping industry, is exposed to seasonality or economic cycles, diversification could help it withstand the highs and lows of these cycles. Obviously, the trick here is to have counter-cyclical products and services, e.g. sell Christmas trees in the winter and ice creams in the summer.

A diversification strategy can come unstuck when a business is too heavily reliant on a few 36

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customers for its trade and sustainability.

Indeed, adding services and products to your business’s offering will not address client concentration. Quite the contrary, diversification can often make it worse, increasing your business’s risk exposure. Furthermore, if your business has differentiated itself on being a specialist provider, diversification may well dilute your company’s selling proposition. There are risks to weigh up here.

On the other hand, an expansion strategy means a business will stick to its core competencies and capabilities and offer its existing products and services to new customers or new customer types, usually in adjacent markets, e.g. local authorities vs social housing, retail parks vs hotels and leisure, and utilities vs engineering. Whilst some would argue that this is no different to pursuing a different customer base, an international or global dimension generates a greater level of complexity with different cultures, languages and legal systems at play. Operating in the B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) sectors are completely different propositions and vastly different operating capabilities are required to succeed in each.

And so there are also risks to weigh up when

considering expansion strategies. A word of warning: pursuing diversification and expansion strategies at the same time could be a recipe for disaster as capability risk is piled onto commercial, cultural or operational risk.

Whichever strategy is employed, with the excitement of a new venture or project, never neglect your core business. Make sure you keep delivering to your existing customers whose custom is making investment in growth possible. Invest in your people to run your existing business whilst you explore new opportunities, they will thrive on the challenge.

Also, in pursuing growth, make sure you do not inadvertently undermine the fundamental principles of your business: your core purpose, your values, your selling points.

Growth relies on people to succeed, irrespective of your industry. When company talent and resources are focused on developing new services or regions, existing people will feel the stresses and strains of ‘distractions’, so a growth strategy without a strong and vibrant people and leadership strategy is doomed to failure. Conversely, putting people at the centre of your diversification or expansion strategies will empower them to achieve more than was ever thought possible.

ABOUT MARCUS WATSON Joining Ground Control in 2011, Marcus Watson champions outstanding customer service and innovation in the grounds maintenance, arboriculture and landscaping sectors. Last year Ground Control was recognised with a Queen’s Award for Innovation, celebrating the company’s application of technology.

www.ground-control.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 11:46

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INFORM

THE COST OF EVERYTHING ANDREW WILSON

Andrew Wilson explores our reactions to the cost of creating landscapes and gardens, and why people don’t value their gardens

©Charlie Hopkinson

One of the most fascinating projects that I run at the London College of Garden Design is the costing exercise, in which students revisit a previous design project in order to calculate the actual cost of their scheme.

I start by asking students to guess the value of their project, at which point they behave in a similar way to clients; although the ‘guesstimates’ are getting better, most students are shocked by the true cost of their design work. Many underestimate labour, in terms of both the time taken to produce a successful scheme, and the cost of that labour as a skilled workforce. This information helps them to better understand the implications of how they design, but also helps them to defend their contractor when future clients have the same reaction.

Other aspects that are easily overlooked are what I call ‘the invisibles’ – site clearance and

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preparation, regrading, drainage, electrical works, muck-away, profit, and so on. The icing on the cake is often the VAT! Although, on the face of it, the exercise is a number-crunching process, it’s also a chance for students to reflect on their work and make value judgements. They are asked what they would lose from their original scheme, enabling them to make savings and bring overall costs down to a more manageable or workable level – without losing design quality.

CLIENTS SIMPLY WANT OR EXPECT THE COST OF A GARDEN TO BE LOW, FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THE FACT THAT IT’S A GARDEN In a parallel exercise on the courses we run for the RHS at Wisley, David Dodd and I worked with five groups of students, all assessing the same garden design proposal but each using a different set of materials or elements within that design.

‘Let’s Talk Money’ came in response to a question raised on a previous Wisley course, ‘So you want to be a garden designer?’.

A delegate suggested that all the design work on show was high end and therefore expensive, and asked what sort of garden he could get for £10k. My response was along the lines of “not a lot!”, which he didn’t seem very impressed with. That honest response resulted in negative feedback, which in turn led to the creation of the costing course.

One group’s example in the costing exercise involved a large lawn, borders to the edges, a small area of Indian stone paving as a dining terrace, and gravel for most paving. Its costs came in at £21.5k, and did not include a design fee. Sadly, our man with £10k to spend did not

attend the course to find this out.

Many clients simply take an uneducated guess at the cost of a garden, and it will invariably be too low. Others simply want or expect it to be low, for no other reason than the fact that it’s a garden. They don’t consider ‘the invisibles’, or expect labour to be skilled and to cost up to a third of the overall cost of a scheme. They expect to knock their contractor’s figures down and obtain a bargain for a quality finish.

While most of the media buries its head in the sand over this issue, the wider public will continue to be shocked at the true cost of a garden, and designers and contractors will continue to be on the receiving end of grief every time costs and budgets are discussed.

Hard landscape will always be more expensive than planting, but most designed gardens must contain construction in order to fulfil the client brief. Can we aim for greater realism, please, in this important debate – and also consider how we can more effectively communicate our message?

Pictured: What is the cost of great attention to detail in design and build? Design: Wilson McWilliam Studio, Build: The Outdoor Room

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

www.lcgd.org.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 11:51

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21/06/2018 10:45

BUZZ KILL

INFORM

ANGUS LINDSAY When it comes to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, Angus Lindsay foresees bumps in the road A few months ago, in April, I attended the annual Commercial Vehicle Show, which featured a variety of supplier-led seminars on changes to the way we operate our commercial vehicles, and the effects of Low Emission Zones (LEZs), Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WVTP) and alternative fuels. I have previously written about electric vehicles, and this year had expected to see several variations on display, but this was not the case. There were several small vans and some larger options from LDV and IVECO in the form of tippers and drop-sides, but nothing to make me feel that the mainstream manufacturers have wholly embraced the Europe-wide push for clean, electric powered vehicles.

Some bespoke electric conversions are available on the Continent

While there, I attended a couple of seminars on the future of the light commercial vehicle, and the viability of electricity as a commercially workable power source. The presentations were excellent, but all ended with the same conclusion: our infrastructure is not ready for the electric revolution, and when it does come, it will be the home delivery market and the van sector that will be its main focus. This is great news for those whose business is delivering parcels within city-centre LEZs, although they may have to think carefully about how they charge these vehicles (there are some nifty options available in the form of power banks and smart charging systems, which work out which vehicle needs what and when). www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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An impressive concept – but will it reach fruition?

A concept that, disappointingly, was not at the show, but whose progress is worth watching, was from Arrival electric vehicles.

Based on a modular construction, this has the potential to be configured in a variety of guises – from panel van to tipper to load carrier. They are aiming to realistically price it against top-end diesel options, so there may be light ahead.

So where does that leave those of us whose business is the maintenance and improvement of green spaces within these ever-increasing low emission zones? No need to panic yet, is there? The current Euro 6 diesel engine is the cleanest available in today’s market, so surely

ONE SUPPLIER QUOTED A FIGURE OF MORE THAN £100K FOR A 3,500KG BOX VAN COMPLETE WITH TAIL-LIFT we’ll be all right for the next few years, won’t we? Who knows! Nobody can really give an answer at the moment on the future of the internal combustion engine, but one thing is for sure: its days are numbered within city centres.

The biggest question is, how cost effective are the electric alternatives? One supplier quoted a figure of more than £100k for a 3,500kg box van complete with tail-lift, so it’s safe to assume that a 3,500kg tipper will be a

similar price: three times that of the equivalent diesel vehicle. There are the fuel savings and environmental benefits, but it’s still very difficult to justify. There are slightly cheaper alternatives, but at what point does an electric vehicle become a workable and cost-effective option for what we do in the landscaping sector? Sure, we can change the way we work to use what’s available, but this is not always practical.

For the time being, we just have to wait and see what the manufacturers come up with – and hope that somewhere along the line, there’s a bit of common sense applied to the use of internal combustion engines within cities. Alternatively, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) could make a comeback,

A workable but expensive option

giving us a bit of breathing space. In the meantime, we’ll have to get used to TNT, DPD, and the Royal Mail gliding silently by. Is it me, or is there a certain irony about an electric delivery vehicle delivering a barbecue, patio heater, or petrol lawnmower to a city dweller?

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

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

Contact: angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 41

20/06/2018 11:37

INFORM

#LIAWARDS UPDATE ADAM WHITE

This month landscape architect and new Landscape Institute President, Adam White, provides an update on changes to the 2018 Landscape Institute Awards

The first of the two new award categories at this year’s Landscape Institute (LI) Awards will be the ‘Planting Design, Horticulture and Strategic Ecology’ award. This category will showcase established planting schemes and horticultural projects that contribute to the art and science of landscape architecture. Entries may include a range of sites, either standalone or part of a larger project. The judges will be looking for entries which are innovative and appropriate to the setting, creative, functional, aesthetically pleasing and demonstrate an environmental, ecological or educational responsibility.

THIS YEAR MUCH OF THE (ENTRY) PROCESS WILL BE MOVED ONLINE This award aims to celebrate the relationship between design and aftercare which is often one of the aspects that distinguishes public from private space. It is expected that some schemes will be maintained and developed through ‘self-sustaining’ plant communities, whilst others with the correct management regimes and funding streams.

Horticulture and landscape go hand in hand and I am delighted that this long overdue category has been added to our awards. It will give those LI registered practices and chartered 42

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LI members the opportunity to showcase their horticultural excellence whilst highlighting the crucial role living landscapes play in public health and wellbeing.

The second category will be the ‘Dame Sylvia Crowe Award for Outstanding International Contribution to People, Place and Nature’. It will be the first ever Landscape Institute award that is open to individuals and organisations globally.

Dame Sylvia Crowe (1901-1997) was one the landscape profession’s foremost leaders and active in promoting the profession internationally through a number of landscape organisations.

Throughout a distinguished career, she handled landscapes of hugely diverse scales – from small garden details to hundreds of acres of new towns, forestry and reservoir margins. She was president of the Institute of Landscape Architects (now the Landscape Institute) between 1957 and 1959.

This award seeks to reward excellence and leadership in the worldwide field of landscape and place. It will recognise the global reach of our profession and celebrate major achievements that benefit people, place and nature through landscape led-approaches.

The full list of awards categories is: • Adding Value Through Landscape • Communications and Presentation • Design for a Small-Scale Development • Design for a Medium-Scale Development • Design for a Large-Scale Development • Design for a Temporary Landscape • Heritage and Conservation • Science, Management and Stewardship • Landscape Policy and Research • Local Landscape Planning • Strategic Landscape Planning • Urban Design and Masterplanning

Lakeside Centre, Ferry Meadows, Peterborough Designed by Davies White Ltd ©Simon Whaley

• Planting Design, Horticulture and Strategic Ecology • Dame Sylvia Crowe Award for Outstanding International Contribution to People, Place and Nature • Client of the Year Award • Volunteer of the Year Award • New Landscape Professional of the Year Award In addition to these new categories the Landscape Institute is simplifying the awards submissions process. In line with the Landscape Institutes ‘digital first’ strategy, much of the process will be moved online.

This will certainly make entering the awards easier, especially for smaller practices. If you haven’t already entered, you have until the end of July 2018 to register and submit your entries – www.awards.landscapeinstitute.org. The awards ceremony will take place on the 22 November at the Brewery in London.

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

Social media: @davies_white www.davieswhite.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 11:32

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INFORM

E

stablished in the mid-1800s as an exclusive seaside resort, Bournemouth’s parks and public spaces are central to its overall design. The identity of the town was and still is bound up with its original purpose – an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life for the well-to-do of the 19th century, and as a result its showpiece gardens – Lower, Central and Upper Pleasure Gardens, are amongst the finest examples of Victorian seaside landscaping to be found in the UK. Bournemouth is also interesting from the point of view of its growing conditions, having certain unique geographical features giving some of the town’s gardens their own, pseudo-tropical microclimate. This is partly offset by the challenge of maintaining ‘shop window’ quality displays on the seafront, where the plants not only need to be resistant to wind and the salt air, but also to the daily rigours of the vast numbers of people who visit them.

Premier holiday destination Parks Manager at Bournemouth Council Michael Rowland says: “Bournemouth is a relatively new town, which came about essentially as a result of concerns around Tuberculosis in the middle of the 19th century. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Living

HISTORY

Pro Landscaper takes a trip to Bournemouth to learn how its parks continue to attract vast numbers of tourists each year without losing any of the town’s original Victorian charm

People in the big cities had started to realise around leisure, with anything to do with artisan that clean air – particularly sea air – was good trades or business situated nearby in Poole or for their health, so it was part of this sudden Christchurch. It was really posh in its early days.” explosion of exclusive resorts that you saw According to Rowland, the parks were taking place around the country. We had integral to the planning of the town from the visitors including Robert Louis very beginning. He says: Stevenson and I think Charles “The first parks and gardens were Darwin visited with his wife essentially designed as walks when she had scarlet fever and promenades, situated – basically, if you were ill primarily in the town centre so or famous, you came they were easily accessible to to Bournemouth. visitors. The original work on He goes on to explain: “You the Lower Gardens was can see that even now in terms completed by Decimus Burton MICHAEL ROWLAND of how the town’s designed – for (famed 19th century architect), so instance, with the railway station being situated about a mile out of the centre so the fumes didn’t bother people who were trying to take the air. Everything was predicated

you can see that they really wanted to get the best people in.

“As the town got larger and spread out, the way that the parks were conceived changed as Pro Landscaper / July 2018 45

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INFORM

well, with a more Edwardian sensibility coming in, wanting to get the masses involved in sport.

This meant less traditional gardens and more spaces designed with sports facilities with a bit of planting around the edge, which you still see today. They remained pretty with nice park gates and so on, but the main offer was around playgrounds, tennis courts, bowling greens and so on. Because Bournemouth was essentially created by commissioners, or a council, from scratch, the council has owned the park lands which is still true now. If it’s green, it’s probably owned by the council.”

Anti-social behaviour measures Bournemouth’s most famous gardens, Lower, Central and Upper, are situated in the centre of the town itself, reaching all the way down to the pier. Arguably, the most striking area is Lower Gardens, which clearly benefitted from Decimus Burton’s flair and eye for detail, reflecting the work he’d already carried out in locations such as Regents Park.

While these gardens have clearly retained huge amounts of their original charm, changing circumstances over the years have required a radically different approach to maintenance than was originally used in the town’s heyday.

According to Rowland, these include not only the expected reduction in funds, but also what he calls an effort to meet the social standards of different times.

“Broadly speaking the layout is the

same,” he says, “but the plants are often quite different. For example, there’s a wooded area of the lower gardens – known as West Over Gardens – which was originally filled with thick Camellias and Rhododendrons, clipped to make it look like a maze. They also had free roaming peacocks in there, and by 1920 there was also an aviary.

“We’ve taken down the Rhododendrons and Camellias, essentially because creating hidey holes like that could encourage crime and anti-social behaviour, such as drug dealing and even the opportunity for mugging. While these things are not prevalent, anyone walking

CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES OVER THE YEARS HAVE REQUIRED A RADICALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO MAINTENANCE through there – particularly late at night – would feel intimidated by hidden spaces.

We still include shade-loving planting, but it’s a lot lower now with clearer views.

“The money we have is different now as well. Frankly, in the old days we’d have had something like 100 gardeners just covering Lower, Central and Upper Gardens alone.

Now we’ve got a team of about four working in those locations, so there’s no way we can do the same level or quantity of intricate bedding.

At the same time, we would never want it to become like a museum, which means taking advantage of all the different plants – and methods of planting – now at our disposal.”

Changing times and microclimates While the maintenance and design may have changed, one thing which has remained constant are the challenges and opportunities presented by Bournemouth as a location. The closer to the seafront, the more salt and wind tolerant plants have to become – a problem which has been solved by the Borough’s own plant nursery supplying stock such as Cordylines as well as the deployment of olive

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INFORM

trees in pots within Pier Approach.

The geography of the town also offers its own benefits, with the topography of Bournemouth being characterised by steep-sided valleys hewn out of the sandy cliffs, known as chines. According to Rowland these present relatively frost-free, south facing microclimates, with the likes of Alum Chine capable of maintaining what the denizens of the town refer to as its ‘tropical garden’.

Speaking of the chines, Michael says: “You can plant any number of things that wouldn’t survive in other parts of the country thanks to years of what is essentially frost-free growth.

Overall, Bournemouth’s a relatively good climate for planting, something which we’re able to take advantage of with our own nursery. We grow our own plants, but people also like to buy from us because they know we’re selling what we grow in the local area.”

In the years since it was established, Bournemouth has developed beyond its origins as a playground for the rich and poorly, becoming not just a centre of tourism but a bustling local economy. It has managed to retain much of its Victorian charm thanks largely to its gardens and their relationship with the rest of the locality.

Speaking of the abiding affection people seem to have for the town and its green spaces, Rowland says: “While it’s true that most people come down for the beach, www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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when we survey where people go when they’re here, the gardens come a close second in terms of attractions.

“The parks are also incredibly important for the health and wellbeing of those who already live here. Just having them nearby completely changes the way people feel, and they’re also an environment where people are able to be physically active. That could be doing yoga on a Sunday morning, via the bicycle routes we’ve put in, or through the use of the town’s sports facilities.”

Long may Bournemouth – and it’s thriving parks – continue to bring pleasure to millions.

1 Lower Pleasure Gardens - main lawns 2 Disused water tower Upper Central Gardens used to feed a fountain, is now a bat roost 3 Street Food Corner, Lower Pleasure Gardens developed in 2013 to meet demand for more varied catering 4 Looking across the bandstand lawn to a new kiosk, developed in Purbeck Stone with a green roof in 2013 to replace prefabricated kiosk 5 Seasonal bedding display in the Lower Pleasure Gardens 6 Kings Park Nursery provides seasonal bedding, baskets and perennials for Bournemouth, Poole and Ferndown Councils, alongside residents and commercial customers 7 The land train, run by Bournemouth Parks, at Hengistbury Head celebrates 50 years of operation this year 8 Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve visitor centre Pro Landscaper / July 2018 47

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MCWILLIAM STUDIO A functional garden for the modern family

MIRROR, MIRROR GILLESPIES

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An impressive reflective water feature transforms Bradford City Park

LEVEL BEST LIVING LANDSCAPES

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Multilevel garden rooms create the perfect space for outdoor living

GOING COASTAL WHEELBARROW

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A quintessentially Cornish garden makes the most of the summer months

PLUS...

