Pro Landscaper November/December 2011

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Concept to Delivery

Nov/Dec 2011

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

Let’s hear it from...

Quadron, Managing Director, Clive Ivil

HILLIER LANDSCAPES’

Portfolio

See how four companies have designed and implemented their projects

Product DNA

The Polaris Published by

RANGER®

EV

Business intelligence

FLOWER GARDEN Hillier Landscape’s award winning transformation at Nether Lypiatt has involved the creation of a masterplan and a series of traditional, arts and crafts inspired gardens around a Grade I listed manor house.

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Welcome 3

NOV/DEC 2011 EDITORIAL editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk Tel: 01903 234077 Content Manager – Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077 EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL Mark Gregory Chairman APL & Landform Consultants Jerry Gosney PPA Director and Editorial Consultant Sam Hassall LandPRO Ltd Stuart Marler TVG Landscaping Russell Eales Russell Eales Lawn Care ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson Jamie.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk Jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077 Sales Executive – Luke Chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077 Sales Executive – Kyle Barrett kyle.barrett@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077 Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077 GENERAL ENQUIRIES Tel: 01903 237779 CIRCULATION Subscription Enquiries: lisa.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk Tel: 01903 234077 MANAGEMENT Managing Director: Jim Wilkinson Director: Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager: Jamie Wilkinson Marketing & Content Manager: Joe Wilkinson

WOW

IT’S NEARLY CHRISTMAS... ...how did that happen, where did the months go? Certainly for the team here at Pro Landscaper the year has been something of a blur in the countdown to the launch of our first issue.

Since our involvement in the industry, we have been impressed by the high level of professionalism within this sector, be it the amazing design, top class build or the proficiency of the maintenance contractors.

The greatest challenge ahead is how we inform the general public about the standards this industry provides. Whose responsibility is it, what form should it take and how will it be funded? We have a sector that we should all be proud of, one of course not without fault, but on the whole one that is moving in the right direction.

By promoting the high standards of the industry, this should in turn attract the right trainees, making it a sector where people want to work and have a long and rewarding career. Also, if the general public understand the professionalism and quality involved, they may even be able to justify paying the right value for the job. Let us know your views, email editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk.

Meanwhile, Seasons Greetings and good wishes to you all, and repeated thanks for the support and encouragement you continue to offer the team here at Pro Landscaper.

Whatever the New Year holds, we’re in it together.

Lisa & Jim Wilkinson editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

IN THIS ISSUE...

Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year

by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2011 subscription price is £50.00. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

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Contractors News A round-up of the latest contract and project news.

Design, layout and reproduction by Vivid Associates Ltd, Sutton, UK Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by © Eljays44 Ltd - Business Intelligence 2011

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Let’s Hear It From...

Clive Ivil Managing Director of Quadron Services, who is passionate about achieving a high quality service that makes his company stand out from the crowd.

Business intelligence

Eljays44 Ltd County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT Tel: 01903 234077

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

“By promoting the high standards of the industry, this should in turn attract the right trainees, making it a sector where people want to work and have a long term and rewarding career.”

News Shed Industry news and events diary.

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Business Tips section Including: How to make a profit in Landscaping, Sales Tactics, Creating a Competitive Advantage and Understanding Essential Training.

BALI Briefing Projects planned for the coming year.

23-25

40 Urban Bling Creating lasting flower meadows.

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Product DNA Polaris Ranger® EV dissected.

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Latest kit New products.

62

Book Review Your suggestions for a really good read.

Bumper Portfolio Section

This month’s selection of amazing inspirational projects.

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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DIARY… DECEMBER 2011 1 December IOG Conference and Awards The Reebok Stadium, Bolton www.iog.org/shows-and-events/ Industry-awards

2 December BALI National Landscape Awards The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London www.bali.co.uk

JANUARY 2012 24-26 January Harrogate Week/ BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate www.harrogateweek.org.uk

Interpave relaunch website The trade association Interpave has re-launched its commercial paving and hard landscape website www.paving.org.uk providing an important information resource on all aspects of the paved environment for those in the landscape industry.

The re-designed website now consolidates the extensive information available and highlights topical issues. These include masterplanning and creating attractive spaces between buildings with the same care that designers apply to the buildings themselves. Interpave’s website is referred to in the government’s own guidelines because it

contains essential information on sustainable drainage (SUDS) and permeable paving as a positive landscape amenity, as well as meeting new legislation. All these issues are illustrated with project case studies.

In addition to background information to help the widest possible audience, www.paving.org.uk includes separate, detailed design and construction guidance documents for permeable and impermeable concrete block paving, and flag and kerb products. In addition, a domestic paving website,accessed via www.paving.org.uk, provides inspiration and guidance for drives, patios and other hard surfaces essential to creating and enjoying a beautiful garden. It also includes guidance on how to meet new legal requirements when installing or resurfacing driveways.

FEBRUARY 2012 8-9 February Executive Hire Show Ricoh Stadium, Coventry www.executivehireshow.com

PLACES TO SEE… Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey – Now until 31st December 2011.

Visit The Times Eureka Chelsea Show Garden at Kew – original design by Marcus Barnett. Admission £13.90 Adult Capel Manor Gardens, Enfield, Middlesex – Over 60 gardens and landscapes to explore. Winter Opening: November to February. Open weekdays only, 10am-5.00pm Admission £5.50 Adult.

The Garden Museum London – Now until 1st April 2012. From Garden City to Green City, explores the many visions, designs and projects that have inspired the ‘green city’ movement over the last 150 years.Admission £6 Adult.

Your event: If you have a diary event you wish to publicise, send details to the editor at: lisa.wilkinson@ pro-landscaper.co.uk

John Deere listed in 100 Best Global Brands John Deere has been included in the list of the 100 Best Global Brands for the first time.This annual ranking is compiled by the consulting firm Interbrand and covers all industries worldwide. Interbrand recognised that John Deere is continuously strengthening its global presence.

“The brand is also widening its focus by going beyond equipment to provide farmers and landowners with expert advice on how to get the most out of their land,”

Interbrand noted in the ranking comments. “This programme ties directly into the brand's sincere commitment to sustainable practices, which has earned it international

recognition, especially for its green building designs and energy conservation efforts,” the report said.

“Being recognised as one of the top 100 brands among thousands of corporations reflects our consistent

approach to serving our customers, and is the result of our ongoing commitment to markets outside North America,” said Mark von Pentz, President of John Deere’s Agriculture & Turf Division.

“This recognition will further strengthen our dedication to serve those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich or build upon the land to meet the increasing global need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure.”

Rising number of new dealer appointments For the last few months Etesia UK has been promoting both the Etesia & Pellenc product range and has seen a rising number of new dealer appointments.

In the North West regions,Turner Groundscare of Cheshire and Balmers Garden Machinery of Lancashire have both been added to the dealer list. Looking after Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire is Burnley-based Balmers Garden

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Machinery, owned and run by David Balmer with a good reputation in the commercial and domestic sector. “We’ve been familiar with the Etesia products for many years”, commented David. Responsibility for Cheshire, Greater Manchester, the Wirral and parts of north Wales has been given to the Chester branch of Turner Groundscare.

Brian Spruce said: “We had an Etesia dealership at a previous

site and when this area was made available, we jumped at the chance”.

Les Malin, UK General Manager of Etesia UK said: “The appointment of both Turner Groundscare and Balmers Garden Machinery mean that we now have knowledgeable and experienced teams supporting the Etesia brand across the North West with great contacts and strong links to the markets they serve”. www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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Living Roof to inspire city children A living roof to encourage biodiversity is a key feature of the new environmental Isis Education Centre at The LookOut, Hyde Park in London. Installed by Cityroofs, the new eco-friendly building sits above an existing Victorian reservoir and is made from a lightweight green oak timber structure.

The original idea developed into a building inspired by trees, as the structure is akin to tree trunks and branches, with a roofline that mimics the curve of a tree canopy. Cityroofs installed the roof membrane over

IN BRIEF… New turf for Stonehenge Roloawn’s renowned Medallion turf has recently been laid around the ancient stone circle at Stonehenge as part of its annual restoration programme.

Green flag award the gently curving timber plywood substrate, and formed a ‘brown roof ’ which blended the building with the landscape, making it a habitat for invertebrates and birds, potentially preserving and enhancing the biodiversity of the Park. The interpretation of the building as a tree also makes it a sustainable learning tool for children.

All the materials used stimulate curiosity and encourage children

to touch and interact with the building. The Isis Education Centre encourages city children to explore nature and the environment, outside the classroom. It offers an all-year-round, hands-on, learning experience for children and also features nature trails, a dipping pond with underwater endoscopes, a miniallotment, butterfly bank, lightning tree and mini-beast habitats. More information from: www.cityroofs.com

Marshalls showcases at Olympic sites

LANDSCAPE products group Marshalls believes its work on the London 2012 Olympic Games

is cementing its reputation for delivering major projects. The company is now in the peak phase of its work on the £10bn project, and is currently supplying hundreds of tonnes of paving and landscaping products daily to the various Olympic sites, including the Athletes Village.

Marshalls hopes working on the Olympics will showcase its capabilities

to potential customers. The group last week showed investors and analysts around the site in Stratford, East London. “We’re renowned for these prestigious projects,” said finance director Ian Burrell. “The contractors know to come to us because we have the benefit of being the one company in the paving industry that can actually deliver”.

A Sandwell park has retained its status as one of the best in the country after winning a prestigious green flag for the second year running.Victoria Park in Smethwick impressed judges with its beauty, facilities and popularity.

Shindaiwa website for Countax Countax launch an all-new Shindaiwa website designed to provide better information and drive showroom footfall. The site informs visitors of the many features and benefits that differentiate Shindaiwa as a commercial brand of outdoor power equipment. www.shindaiwatools.co.uk

Student awarded Matt Perks, first assistant greenkeeper and mechanic at Ham Manor Golf Club in West Sussex, has followed in his mentor's footsteps by winning the title of Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year 2011.

A date for your diary

IOG announces radical Scotsturf review Following a strategic review of Scotsturf operations by the Board of The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), it has been announced that there will be a radical review of the IOG Scotsturf exhibition, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary.

A new venue will stage the launch of IOG Scotsturf In Action during 2012 – and, in 2013, the IOG will consult with exhibitors and visitors www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

past and present about the possibility of an outdoor show earlier in the year. Investigations are also already underway to link an event in 2014 to coincide with the Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow.

IOG Chief Executive Geoff Webb comments: “After presenting IOG Scotsturf in a similar format for 40 years, the IOG believes the show now deserves a fresh, dynamic approach going forwards. Exploring

the feasibility of a ‘new look’ event that will further enhance the prospects for our exhibitors and our visitors, as well as our membership in Scotland, is the overriding objective.

We’ve enjoyed 40 successful years of IOG Scotsturf and it is now time for a serious re-think and re-evaluation, and to investigate all opportunities that will further reinforce the successful Scotsturf brand with all interested parties.”

Thursday 15th – Saturday 17th March 2012 for The Landscape Show at Olympia, London. LANDSCAPE is the trade exhibition for all those involved with interior & exterior landscaping and landscape gardening.

Things to do Monday 30th January 2012 – Kew Gardens KMIS Lectures – From the streets of Sheffield to the London 2012 Olympic Park: Research and practice in urban planting design by Nigel Dunnett.

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Contractors News 7

ISS extend partnership with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

ISS Facility Services Landscaping is set to continue its ten-year long partnership with the Royal Borough

of Windsor and Maidenhead for a further four years. ISS is absolutely delighted with the extension award, which has been granted due to the Royal Borough’s satisfaction with the service performance and value for money being delivered across the Borough.

In fact, the extension will see ISS delivering a significant saving to the Council in each year of the extension period, without any reduction in the service, based on flexible use of resources and adaptability.

ISS has maintained all of the Royal Borough's parks, gardens, open spaces, sports facilities, closed churchyards, cemeteries, play areas and

other amenity and highway areas since 2000. In addition to grounds maintenance duties, ISS also works with Borough staff clearing snow from the streets and paths, clearing fallen trees after storms and helping with sandbag filling during periods of flood.

A key partnership priority has always focused on sustainable innovation, which is a core value common to both ISS and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Engaging with the public and key stakeholders to form real partnerships and to understand their requirements is the recipe to developing strong relationships that will produce benefits to all parties.

Google London headquarters – fantastic new landscaping contract Gavin Jones is delighted to have been awarded a substantial and exciting contract from Parkeray. The landscaping work includes three roof gardens of extremely innovative design for the new UK Google headquarters in central London. The majority of the work, consisting of box hedging and screening will be carried out before Christmas this year, with a final completion date, 13th January 2012.

APL Committee to launch Cluster meetings After much discussion of where and how, the APL Committee The Association of is ready to launch Professional Landscapers what will be a new and hopefully successful set of Cluster meetings.

These meetings will give members the opportunity to meet with the committee, discuss current issues within the industry and network with other members and people connected to the landscape market.

Content for meetings will be topical www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

including subjects such as recruitment, rates and sales. But the first will be concentrating on websites and the use of social media. This will include some valuable information on website optimisation, and making sure you stay at the top of search engine listings.The meetings are free, but drinks and a meal will be available at the venue at the attendees own expense.

The first meeting is to be held on Tuesday 29th November at The Grasshopper Inn, Moorhouse (A25),

near Westerham, Kent,TN16 2EU. The meeting will start at 5.30pm and for those who want to stay for a meal, this will be no later than 7pm.

The event will be an opportunity to network and discuss other issues in an informal environment.

The Committee of THE APL has listened to what its members want and has received positive feedback from the initiative and is expecting a good attendance.

For further information email info@ tvglandscaping.co.uk

SMEs can seize Defence business opportunities The MOD’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is calling on smaller businesses to seize opportunities to get involved with its new National Training Estate Prime. The new contract, covering 141 UK sites – which will run from 2014 – is worth up to £950 million, and will include landscaping services as part of the DIO’s Next Generation Estate Contracts (NGEC) programme. The DIO would now like smaller businesses to start networking with the potential prime bidders on supply chain opportunities, as the contract procurement process moves forward. Lt Col Tim Cherry, the contract project manager, said “The training estate needs excellent suppliers to deliver top-quality facilities for our military personnel as they prepare for operations, whether it’s pest control, tree-felling, dry stone walling or landscaping.

Prime contractors need innovative smaller specialist businesses to deliver the hard outputs’.

DIO has now published contact details for businesses with a formal interest in the training estate in the online Potential Bidders Directory. This enables smaller businesses to make early approaches to potential prime contractors and discuss supply chain opportunities.To view the Potential Bidders Directory visit www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/ 35161635-6E17-40CC-8EE5770FFB2CBE25/0/ngec_pot ential_bidders_directory.pdf

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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Let’s Hear it from... 9

LET’S HEAR IT FROM...

CLIVE IVIL Managing Director, Quadron

Quadron is an award winning specialist horticultural and grounds maintenance service provider, priding itself on the quality of its work on behalf of many prestigious clients. As Managing Director, Clive Ivil is passionate about achieving a high quality service that makes his company stand out from the crowd.

igh on the agenda are ‘open book’ client partnerships, minimising costs whilst helping clients to achieve prestigious awards to objectively measure quality outputs, and sustainability in all its senses – not only green issues but employing local people and enhancing their skill levels and qualifications.

H

Tell us a bit about how you originally got into the industry.

I originally wanted to work in forestry – and on leaving school I got an apprenticeship with Rushmoor Parks Department, where I started out litter picking, working in the parks, and then in the nursery, and my career really began to take off.

Massive changes in Local Government and a lot of my elder colleagues taking early retirement to avoid the implications of the new CCT (Compulsory Competitive Tendering) regime, meant I started www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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working for Quadron after it was successful in winning the externalisation of Rushmoor BC’s DSO (Direct Services Organisation) in 1995. Quadron itself had been formed as a result of a management led employee buy out of Woodspring DSO a couple of years prior to that.

Who owns Quadron?

Quadron is owned by two principal shareholders who are also directors in the company, Mike Martin and Gregg Poulter – who are actively involved in the business on a daily basis as CEO and Group Financial Director – Mike principally led the original employee management buy out.

How is Quadron structured?

We have around 600 permanent directly employed staff plus ca 100 seasonals. All our contracts operate on a “stand-alone” basis: each Contract Manager has full delegated responsibility for the resources under their control as if it were their own separate business to encourage ownership and innovation.

Corporate resources such as health and safety, compliance, human resources and IT provide support to contract managers.

Most of the company’s staff have transferred to us under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) regulations from either a previous contractor or direct from the local authority. We honour TUPE conditions in full and have a very low staff turnover rate as a result: we like to think that our staff feel secure and valued despite the low pay rates in this industry.

And purchasing responsibility?

This is handled centrally in terms of identifying preferred suppliers. Every year we go to the board to agree the budget for each contract – the Contract Manager is responsible for building and then delivering their budget and can purchase up to the budgeted value of each item from approved suppliers without gaining further authorisation. New equipment is all purchased corporately.

