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Welcome
Those who built a garden at this year’s Chelsea might be surprised to know that May was the warmest in the UK since records began. What will perhaps come as less of a shock is that this summer is set to be one of the wettest. It’s all down to – you guessed it – climate change. It’s no wonder then that this is a hot topic at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. There’s the on-the-nose Climate-Forward Garden (page 60) with a planting scheme for harsh conditions from drought to heavy rainfall and The Mediterraneo Garden (page 63), which subtly conveys a similar theme. Then there’s all the Resilient Pocket Planting Gardens, of which there are nine in total.
In other words, the industry is using a show attended by hundreds of thousands to influence visitors as to the importance of horticulture in mitigating the effect of climate change in the UK. Unfortunately, the event is taking place in the same week as the general election on 4 July. So, we have to hope that this message will already have reached the leading parties and be a key part of their manifestos – and not just as wildly inflated tree planting targets that, whilst sounding great on paper, are a stretch to fulfil.
Lewis Normand has put forward a broad but bold request of our next government: that it be one which values the environment and one which needs horticulture and landscape as part of its commitment to net zero (page 80). He started a petition four years ago for a minister of horticulture, though I doubt I need to tell you the outcome. But perhaps this next government can at least engage with industry and see its potential in contributing to wider goals, not just as a way to win over voters but as a way to make meaningful change – a trip to Hampton Court should maybe be added to the campaign trail.
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11
RHS Environmental Innovation Award
The inaugural winner of the RHS’ new ‘green’ award at Chelsea is a show garden that took construction methods back to basics
15
LDN Horticulture
Garden designer Harry Holding has launched a new venture to provide aftercare and garden maintenance services across the capital
21
Let’s Hear It From... Jon Berry
Tyler Grange has just been named as one of the Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work – what makes the consultancy stand out?
27
Contemporary Courtyard
Langlea Garden Design & Construction transformed a newly built property's garden into a versatile, contemporary courtyard
35
Whimsical Retreat
We Love Plants revamped an unimaginative site prone to strong winds into an outdoor sanctuary overlooking the Weald in Sussex
41
Recreating History
An outdoor learning space has been created for a school through the relocation of a container garden by Sandhurst Garden Design that featured at last year’s Chelsea
54
Cultivating a Community
Could community gardens be a solution to boosting biodiversity, enhancing wellbeing and fostering community engagement?
58
An Immersive Escape
Freddie Strickland’s first feature garden at Hampton Court, the RHS Adventure Within Garden, was a chance to be more playful
63
The Mediterraneo Garden
Katerina Kantalis draws inspiration from her Greek-Australian heritage to design a climate-adapted garden with Mediterranean influences
72
Coming to Terms with Dementia Adam White on how even gardens outside of care home settings could take into account those living with dementia
76
Chelsea’s Unsung Heroes
There might now be Best Construction Awards, but the recognition for contractors by the media is still lacking, says Gareth Wilson
80
Turning over a new leaf?
Ahead of the general election this summer, Lewis Normand considers what the horticulture industry could ask for from the next government
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Pro Landscaper Project Awards 2024
The shortlist for this year’s awards, in association with the Nth Degree. Take a look at the projects in the running.
67
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2024
All the gardens at this year’s show, from the RHS feature gardens to those in the Get Started category
74
Beyond the Glitz and Glamour of Chelsea David Keegan delves into the profound inspiration these gardens may have provided
BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE 2024: BEST CONSTRUCTION LANDSCAPER AWARD REVEALED
The Eco Oasis Garden, designed by Dan Hartley Gardens with landscaping by Tisserand English Gardens, scoops the win for Best Construction Landscaper at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2024.
Inspired by the theme of ‘The Good Life’, Hartley’s urban outdoor space combines eco-friendly elements with a vibrant planting pallet. As with the Lunatica Garden, designed by Joshua Fenton, the Eco Oasis Garden integrates water conservation into its design.
It features a long water trough for rainwater collection, optimally spaced pavers to enable water to permeate into the ground,
ROUNDUP Industry Updates
YOUNG DESIGNER FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THIS YEAR’S TATTON
Ashleigh Aylett and Callum Corrie will be competing for this year’s title of RHS Young Designer of the Year.
The two designers will be making their debut at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in what will be the 25th anniversary of the event.
Aylett’s The Woodland Trust: 49% Garden will centre around 49% of trees being lost in the UK since 1850 due to pests, diseases and other threats. It will be built by Evergreen Cheshire.
Entertaining Meets Nature by Corrie – who is also a part-time wrestler – will provide a sustainable space suitable for family and friends as well as wildlife,
and will be constructed by The Landscape Academy.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has also announced the first designers for a new category at this year’s show which highlights those who have switched careers. Show manager Lex Falleyn says they were noticing a trend in show garden applicants of those who had worked in different industries.
Three designers will compete for the title of RHS Career Changer of the Year after finding a later path into the horticultural industry. The show gardens, terrace gardens and long borders at this year’s Tatton were announced last month. rhs.org.uk
and a rain garden to manage water runoff. The garden is also framed with a pergola and features hedging, log piles and pollinator-friendly planting to encourage and sustain wildlife.
Chair of assessors, Roger Platts, comments on the Show Garden, saying: “The Eco Oasis Garden is well thought out, with subtle changes in levels that make it easy to move around the garden. The build is extremely high quality with innovative water recycling features.”
Hartley’s design also took home a Platinum award and the Best Show Garden award.
bbcgardenersworldlive.com
NURTURE GROUP BOOSTS ARBORICULTURE SERVICES WITH ITS BIGGEST ACQUISITION THIS YEAR
Horticultural and green workplace service provider, the Nurture Group, completes its “most substantial” deal of 2024 with the acquisition of Hertfordshire-based Gristwood and Toms. Marking the Group’s expansion into the arboriculture market, Gristwood and Toms will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Nurture Landscapes Holdings Ltd, and will retain its existing brand.
Former group head of major bids for the Group, Andrew Brightman, has been appointed new managing director of Gristwood and Tom.
Gristwood and Toms, primarily known for its work in the public sector, marks Nurture’s 47th acquisition to date, with executive chairman, Peter Fan commenting it is an “excellent fit”.
With an annual turnover exceeding £20 million and employing a workforce of 153 across
13 depots, Gristwood and Toms will also remain a member of the Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor Scheme.
This latest move also marks the Nurture Group’s third acquisition this year, after it acquired Midland Pest Control Ltd at the start of February, and Roy Cowie Ltd at the end. nurture-group.co.uk
DUNDEE EDEN PROJECT ON FORMER BROWNFIELD GIVEN GREEN LIGHT
The Eden Project Dundee has been granted planning permission from the City Council for a £130m development on a former gasworks site in the city.
Plans to create an Eden Project on the East Dock Street site include the conservation and redevelopment of the existing gasholder, which will comprise an exhibition space and planted environment. While other buildings on the site are poised for demolition.
A separate application to create a pedestrian bridge, connecting East Dock Street and the east coast mainline railway, will go before planners later this year.
The multi-million pound project, which was revealed last year, will also include three
NEXT GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DEVELOP GREEN SKILLS, SAYS LI
The Landscape Institute has published a list of recommendations to the next government ahead of the election. Developing green skills for a greener economy and improving access to green space are two of 12 key recommendations that it outlines for people, place and nature.
President-elect Carolin Göhler says she hopes that these will “help the UK to scale up low-carbon development” and “tackle social and environmental issues”.
separate venues, which the Eden Project says will showcase wild landscapes, exhibits, art installations, performances and storytelling. Chief experience development officer at the Eden Project, Blair Parkin, comments on the decision, saying: “This is a major milestone for the project and the culmination of years of hard work by the Eden Project team, our partners in Dundee and the community who have engaged with us so generously.”
The Eden Project is working in partnership with Dundee City Council, The Northwood Charitable Trust and the University of Dundee. edenproject.com
The recommendations focus on four key policy areas: Scaling up climate resilient, low carbon development; driving education, awareness and skills for a greener and more resilient economy; promoting a combined approach to environmental policy; and championing the power of nature for health and wellbeing. Göhler says the next government has a “vital opportunity” to address certain issues and promote landscape as part of the solution.
This year will also see the return of the Long Borders, with Susan Booth’s garden, ‘Barbie says, ‘Women can be anything they want.’ (On the shoulders of giants)’, complete with glitter ball.
Other themes touched upon include the Cheshire rail network, LGBT+ rights, the Manchester skyline and an edible family garden. landscapeinstitute.org
The Royal Parks charity has awarded its landscape maintenance contract for The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill to Gavin Jones Ltd, part of the Nurture Group. Gavin Jones Ltd will have responsibility for conserving and enhancing The Regent’s Park’s horticultural displays at locations including The Queen Mary’s Gardens, The Avenue Gardens and St John’s Lodge Garden.
Online exclusives
Head to prolandscapermagazine.com
25 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING
Key industry debates from our sector's experts. prolandscapermagazine.com/ 25-key-takeaways-from-the-futureof-commercial-landscaping
WHAT THE INDUSTRY WANTS FROM THE NEXT UK GOVERNMENT'S GREEN AGENDA
Voices across the industry outline their wants from the next government ahead of the general election. prolandscapermagazine.com/ what-the-industry-wants-from-thenext-uk-governments-green-agenda
FROM STAGE TO GARDEN: EXPLORE THE RHS GARDEN INSPIRED BY A WEST END CLASSIC Disney’s The Lion King returns to nature, stepping off the West End stage and onto the plot. prolandscapermagazine.com/from-stage-togarden-explore-the-rhs-garden-inspiredby-a-west-end-classic
MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
The team will help protect the park’s biodiversity, including the maintenance of meadows, acid grassland, woodlands and aquatic habitats. Sustainability will also be a priority in the new contract, as well as the continued roll out of an electric fleet of vehicles, green waste recycling and efficient waste management. The contract will run for up to four years. nurture-group.co.uk
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Winner of the new RHS Environmental Innovation Award, the World Child Cancer Nurturing Garden is recognised for its efforts to reduce the environmental footprint
WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN
What was designed to be a sensory haven to bring joy, hope, and escapism to children undergoing cancer treatment, quickly made history by becoming the first garden to ever win the RHS Environmental Innovation Award.
In an effort to recognise the environmental ingenuity of its gardens, the award – aimed at the show and sanctuary categories, celebrates the innovative ways designers and contractors have reduced the environmental impact of the gardens they have created.
The World Child Cancer Nurturing Garden, which aimed to support children and their families who are undergoing cancer treatment in low and middleincome countries, was designed by garden designer, Giulio Giorgi, who wanted to create a garden that could represent other cultures and other types of resources to those that are seen every day in the UK. “And of course, it should be a garden that could become a safe haven for children, and their families, undergoing cancer treatments,” says Giorgi.
It was a really difficult decision to make, but we felt the World Child Cancer Nurturing Garden stood out Malcolm Anderson, judge and RHS head of sustainability
Working alongside Ben Wiggins of Landesigns, the pair pushed the boundaries of expectation. Using seven criteria, including construction, innovation, and biodiversity, the judges also considered the relocation and
GIULIO GIORGI
future of each space, looking into whether or not the materials could be reused, and how the community and environment would benefit once the garden's relocation is completed.
“I think one of the reasons the garden won was because the build was done without power,” says Wiggins. “In this day and age, with technology beaming, there is a consistent need for electricity, so it's not very often that gardens are built without power.”
The garden’s construction was also made with low carbon materials and without concrete or metal materials. Giorgi was careful to work with sustainable and peat-free soils, as well as carefully selected plants that are drought resistant.
To ensure that there was minimal water wastage, a watering system was installed within the garden using a more traditional clay device where there is no need for water pressure or electricity.
Raised beds were designed to fit together like a modularblock system so that there was no need for chemical glue, and any leftover bricks from the beds were crushed and recycled to become a part of the guiding garden path.
“I think it's important to mention that for the first time, we are really considering that the process of designing and building is as important as the final outcome,” says Giorgi.
RECEIVING THE RHS ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION AWARD
“Often in show gardens, we just look at the show garden itself and how scenic and beautiful that is, without thinking how it was made and where it's going to be. Whereas there you have a proposal where the whole garden can travel.
“It's made for an ephemeral event like Chelsea, and it's not something extremely heavy for in terms of Co2, but also in terms of construction," Giorgi adds.
After introducing a sustainability criteria at the selection stage last year, Anderson says: “The introduction of the audit and award this year helps us take this one step
further, enabling us to better understand the carbon footprint of the gardens at the show and challenge designers and landscapers to consider ways they could further reduce their impact.”
It's important because nowadays we know that resources really must be considered carefully. It's time to stop designing with tons of concrete and with toxic chemical products
Giulio Giorgi, garden designer, The World Child Cancer Nurturing Garden
Eleven gardens applied to be considered for this award and were then judged by a panel made up of RHS head of sustainability, Malcolm Anderson, managing director at Nicholsons, Liz Nicholson and chartered landscape architect, Paul Cowell. Unanimous in their decision, the World Child Cancer Nurturing Garden was crowned victorious.
“It was a really difficult decision to make, but we felt the World Child Cancer Nurturing Garden stood out as a beautifully simple example of merging old techniques with new, where Giulio has used 3D printing to create traditional keyhole gardens,” says Anderson.
“It's important because nowadays we know that resources really must be considered carefully,” adds Giorgi. “It's time to stop designing with tons of concrete and with toxic chemical products."
"As an industry, we care about nature, plants, and building outdoor spaces,” says Wiggins. “We should be the ones who are setting an example, at the forefront of the industry. Because if we can't do it, who can?”
For Wiggins and Giorgi, the Environmental Innovation Award is an example of a truly important topic. An ongoing passion for them both, it sends a message going toward and encourages designers, contractors, landscapers to reconsider their plans moving forward.
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Building on the foundations of Harry Holding Studio, LDN Horticulture launches teams across London to nurture its gardens
arry Holding is fresh from creating his first feature garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
He was behind the show’s first garden designed by children, for children – the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden. It follows his success at last year’s Chelsea when he won the People’s Choice Award as well as a Silver-Gilt medal for his School Food Matters Garden.
“The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a great opportunity to establish your brand and boost business in the medium-long term,” says
Holding. “It's such a big and influential platform and my driving force for doing a show garden is definitely the love of it and the business benefits help to justify all the time and energy it takes.”
As if this didn’t keep him busy enough, the garden designer decided to launch a sister company to his existing design business that he launched back in 2016.
LDN Horticulture has taken forward the
Gardens are living, evolving spaces and through this close partnership we ensure your London-based Garden grows with you, enhancing the lives of you and your family
aftercare and garden maintenance arm of Harry Holding Studio, offering services across London – sharing the same core values and ethos of Holding’s design studio. These centre around being plant driven and ecologically minded. "Gardens are living, evolving spaces and through this close partnership, we ensure your London-based garden grows with you, enhancing the lives of you and your family.”
LDN Horticulture aims to set itself apart with its expertise and highly personable approach. Delivering the time, care, and resources necessary for a garden to flourish, the teams will manage every aspect of a garden, tailoring their plan to its specific needs.
Currently running with five maintenance teams made up of two trained horticulturists per team, LDN Horticulture is run by Holding and his business partner, Matteo Ferrero –biologist and plantsman, with the help of Dru Pearcy, aftercare manager, and Martina Janes, garden development manager. Holding believes the business has a real varied skill set and the
ability to both evolve gardens and manage them dynamically.
“I am used to having to split my time between all the various sides of the business so it's not new, but LDN Horticulture represents a new and fresh approach and positioning of ourselves within the horticultural and maintenance side of the industry.”
Blending expertise with a personal touch, Holding says LDN Horticulture prides itself on taking the time to understand a client's vision for their garden,“whether it's a lush oasis or a low-maintenance retreat, and we work tirelessly to bring that vision to life.”
It's commitment to ecologically sensitive practices mean that LDN Horticulture prioritises sustainability in everything it does, from organic methods for pest and disease control to use of all-electric tools and vehicles. By taking this approach, LDN Horticulture not only creates beautiful gardens but also contributes to the health of the planet.
LDN Horticulture currently works with around 150 clients on a regular basis, and Holding has ambitions to grow this client base, working with like-minded clients whilst simultaneously expanding to seven teams of two to accommodate the added demand.
or require less general maintenance, we may only visit once a month.”
Hoping that his design projects, once built, will also feed into LDN Horticulture, Holding says that “being able to deliver that end-of-build aftercare in London is a great way of ensuring our schemes go on to thrive for many years to come.”
Working in the capital isn’t cheap, though – especially for a budding business.“London is an inherently expensive place to work,” says Holding, “Everything is just that much higher. But I think for us, it's really hard to keep track of the margins when you're still growing. We’re trying to stay competitive, but also figuring out if we’re charging enough to make it a viable business.”
LDN prides itself on taking the time to understand a client's vision for their garden
“A regular client we would likely visit once a week or once a fortnight, whereas some projects can be ad hoc; maybe if they’re slightly smaller
Despite these bumps in the road, LDN Horticulture is growing quickly. From just himself and a handful of gardeners in 2020, Harry Holding Studio is now a team of three designers and one studio manager. Investing in projects that help to gain invaluable PR as well and applying for industry awards, its success has only helped the launch of LDN Horticulture to come at such a pivotal point in Holding’s career.