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ANJI CONNELL (P64) LOVE HORTICULTURE (P68) PORCELAIN PAVING (P71) RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW PREVIEW (P77)

INSPIRE

SIMPLE PLEASURES

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20/06/2018 15:52

LEVATO MONO

Porcelain paver system and coordinating internal tiling The Deck Tile Co’s new website www.surface360.co.uk now has +150 colours and finishes in their Levato Mono 20mm porcelain ranges plus co-ordinating internal tiling – enabling seamless visual transition between internal and external spaces.

20mm porcelain pavers 40x80 45x90 60x60 75x75 80x80 30x120 40x120 60x120 ‘Floating floor’ – installation over single ply membranes Eternal product - zero maintenance required – offering massive overlife savings Highly abrasion and stain resistant Highly slip resistant ; R11 AB+C Lightweight – 45kgs per m2

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

GAVIN MCWILLIAM AND ANDREW WILSON Creating a bold and structured landscape for a modernist home in the Buckinghamshire countryside www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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BEFORE

ocated in a small village in the configured, with insufficient space to be used Chilterns, the site sits adjacent to a practically, and a number of raised brick planters conservation area, with no planning further restricted movement. The terrace was laid restrictions in place relating to the with bricks and, while these had charm, the client house or landscape. Formerly the orchard to was keen to use an alternative material that would the main house, the plot measures 3,600m2 contrast with the brickwork of the building. and retains a number of the original apple The original garden was sparsely planted, trees. Enclosed on three sides by a Victorian with groups of dwarf conifers, shrubs and wall approximately 2.5m high, the remaining perennials, none of which merited retention. boundary is a yew hedge.

The rest of the site was laid to lawn, with a fine, Originally built in 1975 calcareous, flinty, silty soil. and enjoying sweeping views south to the wider Brief Chiltern landscape, the Gavin and Andrew were asked dwelling sits fairly centrally to create a garden that the within the site, and is a client, their children and the dog detached property with a could use for play and for family striking design based on life. The design needed to Build time the ‘modernist’ style. accommodate regular events – Four months Gavin McWilliam and such as informal breakfasts, Andrew Wilson were family meals and wider social Size of project invited to transform the entertaining with friends – 3,288m2 outdoor space as part of and generous spaces for an extensive refurbishment family gatherings. Light and and expansion of the space were to be exploited, property, with interior and exterior works and ‘cool, robust and relaxed’ seemed to epitomise taking place simultaneously. the basic style; ‘Scandinavian contemporary’ Accessed from the south via a private road, was the descriptor. a driveway leads visitors to the main entrance For the planting, nothing too precious was and parking area, which features a redundant required – partly as the children played in the turning circle. The existing terrace was poorly garden – and it had to be quite simple, both visually

PROJECT DETAILS

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Design Inspired by the walled garden and the house itself, the garden exploits space and suggests enclosure to create the sense of separate, but connected, garden ‘rooms’. Hedges form the main structural element, unifying the garden and its elements while also creating privacy. The boundary wall is also exploited as a structural backdrop and a major defining feature.

The garden has been zoned into ‘arrival’, ‘play’, ‘relaxation’, ‘socialising’ and ‘leisure’ areas. Paving elements are simplified to large concrete pavers and gravel, maintaining a link to the simple, bold architecture of the house.

The gravel driveway helps with security, and as a material is economic over large areas.

The runs of hedge are relatively short, and www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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broken or sliced to allow views and facilitate the play of light and shadow throughout the day.

Planting predominantly consists of perennial and ornamental grasses, the former planted primarily for colour, the latter for seasonal effect, lasting well into winter. Lines of multi-stemmed Zelkova create height and sculptural definition.

REFERENCES Design Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson

www.mcwilliamstudio.com Landscape contractor Kings Landscapes

www.kingslandscapes.com

1 View through living room to the garden beyond 2 New corner glazing delivering views to the garden from every angle 3 View through Molina caerulea subsp. caerulea ‘Heidebraut’ to Schellevis steps 4 View of the Schellevis steps leading to main lawn 5 View across herb garden to the living room 6 New black basalt driveway with avenue of Liquidambar styraciflua

Architect Jane Duncan Architects + Interiors

www.janeduncanarchitects.co.uk Main contractor KD Construction

www.kdconstruction.biz Trees Deepdale Trees

7 Wildflower turf against original Victorian walls

www.deepdale-trees.co.uk

8 Meadow planting under existing orchard

Plants

9 Geranium Johnsons blue with Salvia caradonna

Robin Tacchi Plants

www.robintacchiplants.com

ABOUT MCWILLIAM STUDIO

Wildflower turf

McWilliam Studio is led by Gavin McWilliam in collaboration with Andrew Wilson. Imaginative and carefully tailored designs are crucial to the success of its schemes. Sharply detailed construction, elegant spaces and inspirational planting design percolate through the studio’s unique design response. www.mcwilliamstudio.com

www.wildflowerturf.co.uk

Wildflower Turf Ltd

Paving (1x1m paving slabs in Anthracite) Schellevis

www.schellevis.nl/en/home.html Supplied by London Stone

www.londonstone.co.uk

Gravel for driveway (Black Basalt Aggregate) CED

www.cedstone.co.uk

Photographs ©Gavin McWilliam

and in terms of maintenance. The client was keen to preserve the existing apple and pear trees, with the possibility of enhancement or organisation of the meadow beneath. The garden’s locust tree (Robinia) was also valued, and needed to be retained.

An improved sense of arrival and clarity to the front door was required, achieved with new gates and a structural hedge line that was made more secure to prevent access by dogs, rabbits and deer. The compost area in the rear garden needed to be relocated, as it occupied a prime location, and the existing pond was removed.

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AWARDS 2014 Landscape Institute Awards: Highly Commended 2013 Urban Design Group: Best Project for the Public Sector 2013 RICS Pro-Yorkshire Regeneration Award: Highly Commended Bradford’s City Park 2012 British Construction Industry (BCI) Awards: Regeneration Award 2012 LUX Urban Lighting Award 2012 Making a Difference in Yorkshire and Humber Awards

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MIRROR, MIRROR GILLESPIES Bradford City Park and it’s impressive reflective water feature contribute to a new, cosmopolitan identity for the city

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andscape architects and urban At the heart of the completed City Park designers Gillespies led a is a huge water feature, the 76m x 58m, multidisciplinary design team from 4,000m2 reflective mirror pool. Designed by concept to construction in the Gillespies, together with engineers Arup and creation of Bradford City Park. At 3,600m2 and The Fountain Workshop, the mirror pool is a with a 30m high fountain, the park is the UK’s multi-functional space. The body of water can largest city centre water feature. be fully drained to provide a large-scale events The concept for the park stemmed from a venue, or the water level can be slightly lowered masterplan for Bradford that was drawn up in to reveal a causeway, introducing an alternative 2003, aiming to open up the city centre and pedestrian route through the space. The create a new public space. Bradford Council causeway also divides the water into three pools took the lead role in turning that can be drained in any this vision into a viable plan, combination to provide a and Gillespies, Arup, Sturgeon smaller event space, with North, Atoll and The Fountain water as a backdrop.

Workshop developed the early The pool contains concept into a detailed design 600m3 of water and more – submitted for planning than 100 fountains, as well permission and funding in as artificial mist effects that Project value 2007, before construction create a blanket of fog Public realm budget £14m began in late 2009. above the water. Despite The overall project had a the pool’s size, the water Build time budget of £24m, with the is very shallow (220mm Dec 2009 - Dec 2011 public realm accounting for maximum), and can ebb, Size of project £14m. The remaining money flow and change depth.

2.4ha was spent on highway and This brings benefits for infrastructure development to sustainability, and enable and complement the functionality for events. works. This included removing The fountains have an two lanes from the adjacent highway, creating elaborate series of pre-set programmes that Bradford’s first super-crossing, and greatly change depending on the day, weather and any improving pedestrian connectivity. local events. The fountains’ sequence responds

PROJECT DETAILS

Design With water at its heart, this public space is a centrepiece of Bradford’s regeneration, and gives the city a new ‘postcard’ identity. The park focuses on Bradford’s 19th-century, Grade 1-listed City Hall, and helps to connect the city’s major visitor attractions with transport hubs and the rest of the city centre – as well as enhancing the overall image of Bradford as a place for future investment. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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to the city’s daily rhythm, marking pedestrian movements such as lunch breaks, and travel to and from work.

The ability to fully drain the pool on a daily basis simplifies operational and maintenance 1 The water can be drained away to create an events space 2 The Mirror Pool is transformed by light at night 3 At 3,600m2 and with a 30m high fountain, it is the UK’s largest city centre water feature Pro Landscaper / July 2018 55

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PORTFOLIO

aspects. This was a key factor in the design development, removing the need for specialist cleaning equipment at ground level and thus reducing annual maintenance costs.

As night falls, the square’s appearance undergoes a theatrical transformation through a spectacular display of colour, light and motion. The lighting has been carefully balanced to deliver a flexible, playful night-time setting while maintaining the functional requirements for a city centre.

Lighting levels have been selected to best balance the differing pedestrian experiences, aiding navigation around the park and challenging the traditional approach to large-scale landscaped spaces. The City Park lighting installation is managed via a central lighting control system, which responds to the 56

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rising and falling water levels, as well as any artistic requirements.

Materials Gillespies designed City Park’s mirror pool to be surrounded by a 4m-wide hardwood boardwalk – a ‘beach’ around the pool that allows visitors to dip their feet into the water during the summer. The wider site is constructed in equally high quality materials, from the granite sett mirror pool to porphyry and sandstone paving.

All paving in the central area is designed to withstand high vehicle and point loading, so that the space is suitable for events of all sizes.

Gillespies selected hard landscaping materials to tie in with those used elsewhere in Bradford’s public realm spaces, embedding City Park into the fabric of the city.

4 The water surface can be lowered to reveal a causeway, providing an alternative pedestrian route 5 Green open spaces surrounding the park provide areas for relaxation 6 Artificial mist effects create a blanket of fog above the water 7 Lighting has an important role in extending the use of the park after dark

ABOUT GILLESPIES Gillespies is a leading international masterplanning, landscape architecture, urban design and environmental planning firm, with a reputation built on creative design and a track record for high quality projects. The practice has offices based in London, Oxford, Manchester, Leeds, Moscow and Abu Dhabi. www.gillespies.co.uk

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REFERENCES Lead consultant and landscape architect

Water feature equipment

Gillespies

www.fountains.co.uk

Client

Pre-construction project team (as above plus): Public art advisers

Bradford Council

www.bradford.gov.uk Landscape contractor Ashlea

www.atoll-uk.com/public-art Quantity surveyor

www.ashlea-landscaping.co.uk

Davis Langdon (AECOM)

Project manager and quantity surveyor

Natural stone paving

EC Harris (Arcadis)

www.arcadis.com Main contractor

Birse Civils (Balfour Beatty)

www.balfourbeatty.com

DURING

Atoll and Beam

www.aecom.com

BBS Natural Stone

www.bbsnaturalstone.com CED Ltd

www.cedstone.co.uk Stone Central

www.stonecentral.co.uk

Engineering design (civil, structural, M&E, geotechnical) Lighting design and acoustics consultancy

Trees and planting

Arup

Street furniture

www.arup.com Bespoke lighting columns and sculpture Wolfgang Buttress

www.wolfgangbuttress.com Interactive public art Usman Haque and Jonathan Laventhol of Haque Design + Research

Photographs ŠGillespies (except photograph 7 ŠDavid Millington)

www.gillespies.co.uk

The Fountain Workshop

Johnsons of Whixley

www.nurserymen.co.uk Bailey Streetscene

www.baileystreetscene.co.uk Bespoke timber boardwalk CTS Ltd

www.ctsbridges.co.uk Bespoke bus stop units GSM Products Ltd

www.gsmproducts.co.uk

www.haque.co.uk

BEFORE www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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LEVEL BEST LIVING LANDSCAPES A chalky, sloping back garden becomes a series of multilevel garden rooms for dining and socialising

WINNER Project Value £60,000 - £100,000

PROJECT DETAILS Project value £65,350 Build time Three months Size of project 478m²

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esigner Cherry Mills was asked to transform this large, south-facing plot on a chalky slope into a more sociable and elegant space where the clients could entertain. Keen to expand their existing patio so it could seat more people, they also envisaged a sequence of seating areas across the garden’s level changes, to provide interest and lead people on a ‘journey’. Views that were blocked by overgrown beds would be opened up to offer the owners more interesting vistas, and a rainwater harvesting tank was to be installed at the top of the garden, away from the main lawn, to supply various taps located around the garden.

Design and build Cherry’s attractive design offered a series of external ‘rooms’ to break up the large expanse of space – from the formal Buxus kitchen garden on one side, to the open turf area on the other. These rooms included an outdoor dining and cooking terrace to accommodate the www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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clients’ large family gatherings, balanced with a cosier sofa seating area enjoying views from an elevated position within the garden.

Living Landscapes were invited to realise the hard landscaped elements of Cherry’s design, but firstly needed to clear and excavate some of the existing plot to make more space. As the patio slanted away from the house but also cut into the sloped garden, the team had to create beds along the walls, so that surface water could drain. To break up the large paved area by the house, herringbone brickwork was introduced at all access points from the property. This then led up to steps, taking users on a trip through the garden ‘rooms’. The majority of the patio

1 Access onto the main lawn area 2 Access and archway 3 Rear seating area 4 Main seating area 5 Water feature 6 Hidden seating area Pro Landscaper / July 2018 59

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featured Kotah Brown Limestone paving from Silverland Stone, offering subtle green-grey tones.

Fortunately, the level changes within the garden caused little difficulty for Living Landscapes. Setting out required a central point, located where the water feature now stands on the main terrace. From here, the curved retaining wall that defines the entertainment space was set out and the angles of the wall confirmed. As the ground was chalk and flint, it was relatively simple for Living Landscapes to dig out with an excavator.

Interestingly, the most difficult aspect of the build was not the sloping nature of the garden or its many level changes, but accessing the rear site when no work was being undertaken at the front or sides of the property. This meant that the front drive had to be cleared of its subbase while retaining the gravel so it could be reinstated following completion. Paved and soft areas were also boarded to prevent vehicular and plant damage.

The finished garden now provides the owners with a stylish space in which to entertain, as well as attractive views from their house. The expanded terrace offers plenty of space for social gatherings and includes a playful ‘bubbling pot’ water feature that adds movement and sound.

The clever design – which includes a number of seating areas throughout the garden, to encourage exploration – also features an avenue of cherry trees beyond the terrace, as well as a new herb garden accessed via an intricate wire arch. Planting includes a number of grey-leafed plants that thrive on chalky soil, in a palette of gentle pinks, blues and whites. An irrigation system supplied by LWS, and hard-wearing Rolawn Medallion Turf from the London Lawn Turf company, complete the scheme.

DURING BUILD

ABOUT LIVING LANDSCAPES Tecwyn Evans has run Living Landscapes for 20 years, covering London, Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex. The company works with some of the UK’s most talented garden designers to create beautiful, innovative outdoor spaces. Its show gardens at RHS flower shows Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace have received multiple awards, and it received a BALI National Landscape Award in 2016. www.livinglandscapesuk.com

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REFERENCES Contractor Living Landscapes

www.livinglandscapesuk.com Design Cherry Mill Garden Design

www.cmgardendesign.com

Kotah Brown Limestone paving

Turf

Silverland Stone

www.londonlawnturf.co.uk

Pavers

Irrigation and rain water harvesting tank

Chelmer Valley

LWS

www.silverlandstone.co.uk

www.chelmervalley.co.uk

London Lawn Turf

www.lws.uk.com

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PROJECT DETAILS Project value £100-150k

GOING COASTAL

Build time Four months Size of project 750m²

WHEELBARROW Building a relaxed and quintessentially Cornish garden for a family home in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

T

o make the most of summer, the client wanted a garden that was modern, clean and functional for the family, and which maximised the stunning views of the sea from the property. The house had recently been renovated into a modern, stylish family home, and the outside space needed to reflect and complement the clean, functional design.

SILVER PROJECT VALUE £100,000 TO £200,000

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Design and build Award-winning garden designer Darren Hawkes created a unique front-to-back ‘wraparound’ garden that necessitated a huge change in levels and gave Wheelbarrow the opportunity to build a large feature wall using locally quarried stone.

Wheelbarrow also built and planted a series of terraced borders, and used western red cedar for the fencing.

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The rear garden was designed as a family space with a functional element, featuring oak seating cubes around a fire table where the client’s children could gather. There is also a seating area for adult dining, and a shower that those returning from the beach can use to rinse off seawater. An oak walkway leads to a summerhouse, providing shelter from the rain.

Initially, the front of the house was bricked over for parking. To blend this area seamlessly into the garden, Wheelbarrow built a soft parking area at road level, using gravel interspersed with planting, supported by reinforced concrete. A drystone wall was built in front of this, and a further parking area was created using reclaimed granite setts.

Materials Schellevis paving in 1m x 1m slabs was used for the paths around the side of the property, along with beautiful channel drain covers from Lateral Design Studio, and bespoke oak seating and walkways from Mark Tungate.

Planting The beachside location influenced the planting scheme of this project. Quercus ilex was used for hedging, along with Teucrium fruticans and a large multi-stemmed mulberry tree. Marram grass further complemented the coastal garden feel, alongside Stipa gigantea.

Challenges Limited views from the garden needed to be maximised, while also providing privacy and 62

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screening from surrounding properties. To achieve this, Wheelbarrow constructed raised walkways throughout and positioned the summerhouse to take in the sea view. Fencing was then used to screen the neighbouring houses and to draw the eye down the garden towards the sea.