Tell us about the culture differences within your contracts.

We have contracts with several different authorities, all with different specifications. The aspirations of councils are different – some in a subtle way and some radically different. By their very nature each contract has its own culture.

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As an example some authorities keep a very strict divide between contractor and client, and payments are only made for work actually performed, with the full risk of non-performance falling on the contractor. Other authorities take a more partnership based approach.

How are you reviewed by your clients?

We like to have an annual review with all our clients, and aim to produce an Annual Report for each contract reviewing performance against agreed key indicators and setting new targets for the future. We also welcome an “open book” approach where clients can see the costs of the service and be involved in resourcing decisions. In Kingston upon Thames we jointly agree resourcing levels and build up the budget together with the client each year, based on the client’s available budget. In this way we have managed to make real savings of over 15% in the last five years and simultaneously achieved independent quality awards such as Green Flags and increasing scores in InBloom competitions.

Where do you source new contracts?

Like others, we subscribe to the trackers. Tenders are advertised and what follows is a very formal procurement process. Our work is 100% for local authorities at the moment and we like to think that’s

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the market we understand the best and we will continue in but it is a very difficult environment at the moment as the second phase of council cuts is due next year. We will stay in this market as there are a lot of advantages: it’s a solid platform with longevity of contracts, we get paid every month and never get into bad debt. However, the budgets are going down – not one of our clients has said they have a bigger budget next year.

We believe in taking a pragmatic approach to declining budgets. It’s important to work with our clients to jointly make decisions about where the cuts can be made.The recent emphasis on localism and “Big Society” offers new and different opportunities for contractors. We hosted a ‘Kew Away Day’ last year which most of our existing clients attended and we talked about current pressures and trends. It wasn’t about Quadron, we just facilitated the get together, enabling our clients to meet each other and discuss different solutions to the same issues.

Do you put pressure on any of your suppliers to help you save money?

We are starting to look at the supply chain but having said that we are always looking to drive a decent deal and tend to be very loyal – probably too loyal in some cases – you can get complacent and need to look closely at these areas. If you let a www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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What direction will you look to for the future?

We want to diversify our customer base and widen the services provided – in the next financial year the councils’ budgetary cuts will hit us hard and we need to work out how to absorb those losses in turnover so that we don’t need to make too many cuts in resource levels. So with that in mind we need to maintain our income streams and diversify into a similar market. We have a new Commercial Business Development Manager who understands the market place and we will be using the Quadron name and reputation to win contracts in this section. We wouldn’t be against acquisitions but would have to ask why a company is up for sale in the first place…

Will that fill the gap?

It’s a big ask – we estimate that turnover from existing contracts will reduce by ca. £1.5m next year so I don’t think there’s any way we will fill the gap via local authority work. We will still keep tendering in this market place but branching into the corporate sector would just take the reliance off it. We are looking closely at the market which is changing drastically with issues such as the localism bill, the big society and social enterprises. I think the way local authority contracts are procured and delivered in the next 5 years will change radically.

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1 Bristol park keeper Fliss talking to visitors.

2 Green Flag Award – park keeper Fredy with first Green Flag for Sunset & Moonlit Parks.

3 Lantra-Awards qualifed contract trainer giving on-the-job training session.

3 couple of years go by and re-test the market you realise that what you thought was a good deal isn’t anymore. We are getting a bit more hard nosed but I would say it is still one of our weaker areas.

What about fuel prices and other costs?

We work a lot on fuel, it’s a big commodity at a big price. We have trackers on all our vehicles to make sure they take the most efficient route, to check their speed and any unauthorised movements. We buy all fuel through one supplier and track the costs all the time. www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

We closely monitor a lot of our costs: mobile phones, utility bills, for example, not just from a financial perspective but also because this is all part of the environmental issue, assisting in reducing our carbon footprint. We are aiming for ISO 14001 accreditation by the end of 2011, just the final audit still to go now, and as part of that we have systems in place to recycle as much of our green waste as possible, ideally on the site where it is generated.

Health and safety is also a high on our agenda, and ISO 18001 accreditation will follow next year.

We already have a RoSPA Silver Award and CHAS compliance.

Is it expensive for you to tender?

Yes very expensive. You might have a whole team of people and use consultants to work on a tender for several months and if you come second – well, there are no prizes for coming second!

Because of funding issues contracts will be procured in different ways – social enterprises, third sector, voluntary people. We will diversify by looking at a different model of how we service those contracts.

Are there other things you can offer them?

Yes, we recently gave a speech at the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces in Birmingham at their World Parks Day to give an overview of issues raised by the localism bill – the fact that health budgets are now being moved away from health authorities and being given to local authorities means most councils have, or are about to, appoint someone to look after their health

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budget. So we’re almost going full circle back to the reasons why parks were originally created: by wealthy people for their workers to get out in the green open space on their days off to exercise in the fresh air. We need to change our business model now to line up with the pressures that our prime market segment are going through.

Why do people choose you?

We have to be the most competitive and also it depends on different tender evaluation models, what the respective ratios of price and quality are.

It really depends on the council – but it’s rare to win on anything other than the price nowadays. We’re a quality product with a good track record and a high percentage of our contracts are in their second term, so people have Quadron back. We look to build a good long term relationship with our clients and take the financial pain to ensure that every contract is successful operationally. We are very financially stable and work with fairly low margins but the fact that we are a private limited company and haven’t got any shareholders driving us looking for a dividend means that we can reinvest our profits back into our contracts and into securing long term jobs and training. We have an open book approach and a guaranteed rate of return – everyone’s committed, we look at the budget together every month and adjust things accordingly.

Do we want to be the biggest? – no; do we want to be the best? – yes clearly – we like to think we are the best but that is up to our clients, it’s not for us to say.

How about training?

We see training as a very important part of the business. We made a decision two years ago that after spending a fortune on training bodies to come in and train our staff, we would spend the money on a more sustainable solution: training or own staff to be trainers – so now on every contract we have a Lantra-Awards qualified trainer able to deliver accredited on-the-job training to their colleagues and new starters. We’re very big on work experience and apprenticeships and encourage all our employees to undertake NVQ qualifications, providing mentoring and support for them. We also do a lot of work with the Lantra ‘Women and Work’ programmes to encourage more women into this traditionally male industry. We work closely with the third sector, volunteer groups and

4 4 Gardener – Hammersmith & Fulham Homes.

5 Tending the gardens – Hammersmith & Fulham Homes.

6 Tending Tulips in Holland Park.

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probation services and have an excellent partnership relationship with Groundwork, who provide work experience and volunteer opportunities for the long term unemployed – in the year to March 2011 Quadron provided over 16,500 work experience days, and most of the company’s vacancies were filled by people entering via similar schemes.

We have just started e-learning programmes in which we’ve invested heavily.To prepare for our ISO14001 accreditation we are aiming to increase staff awareness; every member of staff has completed an e-learning module on Environmental issues. All staff have to complete the health and safety modules prior to commencing work, and others depend on the employee’s job role. We are also hoping to introduce bespoke customer care modules in the near future.

Do you enter awards?

Yes we do, the BALI awards in particular and have had principal awards in the past. Our proudest achievement was in 2009 when we were awarded Contractor of the Year, Partner of the Year (with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames) and Apprentice of the Year for one of our Birmingham apprentices in the Landscape & Amenity Awards.

The main thing we support is Green Flag – most contracts these days include a key performance indicator to win one more green flag every year. ‘In Bloom’ is another competition where help in terms of advising the local communities and with watering where possible, and often assist in gaining funding or sponsorship – for example our Corporate Development Manager worked with a housing estate in Kingston to form a gardening club and to gain £5k of sponsorship from Thames Community Foundation.

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The maintenance of a park is the lion’s share of a Green Flag award, so we support that and currently maintain 37 Green Flag sites, with an additional seven awarded this year. But that’s done in partnership with our clients and very often with the ‘friends of’ groups as one of the main criteria of the award is community involvement and the park’s usage by its local community. So we like that and fully support it. We are now joint sponsors of the Inner London Green Flag Awards to show our commitment to it. We believe in part our success is judged by how many Green Flag Awards we achieve, and this is an independent measure of quality.

Outside of work?

My home life is centred around family – we have three grown up sons – and have a daughter-in-law, a granddaughter and the boys’ girlfriends around the house so family is very important. Walking and mountain biking – we love the outdoors. We have also just purchased a new house so a lot of my free time is spent doing DIY! Many thanks to Clive for the informed insight into Quadron Services, and of course, the best of luck to all involved in the business for your future plans.

CONTACT Quadron Services Head Office: Weston-super-Mare The Hub, Warne Road Weston-super-Mare North Somerset BS23 3UU Tel: 01934 614444 Web: www.quadronenvironment.com

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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0845 8332337 info@pavingsuperstore.co.uk

paving superstore

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14 Business Tips

HOW TO MAKE A PROFIT IN LANDSCAPING

It is not possible to make a profit until you fully understand your costs.When your client asks you to submit a price for a job there are 3 questions you need to ask yourself.

Sam Hassall reports.

Ensuring your profit from Landscape contracts 1. How much is this going to cost me to do?

2. What is the minimum profit I am prepared to make on this job?

3. What is the maximum profit I can put on this job and still win it?

• Type of delivery vehicle • Handling capability of the base material.

• Certification for use • Compaction rates • Accuracy of falls

The two latter questions and answers are a matter of your needs, risk and acumen.The first question is simple – It’s just arithmetic and that is the one we will deal with now.

In previous investigations we have examined costs for excavation. We assume here therefore that a reduced graded excavation has been prepared.

Sub-Bases – depending on the ground conditions, these sub bases which usually consist of hardcore, broken stone or gravel are often

THE THEORY 1. There is no point in working if you are going to lose money.

2. You have to understand your costs.

TABLE 1 Material Type 1 Gravels Hardcore

kg /m3 Loose 1.8 1.8 1.8

kg /m3 Compacted 2.2 2.2 2.0

specified to be laid under the base. In the tables below, it is assumed that hardcore is imported rather than recycled on site.The tables are laid out in a format which will allow users to omit the material cost if this is desired.

TABLE 2 Base material costs of granular materials Average: Material Costs

BASES FOR PAVING’S IN THIS ARTICLE WE LOOK AT THE COSTS OF FLEXIBLE BASES. Our interest lies in those bases generally constructed by landscape contractors. We are examining here standard bases rather than SUDS (sustainable) bases. Suds bases will be addressed in a later cost investigation.

Differences of scale have a huge impact on the bases constructed under civil conditions. In all cases the following cost and time implications must be considered: • Access • Working space • Material costs (dependent on location and delivery and volume of material being purchased) Spreading capacity of machinery and labour

Hardcore Type 1 small loads Type 1 Average: 20 tonne Type 1: 1 tonne bags Crushed concrete Scalpings / Type 2: 20 tone

Tonne rate £ 12.00 25.00 19.50 42.94 12.00 17.50

TABLE 3 Material type Hardcore Type 1 small loads Type 1 Average: 20 tonne Type 1: 1 tonne bags Crushed concrete Scalpings / Type 2: 20 tone

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

100 mm 2.28 5.50 4.29 9.45 2.64 3.85

Costs m3 loose £ 21.60 45.00 35.10 77.29 21.60 31.50

m3 compacted £ 22.80 55.00 42.90 94.47 26.40 38.50

Base thickness 150 mm 3.42 8.25 6.44 14.17 3.96 5.78

200 mm 5.70 13.75 10.73 23.62 6.60 9.63

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Business Tips 15

TABLE 4: COSTS PER M3 OF MATERIAL SPREAD PER HOUR Material spread / Hour m3 1 2 Wheel barrow/ Hand loaded 19.50 19.50 9.75 3 tonne dumper / 3 ton excavator 22.35 5 tonne dumper / 3 t excavator 23.35 5 tonne dumper / 5 tonne 27.75 excavator

5

10

15

20

4.47 4.67 5.55

2.24 2.34 2.78

1.49 1.56 1.85

1.12 1.17 1.39

TABLE 5 Compaction rates in £/m2 Machine £/ hr

m2/hr

Labour 20

50

75

100

Whacker plate

£ 2.80

£19.00

3.75

3.18

3.05

2.99

Bomag 560 mm

£ 5.80

£19.00

6.75

6.18

6.05

5.99

HARDCORE VS. GRANULAR SUB-BASE Apart from engineering aspects, it is important to take into consideration the costs of using either hardcore or granular materials. In general, hardcore is a less expensive option to import but is more difficult to handle. The hardcore will need a regulating layer or blinding layer over it. Granular sub bases can usually be laid to a greater accuracy which impacts on the depth and volume of excavation and the volume of disposal off site.

SPREADING COSTS Simply put, the faster you can spread the material, the less it would cost you. Table 4 demonstrates sample spreading rates.

BULK VOLUMES Table 1 gives the standard bulk volume rates for commonly used materials.

Please remember that where you do have a bill of quantities and the base is specified at a m3 rate that this is the measurement for the material in the solid and that the contractor has to allow for the purchase of material and labour to lay the finished (solid)measurement of the specified base.

The issue of movement of materials on site and the times involved are not addressed in these costings. This will be addressed in a future cost investigation. Readers should add in time for distance movements of materials.

MEASUREMENT RULES The normal measurement of bases is in m3.

The party pricing the work must allow for any bulkage of materials.

Note: Although the SMM (standard method of measurement) rule does state that bases are measured in m3, it is common and useful to the landscape industry, to see bases specified at a depth and measured by the m2.

From Table 2 the details shown in Table 3 are the material only costs for the base materials at various thicknesses. www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

EXAMPLE • If a man and barrow can spread 2 m3 in an hour, then the rate is 19.50 If • 5 tonne dumper and 5 tonne excavator combination can spread 15 m3 / hr then the spread only rate is £1.85 / m3

COMPACTION Finally the compaction operation must be costed for and a price added into the composite of the operations in Table 4.

The methods of compaction used are generally either whacker plates or vibrating rollers, see Table 5.

NEXT ISSUE We will examine some of the actual costs for common tasks in our industry. Readers are invited to submit their suggestions: editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

There is no point in working if you are going to lose money.

You have to understand your costs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sam Hassall is the UK’s only dedicated specialist landscape cost consultant. As Managing Director of LandPRO Limited he consults with Landscape professionals both on cost and implementation of Landscapes. His range of services are to provide cost information to both Landscape design professionals and Landscape contractors. Sam’s expertise is gained from his formal training and many years of experience in the landscape industry. As part of his portfolio Sam also compiles the Spon’s External works and Landscape price book and developed the market leading LiberRATE Estimating system.

Further information is available from www.landpro.co.uk or by calling direct to LandPRO Ltd 01252 795030

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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16 Business Tips

SALES T ACTICS AND ADVICE he traditional sales conversation model is severely flawed. It is a circular, repetitive model. It encourages mediocrity from the seller and allows them to ‘bale out’ of the sales conversation far too soon.This is then followed up a few times in an attempt to ‘close the sale’.

A far better model is linear, with each stage only occurring once, and requiring each to be thoroughly completed before moving on to the next.There are no ‘objections’ that need ‘handling’, no price negotiations to go through, effectively no ‘closing’ is required and it is all very amicable. Both parties receive a generous share of the value created and the result is ‘win-win’.

With this model, customers mostly ask to buy from you so you don’t have to sell.You get paid what you’re worth which is generally more that you are used to, but the customers are more delighted and more willing to start paying you much earlier.

The result is customers are ecstatic with their ‘return on investment’ and sellers are delighted with their handsome profit. People have told me this is ‘lean selling’. I call it Selling Without Selling.

T

ASK THEN SHUT UP AND LISTEN. The first stage is to uncover the value, as perceived by the customer, of having their issues dealt with.

Because value only exists in the eye of the beholder, the customer has to tell you – You can’t tell them.

Often you will need to help the customer understand for themselves first.This is a key skill you must acquire. Ask about what’s troubling them.

Ask about what might get in the way of doing something about it. Ask about how different things would be if the problem was no longer there. Be curious.The vital thing is ‘Ask’ – Ask then shut up and listen. No salesman ever listened themselves out of an order.

Next you must establish that you can work together. Ask about how much money they believe is available and who controls it. Discuss and agree all the ramifications of working together. Be the first to name all the ‘elephants in the room’ then the

There are four big mistakes frequently made in sales conversations:- Quoting too early, offering discounts, charging for your time, and invoicing too late.You need a selling strategy that prevents you from making these mistakes. By David Winch customer will have to handle their own objections.

Don’t forget to discuss and agree the extent of the customer’s commitment to any project. Again, the vital element is ‘ask’. If you can’t work together in theory, you never will in practice. If you can’t agree, walk away and stop wasting each other’s time.