“I started out gardening in London in 2016 and LDN Horticulture represents the latest
form of that solo operation,” says Holding.
“It's grown a lot over the past eight years and is now an incredible team of industry-leading horticulturalists. They deserve celebrating, so our fresh brand and approach sets out to do that.
"I just want to do what we do, well – ensuring that what we're passionate about, we can deliver to the highest standards,” says Holding.
Long term, Holding aims to develop the business into dedicated teams for soft landscaping and horticulture maintenance so that they can get stuck into bigger projects and are not forced to limit themselves.
Beyond that, ultimately, LDN Horticulture wants to be carbon neutral by 2030, and remains dedicated to paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.
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AS K THE EXPERTS
How can I best keep track of my finances?
Keeping track of finances is crucial for any business's success and growth. Jake Catling offers a financial management approach tailored for landscapers
Arobust yearly forecast is foundational for any solid financial strategy. At the start of each year, set clear financial goals and growth targets to guide decisions and maintain long-term focus. Prepare quarterly management accounts to provide a financial health snapshot every three months. These reviews help identify trends, spot potential issues, and allow you to make necessary adjustments. Considering the seasonal nature of landscaping, it's vital to recognise that each quarter will vary. Analysing past trends can offer guidance, although exact predictions remain challenging due to weather fluctuations.
The
all-important cash flow
Leverage profit for growth
Profit is not just a reward but also a powerful tool for growth and sustainability. Here’s how to utilise profit effectively:
Profit is not just a reward but also a powerful tool for growth and sustainability
forecast
Maintaining a steady cash flow is vital. Regularly updating and managing cash flow multiple times a month helps anticipate shortages, plan for large expenses, and ensure smooth operations. Weekly monitoring is crucial for maintaining stability for employees and providing a platform for growth. This proactive approach allows you to stay ahead of financial challenges and seize opportunities. Business can be unpredictable, especially small to mediumsized ones, but controlling cash flow enables more level-headed decision-making, ensuring better outcomes.
Software for financial management
Use tools like Xero and Excel. Xero’s cloud-based nature provides access to financial data anytime, which is ideal for fast-paced operations. Excel allows for detailed tracking, analysis, and forecasting.
Reinvestment in the business: reinvest a significant portion of profit into the business including new equipment, technology upgrades, and staff training to enhance service quality and maintain a competitive edge. Emergency fund: allocate a portion of profit to an emergency fund to provide protection against unexpected downturns without compromising operations. Marketing and expansion: invest in marketing campaigns and explore new markets to grow your client base and increase revenue streams.
Profit sharing and bonuses: offer bonuses or profit-sharing incentives to keep employees motivated and aligned with company goals.
Effective financial management is essential for business success. Focusing on yearly forecasts, quarterly reviews, and rigorous cash flow management creates a sustainable, growth-oriented model. Utilising robust software like Xero and strategically managing profit are key to thriving in a competitive landscape. Consistency, vigilance, and smart investment are the keys to financial health. Stay proactive, and your business will thrive.
The panel
HOLLY YOUDE
Chair of the APL, Holly Youde, is a director at Urban Landscape Design in the North West and The Landscape Academy, a purpose built training centre dedicated to landscaping in the UK.
JAKE CATLING
Jake founded his domestic landscaping company, The Landscaping Consultants, aged just 24. He is now a BALI board director, host of the Landscape Performance Podcast, and has delivered various award-winning gardens and outdoor spaces.
KEN WHITE
Ken White, former chairman of the APL, leads the multi-award-winning Frosts Landscape Construction, which carries out large commercial and private estate projects across the UK.
ROSEMARY COLDSTREAM
Rosemary has won numerous awards for her work, creating high-quality gardens for both domestic and commercial clients. She is a fully registered member of the SGD and sits on the board of directors at BALI.
JILAYNE RICKARDS
Based in Cornwall, Jilayne Rickards is a multi-award-winning garden designer who puts sustainability and biodiversity at the heart of her designs, including her show gardens at Chelsea, both of which have been relocated to the Eden Project.
Showcasing the UK landscape sector’s green credentials
2024 PROJECTS, PRODUCTS AND CONTRACTS
Commercial Build project | Commercial Design project | Domestic Build project | Domestic Build project | Maintenance Contract | Sustainable Product of the Year - Hard Landscaping | Sustainable Product of the Year - Soft Landscaping
2024 COMPANY AND PEOPLE
Arboriculture Company | Garden Design Company | Grounds Maintenance Company | Landscape Architecture Studio | Landscaping Company | Supplier | Sustainability and Biodiversity Leader
The Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards aim to reward and recognise the environmental benefits that companies and projects in the sector provide.
Contact the team for partnership opportunities lewis.everle@eljays44.com | 01903 777588 luke.chaplin@eljays44.com | 01903 777582
Contact Ollie or Kai to enter ollie.finch@eljays44.com | 01903 777579 kai.webb@eljays44.com | 01903 777585
These awards are on a mission to showcase the most important innovation and initiatives across the UK landscaping sector, from design, to construction, to product supply and manufacturing.
Award partners
“WE’RE
A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE BUSINESS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED TO BE”
Managing director Jonathan Berry on the company culture that makes Tyler Grange stand out
WORDS: NINA MASON
Business should be more playful, reckons Jonathan Berry. He’s just undertaken the Lego® Serious Play Facilitator course, and it’s left him wondering how to bring childhood play and creativity into his own company, Tyler Grange, to “have a bit of fun and see what comes out of it”.
A healthier, happier workforce is a more efficient one after all, he believes. The 80-plus-strong team at Tyler Grange – known as the ‘TG Tribe’ – works a four-day week, is encouraged to pursue their lifelong dreams and has access to the company’s own branded beer. Not many who know the consultancy would have been surprised when it recently made the Sunday Time’s list of Best Places to Work. It’s even a certified B Corp. Now, I know what you’re thinking: it’s surely too good to be true. So, is it?
There’s a meagre 2% flight risk amongst the tribe, according to a recent team engagement survey. This might have something to do with the four-day working week, introduced in the summer of 2022. Employees now work one day less a week, and that’s without taking a pay cut.
It’s something that Berry – one of four founders – says Tyler Grange had been considering for a while, but an opportunity to be part of a six-month pilot programme acted as a catalyst.“We weren’t quite ready to do it, but it forced us to be, and so we got involved.” They communicated their intentions to the team and informed clients, as well as set out answers to frequently asked questions and put in place a process for emergencies.
“We just went for it as a business. We knew that Covid had changed the way people were working anyway, and we’d always worked flexibly and had a cloud server system. We thought it would probably work.”
That’s not to say there wasn’t any apprehension from those concerned about squeezing five days’ worth of work into four.“But it wasn't about cramming more work into less time; it was about making us a more efficient and productive business. The four-day is a bit of clickbait, and it gets people’s attention; but it’s really about working efficiently and effectively as a business. After 12 years, we’d gotten into a position of doing things a certain way because that’s how we’d always done them. That was wrong. So, shorter meetings, more focused, using technology and moving towards zero admin to allow the team to focus on what they should be doing – that all helped us to take the four-day week forward. And it’s been amazing. All our metrics are great; we’re a healthier, happier and more productive business, which is exactly what we wanted to be.”
Still not convinced? Tyler Grange has grown year on year since it was founded 14 years ago. It’s expecting to hit a £7m turnover for 2024/25.“That would be our
biggest year, our biggest turnover, and we’ve maintained profits in relation to that. A happier, healthier team can be a more profitable team. These initiatives don’t really cost the business anything because they mean that we retain people that are good, and that people are working more efficiently and are healthier, so they’re not taking time off. Stress alone is costing the British economy millions of pounds in lost revenue because people are unable to work, they’ve reached burnout. That’s a significant problem. So, it doesn’t cost our business; it benefits it.”
It might be a culture shift for some businesses, admits Berry. But he says there are experts out there who are willing to help companies achieve it. That’s what Tyler Grange has leveraged, be it advice from clinical psychologists, ex-sporting professionals, former business leaders or people in the community and charity groups.“It gives you confidence to take on different challenges and make decisions.”
It wasn't about cramming more work into less time; it was about making us a more efficient and productive business
Culture has been at the heart of Tyler Grange since its humble beginnings. Its four founders quit a large PLC to go out on their own.“We found our voices, enthusiasm, values and culture slowly disappearing over time, so we got together and decided to start something ourselves.”
There arguably couldn’t have been a harder time to do it – it was in 2010, at the
tail end of a recession. Berry was based in the back bedroom of his house in Macclesfield, Cheshire, and the others worked from a converted police station in Stroud. But he says this was a motivator for them.“We wanted to get back to enjoying our work and having more control over who we worked for and why we were doing it. We wanted the day-to-day job to be just part of what we did and get more involved with our communities, because we knew we had a strong influence on creating opportunities for business but also creating more of a connection. Our profession is about collaborating, and we’d moved away from that.”
Collaboration with others is part of the reason that Tyler Grange has kept the three arms of the
business the same: landscape, ecology and arboriculture. It has considered adding other disciplines, such as drainage and flood or heritage. But Berry says they saw building networks with other businesses as more powerful.
“Not offering everything ourselves was important to us. We didn’t want to grow for the sake of growing. And I’m a great believer of working with competitors as well. We’re a small industry, and to recommend others or offer to bring others in is really important. We’ll be the first to admit our limitations and stick to what we’re good at.”
Berry’s own background spans across Tyler Grange’s disciplines. He studied landscape architecture at the University of Gloucestershire, adding in forestry modules, and started out using his landscape and arboricultural knowledge on farm diversification schemes. That moved into planning, landscape design and tree survey work.“I liked the fact that my work with trees was quite technical and definitive – more scientific – and then my work with landscape planning was more subjective. So, I brought both arb and landscape into our business because they, alongside ecology, are symbiotic disciplines; there’s a lot of overlap in skill and knowledge.”
Tree surveys are now less part of Berry’s day to day. Instead, he took over from co-founder Simon Ursell – who is now chairman – as managing director earlier this year, having previously held the role of sales director and director of people, places & purpose. He says the change in role has sparked a bit of imposter syndrome, as it might anyone.“Am I doing enough? Am I visible enough to the team? Am I giving everybody my energy? It’s a role which is a privilege, but it’s still a new challenge for me.”
His mission is to make the business more action led, where previously its focus has been on purpose. This may mean more trial and error, but also exploring the potential of technology, for instance.“Rather than being scared of it, I really want to learn what that might mean for making us more efficient as an industry, taking away the work that people don’t really like doing and making us more focused on the areas where we can make a difference.”
Tyler Grange is also working on developing its own training academy called The Growth Collective for its team and for others who enjoy environmental topics, from children and novices to professionals.“We want to make training accessible and enjoyable again –hence our involvement with things like play.”
He’s working on smoothing out the structure to make it flatter, and part of this is seeing the value in listening to people –regardless of length of service or experience – and their ideas.“Everybody’s very individual, with different characters and different stories. To get the best out of business, you need to recognise that. Our team is our competitive advantage; that’s what makes us different from any other business – not the founders, not the entity, but its people. A lot of people forget that.”
From the start, Tyler Grange attracted those who fit within its inbuilt cultural alignment, which Berry says made its initial growth easier. From there, the founders worked with the team to try to define its values, culture and purpose. The number of offices has grown – it recently opened its seventh – as Tyler Grange would want someone to join who lived in a certain location and so would create an office to suit. A semi-retired executive advised them that an office needs around 20 people to maintain the feeling of a small business where everyone knows each other, and
Tyler Grange has grown on that basis.
There’s an anonymous application process for the first stages of recruitment, and after that, it becomes more about values and character.“Technical CVs aren’t as important to us; we’ll interview by asking someone to tell us their story over five photos, and that gives a really good indication of who that person is which helps us to recruit for a cultural and values fit. But you do have to be careful – it's important to not necessarily just hire people who fit with you but to bring in new characteristics and people who perhaps challenge some of your values.”
Our team is our competitive advantage; that’s what makes us different from any other business – not the founders, not the entity, but its people
For those who don’t find that Tyler Grange is the right fit for them, Berry says they will actually help them to leave and pursue their true passion. Employees have a normal review which covers how they’re performing against certain objectives – a “C3PO” –but they also have a “dream catcher”. This explores what that member is hoping to get out of life. If that’s not consultancy, then Tyler Grange will help rather than hinder their dream. One employee wanted to surf, so the company helped him get to the point where he could do this and be a sub-consultant or partner. "He gets to surf and still be an ecologist, so he’s happy – and that gives me more joy than anything, that we got that balance right for someone.”
Tyler Grange has a heightened awareness of just how happy its tribe is thanks to a new alertness and happiness app, which it’s hoping to launch to market. This records people’s
moods and tiredness. There’s a daily reaction test which Berry says is great for checking whether people are safe to drive and travel to site.“It’s given us amazing data to be able to track the success of the four-day week. There are a lot of businesses that don’t know how happy, tired and productive their team is – they're just guessing. This app gives us anonymous data which gives us trends, which are really important.”
As if striving to be one of the best places to work wasn’t enough, that’s not its only objective. At the same time as introducing a four-day week, Tyler Grange decided to pursue B Corp certification – and for Berry, the two are related. “By being a more efficient business, it’s likely that we were going to be a more sustainable business. That’s part of what attracted us to B Corp; that we were already doing a lot, working in our communities and always changing our business to improve it. B Corp gave a really good foundation and set of criteria to test this. You can’t just box-tick; you’ve got to demonstrate and give data, policies and stories behind the metrics to show that you’re taking both social and environmental issues seriously. But it’s also important to recognise that, under B Corp, you can still make a profit – it's what you do with what profit and how you reinvest it.”
It achieved the certification in November 2022 with an impressive score of 91.3 out of 100,
which Berry says was “encouraging”; but the data was also an “eye opener”.“As an environmental consultancy, our environmental score was the lowest of our scores. That was a moment that made us realise we needed to do
better. We have an 80-plus team travelling around the UK to undertake surveys, which has an impact, and we knew that would be difficult to reduce. It showed us that we weren’t as good as we thought we were, which was the reason for doing it, because it means we can address some of these issues and try to get better.”
In its first year of being certified, Tyler Grange had “transformed” its supply chain.“We were just using companies that we always had, so we started to switch. People think ethical choices are going to cost more, but our phone provider became Honest Mobile – another B Corp – which saved us £30k. We also looked at the impact of data in our business, saving files and cloud services, and started to question why we were doing that.”
Businesses can look at B Corp objectives and analyse themselves against them, or against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is what Tyler Grange is working to: “less conversations about offsetting and net zero, and more science-based targets that lead to meaningful change.”
not want to take that step, but there are people there to help.”
The same could be said about BNG, which arguably presents a big opportunity for the sector, but about which few might fully comprehend. “BNG as a concept didn’t really exist two years ago, so even people in the profession for 25 years are having to learn what it means practically. There’ll be a lot of mistakes. One concern is that it’s quickly becoming unregulated and seen as an opportunity for a few non-ecologists to make some money very quickly; it concerns me that ecology has become transactional. The risk is that people will forget that ecology is at the heart of this; it’s not just about filling in a metric and punching out a formal number at the end. The danger is that it becomes another process.”
It’s complex, with a lot of people out there giving poor advice, warns Berry.“It’s going to be two years of litigation, legal challenges and BNG schemes that fail, but also BNG schemes that are exemplars. There’s going to be a lot of learning about what BNG means in practice.”
Where the most resource is needed is around implementation of these habitats and the long-term management, he says.“We tend to not have the skills and certainly not the finance to look after even our most manicured, high-quality urban landscapes. So, it worries me with these BNG schemes that we’re going to have great stuff in practice, but what does implementing them and maintaining them for the next 30 years look like? There’s a lot still to come on BNG.”
By being a more efficient business, it’s likely that we were going to be a more sustainable business. That’s part of what attracted us to B Corp
This is where collaboration in the landscape profession is key.
Cheers to that!
Even its latest own brand beer is produced as sustainably as possible, with the new Easy Peeler addition being flavoured with leftover orange peel from an orange juice factory.
It brews its own beer as a marketing tool. This started when it moved into its Cotswold Office on a farming estate near Cirencester, where a small-scale brewery helped
Tyler Grange to produce, manufacturerand flavour its own beer. “Initially, it was to get the team involved and offer a bit of a distraction, but we also realised that, by creating a story behind it and distributing it to clients, it became a real talking point.”
“I feel a little bit embarrassed and disappointed about how few businesses in an environmental sector are B Corps – I do feel like we should be leading the way. I've started to encourage us to consider setting up some sort of taskforce where we help and support more businesses in landscape, aboriculture and ecology becoming B Corp because we have great tools and skills to lead the way but maybe people are scared of it, or maybe people think it will cost more or is another thing to do as well as run a business. I get why people may or may
“Contractors and consultants really need to be in the same room together in terms of talking about BNG. I’ve been on both sides of the fence, and there’s nothing worse as a contractor than being told something works by a consultant when you know full well that it doesn’t. Likewise, as a contractor, you’ve got to understand the constraints that consultants are working under in terms of policy. Working together will make BNG better.”