The 5m level change over the site also proved a challenge for the team, and the existing steps that joined the levels had treads and risers of varying heights, making them difficult to use. Wheelbarrow decided to demolish and reconfigure the steps, but this caused access issues, with the team having to use a smaller access point to the side of the property until the new ones were built. A mini digger, a power barrow and wheelbarrows were used in the interim to move equipment and materials into the garden.

Despite the challenges, Wheelbarrow has created a harmonious garden that is both functional and beautiful. Flowing seamlessly from front to back, it provides the owners with a practical yet restful retreat, encapsulating the Cornish coast in its choice of materials and planting.

ABOUT WHEELBARROW Wheelbarrow creates beautiful landscapes and inspiring spaces in which to live, work and play. Based in Fowey on the south coast of Cornwall, it oers landscaping services throughout the West Country and garden maintenance within one hour of its base.

It has two Gold medals and a Silver-Gilt medal from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. www.wheelbarrowgardening.co.uk

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DURING BUILD

1 Raised oak walkway 2 Slate steps with eye lights 3 W estern Red Cedar fencing 4 Bespoke summer house 5 Detail of Cornish hedging 6 D ecorative channel drain covers 7 F ire pit surrounded by Oak seating blocks

REFERENCES Contractor

Paving

Wheelbarrow

Schellevis

Design

Aggregates (pebbles, gravel etc.)

Darren Hawkes Landscapes

Contec

Plants

Firepit

Kelways

The Pot Company

Outdoor shower

Summerhouse

C P Hart

Crane Garden Buildings

www.wheelbarrowgardening.co.uk

www.darrenhawkeslandscapes.co.uk

www.kelways.co.uk

www.schellevis.nl/en/home.html

www.conteclandscape.com

www.thepotco.com

www.cphart.co.uk

www.cranegardenbuildings.co.uk

Drain covers

Oak seating and walkways

Lateral Design Studio

Mark Tungate

www.lateraldesignstudio.co.uk

mark_tungate@btinternet.com

Lighting

Western red cedar (fencing)

Hunza

www.hunzalighting.com

Walter Bailey

www.walterbaileypar.co.uk

Granite setts Markstone Granite

www.markstonegranite.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INSPIRE

MORE SPACE,

LESS FUSS

Anji Connell checks out an array of multipurpose, modular, spacesaving furniture to boost your garden space in style It makes sense to purchase products that have or fulfil several functions. It’s cost effective, maximises space, minimises clutter and reduces negative environmental impact. And it seems there are a lot of cleverly designed, functional, multipurpose products available.

The Tic Tac lounge chair with table by Slide is precisely that! Made from polyethylene, the table is stored under the chaise longue and is connected through a profile that recalls the lines of a gear, allowing you to adjust the angle of the seat. It’s comfortable, original and fun used separately or together.

Brown Jordon’s Flo Natural Low Fire Table

Tic Tac lounge chair with table by Slide

The Moon Island is a set of four ‘islands’ that you can arrange in different ways. Push it all together to make a giant family daybed or organise them into modular seating that can comfortably seat 12 people.

The Yard is a collection of furniture designed

by Stefan Diez for Emu that includes the Yard Extensible table. A maximum 270cm in length when fully extended, it accommodates up to 10 diners. It is framed in powder-coated white aluminium and topped with ash wood that is heat-treated to protect it against damage without spoiling its natural beauty. Available in a wide selection of colours and combinations including: black/grey, white/white, white/brown, India brown/brown, dove grey/brown, red/red, blue/blue or mint green/beige.

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A great space saver and that conjures up a Miami vibe. multiuse item is the stackable, The collection includes a club Italian Shine sunbed with handy chair, loveseat, a three seat sofa, drink sized, teak side-tables on daybeds and several chaise the arms and an adjustable options, pouffe’s, side tables sunshade. Couture Outdoor has and planters. a superb collection of inspiring outdoor goodies for residential, Functional lighting commercial and hospitality use.

Shaped like a giant glass, Many of their products are ‘Drink’ from Slide is a lamp, an ‘Drink’ by Slide multifunctional, including the ice bucket, a flower pot and, Multi-function Daybed Stock that works superbly flipped upside down, a bar stool. Privé Light on a balcony or a small space; it’s a daybed, Luminous flowerpot lets out a soft and sensual chaise longue, two seat sofa and corner luminous halo. Made of polyethylene, it’s sectional – with a table to use as an ottoman or a hard-wearing and easy to clean. Despite its large coffee table. Their Amore range of teak and size (L 86cm x D 48cm x H 43cm) it’s light and Corian loungers with Ferrari Batyline mesh offers easy to move around, and is suitable for private up a myriad stylish combinations ideal for and public use. The Privé planter can also be socialising, and their Alice collection of modular used as a screen to separate spaces and a notch honeycomb shapes has located inside the planter can accommodate the endless compositions in a Privé panel screen that is sold separately. bold geometric pattern Giò Wind folding screen also by Slide, has a curved, simple, contemporary shape combined with ambient light. Decorative and functional, this folding Moon Island

Gio Wave

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INSPIRE

Artemide Solar Tree

The Yard Extensible table

screen (W 133cm x H 200cm) is also made with polyethylene, to separate spaces lending them more intimacy or to hide what you don’t want on show. Giò can be used alone or assembled with others to form numerous combinations.

Coloured bulbs add a bit of fun.

Artemide’s Solar Tree doubles as lighting and seating and their Reeds Outdoor floor light lends a rather lovely sculptural element, both are available from Mohd. W Design Architecture Studio blends the Light House within the landscape to enhance the experience of living in nature. Steel, concrete and metal alloy make up the fire pit that is Dome Bow surrounded by a seating set within the grass lawn.

Heat plus Encompass supply the very stylish Heatsail electric patio heaters combined with outdoor lights, and bluetooth speakers.

Amore Outdoor Couture

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Anji Connell.indd 65

Brown Jordon’s Flo

There are two versions, the hanging Dome Pendant and the Dome Bow floor-mounted version.

They both use infrared radiation to warm chilly evenings as they light up Encompass Opera your table and provide a soundtrack to chill too.

The Pure Fire table is a fire, BBQ and table combination constructed from concrete with a pure and minimalist design. Opera is a fire pit, table and seating with a BBQ; a stunning design and a striking focal point to gather around, cook, eat and relax by the fire. Both available from Encompass.

Brown Jordon’s Flo Natural Low Fire Table is constructed in high-performance composite concrete that is half the weight of traditional concrete with double the strength. It is handcrafted to ensure a smooth and consistent finish with plenty of room for serving food and drinks. Its linear design makes it a stunning conversation piece.

W Design Architecture Studio

This bioethanol fire comes in Natural, Graphite, Bone or Rust colouring, is clean-burning and sustainable with zero harmful emissions and no smoke, soot, or ash. The light weight and the fact it uses bio fuel makes it re-locatable too.

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

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Pro Landscaper / July 2018 65

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21/06/2018 09:37

INSPIRE

Why I...

#lovehorticulture Garden designer Rae Wilkinson explains how a career in horticulture has been so important to her health and mental wellbeing

RAE WILKINSON DIRECTOR, RAE WILKINSON GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN

P

lants and green spaces have provided a source of sanctuary, tranquillity and wonder for me throughout my life. As a child growing up in London I would seek out corners of our garden to cultivate, and cycle to the local churchyard to sit under the trees and admire the roses. My grandfather loved to tell the story of how, as a young child, I would disappear for hours to be found under his blackcurrant bushes, my face stained with juice and my hands full of flowers. I dreamed of a life in the countryside surrounded by greenery, and I am very lucky to have now fulfilled that dream in my adult life.

After I left art college I worked in environmental conservation, and then as a landscaper, which finally opened the door to the world of gardening. Having experienced some struggles with my mental health and wellbeing in my early twenties, gardening was a revelation to me. Working with plants and having my hands in the soil provided the most grounding and healing space I had ever found myself in. The satisfaction of being out in the elements transforming and tending gardens, THE MOST WONDERFUL THING IS then watching them grow and evolve THAT I NEVER STOP DISCOVERING NEW brought me great joy.

AND EXCITING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT I immersed myself in PLANTS AND HOW THEY THRIVE, the amazing world of WHICH BRINGS ME CONSTANT JOY gardening, and over the years this has led me back to being creative again as a garden designer.

Through working in the industry, I have met so many wonderful people whom I feel deeply privileged to share a passion for plants and green space with. The most wonderful thing is that I never stop discovering new and exciting knowledge about plants and how they thrive, which brings me constant joy. I also get to bring some of that joy to other people through my work, which is one of the most satisfying elements of working with gardens.

Tweet us @ProLandscaperJW and tell us why you love horticulture using the hashtag #LoveHorticulture

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20/06/2018 12:00

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PROJECT DETAILS Project 245 Hammersmith/ Novotel London West

INSPIRE

Landscape architects Exterior Architecture

A London roof terrace project carried out by Alfresco Floors highlights the benefits of using porcelain pavers in this type of setting 245 Hammersmith Road is a commercial development in West London. The 10-storey scheme will provide around 22,500m² of flexible office accommodation and 1,200m² of ground level retail and restaurant space — all adjacent to a beautifully landscaped new exterior space, designed for use by the local community and covering in excess of 2,500m².

This podium garden part of the project has been designed by landscape architects Exterior Architecture as an elevated oasis — a place where people can meet, socialise and enjoy outdoor events taking place on an informal stage area and its adjoining sloping lawn.

Exterior Architecture commissioned London based Alfresco Floors to supply and install a hybrid surface of timber decking and 20mm porcelain pavers across nearly all of the exterior area. Specified for both their aesthetic and technical properties, Alfresco Floors’ Fisher and Freel porcelain pavers (in 1200x600x20mm and www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Porcelain paving case study Alfresco.indd 71

PORCELAIN PAVING case study

600x600x20mm sizes) added a luxury feel to the visual design, whilst also being exceptionally practical to maintain – scratch, stain and slip resistant, and impervious to mould or moss growth, they will never fade or change colour.

Overlooking 245 Hammersmith sits the Novotel London West hotel where Alfresco Floors also supplied and installed an additional 800m² of 1200x600x20mm Fisher porcelain pavers, totally transforming the hotel’s external terrace areas.

Laying such large exterior areas of public space flooring, within a very tight deadline, presented numerous challenges and was further complicated by several other factors including: • different sized tiles combined in a complex design • the geography of the substrate making it impractical to place support pedestals in certain areas • several expansion joints running across the sites Alfresco Floors’ eventual technical design for both parts of the project was a mix of height adjustable Buzon pedestals, combined with their advanced ALUrail support system.

The Buzon ALUrail and adjustable pedestal system provided the outstanding flexibility and absolute stability required for a perfectly level finish across all the complex and uneven substrate areas of this site. In addition, the grout

free finish of Alfresco Floors’ system means that any tile can be easily removed (damage free) to gain instant access to all the pipes, cables and drain covers that are normally hidden underneath.

The ALUrail system also proved very effective in more complex sections of the Novotel project, where the design requirement for small tile cuts and ramped areas made conventional pedestal support impossible.

The Buzon support system offers millimetre accurate adjustment for both height and slope correction, and with load capability in excess of 1000kgs per pedestal it’s perfect for very high traffic areas.

ABOUT ALFRESCO FLOORS Alfresco Floors are based in West London and work nationwide. They concentrate exclusively on exterior hard landscaping, specialising in the supply of 20mm porcelain tiles, concrete paving, or timber and composite decks. They usually install these as raised floors on terraces and balconies, or as commercial hard landscaping — and the Buzon support system which underlies all of their products means that they are particularly well placed to provide ‘mixed media’ landscaping, which combines two or more different materials in one surface. Alfresco Floors offer technical design consultancy, material supply and in-house installation teams working across the UK. Most often their role is a ‘turn-key’ combination of all three of these services.

www.alfrescofloors.co.uk

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20/06/2018 13:10

PORTFOLIO INSPIRE

BRADSTONE

GLOBAL STONE

Andrew Singleton, sales director for Bradstone, says: “When working with porcelain paving, we would recommend installers use Bradpoint, a specialist jointing material that provides a flexible, yet durable finish when cured. The all-weather jointing compound is resistant to freeze/ thaw conditions and most importantly, it’s quick and easy to use and can be applied in any weather. The product is supplied in 20kg buckets and is simply brushed into the joints. What’s more, any leftover material can be stored away for the next job, meaning there’s no waste. The product comes in black, grey and natural and is suitable for joint widths from 3mm to 20mm and depths of up to 30mm.

One 20kg tub can cover up to 8.5m².”

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Sara Cullis, strategic marketing director at Global Stone, says: “You’ve completed your landscape design; your porcelain paving has been laid and looks fantastic. Now to add the finishing touches using grout, to complete the look of your patio or walling project. Global Stone recommends Mapei Ultracolor Plus, a product built specifically for porcelain, which is a high performing, water repellant, anti-efflorescence, quick setting and drying grout. It is also walkable within 24 hours and ideal for joints between 2-20mm. We choose Mapei as they are the world leaders for grouting and adhesives and offer a full range of colours. They also offer excellent technical support including advice on application, aftercare and general maintenance.”

WWW.GLOBALSTONEPAVING.CO.UK

Porcelain paving

CED

GROUTING

LONDON STONE Kevin Edwards, garden design and landscape consultant at London Stone, says: “For porcelain, London Stone recommend using Adrex-Flex FL or Mapei Ultracolor Plus grout. These products offer a myriad of colour-options, which we have found are desired in the market-place, as there are so many different types of porcelain, with so many colours and surface texture finishes available. Not only is there a colour to match (or contrast) each type, these products are installed using a ‘float’ method, so are generally quick-and-easy to install, whilst being suitable for joint widths of between our recommended 5mm, and up to 15 or 20mm, if required. A sleek, modern finish is obtained using this type of grouting product.”

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Giles Heap, managing director of CED says: “Ceramic tiles have a low absorbency, so regular cements and standard sand/cement mortars won’t stick to porcelain as well as to stone, so with a regular mortar the tiles may eventually pop out.

If you are using a permeable bedding mortar, such as our StoneBed PBM, then a permeable grout like our StoneBed Quick Point Joint Filler may be used. If you are using a sand/cement bedding or a tile adhesive, then it is important to use a non-permeable external tile grout whilst ensuring the tiles are laid to an appropriate fall and always prime the tiles before laying them.”

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THE TALASEY GROUP

Malcolm Gough, group sales and marketing director at Talasey Group, says: “2018 has certainly been the year of growth for porcelain paving in domestic applications and I think most contractors understand that they can install these paving systems on a full bed of mortar with a priming slurry to adhere the tile to the bed. But do the installers understand the issues concerning jointing solutions? Pavetuf Jointing Compound is great for creating neat joints but be aware the bed must be free draining. For beds that are not free draining there are a number of grouts available, but we would recommend Pavetuf Jointing Mortar. A professional use product, the mortar mixes like a cement with water, is sloshed into the joints with a squeegee and washes off with a light jet wash from a hose pipe, leaving a smooth clean finish.”

WWW.TALASEY.CO.UK

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INSPIRE

Fencing options

Quercus Curved Panels

Price: £POA (varies due to size availability) Quercus will manufacture its oak panels curved as well as straight in any height and width per panel, up to 2m tall and wide. Curves with radii from 2.5m to 10m, made to measure to the millimetre. They are strong, durable, wind resistant and maintenance free, with stainless steel fixings, matching gates, posts and finials. Samples are available.

Pro Landscaper takes a look at the best screening options in fencing

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The Garden Trellis Company Two-tone French Styled ‘Beau Treillage’ Panels Designed, created and installed by The Garden Trellis Company, the brief for this project was to develop a distinctive French style design for a back garden in the heart of London.

The finished design featured eleven highly distinctive, bespoke sculptured trellis panels using Iroko hardwood timber, with a unique two-tone finish in paint colours Deben and Manhattan Grey from their bespoke colour range. Each panel featured a framed, antique mirrored centrepiece and arched top capping with circular detail and classic finials.

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Silva Timber Products Ltd Western Red Cedar Premium Slatted Screen Battens

Price: £2.16 per linear metre (ex VAT) Western red cedar slatted screens are an impressive contemporary alternative to the traditional fence, providing privacy yet allowing air and light to pass through. Slatted screens are highly customisable and are an easy and effective way to hide an unsightly wall or view. They also make a stunning backdrop for a planting area. Cedar is the preferred material for slatted screens. It’s durable, beautiful and has excellent dimensional stability so is less susceptible to warping or twisting than other wood species – essential to maintain those straight lines. Screen components are also available factory coated in a wide range of colours, with greys and black being very much on trend. ©Blue Tulip Garden Design

Price: £1,600

Contemporary Fencing

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Cequence Cedar Slatted Fence System

Price: £69.00 + VAT The patented 3-part process from Contemporary Fencing combines a Cequence slatted fence panel, a cedar post and cedar capping to create a seamless system. The panels are constructed from western red cedar battens, next we add a Cequence post to the structure and top it off with Cequence capping. The capping strengthens the panels, aesthetically and structurally enhancing the fence. Red cedar has natural colour variations of reddish to pinkish browns. The panels have been expertly crafted to ensure water drains whilst allowing sunlight through.

WWW.CONTEMPORARYFENCING.COM

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CLD Fencing Systems Screenogril Louvre Fencing System

Price: £220 per linear metre Screenogril by CLD Fencing Systems is a louvred panel fencing system that offers landscape architects and designers the option of creating a bespoke, aesthetically pleasing, screening fence line with a modern look. Manufactured from electrofused steel made up of flanged flat bar on wire at 132mm centres horizontally, it is available in 80/20 and 100/0 vision styles.

80/20 allows 20% sight through the fence line whilst 100/0 aims to prevent viewing from a fixed angle. Available in heights up to 2.4m as standard, it can also be double lifted for over heights and custom installations.

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 11:58

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21/06/2018 09:45

RHS Hampton

Court Palace

Flower Show

2018

A Cause for Celebration

A Very Modern Problem

30 Under 30

Show Gardens preview

BBC Countryfile’s 30th Anniversary

Pollyanna Wilkinson and Ed Burnham

Previous winners’ designs

This year’s gardens

RHS HCPFS Cover.indd 77

21/06/2018 16:31

SHOW PREVIEW

Cause for celebration

Designer Ann-Marie Powell speaks to Pro Landscaper about the inspiration behind the BBC Countryfile 30th Anniversary Garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

How did you get involved with the BBC Countryfile 30th Anniversary Garden?