Now you can make proposals, but don’t add prices just yet. Don’t just make one proposal. Give the customer choices – ‘Packages’ of significantly different value, based on what you discovered previously. By giving choices you can increase your conversion rate by up to half as much again. Make your proposals in the sales meeting, not afterwards. If asked to confirm them in writing, still present choices.

At last you can give your prices. Pricing is an art, not a science, so don’t offer to ‘work out’ a price.

For each choice give a price that provides a large return (value) on investment (price) for the customer. Before you do, quickly check that it will be highly profitable for you to work at that price. If

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

not, think how you can adjust your costs so it will be profitable.This is price-based costing.

When it comes to striking a deal, it is likely the customer will just tell you which choice they want to go with. If they have any concerns, they will be either about value or price. For value concerns, remind the customer how great they said life would be if their problem could be removed. Be aware that “That’s too expensive” is a value concern, not a price concern. For price concerns, gently point out they’ll have to go with the choice they can afford.

SUBSTANTIAL UP-FRONT PAYMENT Finally, having agreed a deal, now is the time to ask for a substantial up-front payment, just as you said you would in the ramifications section earlier!

If you would like to find out more about making sales without selling and getting paid what you’re worth, visit www.sws3.co.uk to download 30 more free practical ideas that you can implement straight away in your business. Or you can contact David directly at david@davidwinch.co.uk www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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18 Business Training

WHAT IS

ROLO? Jodie Read explains – ROLO (Register of Landbased Operatives) is a one day health, safety and environmental awareness course aimed specifically at people in landbased industries including:

• • • • • • •

Landscape Construction Horticultural Landscape Maintenance Arboriculture Pesticides Environmental Management Ecological Management Amenity

Because ROLO is written with landbased industries in mind the materials have been tailored to suit industry requirements.

WHY DO I NEED TO HAVE ROLO? NHSS18 As well as providing evidence of industry specific awareness training ROLO is also a mandatory prerequisite for LISS/CSCS and the National Highways Sector Scheme 18 for the Environment and Landscape including ecology (NHSS18).

Basically, this means that without undertaking the necessary ROLO training and subsequently holding a valid LISS/CSCS card, operatives will not be permitted to work on the highways infrastructure, which could cost companies the opportunity to work on some lucrative schemes.

Without undertaking the necessary ROLO training and subsequently holding a valid LISS/CSCS card, operatives will not be permitted to work on the highways infrastructure.

CONSTRUCTION SITES Even for those companies that don’t work along the hazardous highways network, most landscapers are being asked to hold CSCS cards and having to comply with various construction health and safety schemes such as CHAS, Constructionline etc.

Landscapers choosing to hold industry specific CSCS cards demonstrate a greater knowledge of how site based health and safety requirements apply to their specific industry requirements, and reflects how seriously an organisation values the health, safety and wellbeing of employees.

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

WHERE CAN I GET ROLO TRAINING? The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) administer ROLO training. Please go to www.bali.org.uk/quality_assurance/rolo for a list of approved training providers.

WHAT IS LISS/CSCS? The Landbased Industry Skills Scheme/Construction Skills Certification Scheme (LISS/CSCS) card was introduced in June 2011 as a means of demonstrating the health and safety competency of people working on construction sites, including those in a highways environment (as required by NHSS18).

ROUTES TO LISS/CSCS If your company needs to obtain LISS/CSCS cards, there is a financially compelling case to do so before the 31/05/13.

The diagram above illustrates what qualifications are required for landscapers, supervisors and managers to achieve LISS/CSCS. All those persons aiming to obtain a LISS/CSCS card will be required to have satisfactorily completed the ROLO Health, Safety and Environmental Awareness course as well as a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) touch-screen test at the appropriate level.

By seeking to obtain LISS/CSCS cards now, www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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Business Tips 19

landscapers can use the Industry Accreditation route to obtain achieve approval via ‘Grandfather Rights’.

This is of particular value for experienced employees who may not have formal qualifications.

It allows employers to confirm that staff are competent. However, the ability to make use of this Industry Accreditation route ends after 31st May 2013. After that time, anybody seeking to obtain a LISS/CSCS card will need to have undertaken a relevant NVQ or Diploma. Given that the average cost of such a course is estimated to be approximately £2000 - £2500 per employee, there is a significant saving to be had by getting ahead of the game!

Jodie Read MSc AIEMA GradIOSH www.penarth.co.uk

SAVE

£2000 £2500 p er employ ee by g aining LISS/C SCS

NOW!

ABOUT JODIE READ Jodie Read achieved a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Global Biodiversity; Monitoring and Conservation in the University of Hull. After leaving university she worked as a research worker for the Forestry Commission.

In 2006 Jodie became Managing Director of what is now Penarth Management Limited and assists organisations to implement and maintain management systems to recognised standards such as ISO9001 (Quality), ISO14001 (Environmental) and OHSAS18001 (Health and Safety).

The team have assisted numerous landscaping organisations to successfully implement management systems to recognised standards and the company are affiliate members of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). She is also one of only a few approved ROLO health and safety trainers in the country.

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

RATE YOUR COMPANY Creating a competitive advantage in contracting In my experience the owners, directors and managers of contracting businesses have achieved their position by virtue of the fact that they are excellent practitioners and technicians and in an environment where there is regularly enough work to go around, their lack of experience in the business of the business goes largely unnoticed until something happens like an accident or the opportunity to tender for a prestigious contract. Paul Elcoat reports. earning from experience will of course enable gradual improvement but in the mean time there are companies out there that are quietly reaping the rewards of a professional approach to sustainable competitive advantage.

L

SO WHAT DO I MEAN BY ‘SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE’?

Imagine that you have asked all of your customers and potential customers to complete a questionnaire with a 1 to 10 rating for every single aspect of your business that they were ever able to experience. If you added up all of the scores for each category on every sheet and then took an average over the whole survey; that would be a figure describing how well you meet your customers expectations.

Now suppose that you were able to send the same questionnaire to all of the customers of each of your competitors and calculate the average in the same way. The score generated by each of your competitors would allow you to rate your company in the local industry environment. If you achieved a higher score than them, the gap between you and the next would be your competitive advantage.

Think about it like this, to be better than the rest, it is not enough to be 1000% better in one particular aspect. To achieve a competitive

advantage your business must be 1% better in 1000 things.

As an observation, most landscape contracting companies try to differentiate themselves in the market by portraying an image of doing better work, or in other words, trying to be 1000% better in one particular aspect. In reality, being able to demonstrate a strategic approach to health and safety, environment, employment, equal opportunities, marketing and sales will allow any company to quickly leap ahead of the rest.

Most contractors of the level that would read this article are probably great at landscape design and build, and landscape maintenance but may not be quite as good at managing the competitive advantage factors. ±

The score generated by each of your competitors would allow you to rate your company in the local industry environment. If you achieved a higher score than them, the gap between you and the next would be your competitive advantage.

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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20 Business Tips

Your Ability

Competitive Position/Likely Outcome

1

You are wondering where other people find contract opportunities

You are way behind

2

You can find them but don’t get around to expressing an interest because it all seems too complicated

You probably have a feeling of resentment and recall the good old days where your reputation for excellent work ensured your success

3

You express an interest but are intimidated by the questions on the pre-qualification questionnaire

You have been left behind by the competition due to your inability to detect and respond to the constant micro changes in the contracting environment

4

You attempt to complete the questionnaire but struggle or miss out questions due to known gaps

At least you are making an attempt but unfortunately the above comments apply

5

Your response is based upon documents and answers that you have found on the internet

If you get through to the invitation to tender stage, your documentation and records will probably be found wanting; your application will be sifted out

6

Your response is based upon documents data and records that are well managed and available in your organisation

You will be invited to submit a tender and now it all comes down to price

If you market your achievement properly, it will seriously improve your chances of achieving higher value, longer term contracts with better clients that strictly vet their contractors.

An acid test indicator of whether you are trailing behind is your performance during a prequalification process. I have put together the success scale in the table above.

As per position 6 on the table – ‘now it all comes down to price’ – what this means is that the few companies meeting the contract requirements in respect of those factors I listed earlier, will be asked to submit a price for the contract or complete a schedule of rates.The cheapest doesn’t always get it but it does pay to be competitive.

There is a cost to run systems but I can tell you

that the organisations that are doing well have all of the management systems taken care of and have probably had them assessed and certified to CHAS and to ISO quality and environmental standards.

From my observation of many companies moving from point 1 to point 6, they break less, they waste less, they deploy more efficiently, people don’t get hurt, in short, the cost savings far outweigh the initial and ongoing investment in getting everything in place.

If you then market your achievement properly, it will seriously improve your chances of achieving higher value, longer term contracts with better clients that strictly vet their contractors.

IT JUST TAKES EFFORT AND SOME GUIDANCE The route to sustainable competitive advantage and sales success is quite straight forward; it just takes effort and some guidance.

I am going to focus on the key ingredients in each edition of ProLandscaper and shall endeavour to justify the value of appropriate management in terms of competitive advantage, increased sales and profitability rather than the usual perspective of legal compliance and threat of enforcement. N

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

ABOUT PAUL ELCOAT Paul Elcoat is the founder of Elcoat Limited based in South Northamptonshire and works as an advisor to many companies in the landscape and tree industries. Since 2005 he has specialised in helping small contractors to get everything in place to increase sales and win contracts.

He started his career in amenity horticulture and developed an interest in trees. He has been a climbing arborist, NPTC Assessor and Verifier and up until the establishment of his own company he was a director for a large vegetation management contractor serving the domestic, highway and railway sectors.

With an MBA, qualifications in health and safety and as a Chartered Environmentalist, he has the rare ability to turn corporate responsibility into increased revenue.

Paul would be happy to take questions or comments from readers by email : paul@paulelcoat.co.uk or telephone 020 7193 5611 / 07800 615 900

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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BALI Briefing 21

BALI BRIEFING WHO’S WHO DIRECTORY 2012 The annual production of the BALI membership directory is a major undertaking, comprising as it does detailed information on all BALI contractors, designers, product and service suppliers and training providers.This publication is an invaluable tool for anyone running major landscape schemes and needing to select professional designers, landscape and grounds maintenance contractors, products and services, or perhaps requiring a training provider to deliver health and safety or industry skills training to employees. In addition to the directory listings, the first part of the directory contains articles written by industry experts on key themes, including, obviously, the Olympic Park.The 2012 edition is now available and should already be with BALI members and those industry professionals already on the BALI Who’s Who mailing list. Copies can be obtained by landscape architects and specifiers by emailing BALI at contact@bali.org.uk.

WORLDSKILLS – LONDON 2011 BALI has project managed the WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening Competition on behalf of UK Skills for the past four years. With the help of industry sponsors, including some BALI Affiliate members, BALI has helped to develop the skills of young landscapers and promote landscaping as a career path by organising the competition heats and UK finals. Student competitors from land-based colleges and young contractors in the workplace studying part-time at college take part each year www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

Autumn at BALI Landscape House is invariably a hive of activity as the BALI team bring to fruition a number of projects whilst planning ahead for the coming year.

with the goal of eventually representing the UK at the international WorldSkills event, held every two years in a different country. This year it was the UK’s turn to host the international competition, which was held in London at ExCeL in October.

The two UK competitors in the Landscape Gardening competition, Simon Abbott (studying at Askham Bryan College) and James Cuffey (studying at CAFRE in Northern Ireland) – both walked away with Silver Medals, which is a really fantastic achievement.

2012 SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS At the BALI Affiliates’ Forum, held recently at Landscape House, Stoneleigh Park, BALI supplier members were able to hear about the Association’s plans for Ecobuild and BALI 2012 – The Landscaping Show.The BALI Pavilion at Ecobuild (22-22 March) will be situated once again in the Green Infrastructure section of this huge exhibition, giving BALI members greater impact than if they were exhibiting individually.There are still some stands available within the pavilion but BALI members will need to hurry, it’s filling up fast – contact daniel.young@bali.org.uk for details.

Planning for BALI 2012 – The Landscaping Show (19-20 June) is well advanced with many exhibition stands on the Stoneleigh Park site already taken. 2012 is BALI’s 40th anniversary and this will be a major theme at the show and for BALI events and publications throughout the year.To celebrate, BALI is holding a Black Tie gala dinner for

BALI members, their guests and invited VIPs on the first evening of the show,Tuesday 19th June, at a beautiful and fitting venue close to Stoneleigh Park.

Full details will be announced very shortly.

BALI REGIONAL EVENTS The BALI Regions are putting on some great events in the run up to Christmas, at which nonmembers are very welcome, including ‘How to achieve excellence in construction: An evening with Mark Gregory’ at the Mere Golf and Country Club, near Knutsford, Cheshire on 24th November. Visit the events page of the BALI website for details. Christmas events planned around the BALI Regions include: 8th December South Thames Region, Silvermere Golf and Country Club, Cobham, Surrey.

Contact: dawn.baker@bali.org.uk 10th December Yorkshire and NE Region, The Glenridding Hotel, Ullswater, Penrith, Cumbria.

Contact: diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk 13th December North Thames Region, The Noke, St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Contact: daniel.young@bali.org.uk 14th December South West Region, Royal Chase, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Contact: dawn.baker@bali.org.uk Go to the BALI website for the latest BALI news and event information. Web: www.bali.org.uk

• • • •

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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Portfolio 23

ABOUT HILLIER LANDSCAPES

FLOWER GARDEN MASTERPLAN Hillier Landscape’s award winning transformation at Nether Lypiatt has involved the creation of a masterplan and a series of traditional, arts and crafts inspired gardens around a Grade I listed manor house. www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

Hillier Landscapes is a design and build landscape company with headquarters in Romsey, Hampshire and regional offices in Bristol and the Cotswolds.

Hillier’s many awards include The BALI Grand Award, an impressive array of RHS Gold Medals for gardens at Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. The company were also APL category winners this year.

Managing Director Richard Barnard is currently APL Vice Chairman and an RHS and BALI Gardens judge. He was awarded the RHS Associate of Honour in July, for the advancement of landscape practice through education and association work.

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

±

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24 Portfolio

View from the bedroom window of the Manor.

AFTER

his commission required the complete overhaul of the rose garden within the existing walled garden, as part of the development of the Nether Lypiatt estate. The project was carried out within a ÂŁ250,000 budget.

The masterplan was undertaken by The Landscape Agency following consultations with the client Lord and Lady Drayson. The scheme was entrusted to Hillier Landscapes who had undertaken the landscaping for the previous phases.

Landscape Architect Alistair Baldwin and estate

T

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

custodians Stella and Simon Drury worked closely together with Peter Langton from the Hillier Landscapes Bristol office to achieve the ultimate flower garden.

DESIGN CONCEPT The soil in the garden had become tired and depleted, due to mass rose planting by the previous owners, so not only was a new design required, but a restoration of the garden to its original exuberant glory. 530 tonnes of topsoil and 280 cubic metres of compost replaced the existing soil; www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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Portfolio 25

BEFORE

DURING

Squares within squares encourage one to explore the garden, with frequent changes in direction presenting an ever changing series of views.

planting areas being dug out to 600 mm depth.

The design concept was driven by the notion of the traditional formal flower garden, heavily influenced by the presence of a vista, running eastwest across the garden, originally installed on the advice of Lawrence Johnston, creator of Hidcote and a good friend of a previous owner.

A substantial new glasshouse was to be incorporated, requiring full planning permission.

Working in collaboration with Hartley Botanic, a glasshouse was designed with a bespoke entrance porch with proportions precisely matching those of www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

the pediment over the central window on the east elevation of the house. These proportions were also used in the design of the three oak archways aligned on the central north-south vista, culminating on the glasshouse porch. Rainwater is collected and stored from the glasshouse roof, for use in the raising of seedlings for the flower garden. Reclaimed Gloucestershire stone was used to build the glasshouse base wall, requiring highly accurate construction methods and intense collaboration with Hartley Botanic to ensure a perfect fit between bespoke wall and bespoke glasshouse.

COLOURS AND LAYERING Oak trellising, in the arts and crafts style, manufactured in Gloucestershire, forms two principle spaces. Squares within squares encourage one to explore the garden, with frequent changes in direction presenting an ever changing series of views.

Paths become subtly narrower as one reaches the central seating space in each square, heightening the reduction in scale and sense of intimacy.

The northern half of the garden is planted with shrubs, bulbs and perennials within the warm end of the colour spectrum, with the southern end of

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

Âą

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26 Portfolio

3

REFERENCES Hillier Landscapes Ampfield House, Ampfield, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9PA Tel: 01794 368855 The Design Studio, Cadbury Garden & Leisure Congresbury, Bristol BS49 5AA Tel: 01934 875729 Web: www.hillier-landscapes.co.uk Email: richard@hillier-landscapes.co.uk

1

2

Masterplan undertaken by:

The Landscape Agency Aviator Court, Clifton Moor, York, YO30 4UZ Web: www.landscapeagency.co.uk Tel: 01904 691630 Email: enquiries@landscapeagency.co.uk

BEFORE

Glasshouse supplied by:

Hartley Botanic

1 Exuberant growth in the first year following planting.

2 Before work commenced.

3 Entrance wall border.

Wellington Road, Greenfield, Oldham OL3 7AG Web: www.hartley-botanic.co.uk Tel: 01457 819155 Email: info@hartleybotanic.co.uk All timber including trellis and archways were supplied by :

the garden occupying the cooler end of the spectrum. This heightens the sense of distance when viewing the garden from the upper floors of the house. Plants are layered to give a prolonged flowering season, with colours from both ends of the spectrum carefully blended along the central, east-west vista.

