Concept to Delivery
DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN
November 2016
NIGEL BOWCOCK ACRE LANDSCAPES
Take a dip
NATURAL POOLS
30 UNDER 30 MEET LANDSCAPING’S STARS OF THE FUTURE WITH THIS ISSUE
SHOW GUIDE
2016
Cover November final.indd 3
HIGH AND MIGHTY PAUL NEWMAN LANDSCAPES 20/10/2016 13:47
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WELCOME
Concept to Delivery DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN
November 2016 | Volume 6, Issue 11
November 2016
NIGEL BOWCOCK
ACRE LANDSCAPE
S
Take a dip
Welcome to November 2016
NATURAL POOLS
30 UNDER 30
MEET LANDSCAPIN STARS OF THE FUT G’S URE WITH THIS ISSUE
Welcome to the November issue of Pro Landscaper – this edition is packed with some fabulous features, including an interview with Nigel Bowcock of Acre Landscapes who talks about his 30-year career in the industry, an inside look at Hultons Landscapes and an insightful interview with Alistair Bayford who enlightens us about his role at the Parks Alliance. As well as our regular contributors’
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pages, there is also a plethora of information on landscape products and equipment, should you be looking for new ideas or thinking about updating your kit. We are delighted to announce 2016’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation, in association with CED Stone Group, where we highlight the industry’s rising stars. Now in its second year the initiative has grown from its launch, making selection of the finalists a tough task. This year’s group should be very proud of their achievement and we offer them our huge congratulations – check out pages 71-85 for the ‘Class of 2016’.
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SHOW GUIDE
2016
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HIGH AND MIGHTY
PAUL NEWMAN LANDSCAPES
3
20/10/2016 13:47
Finally, the landscape event of the year happens this month and with this issue we include the comprehensive Show Guide for FutureScape, which is now in its fifth year. The event has grown beyond recognition since its launch in 2012, with over 200 exhibitors, 29 seminars, live debates and the ever popular evening industry debate and dinner. You can find all the details you need within the supplement. We would love to see you there and if you are going please do come and say hello. Look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 15 November at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey, and as always, have a great month.
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Design – Kara Thomas, Fay Pritchard, Mandy Armstrong
@lisaeljays
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MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson Managing Editor Joe Wilkinson
Pro Landscaper / November 2016
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CONTENTS
November 2016 INFORM
8
Agenda Do you think the apprenticeship levy will benefit the landscaping sector?
10
23
News A monthly roundup of industry news plus the latest updates from efig, SGD, BALI, RHS, Parks Alliance and APL
19
News Extra We speak to Alistair Bayford about what the Parks Alliance will be doing going forward following the State of UK Parks 2016 report
Let’s Hear it From COVER STORY Nigel Bowcock of Acre Landscapes
23 28
19
Hultons Landscapes Lee Webster and Chris Whittingham speak to Pro Landscaper about bringing Hultons Landscapes back from the brink of liquidation
31
Phil Jones warns of the disgruntled employee, who projects his or her discontent not to the employer but to the customer
Hort Couture? Andrew Wilson explores the education of gardeners vs. garden designers, and asks: can one really do the other’s work without further training?
35
Knowing Your Limits Taking risks can be of great benefit to your business – providing your team can handle it, says David Dodd
36
Accidents Will Happen Creating safe working environments is about more than ticking boxes, writes Angus Lindsay, who implores that safety should be at the core of your business
37
Collaborative Working Pete Jones insists upon the importance of collaborative working across the board to ensure the future of the industry
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Pro Landscaper / November 2016
Contents.indd 4
November 2016
DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN
View from the Top
32
Concept to Delivery
NIGEL BOWCOCK ACRE LANDSCAPES
Take a dip
NATURAL POOLS
30 UNDER 30 MEET LANDSCAPING’S STARS OF THE FUTURE WITH THIS ISSUE
SHOW GUIDE
2016
HIGH AND MIGHTY PAUL NEWMAN LANDSCAPES
Cover November final.indd 3
INSPIRE
47
An angled front courtyard turned into a quirky space by London Garden Designer
20/10/2016 08:42
39 Playful Planting Use a child’s mindset when planting for play areas, says Adam White
40 State of Nature
50
High and Mighty COVER STORY Paul Newman Landscapes created a classy relaxation space on a London roof terrace
54
In the Frame Updating a courtyard to a welcoming indoor/outdoor living space by Aralia
Lesley Malone on how landscaping can improve the outlook on nature
42 Hort in the City Pro Landscaper takes a closer look at Cardiff City Council’s evolving parks and green spaces strategy
Arch Angel
57
Great Escape The grounds of a family holiday destination enhanced by Country Grounds Maintenance
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
20/10/2016 12:21
CONTENTS
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94