I was approached by the RHS and asked if I’d have time to do it; I certainly didn’t, but I really wanted to, so here we are. I love the story and the cause, so I’m excited to be involved. It ties in quite nicely with the wildlife garden we’re doing at RHS Garden Wisley, so we’d already done a lot of the research for it in terms of looking at a demographic of plant communities and how things appear naturally in the wild – and that’s also a personal interest of mine; I love nature, I love landscape and I love a cause, so it’s a natural fit.

Were you given a brief for the garden design?

The garden is to celebrate Countryfile’s 30th anniversary, and what’s quite important is that it’s not a gardening programme. It’s about farming, landscape and the British Isles and so this garden had to appeal to the demographic of the whole country and be relatable. It also had to have an element of farming because the landscape and farm have a natural tension. We needed to discuss the relationship between man and farming and the interaction that goes on with that across the UK. Can you talk us through the design?

To appeal to the whole of the UK, we’re travelling all the way around the country; so we go from Scotland, through to Yorkshire, and then Wales, and down to the South Coast.

We’ve had the most amazing plants and wildflowers supplied to us by Hortus Loci and Wildflower Turf. As well as the regions, we’ve got a garden area which is more of a natural landscape and so we’ve been able to use some native and non-native plants there, which has allowed us to consider which are best for insects, wildlife and pollinators. We’ve also got 78

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BBC COUNTRYFILE 30TH ANNIVERSARY GARDEN Designer Ann-Marie Powell Contractor Sandstone a field of barley which will feature a mini tractor.

Each different area has its own unique plant community and stone selection, supplied by CED Stone Group.

I LOVE A GARDEN WITH A MESSAGE AND THIS ONE HAS REAWAKENED A LOT OF THE INTERESTS THAT GOT ME INTO GARDEN DESIGN What plants will you be using?

In Scotland we’re looking at plants in the Caledonian Forest; we’re using Scots pine, berries and lavender. For Yorkshire we’re using hawthorn, wild oregano, ferns, dog’s mercury and wood sorrel – which you find in the cracks between rocks – mouse-ear hawkweed and eyebright. We’ve incorporated lots of beech for Wales, which is underplanted with many of the usual woodlanders that you’d expect such as ferns and Prunus spinosa. We then have a stream going through to the coast where we’ve got flag iris, Veronica, and fox and cubs. In the gardens it was important for us to use non-native plants to

attract lots of wildlife and to extend the season of interest, so Euodia hupehensis and Heptacodium miconioides will be flowering at the show but will extend and flower through until September. With these areas we’re hoping to educate people that it’s not just about spring and summer planting, it’s about creating a habitat for wildlife all year round.

What does it mean to you to be designing the BBC Countryfile 30th Anniversary Garden?

It really means a lot, it takes me back to my roots.

I love a garden with a message and this one has reawakened a lot of the interests that got me into garden design in the first place. It’s a real privilege to be able to present this message, because I’ve noticed the alarming rate at which we’re losing wildlife, even by just driving my car and not having to wash bugs and insects off the windscreen. We’re losing experience and joy and if we don’t want a dead planet we have to work alongside wildlife. I think that Countryfile profiles this beautifully and it’s something that myself and the teams at Hortus Loci, CED Stone Group, Wildflower Turf, Gaze Burvill and Landscapeplus are so proud to support. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 14:56

Grow your own Ali, tell us how you got to design and build the RHS Grow Your Own garden at Hampton Court…

We were approached by the RHS as we’ve built its feature garden for the past three years, and last year we built the Saturday Morning Live Kitchen garden, designed by Juliet Sargeant, which featured The Hairy Bikers. This year the RHS asked me if as well as building I’d like to design it, so I’m designing the hard landscape and Rossana Porta is working with me as the plant designer.

Were you given a design brief by the RHS? We were. The RHS currently has two mantras: ‘Greening Grey Britain’ and ‘Grow Your Own’. This garden very much falls in the grow your own category, and so the brief was to design a garden that people can take ideas from. If you have an acre of land it’s very easy to have a nice vegetable garden, whereas if you have a window box or a balcony it’s much more difficult, so it’s aimed at people who feel they don’t have enough space or who might have limited access. We’re hoping to create lots of little

RHS GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN Designer Ali Dempster Contractor Sandstone

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Sandstone Kitchen garden Hampton Court.indd 79

Pro Landscaper meets Ali Dempster, director at Sandstone, to discuss the RHS Grow Your Own garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, where celebrity chef Raymond Blanc and his team will be cooking

scenes which people can take a photo of and be able to recreate at home. We’re including a lot of upcycling and imaginative ways of making things, so it will hopefully be a very beautiful garden that’s equally practical. At the centre of the garden we’ll have a cooking area, with an outdoor kitchen and amphitheatre style seating which means that we can also use it as an educational, instructional space.

And that’s where Raymond Blanc comes in…

Yes, it was very inspiring to meet him six weeks ago at his restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire.

He’s been championing the whole grow your own, organic gardening idea at Le Manoir for many years and last year it opened its gardening school.

Raymond will do a live demonstration on press day and then members of his team on the other days. Rossana and I visited Le Manoir, we’ve had two or three meetings with him and taken lots of photos whilst also taking key reference points which we’ll use in the garden. This will ensure there’s a clear link between what we’re doing at the show and what they’re already doing at Le Manoir.

Has Raymond had any involvement in the design?

He hasn’t had any involvement in the garden design, but because we have some allotment style areas he has given us his list of the preferred plants. At Le Manoir they prefer to grow heritage style vegetables so we’ll hopefully get to use some of those as well.

Where did you get your design inspiration?

Just from looking around me. I’m fortunate enough to have a garden at home where we grow our own foods, and recycling and upcycling are something I and the business have been keen on; it’s in our company policy that we reuse, renew and recycle whenever possible. Since starting to design this garden I’ve made an effort to look around me and seek inspiration from anything I see.

What does it mean to you to be designing and building this garden?

It’s really great to be recognised and to be asked by the RHS to design a garden, it’s brilliant to be working with someone like Raymond Blanc, who has such a fantastic heritage of what he’s done, plus I suppose for me, it’s just nice to know that what we’ve been doing for the last 20 years in the industry is of a quality that the RHS feels it can trust.

Sandstone is also building the BBC Countryfile 30th Anniversary Garden, designed by Ann-Marie Powell

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 79

21/06/2018 13:17

SHOW PREVIEW

Rhiannon Williams Designed as a refreshing take on outdoor entertaining and dining, ‘The Landform Garden Bar’ brings the inside out and embraces the modern al fresco lifestyle. Taking inspiration from Barcelona, it features a bar and entertaining space with low seating surrounding a fire pit.

The planting focuses on a solid green base with bursts of colour, giving emphasis to mature and luscious plants. The garden has a deep personal significance for Rhiannon, as it was designed in collaboration with her late partner and Landform Consultants foreman, Matthew Bradley who tragically lost his life in November 2017.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s show?

At the core of this garden is a hugely personal story so it’s actually quite daunting thinking about this year’s show, but I’m looking forward to working with our amazing team, who are like family to me and have supported me massively over the past seven months. I’m looking forward to bringing together their skills, talents and passions. I also want to show the details that Matt and I designed together; the pergola and palette of materials. My life has changed so much since this garden started, and without it

I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s pushed me and given me a reason to get up and concentrate.

Have you got any previous experience with show gardens?

This will be my sixth year working at Hampton Court. Last year I designed my first show garden, The Urban Rain Garden, and was awarded a Silver-gilt and the People’s Choice Award. This year was also my fifth year working at Chelsea – I led the planting around the bothy on Mark Gregory’s Welcome to Yorkshire Garden. We were thrilled when it was awarded a hat trick of awards. It’s a fantastic feeling starting the Hampton build on such a high.

What do you predict will be the greatest challenge?

This year my greatest challenge will be working without Matt. We have worked at four shows together and the design/submission of this garden was the last thing we worked on together. Like every year though, it’s important

30atUnder 30 Hampton Court Alexandra Noble The Health and Wellbeing Garden is designed to encourage deep thinking. Featuring a continuous path, visitors will move through the space without a destination. The aim of this is to slow one’s pace and mind and to encourage being in the moment. Senses are heightened by the sound of flowing water, the cushioned feel of camomile atop the seat and the uplifting fragrance of mint varieties.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s show?

The planting feature by Piet Oudolf.

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RHS HCPFS 30 under 30.indd 80

Have you got any previous experience with show gardens? If so, what?

I won a national competition with BBC’s The One Show in 2014 to design a feature garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. I also worked on the butterfly domes at Hampton Court and Tatton Park flower shows last year, and this year I worked freelance on Jo Thompson’s Wedgwood Garden at Chelsea.

What do you predict will be the greatest challenge?

The greatest

to get everything ready in time, to make sure deliveries are booked and things arrive on site when they are supposed to. This garden has a lot of detailing, so it will also be a challenge to make sure everything fits together perfectly.

What do you hope to achieve from being at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year?

I want to build a beautiful garden, something real and tangible, that visitors can relate to. I also really want to honour Matthew’s name; the skill he had for hard landscaping and the passion he had for show gardens. As a team, we want to demonstrate the design and build skills that we have at Landform Consultants.

30 Under 30 winners give Pro Landscaper a glimpse of their gardens at this month’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

challenge will be getting the porphyry sett coursing right for the curved path.

What do you hope to achieve from being at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year?

Rather than achieving anything in particular, I look forward to working outdoors, in a lively environment with my build team from Burnham Landscaping.

I have already immensely enjoyed the conceptual design process and have relished the opportunity to work with specialists. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 14:42

SHOW PREVIEW

Jacob Catling The Style and Design Garden is a contemporary interpretation of an orchard garden situated in an urban setting. Inspired by the antiquarian’s eccentric lifestyle, travels around the world, and passion for antiques, it is a stitched-together, bricolage world. The aura of this alternative orchard is embraced with the introduction of contemporary materials, cosmopolitan plants, and eclectic collector’s items, showcasing the balance between the old and new.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s show?

The atmosphere! There’s something about building at shows that I absolutely love; the high pressure and tight deadline, and everyone bringing their ‘A’ game, showing off their skills, living and breathing the build – it’s an exciting couple of weeks.

Anca Panait The Entertaining Garden celebrates a nation’s favourite drink, gin and its botanicals. Designed as an entertaining area, it’s a perfect space for exploring botanical associations. A bespoke bar and communal table are immersed within the planting, indulging the users with both the taste and aroma of the plants.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s show?

I am excited about the construction, which is one of my favourite parts of doing a show garden. It’s exhilarating to see your vision emerge.

Have you got any previous experience with show gardens?

My first UK show garden was last year at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park where I was one of the three RHS Young Designer finalists.

Previously, I co-designed www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Have you got any previous experience with show gardens?

In the past, The Landscaping Consultants have been sub-contractors for three show gardens at RHS Hampton Court Palace and one at RHS Chelsea. In 2016 we built The Lavender Garden at RHS Hampton Court, we won gold and for the first time it was our name on the board as the contractor.

What do you predict will be the greatest challenge?

Keeping the boys fed and watered and ensuring our water feature doesn’t leak.

Lilly Gomm The Family Garden is a space in which to relax, where insects thrive, and children can delve into nature. The garden represents a space to be explored and in which to learn. It is inspired by the enchanting and lasting impression a garden can have on children through play and discovery, and in turn instills an awareness of our collective responsibility towards the environment.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s show?

I think getting on site and seeing the garden come together in 3D.

What do you hope to achieve from being at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year?

I would like to create new working relationships with members of the industry and strengthen established ones. Of course, a medal would be amazing, we can’t forget about that.

and built a garden at the Chaumont-sur-Loire International Garden Festival.

As a designer, you spend so long staring at a design on paper, so I’m eager to get my hands dirty and begin building.

What do you predict will be the greatest challenge?

Despite the amount of preparation before the show things can still go wrong. I think the greatest challenge is being able to adapt to things you can’t control.

Have you got any previous experience with show gardens?

This will be my third RHS show garden, but first at Hampton Court Palace. Previously I have exhibited at Tatton Park back in 2016, as part of the Young Designer competition, and again last year sponsored by Gabriel Ash.

What do you hope to achieve from being at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year?

Designing a show garden alongside three other great women is an opportunity to encourage more women into horticulture and into the world of show gardens.

What do you predict will be the greatest challenge?

I think my greatest challenge will be creating the impression the garden has been lived in, both by the family and wildlife. Alongside that, the changeable British weather is always at the back of my mind when working to a strict deadline.

What do you hope to achieve from being at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year?

I hope to create a garden that shows people how they can support wildlife in their own outdoor spaces. The feature wall is to encourage us to make one of our boundaries a habitat rich home.

The smallest action can make a big difference.

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21/06/2018 08:45

SHOW PREVIEW

modern

A

Very Modern Problem highlights the unrealistic expectations that social media can put on users, but also the way it can also be a medium for support and inspiration. Split in the middle by a model smartphone, the garden will have two halves; one showing unfiltered reality, disorganised but alluring, and the other representing the unattainable reality of what can be seen online.

Designer POLLYANNA WILKINSON POLLYANNA WILKINSON GARDEN DESIGN What made you apply to Hampton Court?

I love the way the conceptual gardens push the boundaries of what makes a garden, and their capacity to be unexpected and unconventional. I’d been introduced to Ed Burnham not long before I put together my submission; he has so much experience at the show, so when he and Ross from Conquest Creative Spaces said they would come on board for the build, it was a no-brainer to apply. To have a concept garden at Hampton Court is a career highlight for me.

How did you choose the concept?

Before I became a designer, I qualified and volunteered as a counsellor, working with young people. I was struck by the impact that social media had on my clients’ wellbeing.

Then, when I was on maternity leave, I started to spend more time on social media and was struck by the comfort I found from those in a similar position, giving their own honest portrayals of motherhood – but I was equally 82

A very

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problem

Designer Pollyanna Wilkinson and contractor Ed Burnham discuss their Hampton Court garden, which is centred around social media and its way of showcasing the unattainable

aware of the feelings of inadequacy that came from looking at the ‘perfect’ lives of others. It was the combination of these experiences that led me to consider the pitfalls of comparing one’s own internal experience with edited versions of other people’s lives online. My garden is not designed to be a criticism of social media. It’s designed to spark debate about a very modern problem that we all need to navigate, and to highlight its positives as well as its negatives.

What are the garden’s standout features?

The key feature will be the model smartphone, which will act as a divider between ‘real life’ and ‘online’.

A fantastic swing by Raw Studio will be in the ‘online’ half – vortex-like, it represents the dominance of social media in our lives, and the way it draws us in, connecting us to others while isolating us from those around us. Equally important is a large mirror at the back of the garden, reflecting the viewers to place them in the ‘online’ garden. This represents the way we compare our lives to what we see online.

How does the planting reflect the theme?

On the ‘online’ side, the plants are purposely impractical and unachievable – artificial plants, plants that are non-hardy in the UK, and plants that are prone to disease and pests. Some will also have toxic or healing qualities, reiterating the theme. On the ‘real’ side, the plants reflect everyday life. They are great cultivars, but won’t necessarily be in the right place or in the right quantity. Some of the plants will be less than perfect, with weeds and overgrown grass – but while it’s unkempt, it also has potential.

What has been the most challenging part?

Finding sponsorship was challenging. I was so committed to this concept that I submitted it knowing I could end up funding it myself. As a new designer, I knew I’d have to convince someone to put their faith in me. Fortunately, I have an existing relationship with Worx Landroid, and was lucky to have it come on board as a sponsor. I’ve also been lucky to collaborate with fantastic suppliers, including London Stone, Loknan Architectural, Harrowden Turf, Raw Studio, Screen with Envy and Adam Christopher.

What are you most looking forward to?

Seeing my garden in real life, and the public’s reaction to it. I love that concept gardens can polarise opinion and spark debate, so it will be exciting to see what people make of it. There are so many other designers and landscapers at the show whose work I admire, so having the opportunity to meet them will be wonderful.

What are you hoping to gain?

I hope the garden will increase my profile and provide new opportunities and connections with fellow designers, landscapers and suppliers – while equipping me with the necessary experience to participate in further RHS shows.

What do you hope visitors will take away?

I hope my garden makes people think about how they use social media. Discussing how we can use it mindfully, as a tool to enrich our lives, while protecting against the negative aspects, feels like a valuable debate to have. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 08:59

A VERY MODERN PROBLEM Designer Pollyanna Wilkinson Contractor Burnham Landscaping Sponsor Worx Landroid

SHOW PREVIEW

MY GARDEN IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE A CRITICISM OF SOCIAL MEDIA. IT’S DESIGNED TO SPARK DEBATE ABOUT A VERY MODERN PROBLEM THAT WE ALL NEED TO NAVIGATE POLLYANNA WILKINSON

Contractor ED BURNHAM BURNHAM LANDSCAPING What do you think will be the biggest challenge of building the garden?

The garden has two very opposing sides. The biggest challenge we face won’t be to make the more glamorous side look amazing, but to make the understated side look as rubbish as we can – not something we’re used to doing in a show garden.

What are you most looking forward to about the build?

Every year, more than anything, we look forward to being on site, taking in the surroundings and www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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being among some of the most talented craftspeople from across the country. In our garden, the giant smartphone is a real novelty for us to construct and install. It’ll certainly grab some attention when the show opens.

THE GIANT SMARTPHONE IS A REAL NOVELTY FOR US TO CONSTRUCT AND INSTALL. IT’LL CERTAINLY GRAB SOME ATTENTION Is the concept behind the garden important to you?

We always get behind the message of the gardens we build. A Very Modern Problem highlights a subject that virtually everyone can relate to, or has an opinion on. It’s these gardens, in my experience, that really get people talking. I think the theatre of this build will also grab people’s attention, raising awareness of the impact modern technology has on mental health.