Small steps are going to be pivotal in changing bigger issues, says Berry.“There’s a lot of doom and gloom in the world, and we’ve got to recognise that; but there’s a lot of amazing stuff as well.”
Berry is the first to admit that Tyler Grange has made mistakes and will continue to do so; but it’s through trial and error that it’s forging its own path – one that really is as good as it sounds.
The founding brewery unfortunately closed during the pandemic, so they switched to the Burning Soul Brewery near its Birmingham office in the Jewellery Quarter which has enabled it to produce a higher volume and more sustainably.
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Langlea Garden Design and Construction was approached by a client looking to create a striking courtyard garden that could match the unique contemporary architecture of a newly built property and its charming interior design. The space offers various uses, such as dining, entertaining, lounging, sunbathing, and cooking.
The property developer left the garden mainly to lawn, with slippery, inadequate sized patio areas and disjointed levels. So, Langlea proposed a hard landscaped courtyard at one consistent level. It was also important to the client to soften the extensive hard landscaping with as much
PROJECT DETAILS
of the £60-100k Domestic Garden Construction Category
COURTYARDContemporary
LANGLEA GARDEN DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
MOLTEN: RADIATE
planting as possible whilst maintaining permeability, therefore a central water feature was a key part of the brief to amplify the courtyard feel with the sound and movement. Langlea took inspiration from a chandelier within the client’s lounge, analysing the molten shapes in the distorted glass. The molten shapes now radiate out from the central water feature, creating island planting beds and detailing in the landscape, adding interest and intimacy to a large courtyard and enhances the presence of the water feature. The palette of materials used combined soft hues with an industrial flavour and a splash of
wow factor, with natural mottled stone chosen as the main paving material for its authentic, heavy, feel.
A key consideration was the gold vista line from the kitchen doors – this runs from the doors through the garden and vertically up the bespoke pergola at the rear of the garden, with the pergola standing as a striking focal point that also provides shelter and heat for outdoor dining in all weather.
A bespoke cooking station adds to the social dynamics and has everything the client may need to enjoy a day in the garden, including a sink, gas BBQ, rotisserie, spacious worktop, and storage cabinets. Lounging areas were placed to make the most of the south-facing position of the house.
The planting in the sunnier, central areas of the courtyard provide a more naturalistic style – adding soft textures against the hard landscaping. Ilex hedging was used to surround the courtyard, whilst woodland-style planting along the shady southern boundary is a wonderful backdrop buffering neighbouring windows.
The previously disjointed levels were completely reworked to create a single-level space, now featuring a step down from the house. Langlea cut and filled the levels without the need for additional material, ensuring a slope back to the boundary planting beds. This approach not only saved costs but also retained the boundaries effectively.
The central gold vista line was a marker that was used to set out the whole garden, including the paving layout and the levels running away from the house. The vista line was innovatively constructed
with the gold aluminium clad to concrete driveway square top edgings on a full sand and cement mortar mix above the compacted MOT type 1 base.
The brick and gold aluminium molten details in the landscape were carefully cut by the onsite team using CAD drawings traced from originally hand drawn lines.
The central water feature is an Urbis Grand Lily bowl in Cool Sandstone, chosen for its soft hue and texture to suit the house. It is one of the largest pre-cast water bowls available and was internally waterproofed by Urbis off-site. Langlea supplied and installed a central aerator jet nozzle, pump, and UV filter system, whilst recommending that the client and project electrician fit fully submersed spotlights which would bring the bowl to life at night. Before installing the water bowl, a stake was placed at its centre to serve as a reference point for measurements. Plywood shuttering was then set up to match the dimensions of the bowl's base, which was elevated above the surrounding planting to give it prominence. The grading of the surrounding
planting bed was adjusted from the bowl's base down to the level of the adjacent paving. This central stake also served as the reference point for positioning the gold aluminum frame and setting out the concrete pad that supports the water bowl.Initially the soil level of the proposed planting bed was kept lower so that the gold aluminium sheets could be floated over the top and the water bowl base constructed without obstructions.
Langlea managed to source the exact specialist bricks that the house is built from. The bricks in the landscape either frame the molten shaped planting beds or create molten shaped detailing in a linear pattern. They were cut into slips using a bench saw so that they were more consistent with the paving base depth.
The bespoke pergola and cooking station had been designed and constructed to emulate the canopies on the house. Langlea originally designed
RSJ steel beams with timber cladding but due to the current steel prices and budget considerations, Langlea achieved a similar look using chunky timber painted in an off-black colour. The larch wood cladding for the pergola and cooking station was also sourced in the exact same profile and dimensions as used on the house canopies.
1 Peeking through planting at the bespoke pergola
2 View from the kitchen through to the garden
3 The gold vista line running through the garden
4 Water feature, pergola and cooking area (daytime)
5 Water feature, pergola and cooking area (at night)
The roof construction entailed lining the roof joists with OSB, covering with epdm waterproof roofing membrane, securing with termination bars, and then sealing. The main beams were routed out and the roof construction sunk within the frame as opposed to securing from above, which would have been visible and untrue to the original design.
The cooking station was constructed deeper than originally planned to accommodate the large BBQ chosen by the client and taking into consideration the clearance space for the hood when in use. Again, Langlea advised the client and the project plumber to source a stainless-steel sink to match the BBQ with a flush finish for a sleek look.
The small secret courtyard area at the side of the house was used infrequently, and was a heavily shaded area that has now been transformed into a lush jungle style courtyard area.
Langlea also designed and installed a four-zone irrigation system, as the garden features a variety of planting beds in various locations with different sun levels. The four-zone system can respond to the different micro-climates and can be controlled from the client’s phone whether he is at home or away travelling. The system follows weather reports to automatically water when is needed rather than by timer.
The lighting scheme included star lights core drilled into the molten brick detailing, spike lights in the island beds and beneath the trees, wall mounted lights above the cooking area and on fence lines, spotlights in the water bowl and LED strip lights surrounding the roof of the pergola.
Due to the house being newly built into an existing house’s plot, the team faced a series of challenges with restricted access. The entry road had not been designed to accommodate as many houses as were now built, meaning the road was narrow and difficult to turn into. Parking was also very limited due to the volume of vehicles in the surrounding area and lack of permits. It was essential to ensure that the Langlea team arrived onsite early enough every day to be able park the vans. Access into the garden was through a narrow gate, so Langlea was limited to the use of micro diggers and track barrows for the excavation and clearance phases. Re-used timber sleepers were removed from the garden to construct a clearance bay on the driveway to contain the excavated material to be collected by grabbers. After most of this work had taken place, Langlea was able to dismantle the timber sleeper bay and have a skip in its place.
The front driveway has a resin bound finish, previously completed by the property developer that required protection, which Langlea covered with tarpaulins to prevent any staining.
Langlea took a hand-drawn, organic concept and constructed it to perfection. The newly transformed courtyard garden by Langlea seamlessly integrates with the contemporary architecture and interior design of the property – offering a versatile space for entertaining, lush planting and an impressive central feature, inspired by the client's unique style.
Langlea Garden Design and Construction is a boutique, full-service practice with an integrated approach to garden design and construction. Its ethos is to create unique gardens for each individual client. The friendly and focused team of multidisciplinary professionals bound together with a passion for detail. Executing extraordinary gardens to the highest standards, Langlea is intent on surpassing the demands of its clients. langlea.co.uk
REFERENCES
Water bowl Urbis Design urbisdesign.co.uk Plants Provender Nurseries provendernurseries.co.uk
Building supplies Parker Building Supplies parkerbs.com
Bricks in floorscape Bespoke Brick Company uk-brick.com
PROUDLY
PUTTING NATURE BACK INTO OUR CITIES
Bourne Amenity has been supplying hard and soft landscaping materials to the industry for over 40 years.
We work with the country’s largest civil engineering companies and most prestigious landscape designers and contractors, ensuring our materials and delivery methods are second to none.
From your standard BS3882:2015 Topsoils, to Roof Garden Substrates and highly specialised soil blends, we can match your site specifications from one of our various blending facilities.
INDOOR LUXURY BRINGING outside
New-to-the-scene brand Nth Degree is raising the bar of the outdoor furniture market
Anew luxury outdoor furniture brand has entered the market, and according to director Gary Farrell, "there’s nothing quite like it." The concept for Nth Degree had been in development for several years, but the acquisition of a new showroom in Clerkenwell by its sister company Ecoscape provided the perfect opportunity to bring the idea to fruition. The Nth Degree team is immensely passionate about the launch and committed to offering clients a choice that is "a little bit different,"
says Farrell. With a mix of creative and engineering backgrounds, the team already had the expertise to produce outdoor furniture, and a luxury range that is design led. “We’re aiming to produce to the best possible standard in terms of design and quality.” Having soft-launched in April, the brand is starting out with seven ranges, each identified by a code from N1 through N7 rather than names.
These collections include lounge chairs, two and three seater sofas, sun loungers, coffee and side tables, along with dining tables and chairs.
We’re aiming to produce to the best possible standard in terms of design and quality
Collaborating with Italian designers, the brand uses natural teak and luxury fabrics that are UK fire-rated. The product range is already expanding in the coming months. “Our focus is to bring the design elements from the interior to the exterior. We’re introducing some impressive architectural pieces made from travertine and marble, which can be used as coffee or side tables. We're also utilising microskin, a relatively new technology, for dining tables and finishing touches like marble and travertine bowls and dishes to complete the look.”
Outdoor rugs will be joining the product collections in July, which will be available in three pile heights and six different sizes. These rugs are handmade in India from recycled bottle tops. In addition to new product launches, Nth Degree is preparing
to unveil some exciting collaborations set to launch next spring. Without saying too much, Farrell hints that these partnerships involve highly reputable companies.
Nth Degree will open its flagship showroom in Clerkenwell, London later this year, with the opportunity to open a second showroom in south Manchester to serve northern customers. In the meantime, an e-commerce website will be available to shop for retail customers, members, and trade professionals, allowing specifiers to access trade discounts through their customer service team. They will also have access to downloadable 3D models, swatches and technical sheets to easily incorporate into their designs.
Our focus is to bring the design elements from the interior to the exterior
PROMOTION
white glove delivery service from start to finish. Our goal is to ensure maximum convenience for customers, including the option for furniture assembly. Trade professionals and members benefit from complimentary delivery and assembly, along with packaging removal, highlighting the standards of the business. Lead times are also impressive, typically within seven working days.
“We’re providing a wealth of information for designers and architects to include in their specifications, which many other outdoor furniture companies don’t offer.”
The company strives for excellence in every detail, delivering a high-class experience with
To raise brand awareness among contractors and designers, Nth Degree has partnered with the Pro Landscaper Project Awards, taking place on 12 July at Farnham Castle –an ideal event for promoting the upcoming Clerkenwell showroom. “Through Ecoscape, we have experience working with designers and contractors, and we view these as
long-term relationships,” says Farrell. It will be wonderful to meet new individuals and establish relationships with them and this event provides Nth Degree with an opportunity to present its products to the appropriate audience and highlight the luxury that will undoubtedly define the brand. nthdegree.co.uk
PROJECT DETAILS
Project
RWhimsical
WE LOVE PLANTS LTD – GARDEN DESIGN BY NIC HOWARD
WINDMILL BANK GARDEN
eusing as many of the existing hard landscaping materials as possible; Nic Howard's team at We Love Plants was asked to design and build a new layout for a two-acre domestic garden on Windmill Bank, including redefining the entrance; subtly dividing the front and rear garden spaces to create a distinct 'sense of place'; as well as to integrate the house harmoniously into its surroundings. Using large exuberant borders packed with lush vegetation and vibrant colours, We Love Plants also aimed to provide year-round colour and interest within the garden.
The team incorporated an area for entertaining, which was also on the brief, that was set in an enclosed space with planting beds and trees to add height, structure, and shade. This space was designed with an eye for detail and strong selection of plants, creating a unique, sensory experience. From quiet nooks filled with flowers to stunning trees and sprawling lawns, this enchanted escape now invites visitors to revel in a vibrant space brought back to life.
Windmill Bank sits on the bluff of a hill in a generous plot of approximately two acres, with wonderful southerly views over the Sussex
Weald, and sheltered from the north-easterly winds thanks to the woodland on Selsfield Common.
The original garden was not befitting of the country-style property; it lacked character and failed to make full use of the large outdoor space. The new design, however, uses the country setting to fantastic effect and draws upon the wider landscape as an extension to the new garden.
After clearing any trees in need of removal, the garden had a good foundation for work to begin. Existing mature trees at the boundary of the grounds helped to screen neighbouring properties and make the space feel private. As the property name suggests, however, the garden is
exposed to the prevailing south-westerly winds, which although the surrounding trees did a good job of protecting from this, the orientation also meant that it can become very hot and sun-baked during the peak of summer.
To address these challenges, We Love Plants devised a design focused on the immediate areas surrounding the house, enhancing the foreground against the expansive lawns. Its strategy involved creating intimate entertaining spaces and improving pathways around the property. A row of Pyrus ‘Chanticleer’ trees was strategically planted to reinforce the circular layout of the entertainment area while providing essential shade within the garden.
The planting strategy for the new borders was inspired by classical English country gardens – overflowing, colourful borders were filled with plants selected specifically for long-seasonal interest, lower maintenance properties and attractiveness to wildlife. In typical English country garden-style, the planting includes lots of blues, purples, pinks, and whites, and is contemporised with grasses and prairie-style perennials, forming the majority of the planting to achieve dramatic seasonal variation.
The existing terrace was also revamped. It was lifted and re-laid to the new design, with panels and paths of clay pavers added to create rhythm within the area. The new garden layout effectively defines the arrival area, creating a clear sense of entry and welcoming visitors into the space. Through thoughtful design elements, such as planting beds, trees, and other landscaping features, the garden subtly separates the front and rear areas, providing a sense of place and anchoring the house within its surroundings.
The project also prioritised the balance of both sustainability and beauty by reusing and repurposing as many existing hard landscaping materials as possible, incorporating them into the design to preserve the garden's history and reduce environmental impact.
To accommodate for the sandy soil, ornamental grasses that flourish in exposed areas were chosen along with mounding plants spilling into gaps between sections. The gravel driveway was also reshaped to maintain compliance with SUDs regulations, and planting beds were introduced. These enhancements contributed to the making of a "cottage-style" atmosphere, while ensuring the functionality of the outdoor space – including parking and turnaround areas.
Purple planting is featured prominently throughout space, which is not only aesthetically pleasing but also beneficial to bees due their trichromatic vision being naturally attracted by shades of violet-blue –proven through studies showing these blooms generate higher volumes of nectar than others.
Consideration was given to encouraging sustainability where possible too; compost bins and water butts were placed to allow for water storage and composting of organic matter.
We Love Plants faced a series of challenges throughout the build of this garden. As well as being prone to strong winds – which posed challenges during construction, especially for delicate plants or structures – the garden's location on the bluff of a hill also required careful planning and engineering to ensure stability and proper drainage due to the iron stone layer beneath. Therefore, an effective system was developed to ensure adequate watering to all areas of the garden during establishment, particularly in windy conditions where water might evaporate more quickly.
Assessing and amending the soil to support healthy plant growth was also one of the challenges
– especially since the existing soil was poor and compacted, which then led to difficulties choosing plants that can withstand the windy conditions, the soil, and the specific microclimate of the site, which were all crucial to the garden's success.
Overall, however, the Windmill Bank Garden project successfully translated the client's vision into reality, fulfilling the brief requirements while creating a stunning and immersive outdoor sanctuary.
We Love Plants Ltd, led by director and designer Nic Howard, is a distinguished design studio celebrated for crafting enduring, plantcentric gardens. Based in Surrey, the studio specialises in designing, constructing, and planting exquisite gardens across Surrey, Sussex, and the Home Counties. Its innovative approach realises clients' garden and landscape aspirations, blending bold design with beautiful planting. Established in 2011, the studio aim to deliver dynamic design solutions with exquisite planting schemes. we-love-plants.co.uk
REFERENCES
Designer Nic Howard
Hard landscaping, soft landscaping and garden maintenance We Love Plants we-love-plants.co.uk
Garden lighting Greenlite greenlitegroup.co.uk
Plants
How Green Nursery howgreennursery.co.uk
North Hill Nurseries northhillnurseries.co.uk
Creepers creepersnursery.co.uk
Trees
Deepdale Trees deepdale-trees.co.uk
Gates
Oakleigh Gates oakleighgates.co.uk
Oak structure Scott Partnership scottpr.com
An exciting playscape for children to explore, that introduces its users to the charming history and architecture of Himley Hall. Partnering with architecture firm Wignall & Moore, eibe rose to the challenge of designing the first Capability Brown inspired playscape.
Echoing the follies frequently found in Brown’s landscapes, classical architecture comes to life and morphs into an enchanting playground for children to explore a landscape of forest and ruins. Doric columns become swings, egg & dart coving becomes a seesaw, even the rotunda spins like a roundabout.