PLANT PREPARATION The plant specification was prepared by John Sales, former National Trust chief garden adviser and Landscape Architect Sue Spielberg.

In excess of 3,000 plants were specified which included 320 species and varieties of shrubs, herbaceous and hedging plants sourced from 23 different nurseries throughout the United Kingdom. Planting was carried out by Hillier Landscapes Romsey branch with the client’s gardeners and two of Hillier’s garden designers setting out. No formal plans were prepared, just

Abbeywood Projects Ltd Unit 1 Tolldown Farm, Dyrham, Wiltshire SN14 8HZ Web: www.abbeywoodprojects.co.uk Tel: 01225 892222 Email: sales@abbeywoodprojects.co.uk Soil and Compost supplied by:

Woodland Horticulture Ltd

Plan design rough notes and experience by John and Sue working on site with the Hillier team.

Paths in each half of the garden culminate in a central contemplative seating space, where classical statues salvaged from the original garden sit in formal pools.

The project was awarded a BALI Principal Award and APL award.

Hillier Landscapes www.hillier-landscapes.co.uk

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

Sharpham Lane, Walton, Street, Somerset BA16 9SB Web: www.woodlandhp.co.uk Tel: 01458 441122 Email: info@woodlandhp.co.uk Main plant supplier:

Chichester Trees and Shrubs Ltd Beaulieu, Hampshire, SO42 7YG Tel: 01590 612198 Email: jameschichester@tsplants.com Steel Edging supplied by:

Landscapeplus Limited Lyncroft Business Park, Perrott’s Brook, Cirencester, Glos GL7 7BW. Web: www.landscapeplus.com Tel: 01285 832100 Email: help@landscapeplus.com

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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THE

OUTSIDE WORLD The Landscape Group was awarded the contract for the external works by Bovis Lend Lease at Media City in Salford Quays, the country’s first media city.

DURING

edia City has been designed to provide a purposebuilt home for creative and digital businesses including (but not exclusively) the BBC. The first phase, spread over 36 acres, will be com-pleted in 2011 but there is the potential to use up to 200 acres of land over the next decade.

Our works included the laying of 30,000 square metres of natural stone paving, the cladding of walls, steps, terraces and a footbridge over the Canal.

M

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

The creation of the central piazza area saw the planting of large semi mature trees and other more general planting, together with the creation of resin bound footpaths, the installation of granite planters, lighting and the installation of surface water drainage.

Individual pocket parks were created; these included ornamental planting, resin paths, lawns and dividing walls.

The developers and their subsequent tenants were concerned that this long term development

ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE GROUP The Landscape Group focuses on hard and soft landscaping and external works packages, and specialises in undertaking and efficiently delivering larger more complex multi-disciplinary external works projects, where they are responsible for the whole of the work on the site.

With a combined turnover of £50 million and employing on average 1100 staff, The Landscape Group is a market leader, with the consistency and quality of its service being recognised with 100 national awards.

National coverage is provided from a strategically placed network of Regional Offices, which enable The Landscape Group to deliver a first-class local service with the back up and resources of a major contractor.

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MEDIA CITY, MANCHESTER – £3.7 MILLION Client: Peel Media Landscape Architect: Gillespies Awards: BALI Award 2011 – Hard Landscaping, Construction, Cost Over £1.5 million

delivered a longer term social legacy in this previously deprived area of Salford.The Landscape Group’s contribution to this was the recruitment, training and development of Landscape Apprentices during the project.

CHALLENGES The biggest challenges concerned the sheer size and complexity of and the exceptionally high quality expectations for this internationally high profile development. At any one time there would be in excess of 2,000 personnel working in and around

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

the site. As building fit outs were taking place after the hard landscaping elements had been installed, trying to protect the paving created a major challenge.This was overcome by liaising with other contractors and forming close working relationships but inevitably resulted in even further complicated logistics and planning. Liaison has also included the interfacing with the builders of a new metro station which is adjacent to Media City.

The Group employed a dedicated Logistics Manager to co ordinate all deliveries to and movements on the site. A large part of this project www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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The Landscape Group carries out regular reviews with clients during the lifetime of each project and in this way we are able to compare performance against expectations.

Plan design DURING

Âą www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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REFERENCES The Landscape Group Landscapes House, First Floor Offices, 3 Rye Hill Office Park, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry CV5 9A Web: www.thelandscapegroup.co.uk Tel: 02476 405660 Email: coventry@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

Bovis Lend Lease Limited 142 Northolt Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA2 OEE Web: www.bovis.co.uk Tel: 020 8271 8000

Gillespies Westgate House, 44 Hale Road, Hale, Cheshire WA14 2EX Web: www.gillespies.co.uk Tel: 0161 928 7715 Email: jim.gibson@gillespies.co.uk Lawn supplied by:

Rolawn Limited

AFTER

Elvington, York YO41 4XR Web: www.rolawn.co.uk Tel: 0845 604 6050/01904 608661 Email: info@rolawn.co.uk

Coronet Turf Ashe Warren Farm, Overton, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG25 3AW Web: www.coronet-turf.co.uk Tel: 01256 771222 Email: coronet@coronet-turf.co.uk Trees & Planting:

Specimen Trees High Legh Estate Office, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0QS Web: www.specimentrees.net Tel: 01925 755204

Van den Berk Nurseries Michael Queree – Agent United Kingdom Web: www.vdberk.co.uk Tel: 01892 522 360 Email: michael@vdberk.co.uk

DURING

entailed the coordination of granite imports and planning ensuring that the right materials got to the right part of the site on a just in time basis.

The materials arrived at Liverpool where it was trans shipped onto the barges for its onward journey. Around three quar ters of a million pieces of granite were delivered by barge along the Manchester Ship Canal. Not only was this a low environmental and traffic impact delivery solution but a fitting mode of transport as this development is on land formerly owned by the Canal Company.

The Canal Company was formed in 1885; a previous development that transformed the economic prosperity of Manchester as this one is set to do again. Upon unloading, the granite was logged and coded according to its eventual destination, stored and subsequently transported to each site zone, as required.

The result of all this hard work is a unique, modern and yet surprisingly green urban cityscape that is at the centre of this remarkable development.

The Landscape Group www.thelandscapegroup.co.uk

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

Johnsons of Whixley Whixley, York YO26 8AQ Web: www.nurserymen.co.uk Tel: 01423 330234 Email: sales@nurserymen.co.uk

Lorenz von Ehren Nurseries Sandford Gate, East Point Business Park, Oxford OX4 6LB Web: www.lve-baumschule.de Tel: 01865 910261 Email: Sebastian@LvE.de Resin Bonded Footpaths:

Midland Decorative Surfaces St. Andrews House, 76 St Andrews Road Bordesley, Birmingham B9 4LN Web: www.decorativesurfaces.co.uk Tel: 0121 766 8705 Email: Pat@fbservices.co.uk

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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ABOUT HOLLAND LANDSCAPES

VISIONS INTO

Holland Landscapes have been designing and building stunning gardens for over twenty years. They have exceeded their clients' expectations throughout East Anglia creating beautiful gardens, transforming ideas and visions into reality.

Contracting their highly skilled and qualified teams means that clients really do get the garden they want, built to exceptionally high standards. They pride themselves on the reliability and quality of their workmanship, and have five prestigious awards from the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) of which they are a member.

They can create a variety of different garden styles, from simple, elegant, traditional to contemporary.

Whatever the size of contract, They will tackle every task with the same enthusiasm, professionalism and skill.

REALITY Holland Landscapes have turned a large existing lawn at Yew Tree Cottage, a 14th century cottage in rural Essex, into a picturesque garden. www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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BEFORE

AFTER

DURING

esigner Karen Chamberlain incorporated all of the clients brief to create a formal gravel garden, a small secluded terrace, a semi-circular terrace, a large informal lawn, a gravel path to the summer house, and informal planting surrounding the terraces and lawn. Brick pathways and trellises’ weave their way around, segregating the spaces.

The project won the APL Awards 2011 – Supreme Winner, Project value £15,000-£30,000. The judges commented that the garden was “well thought out’ and had, ‘a good story, clean lines, and good craftsmanship.”

The clients brief was for a seating area in a sunny location, conceal the oil tank and wood storage area, an enclosed terrace close to the house, a lawn with surrounding planting and a path that can be used in all weathers to gain access to the summerhouse to the rear of the garden.The existing brick paving was to be cleaned, lifted and re-laid within the new design.

D

PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD WITH THIS PROJECT: Being a very old house there was no damp proof course so we had to keep paving away from the house and ensure very good drainage using gravel.

Apart from that the project ran smoothly and we came across no problems.

The project cost 27k including planting and took five weeks to complete.

TIME LINE OF CONSTRUCTION: Week one • Remove old hedges, clear areas to be landscaped of pots, garden furniture etc.

• Remove existing brick paving and store on site ready to be cleaned and relayed later on in the project.

• Set out and excavate the proposed kitchen garden.

• Prepare foundations for the sleeper walls.

Week two • Lay sleepers around kitchen garden and planters.

• Set out levels and foundations for steps to main terrace.

• Build steps to main terrace.

• Lay armoured cables for garden lighting Week three • Set out kitchen area and lay sub-base.

• Install bespoke steel edging for the borders which was fabricated by Wesbroom Engineering in Colchester. This was vital to the project. Wood would have been too hard to bend round such a small radius, looked bulky and would not last as long as steel.

• Build steps to driveway and secluded terrace.

• Lay stepping stones in kitchen garden.

• Lay sub-base for secluded terrace, lay paving and point.

PLANT LIST: Perovskia – Blue Spire Penstemon – Raven Euphorbia – Wulfenii Gaura – The Bride Stipa – Arundenacia Stipa – Tenuissima Bergenia – Bressingham White

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

Week four • Set out and excavate main terrace.

• Lay brick paving around the edge of main terrace.

• Lay paving in main terrace and point.

• Install archways and trellis work.

• Lay hoggin and gravel in kitchen garden paths.

• Fill planting areas with topsoil.

Week five • Strip existing lawn area of all turf.

• Rotovate and level the garden.

• Fit wooden edging for path and lay sub-base.

• Prepare soil for turf and lay turf.

• Prepare borders and plant.

• Install garden lighting.

Betula – Jacquemontii Buxus – Sempervirens Laurus – Nobilis Lavendula – Munstead Anemoe – Honorine Jobert Sedum – Iceberg Hemerocallis – Corky Nepeta – Walkers Low

Geranium – Sanguineum Elsbeth Sedum – Purple Emperor Crocosmia – Star of The East Alchemilla – Mollis Geranium – Rozanne Penstemon – Garnet Salvia – Caradonna

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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REFERENCES Holland Landscapes 58 Grenfell Avenue, Holland on Sea, Essex CO15 5XW Web: www.hollandscapes.co.uk Tel: 01255 815403 or 01206 209080 Email: paul@hollandscapes.co.uk Paving

Old Rectory Paving & Archways/Trellis: Kent Blaxill & Co. Ltd, Layer Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 9JY Web: www.kentblaxill.co.uk/landscaping Tel: 01206 216029 Email: landscaping@kentblaxill.co.uk Sleepers

Silverton Aggregates 6-7 Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JX Web: www.silvertonaggregates.co.uk Tel: 01206 793800 Lawn

Spearhead Turf Lords Ground, Swaffham Prior Fen, Cambridge CB25 0LQ Web: www.spearheadturf.co.uk Tel: 01638 742901 Email: turf@spearheadgroup.co.uk

Plan design

Garden lighting – Hunza

Light Ideas International Suite No.3, Faraday House, King William St., Amblecote, Stourbridge DY8 4HD Web: www.lightideas.co.uk Tel: 01384 377378 Email: Richard@lightideas.co.uk Steel fabricated by:

Wesbroom Engineering 173, Mersea Rd, Colchester, Essex CO2 8PN Web: www.wesbroomengineering.co.uk Tel: 01206 576959 Email: info@wesbroomengineering.co.uk

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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BEFORE

DURING

TRULY

ICONIC A Signature Collection Garden©* by Janine Pattison.

ABOUT JANINE PATTISON Lead Consultant – Janine Pattison MSGD is a multi award-winning garden designer and horticulturalist who trained with English Heritage at Eltham Palace in London and at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester. A Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers, the British Association of Landscape Industries and the Garden Media Guild, Janine is also a highly qualified RHS horticulturalist. She writes regularly for national magazines and newspapers, and is proving to be a highly popular speaker at various horticultural and garden design events across the country. Janine Pattison Garden Design Ltd are a national award-winning garden design practice, renowned for creating stylish and contemporary gardens throughout Dorset and along the south coast, in particular serving Poole, Sandbanks, Canford Cliffs, Branksome Park, Lilliput and the New Forest. Working for both private and corporate clients, we also enjoy close ties with developers, interior designers and architects. *Signature Garden Collection© Some properties are truly prestigious. And they deserve a garden as unique as they are, delivered in a way that is tailored to the client's individual needs. The Signature Garden Collection© houses these iconic gardens. Every member of the team signs a confidentiality contract, ensuring provision of a completely discreet service from start to finish.

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

THE BRIEF Our client, a successful businessman and his family, had bought this ‘Grand Designs’ award-winning property as a weekend retreat.The one-acre plot was steeply sloping and virtually unusable to the family. Our brief was to create a piece of Provence in this corner of Dorset and make it family-friendly.

They wanted to include a top- quality swimming pool, pool house with shower, toilet and changing facilities, boules allée and plenty of space for relaxing and dining by day and entertaining by night.The over-riding instruction from the client was to create something ‘truly iconic’ that would attract attention as an outstanding garden to complement this stunning house.

OUR DESIGN SOLUTION The amazing location of this garden, with far-reaching views out over ancient Dorset countryside, demanded an elegant design solution that, by day is restrained and restful, but comes alive at night.The ambitious design required structural calculations and planning permission in order to dig out 600 tons of chalk to create the level area to site the pool, pool house and large hardwood deck. In order to save cost and be environmentally friendly, we used the www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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into a theatrical showpiece.The lighting scheme we designed runs through an advanced DMX system to allow pre-programming for different mood lighting.

This once barren and unusable site has now become a haven for wildlife; the air is alive with dragonflies, butterflies and bees.Water harvesting from the gym roof and generous compost bins, along with organic gardening principles, ensure that this garden will sustain and thrive in the years to come.

AWARD OF RECOGNITION We were so delighted with the finished garden that we entered it into the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) National Awards for 2011 and as covered in the October 2011 issue of ProLandscaper were delighted to discover that the garden has been recognised in the Landscape Design Excellence Award Category for projects costing over £50,000.The team are looking forward to attending the ceremony in December to collect the award.

Janine Pattison Garden Design Ltd www.janinepattison.com spoil on site to create a level, wild-flower meadow under an orchard of mature olive trees. Over 150-years-old, these olive specimens were selected by us in Spain for their ‘knarled’ sculptural character.

The wild- flower meadow provided a ‘transitional’ space between the formal gardens and the rural landscape beyond.

Other areas of the garden we designed include raised hardwood decks with glass balustrading, further LED-lit olive groves under-planted with herbaceous perennials and framed with formal clipped boxwood, bespoke Urbis water feature, garden gym conversion, rendered ‘baffle’ walls and pencil cypress allées for wind protection and screening.

The client’s love of Provence was reflected in the limited variety of materials used and the restricted palette of plants that we allowed ourselves. Foliage and flower colours were limited to blues, purples, silver, white and cream by using olive trees, verbena bonariensis, lavender, perovskia, liatris, rosemary, boxwood, sage, white roses and wisteria.

The retaining wall was clad with panels of hand-carved sandstone to create calming textures by day and washed with a bespoke system of colour-changing LEDs by night, transforming the wall www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

REFERENCES Janine Pattison Garden Design

Lighting supplied by:

Timings were:

The Studio, 85 Petersfield Rd, Bournemouth, Dorset BH7 6QH Web: www.janinepattison.com Tel: 01202 426143 Email: janine@janinepattison.com

Led-Zip Lighting

The project was 10 months from start to hand-over.