You’re also building two other gardens at Hampton Court this year. How will you be managing the builds?

It’s all in the planning. The build is actually the easiest bit if you’ve got your planning right. On this garden, we’re also very fortunate to be working alongside Ross Conquest and his team from Conquest Creative Spaces. The other fortunate thing for us is the amount we can prefabricate before we arrive on site.

How different is building a garden at Chelsea to building a garden at Hampton Court?

Hampton Court is always so much more relaxed. The people you’ve seen at Chelsea seem more energetic and less stressed at Hampton Court. The standards and budgets at Chelsea are higher, and we understand why, but with that comes a little added pressure to deliver. The neighbourly spirit at Hampton is unrivalled, in my opinion. It’s such a great atmosphere to be in.

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21/06/2018 09:03

SHOW PREVIEW

Show gardens These expertly crafted gardens are brimming with great ideas to try at home, featuring an array of hard landscaping, boundaries and plant combinations used by leading gardening designers

THE CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK: MR. HAPPY, MR. WORRY HILL Design Emma Reed Contractor Blakedown Landscapes Sponsor Children with Cancer UK, Mr. Men Little Miss This garden represents the journey children and their families take when diagnosed with cancer and throughout the treatment process.

Designer Emma Reed worked with a clinical psychologist to capture the feelings experienced by both the children and their families and designed the garden as a split hill - one side representing feelings of hope and happiness and the other feelings of fear and sorrow.

B&Q’S BURSTING BUSY LIZZIE GARDEN Design Matthew Childs Contractor Living Landscapes Sponsor B&Q B&Q’s Bursting Busy Lizzie Garden is a beautifully innovative feel good garden. Working with Syngenta, B&Q have developed a breed of Imara Busy Lizzies that are immune from the disease Downy Mildew which had previously wiped the plant out. This new creation of Busy Lizzies is taller and bigger than the traditional type and reflects how they would naturally grow in their East African home.

THE SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE LANDSCAPE GARDEN

ELEMENTS MYSTIQUE Design Lawrence Roberts Seeking to tell a story of beauty within chaos, the Elements Mystique garden showcases the latest statement piece by Belgian sculptor William Roobrouck; a 2.5m diameter Corten steel sphere, which represents a fallen meteor. The planting scheme is largely black or dark foliage to illustrate the effect of the meteors crash landing.

THE VIKING CRUISES NORDIC LIFESTYLE GARDEN

Design Rory Andrews Contractor Thompson Garden Services

Design Stephen Hall Contractor Castle Gardening Sponsor Viking Cruises

Inspired by a stretch of the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, The focal point of this garden picks out the brick detailing of a bridge. Either side there is a rill, representing the Thames, whilst the planting around the rill mimics the wildflowers along the Thames Path, completing the river scene.

Designed by multi award-winning Stephen Hall, this garden is inspired by the Nordic landscape and the profound relationship between nature and wellbeing. Celebrating traditional Nordic wellbeing rituals, it brims with traditional plants and herbs with medicinal benefits used in Scandinavian cooking – a sanctuary for both body and mind.

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 11:36

SHOW PREVIEW

THE RNIB COMMUNITY GARDEN Design Steve Dimmock and Paula Holland Contractor Mark S Nelson Landscapes Sponsor Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), Magus Private Wealth The theme here is community with different routes leading to a central area where visitors can congregate and relax together. This is an informal, flowing garden, designed to create a safe, accessible and tranquil space, consisting of shade plants along with sun loving, fragrant, pollinating and sensory textured planting, sculpture and water features.

ANTON CHEKHOV’S GARDEN

THE SOUTH WEST WATER GREEN GARDEN Design Tom Simpson Contractor Rosebank Landscaping Sponsor South West Water Many of the attributes of a sustainable rain garden are showcased here, treating water as a precious resource and helping to reduce run-off from hard surfaces which can overload drains and cause flooding. The design features a large raised bowl of water surrounded by curved hedging, a mini rain garden or swale, and a swirl of flood-tolerant plants, underpinned by sweeping drifts of free-draining gravel to create a permeable surface.

SECURED BY DESIGN

Design Anna Benn and Hannah Gardner Contractor Burnham Landscaping Sponsor The Anton Chekhov Foundation in association with the College of Medicine and Integrated Health

Design Lucy Glover and Jacqueline Poll Contractor Highgrove Landscaping Sponsors Metropolitan Police Service, Secured by Design, Smartwater, Ring and Capel Manor College

Anton Chekov’s Garden takes inspiration from the life of Russian writer Anton Chekov and the garden where he wrote ‘The Seagull’. The garden is seen as Chekov would have seen it from his wooden veranda, surrounded by apple trees in a tall meadow.

Capel Manor College design students were asked to provide a beautiful, enjoyable, sustainable and safe garden, which has well protected boundaries. The garden has a calming atmosphere with tones of grey in the hard landscaping, a reflection pool and soft relaxed planting.

THE LIMBCARE WELLBEING GARDEN Design Edward Paul Mairis Contractor The Garden Concierge Sponsor Limbcare The positive message of hope and support represents how Limbcare helps amputees. The entrance is over a brook, crossing calming water via a sturdy bridge. In the centre is a meeting place with informal seating, highlighted by a dramatic sculpted pair of uplifted hands. A quiet area promotes healing with an array of ascending fountains. The planting is calming and positive with a familiar English woodland style.

BRILLIANCE IN BLOOM

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Design Rosemary Coldstream Contractor The Outdoor Room Sponsors BALI and RHS Inspired by couples who share a love of gardening but have very different tastes, the Best of Both Worlds garden is designed to suit both – one side is a traditional space with loose planting while the other is more defined, using contemporary geometry. The garden highlights and promotes careers in landscaping and horticulture, showcasing how newcomers can get involved in creating rewarding and inspiring gardens.

SOUTHEND YOUNG OFFENDERS ‘A PLACE TO THINK’

Design Charlie Bloom Contractor Urban Growth and Action Now Sponsor Stark & Greensmith, Simon Probyn Sculpture, Nickie Bonn & Art4Space, Friends of Dorking, Mears Group, Rolawn and Dyofix

Design James Callicott and Tony Wagstaff Contractor Southend Young Offenders Sponsors Southend Council, Everedge, Instant hedges, Rolawn, Oase, 369 marketing, Stephanie Cushing and Deepdale Trees

Brilliance in Bloom was created as a platform for craftspeople in small organisations, to showcase their skills and dedication. It hopes to inspire visitors to experiment on their own – be it with metalwork, water play or enjoyment of the architecture of mosaics amongst the flowers.

This garden is designed to offer young people a space to talk and reflect.

Oak planks are used to create the path and pick up on the stem colour of the Betula nigra. Dark steel water troughs break up the planting while a white sculpture draws the eye to the seating area behind.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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SHOW PREVIEW

Gardens for a Changing World This category explores many issues from social challenges to new environmental directions

APERION

CONSCIOUS CONSUMERISM

Design Alex Rainford-Roberts Contractor Bowood Landscapes with Edwards & White Ltd Sponsor Dibond

Design Joseph Gibson

Sitting at the intersection of garden design and installation art, ‘Aperion’ provides an immersive experience allowing visitors to enjoy a quiet moment alone. Through mirrored walls, the beautiful meadow inside appears to stretch to infinity. Each visitor is reflected within their own meadow scene, encouraging them to experience the garden through their own senses.

Based on the detrimental impact the meat industry has on the environment, this garden focuses mainly on the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. An immersive experience, the installation guides the visitor through the process of meat production, including rainforest, deforestation, abattoir and inevitably desertification, asking visitors to question whether the current level of meat consumption is sustainable.

World Gardens These designs are inspired by vibrant locations from around the world

SANTA RITA LIVIN LA VIDA 120 GARDEN Design Alan Rudden Sponsor Santa Rita Wines Santa Rita Livin La Vida 120 Garden is a contemporary space with a Mediterranean feel inspired by the Santa Rita estate and its vineyards.

Contrasting shapes and textures can be found throughout, as well as a secluded seating area at its centre. The city of Valparaíso has also inspired Santa Rita; this can be seen in the steel wall sections painted yellow, based on the mountains and painted houses around the city.

GREAT GARDENS OF THE USA – THE OREGON GARDEN Design Sadie May Stowell Sponsor Brand USA/Travel Oregon The Oregon Garden is a natural themed garden, offering viewers the chance to immerse themselves in the landscape and gardens of Oregon.

At the centre of the garden is a clear pool of water with a waterfall and a seating area. Inspired by the natural beauty of Oregon, the garden features an array of deep reds, burnt orange, pale lemon and incorporates the use of rock and stone. Visitors can enjoy the rich heritage of Oregon, taking inspiration from its fruit and timber production.

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GREAT GARDENS OF THE USA – THE CHARLESTON AND SOUTH CAROLINA GARDEN Design Sadie May Stowell Sponsor Brand USA/Charleston Area CVB This characteristic garden takes the viewer on a journey through the city of Charleston in South Carolina. Lemon trees are a highlight along with the water feature used as the centrepiece, based on the Charleston’s famous Pineapple Fountain.

RÍAS DE GALICIA: A GARDEN AT THE END OF THE EARTH Design Rose McMonigall Contractor Bowood Landscapes Ltd Sponsor Turisimo De Galicia Rías De Galicia: A Garden at The End of The Earth offers viewers an impressionist view of ‘the end of the earth’, an area in north-west Spain where a collection of rivers meets the ocean. The garden has a naturalistic feel with its use of sand, pebbles, boulders and scallop shell art, creating an atmosphere of an idyllic cove. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 11:39

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21/06/2018 09:46

TERKA ACTON

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Creating year round interest for a north London garden

DITCH THE DIRT IAN DRUMMOND

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Unveiling the beauty of soil free planting

DELICATE BEAUTY

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JAMIE BUTTERWORTH Reflecting on the many species of poppy at Chelsea

A GROWING PROBLEM

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JONATHAN BOURNE Discussing responsibilities with growing media

NURTURE

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21/06/2018 09:53

NURTURE

NURTURE NEWS Johnsons of Whixley wins Silver medal and People’s Choice at RHS Chatsworth

Johnsons of Whixley joined forces with award-winning garden designer Chris Myers to create a garden for the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, while rallying support for a Yorkshire Dales preservation charity. It was a great success for the partnership as the garden ‘Hay Time in the Dales’ took home the Silver medal and the People’s Choice award. Johnsons of Whixley donated £2,000 worth of plants to Chris Myers to create his show garden, inspired by the Dales.

Hay time in the Dales featured a cottage, a meadow of wildflowers, broadleaved trees and herbaceous perennials. The project aimed to raise awareness of the work undertaken by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, a charity that supports the wellbeing of the Yorkshire Dales and encourages sustainable work and economic development in and around the area.

This comes as a great achievement for Johnsons of Whixley as not only were they able to showcase their brand, but also be a wider part of an award winning garden. www.nurserymen.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Bernhard’s Nurseries enjoys success at Chelsea Flower Show At this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Bernhard’s Nurseries supplied multiple award-winning gardens. Lewis Normand was brought onto the team to help focus on developing this sector. The 50-year-old nursery business produced for more than 20 show gardens and trade stands across all the major UK shows in 2018 and is looking to expand further on this in 2019 and beyond.

After supplying Paul Hervey-Brookes with his giant terrarium features at RHS Malvern Flower Show in early May, Bernhard’s are delighted to have supplied Paul’s Gold medal winning Viking Cruises garden at RHS Chelsea, along with the

Silver medal winning Warner Edwards garden for Kate Savill and Tamara Bridge.

On top of that, two 5-star trade stands were supplied in the form of Alitex and Hartley Botanic, and a Chelsea Fringe display for Covent Garden and Perennial designed by Kenny Raybould, Darran Jaques and Gillian Goodson.

Bernhard’s southern sales manager Lewis Normand said: “We’ve really been enjoying production for shows, despite a

tricky year with the weather.

The whole team is behind this and I think it shows in the quality of the plants and service we’re offering. We’re delighted with the results at RHS Chelsea.” www.bernhards-nurseries.co.uk

Chief Plant Health Officer speaks at Pro Landscaper LIVE On Thursday 14 June, Pro Landscaper LIVE welcomed 80 invited guests to an afternoon and evening of seminars and networking at Yorkshire County Cricket Ground. Professor Nicola Spence, Chief Plant Health Officer, spoke about the ever-increasing threat to our plants and trees through importation from Europe.

Her seminar, Plant Health and Biosecurity in the UK, highlighted some of the ways that pests and disease are being brought into the country. Nicola emphasised that it’s not only plants that are carrying the pests and disease into the UK but things like pallets, logs and even live Christmas wreathes and wooden furniture (in one example a bed headboard). Nicola urged the audience to check the Plant Health Risk Register if unsure about any plant material, https://secure.fera.

defra.gov.uk/phiw/riskRegister/, where you can find out about the latest news, ask questions and search for pests.

The Plant Health Risk Register has grown by just over 40% in only the last four years so plant health is a huge concern. Three of the most worrying threats currently are the Asian longhorn beetle, Emerald ash borer and Xylella fastidiosa.

Nicola informed the audience that this summer sees the launch of a campaign to all holidaymakers to warn against the urge to bring back seeds or cuttings from their travels abroad as this is also a high risk to plant health.

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 93

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NURTURE

Paeonia ‘Coral Sunset’

Salvia ‘Caradonna’, Gaura lindheimeri and Verbena bonariensis

Designer PLANTS Terka Acton designed this colourful scheme around existing mature trees to create year-round interest

At 25m long, Philip Davies’ north London garden is smaller than his previous garden.

What it lacks in space, however, it makes up for in mature trees, including a laurel, a large fig and several other fruit trees. Designer Terka Acton’s role was to develop fresh ideas for this space, while combining these mature trees with established client favourites.

Landscaper Sam Moon and his team at Diversity Gardens expertly executed Terka’s design for the hard landscaping, which features a slate dining terrace, a circular lawn, ample borders, a kitchen garden and a play area.The original shed, sympathetically renovated, offers a characterful focal point at the end of the garden.

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After restorative pruning to bring the trees back into shape, the planting was implemented last spring. Blues, purples, pinks, and oranges are highlighted with splashes of white, and complemented by greens that range from lime to glaucous. Successional planting means there is always something to enjoy, from early Hellebore to spring bulbs and blossom, through to Allium, Euphorbia and a riot of tulips, after which Paeonia ‘Coral Sunset’ and Digitalis ‘Sutton’s Apricot’ are followed by roses and other perennials. Finally, autumn leaves are offset by plantings of ferns and Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’.

A sunny terrace by the house incorporates two large herb beds. Climbers, which soften the boundaries and create a sense of privacy, include Wisteria ‘Multijuga’ trained against the house wall, Rosa ‘Climbing Iceberg’ and Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’ entwined on the

left-hand terrace fence, and Clematis ‘Perle D’Azur’ opposite. Elsewhere in the garden are Solanum laxum ‘Album’, Trachelospermum jasminoides, Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’ and Hydrangea seemanii.

The circular lawn allows for four corner beds with distinct themes. In the left-hand bed nearest the terrace, favourite roses (‘Gertrude Jekyll’, ‘Champagne Moment’ and ‘Munstead Wood’) are complemented by Philadelphus, perennial wallflowers, Deutzia, Gaura, and Nepeta. Key plants in the left-hand border furthest from the house include Amelanchier ‘Ballerina’, peonies, Digitalis, Tiarella, Epimedium and Hellebore.

On the other side of the garden, laurel is underplanted with Liriope by the house, before the border opens up into a froth of Euphorbia, Salvia and Penstemon, held in check by a curve of Hydrangea serrata ‘Grayswood’ shrubs. Under the fig lies a narrow strip of Galium odoratum and www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 13:04

Tulipa ‘Angelique’, ‘Ballerina’, ‘Rems Favourite’, Negrita’ and ‘Shirley’

NURTURE

Euphorbia palustris, Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ and Allium ‘Purple Sensation’

Persicaria: good companions for this dry, shady spot. The plum in the corner bed by the play area is also underplanted by Japanese anemone, ferns, Skimmia and Sarcococca, with Astrantia bordering the path to the kitchen garden.

The planting is tailored to the conditions of each part of the garden, and space is maximised by the use of compact varieties of specimen shrubs: Deutzia gracilis ‘Nikko’, for example, and Daphne ‘Eternal Fragrance’.

Denise Buckland of Palmstead expertly sourced the plants. While each of the corner beds has its own character, the scheme is united by the use of repeated plants, forms and textures. Upright forms, including Euphorbia, lavender and Salvia, contrast with domes and grasses, while groundcover planting runs cheerfully around the perimeter of the lawn.

Essential evergreen structure comes from Sarcococca, Skimmia, lavender and rosemary. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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This is high-maintenance planting for a client who is motivated and able to look after and develop it. Establishing it has not been without challenges: the hydrangeas were nursed through the hottest days of their first summer, while other plants predictably need controlling in this small space. This garden is, however, a good example of how collaborating with the client and fellow contractors can result in a planting scheme that works with the realities of the site and successfully meets the client’s brief.

ABOUT TERKA ACTON Since graduating from Capel Manor College in 2015, Terka Acton has established a successful garden design practice. Based in south London, she works mainly in London and the South East.

www.terkaacton.com

• Amelanchier grandiflora ‘Ballerina’ • Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ • Astrantia major ‘Rubra’ • Clematis armandii • Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’ • Clematis ‘Perle D’Azur’ • Daphne x transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’ • Deutzia gracilis ‘Nikko’ • Digitalis purpurea ‘Sutton’s Apricot’ • Epimedium x rubrum • Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ • Euphorbia palustris • Galium odoratum • Gaura lindheimeri • Geranium ‘Rozanne’ • Hakonechloa macra • Helleborus x hybridus ‘Harvington White Speckled’ • Hydrangea seemannii • Hydrangea serrata ‘Grayswood’ • Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ • Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’ • Pachysandra terminalis • Penstemon ‘Raven’ • Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’ • Polystichum setiferum ‘Herrenhausen’ • Pulmonaria ‘Raspberry Splash’ • Rosa ‘Champagne Moment’ • Rosa ‘Climbing Iceberg’ • Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ • Rosa ‘Munstead Wood’ • Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ • Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna • Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis ‘Dragon Gate’ • Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’ • Solanum laxum ‘Album’ • Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’ • Verbena bonariensis • Wisteria floribunda ‘Multijuga’

Photographs ©Philip Davies/Terka Acton

Plant list

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 95

20/06/2018 13:04

NURTURE

Andy McIndoe dispenses advice on caring for hydrangeas – a great favourite for adding a splash of colour and texture

O

nce considered basic and utilitarian, hydrangeas have become some of the most sophisticated hardy plants. Their blooms light up landscape schemes, grace pots and containers, and decorate venues as cut flowers. The range on offer is greater than ever as the familiar mopheads are joined by new

FLOWER BOMBS

Hydrangea arborescens cultivars, such as the ever popular Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, are best cut back to 15cm in late winter. These are probably the most foolproof, and will even tolerate brutal treatment with a strimmer – although this is not recommended.