Based on a Palladian ruin, The Fallen Folly will be the centrepiece of the play area, where children of all ages and abilities are catered for. Installation is now underway, scan below for progress pictures and more information about eibe Play.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project value
£20k
Build time 5 days
Size of project 4m x 3m
Charmouth Primary School wanted to create an outdoor learning space for a small group of children and their teacher at last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. So, it brought on board Sandhurst Garden Design to create The Mary Anning Space to Learn Garden in the Balcony and Container Garden category to bring to life an informal setting for pupils to actively engage in lessons, with seating and an area of shade tolerant planting.
The school requested that Sandhurst Garden Design used natural materials that echoed the local coastline and were locally and sustainably sourced that would engage the children with their lessons through play, nature, and the care of the plants to increase their confidence and self-esteem.
The inspiration for the design came from the famous ‘Dorset fossil hunter’, Mary Anning, who was born in Lyme Regis in 1822 and who made her most significant discoveries on the beach at Charmouth just a stone’s throw from the school.
Each designer in the category had an identical plot measuring four metres by three metres that consisted of a raised metal platform with a solid base and filled with type one hardcore. Attached to the horizontal metal base frame was a vertical metal frame measuring two and a half metres in height and four metres wide, which allowed the designers to create the backdrop for their own gardens.
Prior to the build, the RHS appointed contractor, Andew Ball of Big Fish Landscapes to prepare the base for each of the container gardens. Sandhurst Garden Design then continued work with landscapers, Original Landscapes of Sturminster Newton.
they artistically created the slightly overhanging ‘steams’ of rock graduating from each side to create a ‘V’ shape, ensured the overall finish did not look flat like a conventional brick wall.
Each stone was secured in place using a weak mortar mixed with a grey dye added to complement the stones and finally, when dry, it was ‘raked’ out using fingers and a damp sponge to create an eroded finish.
Hollow moss-covered tree stumps with drainage holes provided the containers for the planting, locally sourced from a managed forestry plantation that in normal circumstances would be left to decompose in the ground. The architectural roots of each tree stump were sympathetically enhanced by Alex Louden by lightly sculpting their natural form, creating a bold statement, and providing a focal point planted with the Jurassic effect plants. Repurposing tree stumps to create a sustainable container also encourages wildlife to create an eco-system in the garden supporting insects as the stumps gradually decay enriching the soil in the process.
The biggest challenge the landscapers faced was to create a realistic interpretation of the cliffs at Charmouth, representing the geology of the area, and specifically the stretch of coastline known as The Jurassic Coast.
Using hand-trimmed blue lias and purbeck stone tied in at intervals to the metal frame using stainless steel wall ties, ensured stability, and using the cut face of the blue lias stone
Showcasing the idea of repurposing tree stumps as containers provided inspiration for what to do with a tree stump after a tree has had to be removed, and also how it can used as a wildlife habitat for insects to feed and shelter.
The small seating area for the children and teacher specified in the client brief was made from a single walnut tree trunk by carving the high back chairs and a low table highlighting the natural grain of the wood and then hand-finished to ensure no sharp edges.
Large limestone steppingstones engraved with the tongue twister ‘She Sells Seashells on the
Seashore,’ written about Mary Anning, were prepared by first sandblasting any loose debris and then hand carving the letters into the stone surface.
Sculptor Dan Anderson used a ‘fluid’ style font and a flat brush to apply a dark blue paint to the letters that had a wave like flow to the words leading the eye to follow the rhyme.
The finished project used natural materials that were sustainably resourced and complemented each other to create the drama and theatre for the show garden, but also the practicality and durability for the primary school where it was relocated after the show in time for the 30th anniversary celebrations in June of the school building opening.
Sandhurst Garden Design hired the three feature plant specimens, including a Pseudopanax crassifolius, Dicksonia antarctica and a Wollemi pine which was thought to be extinct until it was discovered growing in a ravine in Australia in 1984.
The Gardens Group supplied a selection of ferns, including the Asplenium trichomanes and Soleirolia soleirolii planted between the stepping stones. Since the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, the garden has been relocated in part to Charmouth Primary School in Dorset less than 100 yards from the beach where Mary Anning made some of her most significant fossil discoveries.
When Sandhurst Garden Design first spoke to the school before Chelsea, they discussed the possibility of a garden for the children as a breakout space and how elements of the Chelsea garden might be used.
Allgreen Group supported the garden with all the hard landscaping materials used, including the purbeck stone and limestone for the imagined cliff face. However, the cliff face was not relocated to the school due to its close proximity to the beach.
The limestone steppingstones, for which Sandhurst Garden Design had commissioned an engraver, were relocated in their original configuration, as was the carved table as well as four chairs.
The large hollow tree stumps Sandhurst Garden Design used as containers at Chelsea were too large for the garden space, so instead a selection of smaller hollow tree logs as containers for the ferns donated by The Garden Group. Sandhurst Garden Design also donated the composite cast of the plesiosaur fossil to the school as it is too delicate to live outside,
and therefore it is now displayed in the main school building and used as a teaching aid.
When Sandhurst Garden Design initially designed the garden, it was hoped that it would be relocated to the school, as the steppingstones and the table and chairs were perfect for the children. Not to mention that it also seemed fitting that Mary Anning received recognition for her discoveries, with the steppingstones in the children's garden serving as a permanent reminder, close to her beloved beach.
REFERENCES
Tree stumps
Combe Sydenham Estate
Hard landscaping materials
Allgreen Group allgreen.uk
Engraving of steppingstones
Bespoke Letter Cutting bespokelettercutting.co.uk
Cast of Plesiosaurus Fossil Natural Selection Fossils naturalselectionfossils.com
Sandhurst Garden Design is an award-winning practice covering Somerset and Dorset. It prides itself on providing a professional garden design service from concept design, construction and through to planting, transforming small to medium size garden projects with practical solutions that include small town houses, cottage gardens to contemporary courtyards and new build properties. sandhurstgardendesign.co.uk
Plants (hired) Desert to Jungle deserttojungle.com
Assorted native ferns The Gardens Group thegardensgroup.co.uk
Landscaper
Original Landscapes original-landscapes.co.uk
8 Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Julie, Andrew and Iona
BY RENSON
Amani, your perfect outdoor living space to unwind in pure comfort
Pure comfort, architectural design and intelligent engineering: Amani is a customised blend of luxury and serenity that offers you an immersive space to unwind, to enjoy outdoor living to the fullest.
Discover Amani at renson.net/amani:
The Magic of Garden Lighting
It was only last year that in-lite visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the first time. The Dutch company were blown away by the standard and knew immediately that they wanted to be involved. That led to their partnership with Landscapeplus, and this year supporting 2 award-winning show gardens; Ann-Marie Powell’s ‘The Octavia Hill Garden’ and Penelope Walker’s ‘The Panathlon Joy Garden’. If this is anything to go by, the upcoming year promises even more excitement and innovation.
Llevelo Garden Design
Ann-Marie Powell Gardens
in-lite joined forces with Schellevis and Torc Pots for their debut at Chelsea this year. Designed by Kate Gould Gardens, the trade stand certainly turned heads and provided the perfect stage for the brands to launch their collaboration and new products.
Kate Gould Gardens
COVER Under
When faced with an alternative domestic space such as a balcony or courtyard garden, shading can present challenges: but according to suppliers, there are some simple solutions to consider
When installing shading to a balcony or garden with restricted space such as a courtyard, a flexible non-permanent shading solution should be used according to Stuart Dantzic, managing director at Caribbean Blinds UK Ltd
“In order to ensure the space can be enjoyed throughout the seasons, allowing when the weather permits for the occupants to enjoy full sunshine and when the weather is either too hot or turns inclement shade and shelter is provided,” says Dantzic.
As such, Dantzic explains how a folding arm awning, more commonly referred to as a patio awning, is the best and most popular solution as it extends, usually at the touch of a button, to provide instant shade and shelter and when not required fully retracts. “Additionally, the fabric still admits diffused light, ensuring the space beneath and adjoining internal room doesn’t darken and when retracted additionally ensures maximum light to the indoor space,” says Dantzic.
“Alternate to a patio awning for clients requiring a solution that can be used not just for sun and shower protection but also use in heavy rain, even strong winds a pergola with retractable roof is a great option.”
Although this option includes a permanent framework comprising four posts and four cross beams, the roof retracts, ensuring complete flexibility.
"A roof made of aluminium louvers instead of fabric will also have far greater durability in terms of wind load, ideal for high level and seaside installations whilst also being lower maintenance,” says Dantzic.
recommend transforming an outdoor sanctuary into a haven of elegance and doing so practicality, courtesy of the Alu-Twist parasol by Glatz. With a heritage spanning over a century, Glatz hails from Switzerland, and the familyowned company boasts a legacy of 125 years. In the UK, AEL proudly serves as their exclusive partner, offering a curated selection of parasols that epitomize sophistication and performance.
The Alu-Twist parasol embodies the connection of elegance and practicality as it’s sleek contours and contemporary allure elevate any outdoor ambiance, while its user-friendly features ensure a hassle-free experience.
With a smooth crank mechanism facilitating effortless opening and a stepless tilting system for shade control, it redefines convenience in shading solutions. Crafted from natural anodised aluminium, it stands resilient against the elements, promising years of steadfast service.
Another alternative to shading a restricted space, could be as straightforward as a parasol designed to harmonise with spaces of any size, whether gardens, balconies, or patios. And marketing manager at AEL Outdoor Solutions, Laura Gardiner, would
“And although facing nature's unpredictable whims is no easy feat, the Alu-Twist parasol rises to meet the challenge,” says Gardiner. “Rigorously tested to withstand wind speeds of up to 100km per hour, it serves as a steadfast protector against the forces of Mother Nature.” With shapes ranging from round, rectangular, to square, it also accommodates various preferences and space limitations. Whether the client has a snug corner or a more expansive area, this parasol integrates into any setting, ensuring a tailored fit for every outdoor space.
Two very different options which embody both style and functionality, providing a sheltered escape and sophistication in outdoor settings, no matter the size.
ALU-TWIST PARASOL BY GLATZ
CARIBBEAN BLINDS UK LTD
CARIBBEAN BLINDS UK LTD
ALU-TWIST PARASOL BY GLATZ
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Highlighting the importance of sustainable water management, how are water features being updated to combat water wastage?
Apopular theme at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024, water saving techniques popped up across the show. From the Water Saving Garden, designed by Chiltern Garden Design, to the Balcony and Container Gardens category, as well as in the WaterAid Show Garden designed by Tom Massey and Je Ahn.
Although some water features can be turned off overnight which can help to reduce water consumption, Tillett goes on to explain how fountains designed to have the water land on pebbles, tend to use more water as not only is there more splash, but the small film of water on the stones evaporates easily.
There are some ways, however, in which manmade items can be added to reduce the quantity of lost water through splashing. Managing director of Waterscapes LTD, Paul Jeffery recommends using Oase product Silent Splash. “This essentially absorbs the splashing water, almost like a crash mat,” says Jeffery.
Each garden demonstrated ways in which landscapes and features can be designed to protect our most precious natural resource, whilst also harnessing its beauty and tranquillity.
Whilst there are many factors which dictate the typical water usage, such as the size and style of the water feature or the weather, broadly speaking, according to director of Tills Innovations Ltd, Mike Tillett, a modest residential water feature will usually use 0.5L– 10L per week.
“The majority of techniques on water usage are dictated by the design of the water feature, rather than what the public can do,” says Tillett. “A water feature that has little water usage shouldn’t have fountains, as these atomise the water, meaning that it evaporates easily and with the wrong design the water can drift through the air outside the reservoir.”
"Rather than having cobbles to catch the falling water, the Silent Splash not only catches the water but also helps to act as a silencer to reduce the noise levels the feature can produce.”
Or an alternative to the waterfall approach could be a water bowl.
As previously mentioned, the style of the feature will impact its water usage and a design such as a static bowl will significantly reduce the quantity of wasted water. Although the water is still moving, by removing the cascading aspect, the water usage is therefore reduced.
Hylton Hugo, the maker at Torc Pots, suggests a product such as the Assan bowl. Simple and classic in its design, it comes in many styles to suit the client's need and the water consumption available –either as a standalone bird bath, with a bubbler pump to break the surface tension, or with a spout to allow water to fall over the edge and be recycled from a balance tank. The possibilities are endless.
“Water is one of the most precious resources we have,” says Tillett, “and the easiest and simplest way to reduce water in a garden design would be to remove the water feature completely, but is that the right thing to do?”
Whilst water usage has to be considered carefully, birds and other animals depend on this equally as much as we do. A water feature can be a beautiful way to give this much needed resource to nature, whilst at the same time having your enjoyment of the visual and relaxing sounds they create in the very busy stressful world we live in.
THE ASSAN WATER BOWL BY TORC POTS – MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY UK FOREST BATHING GARDEN BY ULA MARIA, AT RHS CHELSEA 2024
SAIGE LONGLIFE DECKING LTD
Saige Composite Decking - Driftwood Saige's new Driftwood colour in its Contemporary decking line has seen an increase in demand and is becoming increasingly popular. The recently launched Driftwood, with its earthy and mid-brown tone, adds a touch of allure that can transform outdoor spaces into inviting havens. The Contemporary collection is complemented by fencing and gates to achieve a cohesive outdoor aesthetic. Suitable for diverse applications in residential or commercial settings, the Contemporary range meets varied structural and aesthetic requirements in hollow, solid, and fire-rated options. compositedecking.co.uk
COUNTRY SUPPLIES
Pattern A Treated Decking
Timber decking can seamlessly extend and add value to a living space, especially in awkward spaces. Decking offers a simple solution to overcoming elevation changes in a garden and opens the door to decking design. Adding definition between zones whilst the clever planting plan softens any harshness from the straight lines, our treated Pattern
A Pine decking is pressure treated to have a guaranteed 15-year life for longevity and ease of maintenance and is Deck Mark Quality Assessed and sustainably sourced for your peace of mind. countrysupplies.uk.com
DECKING
HIGHWOOD CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Highwood decking
Highwood manufactures premium timber replacement products using 100% recycled plastic. Our decking products include boards and a balustrade system comprising posts, handrails and spindles. Decking boards have a T-Clip fixing or a tongue and groove to hide fixings and remove gaps between boards. We have a standard range of colours and often create new colours to meet your requirements. Highwood is superior to wood and composites as it does not fade, crack or rot over its life and its high-quality finish means it’s often mistaken as timber. highwood.uk.com
RYNO
TerraSmart® Vitrified Composite® Decking System
ENVIROBUILD
Stone Explorer
Composite Decking
Transform a garden into a stylish sanctuary with Stone Explorer Composite Decking
An enhanced wood grain texture with a modern grey hue, this high-performance decking provides a beautiful backdrop. Crafted from 87% recycled materials, it boasts a 64% lower carbon footprint than traditional timber, making it perfect for eco-conscious gardeners. With lowmaintenance, anti-slip properties, and 15-year warranty, it's perfect for creating an outdoor oasis that stands the test of time. envirobuild.com
Elevate outdoor spaces with these premium decking brands that set a new standard of excellence
Reimagine outdoor living with our Vitrified Composite® decking, perfect for creating timeless balconies and terraces. Featuring a stunningly realistic hardwood finish, this non-combustible board offers unrivalled beauty and design flexibility. Enjoy high performance with very low maintenance, knowing it's stain and fade-proof, Class A1 fire-rated, and slip-resistant. Our decking stands the test of time and remains unaffected by wind-uplift, providing peace of mind for specifiers seeking the best in outdoor living. rynosystems.com
TREX
Trex Transcend Lineage
Trex Transcend is our bestselling range combining lowmaintenance with the highest level of performance and a 50-year residential warranty. Solid boards made from the heaviest grade Trex shell offer unparalleled strength and stability. Compared to timber decking Trex Transcend – which is composite – doesn’t need painting, staining or sealing. The low-maintenance nature of the product is particularly popular with customers. The Trex Transcend Lineage range contains three colours inspired by nature and delicate wood grain streaking. It also boasts heat-mitigating technology, which makes the decking cooler under foot, when compared to similar products. uk.trex.com
Photographer: Marianne Majerus Garden Images
Designer: Maïtanne Hunt
TOP TIPS FOR
NCC Streetscape offers paving jointing solutions for durability
IJOINTING
nadequate paving jointing is the primary cause of problems with natural stone and other types of external paving, including porcelain tiles. The necessary restrictions and limitations for the correct use of most types of paving jointing are also the reason for countless delays; primarily, this means waiting for suitable weather.
Most paving jointing products, including those that are wet slurry applied, need dry conditions and with no rain in the forecast. Failure to comply with limitations for paving jointing, usually due to time and or cost pressure, is often the root cause of premature failure and lack of durability. There is an unfortunate abundance of premature paving joint breakdown and failing paved surfaces, on domestic patios and driveways, around retail and commercial developments, as well as in town centres and market squares. The first visible signs are cracks in the jointing, followed by break-up of the jointing material, then breakdown and debonding of the paving elements, especially during cleaning operations with pressure jet-washing.