Landscapers on project:

Classic Landscapes 31 Bradstock Close, Poole, Dorset BH12 4BT Web: www.classiclandscaping.co.uk Tel: 01202 387546 Email: ianhall@ classiclandscaping.co.uk Water feature supplied by:

Urbis Design 30 Full Sutton Industrial Estate, Full Sutton, York YO41 1HS Web: www.urbisdesign.co.uk Tel/Fax: 01759 373839 Email: rm@urbisdesign.co.uk Wildflower meadow supplied by:

Charles Flowers Wildflower Carvers Hill Farm, Shalbourne, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 3PS Web: www.charlesflowerwildflowers.co.uk Tel/Fax: 01672 870782 (Evenings 01672 870431) Email: flowerfarms@btinternet.com

Unit 6, Longham Business Centre, Longham, Bournemouth, Dorset BH22 9BU Web: www.led-zip.co.uk Tel: 01202 577400 Email: simon@led-zip.co.uk Glass balustrading supplied by:

New Balcony Stainless Steel Balcony and Balustrade 11 Beechwood Road, West Moors, Dorset BH22 0BN Web: www.newbalcony.com Tel: 01202 876158 Email: sales@newbalcony.com Plants supplied by:

www.plantspeople.co.uk Sandstone panels supplied by:

Ruscrete Ltd Rushington Business Park, Totton, Southampton, Hampshire SO40 9AH Web: www.ruscrete.co.uk Tel: 023 8086 5046 Email: sales@ruscrete.co.uk

Design: Autumn 2009 Construction started January 2010 Mature olive trees purchased in Spain in April 2010 Final planting and handover July 2010

• • •

Approximate costings:

• • • •• ••

Full mosaic heated swimming pool (inc automatic cover)£80,000 Western red cedar pool house (inc shower, loo and plant room for pool) £15,000 Retaining walls £20,000 Landscaping £60,000 Lighting £18,000 Mature olive trees £25,000 Planting and wild flower meadow £25,000

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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36 Look Out For…

LOOK OUT FOR...

HUGO BUGG 2009 saw the real start to my garden design career. Being selected and exhibiting my first ever show garden at the international garden festival ‘Future gardens’ in 2009 also saw my first ever garden built.

was delighted with how the show turned out but surprisingly did not realise that I had now caught the show garden bug. I could now not wait to enter the next competition. Entering and then winning the RHS Young Garden Designer of the Year competition in 2010 along with a gold medal and the overall ‘Best in Show’ award was an amazing experience. It brought me a surprising amount of publicity and a very busy year to follow.

I

DUCHY OF CORNWALL It has now been 14 months since the Young Designer competition and it has been filled with exciting opportunities and busy design work. My projects this year have included rural farm houses in Dorset and Somerset, a large town garden in Cheshire, city rooftop retreats in London and even a children's nursery garden for the Duchy of Cornwall in Dorset. I also relocated my Young Designer show garden to a secondary school in Dorset which was in great need of a garden. Being based between Devon and Cornwall does result in a lot of travelling, however the beautiful countryside and dramatic coastline provide a constant source of inspiration. | November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

As well as my quickly expanding portfolio, 2011 also saw the creation of two more show gardens.

A silver gilt medal for a roof top garden at the RHS London Plant and Design show was followed by a gold medal for the conceptual ‘CoppaFeel!’ garden at the Hampton Court Palace flower show. Both included the stressful build, mad panics and sleepless nights but that is what makes the overall garden feel so much better.This year I have also had my first experience of being a judge rather than being judged! I was asked to assess this year’s national Garden Guru competition sponsored by Ronseal.

Hopefully my success will not stop now. I am keen to grow and develop my design practice to enable me to take on commercial schemes as well as private gardens. I also have plans for Chelsea 2013 which I am extremely excited about and have just discovered I have been shortlisted for Cornwall’s Young Entrepreneur award.

Hugo Bugg Hugo Bugg Landscapes RHS Young Garden Designer of the Year 2010 t +44 (0)777 587 0702 e design@hugobugg.com w www.hugobugg.com www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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APL News 37 The Association of

Professional Landscapers

HTA

GARDEN FUTURES CONFERENCE

The economy, consumer trends, and the opportunity to attract younger gardeners were just some of the topics providing food for thought for garden retailers, landscapers, growers, manufacturers and suppliers from across the industry attending the HTA Garden Futures Conference, held in October at the Millbank Media Centre in London.

INFORMATION…. tephen Robertson, Director General of the British Retail Consortium, set the scene by providing an update on the current retail environment.Whilst non-food sales have been poor over the year he anticipates that most retailers will be 1-2% up this Christmas despite one in three households claiming that they have no spare cash at the end of the month.‘People are the real key to retail,’ he said and ‘With retail being a contact sport you really must only hire great people.”

Dennis Turner, HSBC Chief Economist provided an illuminating commentary of the current financial situation. ‘Following six quarters of negative growth ending in 2009, the UK is technically now out of recession although for many it still doesn’t feel like it’, he said. In 2009 the economy shrank by 5% and with growth of 1.8% last year he predicts that 2011 will see 1% growth with debts being paid, consumers not borrowing and interest rates remaining low. He claimed a growth figure of 2.5% is needed for everything to function normally.

Sally Beswick from Shine Research presented the key findings from the latest HTA research on attracting younger gardeners. With under 45’s accounting for a third of the retail market their potential spend over a lifetime is huge and so it is important to identify the key drivers that will gain their interest.The number one motivation for this group is to use a garden as a place to socialise with the outdoor dining area as the star.

1

S

INSPIRATION…….

With his hugely entertaining after dinner talk at the Conference dinner Andy McIndoe, Managing Director of Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres, really made delegates think outside the box about how the public view gardening. Gardens in the UK www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

1 Conference delegates 2 Dennis Turner, HSBC Chief Economist 3 Diarmuid Gavin

are decreasing in size with most people having a border, a lawn and maybe a couple of hanging baskets. Inspiration is provided by grand schemes featured in magazines and events such as the Chelsea Flower Show but it is up to the industry to enlighten people and make it real in order to keep Britain gardening.

Inspiration aplenty was provided by headline speaker and self-confessed Lady GaGa of the garden design world Diarmuid Gavin. He presented a fascinating account of his colourful journey from early influences (Willy Wonka, Mr Spock and the Blue Peter Garden) and initial gardening experiences growing up in Dublin, to his first application to build a Chelsea Garden and the huge success of his gold medal winning Sky Pad garden at Chelsea 2011. Always striving to do something different from the norm Diarmuid commented, “As designers we should be showing people new and exciting gardens. We need to up our game to stimulate and entertain.”

2

3

Summing up the event, the newly elected HTA President Carol Paris said, “I am confident that despite all the challenges, the majority of businesses within the industry will seize the opportunities that lie ahead from engaging with younger potential gardeners to learning about and utilising effectively social media. We need to be state of the art and not state of the ark and it is important that as an industry we pull together, under the HTA umbrella, to focus on what really matters.”

HTA Garden Futures Conference webcomment@the-hta.org.uk

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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38 Business Matters

LOOKING TO THE PAST FOR FUTURE EFFICIENCY We are all looking at ways of reducing costs and improving efficiencies.We tend to concentrate on areas such as planned preventative maintenance, whole life machine cost monitoring and operator training – all good stuff and key to maintaining operational productivity and enhancing the life of our machinery – but there’s more to it than that. ur industry hasn’t changed much over the last 20 years; we still cut grass with the same type of cylinder or rotary mower, though admittedly they have got a bit better.There have been significant advances in turf husbandry and maintenance techniques but fundamentally we still buy triples or out-front rotaries to cut grass and agricultural tractors to pull mowers.

O

PRESSURE We as an industry need to become more flexible.

We need to better understand all of our stakeholder needs, whether that is as client, contractor, DSO or manufacturer.The recession and subsequent government cuts are putting pressure on every aspect of what we do and unemployment is steadily rising but we still have a worrying skills shortage within the grounds maintenance and amenity horticulture market which, let’s face it is not a glamorous industry, there is a significant void between the designer gardens of the Chelsea flower show and verge mowing on the Leeds ring road. Whilst the verge mowing may not be glamorous, it still requires skilled operators to get the best out of their machines and ensure the task is undertaken safely and professionally.

So how do we work to address these issues?

With local authorities looking to make savings on their annual budgets flower beds will be grassed over, hanging basket numbers will be reduced, specifications amended, and jobs lost.This is all very well, but changing a cutting regime from 16 cuts

with a cylinder mower to 10 cuts with rotary midway through a contract term takes a bit of doing.

Good communication between client and contractor is critical to managing these changes, and achieving a cost-effective maintenance regime that satisfies all parties.

Contract specifications need to be brought in to the 21st century. I still see documents which dictate the use of a “contravator” for over seeding or ask for verges to be cut with a “multi mower”, not to mention some archaic sports ground practices.

Amenity grass doesn’t need to be cut to 20mm 16 times a year – during dry spells parks cut to this regime are barren and unwelcoming. Look to the continent where they cut to 50mm and more.Their grass stays green longer; being green it captures more CO² and with less arisings it is easier on the machines.We should consider mulching rather than collection as has been done in the States for several years. For grass banks look at alternatives to cutting and weigh up the associated hazards and potential for erosion. Why not consider growth retardants,

Whilst the verge mowing may not be glamorous, it still requires skilled operators to get the best out of their machines and ensure the task is undertaken safely and professionally.

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

planting wild flowers or short-growing varieties of grass?

The agricultural industry recognized thirty years ago that it had to change, become more productive, and make better use of its assets. Agriculture has moved to one man/woman and one machine carrying out a variety of tasks. Our industry is now at that point and manufacturers need to play an important role in developing products to satisfy this requirement. Like agriculture we are hit with the same rising fuel costs, but this seems to have been overlooked when it comes to our use of higher horsepower tractors for field scale operations.We’re expected to be satisfied with standard agricultural spec machines with turf tyres.

CONCEPT NEEDS TO BE REVISED? Unlike agriculture we don’t work our tractors so hard but we do have to move between many different sites across built up areas (and in some cases across large geographical areas) to cut grass and undertake a range of turf maintenance operations. We’ve all been stuck behind a tractor and gang-mower at 20mph, which is ironic when you consider the gang-mower has a rated road speed of 40mph. JCB gave agriculture the “Fast Trac” which is ideal for heavy draft operations and moving equipment quickly between sites but no use for our industry. Forward thinking local authorities and contractors have in the past used Land Rovers with drag gangs for high speed mowing.There was an alternative, the Trantor, 75hp, 2t lift and a 50mph top speed making it ideal for our industry. However, this www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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Business Matters 39

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1 Kubota tractor fitted with a Ransomes 5/7 gang mower. 2 RTS rotary heads being trialled on a Hayter triple.

3 The “Landsman” triple mower fitted with a Wessex rotary deck. 4 The “Trantor” high speed tractor currently being built in India. 5 BCS bi-directional tractor fitted with a flail mower. 6 Ransomes prototype

6

flail heads fitted to a triple mower.

was not considered sufficiently main-stream or the UK so now it’s built in India. Maybe the concept needs to be revised for a 21st century return.

The triple cylinder mower produces a high quality cut where specifications allow, but does nothing else and lies idle for 4 to 5 months of the year. Alternatively an out-front rotary can rotary mow, flail mow, brush paths, clear snow and operate a blower making it much more of an all-season machine. Compact tractors with front linkage (or even better reverse drive units) can do all of the above plus a whole lot more. Whilst not as manoeuvrable and initially more expensive, they are much more flexible. We need to start thinking differently if we want to become more efficient and remain competitive.The reverse drive concept is not new. Kubota produced the L2850 in the 1980’s and more recently JCB and New Holland have toyed with the idea. In Italy, Austria and Switzerland these type of machines are used extensively in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

Maybe it’s time they saw more action in the UK and there are suppliers out there keen to make this a reality.

On a positive note, it is refreshing to see that www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

Ransomes have at last produced alternative flail head units for their triple mowers. This isn’t a new development, as Bomford produced the “Turftrim” triple with a flail head option in the late 80’s.

Risborough Turf have also produced rotary heads for triple mowers which worked very well but weren’t well received by the mainstream manufacturers as they were seen as a threat to their ride-on rotary business. Also ahead of its time was the HTL produced “Landsman” mower, a traditionally configured triple mower which could have its cylinders replaced with flail units but more importantly, the front units could be removed and replaced with a 60” rotary deck, ideal in today’s changing environment.

FORWARD THINKING So where do we go next in our effort to become more efficient? We have to work with our clients to value-engineer contract specifications. We have to work with manufacturers to develop new ideas.We have to become more forward-thinking by taking the technology available elsewhere and adapting it to our needs to get the maximum out of our machinery and operators. N

ABOUT THE AUTHOR An agriculturist by profession, I spent several years working on arable farms in central Scotland before starting with VSO in Egypt implementing a mechanisation program, managing field operations for a large commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen.

During this time I also spent a year at Silsoe where I gained an MSc in Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation Management.

A serious road accident saw my return to the UK where upon recovery I joined Glendale as machinery manager in March l994 where I stayed until 2009, albeit with a short spell as account manager for the IPU group. I left Glendale as Company Engineer in December 2009 to join The Landscape Group as Group Head of Assets and fleet.

Angus Lindsay alindsay@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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40 Wildflower Meadows

URBAN

BLING The Basics of Making Meadows by Andy Boorman hen the Olympic site opens the interest in urban meadows will rocket. Most of us have heard of James Hitchmough and Nigel Dunnett’s innovative approaches celebrating worldwide floral diversity. Starting three years ago with soil recycled on site and sowing into sand mulch they are confident that everything is more or less in place. But on July 27th 2012 the meadows must be perfect, so no pressure then!

Landscapers often do not have the research experience and resources available to the Olympics, but will face similar challenges. Advice is contradictory and often aimed at restoring native species rich hay meadows. There are common

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| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

principles and practices, but also exceptions and flexibility is needed. Most importantly in the UK, grass is a superb competitor and given half a chance will dominate and supress its colourful neighbours.

SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT Stripping off the top-soil is expensive and often pointless, as in a few years it be re-created. Ideally start with bare earth free of grass and problem weeds particularly creeping thistle, nettle and Japanese knotweed. Considering drainage, soil texture, structure, pH, nutrient status and past history will guide species selection and management.

Species choice is key, but the details are beyond the scope of this article. However, freedom from

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Wildflower Meadows 41

“After three years or so, hopefully, it is a job well done!”

the debate of ‘native good, alien bad’ and the restrictions of countryside management encourages a long flowering season, high aesthetic values and effective contributions to urban biodiversity.

Whatever strategy is used specify as wide a range of species as money permits.The ability of annual yellow rattle to parasitize grasses helps keep them from becoming over dominant and is highly recommended. Some species, for example Geraniums, are very difficult from seed and should be introduced as plants. Perhaps sow only flowering plants where grass was previously present. This will give a flower rich sward and reduce over dominance by grasses.There will be a year or two before the flowers are at their peak, so consider a short-term annual mix. Bringing instant interest to wildlife and viewers and suppressing grasses and weeds, it helps ‘nurse’ the meadow community.

Produce an open tilth and surface sow followed by light rolling or chain harrowing. Sow evenly at 15kg/hectare for perennial flower mixes and double www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

this for annuals. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for standard meadow blends, but do not exceed 50kg/ha of grasses. Ideally sow as soon as seed is available between August to October. March/April sowing is perhaps better where non-native species are present, but runs the risk of delayed establishment in a dry spring. Some species require winter chilling, for example; primrose, cowslip and yellow rattle and will be delayed by spring sowing.

CHECK AND SPOT CONTROL Unless annuals are sown, mow regularly at 50/75mm for the first year to control weeds. Cut annuals down by the end of August, to allow light onto the young forbs to help their growth. Check for problematic weeds and spot control as needed.

Ideally the annual cut will be in late winter, particularly if the sward is rich in grasses, but September is fine. Areas left uncut over winter act as habitat for birds, invertebrates, small mammals

and amphibians. A June ‘hay-cut’ will encourage grass growth at the expense of flowering plants and is to be avoided unless there is a fire risk.To be effective it requires aftermath grazing, which is rarely available.

Contrary to popular belief, there is normally no need to cut and collect when rotary mowing between September and late winter. Be prepared to spot treat problem weeds and look for opportunities to add more species in the first years. After three years or so, hopefully, it is a job well done! N

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andy Boorman is a lecturer and consultant in landscape management based in Essex.

He has been making and researching meadow style plantings for over ten years. andrew.boorman1@btinternet.com

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

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SiteVisit 43

(l-r top row) Nick Coslett – Sales & Marketing Manager.

Andrew Wayre – Sales Development Manager. Chris Armstrong – Cash & Carry Manager. (l-r bottom row) Stephen Piddock – Assistant Operations Manager.

Denise Buckland – Sales Development Executive.

Peter Curtis – Operations Manager.

SITE VISIT PALMSTEAD NURSERIES Early last month we were invited by Nick Coslett, Palmstead’s Sales & Marketing Manager, to tour the vast nursery in the Kent countryside and get an insight into this thriving business. There’s an extremely friendly and professional vibe here and impressive plants and trees show the staff’s commitment pays off. The company’s message says it all, they are ‘committed to excellent service, excellent quality and excellent value’. almstead Nurseries were founded in 1968

by John Langman who started at a 3 acre site south of Canterbury, moving to the present 53 hectare site in Wye in 1987.