Andy McIndoe Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Magical Amethyst’

Hydrangea paniculata

cultivars, offering a wider colour spectrum and even greater flower power. Add these to the other species – Hydrangea paniculata, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangea quercifolia and Hydrangea aspera,, to name but a few – and you have an amazing palette at your disposal.

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Invincibelle Spirit’

One of the most appealing characteristics of many hydrangeas is how the flowers develop and change colour as the season progresses.

Breeders have worked on this quality to produce the ‘Magical’ series, hydrangeas that change colour three or four times during the season.

Subtle shades become deeper and richer as they age. The strong stems mean that the large flowers are held securely, and are reputedly weather resistant.

Old varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea serrata can be shy to flower. Correct pruning is important, as cutting back the old stems can remove potential flower buds. The

Hydrangea macrophylla

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newer varieties have the ability to produce flowers on old wood and on the new shoots. In most cases, the faded flowerheads remain attractive through winter. Cut back to a pair of fat buds below each flowerhead in spring. If the new growth is damaged by frost, new shoots will still bloom. No other pruning is needed, apart from the removal of any dead or damaged wood. On older plants, a few of the older stems can be cut right back to the base in early spring.

HYDRANGEAS WILL GROW IN SUN, BUT ARE AT THEIR BEST IN LIGHT SHADE

Nearly all hydrangeas will grow on most reasonably fertile soils, including clay. They will grow in sun, but are at their best in light shade, so are a perfect choice for small gardens, which are often shaded for all or part of the day. As long as the ground is not too dry, they are a good choice to grow under trees, where they add late summer colour among evergreens.

Hydrangea quercifolia is especially good in this situation, but displays the best autumn foliage colour if given some direct sun.

Some hydrangeas are blue or purple on acid soil, and pink or red on alkaline soil. White hydrangeas do not change colour according to soil type, but they may ‘blush’ pink in the sun.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ayesha’

Hydrangeas hate dry conditions, so regular watering is essential in dry spells in the open ground. Plenty of organic compost when planting helps. Although they are not particularly demanding, hydrangeas need a good supply of nutrients to promote growth and flower production. Annual application of a slow-release fertiliser in spring produces the best results.

Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’

ABOUT ANDY MCINDOE Hydrangea paniculata varieties need annual pruning in early spring for best results. Cutting back to around 60cm annually promotes strong vigorous growth that holds the flowers well. They mix well with evergreen shrubs, and are effective when underplanted with evergreen groundcover subjects such as Epimedium and Bergenia.

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

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

Twitter: @AndyMcIndoe

www.andymcindoe.com

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21/06/2018 10:22

NURTURE

T

here’s something seasonal about the latest trend for displaying houseplants. It has a coolness to it, a translucent simplicity and sense of space that’s the perfect counter-balance for what can sometimes feel like the cloying congestion of the summer months in the city.

Soil free planting is a trend we showcased with IKEA in our installation #plantswork at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, and it’s about to grow. It is a way of liberating the plant’s root system from traditional pot and soil, and displaying them instead in water, ideally in a glass or transparent container, in order to reveal the beauty of the root system and therefore the plant as a whole.

IT IS A WAY OF LIBERATING THE PLANT’S ROOT SYSTEM FROM TRADITIONAL POT AND SOIL, AND DISPLAYING THEM INSTEAD IN WATER While not all plants can be displayed in this way, there are certain varieties that will live very happily in water, and we have been trialling ever popular Sansevieria trifasciata (one of the great houseplant heroes for cleaning the air) and other

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DITCH THE DIRT

Ian Drummond

#plantswork, a co-creation with IKEA was awarded Silver Gilt at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

varieties of Sansevieria, as well as Aglaonema – all of which have thrived. This style of planting looks very high maintenance, but actually it’s the reverse – as long as the water’s changed every two weeks, it is surprisingly easy to look after.

You can also add a liquid plant feed every two or three weeks to make the plant even healthier.

Naturally, the plant will still need to stabilise itself and without soil it will need help, but this can be easily and stylishly fixed by choosing a glass container with a neck that’s narrower than its base in order to keep the plant loosely upright. The other alternative is to group plants together in a single vessel so that they can support one another.

In many ways this look is similar to that of the terrarium, but actually it’s a bolder, easier and more stylish way to combine houseplants and glass. It also has a slightly nerdy feel to it that I love – as if the plants on display are part of a botanical investigation – nearby one of the great Victorian plant hunters is observing everything and keeping meticulous records.

Yet at the same time, this look is perfect for the way we live now. It evokes a sense of environmental care, an awareness of the importance of plants, a respect for nature and our green earth, it says it all and it says it beautifully.

HYDROPONIC UNITS There are other methods of growing plants without soil and hydroponic units provide a compact and efficient way to create charmingly miniature salad and herb gardens – bringing (edible) green into corporate environments.

ABOUT INDOOR GARDEN DESIGN Established in 1975, Indoor Garden Design is a multi-award winning company at the forefront of contemporary interior and exterior horticultural design, transforming workspaces, offices, hotels and restaurants, and bringing events to life. Ian Drummond is Creative Director.

www.indoorgardendesign.com

Photographs ©Rachel Warne

Ian Drummond unearths the beauty of soil-free planting, the latest design trend for displaying plants, roots and all, simply and elegantly in water

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 99

20/06/2018 11:39

NURTURE

Noel Kingsbury considers the state of education and professional development in the horticulture sector, and what could be done to improve it

E

ducation and professional development is not only what allows people to progress in their careers – it also enables the whole profession to be moved forward, to adapt to new circumstances, be creative, and inspire clients. The landscape and garden industries have a particular challenge here, as the practice of the profession involves an enormous range of skills and areas of knowledge – which, I think, is one of the things that we like about it, and find rewarding. It does, however, mean that there is always a danger of being a ‘jack of all trades and a master of none’.

I’ve always been interested in education and how we learn new skills, possibly because my first job was in adult education. Over the last few years I have been involved in a number of educational initiatives in landscape and horticulture, all of which have their pluses and minuses. What has struck me is the patchiness of provision around the country.

BALI is probably second to none in UK industry in the way that its Land-based Industry Skills Scheme (LISS) and Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) work together to ensure that skills are learned and can be recognised by employers. However, there is another whole layer of professional development that is all too often missed – the more creative, experimental side that really pushes the profession forward. Horticultural aspects seem to get particularly short shrift.

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IN THE KNOW

Noel Kingsbury

Both the Landscape Institute and the Society of Garden Designers tend to organise professional development days on a regional basis. Some regional groups are really good, others less so, so there is a bit of a postcode lottery when it comes to gaining access to ideas and information. A colleague of mine recently organised an event called ‘Landscape Masterclass’ in Bristol; we were astonished at how quickly it sold out, which made me think that there is a real need for more events of that type, in that area at least. I have also been involved in a series of events called ‘Garden Masterclass’, for which we always get some professionals along; we find, however, that keeping costs down enough to make it attractive to selfemployed gardeners and landscapers is a major problem.

Professional development on the plant side is particularly difficult. This is partly because there’s simply just so much to learn.

Design and construction skills, which can be taught and then endlessly perfected

through practice, are very different from knowledge of materials, which in the case of plants is pretty endless. This knowledge can only be acquired over time, there are no shortcuts.

Plants are living things – unpredictable, and impacted by so many variables. Acquiring enough knowledge about their performance in a variety of situations is a daunting task.

PLANTS ARE LIVING THINGS – UNPREDICTABLE, AND IMPACTED BY SO MANY VARIABLES. ACQUIRING ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEIR PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS IS A DAUNTING TASK Having organised a variety of day workshops on plants and planting, I’ve tried to rise to the challenge. There are people with plenty of knowledge to act as tutors, but those who can do this in a way that keeps people’s attention and conveys enthusiasm – especially for a whole day – are rare beasts. There is also the problem of how to encourage active learning, the application of knowledge and skills, in a one-day workshop format. Such learning usually requires students to be working on their own or in small groups, with very active supervision by the tutor. Personally, I find some of the best groups are those that are brought together almost informally, such as a garden designer with a cluster group or an individual with an entrepreneurial frame of mind.

Enthusiasm is always key.

Pictured: Some of the best planting workshops are those run by nurseries, combining education and business promotion ©Vivaio Valfredda

ABOUT NOEL KINGSBURY Noel Kingsbury has been involved in the horticulture industry since the mid Eighties as a nurseryman, garden designer and writer, with features appearing in The Garden, The Daily Telegraph and Gardens Illustrated. Since the mid Nineties he has played a major role in introducing the British gardening public and the horticulture profession to naturalistic planting with a series of books, four of which he has written with Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.

www.noelkingsbury.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 11:42

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21/06/2018 10:19

NURTURE

Post RHS Chelsea, Jamie Butterworth reflects on the many varied species of poppy at this year’s show

C

helsea Flower Show is a constant source of inspiration and ideas, setting trends for the year ahead both in colour palettes and planting styles. It is always impossible to try and second guess what the plant of the show will be, or indeed the take home talking points, until the show is open.

With the lupins taking the headlines this year, I instead wanted to focus my attention on a different, slightly more subtle and delicate plant family that I believe added a sprinkle of magic to the showground. Poppies, the group of plants from the family Papaveraceae.

The poppy is an internationally recognised plant of peace and remembrance, but also a very versatile plant in the garden and landscape. From meadows to mixed borders, cut flower gardens to wildlife planting, poppies can be used in a whole host of garden settings, and this year’s Chelsea demonstrated this perfectly. Below are four completely different poppies that all featured in Chelsea 2018 and caught my eye.

FROM MEADOWS TO MIXED BORDERS, CUT FLOWER GARDENS TO WILDLIFE PLANTING, POPPIES CAN BE USED IN A WHOLE HOST OF GARDEN SETTINGS Papaver rhoeas The common poppy that you will often see growing wild in fields and verges; the iconic poppy, recognised across the world. This is an annual poppy, growing to around 75cm and has the most beautifully simple red flowers, delicate, but powerful at the same time. Used in both Tom Massey and Sarah Price’s garden, this demonstrates the versatility of the plant, as in each garden, it looks totally at home.

Papaver rhoeas

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DELICATE

BEAUTY Jamie Butterworth

Papaver dubium subsp. lecoqii ‘Albiflorum’

Meconopsis betonicifolia The unmistakable blue poppy that was used very cleverly in Chris Beardshaw’s Best in Show and Gold Medal winning Morgan Stanley Garden for the NSPCC. Chris used a very restrained palette of plants, with a lot of dappled shade and woodland planting, making it the ideal place for

Glaucium flavum Boasting glaucous foliage and brilliant yellow flowers, this poppy is sure to catch the eye.

Used in Sarah Price’s Gold medal winning M&G Garden. Growing in full sun, and requiring very good drainage, this is more of a Mediterranean poppy. Grow in a south facing gravel bed, and it will reward you heavily.

Glaucium flavum

Papaver dubium subsp. lecoqii ‘Albiflorum’ Try saying that after a few drinks! A dainty, delicate, small annual poppy that was again used in Tom Massey’s, Silver-Gilt medal winning Lemon Tree Trust Garden. The pink flowers are produced on quite long stems, but only growing to around 50cm overall. As with all poppies, it will self-seed and so despite being an annual, will provide you with splashes of pink for years to come.

Meconopsis betonicifolia

these Meconopsis to grow and thrive. They can be the diva of the poppy world, with plants often refusing to flower, or even dying if the conditions are not ideal. Chris assured me that betonicifolia was in fact easier to grow and get into flower than ‘Lingholm’, another popular cultivar.

There is still of course plenty to look forward to, with RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show opening its doors next week, and the Tatton build now well underway. With these shows offering the opportunity for a larger planting palette, I can’t wait to see what plants and planting combinations are used.

ABOUT JAMIE BUTTERWORTH Graduating from RHS Garden Wisley with a Distinction in summer 2015, avid plantsman and RHS Ambassador Jamie now works as a horticultural consultant for London Stone, having spent the last two years growing plants for the world’s top designers at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with Hortus Loci.

jamiebutterworth@londonstone.co.uk www.londonstone.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 103

21/06/2018 09:56

NURTURE

Jonathan Bourne asks where the responsibility for growing media performance lies – with the supplier, or with the contractor?

T

he increased scrutiny of materials such as topsoils, driven primarily by the 2012 Olympic project, has for the most part been hugely advantageous for the landscaping industry, leading to large improvements in quality and accountability within a largely unregulated sector.

However, when we are buying and selling materials that are as alive as the plants and shrubs they support, where does the supplier’s responsibility for the performance and quality of the material end? Over time, key elements such as pH, NPK and porosity levels are likely to fluctuate – so is there a liability when schemes and/or plants begin to underperform?

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, CONTRACTORS ARE RELYING ON OLD DATA There is no doubt that the standard of soft landscaping materials has improved since 2012.

Bourne Amenity’s budget for testing materials has quadrupled since the early Noughties, and we welcomed increased focus on compliance with specifications as a sign that our efforts to improve standards were becoming universal.

However, projects are becoming more and more ambitious in increasingly inaccessible locations (e.g. rooftops). In those circumstances, if materials and substrates started out fulfilling a specification but deteriorate after delivery, storage and spreading, who is responsible for the costly remedy?

104 Pro Landscaper / July 2018

Jonathan Bourne - responsibility for soil .indd 104

A GROWING

PROBLEM Our position has always been that – alongside our own regular testing protocols – we advise every contractor to employ independent testers to visit and sample from our facilities, in order to produce data that is relevant to a particular project and subsequent batch of material. Once the material has been approved, any issues from that moment onwards cannot be due to our processes. If, for example, the soil is handled poorly (most specifications outline the ideal handling methodology) during onsite preparations, or there are traces of contamination that were not present in the original samples, the accountability stops at the moment our material has been discharged on site. In cases where an onsite test has thrown up an irregular reading of, say, asbestos, it is more often than not a hangover from the original brownfield site. It is then the responsibility of the contractor to determine its origin.

The problem lies in allowing time for the testing and approval process. A standard BS 3882 topsoil test is likely to take seven to 10 days. If you include asbestos, labs must wait for the asbestos result to come back before further tests can take place. Consequently, you are looking at close to three weeks for the standard multipurpose BS 3882 topsoil test. The test will then only be valid for that batch (usually around 500m³), and once it is used up, another test must be undertaken, causing a further delay. More often than not, contractors are relying on old data relating to a batch of material that will never be delivered to their site. Suppliers are hard pressed to blend and store numerous 500m³ batches of material, due to storage limitations. It is therefore

important for contractors and buyers to include cost and time provision for independent testing in their plan of works, and to ensure the supplier can store the required number of batches.

Many projects include subsequent tests once the material is in situ, and in these cases, the accountability of the testing process is crucial in the event of any discrepancy. If you cannot trace the test results to the same batch of material that was delivered to site, this is where arguments over accountability and responsibility will surface.

As a company, we have learned to be extra vigilant when enforcing the rule that, once the material is discharged on site, it is no longer our responsibility. Arguments can occur when performance materials are badly managed on site, leading to an adverse effect on performance.

Suppliers must ensure that material is compliant when it leaves their facility and upon discharge, responsibility passes to the client.

ABOUT JONATHAN BOURNE Jonathan Bourne is the sales director at Bourne Amenity, and has headed up the sales team for the past six years. Bourne Amenity has been supplying hard and soft landscaping materials to the industry for more than 40 years.

www.bourneamenity.co.uk

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20/06/2018 12:07

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EDUCATE

WINNER PROFILE At the Pro Landscaper Business Awards, Butter Wakefield proved that working as part of a small practice can produce mighty results, winning the Garden Designer category

Butter Wakefield

Winner: Garden Designer category (sponsored by Global Stone)

T

he small London-based studio Butter Wakefield Garden Design has made its mark on the industry. Founded nearly two decades ago, and incorporated last year, the business has become a multi-award-winning practice – most notably receiving a Gold medal and People’s Choice Award at the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2017 for Belmond Enchanted Gardens.

THE JUDGES WERE IMPRESSED BY THE GLOWING TESTIMONIALS OF SATISFIED CLIENTS, WHO WERE THRILLED WITH THE WAY BUTTER WORKED WITH THEM

Most of this show garden was then relocated to Belmond’s head office in London Bridge.

The practice worked closely with Team London Bridge and local residents to replant the vegetable garden and hedging, and to install the willow fencing. The relocated garden was later awarded a Gold for RHS Britain in Bloom.

Now Butter can also boast a Pro Landscaper Business Award. The judges were impressed by the glowing testimonials of satisfied clients, who were thrilled with the way she has worked with

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PLBA winner Butter Wakefield.indd 109

them to create their gardens. One client said: “You have been unbelievably efficient and produced something quite lovely…I am sure I will be asking you to add this and that over the coming years.” Another commented: “The transformation this week has been nothing short of phenomenal…You are a super team and have been on point throughout.”

Butter’s relationship with her chosen contractors and suppliers is also admirable; she remains loyal to a number of nurseries, and has worked closely with prestigious landscaping companies over the years.

Butter, who trained at the English Gardening School and the London College of Garden Design, is also committed to the industry, mentoring young designers and teaching and training the next generation. She even jumped out of an aeroplane to raise a significant amount of money for horticultural charity Perennial, and she has been a Gold Perennial Partner since 2014.