AZPECTS LTD
EASYJoint
EASYJoint is one of the UK's topselling jointing compounds since 2009. Now with nine colours, this all-weather sweep-in compound makes hard landscaping easy. Simply sweep it in, wet or dry, for a beautiful, durable finish on any paving material. Developed with professionals and DIYers in mind, EASYJoint is the quick, effective solution that outperforms traditional methods. azpects.co.uk
RAAFT
Monza
Grey
However, all these issues can be solved for both new paving jointing and or repointing, by using the right paving joint mortar. It is important to realise that there is no universal ‘one-size-fits-all’ paving joint mortar, and the many different types of paving elements, the hugely variable service requirements, different loadings and exposure, means that there cannot ever be just one material or product. Specific requirements must therefore be established for each project; using a checklist is helpful, and the most appropriate jointing technology and products can be selected.
NCC Streetscape provides the full range of GftK Paving Jointing mortars to the UK and is probably best known for GftK vdw 850plus, the “state-of-the-art” epoxy jointing mortar. This is a unique, two-part epoxy resin based, dust-free, fast-curing mortar, with no shrinkage cracks, plus a sheen-free finish. It is easily applied, standing-up, by wet-slurry techniques, even in cold (> 5o oC) and wet weather conditions, as very high-flow and self-compacting, which results in optimum strengths and durability. nccstreetscape.co.uk
The Farrino decking is a high-performance porcelain decking surface for a terrace or balcony. It’s a highly resistant and long-lasting product which passes the BroofT4 British fire rating and incorporates a wind tie-down system. raaft.co
TALASEY
Pavetuf
Talasey’s Pavetuf is one of the best jointing compounds for paving. It is a UK-made product that is ready-mixed, making it quick and easy to use. Pavetuf can be applied in all weathers, walked on in as little as 24 hours and excess product is reusable, meaning there’s no waste. It’s available in three colours. Pavetuf jointing compound can fill joint widths of five to 20 mm and joint depths from 20mm. For every tub sold, Talasey makes a donation to the charity Band of Builders. pavetuf.co.uk
Select ‘Best in Class’ - Jointing Technology for Every Project - New & Repointing
Patio Grout by GftK, the best 1-part, air-drying, paving joint mortar!
- Unique with big advantages! EASIER to apply by wet slurry techniques, it is FASTER because it fully self-compacts into the joints, with no additional finishing or tooling required. Patio Grout then gives BETTER results, including higher strengths, and better optimised performance, with higher resistance and durability than any other 1-part material. For both DIY and professional use.
GftK vdw 400 plus Color, the best cement-based, flowable jointing mortar!
- Highly flowable and self-compacting, polymer-modified, cement slurry, paving jointing mortar. Ideal for both natural stone and external porcelain tile paving, with light, medium and heavy traffic loadings. It is fast setting, walkable after a few hours, then achieves high strength and is very resistant to frost and de-icing salts. A proven track record over 20 years. For professional use only.
- The unique, 2-part epoxy, dust-free, fast-curing, no shrinkage cracks, plus a sheen free finish. It can be applied in cold ( > 5oC) and wet weather conditions, is very high flow and self-compacting, for ease of application, resulting in optimum strengths. Fully resistant to traffic, de-icing salts, and jet-washing. The way forwards with no more delays, plus the highest performance and durability.
GftK vdw 815+, the narrow joint version of 850+ with the same benefits
- Based on the same state-of-the art technology as GftK vdw 850+, but designed for narrow joints from 3mm wide in larger format natural stone paving, and also absolutely ideal for external porcelain tile paving grouting, and without delay - No waiting required. Supplied in smaller 10kg units for fast and residue-free, wet-slurry grouting of porcelain paving.
Visit: www.NCCStreetscape.co.uk
Email: sales@NCCinAction.co.uk
Call: 01257 266696
CULTIVATING a community
Whilst commercial developers are exploring routes to meet BNG targets, could interest around community gardens pose the perfect solution to securing long-term success?
In a rapidly evolving world, the need to preserve and enhance our natural environment has never been more vital, and with the introduction of biodiversity net gain, commercial developers are being put to the test – challenged to ensure that development not only minimises environmental harm but also actively contributes to the enhancement of biodiversity.
According to the published Pro Landscaper Insight, habitats introduced under BNG must be maintained for a minimum of 30 years, meaning developers and land managers will need to take into consideration the their long-term maintenance and monitoring.
strategic significance, which refers to the additional unit value added to habitats situated in ‘preferred’ locations for biodiversity.
Since the goal of BNG is to leave the natural environment of a development site in a measurably better condition than it was prior to when development began, it is important that developers do not simply add areas of green space without taking into consideration the existing wildlife within the area.
By allowing green fingered residents to have an opportunity to grow fruit and veg, or to grow their favourite shrubs, it will give them the sense of inclusion and enjoyment
Sam Stevens, contracts manager, idverde
Bearing this in mind, the options that jump to mind may include installing an area of woodland, wildflower meadows, or watercourses, however the BNG assessment will also take into account the habitat’s
One solution to this ongoing dilemma, could be the inclusion of community gardens.
A community garden is a piece of land gardened or cultivated by a collective group within a particular community. Often managed by a charity, community gardens can either be divided into individual plots where each individual gardener is responsible for their own yield, or they can be a communal effort, sharing the load and benefiting simply from the exposure to gardening.
Community gardens not only offer the opportunity for a green space to be created but also come with a dedicated team of people who will maintain the garden accordingly. However, as simple as it may seem, there are some very important factors to consider. So, what is needed to ensure that a community garden is a success?
Founded in 1919, the green service company idverde has the luxury of being involved in key discussions whenever its local partners consider creating a community garden. It is able to give its expertise advice on what may or may not be viable, to ensure the project can go ahead and within the set budget.
“Typically, we would set up a community engagement event to consult with the residents that would benefit from the project,” says Sam Stevens, contracts manager at idverde.
“Whatever the project, the input from the community is pivotal to getting the most from the space.”
idverde supply a wide range of green services, including grounds maintenance, landscape creation and professional services, to both private and public sectors. It acknowledges that presenting ideas to
THE WALWORTH GARDEN
WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN
the community before they are put into action can bring a real sense of involvement and togetherness to the local community, and therefore guarantee its success.“Local involvement in the ongoing use of the garden is key,” says Stevens. “By allowing green fingered residents to have an opportunity to grow fruit and veg, or to grow their favourite shrubs, it will give them the sense of inclusion and enjoyment.”
The garden is a wonderful resource for the community, offering opportunities for everyone to enjoy and benefit from it.
According to Edward Bowring, gardens coordinator for the Grow Chichester community gardens, the next step is securing the site.“The location needs to be somewhere that's accessible for all,” says Bowring, and Grow Chichester, for example, does just that.
Maintaining its community garden within Bishop’s Palace Garden, Chichester, one of the benefits of this site is that it is in the centre of a city built on walkways.
Starting in 2014, and accessible via all forms of transport, the space is within walking distance of the central city cathedral and has many pathways leading to its gateway.
Similarly, the Walworth Garden, founded in 1987, makes its home on a site reclaimed from
a derelict corner of land in the London borough of Southwark. Rejuvenated into a thriving community garden and continuing to grow since, the garden has become a popular place for respite and escape as well as an award-winning demonstration garden, horticultural training centre, and therapy provider.
The third of an acre site is now home to over 250 native and exotic
species, an apiary, a plant centre selling propagated and imported plants, and eighteen employees, all within the centre of bustling London.
"When working with developers, especially if they're working within central London, the spaces are often going to be small,” says Oli Haden, chief executive officer and head gardener at the Walworth Garden.“So, the challenge isn’t what do we do with all this space? The challenge is often, how do we operate in such a small space?”
opportunity for all of the residents to be involved should they choose,” says Stevens.
At Grow Chichester, Bowring has incorporated areas of raised planting beds and is in the process of levelling out more of the garden to make it more accessible to those with particular needs. Using adaptive gardening tools, or something as simple as choosing larger seeds if the gardener has problems with fine motor control. Raised planters for wheelchair access, support handrails, access ramps and colourful notice boards can be great things to consider giving everyone the option to use the garden.
There are so many benefits of community gardening, with the improved mental and physical health in relation to gardening being so well researched and documented, it’s hard to find the negatives.
“Creating a hub and a small community for people to come and belong to is hugely important,” says Bowring.“Our volunteers love coming and will turn out whatever the weather with a smile.”
Creating a hub and a small community for people to come and belong to is hugely important
Edward Bowring, gardens coordinator for the Grow Chichester community gardens
And there are many other accessibility features to bear in mind when planning a community space such as security, convenience, usage, and of course, funding.
Every community project is about inclusion and accessibility for all.“The garden will need to provide
Not only does it foster a sense of pride and a place, but people will get invested in their local area, and therefore it provides long-term interest and maintenance for the space. Not to mention that with the introduction of BNG and a push for more green spaces in communities, funding and support for new initiatives are potentially on the rise. By also incorporating charity work and mental health support, the opportunity for these spaces is never-ending.
“Apply for grants and funding both locally and on national levels,” says Bowring. County councils and city councils are the best first step according to Bowring,“and then look further afield to the likes of Tesco or the National Lottery systems.”
Once you can the space, the people, and the funding, all you need is the planting.
At Walworth Garden, it promotes home propagation, organic peat free compost and planting without the use of chemicals. To combat the climate crisis, Haden says there is also
THE WALWORTH GARDEN
THE WALWORTH GARDEN
THE GROW CHICHESTER COMMUNITY GARDENS
a combination of native and non-native planting.“We often observe unimaginative planting, which is mistaken for low maintenance planting,” says Haden. “And many of these things are just an investment to disaster.”
Whilst many contractors may believe that low maintenance gardens are the key to longevity, according to Haden, he is finding that monocultural planting is simply the promotion of particular pest; and without the variety of species, people are not encouraging the predators that would typically prey on those pests.
“Simple, native planting doesn’t always support the wider ecosystem, whereas a diverse group of plants will attract a diverse group of animals and thereby biodiversity will endeavour over time to reach a sort of natural equilibrium,” says Haden.
At Grow Chichester, Bowring works closely with the volunteers to grow a wide variety of produce that the community can consume throughout the seasons.“We probably grow about 30 different big crops a year,” says Bowring.“From your basic potatoes, beans, spinach, strawberries, or kale, we also try and grow whatever the volunteer gardeners want to grow as well.”
All types of planting help towards the BNG criteria, but it is the variety of planting that will encourage both wildlife and the community to make use of the space.
For Bowring however, the most successful thing about the community garden is seeing the gardeners that keep coming back simply because they love it. He says it's been great "seeing friendships formed between them where they look out for each other and meet up during the week outside of our gardening session."
Grow Chichester will see approximately 30 people come through the garden a week, and has become friendly group of like-minded individuals, providing a very welcoming space.
So why should developers be taking an interest in community gardens?
Firstly, according to idverde, the developers can have peace of mind knowing that the garden they have created can add so many health and wellbeing benefits to the residents in the area. When working towards corporate social responsibility especially, community gardens are the perfect outlet for providing community fundraising and volunteer work.
a huge difference to a community, its people, and its natural wellbeing.
Regularly approached by new community gardens who want guidance, and who want to understand the model, and the resources required, Haden is happy to help however he can, and for the Walworth Garden, its five-year strategic plan is all about impacting those outsides of its organisation.
We want to bear influence on the way that land is managed and maintained, to ensure we are doing the upmost to benefit nature and the people within
Oli Haden, chief executive officer and head gardener at the Walworth Garden
Secondly, they will have confidence that these gardens are contributing to the 10% required for the BNG requirement. "Last year, for example, we partnered with a housing association to come up with ideas on what to with a plot of land that was once a small play park,” says Stevens. “The park was vandalised and beyond repair, so following a meeting with some residents, we came up with the idea to build and install some raised planters around the park and fill them with a variety of herbs that the residents could maintain and benefit from.”
idverde carried out a meeting with the housing association first to discuss the options for the area, before then coming up with three viable broad options and presented them to the residents.“From those options, residents decided the option they wanted to happen was to install the raised beds, so they could have an easy to maintain garden,” explains Stevens.
Something as simple as an area of planting beds can make such
“We want to be working with larger organisations outside of us, such as local authorities and those who have responsibility for large areas of land,” says Haden.“We want to bear influence on the way that land is managed and maintained, to ensure we are doing the upmost to benefit nature and the people within.”
From the environment and landscaping side of the company to the environmental gardening programmes it runs, everything is about putting nature first at Walworth Garden as it aims to become London's first Environmental Learning Centre.
So, as the world is evolving, and communities are working together to preserve and enhance our natural environment, it seems the benefits and demand for community gardens is stronger than known before.
Whilst the introduction of biodiversity net gain may be at the forefront of intention for commercial developers, there are far more reasons as to why community gardens should be considered across all new developments to come.
RAISED PLANTERS INSTALLED BY I DVERDE THE GROW CHICHESTER COMMUNITY GARDENS
Make it playful and something that doesn’t take itself too seriously – that’s essentially the brief that Freddie Strickland was given by the RHS. And at a show where climate change dominates the gardens, his RHS Adventure Within Garden is a welcome respite.
“After having lots of gardens that have very serious and important messages in them, the RHS wanted a garden that brought excitement without any deep messaging,” says Strickland.
But the broadness of the brief was one that Strickland says took a while to get his head around. “Play means
Immersive An Escape
emotions and feelings in a space where you can explore and create your own adventure.”
So, first and foremost, it’s an accessible garden, says Strickland. It falls into two contrasting zones: an immersive space reminiscent of the green canopied tunnels created along the gunnera pathway at Trebah Gardens in Cornwall – one of Strickland’s favourites – leading to a brighter gravel garden where the space opens up.
The RHS Adventure Within Garden is one of four unjudged feature gardens at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. The others have been designed by designer and TV presenter Arit Anderson
The feature gardens offer the opportunity to bring people into the space, and I leapt at that
of the same theme at Chelsea to create another space celebrating 60 years of the Britain in Bloom competition. Anya Lautenbach and Jamie Butterworth are behind the RHS Money-Saving Garden. This will be Strickland’s first show garden since winning the RHS Young Designer of the Year competition in 2021. His On Tropic garden, which focused on a changing planting palette due to climate change, earned a clean sweep at RHS Flower Show
in size. But Strickland says it’s an unmissable pinch-me moment. “It’s a lovely opportunity to share a garden with a big crowd and I couldn’t turn that down. At Chelsea, you tend to peer into gardens from afar; but the feature gardens offer the opportunity to bring people into the space, and I leapt at that. It really excited me to share a garden in that way rather than people being on the fringes.”
He’ll be following in the footsteps of Ula Maria, who won the Young Designer competition four years earlier than Strickland, designing a feature garden at Hampton Court two years later –which Strickland helped to plant – and who has most recently
WORDS: NINA MASON
Freddie Strickland
RHS ADVENTURE WITHIN GARDEN
won Best in Show for her Main Avenue debut at Chelsea. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity; it's lovely to see the RHS investing in people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences too.”
Bristol-based Arlington Landscapes will be building the garden, which Strickland says will be a great chance for a non-London based company that hasn’t built a show garden under its own name before. It’s Strickland’s first time working with the contractor, despite them being local to each other, as his projects tend to be London based.
The garden designer grew up in the capital before moving to Cornwall, where he studied Fine Art at Falmouth University and later garden and landscape design at the Eden Project. He now lives in Bristol, but projects on the drawing board at the moment include: a passivhaus in London designed by Bere Architects, a “cool urban space” also in London for a young client “who is excited to create his first garden” – Strickland adds that he’s noticing a lot of younger clients coming through – and a couple of gardens in York. There’s even a project on the Ile de Ré thanks to his ongoing collaboration with Tim Rees of Trees Associates, who he met when he moved to Bristol. “Having his experience, passion and knowledge is an amazing resource. He’s a great mentor and real rock in the industry for me. I’m very grateful for him.”
Rees will be visiting during the build at Hampton Court too to offer his expertise. Strickland is hoping that visitors will almost “stumble upon” his garden, so he’ll be creating ambiguity through the use of hedging and trees. “This is a space that you have to experience from within; there’s an invitation to go on your own adventure.”
Visitors will wind their way through the first, compact part of the garden, which will be “intimate and playful and suspenseful.” This will lead to “a really floriferous, sunny and drier garden that is in complete contrast to the first. We’re using lots of yellow flowering plants to really emphasise joy. As you come around a dark corner, you’ll break into a bright and open space.”
the boxes of a sustainable garden build. If it’s done well then it becomes a seamless part of the garden.”
The hardscape, for instance, is as simple as possible, including a gravel path using Allgreen Group’s selfbinda, metal edging from Kinley, and reclaimed timber from Ashwells. It’s a “celebration of craft materials” too, says Strickland. The dividing wall between the two zones is half made from Ashwells’ timber and the other half has been created by master thatcher Joe Thornton. “It’s been lovely working with someone who’s so skilled and can bring a new dimension to a garden that I don’t think we’ve seen before. Thatch is typically a material seen on houses, but we’ll be using it vertically and embracing a material that is sustainable and can create a habitat.”