The current site produces over 1 million plants annually and is now the largest grower of landscape plants in the South East.The prime focus of the business is to service the Landscape Designer, Landscape Contractor, Local Authority and Land Owner. Plants grown at Palmstead furnish private and public projects and the business has gained huge kudos by winning the contract to supply plants for the Olympic Park 2012.

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NEW GLASSHOUSE Within the last two years a whole new glasshouse has been built to accommodate the 110 species required for the Olympic Park. Some of these species have presented quite a challenge for the nursery, from originally sourcing the seeds from across the globe to finding out what growing www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

conditions most suited the plants. Plant deliveries from Palmstead to the The Olympic Park site took place throughout Spring and Summer 2011, these have been transplanted and are now settling in and establishing well.

ANNUAL WORKSHOPS The annual Palmstead workshops have grown in popularity, this year around 350 professionals attended with inspiring speakers Andy Sturgeon, Noel Farrar, Gill Chamberlain, Professor James Hitchmough and James Alexander-Sinclair, delivering interesting and thought provoking presentations. Next year’s event is already being organised and promises to be one not to miss.

Palmstead Nurseries Limited Harville Road, Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5EU t 01233 813340 f 01233 813071 e sales@palmstead.co.uk w www.palmstead.co.uk Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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44 Latest Kit – Plants and Seeds

These tough little rock roses are hardy, drought tolerant and trouble-free, producing glorious colour from late spring to midsummer. If pruned after flowering, they'll even reward you with a second flush of blooms.The nectar-rich flowers, set against a backdrop of silvery, semi-evergreen foliage, are loved by bees and other insects.This Helianthemum collection makes excellent groundcover or a versatile addition to rockeries or hot, dry borders. Height: 20cm (8”). Spread: 30cm (12”). Pot up Helianthemum plants and grow them on until large enough to plant outdoors. When they are well grown, acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting into their final positions.Transplant rock roses into moderately fertile, neutral or alkaline soil, in full sun. Helianthemum dislike wet ground, particularly during winter. Improve heavy soil conditions by adding coarse grit or sharp sand prior to planting.

Once established, rock roses can easily tolerate dry sandy soils. Feed and water regularly throughout the growing season while young plants become established. Once established, rock roses are relatively drought tolerant and require minimal maintenance. After flowering, prune Helianthemum stems back to within 3cm (1”) of the previous year’s growth. www.thompsonandmorgan.com An absolute beauty, becoming covered with trumpetshaped vibrant pink flowers about 10cm (4”) across, Lavatera Silver Cup is a lovely bushy plant for the back of borders. Sow indoors in late winter/early spring, outdoors in mid spring, setting the seed very shallowly in good seed compost or fine, well raked soil. Germination takes 15-20 days at 21C (70F). Transplant when large enough to handle or thin out the seedlings to 30cm (12in) apart each way.They prefer ordinary, but not rich soil in sun with a little shelter. www.simplysowseeds.co.uk The China Cat Sunflower is a fantastic multi-headed sunflower with rings of orange on its yellow petals. About 6' tall, the nice thing about this is that lots of heads are produced over a long season, so it is ideal for cutting, or just a fancy display in the garden.The seeds are a reasonable size and you could save them to eat or feed the birds To get the multi-heading habit, the seeds of the 'Gloriosa' were crossed with silverleaf sunflowers, and when finished, they named the variety after the 1972 song by the psychedelic rock band The Grateful Dead. www.realseeds.co.uk

Aquilegia is a Hardy Perennial. Sowing times vary between species, but the majority are from April - June. First flowers are produced the following season. The flower can only be described as delicately stunning. It has two parts to its flower head – a central trumpet, encircled by star like outer petals, all set on a surrounding of green grey leaves held on tall stems. Aquilegias come in a variety of colours and sizes.

Sow in situ around April, and protect from late frosts.This plant likes partial shade and most soil conditions. Can also be sown in the autumn for flowers the following year. www.tuckers-seeds.com

Echinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry is a beautiful first year flowering perennial and is perfectly named as the rich rose purple 3-4inches flowers are exceptionally showy and are said to retain their colour much longer. Wind proof, early to flower and decidedly branching these plants will bloom continuously without deadheading.This seed won an AAS 2010 Award.The flowers will grow to around 20-24inches and is a hardy perennial. www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk

Ipomea – Heavenly Blue is a vigorous climber for a sheltered spot or conservatory. Bright green foliage with stunning blue flowers, they are short lived but regularly replaced. Full sun is essential. Flowers July to October and will grow to a height of 200-300cm. Sow March and April. Early sowings in pots of 4 seeds under glass at 18C or later sowings direct in the flowering site in group of 3 seeds, 15cm between groups. Glasshouse sowings should be gradually hardened off for planting out in the flowering site may 15cm apart. Direct sowing should be thinned to single seedlings as they grow and the plants will mature in June to October.The beautiful flowers only last for one day, remove dead heads as soon as they have wilted to encourage further flowers. www.vegetableseeds.net

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

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A favourite project completed in stages from June to present consisted of a garden clear out, 29 section fence, shrub and hedge removal. An old stone water feature was removed and in its place a children’s play area section created with railway sleepers.

Start-Up 47

SMALL BUSINESS

BLOG

We continue to follow the story of Yasmin Roworth and her husband Mark of MPR Landscapes, through the early months of building their business and how their company is establishing itself through gaining projects within their local area…

hile we were getting MPR Landscapes started, Mark undertook sub contract work, working all over the North West installing all aspects of fencing.This gave us a great platform making contacts and gave me plenty of time to focus on our marketing.

When it comes to advertising I am not a firm believer in leafleting because of the small percentage of success rate, but we distributed in our home village to give the business some local presence.

However, people responded to the leaflets and requested quotes which lead to confirmed jobs.

From custom made gates to small garden walls and a full garden re-design the range was unbelievable.

Some of the work is on-going and some scheduled for later in the year.

Our diary for June, July and August became full so we had to stop sub-contracting after 4 weeks which astounded us. We were extremely fortunate that the summer months were hectic but very exciting, transforming gardens and meeting some wonderful clients who we hope will come back to us again in the future.

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We enjoy all of our work but a favourite of mine was a project completed in stages from June to present. It consisted of a garden clear out, 29 section fence, shrub and hedge removal, an old stone water feature was removed and in its place a children’s play area section created with railway sleepers.The garden looks completely different and it has provided a safe space for the children to play. More work is still to be done here later in the year or next Spring.

RECOMMENDATION During those early months we started one of our first commercial works which was a large residential home in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. It came from a recommendation and we forged a great working relationship with our clients.The work carried out there was a mixture of everything from rendering, fencing and block paving, to tree work and drainage. It was gratifying to see that the work we had carried out was making things a little easier for people that live and work there.

BEFORE

Great communication with our clients is something that we aim to maintain from start to finish of the project. At the end of the working day we like to keep them up-to date with progress or any delays and unexpected issues. Having workmen on your property can be daunting and we don’t want our customers to feel out of their depth or that they cannot ask us questions. At the end of the day our aim is to provide a great overall service and for us that means from our first meeting until job completion.

After a great start up we hope more is still to come for MPR and we look forward to expanding in different directions and exploring new avenues.

Our summer has been successful, autumn looks to be great and we can’t wait for 2012 to begin already.

In our next article you can view one of our projects, hear who has helped us and how, and we will also discuss how we source our materials.

Visit them at www.mprlandscapes.co.uk and follow them on twitter @mprlandscapes

In the January issue of Pro Landscaper… ...you will be able to read all our fantastic regular features and some new additions too. We’ll be previewing the BTME Harrogate Week Exhibition for readers in the turf management industry, and next year will see the introduction of our PRO Supplements, kicking off with PROTurf.

There will be an informative feature on fertilisers, along with the usual page turners like our Portfolios, a ‘beefed up’ Business Tips section and Latest Kit which will not disappoint so make sure you keep up to date by visiting our website www.pro-landscaper.co.uk.

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

Also see us on facebook, twitter @ProLandscaperJW and join our LinkedIn group to keep abreast of all that’s going on.

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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UTVs 49 In the old days fetching and carrying, on site especially, was a pick-up or tractor and trailer task.That was before TV came on to the scene. It is UTV – rather than ATV – that has come to describe work-related usage.

Olympic Park landscaping: a Gator on duty.

UTILITY VEHICLES THE ALL TERRAIN WORKHORSES ow it is de rigueur: a utility vehicle complete with brand id and your company name and website for all to see.They are a lot more than a statement of up-todateness of course.

Generally, it means you have a hugely efficient workhorse, an essential part of your kit. The manufacturers – and there are plenty of them these days – have them fine-tuned to handle all manner of work even in what might previously have been no-go areas. They are all pretty much all-terrain these days. Often as not you can get one that’s street legal too.

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Ecological and health and safety demands mean that specs just keep on getting better. Here are some to consider It made its name in the quad bike market, which is what ATV really came to mean, but American firm Polaris moved into the utility vehicle field in recent times with its Ranger. Over there the generic term for UTVs is ‘side-by-sides’, which in straight talk just means room for driver and passenger up front. Polaris has mastered all terrain transportation and you can get a Ranger in petrol, diesel or battery-powered versions. The latter provides noiseless joy, but the newest Polaris Ranger Diesel is the one for tough day-to-day workout. A top speed of 35 mph, seating for three, and a 681kg payload are but three of the stats in its favour. Prices range from £10,699 up to £13,222 when fitted with full steel, ROPS certified cab.The electric Ranger costs £9,499.

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JCB changed its utility vehicle brand name from Groundhog to the more professional sounding Workmax at the beginning of the year and when it launched its 800D model the company put professional landscapers at the head of the list of those it would appeal to.They could be right.This compact 4x4 has a tipping cargo deck that can take a 400kg load and a basic general-purpose model with front bench seat costs a pretty manageable £8,950. Options like sealed cab, bull bar, and hydraulic lift add to this.

Its prominence in agriculture and golf course work gives the John Deere livery a high profile.

The green and yellow is a familiar sight in field and on fairway as much as anything for its Gator utility vehicles. It’s all change now for the Gator.The latest one, the XUV 855D, is a striking olive and black.

Three versions each have on-demand 4WD courtesy of a dash-mounted electric switch, and among many new features is a muffler system to cut noise levels.The three-cylinder diesel engine can give up to 32mph and a power steering system is available shortly. The 460-litre cargo box has removable tailgate and side panels for flatbed usage.

That so many in land industries have them must mean something. Prices start at £11,147 for the basic model.

Another tractor name, New Holland, has moved into utility vehicles for the first time with its Rustler.This 2-seater with automatic 4WD has a rear load platform that can carry up to 476kg. An on-road version has street legal lights, front and rear towing hitches and hydraulic-powered lift deck.

Prices start at £12,836.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neville Johnson is a freelance journalist based near Sevenoaks and for 20 years has been working as a writer and magazine editor. Recently he has been involved in the world of sports turf, but for 14 years also handled the PR for the Horticultural Trades Association He is also a Member of the Garden Media Guild, but has worked with – and in – many industries. nevillejohnson@btconnect.com Perhaps best known as an engine name is Kubota, so you’d expect a UTV from the same stable to be a decent performer. It’s been around for a couple of years now, but its RTV900 – yes one without a catchy brand id – continues to be, on and off road. Power steering and an hydraulic tipping cargo box with 500kg capacity are notable features as is optional motor spool kit to power attachments like spreaders and brushes.

Simple roll cage or heated cab are other ways you can tailor yours. A basic one with bench seat costs £10,395.

WEB BROWSING FOR MORE: Polaris: www.polarisindustries.com/en-gb JCB: www.jcb.com John Deere: www.johndeere.com New Holland: www.newholland.com Kubota: www.kubota.co.uk 4

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1 1 The Electric Ranger – noiseless joy. 2 The Workmax 800D. 3 Colour change for the Gator – now it’s olive and black for the new XUV 855D. 4 The Rustler: first UTV from one of the big tractor names. 5 The RTV900 – option to power up attachments. www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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50 Product DNA A quieter machine for operating inside barns or for stealthy trips to the deer stand, the RANGER® EV never needs gas, requires very little maintenance, and works harder and rides smoother than any other electric vehicle in its class.

ELECTRIC ADVANTAGE

LONGEST RANGE

A quieter machine for operating inside barns or for moving quietly amongst horses or livestock, the RANGER® EV never needs fuel, requires very little maintenance, works harder and rides smoother than any other vehicle in its class.

With an 11.7 kWh maximum-power battery pack and three-mode system (High, Low and Max Range), the RANGER® EV has the longest range in its class, up to 50 miles* in Max Range mode. Plugging into a 110V AC outlet is all it takes to charge it up and be ready to ride.

BEST-IN-CLASS ERGONOMICS Cab ergonomics deliver outstanding driver and passenger comfort, with extra legroom and easy cab slide-through design so two adults can get in and out quickly.

DUMP BOX WITH LOCK & RIDE® CARGO SYSTEM Rear dump box has gasassist dumping operation and feature the exclusive Lock & Ride® cargo system that accommodates many hard-working accessories that can go on and off in seconds.

INDUSTRY-LEADING FRONT AND INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION (IRS) Our legendary smooth IRS has 22.9 cm (9 in.) of travel and five-point adjustable pre-load so you can stiffen the suspension for heavy loads. The MacPherson Strut independent front suspension has a long 20.3 cm (8 in.) of travel.

POLARIS ® RANGER EV

DNA

STRONG 30 HP MOTOR It’s the hardest working, smoothest riding electric Side x Side. Operates cleanly and quietly with a 30 hp/48V AC electric motor. Alternating Current (AC) is more efficient and extends range.

GROUND CLEARANCE A full 25.4 cm (10 in.) of obstacle-clearing ground clearance lets you tackle some of the tougher terrain that comes your way.

ON-DEMAND TRUE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) WITH VERSATRAC TURF MODE True AWD keeps you moving, automatically engaging all four wheels when you need more forward traction and reverting back to 2WD when you don’t. When in 2WD, the VersaTrac Turf Mode switch unlocks the rear differential for easier, tighter turns that won’t tear up your grass.

THE FACTS Engine

30 HP, AC

Top speed (mph) (kph)

25 (40.2)

Suspension Travel (front/rear) (cm) (in)

20.3/22.9 (8/9)

All-Wheel Drive

On-Demand True AWD

Dump Box

Yes

Independent Rear Suspension

Yes

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

More Polaris® Features

kg (1250 lb.) towing capacity •• 567 226.7 kg (500 lb.) box capacity • Certified Roll-Over Protective Structure (ROPS)

www.polaris-britain.com 0800 915 6720

* Range estimates assume a fully charged and conditioned battery pack. Actual range results are highly dependent on driving style and drive mode selected, terrain, ambient temperature, battery age, tyre pressures, and installed accessories.

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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52 Latest Kit –ATV/UTVs

Polaris Britain has announced a new addition to the Sportsman ATV family, the 500 Forest, for 2012. This new model features mirrors and indicators as standard, an automatic Polaris Variable Transmission gearbox with low ratio range, all wheel shaft drive and a permanent 2500lb winch. The Forest also has a rear hitch with machinery attachment point. The 498cc High Output 4-stroke engine unleashes power in abundance for towing and winching, with on demand all-wheel and two-wheel drive striking a balance for all working conditions. MacPherson strut with 8.2” (20.8cm) travel combines with dual A-Arm Independent Rear Suspension travel of 9.5” (24.1cm) to give this Sportsman the stance, handling and off-road capability that takes the most challenging forest track in its stride.

The ground clearance is 11.25” (28.5cm) and a turning radius of 65” (165cm) mean there’s plenty of room to manoeuvre when the going gets rough. A big 4.25 (17L) fuel load keeps you on track for plenty of miles and if you’re greedy for load and towing there’s masses on tap, in fact as much as 1786 lbs (810kg) unbraked towing capacity. As you would expect with Polaris there’s Lock and Ride, high beam headlights to light the path at night and a range of instrumentation to keep you fully informed on speed, fuel, gear selection and more while the Sage Green colour option blends in with the trees. www.polaris-britain.com

New Holland’s Rustler™ series utility vehicle is robust in design, offering an industry-leading CVT transmission and all-wheel-drive traction control, delivering the smoothest ride in its class. Far from your one-size-fits-all vehicle, the Rustler 120 offers a range of options and accessories to make the product work harder for you. A full spectrum of choices, from a deluxe cab available with cab heating kit to side protection bars, tube bumper, cargo cage, dash mount speedometer, radio, toolbox or gun boot, will complete the Rustler to your specifications. Even Rustler tyres are custom designed, for maximum sidewall strength. White rimmed all-terrain tyres or mud tyres are available on blue models, and black rims on camouflage units. When you want to blend in, the camouflage edition is available in the Mossy Oak® Break-Up Infinity pattern, with black seats and cargo box.The Rustler CVT transmission, with an industry-leading Sensitrak system handles even the most rugged terrain with intuitive control. Standard all-wheel drive does the thinking for you. With a potential cargo capacity of up to 476kg and towing capacity of 797kg, the Rustler handles big loads with ease. Independent front and rear suspension, Sensitrak, automatic differential locks, 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, spacious seating and a fully certified ROPS or safety-glass cab, the Rustler is as capable as you are ambitious. For further information on the Rustler 120 range, visit www.newholland.com/uk

Suzuki’s popular middleweight ATV, the KingQuad 400, was updated in 2010 with the addition of fuel injection, providing even more efficient performance from an already highly economical ATV.The fuel injection system uses 3-D ignition maps for smooth and responsive power throughout the rev range. The KingQuad 400 also benefits from more consistent cold starts for improved reliability.The 376cc 4-stroke 4-valve engine features specially designed cam profiles for more usable power, whilst the purpose-built exhaust system helps improve efficiency and overall performance.