Butter opened her own garden for Perennial in 2015 as part of its Open Gardens fundraising scheme, and in 2016 was awarded the Perennial Champion Award.

“We were particularly delighted and quietly

surprised to win the Pro Landscaper Business Award,” Butter says. “I have a reasonably small practice in a big, competitive industry, so it was a thrill to be recognised by the panel of judges for the work we do. It was a very happy occasion and the Pro Landscaper team made me feel extremely special indeed.

I couldn’t be more grateful to have been selected – it’s such an honour!”

This year, Butter designed Gaze Burvill’s trade stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, celebrating the outdoor furniture designer’s 25th anniversary. Having previously worked as an interior designer, there was a focus on soft furnishings in this outdoor living experience, as Butter worked with specialist outdoor fabric supplier Sunbrella. Gaze Burvill is a company that Butter has used in past garden design projects – another example of her lasting partnerships with suppliers.

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 109

21/06/2018 15:25

EDUCATE

WRITTLE A leading provider of land-based, environmental and design education, Writtle University College explain how they equip students for the workplace by blending industry input and professional knowledge with real world projects and technical skills, and why there are more opportunities for Landscape Design graduates than ever before

The opportunity to shape our environment, connect with nature and respond to the challenges of climate change in innovative ways has long inspired students to take their first steps into the landscape industry. This is the epitome of the profession’s pull – there’s the creative and emotional draw of making an impact on our world’s spaces and the people who live in them, as well as the underpinning science, professional knowledge and technical skills required to be successful in a multidisciplinary career.

It is this multi-faceted nature that Writtle University College reflects. Not only through working closely with industry, but also by embedding design with professional practice and real-life scenarios into its courses.

The University College has a strong and popular offering in landscape architecture and garden design, which the new vice-chancellor Professor Tim Middleton seeks to build upon, enriching the courses with its 125-year reputation in delivering land-based studies.

The courses attract healthy numbers – there are nearly 60 students on higher education

Design Degree Show

110 Pro Landscaper / July 2018

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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE landscape architecture and garden design courses such as degrees, conversion courses and masters. Add to this three PhD students, further education courses for college-leavers and on-the-job training through apprenticeships and it becomes a rich community of design students.

Steve Terry, senior lecturer in design, explains: “Our degree and postgraduate schemes give students intellectual and practical skills – thinkers and makers are produced here. A lot of work goes into the development of the programmes with industry and, as a result, our graduates are snapped up by the profession.

OUR DEGREE AND POSTGRADUATE SCHEMES GIVE STUDENTS INTELLECTUAL AND PRACTICAL SKILLS – THINKERS AND MAKERS ARE PRODUCED HERE “We have alumni return to Writtle for the end of year Design Degree Show looking for students to add to their teams. We are good all round, providing a range of skills that fit a variety of niches, including design software skills and the technical issues of design.

“Our graduates leave us as good designers as well as intellectuals – this seems an obvious requirement but too many design graduates can’t hit the ground running, which, if you’re a small business, is a real drawback.”

Richard Romang, lecturer in design, adds: “There’s a lack of people going into the profession. It’s a booming industry which needs good graduates, so it’s a big opportunity for our students.

“Our Landscape Architecture course gives them the first step on the ladder to becoming either a Chartered Landscape Architect or full

member of the Society of Garden Designers – many go on to become associate directors or run their own businesses. Our Garden Design course gives them the experience they need at the start of their career.”

Rethinking Repton ©Michael Ekers

Professional practice modules give students knowledge of the industry. They carry out live projects, exposing them to real-life scenarios, with the resultant projects ranging in scale from courtyards to master-planning.

This year, students have collaborated with RHS Libraries on a high-profile London exhibition celebrating the client presentation principles of 18th century landscape designer Humphry Repton. In previous years they have worked with the Beaulieu development in Chelmsford; Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, and Highwood Village Hall.

Their final year projects are real sites. On display at this year’s Design Degree Show were their landscape designs for a range of locations, from post-industrial Maldon to Bukit Kiara urban forest in Kuala Lumpur.

The draw of these programmes is their responsiveness to the challenges and changing priorities in the industry. New requirements and circumstances such as Construction Design and Management (CDM) health and safety legislation, Level 2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) requirements, climate change, sustainable design approaches, air quality, and phytoremediation, for example, are all reflected in students’ studies.

The University College has a Professional www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 10:25

EDUCATE

The student view

Review Group for the undergraduate and postgraduate schemes made up of top landscape architecture and garden design practices, such as BDP, ARUP and Gillespies, so that the courses can be devised to specifically meet the challenges those in industry foresee.

The programmes regularly feature guest speakers, including landscape architects from fabrik, ARUP, Gillespies and Wynne-Williams Associates. Many are alumni – Lucy White of BDP; Paul French of fabrik; Dr Phil Askew, the landscape architect behind the Olympic Park and Thames Gateway; Ben Brace, who progressed from a further education course to a masters at Writtle and is now overseeing developments for the RHS. This industry involvement ensures that students are producing the highest standards of work. This has been recognised in awards, with past pupils achieving success in the student awards run by the member associations. This year, Gillespies gave a Best in Show award to BSc (Hons) Landscape Architecture student Michael Ekers for his work showing how an aleatory system could be applied to a post-industrial site.

Steve explains: “Our graduates are able to join an industry that is supportive of young peers and guides them. Both our Landscape Architecture and Landscape and Garden Design degrees are accredited by the Landscape Institute, which maintains a Pathway to Chartership programme for those graduating from our masters programme. Graduates can go on to big things – and I’m pleased to say many of them do.”

CONTACT Writtle University College Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3RR Tel: 01245 424200 Email: info@writtle.ac.uk

Adam Newson, 21, from Brentwood, completed a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture at Writtle before progressing onto the BSc (Hons) Landscape and Garden Design. As part of his degree, from which he will graduate this year, he produced work for the Humphry Repton exhibition at RHS Lindley Library.

Sharing his view on the undergraduate programme, Adam says: “The diverse range of modules, from planning and law to spatial design, sets students up with the range of skills they require to go into the industry.

The guest appearances of alumni highlight the broad range of sectors and jobs available to graduates in an industry with various career routes.

“Working within the industry as a trainee landscape architect in the design office of one of the largest external services providers in the country, whilst also completing my undergraduate degree at Writtle, highlighted the parallels between modules and real-life projects. Being able to transfer the skills learnt in lectures to the work place and vice versa, highlighted the relevance of the course to industry and how valuable the information taught in lectures is to becoming industry ready.”

The industry view Gill Wynne-Williams is the managing director of WynneWilliams Associates, an award winning company offering a range of landscape architecture services in London, the South East and East Anglia. Gill gives guest lectures at Writtle and has employed a number of its talented graduates.

“I have been employing Writtle University College graduates for more than 15 years – their strengths lie not only in design but also in knowledge of professional practice and current industry issues. Experience of real world design projects whilst on the course, coupled with frequent contact with practitioners – through the visiting lecture series and studio crits with an invited industry jury – mean that students get the significant benefit of industry contact. The students that have come to our practice have been talented, work-ready, enthusiastic and committed to making a career in landscape design.”

www.writtle.ac.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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20/06/2018 13:53

EDUCATE

FINISH LINE This month, Robert Webber reiterates the importance of checking that you’re using quality products, preferably with a full guarantee

A wise man once said: “It’s not how you start that matters, it’s how you finish”.

These are properties that are often neglected when it comes to the longevity of a garden lighting installation.

When I meet prospective clients I inevitably hear about their past lighting nightmares. Most of these are due to using substandard light fittings at the outset which is such a false economy! The cost of the light fittings tends to make up approximately 30% of the budget on our projects, however it’s always the first place that we are asked to cut quality so that budgets can be achieved. I always say that the landscape itself sets the budget, not the client.

We can install the best switching system known to man, with fully submersible cable joints, and cables to BASEC highest standards; designed with passion, installed with love, and maintained with commitment. However, if the light fitting is substandard for its environment, then all our hard work goes out of the window, or in the skip in some cases. It’s like putting the cheapest tyres you can get onto a Formula One racing car – it’s race will end on the first corner or challenge. So, installing lighting

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IF YOU’RE SPECIFYING CERTAIN LIGHTS, IT’S IMPORTANT YOU UNDERSTAND THE GUARANTEES OFFERED systems that will last gives us all a good name.

Often when you read a specification sheet for a certain light fitting, you’ll gloss over all of the information to look at its IP rating; how waterproof the light actually is. If you’re going to be specifying certain lights to be installed, then it’s important that you understand the guarantees offered. Believe it or not, these are often not across the whole of the light fitting! Often the lamp holder isn’t covered by a guarantee, as this is classed as a ‘consumable’, and the seals inside the fitting are not covered after you unscrew the body of the fitting. Oftentimes the paint work or finish, plus actual build structure, are the only

things covered. But then you’ll see guarantee ranges from 2 to 10 years, a minefield unless you’re familiar with the manufacturer’s name and reputation. For example, you could end up with a nice painted canister, which does nothing!

That’s why we use manufacturers that we know and trust; from suppliers that we have worked with for years.

So, if you’re going to be specifying light fittings, make sure that they’re going to last the distance. Be sure to check that manufacturers consistently maintain the products they sell. It’s a fact that in just the last year I’ve seen 18 new lighting manufacturers appear, but they won’t all be here by this time next month. So, if you just cut and paste a spec off the internet then you’ll never know what you’re recommending. If a commission goes to tender then your installers will need to know what light fittings are specified, to make it fair and equal for all.

Of course, most installers, like us, will pass lights onto the client at retail price; so there is a small amount of cushion regarding any issues within the whole supply process, or maintenance. So, let’s all plan to finish well, not just at the last payment on a job. Let us plan for 2, 5 and 10 years. We still visit commissions that we installed 15-20 years ago! So slowly and surely, we make sure enjoyment continues.

Enjoy the sunshine…

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

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

www.sceniclighting.com

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20/06/2018 11:58

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21/06/2018 10:13

EDUCATE

Sean Butler gives helpful tips on some of the more mathematical challenges so often faced with landscape construction projects Have you ever had one of those moments when you’re trying to work something out that seems quite simple, but in reality, it’s a real head scratcher? I had one such moment while building a cone shaped (or polygon) roof to my outdoor wood oven area.

Although you might not all be rushing to build your first polygon roof, it may help you win another job in the future knowing how to build one similar to the African breeze hut roofs. The easy part is forming the hip rafters as you can see in the main image.

Now, in my simple way of thinking, I just had to scribe in the small piece of timber (structural ring king common run) that joins the hip rafters, onto which the intermediate (jack rafters) would sit. But, no, it’s not that straightforward. This is the head scratching moment. I was determined not to call my expert roofing/carpenter brother-in-law but to work it out myself.

After about an hour I had a pile of cut wood, absolutely no use for anything, one cut would be right and the other out by a few millimetres, I thought my head was going to explode in frustration. The annoying small piece of wood I needed had two angles on each side. A mitre cut and a splay or tilt cut.

I researched on Google until eventually, I came across a really clever guy (Matthias Wandel) who had used a combination of trigonometry to work out the algorithm for angles when building polygons. Eureka!

The image below shows the equations to get each mitre and tilt cut you require – you can view this image in more detail at www.woodgears.ca/miter.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE Simple? No... so to explain the maths simply, here goes: The roof is an 8-sided polygon. Measure the roof pitch using a bevel, transfer this to your rafter square and it tells you the roof pitch, in this case 28o. Using the calculations table below, follow the table column across 28o and down for an 8-sided polygon. The weekend suddenly got a whole lot better, I have the answers and I can get this all ready for my daughter’s 18th in one week.

across the wood or paving and pick a number that’s easily divisible by four, e.g. 12” so it touches the other side of the wood or paving (tangent point), then divide this by 4, marking increments of e.g. 3”, 6”, 9” and hey presto it’s divided by four quickly and easily.

Happy polygon roof building.

Another little trick I want to share with you to speed up your time on site, is quick division when cutting wood or anything equally. So, when you want to cut a plank of wood or a paving slab into equal widths, instead of getting the mobile phone out and using your calculator, try this method. Example: You want to divide it by four. Hold your tape measure at an angle

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

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30u30 FULLPG Pro Lan.pdf

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Are you under 30 and deserve industry recognition?

(Or know someone who does?)

If so, then the time has come to enter...

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Let’s recognise the UK’s leading young landscaping professionals Head to www.prolandscapermagazine.com/30u30 to find out more

The rules are simple: You must have been aged 30 or under on 1 January 2018 and must currently work within the horticulture sector. You can nominate yourself or a colleague and the competition is free to enter. Head to our website www.prolandscapermagazine.com/30u30 to find details on how to apply. Applications will close 1 September 2018, before being passed on for judging. Shortlisters will be contacted if they have been successful and will feature in the November issues of all supporting magazines.

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21/06/2018 10:03

ADVERTORIAL

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW Q&A with landscaper Ed Burnham

T

aking on an RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden for the first time, contractor Ed Burnham of Burnham Landscaping found that collaboration was key. Getting advice and support from industry experts like CED Stone Group helped Ed achieve those high standards expected by the RHS. Ed worked alongside designer Naomi Ferrett-Cohen to build The CHERUB HIV Garden: A Life Without Walls, which was awarded a Silver Gilt Medal.

Was building your first RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden what you expected?

I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere.

We’ve built trade stands at Chelsea before, and things felt a little on edge with the shorter build-up period. This year, things weren’t quite as intense, everyone was incredibly friendly.

What’s important to remember when working with a garden designer?

Everyone in our team had a fantastic working relationship. It’s vital to remember that a designer is the creator and should take the lead on how the garden looks. Naomi wanted to make sure that all of the decisions were right, and I brought my landscaping knowledge and experience to the project. I became a ‘Mr. Fix It’!

YOU’LL FIND THAT EVERYONE IS EAGER TO OFFER ADVICE AND HELP. THAT’S ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT OUR INDUSTRY! CED Stone Group donated CEDEC Silver Footpath Gravel to the garden. What made you and Naomi choose that product?

We wanted something light-coloured for the path, in order to highlight the clinical and sterile elements of the garden’s concept. When we saw the CEDEC Silver, we thought it would be a great choice; it’s a consistent light shade with a nice sparkle to it. We used it to infill around the paving slabs too, which created a stunning contrast with the darker grey slate.

What elements worked well with the garden?

We were pleased with the effect of the paving.

We ordered the slate from Wales with the intention of cutting it ourselves on site and then polishing it. However, the quality wasn’t what we expected. We found that there was a lot of dust and grit in the air which created small scratches and spirals on the surface. We contacted the technical team at CED Stone Group, who recommended applying an oil or a colour intensifier on the surface which worked brilliantly.

What advice would you give a contractor building their first RHS Chelsea garden?

Talk to people who have done it before; you’ll find that everyone is eager to offer advice

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and help. That’s one of the best things about our industry!

What’s next for Burnham Landscaping?

RHS Hampton Court. CED Stone Group have helped us immensely with Alexandra Noble’s ‘The Health and Wellbeing Garden’. Alex and I visited Giles Heap (CED’s managing director) at the London East depot. The design includes spiral paths laid with clay pavers in a purple shade, but Giles advised that the tighter radius of the paths wouldn’t work with the rectangular shape of the pavers. He showed us some amazing Porphyry setts which were ideal. Their colour and shape is going to work perfectly. Keeping sustainability in mind, we will also be reusing the CEDEC Silver Footpath Gravel in the Anton Chekhov Garden designed by Anna Benn and Hannah Gardner.

ABOUT CED STONE GROUP Inspiring beautiful landscapes for over 40 years, CED Stone Group provides the most extensive range of quality natural stone and hard landscaping products on the market. Taking a collaborative approach, the teams at CED use their expert knowledge to help clients choose the perfect materials for a range of landscape projects.

www.cedstone.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 117

20/06/2018 15:14

TOP 5 INSTALLATION TIPS

Artificial grass Installed correctly, artificial grass can create a real wow factor.

Here we get tips from some top suppliers

NeoGrass

iGrass Artificial grass must be fitted into an edging (patio flag, block paving, timber) to prevent the base material from breaking away underfoot. If there isn’t a hard edge available, use steel edging.

Cover the area with type 1 (or MOT) stone, on average a 1 tonne bag will cover an area of 10-12m2. Blind off the area with 30-40mm of 6mm granite to dust stone.

Crown the base, this allows for natural settlement, good aesthetics and ensures the grass dives into the edging system.

Artificial grass must be laid in the same direction if using more than one section. Products are sold in 4m and 2m widths, for this reason you will need to factor in potential wastage. For the optimum and most natural finish, run the product towards the property.

When jointing the artificial grass, it should run parallel. When you get your roll of grass it may have the selvedge piece on one or both sides, this is left on only for protection in transit, so it needs to be removed.

WWW.IGRASS.CO.UK

Do not use sharp sand as your laying course. For the laying course, use either granite or limestone dust, between 0-6mm in diameter at a depth of 25mm.

Use a double layer of weed membrane. The first layer of weed membrane should be installed to the existing sub-grade. This will prevent weeds that are deeper in the soil from growing.

Allow the artificial grass to acclimatise. Before cutting or joining your artificial grass, we highly recommend that you allow it to acclimatise to its new home. This will make the installation process much easier to complete. Unroll the grass, position it in the approximate place that it is to be installed, and then allow it settle down, ideally for 24 hours.

Sand infill. Use a silica sand infill for your artificial lawn. There are several reasons for this: this ballast will hold the grass in position and prevent any ripples or ridges from appearing in it, also it will improve the aesthetics of the lawn by enabling the fibres to remain upright, it improves drainage and increases fire resistance.

Marshalls Always ensure you include 5cm additional grass on all sides.

This guarantees a neater edge once fitted.

Always cut through the latex backing, rather than the grass pile.

This will protect the grass fibres and as Always Green includes 100% latex backing, you’ll also find it a lot easier to cut.

Once installed, always apply 5kg per m2 of silica sand. This will stabilise the grass pile and ensure it stands up, looking its best for longer.

When joining grass, always do a dry lay to ensure it fixes together without being able to see the join, before applying any adhesive.

It is recommended that a foam underlay is used when laying artificial grass on top of concrete and decking.