This is a space that you have to experience from within; there’s an invitation to go on our own adventure
Here, visitors can choose to carry on straight and leave the garden or to walk along a slightly narrower boardwalk across the site. “You’ll be lifted out of the planting and look over it. So, whereas in the first part you’re made to feel smaller and it’s a tight space, this is designed to make you feel big and to embrace openness in gardens and to give you a new perspective of the garden as it is.”
And whilst sustainability might not be in the name or part of the overriding theme, it is still a more subtle consideration. “The garden doesn’t have to shout about it; it can quietly still tick all
The simplicity of the materials is really key to creating a garden that tells a story through its planting, says Strickland. As an invasive species, gunnera cannot be used, so Strickland will be replicating the effect at Trebah through plants such as Rhus typhina and Euonymus alatus. Colour, on the other hand, will be brought to the gravel garden with Helenium 'Carmen', Calamintha nepeta and Agastache 'Blue Fortune'.
Form plants will be supplying the trees, hedging, shrubs and perennials, whilst Rolawn is providing the mulch and turf. The soft landscaping is being carried out by James and Cook, the same company that build Strickland’s Tatton garden.
It’s been nearly three years since Strickland picked up the title of Young Designer of the Year, but he’s returning to RHS shows with what will hopefully be a memorable experience for visitors –one that will remind them of the enjoyment exploring an outdoor space can bring.
FREDDIE STRICKLAND WITH RHS PRESIDENT KEITH WEED AFTER BEING ANNOUNCED AS YOUNG DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Melanie Hick is set to make her show garden debut at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival – and what better category than Get Started, one created to spark ideas for budding green fingers.
Hick has been a “lifelong gardener”, a passion kickstarted from helping her family in the garden when she was a child. Despite this, she spent more than two decades building a career in media which brought her from Melbourne to London in 2005 under an initial two-year working visa.“That’s what Australians
Melanie Hick is hoping to spark conversations with her first show garden
WORDS: NINA MASON
did in their 20s with a university degree and some professional experience under their belt,” explains Hick.
Six years ago, she retrained in garden design at Capel Manor College to “formalise” and expand her existing horticultural knowledge, which she says gave her the confidence to work in the field. She also met “amazing people” who will be helping with the planting on The Climate-Forward Garden.
“By climate forward, I mean thinking about climate decisions up front in the planning stage, rather than mitigating climate accidents after the fact.” Take carbon credits, says Hick –these are purchased once the “detrimental” carbon contribution has already been made. Being climate
forward is taking decisions that might avoid these carbon emissions in the first place
So, Hick will be creating a recycled gravel garden, using reclaimed timber, for instance, with a sculpture made from clay – “a reference to the value of natural materials” – from a supplier in Derbyshire. The garden will not feature cement; instead, contractor London Hard Landscapes will use ground screws and brackets to hold the fencing, made from former wharf timbers.
But going cement free is not a “golden ticket”, warns Hick.“We can’t make perfect decisions; we can only make better choices. So, at any point in the production of most elements of the garden there is going to be some carbon emission. For instance, the ground screws and
By climate forward, I mean thinking about climate decisions up front in the planning stage, rather than mitigating climate accidents after
Melanie Hick
Robinson
brackets are aluminium which is from bauxite mining. In poor examples, this has a detrimental effect on rivers and the landscape, as metal is smelted, releasing carbon dioxide.
“All these materials can be quantified in how much they emit, and you can then quantify how much their transportation emits. So, you can then make a calculated and better decision. It’s not quite as straightforward as going cement free as, in some cases, there may be a better option.”
Reaching these decisions is a “collaborative” approach with the contractor.“I hope it’s exciting for contractors. Their creative thinking is really valued in this approach. Sometimes it’s comfortable for you to do what you know; but when people respect your thinking and encourage you to be adventurous with making more sustainable choices, then that’s only good for your business as a contractor.”
The principles behind The Climate-Forward Garden extend beyond Hampton Court into Hick’s own garden design practice, which she set up four years ago.“I take a listening approach that’s based on my client’s emotions and how the garden will make them feel. So, I aim to deliver sustainable solutions, but with style. The client gets the garden that they feel is a retreat from the world, but it has added sustainability considerations that they might not even notice day to day.”
People want to do better by the planet and to add biodiversity, says Hick.“They want to
I hope it’s exciting for contractors. Their creative thinking is really valued in this approach
pull up their artificial lawns and be in a beautiful space. That’s when they call me... So, I guide the homeowner to make better choices. I hope that people who are thinking along this track find me my practice something that really chimes with their values.”
Hampton Court is an opportunity to share these values with a wider audience at a show
that’s easily accessible from where she’s based in London.“As a small business that’s just in its first five years, it was important to me to find a forum where I could introduce the notion of climate forward thinking in garden design – and a great way to do it is to reach hundreds of thousands of people at a show.”
The Climate-Forward Garden will act as a “conversation pit”, hopes Hick.“The more of these conversations we can have, and the more decisive action we take, the better for all of us."
She says that the UK is starting to feel the
impact of climate change, and that looking to other countries who have been experiencing certain climactic conditions for longer could be a learning opportunity. This is where Hick’s Australian heritage comes into her Hampton Court garden.“We have a range of plants that are adapted to severe conditions that we can now grow in the UK’s changing climate. If we’re looking to make our gardens more resilient going forward, then we’re going to have to consider plants that are going to withstand these conditions – plants that need less water but are also hardy so can withstand frosts.”
Hick will be demonstrating a few of these at Hampton Court alongside plants that people might be more familiar with here, with all plants having been sourced from UK nurseries.
She’ll be inspiring school children too, as the garden will be relocated to Kilmorie Primary School in Lewisham, a London borough that has a 33% child poverty rate, according to Trust for London. Hick and the garden’s sponsor FH Brundle are eager to provide a garden that will “encourage children in Lewisham to have a greater connection to the planet”.
“Show gardens have a great role to play in educating people with brilliant ideas to increase the love and value of nature and biodiversity. And if we can bring our climate thinking up front and make it climate forward as opposed to climate mitigation – which is my entire approach – then that's when we start making those better decisions. And we're not just making those decisions for ourselves and our businesses and our show gardens and the homeowner; we're making it for the planet.”
Hick might be a newcomer, but her garden is bound to be thought provoking, and her approach one that could shape the future of garden design.
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Mediterraneo The garden
Inspired by her heritage and passion for all things Greek, garden designer Katerina Kantalis is set to unveil The Mediterraneo Garden at RHS Hampton Court
WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN
Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Katerina Kantalis has spent half of her life living in the UK. The garden designer is now based in London, but it is her Greek heritage combined with her parents immigrating to Australia that makes Kantalis a first-generation Greek-Australian, and has provided her with a different type of upbringing that now inspires her work.
“My connection to nature and gardening stems from my childhood and learning so much from my parents,” says Kantalis, who runs her own design practice. “I grew up with vegetables in the garden, a multitude of fruit trees, fresh eggs from the chickens in the garden, beehives for all that fresh honey and space to play all our childhood games. My parents brought Greece to an Adelaide suburban garden.”
Drawing inspiration from the warmth and vibrancy of Greek landscapes, The Mediterraneo Garden that Kantalis will be creating at Hampton Court provides an escape from the everyday, whilst also addressing the necessity of climate adaptation in UK gardens. It seeks to transplant the iconic features into British gardens – from the rustic allure of terracotta pots, natural limestone features, to the practicality of permeable landscaping and gravel pathways.
You look at the landscape and some of it can be so rugged and the temperatures harsh, but then you get the most amazing plants surviving out there
Every element has been meticulously selected by Kantalis to infuse the timeless charm of the Mediterranean into this serene retreat whilst seamlessly integrating drought
tolerant plants that can adapt to the changing UK climate.
The Mediterraneo Garden encapsulates a landscape that evokes many memories for Kantalis. “You look at the landscape and some of it can be so rugged and the temperatures harsh, but then you get the most amazing plants surviving out there.
“Then you get the determination of the Greeks to garden no matter how big or small their space is,” says Kantalis. “They might have a balcony, yet you’ll see pots everywhere; nothing stops them and that to me goes to show that no matter what, there are no excuses not to be engaged with the outdoor space and make it your own.”
The climate and landscape are remarkably similar to Adelaide too; the two countries have similarities in dealing with drought and working out what you would need for a garden to survive, she adds.
The Mediterraneo Garden employs minimal hard landscaping with permeable paving such as self-binding gravel, enabling water drainage, alongside natural limestone, and decorative aggregates. It adopts a 'lawn free' approach to reduce water consumption.
Kantalis has chosen a variety of droughttolerant plants, acclimatised to prolonged dry spells and the evolving UK climate. “Most plants are locally sourced, ensuring resilience to British conditions,” adds Kantalis.
Encouraging the use of trees, low-lying ground cover, and shrubs to foster biodiversity, Kantalis is also utilising diverse planting mediums, including terracotta pots for overwintering delicate plants, gravel, and soil, helping to shape an environmentally sustainable garden design.
from creamy whites to sandy yellows, beautifully reflect the sunlight, harmonising with Greece's coastal surroundings; but more importantly, limestone cladding aligns with principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility, says Kantalis.
“It’s durable, naturally cools houses and is permeable, helping contribute to better water management, especially in regions prone to drought. Overall, limestone cladding not only celebrates architectural beauty but also promotes principles of sustainability, resilience, and environmental harmony within its Mediterranean context.”
With the climate changing we do need to think about how we create our gardens
“Limestone is going to play a key role in the garden,” says Kantalis. “There is nothing more amazing than walking through a Greek town and seeing the limestone clad buildings which blend seamlessly into their setting, feeling natural amongst vibrant flora.” The stone's soft and warm tones, ranging
The Mediterraneo Garden ultimately sets out to provide inspiration and alternative planting styles for British gardens. “With the climate changing, we do need to think about how we create our gardens,” says Kantalis.“I know that not everyone will want a gravel garden, but it is about taking snippets from this garden and what the Mediterranean can teach us.
Plant choices are likely to change with time as the temperatures get hotter, and so Kantalis says we need to think about the materials we use in the garden and how we use growing mediums. But it is also about using the space
to evoke a sense of calm and wellbeing by using warm natural tones, scattered with plants that are scented, herbal and colourful, whilst the trees introduced – although synonymous with the Mediterranean basin – are being seen more and more in the UK.
Kantalis aims to show people how they can engage with a space and create a garden to be proud of. “If I’ve been able to take someone on a journey from asking for a ‘low maintenance’ garden, to one where they’re out there clearing weeds, pruning, growing their own vegetables, teaching their children, watching the wildlife, and enjoying their outdoor space, then I’ve achieved something.”
And if she can teach some of the Greek and Australian ways of life and transfer some of the principles into a British garden, then The Mediterraneo Garden will truly have been a success.
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Creative Cohabiting Spaces
An idea that sparked from popular client requests, A Four Season Sanctuary goes against the grain of demand
Landscape designer and horticulturist, Tim Jennings, has been designing gardens for a range of clients over the past two decades, finding that his typical customer across London and Cambridge, often requests a design that is “modern.” Clean cut lines, porcelain paving, and small tidy lawns –a brief that usually offers extremely limited resources for wildlife.
But Jennings is keen to prove that a “low maintenance” space doesn't have to be void of nature. “I like to design gardens that are geometrically beautiful and include large patches of wild meadows wherever possible,” says Jennings.
A Four Season Sanctuary at Hampton Court is therefore a combination of modern meets rustic, “I want to show people that you can have both; something quite striking,
beautiful, and modern with geometric design but using recycled, responsibly sourced and permeable materials that have a fantastic naturalistic look,” says Jennings.
With the main theme behind this sanctuary being how to create a space for both humans and wildlife, “you can have your cake and eat it too if you're clever about it. Otherwise, we're just going around making these environmental disasters. There is a way of doing these things where the client can get what they want, but also, you're taking the rest of the planet into consideration.”
Take the trees and hedges that Jennings is using at Hampton Court which have been field grown in the UK, and the large timber structures that will be constructed from recycled timbers while smaller features will be formed from exclusively wind-blown trees. Where concrete would have traditionally been used to support these structures, the garden’s contractor Green Vision Landscaping will be using rammed earth instead, and the hedging will provide a crucial nesting habitat for birds whilst also supporting a vast array of wildlife
All subbases are to be constructed from permeable materials, allowing water to return naturally to the water table feature which, along with the small pond, will provide
Sponsor and Contractor Green Vision Landscaping (Paul Cresswell) greenvisionlandscaping.co.uk
a lifeline for many wild species including birdlife. Whilst Jennings hopes to use the garden to change attitudes around domestic garden designs, there are methods that should also appeal to public, and commercial spaces too.
“Combining striking modern design features with traditional materials and naturalistic ‘drift’ planting, this is a garden that strives for a planet-friendly future,” says Jennings.
The design demonstrates that it is possible to achieve a strong stylish aesthetic whilst also providing the natural, seasonal wild space “to
to the Mencap headquarters in Watford. The UK charity – which supports people with learning difficulties and their families, to live happy, healthy lives – will use the garden as a place to be together and feel connected to the “essential elements of life” – earth, water, fire and air.
RHS Britain in Bloom 60th Anniversary: Gardening for People and Planet
In a milestone year for Britain in Bloom, the theme for the community gardening competition is ‘friendship’. It has been bringing green-fingered people together for the last six decades. Having already created a garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on this theme, father and son duo Jon and James Wheatley are bringing the celebrations to Hampton Court. A ‘friendship bench’ surrounded by planting will allow people to make new connections. Plants are British grown, and most will have been grown by the design team at Stonebarn Landscapes.
Designer Jon and James Wheatley
Contractor Stonebarn Landscapes
Plant supplier Grown at Stonebarn Landscapes
Relocation Friendship benches and plants will be distributed to Bloom and other community gardening groups based near to Hampton Court Palace
GARDENS Feature
This year’s unjudged gardens range from gardening on a budget to simply playful
Designer Arit Anderson
Contractor
Beaufort & Rampton
Plant supplier
Golden Valley Plants, Farplants, Hillier, Hillier Trees, Farplants, New
Wood Trees, the RHS, Sunnyside Rural Trust, Sarah Raven, Rijnbeek Perennials
Relocation TBC
RHS Peat-Free Garden
Preserving carbon-rich peatlands could prove crucial in tackling climate change. More than 80% of them are damaged in the UK following peat extraction, which is why the government is banning all uses of peat, including by professional growers, by 2030. All RHS shows will also be peat-free by 2026. TV presenter and garden designer Arit Anderson will be using Hampton Court as a platform to educate visitors on alternatives and provide peat-free growing tips. Talks and workshops will be held on the garden, which will see an untouched peatland mimicked with naturalistic planting before becoming a more traditional domestic garden.
Designer Freddie Strickland
RHS Adventure Within Garden
Contractor Arlington Landscapes, James and Cook
Plant supplier Form Plants
Relocation All elements of the garden will be returned to suppliers or find a second home
Freddie Strickland is making his debut at Hampton Court with a feature garden that’s designed to be playful. The Bristol-based designer – who won RHS Young Designer of the Year in 2021 – has created a garden that invites visitors to become immersed within it and experience their own adventure. There are two contrasting zones in the garden – one where those wandering through will feel more enclosed, and another where the garden opens up into a colourful space. A boardwalk will take people above the planting for a different perspective.
RHS Money Saving Garden
Designer Anya Lautenbach and Jamie Butterworth
Contractor Form Plants
Plant supplier Form Plants
Relocation Plants will go back to Form Plants and will be sold off cheaply for charity. Once sold, a donation will be given to Perennial.
Money saving gardener and influencer Anya Lautenbach has teamed up with RHS ambassador Jamie Butterworth to help those on a limited budget continue to garden. They’ll be growing plants for free, for instance, and repurposing paving slabs, showing how people can save money gardening. A weaker mix of cement is being used in the garden, to save money and for the environment and to make the garden as realistic as possible. Free tutorials and presentations during the show will offer advice on propagating plants and creating natural plant supports, to ensure as many people as possible can reap the benefits of horticulture.
Designer
Oliver Bond
Contractor
PDC Landscapes
Sponsor
Bond Landscape
Design Limited
Plant supplier
Grenville Nurseries,
Majestic Trees
Relocation
A private garden to adjoin an existing tennis court within a mid-sized wildflower meadow, dotted with mature trees of varying species
Bond Landscape Design: Match Point
With Hampton Court opening just as the Wimbledon Championships kicks off, Oliver Bond – who features on BBC2’s Your Garden Made Perfect –is bringing a tennis-inspired garden to the show. He’s seeking to show that a tennis court and clubhouse can be subtle additions to a garden, blending in with the rest of the landscape. Bright purple alliums take centre stage, alongside ferns and grasses to add green and white, all of which are accentuated by the black exterior of the clubhouse. Rather than cement, metal ground screws are being used for the foundations and recycled composite timber decking for the cladding due to their low maintenance and longevity.
The Lion King Anniversary Garden
Designer Juliet Sargeant
Contractor
Gardenlink
Sponsor
Disney’s
The Lion King
Plant supplier
Deepdale
Trees and How Green
Nursery
Relocation
The Hospice in the Weald
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Disney’s The Lion King in London, Juliet Sargeant has designed a community garden for people to reflect on their own Circle of Life, with a circle motif incorporated throughout the space. It is inspired by the stage production as well as the African landscapes where the show is set. This will be Sargeant’s first judged garden at Hampton Court, having designed a feature garden for the RHS in 2017 for its partnership with Saturday Kitchen Live.