Another key feature of this model is the easy-to-read LCD digital display. With a speedometer, odometer, tripmeter, hour meter, clock, fuel gauge and more, it allows riders to track their progress at a quick glance.

KingQuad ATVs are renowned for being no-fuss workhorses and the 400 is no exception. Its practical features and comfortable T-shaped seat are designed to endure tough challenges and with fuel injection it’s more economical than ever. For more information on the KingQuad 400 visit www.suzukiatv.co.uk

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

ARCTIC CAT, the American ATV Manufacturer, are this year celebrating their 50th birthday. Within the Arctic Cat ATV range is the “Jewel in the Crown”, the 700 cc Diesel quad.The diesel comes complete with a full road lighting kit, fully independent suspension. It can, if needed, carry a passenger, has a fully automatic gearbox, a front winch and a rear non homologated tow ball.The ranges of Quads start with the 350 two wheel drive which retails at £ 3,750 plus VAT, followed by the 425 and then the 425 SE models which feature alloy wheels. A 700 cc petrol quad is also available with power steering as an optional extra and followed by the big daddy of the range the 1000 cc petrol.

However if you fancy a sports quad, Arctic Cat have two models in their range starting with the 300 DVX which retails at £ 3,390 plus VAT and the 450 XC crossover which is the new kid on the block and can be used on or off road, due to the electric shift 2 or 4 wheel drive. Arctic Cat ATV’s come fully road legal, have automatic C.V.T. gearbox, independent suspension - front and rear - and come complete with electric front winch and rear tow ball at no extra cost to the customer. www.articcat.eu

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Product Test 53

FUEL CHALLENGE How is Aspen Alkylate petrol different to regular fuel? It claims to be better for the end user. Russell Eales is challenged with finding out if this is true. spen claims to be ‘the cleanest form of petrol that is available in the market today.’ I’m used to using regular pump fuel, which is tried and trusted. Aspen comes in convenient 5 litre cans which are very easy to store in a van or a shed. It is also very easy to carry, with a comfortable grip handle that also benefits the user whilst pouring.The can came with a ‘Fillpartner’ anti-spill nozzle making spillages a thing of the past.

Even with filling caps at awkward angles, the nozzle will allow you to change the angle of filling and still not waste valuable fuel. I did, however, manage to test a spillage on a driveway, and as soon as it dries, the stain is virtually non-existent. Having a ready mixed fuel for my 2 stroke machines was also very handy and eliminated any worries over machine damage due to poor petrol/oil mixes, which could be a costly mistake.

A

LITTLE TO NO ADJUSTMENT ON THE 4 STROKE MACHINES When it came to using the 2 stroke fuel I had to adjust the carburettor by a quarter turn, which I was informed I may have to do due to the lack of solvents in the fuel, but I needed little to no adjustment on the 4 stroke machines. Once a tank www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

full of the 2 stroke had been through the machine it ran very well.The fuel had a big effect when it came to starting the machines especially using the 2 stroke; in all honesty there was no difference when using the 4 stroke in terms of starting.The 2 stroke took a bit of getting used to in the first instance, but as soon as the machine had adjusted to the new fuel, it was easier and quicker to get the machine going.

THE SMELL IS CERTAINLY LESS HARSH THAN REGULAR PETROL The biggest difference in using the Aspen fuel was the feel and smell.The smell is certainly less harsh than regular petrol; the only smell is that of the hot engine.This allowed me to get a bit closer to the machine whilst using it, and at no point did I find myself coughing or choking!

After 3 weeks of using the Aspen fuels, I reverted back to the regular petrol I have used.This is when you really notice the difference in the two - more so than going from regular petrol to Aspen.

You get the potent, chemical smell from the exhaust fumes, and once you get in the habit of getting up close to the machine and having the exhaust pointing directly at you, you get the

chemical, harsh smell full on. I didn’t realise how much better I felt using Aspen or how toxic regular fuel is until this point.

Although the fuel is no more efficient than regular petrol (it takes roughly the same time to use a full tank), I preferred using Aspen. Surely if a fuel can be better for my health and the environment, it is better for the machine, right?

Russell Eales Russell Eales Lawn Care

ABOUT RUSSELL EALES Russell is a lawncare specialist, and runs his own business, Russell Eales Lawn Care in Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Previously he worked as a greenkeeper, and has had vast experience with using machines in a working environment. Russell is also a member of the Pro Landscaper Editorial Advisory Panel. russellealeslawncare@yahoo.co.uk www.russellealeslawncare.co.uk

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54 Paving Feature

lthough general market conditions remain difficult, designers and clients continue to look for new solutions to make their mark on their own ‘patch’. The RMI market continues to enjoy investment as property owners have spent on long-term upgrades to last and be lived with rather than quick, short-term makeovers for house selling purposes.The current trend for consumers sees them tackling their landscaping with a greater understanding as to how a quality outdoor space can impact on the value of their home.The rise in popularity of shabby chic and vintage styling has driven homeowners looking to achieve a rustic finish both inside and out.

Gardens are now more functional than ever, and many homeowners view their outdoor spaces simply as an extension of their properties. The creation of operational outdoor kitchen and entertainment spaces is proving to be an important aspect of home improvement, the line between indoor and outdoor living is becoming increasingly blurred.

Many people are still feeling the pinch, so it is important that manufacturers are able to offer a wide range of high quality paving products in a variety of sizes, shapes, profiles, colours and textures.

Only this way will landscapers be able to continue creating stunning natural style gardens for their clients that will offer solutions to fit specific budgets but are robust enough to stand the test of time.

A

THINK BEYOND BEING ‘GREEN’ While aesthetics remain the key focus for consumers, sustainability is set to have a greater impact on domestic landscaping in the future. But it’s important for landscapers to think beyond being ‘green’. Choices could involve selecting low maintenance or easy to install products to save time and employing local contractors in order to support their local economy.

New product development by manufacturers’ means there is a growing number of responsibly sourced or recycled materials which can be promoted to meet ‘green’ requirements.There’s business to be had out there but the market remains fiercely competitive. So what can people in the landscaping industry do to stand out from the crowd?

Approved tradesmen schemes help to grow the industry at grass roots level and have a knock-on effect to the whole supply chain. Earlier this year,

A BRIGHT FUTURE

ASSURED The continuing trend for home improvement presents a real opportunity for landscaping professionals to weather the current challenging economic conditions. A recent survey reported that 78 percent of people in the UK believe that renovation is currently a better option than moving house.The general industry outlook is positive, says Mark Wood, Business Manager at Bradstone, one of the UK’s leading hard landscaping manufacturers.

Bradstone launched Bradstone Assured, an innovative installer scheme designed to reward loyalty, drive business leads, ensure full and timely payment and provide professional marketing support for landscaping professionals across the UK. Bradstone Assured is open to all landscaping professionals.To ensure a high quality of service to customers, all applicants will have to meet stringent criteria to become members covering areas including business professionalism, workmanship, customer satisfaction and health and safety.These installers enjoy access to marketing support to promote their own businesses professionally, as well as being provided with quality branded work-wear and equipment. Uniquely, a dedicated website allows consumers to rate installers’ work giving satisfaction scores for completed jobs, an effective

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

tool for people trying to choose an installer they know they can trust.

POSITIVE IMPACT Manufacturers are working hard to raise industry standards.The new generation of approved installer schemes, like Bradstone Assured, is already having a real positive impact on the industry as a whole.These schemes are designed to provide tangible business benefits for the entire supply chain – and that kind of competitive advantage can only be a good thing in the current economic climate. For further information contact the Bradstone Assured team at: bradstone.assured@aggregate.com or call 01335 372228

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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56 Latest Kit – Paving

Paving Superstore are now supplying the Purestone collection 3-ring spinning circle from the Borderstone brand. Made from natural sandstone with a smooth ground surface finish, the rich and varying colours displayed by minerals contained within the sedimentary rock that constitutes sandstone have been subtly highlighted by a grinding and polishing process to the top surface of the paving.The smooth ground surface of each paving offers its own unique texture and colour variants and provides a paving that is equally at home inside and out and in both period and modern settings. Rosemount comes with a range of red, buff, orange and muted rose-pink shades with complementary veining. www.pavingsuperstore.co.uk

Drivewayfix materials have been used on a range of driveways across the midlands with a hundred percent success rate, and customers of TVG have been really pleased with the results.TVG’s extensive experience, and their ‘Drivewayfixer’ status, enabled them to secure the projects with ease.The Drivewayfix products allowed for a quick and easy repair, giving driveways a new lease of life within a matter of hours! Drivewayfix.co.uk offers a range of innovative and trusted products that will repair potholes, cracks and patches, and rejuvenate faded Tarmac drives. The range includes Drive Revive®, a water based paint which revives tired and dull Tarmac driveways; Rapid Repair, a fast setting repair for concrete paths and PaveJoint, a ready to use jointing compound for narrow and wide joints. ºwww.instarmac.co.uk

Thakeham Concrete Products now offer their Sovereign Paving slabs in two natural colours. With its antique colours and detailed textures, Sovereign Paving successfully captures the smooth timeworn look of chancery settings. Whatsmore, its wide range of sizes from900mm x 600mm to 300mm x 300mm - allows traditional random laying patterns to be followed, adding to the authenticity of this premium product. Sovereign paving is now available in a range of easy-to-lay project packs. www.thakeham.co.uk | November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

Natural Paving Products is a leading supplier of quality, ethically sourced natural stone to the Landscaping Industry.We are market leaders of Natural Stone Block Paving a direct replacement for tumbled concrete block paving offering a truly natural finish. 2012 will continue our partnership with Fired Earth one of the country’s best known quality brands and have an exclusive range of natural stone products that will enhance any home or garden. These products have been carefully designed and selected to give the landscaper and client the opportunity to choose the very highest quality and innovative natural stone materials for their project. Furthermore, 2012 will see the introduction of many new and exciting additions to the Premiastone and Natural Stone Block Paving ranges.These include sawn and honed flags in various colours, additionally with a light textured finish.The Weathered range will also be increased. But the most exciting product will be Rustic Quartz in both flags and Natural Stone Block Paving. Look for the new Brochure in 2012. www.naturalpaving.co.uk Mona Precast’s paviours are manufactured to the highest standard and come in a great range of colours: Brindle,Terracotta, Buff, Charcoal Natural and Slate Blue.They also produce kerb and channel units which are specifically designed for use with our paviours.Their good looks and durability offers high end performance for both home and industrial projects.This ever popular range introduces a greater flexibility in design options.Their Monapave Hexagon's classic design will compliment any traditional or contemporary exterior environment. With its distintive shape and choice of colours, the Hexagon is sure to add appeal to any paving project. Mona Precast strives to use a very high proportion of locally sourced recycled materials in its production of concrete products.

The world-class manufacturing facility is also very energy efficient, significantly reducing our CO2 emissions. With over 70% of product aggregate used coming from recycled resources - their products are very environmentally sustainable. www.monaprecast.co.uk

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58 Latest Kit – Editor’s Choice

Surefoot De-icer is a new high performance de-icer for use on footpaths and public thorough fares – any situation where ice poses a risk to pedestrians and users.

Surefoot is super concentrated, applied undiluted and doesn't require any dusty handling. Unlike traditional Rocksalt, Surefoot is non-corrosive. Supplied in easy to handle drums, Surefoot stacks neatly and safely. Any unused de-icer can be stored indefinitely.

Package includes backpack sprayer for application of large areas. Available in 10 Litre, 10ltr of Surefoot De-icer can cover over 600sqm, or 20 Litre drums, with or without a sprayer. For ice prevention, use 15ml per metre squared, for clearing use 30ml. www.green-tech.co.uk

The Meyer PathPro™ is an easy-to-use, fully functional steel snowplough operated from your ATV or Quad. Make sure you choose the right snowplough for your ATV or Quad.You'll only buy one, so make sure it's the best available. Having it on the front of your ATV means easier access to tighter spaces such as footpaths and drives, and with the patented self-angling, there is less for the driver to think about.There is also the automatic 'tripping' feature which protects the blade from damage and the driver from injury, and a five position Lock-n-Go, for when a fixed angle is best for the job.

The Meyer Path Pro come with lots of options - tailor the plough to your own requirements.Visit www.meyerproducts.co.uk

No field is square and when it comes to slug pellet application most will have a run-out area. Techneat Engineering’s Outcast V2 has long been a prime choice for high speed and accurate spreading of pellets up to 36m during spraying operations. Now the Outcast has the option to cut the feed to sections of a 36m boom to prevent overlapping. The new control system makes major cuts on pellet wastage, with the cost savings relating directly back to the cost of an Outcast V2. Designed for slug pellet applications in potato, field vegetable and autumn arable crops, using the Outcast for frequent, lowrate, pellet applications greatly improves slug control.The new development joins the features of accurate spreading from boom mounted satellite disc distributors and even coverage across full boom width.The ability to flick off boom sections is controlled inside the cab and the result is the best use of pellets, evenly applied in a perfect spread pattern, helping to improve on the low dose rate of typically 2kg per hectare. www.techneat.co.uk

A new enhanced instrument panel is now standard on all new 2 to 5 tonne Bobcat miniexcavators.The new instrument panel on the E26, E32, E35, E45, E50 and E55 excavator models offers a variety of new features, including a selectable auxiliary hydraulic flow function.This allows easy adjustment of the auxiliary flow according to the type of attachment being used, improving the controllability and productivity of the application.The selectable auxiliary hydraulic flow function is also available in kit form for upgrading older models.The new panel includes a sound indicator which produces a series of beeps to indicate the fuel level when refuelling. The shorter the intervals become, the nearer the fuel tank is to being full, providing an alert for the operator to prevent spillage due to overfilling, which can easily happen when filling the fuel tank from a jerry can. Another new feature switches off the lights automatically when the machine has not been operated for 10 minutes, preventing the battery from going flat in the event of the operator forgetting to turn off the lights when they leave the machine. An optional keyless ignition feature makes it possible to secure the excavator without a key. This provides multiple operators, each of whom can have a unique code, with the ability to operate the excavator without having to leave a key in the ignition and acts as a useful deterrent to theft. www.bobcat.eu

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

The FARMER range of tractor mounted sprayers continues Allman’s long tradition of producing cost effective spraying equipment without confusing the user with unnecessarily complicated controls or over-done sophistication all chassis and booms are now hot dipped galvanised.They are designed for tractors as small as 20hp ‘mini’ tractors right up to the agricultural ‘workhorse’ tractors of 120hp, and are fully equipped for smaller and medium sized spraying tasks and farms.There are 6, 8 and 12m manual boom options.

The larger capacity models accept a 12 hydraulically folding boom and are equipped with a chemical induction hopper. The chemical induction hopper is an option on the 1550 to 400 litre models and is standard on the 600 to 1000 litre models. Allman rollervane pumps, which are tried, tested and proven as cost effective, are fitted as standard. For more demanding applications, including the incorporation of powdered chemicals, chassis mounted diaphragm pumps with capacities of 60 and 100 litre/min are available.

Optional extras include semi and fully electric controls, hose reels and hanlances, fruit booms. www.allman-sprayers.co.uk www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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60 Latest Kit – Editor’s Choice

Kings College School Wimbledon has two main sportsfields, one surrounding the school in Wimbledon itself and a larger, 13 acre ground at Kingsway. Separate machinery fleets are kept at the two grounds, which cater for football, rugby, cricket, hockey and tennis with TYM 60hp T603 and 23hp T233 tractors providing the muscle at Kingsway and a 43hp T433 at Wimbledon.Acting Head Groundsman James Waller is based at the main ground, which is some 4 acres, and he explains that the tractors are matched to specific equipment on the two sites.“The 43hp T433 is kept busy with an Amazone ProfiHopper flail mower collector throughout the rugby season but also pulls a hired-in seeder, a slitter and a Sisis Quadraplay maintenance implement. At Kingsway, the 23hp T233 has a loader fitted and as well as being used for materials handling, does an invaluable job with the dragmat on our synthetic pitches James suggests that the competitive price of the TYM tractors was a big attraction, but adds that the comfortable cab has proved a big hit with the groundsmen. Despite the keen price and straightforward layout, James comments that the T433 does not skimp on specification, and its 1300kg lift capacity, two spool valves and 51 litres of hydraulic oil flow are ample for the range of implements used, including the Amazone ProfiHopper, which has hydraulic tipping.