Spillages and pet waste can be removed using warm soapy water.

WWW.NEOGRASS.CO.UK

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21/06/2018 10:06

EDUCATE

Paul Baker of Holland Landscapes tells us why he chooses to own an excavator instead of renting one.

Based in Colchester, Holland Landscapes carries out garden design and construction within Essex and Suffolk. The award-winning firm, who have won eight Association of Professional Landscapers Awards, is headed

by Chris Baker and his son Paul.

Now celebrating its 30th year in business, company director Paul, gives us an insight into how the firm has “saved thousands” because of their decision to own an excavator rather than rent one.

“The main reason for owning our own is to save money,” Paul explains. “We own a Takeuchi TB210R, and I carried out a lot of research before choosing it.

“The reason for this choice was because we felt it was an excellent value for money machine. It has a Kubota engine, servocontrolled side levers and the dealership is reliable and good to work with.”

The Takeuchi TB210R is the smallest in the range from the Japanese manufacturer,

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Is it worth buying AN EXCAVATOR?

weighing in at just 1180kg. Its micro dimensions enable it to pass through a normal doorway — ideal when working with restricted access, making it the perfect machine for landscapers in the domestic market.

“We initially rented,” Paul says, “but it made more sense for us to buy our own after we came to the conclusion that the money we were spending on rental would easily cover the cost of purchasing a brand-new excavator that we could just keep on site.”

With the pros outweighing the cons, Paul reiterated how owning instead of renting was one of the best decisions the firm has ever made. The average worldwide cost of a mini

excavator for 2018 is around $30,000, which converts to around £26,500. The rental costs worldwide sit between the $200-$500 a day range, with lots of factors affecting the price.

“There are so many benefits that come with owning your own excavator,” he added. “For example, by having the excavator on site, you will be more productive as you will be able to use it as and when you need to – rather than trying to squeeze as much work out of it within a smaller timeframe for hire charge reasons.

“They’re not expensive to maintain either.

The servicing is carried out by a mechanic at a reasonable price and we have subscription charges for the installed tracker device, but that is a minimal cost.”

Pro Landscaper / July 2018 121

21/06/2018 13:21

EDUCATE

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TB128 FR Front and rear zero swing • Rubber tracks • Two speed travel • One touch decelerator reduces fuel consumption when idled • New engines meet strict emission standards and reduce noise levels for urban and residential areas Price: Varies per dealer

ECR88D Low fuel consumption • Exhaust After Treatment System • Slew and boom offset movements are controlled for easy positioning • Designed for fast response and smooth operation Price: £34,500

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KX030-4 Spacious cabin with new design • Four tie-down points on upper frame for safe transportation • Hydraulic hoses enclosed within boom to reduce damage • Digital panel repositioned to front right corner for better operator visibility Price: On application

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EXPERT VIEW: HOW DO YOU ENSURE SAFETY OF STAFF AROUND EXCAVATORS?

DARREN SKIDMORE

DIRECTOR SKIDMORES LTD

banksmen in full Hi-Vis kit walk in front of machines so they

have a valid CPCS or equivalent certificate suitable

stay at a slow pace across the site, something I’m in two

for the type of machine they will be driving. This will be

minds about. Any excavation/breaking ground work will

checked prior to works commencing and record kept just

need a permit to dig certificate before works commence,

in case of any issues. Background checks are always a

a banksman should always attend as a second pair of eyes to

necessity, especially if you’re hiring in operators. It’s always

guide and warn the operator of any issues. When I started out

good practice to make sure the operator is satisfied with all

you could just jump onto a machine, these usually being

the safety procedures and operating tolerances displayed

dumpers, 360’s and JCB backhoes and drive them, back in

within the machine. Most sites now will have designated work

the day this is how you learnt. Nowadays, there are training

zones, speed limits and traffic management so the machines

providers and courses which are designed to get

can work safely in segregated areas. Some main contractors

you up to a qualified standard.

have also gone a step further and employed policies that

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Excavators LK.indd 122

When it comes to safety, we make sure all operators

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21/06/2018 10:33

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THURSDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2018 ROYAL HIGHLAND CENTRE, EDINBURGH, EH28 8NB

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20/04/2018 08:56

EDUCATE

WHAT I’M READING Manoj Malde, Manoj Malde Garden Design

MANOJ MALDE Title Barragan Author Armando Salas Portugal Publisher Rizzoli Call me old fashioned, but I still like the feel of a book in my hands; there is something quite sexy about the swish of the pages turning.

Where best to lose yourself than in a book, where your imagination is taken on a journey?

I have always been a sucker for beautiful reference books, so I was delighted to be asked to do a book review.

This review is not about the author, but more about his subject. A few years ago, I came across the work of Luis Barragan on the internet, and saved images knowing that one day I would use them as a source of inspiration.

Totally blown away by his work, I had to find out more about this incredibly talented architect.

Although much has been written about Luis Barragan, there are not that many books readily available on him.

Mexican soul This great architect’s creations drew me in and became the inspiration for my garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017. In this book, he is described as a lover of the Mexican soul, and this comes through loud and clear in his architecture – the passion of a good designer always comes through in their work.

Barragan has to be one of my favourite books.

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It is very descriptive in words, but these are merely here to support the stunning photographs

by Armando Salas Portugal, which are presented in a combination of colour and black and white.

Colours and light The book deals with the architect’s belief that gardens should be viewed as outdoor rooms – protective spaces, away from intrusion. This is now more important than ever, as the concrete world proliferates around us. The garden becomes an intrinsic part of the home; it becomes our sanctuary.

Salas Portugal conveys through his many photographs how Luis was greatly influenced by his Mexican roots, and his childhood memories of village houses, ranches and haciendas. Included are some beautiful, simple plans of the houses that he created, and the connections he drew between the interior and exterior.

My favourite chapter has to be ‘San Cristobel Stable, Pool, House’; the photos in this chapter have such visual impact.

They show Luis Barragan’s blend of natural and man-made materials, and how he made them work. His dramatic

walls, painted in strong colours, dominate the space, and became the catalyst for my Chelsea garden, ‘Beneath a Mexican Sky’.

The book also talks of Luis’s use of local craft skills, materials and natural light. Barraganinspired walls provided me with an incredible backdrop to create a private space, surrounded by beautiful planting, for my Chelsea garden. I was blessed with sunshine that created superb shadows on the walls, and the plants were deliberately positioned to do this.

The equine pool at San Cristobel Stable

THIS GREAT ARCHITECT’S CREATIONS DREW ME IN AND BECAME THE INSPIRATION FOR MY GARDEN AT THE RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2017 also influenced the garden – my design included a large pool of water to reflect the architectural forms of the Agave americana sitting against the orange wall.

My greatest surprise was learning how long ago Luis Barragan was creating these amazing buildings, because they look so contemporary.

As a garden designer, I feel that it is important to be influenced not just by those within your industry, but also by those from beyond it. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 14:49

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ery

March 2018

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12 issues Additional supplements Weekly newsletter

01904 757300 www.rolawn.co.uk

For more information www.prolandscapermagazine.com t 01903 777570 e info@eljays44.com

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21/06/2018 14:57

PEOPLE

TRADING WITH GLOBAL STONE

Pro Landscaper speaks with Sara Cullis, the strategic marketing director at Global Stone about how the Essex-based company can help designers and landscapers nationwide

Can you give us a brief outline of the Global Stone brand?

The brand has been established for around 15 years and we’re recognised for our quality and customer Sara Cullis service. We have a wide range of products; we started with just natural stone and we’ve expanded to include a range of porcelain, which is increasingly important to the business. We have a yard of about 4 acres, and at any time we have around £2.8m in stock on the ground.

How many products do you have on offer?

Our natural stone collection consists of 12 ranges. We have everything from heavily weathered products with our Old Rectory range, which particularly suits older properties, through to the Artisan collection with a beautifully honed finish, ideal for contemporary designs. We also have blended and premium sandstone ranges, clay pavers, granite, travertine, a York stone collection as well as slate, marble, sandstone and a limestone. Within our porcelain collection, we have 14 different ranges. Last year we put them into ranges predominantly based on sizes 126 Pro Landscaper / July 2018

Trading With Global Stone.indd 126

CONTACT

Company name Global Stone (Colchester) Ltd Address Tey Gardens, Church Lane, Little Tey, Colchester CO6 1HX Tel 0845 60 60 240 Email sales@globalstonepaving.co.uk Web www.globalstonepaving.co.uk

including a Six series, which is 600mm x 600mm, we have a Six Nine series, which is 600mm x 900mm, and a mixed size collection too. We also try to segment them into natural stone-looking, or more contemporary, which doesn’t relate to a natural stone product. When we first started, we were very clear about making it different from the natural stone range, but as the market and demand has changed, we’ve started to develop more natural-looking ranges.

What are the lead times?

If we have the product on the ground, which we aim to do for all ranges, we can deliver within two to three days.

How do you market your business?

Our brochure is the main marketing tool, which is now over 140 pages. We focus very much on lifestyle to try to inspire people, as well as including large swatches so people can clearly see the details of the product. Our website is our other key marketing tool, which contains a stockist locator, inspiration and product information, alongside how-to style guides.

We also use social media to reach our various audiences and create interaction and interest.

Throughout our marketing activities we give advice and encourage people to use the right tools, especially when it comes to the porcelain products. We also attend a lot of the industry events; supporting Pro Landscaper with its events and awards, as well as those held by the SGD, APL and BALI.

What support do you offer landscapers and designers?

We provide brochures and large samples, and will shortly be introducing sample boxes.

We are also happy to provide technical advice and support as well as specialist cutting services and laying and cutting equipment. We supply grout and adhesives, and cleaning products for both stone and porcelain. We’ve just launched a new part of the business called Trovia, aimed at garden designers and landscapers. Trovia provides a bespoke service that sources specific internal and external porcelain products, backed up by our strong relationships with our Italian suppliers. We’ve added the internal products to complement the external range in response to market demands.

What’s the next step for the business?

We will continue to focus on working with builder’s merchants, while building the brand and market position of Trovia to designers and landscapers. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 11:47

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21/06/2018 14:12

JOBS

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

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

Call 01903 777 580 or email laura.harris@eljays44.com with your vacancy

LANDSCAPE ESTIMATOR

CONTRACT SUPERVISOR

GLENDALE CIVIC TREES Location: Radlett, Hertfordshire

idverde Location: Bromley, Beaverwood Depot

Civic Trees are seeking an experienced landscape estimator to join our team, to drive an increase in commercial landscaping sales. This role will be an integral part of the Civic Trees business development and sales function, based at Civic Trees offices. This position would suit a motivated individual looking to develop their career. Reporting directly to the general manager, the candidate will need to demonstrate excellent communication and organisational skills. Experience with tendering in the landscaping industry is essential with demonstrable strong numerical ability and written skills.

idverde are looking for a contract supervisor, to co-ordinate the day to day running of contracts. The role includes people management, health and safety conformance and assisting the contract manager where necessary to deliver the requirements of the contract. The candidate should be an experienced supervisor with proven work experience in a similar role, have PA1, PA2 and PA6 spraying certificates as well as a full driving licence. They should be able to work to consistently high standards, have a high level of enthusiasm and motivation, and be flexible in their approach to working hours.

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

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

GENERAL MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT

ESTIMATOR

An exciting opportunity has opened for a garden maintenance assistant to join Cameron Gardens. This exciting hands-on role, where you will work closely with your GM foreman within a team of two, offers the opportunity to work on some top end gardens. You will need a love of and enthusiasm for plants and gardens. A good basic knowledge of horticulture and experience within the industry is required; a desire to learn and develop is vital. You will need to be good at communicating and enjoy being part of a close-knit team, whilst being able to show initiative.

A vacancy has arisen at the company’s head office in Mirfield, West Yorkshire for an estimator. The role consists of participation in the whole tender process in relation to commercial landscape operations, including preparation of accurate and competitive costs for submission to clients. The successful candidate will be self-motivated and capable of using their own initiative to prioritise their own workload, yet still contribute as part of the estimating team. Must be able to work under pressure to achieve deadlines and have the ability to plan ahead.

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

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

CONTRACT MANAGER

PROJECT MANAGER

An opportunity has arisen to join idverde. Responsibilities will include managing the day to day running of a fully managed grounds maintenance and parks management contract, encompassing contract performance, delivery of contract objectives, client relationships, people management, safety conformance and financial performance. This role requires a driven person with an enquiring mind and a ‘can do’ outlook who is keen to further develop commercial skills within the landscaping industry.

Thomson Habitats are looking for an experienced project manager with high standards, who enjoys managing large-scale projects and leading and motivating a site and office based team. The successful candidate will have experience of managing and delivering large and complex projects on time and to the satisfaction of our clients, be responsible for resourcing and managing a site team whilst promoting compliance with company systems and policies. Ideally, you will also have experience of working in ecological contracting, countryside management or a similar field. Based in or near to Guildford.

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

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

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE TEAM OPERATIVE

HARD & SOFT LANDSCAPING FOREMAN

Planet Turf are recruiting for a grounds maintenance team operative. Applicants should have previous experience of working in grounds and garden maintenance. Spraying licences and previous training certificates would be beneficial.

You should be reasonably local to the Bexley/South East London area, willing to work as part of a team and be pro-active. This role involves driving so a full licence is essential.

An exciting opportunity has opened for an experienced hard and soft landscaping foreman to join our team. The candidate will need three to five years’ experience and must be a team player with a willingness and ability to work alone, they will need excellent communication and people skills, an attention to detail and will need to be self-motivated. This exciting role will report directly to the office-based project manager and garden maintenance manager, and offers the opportunity to work in some top end gardens. The candidate will need to possess a full driving licence.

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

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

CAMERON GARDENS Location: Notting Hill

idverde Location: Bromley, Beaverwood Depot, WS

PLANET TURF Location: Bexley, South-East London

128 Pro Landscaper / July 2018

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GRACE LANDSCAPES Location: Mirfield, West Yorkshire

THOMSON HABITATS Location: Guildford, Surrey

CAMERON GARDENS Location: Notting Hill

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

21/06/2018 08:25

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21/06/2018 12:02

PEOPLE

CRAIG NESTER Director, Habitat Landscapes Ltd www.habitatlandscapes.co.uk

Garden shows/show gardens – inspirational or not?

Yes! I had the honour of working with Conquest Hard Landscaping and Conway Landscapes last year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

I think the shows inspire contractors and designers with new materials and applications, and brings the best in the industry together to share ideas and techniques.

What would you blow your budget on?

Ponds and water features!

I think every garden should have a little trickle somewhere and the more extravagant, the better! We are always trying to think of new ways to get them into our client’s projects!

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

More young people. As an industry I feel we need more presence in colleges and schools to encourage people to think of a career in horticulture, garden design or hard landscaping.

Best piece of trivia you know?

If you look into an owl’s ear you will be able to see the back of its eyeball.

Role model as a child?

My grandad – when I was a child I lived with my grandparents in Wales.

I helped my grandad in the garden a lot and helped to build his koi pond.

Couldn’t get through the week without...

Coffee and a good laugh at least once a day.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Any of the current presenters representing our industry on TV. I would love to discuss the realities of building a garden in terms of cost and time taken against what is currently being presented to the public.

130 Pro Landscaper / July 2018

Little Interview.indd 130

Best invention in recent years?

Social Media. For any small or large business I think being able to connect as we can now with other like minded professionals, to be able to advertise so easily and with minimal overheads is a great tool to be used.

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

i

FIONA STEPHENSON IGD MSGD Designer, Fiona Stephenson Designs Ltd www.fionastephensondesigns.com

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

India, especially seeing the drama of water and reflections in formal gardens.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Widely expanded training schemes for knowledgeable garden maintenance teams.

The need is great and the well being connection with nature whilst working is a great opportunity.

What would you blow your budget on?

Amazing water gardens, the life, movement, reflections is so multi layered and magical.

Or maybe a year of travelling lesser known parts of the world.

Best piece of trivia you know?

The sand in Saudi Arabia is of such poor quality that the country has to import a billion tons of sand to make glass for buildings and homes.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Sir Edwyn Lutyens, I’ve always been fascinated by his use of space and invitational lines.

Role model as a child?

Worzel Gummidge!?

Best invention in recent years?

Internet shopping.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

20/06/2018 13:47

PEOPLE

JAMES SMITH Landscape designer, JPS Landscape Design www.janinepattison.com

Garden shows/show gardens – inspirational or not?

Yes, they are what inspired me to become a landscape designer.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

There are so many to choose from but if I have to choose

one it would be America and its amazing national parks.

What would you blow your budget on?

Trees, trees and more trees!

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Making the industry more attractive to the younger generation, as well as supporting those already within the industry.

Best piece of trivia you know?

Cheese is the most stolen food in Europe.

GRAHAM NOTT

DOMINIC KNOWER

Quoted sales team, Provender Nurseries

Business development trainee, idverde

www.provendernurseries.co.uk Garden shows/show gardens – inspirational?

Always inspirational, you always get something out of them.

What would you blow your budget on?

Motorhome trip to North America.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Andy McIndoe.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Better involvement for younger recruits.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Little Interview.indd 131

Best piece of trivia?

The Eiffel Tower has 2731 steps to the top.

Couldn’t get through the week without...

Going to work, need to keep grey matter working.

Your favourite joke?

My wife’s gone to the West Indies.

Jamaica?

No, she was happy to go!

Best invention in recent years?

Automated self-parking for cars.

Couldn’t get through the week without...

Football Manager.

Your favourite joke?

My dog used to chase people on a bike lot. It got so bad I had to take his bike away.

Best invention in recent years?

Netflix.

www.idverde.co.uk Garden shows/show gardens – inspirational or not? #CreativeOverload… YES! Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

The Julian Alps – Slovenia. GO THERE! What would you blow your budget on? eBee senseFly with Parrot Sequoia camera.

One person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Monty Don. Gardening at Longmeadow would be the dream!

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Wider promotion of landscape industry careers by secondary schools.

Best piece of trivia you know?

The world is home to three trillion trees, roughly 400 for every human!

Role model as a child?

David Attenborough.

Your favourite joke?

A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.

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20/06/2018 13:47

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21/06/2018 09:49