GARDENS Show
A varied mix of themes and landscapes make up this year’s show gardens
Oregon Garden
Sadie May Stowell is no stranger to Hampton Court. She has been designing gardens at the show since 2008, and ones to showcase various areas of the USA since 2015, starting with Massachusetts. This year, Stowell will be focusing her attention on Oregon as well as a second garden on Charleston – both of which she also explored in gardens at least year’s festival. The Oregon Garden will be showcasing the natural beauty of the state, with planting to attract wildlife and large boulders creating an eye-capturing waterfall.
Designer Sadie May Stowell
Contractor C and G
Landscapes Ltd
Sponsor Travel Oregon, Brand USA
Plant supplier Stowell uses a number of small local nurseries in the Midlands, then brings the plants up to flowering point in her small nursery. She grows any annual plants herself
Relocation The garden will be recycled post show, with some items returned to suppliers, some items recycled locally and other items donated to charity
The Way of Saint James
After a nine-year hiatus, chartered landscape architect Nilufer Danius is returning to the show and has drawn inspiration from the patron saint of Spain and the pilgrim’s journey to Santiago de Compostela. There’ll be a pilgrim statue, for instance, and the Camino symbols of the Santiago cross and a yellow arrow. The garden is set in Galicia, Spain, and evokes its mythical forests with woodland planting. Although materials used will replicate Galician gardens, they will all be sourced from UK suppliers.
Designer Giada Francois
Contractor
E.J.Lancaster Ltd
Sponsor Lancaster’s Garden Centre, Beam Homes Ltd
Plant supplier
E.J.Lancaster Ltd
Relocation
John Walsh & Fred Wigg Towers
Housing Estate, in London
Designer Nilufer Danis
Contractor
Acacia Gardens
Sponsor Axencia
Turismo de Galicia, Tourist Office of Spain
Plant supplier
Hortus Loci and
Deepdale Trees
Relocation A care home in the UK
The Sounds of Adventure Garden
Designer Nic Howard
Contractor Gardenlink
Sponsor Exodus Adventure Travels
Plant supplier Hortus Loci
Relocation A garden open to the National Garden Scheme
Exodus Adventure Travels is committed to sustainable travel, and that’s what Nic Howard – founder of design and build company We Love Plants Ltd – will be embodying at Hampton Court through a garden that has a limited carbon footprint. Ground screws will support a central building, plant species will be chosen for their climate resilience and benefit to wildlife, and there’s a focus on water efficiency, from rainwater harvesting to permeable paving.
Lancaster’s Garden of Renewal, Nature’s Embrace
Italian garden designer Giada Francois is putting nature at the heart of this garden. Biodiversity, sustainability and healing are themes running throughout the design, which features meandering pathways and secluded seating areas. There’ll be a sculpture made from reclaimed materials and xeriscaping incorporated through drought-tolerant plants. Reclaimed wood, recycled tiles and permeable paving all seek to minimise the garden’s environmental impact.
The Explore Charleston Garden
Designer Sadie May Stowell
Contractor SM Corporate Events Ltd
Sponsor Explore Charleston, Brand USA
Plant supplier Stowell uses a number of small local nurseries in the Midlands, then brings the plants up to flowering point in her small nursery. She grows any annual plants herself
Relocation The elements will be broken down post show and items will be returned to suppliers, recycled or donated to charity post show
The English influence on this city in South Carolina will be evoked, from manicured hedges and symmetrical patterns reminiscent of more formal gardens to more naturalistic, diverse areas which are a nod to the wild wetland areas of Charleston. It will celebrate the pocket gardens found throughout the populous city, with a water feature inspired by its iconic Chapel Street Fountain. Various recycled and reclaimed materials will be used.
Relocation The grounds of MENCAP charity headquarters in Watford
A Four Season Sanctuary
Cambridgeshire-based designer Tim Jennings is bringing to life a year-round sanctuary for both people and wildlife to enjoy. He’ll be using naturalistic planting such as meadow grasses to soften more contemporary aspects of the garden, such as a striking pergola. Plants such as Succisa pratensis and Butomus umbellatus
‘Rosenrot’ will hopefully attract pollinators, and the trees and hedges – which create crucial habitats –have been field grown in the UK.
GARDENS Get Started
Introduced for budding gardeners , this category aims to inspire
The Making Sense Garden
Designer Flora Scouarnec and Victoria Pease-Cox
Contractor Acacia Gardens
Sponsor Scouarnec & Pease-Cox Garden Design
Plant supplier How Green Nursery, Creepers Nursery
Relocation All key elements of the garden will be relocated across three private projects being undertaken by the designers
Career changers
Flora Scouarnec and Victoria Pease-Cox have designed a sensory garden for those living with anosmia, an impaired sense of smell and taste. It gives sight, sound and touch – rather than scent – an enhanced platform, with generous planting across two levels. But hard landscaping plays just as important a role. There’s a curving gravel path that ends with steps leading down to a sunken garden. Here lies a bench and wall-mounted water feature for a calming soundscape. No cement is being used for construction; instead, a cement-free concrete will be used and lime for block work.
The Climate-Forward Garden
Designer Melanie Hick
Contractor London
Hard Landscapes
Sponsor F.H. Brundle
Plant supplier
Hardy Eucalyptus, Provender Nurseries
Relocation Kilmorie School, Lewisham
After switching from a career in media to retrain as a garden designer, Melanie Hick is honing her practice’s approach, which combines sustainable, climate resilient design without compromising on beauty. And that’s what her Hampton Court debut will be showcasing, bringing together native and non-native plants from her home country of Australia to create a garden suitable for a changing climate, with all plants being sourced from UK nurseries. Drought tolerant planting will sit alongside a soakaway for sudden downpours.
The Mediterraneo Garden
Katerina Kantalis established her garden design studio in Crystal Palace, London, after relocating to the UK from Australia and retraining, following careers in both fundraising and science. She’ll be bringing together her experiences, as well as her Greek heritage, to create a Mediterranean inspired garden for a changing British climate. The space will also provide an escape, with terracotta pots and natural limestone features.
Moss Magic Garden
Designer Katerina Kantalis
Contractor Phil Sutton Landscapes
Sponsor Allgreen, The Otter Nursery, Kinley, Rivar Sand and Gravel Plant supplier
The Otter Nursery
Relocation: Elements of the garden will be relocated to Crystal Palace Park as part of the Invisible Palace charity
The youngest ever female medallist at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is bringing her talents to Hampton Court this year with a garden which celebrates moss. Venezuelan and English designer Bea Tann will be creating a woodland inspired urban garden, which shows how moss can be both beautiful and offer a wealth of benefits. Woodland planting such as Pinus sylvestris will complement a moss lawn made up of Brachythecium rutabulum and three other species.
Designer Bea Tann Contractor Everest Garden Landscapes alongside Gareth Wilson and Joe Irving Sponsor RSK Group Plant supplier Hortus Loci, Moss Clerks Relocation A community gardening charity
Dementia is an umbrella term for different brain disorders which trigger a loss of brain function, for which there is currently no cure. It is the number one cause of death in the UK and as we live longer, the number of people with dementia in the UK is also growing. Current estimates put it at 900,000 people, expected to reach over one million by 2025.
As I write this, my family and I are coming to terms with the challenges that lie ahead for my uncle who has recently been diagnosed with the disease. Since losing my auntie last year he now lives on his own and, for now, gardening remains his only real joy. He joins around two-thirds of people living with dementia who are living in their own homes. This makes the role of accessible gardens at home just as important as the green spaces at dementia inclusive care homes.
Dementia is a progressive disease and there are many different types, with symptoms varying from person to person. Memory loss is commonly associated, but changes in mood, sensory impairment and ability to communicate are often experienced too. There is growing evidence that access to outdoors and nature can have an important role in supporting you if you are living with dementia. Florence Williams in her book
DEMENTIA Coming to terms with
Adam White explores why creating gardens suitable for those with dementia shouldn’t be limited to care homes
There is growing evidence that access to outdoors and nature can have an important role in supporting you if you are living with dementia
The Nature Fix talks about how time in nature has been shown to improve emotional state, physical health, verbal expression and memory. It can also help sleep and waking patterns, appetite and reduce stress and anxiety.
Gardening is increasingly being advised by GPs as part of social prescribing. This allows health professionals to refer people to non-clinical services in the community that can support their health and wellbeing. Importantly, it gives the opportunity to look ahead. Nurturing plants means caring for something that will grow and flower in the future.
In a survey on gardening and dementia in 2022, created with Dementia Adventure, 70% of people said they garden less or have stopped completely since their diagnosis. Reasons ranged from lack of motivation and
concentration to physical barriers or not being sure what to do. However, with the right support and maybe a bit of a redesign, the garden can be the best prescription available.
A fifth (20%) of dementia conditions are described as being non-memory-led, young-onset and/or hereditary. To raise awareness that dementia can be more than just memory lost in the older generations Charlie Hawkes designed his ‘Rare Space’ sanctuary garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2023. Built by The Landscape Associates, it won a Gold medal along with scooping Best Sanctuary Garden and Best Construction.
Hawkes designed the space primarily in response to a visual rare dementia called PCA, which affects visual processing. Living with PCA makes seeing, understanding and moving confidently through physical space extremely challenging. After the show, the
garden was moved to Exbury Gardens in Hampshire where it will remain until being relocated again to the new Rare Dementia Support Centre in London in 2025.
There is a lot of great advice online on how to design a garden for those suffering with dementia. At our practice we often talk to the Alzheimer Society or engage with the charity Thrive to get expert advice. Charlotte Olver also wrote an article for the RHS website called Creating a Dementia Friendly Garden; this and the many other resources are well worth consideration to ensure your next green space project is future proofed to be as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Adam White FLI PPLI is a director of Davies White Ltd. He is a chartered landscape architect, fellow and past president of Landscape Institute. He established Davies White Ltd, which specialises in designing accessible and inclusive gardens and green spaces. davieswhite.co.uk @davies_white
ADAM WHITE
THE NATIONAL BRAIN APPEAL'S RARE SPACE GARDEN AT RHS CHELSEA 2023 BY CHARLIE HAWKES
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GLITZ AND GLAMOUR BEYOND THE of Chelsea
There are more takeaways from the gardens at the world-renowned show than simply aesthetics, explains David Keegan
After a few years away, I returned to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, enticed by the intriguing pre-show concepts that promised fresh inspiration. The show, with its rich history and tradition, always manages to capture the imagination of garden designers and enthusiasts alike. This year was no exception.
First, let’s talk about irises. They were everywhere. Virtually every main show garden featured one variety or another – a fitting choice for this time of year. Apart from that, planting styles leaned heavily towards soft, wispy, and naturalistic themes. While these herbaceous perennials undoubtedly add beauty and charm, one might wonder how they will look once they die back – a bare winter garden perhaps? However, this observation is just a prelude to the central focus of my visit: the undeniable impact of climate change on garden design.
Although no exhibitor seemed to explicitly mention climate change, its influence on the show gardens was unmistakable. One of the most significant takeaways from this year’s Chelsea was the prevalence of water features. Nearly every show garden incorporated water in some capacity, many focusing on the excess rainfall we’ve experienced over the past six months and strategies for managing it. Considering that show gardens are planned at least a year in advance, it’s intriguing to speculate about their prescient design choices.
Tom Stuart-Smith’s white garden was certainly a visual delight, exuding a serene and ethereal beauty. I was also taken by the range of gardens in the balcony category showing a broad-brush stroke in terms of aesthetic and mood but all with the overriding message that small spaces can be beautiful places packed full of plants and colour. However, I was particularly interested in gardens that addressed the extremes of water and sun. The standout for me
was the Terence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Garden, which captivated with its texture, contours, and use of Welsh topographical elements and materials, notably slate and boulders. This garden effectively demonstrated innovative water management techniques, making it a highlight of my visit.
Speaking with one of the designers, I learned that the garden drew inspiration from an old Welsh mining pit that would fill with water and gradually dry out. By using contours and varying levels, the garden was designed to adapt to water flow, with wet-loving and drought-tolerant plants strategically placed in different areas. This thoughtful approach to water management was both practical and aesthetically pleasing. I was surprised to learn that it only achieved a Silver Gilt medal. On reflection, it did leave me wondering how the bog areas might cope in years of extreme heat and drought.
Nearly every show garden incorporated water in some capacity, many focusing on the excess rainfall we’ve experienced over the past six months and strategies for managing it
While it was encouraging to see a focus on managing excess rainfall, I noticed a potential gap in addressing dry weather and drought conditions.
As designers and gardeners, we need to consider both extremes and view them as opportunities for innovation. Rainwater harvesting and storage, using attenuation tanks, could play a crucial role. These tanks could not only be used to form underlying changes in garden levels but also provide essential irrigation during dry spells, helping maintain boggy areas and supporting the overall health of the garden.
In addition to the Terence Higgins Trust, several other gardens showcased innovative uses of water. One featured a series of cascading pools that not only provided a visually stunning centrepiece but also served as a natural filtration system. This system purified rainwater, which was then used to irrigate the garden. The combination of beauty and functionality in these designs was truly inspiring.
To my mind going forward, the RHS is not only best placed but will have a pivotal role in educating the public about the interconnectedness of weather extremes and the necessity of holistic approaches to garden design. Their efforts to highlight sustainable practices and resilient garden designs are more important than ever.
Reflecting on my visit, I appreciated the shift towards more focused and less ostentatious gardens. This evolution makes the show more accessible and relevant, to some extent shedding its
previous air of elitism. The gardens felt more grounded, with an emphasis on practicality and sustainability. This shift is a positive change, aligning with the broader movement towards environmental responsibility in gardening.
After all the oohs, ahhs, and dazzling displays, we face critical decisions about the future of garden design. The increasing unpredictability of weather patterns means that we must design gardens that can withstand both floods and droughts. This year’s show gardens have set a precedent for how we can achieve this balance.
I believe that water attenuation systems will become a central feature in garden and landscape design. Although they have been around for years, their full potential has yet to be realised. Trust me, they are about to take centre stage. These systems not only help in managing water efficiently but also in creating dynamic and adaptable landscapes.
This year’s Chelsea was a testament to the evolving landscape of garden design. The emphasis on water management, sustainability, and climate resilience was both timely and necessary. As we look to the future, garden design must adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. The innovative solutions showcased at this year’s show offer a blueprint for creating gardens that are not only beautiful but also resilient and sustainable.
It is up to us, as designers and gardeners, to take these ideas and implement them in our own work
It is up to us, as designers and gardeners, to take these ideas and implement them in our own work. By doing so, we can create gardens that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also equipped to handle the environmental challenges of the future.
Overall, my return to Chelsea was a rewarding experience. It reminded me of the power of thoughtful design and the importance of adapting to our changing world. As we move forward, let us embrace these lessons and continue to innovate in our gardens, creating spaces that are both beautiful and resilient.
DAVID KEEGAN
David Keegan is an international, national and regional award-winning garden and landscape designer. His design philosophy centres on a naturalistic planting style.
David’s garden design projects are located around the UK, in Manchester, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and the north-west of England. dkgardendesign.co.uk
Chelsea's UNSUNG HEROES
Contractors continue to be overlooked by media coverage of RHS shows –and this needs to change, argues Gareth Wilson
Are landscapers undervalued and unappreciated? Spoiler alert: yes. My team and I have just returned home from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We could not be happier with our Gold medal for the delivery of container garden Sanctum. We also received fantastic feedback for the non-judged balcony garden installation we built, The Discover More Garden, for Viking.
Delivery of these projects to an awardwinning standard is a long haul. It involves almost 12 months of planning and hard work
behind the scenes. Those in the industry understand and acknowledge this: the designers, delivery partners, and professional and garden societies. But unfortunately, the landscaper is completely overlooked and undervalued by media coverage of these incredible shows and has afforded almost no credit whatsoever.
Now let me assure you, this is not about me! I do mean that.
I have self-generated a large social media presence and I’ve made myself seen and heard! Without my natural attention-loving traits, I might otherwise have been less visible. But it irks me that other worthy landscapers do not get the credit they so richly deserve.
coverage, regarding Chelsea and other high-profile flower shows, there is hardly any mention of the landscaping contractors. The emphasis is always on the designer. Why? In almost all cases I know, the designer and contractor work as a team.
Without my natural attentionloving traits I might otherwise have been less visible. But it irks me that other worthy landscapers do not get the credit they so richly deserve
Having read many articles in magazines and national newspapers, alongside TV
In the BBC’s Gardeners’ World coverage of Chelsea this year, Monty Don speaks about our Gold medal-winning garden and gives it very high praise.