“We have had the T433 for two years and the school would expect us to keep it for at least ten.” James comments. www.tymtractors.co.uk

As winter approaches it pays to plan ahead for your seasonal maintenance programme. Complete Ice Control (CIC) offers a national service based on the nationwide success of sister company Complete Weed Control (CWC), who have for 35 years built up the strong national personnel needed to deliver this vital winter service. CIC can offer either monthly, or pay as you go packages to help tackle the growing concerns of ice and snow, which left large parts of the UK at a standstill last year. CIC uses,Vale Pozi-Feed TS1200 spreaders, designed for salting restricted areas where wagon based spreaders aren’t feasible, such town centres. As part of the service CIC delivers an eco-friendly application of non-residue white salt, rapid clearance of snowfall and drifts, path clearance to help keep access routes open. www.completeicecontrol.co.uk | November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

Solar garden product specialist, Smart Solar, has launched a brand new concept in garden décor with their Aruba Solar Bistro Set.The bistro table has a glass top with a frosted design that lights up with either 8 colour-changing or 8 white LED’s during darkness. The unique LED integrated lighting and solar module fits in the centre of the table, providing a delightful outdoor ambience for patios, decks and balconies. Fully powered by the sun, the module creates a magical effect through the Aruba table glass. Made from practical dark brown faux rattan with a steel frame, the table and the two chairs are suitable for prolonged outdoor use, although both the chairs and the table can be folded away for easy storage. Jonathan Stobart, Smart Solar’s managing director, commented, “Smart Solar has a long history of designing innovative solar products and we are very excited about the new Aruba Solar Bistro Set, which is an attractive feature in any sized garden for warm summer evenings.”This product, which has a patent pending, is a new addition to Smart Solar’s lighting, aquatic and water feature ranges. www.smartsolar.com

Max Germ Guard® introduces NeverGreen® the antimicrobial product that will stop fungus, mould and mildew in its track.

Never Green is a patented antimicrobial, nanotechnology that is invisible, scratch resistant and hydrophobic killing bacteria and mould spores on all treated surfaces preventing damage and discolouration. Never Green can be used on all outdoors surfaces including wood, brick, stone and textiles. Once sprayed, Never Green activates within one hour and from then on continuously protects from the growth of mould, mildew and fungus.

Because of its clever defence mechanism Never Green® helps prolong the life of the treated surface and actually benefits the environment as it removes the need for harmful cleaning chemicals. www.maxnevergreen.com

With a truly professional specification, the Compact-Pro™ 34 is a highly versatile zero-turn designed to mow areas with restricted access. At just 92cm wide, not only can the Compact-Pro™ mow in cemeteries, communal gardens and down narrow pathways, it even fits inside a van for easy transportation between jobs.This is a commercial machine through and through. A 7-gauge, fabricated and welded cutter deck ensures longlasting performance. It is available in either a rear or side-discharge configuration. Both decks can be converted to mulch mow with an optional mulching kit. The 603cc Kawasaki® FX professionalgrade engine has a heavy-duty canister air cleaner for optimal performance and extended engine life.

Dual mounted fuel tanks have been sized to match the fuel consumption performance of the engine. An operator can expect a full day's work from this small machine without the need to refuel.Vibration isolating control arms and a high-back seat provide operator comfort and a two position foot plate offers extended leg reach and an ergonomic seating position. Being a gravely zero-turn, the Compact-Pro™ 34 is very fast.With a maximum ground-speed of 7 mph, the unit makes short-work of mowing even a large area.

The Gravely Compact-Pro™ 34 is supported by a comprehensive 2-year commercial warranty and a limited lifetime frame and deckshell warranty. www.countax.com

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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62 Book Review

BOOK REVIEW A while back, we asked people from all different walks of the industry if they could suggest any books that greatly help them in their working life. We had a cracking response from social networker and by email; this seems to be something that people want to share. Here are the best ones that have been suggested.

Maybe you can put a few of them on your Christmas list!

IT’S TIME FOR TREES Mike Glover It’s Time For Trees is a hard back, fully illustrated Guide to Tree Species Selection in the UK, focusing specifically on the species that are available for supply and planting in the UK. So far this publication has been very well received throughout the horticultural and arboricultural industry, ranging from Landscape Architects to Arborists, to Private buyers. This book gives detailed accounts of the origins of the beautiful trees we find in the UK, giving their Latin names, countries of origin and also what we can expect from them at certain stages of their life, with beautiful photographs of the trees in their preferred habitats.

Mike Glover graduated from Writtle Agricultural College in 1990 with a Higher National Diploma in Commercial Horticulture, and has now the Managing Director of Barcham Trees. Pro Landscaper is giving 8 of our readers the | November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

chance to win this book. Please email your name, company, job title and address to editor @pro-landscaper.co.uk by 30th November and we will let you know if you have been lucky.

It’s well worth it!

DESIGNING GARDENS Arabella Lennox-Boyd Arabella Lennox-Boyd has won gold medals at five Chelsea Flower Shows, including a Best Garden award in 1998.The first part of this book looks into Arabella LennoxBoyd’s philosophy and approach to design, the importance of relating the garden not only to the landscape but also to the house and the owner.

Design ideas for everything from paving and pergolas to perennial plantings burst from every page, captured in Andrew Lawson’s professional images and Lennox-Boyd’s plans.The second part of the book looks in detail at more than 20

very different gardens, many these are private and never photographed before.

CONSTRUCTION FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Jamie Liversedge & Robert Holden Construction for Landscape Architecture Construction covers all aspects of landscape construction, giving a good understanding of building materials and assembly.

The blend of hand drawing, informative text, case studies and excellent photography make this an essential read for all those seeking information on the techniques used in landscape architecture. It is heavily illustrated with specially commissioned, detailed construction drawings and has a strong emphasis on sustainability and good practice. At the end of the book there is an extensive glossary and an appendix of technical information. www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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Book Review 63

1000 DESIGNS FOR THE GARDEN AND WHERE TO FIND THEM Ian & Geraldine Rudge Leading designers like Marcel Wanders, Philippe Starck and Ross Lovegrove have created furniture and lighting ranges for the outside.Their work challenges traditional garden design, developing the use of new materials. With more than 1,000 fullcolour images, “1000 Designs for the Garden” is a beautifully illustrated book focusing on the best in contemporary garden design. Every chapter starts with an interview with a garden design expert. Full of the latest in outdoor furniture, garden art and both practical and luxury garden items, it features full specifications for every product and will appeal to gardeners.

NOTCUTTS BOOK OF PLANTS 17TH EDITION The purpose of this book is to help you choose the perfect flower to fill that gap in your garden. It is well proven within the horticulture industry, with the first edition of this handy little reference book was first published in 1961.We have been told by some of you that you have been using it for over 30 years!

LANDSCAPES IN LANDSCAPES Piet Oudolf A figure in the New Perennial planting movement, garden designer Piet Oudolf emphasises plant structure as the most important aspect of a successful garden. Form and texture are valued as much as colour and perennials, admired for their beauty throughout a natural life cycle. Oudolf challenges conventional approaches to gardening that relies on quick bursts of colour and constant maintenance and shows www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

working with versatile, perennials can create longer effects that relate to the greater landscape and the seasons.

Oudolf ’s detailed plans provide inspiration and insight for all interested in small personal gardens and the design of larger public landscapes.

THE CONTEMPORARY GARDEN Phaidon Editors “The Contemporary Garden” is an illustrated survey of 100 iconic gardens in the world, from the early 1920s to the present day. Accessible and easyto-use like Phaidon’s previous popular “The Garden Book”, this informative s book includes a range of gardens by designers, makers, architects and land artists – from Garrett Eckbo’s Alcoa Forecast Garden (1925) and Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye (1929) to Ian Hamilton Finlay’s Little Sparta (1966) and horticultural installation artist Tony Heywood’s Split (2003). Each garden has been selected for its unique design, marking a break from traditional gardens and presenting new and sometimes conceptual designs.

DRAWING FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: SKETCH TO SCREEN TO SITE Edward Hutchinson This essential publication reintroduces the importance of learning to ‘see by hand’, to visualize large-scale design schemes and explain them through drawing, before using the digital tools that are so crucial to efficient and cost-effective building solutions.

Combining traditional drawing techniques with those from CAD rendering in nine chapters, Drawing for Landscape Architecture guides practitioners from their very first impression of a site, through concept and schematic design and client presentation to construction and site

drawings, concluding with two case studies that show the final result. Just as hand-drawing returns to design courses around the world, this welcome publication celebrates the best aspects of traditional techniques while incorporating them into today’s digital design methods.

WALLS ELEMENTS OF GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Elke Zimmermann & Gunter Mader Fundamental elements of garden and landscape architecture, walls define borders, create spaces and provide protection. This book introduces the rich design potential of this structural element, offering a systematic set of guidelines and an inspiring store of models for designers, builders, horticulturists and landscape architects.

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE Ann Marie VanDerZanden & Thomas W. Cook The landscape industry is in the midst of major changes as the demand for environmentally responsible landscapes increases.This book offers a practical framework for the development of sustainable management strategies. Beginning with an overview of sustainable design and construction strategies, Sustainable Landscape Management focuses on key landscape management topics including ecosystem development, managing landscape beds, managing trees and shrubs, lawn care, and retro-fitting existing landscapes for sustainability, as it maps out a sound plan promoting green initiatives.

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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64 Classified

If you would like to advertise on these pages call Jamie or Luke on

>> 01903 234 077 | November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

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LITTLE INTERVIEW THE

A small insight into the world of other professionals in our wide and varied industry. If you would like to appear in a future issue please email lisa.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk.

LUCY BRAVINGTON Owner, Lucy Bravington Designer Landscapes. www.lucybravington.com

What would you say is the best thing about your job?

I love how no garden or design is ever the same, so every project is totally different. My favourite part though is seeing my clients’ faces when I present their garden design and they seem so surprised at what can be made of a space they’ve lost all inspiration for.

What made you want to get into the industry?

My parents had their garden designed when I was 12 and from then on I always loved the thought of designing gardens and after completing my business degree I decided to bite the bullet and train in garden design...

I haven’t looked back since!

RICHARD HODGETTS Owner,Vista Landscape Architecture and Design. www.vista-land.co.uk

What would you say is the best thing about your job?

I love meeting new clients and working with them and seeing the delight in their faces when they get a fantastic design that exceeded their expectations.

What made you want to get into the industry?

I loved gardens and plants as a child and also art.

My father was my biggest inspiration as we worked together in the garden every weekend.

He suggested a career that combined the two.

Thanks Daddy.

Challenges ahead in your work?

I set up Vista Landscape Architecture and Design

How is the bulk of your work made up?

I tend to design predominantly for private clients but the gardens range from a tiny urban courtyard to a large rural Estate.

Current trends in the market?

I notice almost all my clients would like low maintenance planting.They have such busy lives they don’t want to look out at their garden and feel guilty that it’s not looking its best... they just want to finish work on a Friday and enjoy it with friends, family and preferably a G’n’T!!

Your company’s plans for the next five years...

I hope to continue to grow my good reputation and possibly venture into the world of show gardens and television... so keep an eye out for me!

Who are you inspired by?

By positive people who have goals, passion and overcome challenges...Winston Churchill once

on the back of winning a project to design a strategic master plan for St Andrews Healthcare. I want St Andrews to be an exemplar landscape on how the landscape and the environment can aid recovery for mentally ill patients.The challenge is to meet the aspirations of the doctors and the patients and see recovery.

How is the bulk of your work made up?

Currently half my week is spent at St Andrews.

My evenings and the rest of the week developing existing clients from my twenty years’ experience and working on the other projects I have won which include private gardens, residential developments and landscape and visual impact assessments. I have joined twitter and aim to write a blog.

How do you remain competitive?

Understanding the scope of work, adding real value and not being greedy but realistic.

| November/December 2011 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

said “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”.

One thing you want to do before you’re too old?

I would like to see more of the world and work abroad too, establishing my name in other countries.

Countryside or seaside?

I love surfing... so seaside!

Your proudest achievement?

Having my final project at Pershore Horticultural College published in the Garden Design Journal as part of their Class of 2010 feature!

Favourite song?

Sade – By Your Side.

Countryside or seaside?

For me countryside or on top of a mountain in the lakes.

Favourite film and TV shows?

Film would have to be Cinema Paradiso.TV at the moment Downton Abbey.

One thing you want to do before you’re too old?

Take my land kite onto a long beach and surf the sand in a land board and feel the power of the elements!

Favourite Song?

Two come to mind Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins or Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd.

Proudest Achievement?

My lovely girls who make me so happy.

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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The Little Interview 67

SIMON SCOTT Marketing Director, Haddonstone Ltd. www.haddonstone.com

What would you say is the best thing about your job?

The variety. Currently we are hard at work on a new 200 page catalogue due out in early 2012. But it could be advertising, PR or exhibitions... maybe with a little SEO and email marketing thrown in!

How is the bulk of your work made up?

Roughly 40% garden ornaments (such as planters, fountains and statues) and 60% architectural stonework – anything from a simple run of balustrading to façade stonework for a major export project. About 30% of our work is export.

PAUL BAKER Holland Landscapes. www.hollandscapes.co.uk

What would you say is the best thing about your job?

Making our clients happy. It’s so nice to see people getting excited about their new garden.

What made you want to get into the industry?

With my father running Holland Landscapes, as a boy I was always keen to help out. As I got older I took on more responsibility and ended up becoming partner.

KARL HARRISON

Current trends in the market?

Classical and traditional designs have proved more popular in the last year, although our tie up with Robert A.M. Stern Architects in the States has enabled us to massively expand our contemporary offerings – something people don’t normally associate with us.

Favourite film and TV shows…

Mock the Week, QI and Have I Got News for You? Your proudest achievement?

Winning medals for show gardens I designed for the Chelsea Flower Show – Marketing Directors aren’t meant to be able to do that sort of thing!

How do you remain competitive?

By never resting on our laurels! By continuing to promote and publicise the company and its range of products, particularly on-line where we have seen dramatic increases in unique visitors to our website.

Favourite song?

Anything by the Dandy Warhols.

Who are you inspired by?

My late father, who was a fine headmaster. His school motto was “Fill the Unforgiving Minute” from Kipling’s If. So whether I am gardening or thumping away on a keyboard I am always productively busy!

Where’s your favourite holiday destination?

Anywhere where there is a Formula One Grand Prix... the race is a bonus, the cultures, architecture and gardens you can see are amazing. I can highly recommend Japan, Brazil and Turkey.

How is the bulk of your work made up?

Our work consists of hard and soft landscaping in the domestic sector.

Countryside or seaside?

Being brought up on the coast it will have to be the seaside.

Current trends in the market?

At the moment people are into growing their own vegetables and fruit. Also more and more people are having garden lighting so they can make the most of their garden when it’s dark.

Your proudest achievement?

Winning the APL Supreme award.

How do you remain competitive?

By offering the best quality possible .

Where’s your favourite holiday destination?

The Greek island of Kefalonia.The village Fiscardo has a very special place in my life.

Who are you inspired by?

My father, he has taught me everything I know.

Spring, Summer,Autumn or Winter?

Autumn... my birthday and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Favourite song?

Newton Faulkner – Dream Catch me.

Current trends in the market?

Being different I believe is a trend in itself. I strive to create something different – burnt decking, bleached decking and recycled timber decking......watch this space.

Who are you inspired by?

My family

What would you say is the best thing about your job?

It really has to be designing the decks from first principals for clients, especially when I am up against other designers for the same project.

Your company’s plans for the next five years...

We shall continue to set the standard for high quality hardwood timber decking and I would like to see our market share expand as a result of this.

Your proudest achievement?

200ft at 500kts in an F3 Tornado in A4 Ally in the Falkland Islands... nice.

How is the bulk of your work made up?

Firstly we provide the sole distribution of Exterpark hardwood decking followed by garden design and creation.

How do you remain competitive?

We offer quite possibly the largest selection of decking in the UK, this is in terms of the wide selection of timber species and thickness – not forgetting our range of composites.

Managing Director, Exterior Solutions Ltd. www.exteriordecking.co.uk

www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

Favourite film and TV shows…

Garden ER, channel 5

Favourite song?

Trouble by Ray LaMontagne.

Where’s your favourite holiday destination?

Ravello, Italy and a bottle of Prosecco... ;0)

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | November/December 2011 |

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