As the credits appear on the screen, the name of the garden and designer are there but with no mention of the landscape contractor. I experienced this when I won my first Gold medal at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park back in 2014 for Industrial Transitions. This was
SANCTUM AT RHS CHELSEA 2024
THE DISCOVER MORE GARDEN
my project: I self-funded it and contracted a talented, young, graduate designer to work with me. We developed the concept for the garden together, I informed the planting and hard landscape materials. My team and I executed the project to the highest standard. But media coverage, including the BBC, credited the garden to my designer and my name was not mentioned. Why is this? Is it a problem of inclusivity? Of social-economic class bias and assumptions about graduate professions versus trade professions? How many people like me – and the many experienced tradespeople I know – populate media board rooms and the spaces where editorial decisions are made about coverage of prestigious competitions (quite subconsciously I’m sure)?
I do believe the landscaping contractor is seen as a passive player, a mere vehicle delivering the vision of the designer. Or worse still, I don’t think the landscaper is seen at all. The reality is, for an award-winning show garden, or indeed any land along project delivered to a high standard, the designer and landscaper must work as partners. They must confer on design, materials, logistics, what will work and what might compromise the end result. The designer frequently takes advice from the landscaper to shape the design. This partnership commences at the outset, right through planning, and all stages of delivery, where adjustments are often required. We both eat, sleep and breathe the project until it’s finished. I’ve worked with many garden
As landscapers, we must continue to raise standards and demand the respect we deserve
designers: some great, some less so. In my experience a great landscaper can make an average garden designer look good; however, a good garden design cannot hold up a poor landscaper.
I don’t wish to sound overly negative. Designers understand the value and partnership of a landscaper well and will frequently work with the same team again and again for this reason. Designers will often use the platform they are given to share their credit with their landscaping partner. Almost all designers I have worked with have done this for me and my team. My frustration is that the media do not seek our story out for themselves.
Landscaping as a wider industry can of course be a mixed bag. I tend to see a lot of the poorer end of the industry with my expert witness work, and I hope new British Standards and available training will start to shift the dial. The current variability in landscaper standards makes good landscapers all the more valuable to a designer, especially at RHS shows.
What can we in the landscaping industry do about all this? Well, beware of the designer who does not regard you as their partner; the very best projects can only be delivered through teamwork and mutual respect. Expect to be treated as a valued professional. Be clear at the start of a project that the team must be included in developing vision, design and delivery. As landscapers, we must continue to raise standards and demand the respect we deserve. And to the media, I ask you to reach out to us; you are missing the voice and perspective of highly experienced and talented players in the delivery of awardwinning gardens. We can bring to you new and wider audiences. Plus, we have some incredible tales to tell!
Leaving college at 17, Gareth has worked in the landscape industry since 1989. Progressing onto high-end projects, he has picked up seven RHS gold medals. He is a member of multiple professional bodies. He provides technical and product advice to large companies, mentors and trains contractors and garden designers in landscape construction and on show gardens logistics across the UK. Gareth also provides mediation services, he is a member of the BS7533:102 committee and is an industry awards judge.
gkwilsonlandscaping.co.uk
GARETH WILSON
THE DISCOVER MORE GARDEN AT RHS CHELSEA 2024
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ACQUAINTED BETTER Get
How much do we really understand about plants, questions Noel Kingsbury
We are creating combinations
of plants where individuals are closer together than in conventional planting, and often in competition with each other
've been spending quite a bit of time recently reflecting on how plants grow, and then on how little we really understand about them, and how poorly what we do know is communicated. In garden and landscape design we have historically been so used to growing plants separately from each other, thinking about them as individuals, that we forget that in nature, most plants are in very close contact with others – only cacti in the desert, it seems, naturally stand as lone individuals. As we do more naturalistic planting, we are creating combinations of plants where individuals are closer together than in conventional planting, and often in competition with each other to an extent that would have been quite alien to a previous generation. Reducing maintenance, either due to cost cutting or for a desire for more biodiversity friendly planting, also often results in plants growing together more densely, and in these circumstances, they may behave quite differently compared to growing further apart in a conventional border. Understanding that each species will have a way it 'wants' to grow (an outcome of genetic factors) helps enormously in how we use plants, as well as the reasons why evolution has driven it to that particular pattern of growth. A good example are the cranesbill geraniums we all so love, or at least have done so since the 1980s, when increasing numbers of garden designers – and now landscape architects – realised how well these plants do in the British climate. However, they tend to flop after flowering; not such a big deal if used en masse for ground cover but a pain in other situations. Why do they do this? In nature they have a strong tendency to use other plants to support the weight
of their flowering stems, a neat trick which probably evolved so that they could invest more biomass in more and bigger flowers, and so produce more seed –and over to Charles Darwin and 'survival of the fittest'.
Untidy geraniums? If grown with other selfsupporting perennials, or grasses, they will have some support and look better, with the dying flowering stems increasingly concealed by later-flowering perennials or grasses. If planted on the edge of shrub canopies, they can scramble attractively into the lower branches, a boon particularly with the long rangy stems of late-flowering Geranium 'Rozanne'.
This is just one of countless examples we could look at. There are some academic researchers out there working on all this, but to be honest, the best thing is for us all to get more of an intuitive feel for plants and how they grow. Country walks are a brilliant way to get to appreciate plants better. They are an opportunity to see how plants mesh together, all seeking to occupy space and get to the light in as many different ways as there are species. Older plantings in parks and gardens can be a great learning opportunity too. 'Neglected' plantings may look past their best, but in renovating them – getting in there to prune, thin and weed – they are a great potential learning opportunity to see how plants have developed over time without our management and control.
Plant communities in nature, or diverse neglected plantings, are also an opportunity to appreciate something else which is at the core of much new thinking on planting: that we should not just be looking at plants as individuals but as components of a community. Routine or restorative maintenance operations are a great opportunity to understand the mechanics of how plants grow and grow together –all of which could help improve our future design and management strategies.
He
Noel Kingsbury is a freelance designer, writer and researcher who has long promoted naturalistic planting design.
NEW LEAF?Turning over a
AGeneral Election is a relatively common thing, even though it seems like an age since we last had one – we have, after all, had three different Prime Ministers since the last one. But General Elections where it seems highly likely that a government will change are less common and present a number of interesting questions, such as what they will do in terms of commitment to landscape, horticulture and the environment.
I write this shortly after the election has been declared and so a great deal will no doubt have passed by the time it is read by you, dear reader. I doubt that much of the conversation and debate will focus heavily on our industry and the importance of what we do, but I would be delighted to be wrong. The incumbent government has been notoriously quick to promise and quicker still to renege on those promises. The state of our riverways and beaches has not been so at risk since the industrial revolution. The constant revisiting of whether to frack or not to frack has regularly brought local communities to protest, and rightly so. Tree planting targets have never been hit across the UK, with Scotland, I am pleased to say, coming closest.
With the general election just around the corner, what should our industry expect from the next government, ponders Lewis Normand
Cowboy landscapers continue to operate, and quality landscapers – of which we have many – are having to compete in a cost increased world for work often undervalued by clients.
A government that values the environment and their commitment to net zero is one that needs horticulture and landscape
One area where we are achieving significant success is in the establishment into law of biodiversity net gain. Here, we are ensuring climate positive approaches to construction are undertaken and I welcome this being expended into domestic redevelopments and in the long term to us preventing the further concreting, paving and tarmacking of our green spaces without recourse.
On to horticulture, then. Our environment has been taking a kicking in many respects in recent years and so too have the horticulture and landscape industries. We have experienced nothing tangible that I can see in terms of benefit from Brexit; plant import and export is more time consuming, laboured, unsure and significantly more costly since we left the European Union. On top of this, several smaller nurseries across the UK have decided that extra costs and hassle simply aren’t worth it and so have closed, with more on the horizon as nurseries look all the more appealing to children inheriting these sites as housing developments than they do as a career.
So, what is our ask of new government? Recognition of our work? Value of our contribution? It’s hard to say for sure, but a government that values the environment and their commitment to net zero is one that needs horticulture and landscape. Any new Defra Minister in Whitehall, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands in Holyrood, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs in Senedd and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in the Northern Ireland Executive, must all be engaged with by our trade bodies with clear asks – asks for the benefit of the hundreds of thousands of UK employees across horticulture, landscape and the environment, and asks for commitment to support the industries through funding, integration in the discussion on how to create a greener economy and how to ensure we can combat rising prices, skills shortages and a low appetite among graduates to join our industries. We need to put better value on what we do. The public needs to understand the positives we bring to the economy, local and broader environment, tourist attraction, and health and wellbeing.
Our problem may be that we actually give back so much that it is difficult to succinctly categorise them. If we are to get support and backing, however, we need to find a way to get that through to those who will make the decisions and laws over the next five years at least.
LEWIS NORMAND
Lewis has worked in a wide variety of roles within horticulture over a 20-year career. He has lectured on garden design and horticulture, and designed gardens in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Since 2011, Lewis has focused on nursery sales, now working as sales manager at Bernhard’s Nurseries, and has helped to launch a number of new plants into the UK plant market. He is a specialist supplier to show gardens, supplying more than 100 gardens at major shows.
GOOD OLD DAYS? THE
The new paving installation standard is proof that change can be good, explains David Strows, as he introduces one of the key people behind it
After a long gruelling wait, Eurovision was finally upon us. The bunting was up, the sequins applied, and I was poised with anticipation when, low and behold, my father-in-law decided to pay us a visit. In an attempt to keep family relations happy, I sat with gritted teeth listening to
save us all from having a heart attack, smoking in a public space is not allowed, and thank the Lord for mobile phones.
This mentality is all too familiar to me, often when talking to landscapers about standards, the rose-coloured glasses come out and, lo and behold, things were "better back then". Questions such as 'We didn’t need standards back then, so why do we need them now?' and 'I’ve been doing this for years without a problem, so who are they to tell me how to do it?' are very common and indeed perfectly valid. So, I thought it would be good to touch upon the how, who, and why.
Wagon Wheel was the size of a table top, summers were endless and the winters were like a Bing Crosby song. But we tend to be rather selective with our memories and put those that are not so ideal to the back of our mind – like queuing for the public telephone box that you had to be a body builder to open the door of, only to be met by the odour of the last person who used it as a public convenience, or the smoking and non-smoking zone in the cinema being next to each other in the same room.
Fast forward a few decades and the Curly Wurlys and Wagon Wheels have shrunk to
Back in “the good old days”, the materials encountered by the contractor mainly consisted of York stone, concrete paving and timber, and clients in general, were less aware of what was good, bad and ugly. But our industry has changed significantly since then, and it is constantly evolving. The variety of disciplines and depth of knowledge required to create the modern garden is more extensive, and in an ever more litigious and aware society, the responsibility to consistently perform at the highest level can weigh heavily on the shoulders of the contractor.
This is where the new standard is so useful – with so many other demands and considerations involved with running a modern landscaping business, it removes some of the weight from the shoulders of the contractor by providing clear, easy-to-digest design and installation guidance that, correctly implemented, ensures a quality outcome and removes many “construction grey areas”.
The responsibility to consistently perform at the highest level can weigh heavily on the shoulders of the contractor
So, who are the people behind the standards and how do they make the decisions that will affect us and our industry?
The process begins with a case for a new standard being presented to the BSI for approval. When the 102 was being formulated, it was requested that it should include guidance for a lightly trafficked
area where no design has been provided. This has now become clause 4 of the document, which provides installation and design guidance for domestic traffic categories 1 to 3. Once approved, a convenor is appointed by the members of an existing committee within BSI called the B/507. The convenors’ role is to appoint a panel of experts to assemble the draft standard, chair the meetings and manage panel correspondence.
The experts who form the panel are not appointed in order to represent any company, trade association, institute or similar; they are appointed for their knowledge, expertise and experience from a large cross section of the industry.
early 1990s, David Burton joined the research team at Heriot Watt to develop the SCOTS report , which formed the basis of the first natural stone paving standards, going on to author the NHSS30 guidance for bound construction.
There are sound reasons why a craftsman does something in a certain way and that deserves analysis and explanation
A member of the German Natural Stone Federations, representing Britain and Sweden to European and International standards committees, Burton convened the panel of experts appointed to develop this new standard BS7533-102, and chaired the process.
"When working alongside craftsmen, I was continually amazed at all they knew, yet they couldn't express themselves in technical terms and weren't given the respect they deserved. I didn't know then that the world would change so quickly and these skills, these secrets would be soon lost. Since then, I took it upon myself to study what the craftsman does and try to relate that in technical/scientific terms; there are always sound reasons why a craftsman does something in a certain way and that deserves analysis and explanation.
During a democratic process, members of the committee work together or individually, to develop the document via a structured process of research and discussion, until it is deemed to be ready for public consultation.
Once the public consultation period has been completed, the committee convene to discuss all of the public comments and make any necessary alterations to the document. Once the document is considered complete by the committee, it is submitted to the BSI for approval. To successfully chair B/507 or any of its sub-committees, it's necessary to be a fully rounded expert in the subject.
Having authored the paving section of ‘designing with stone’ and partnered in the CITB programme for practical skills training for construction using natural stone in the
But possessing impressive credentials is only part of the story – the process of creating a standard can be a huge commitment and require years of constant focus. So, who is the man behind the standard and what drives a person to volunteer for such a task?
“A career in engineering took me from mechanical engineering, through to the construction industry – including a spell in ship building along the way, latterly finding a home in the natural stone industry, but always maintaining an active connection with academic research," Burton says. Self-critical, Burton responded to my questions about his career path:
“My strategy was to get to work before everyone else, stay at work until everyone else had gone home, and learn to do everyone’s job. I didn’t feel comfortable telling anyone what to do if I couldn’t do that job myself.
"What would I like to see happen as a result of 102 being published? 102 should be a useful and interesting document, but should also be a catalyst, encouraging discussion, collaboration and education. It is a vehicle that the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) is just the sort of organisation to make use of. Engagement with British Standards by APL should be a win-win for all concerned."
So, in summary, although I agree that some things, like the ladder sized Curly Wurly were “better back then”, this new standard offers the opportunity to enhance our knowledge as well as unify our industry.
DAVID STROWS
and a member of the BS7533 committee. Based in Buckinghamshire, he owned a design and build landscaping company for 30 years and is now an independent consultant and mediator. artformlandscapes.co.uk
David Strows is the current vice chair of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL)
INTERVIEWS Little
Pro Landscaper asks quick-fire questions to gain a small insight into the people who make up our industry. To take part, email content@eljays44.com
Garden designer, Holly Johnston Design
Stroke Association’s Garden for Recovery
What has been the biggest challenge?
It’s got to be paddling the clay pond, because I don't think any of us really understood what that part of the project was going to be like. I worked with Mark Gregory from Landform and he’s done these large scale clay ponds before so had some idea of what to expect; but when you get into the space, its actually much smaller than you would be used to and you’re more confined to the restrictions of a show garden, so the pond is really small. So much so that it was easier to throw it together by hand – literally! That was all really challenging, but so rewarding, because it's a beautiful wildlife poem that almost sings a bit of how it was made.
What are you most proud of?
The way that the trees talk to the planting, which then talk to the hard landscaping, which talk to the trees – it’s like a painting and there are these lovely moments. For example, the bow of a branch is sweeping down, and so we’ve placed it very carefully to then be mirrored in the stone, which follows the same sweeping motion. It's all in the details. The weathering is all intentional, the terracotta reclaimed tile is the same colour as the bark of a tree, and the stone is shaped according to the palm of my hand. It’s all about just taking a moment, just holding on to some solid ground and taking a moment.
The Freedom from Torture Garden: A Sanctuary for Survivors
What has been the biggest challenge?
Although it's a naturalistic landscape, it is full of curves and it has no rectilinear lines, which you may think would mean it is an easy thing to construct, but not in terms of the level changes, especially going down into the sunken seating area, and then up and around; everything sits within the landscape. Adding in the complexity of the water feature, the positioning of every individual stone, it all had to sit within a tight radius to within 10 or 15mm. This is to avoid creating trip hazards, as there is a step going over the stream of water, and to make sure that people can walk over it easily.
What are you most proud of?
The best part of the garden is seeing how people interact with it. Looking down the steps, you've got celebrities having interviews, they're eating bread, making bread, having a dip, having a drink, sitting, standing, walking around enjoying the beauty, but it works! Gardens are for people, they're not just for shows. Within only four weeks this garden will be relocated to create a place of comfort and escape for the survivors of torture, who have come from the darkest places, and this garden will hopefully give them a light and hope to continue their journey of recovery.
The Bridgerton Garden
Where is the garden being relocated?
The relocation of this garden will be made possible by the collaboration with Netflix and Shondaland, Stewart Landscape Construction, and WT Partnership, as well as Cambridge University Hospitals, where the garden is being relocated to. I am thrilled that the garden will live on at Cambridge University Hospital and be used by staff, patients, visitors and the public. The WT Partnership has been key in bringing the garden to Cambridge through its CSR programme and will continue to project manage the relocation.
What has been the biggest challenge?
On a practical level, there were a number of challenges – from the design of the moongate to the placement of the water feature, the size of the trees to the sourcing of historical items. As it’s a relatively uncomplicated space, in terms of levels or buildings, the fit and finish had to be top quality. It takes a huge amount of hard work and clever design to achieve a sense of ease and timeliness within a newly built garden.
Garden designer, Miria Harris Design Limited
Creative design director, Senseless Acts Of Beauty Limited