Cool Cacti The striking charm of the rugged cactus, and the power of juxtaposition, as told by Ian Drummond
95
Cold Snap Andy McIndoe’s best advice to help less hardy, and perhaps exotic, plants survive the winter
96
Double Dutch How Brexit could affect our relationship with Dutch growers, explained by Noel Kingsbury
98
Designer Plants Robert Barker talks through his planting scheme for a modern family garden in Chiswick
100 Forest Edge Nurseries Pro Landscaper visits Forest Edge Nurseries to find out why it specialises in heather EDUCATE
103 Fire in the Garden The best ways to incorporate fire’s ethereal aesthetic into the garden, from Sean Butler
104 Functional,
Aesthetic, Feature Robert Webber runs through the principles on which he bases his approach to garden lighting
COVER STORY
60
Return to Nature
COVER STORY
71
63
Inside Location Landscapes A closer look into Location Landscapes with managing director Charles Blumlein
66
Life/Style Ken White of Frosts Landscapes
68
Garden Storage
69
Lighting
Butter Wakefield reviews Meadows at Great Dixter and Beyond by Christopher Lloyd
107 Three Peaks NURTURE
89
Nurture News A roundup of news from the UK’s growing sector
91
SoilsCon 2016 Our report from the second soils conference organised by Tim O’Hare
92
Personal Preference Jamie Butterworth shares his all-time most beloved plants
Catching up with the Perennial riders following the challenge
109 Latest Kit Winter maintenance
110 Trading With Wildflower Turf
114 Little Interview Quick-fire questions to the industry
Pro Landscaper / November 2016
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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30 Under 30 Special All the winners of Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation
Anji Connell considers the ‘swimming pond’ as an alternative to chlorinated pools
106 What I’m Reading
COVER STORY
5
20/10/2016 12:21
New to the Haix range of safety boots, for cold weather, the Groundsman XR21. This boot has the same qualities as the Groundsman X21, with the extra addition of a woven fur lining to help keep your feet warm in cold weather.
The inside of the boot still has the Gore-Tex® Performance, 4-layer Gore-Tex® laminate combined with woven fur lining. This makes the boot waterproof and breathable, with optimized climate comfort even under extreme conditions? Kevlar® puncture resistant sole making this an S3 boot, with anti-slip rubber/PU sole, a robust street tread. Compliant with EN ISO20345:2011. The Haix AS System (arch support) has optimal support with shock absorption within the arch provided by an anatomically formed last. The Groundsman XR21 boot from Haix, is made to the high standards that is expected from all of Haix footwear, with exceptional customer services.
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INFORM
SPOTLIGHT ON
CONTRIBUTORS
Adam White Director, Davies White Ltd
Anji Connell
Andy McIndoe
Interior architect and landscape designer
Leading horticulturist
Robert Webber Founder, Scenic Lighting
This month, chartered landscape architect Adam discusses planting in areas frequented by children. He believes that by getting into the mindset of a child, you will make better choices with planting in play areas, pulling on the magical effects certain species have on the younger generation.
Anji focuses on returning to nature through our gardens in this issue. She considers natural swimming pools, or swimming ponds, as an alternative to the chlorine pools found in most gardens. Natural pools, as well as being environmentally friendly, are a lot easier to look after than most people believe.
Winter is coming. Andy uses his column this month to offer tips on helping plants survive the cold period. Andy mentions that as we plant more and more exotic, less hardy plants, we’re increasing the amount of planting that will struggle to survive our cold winter weather.
Lighting expert Robert Webber shares his advice on the FAF principle: functional, aesthetic, feature. Robert explains how and why he bases his approach to garden lighting systems on the foundation of FAF: whether the lighting should be functional, aesthetic or a feature in its own right.
davieswhite.co.uk @davies_white
anjiconnellinteriordesign.com @anjiconnell
andymcindoe.com @AndyMcIndoe
sceniclighting.com
Other contributors Phil Jones MD of ISS Facility Services Landscaping
Pete Jones Business development and sales manager at LDP Ltd
Noel Kingsbury Garden designer and writer
Andrew Wilson Garden designer and lecturer
Lesley Malone Freelance writer and photographer
Sean Butler Director of Cube 1994
David Dodd Landscaper and lecturer
Jamie Butterworth Plant manager at Hortus Loci
Angus Lindsay Head of fleet at The Landscape Group
Ian Drummond Creative director of Indoor Garden Design
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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INFORM
AGENDA
DO YOU THINK THE APPRENTICESHIP LEVY WILL BENEFIT THE LANDSCAPING SECTOR?
The government has announced that it is changing the way it funds apprenticeships as of spring 2017, with many employers being required to contribute to a new apprenticeship levy. There will also be changes to the funding for apprenticeship training. The apprenticeship levy is to be introduced on 6 April 2017, and requires all employers operating in the UK with a pay bill over £3m each year to make an investment in apprenticeships. The levy will be charged at a rate of 0.5% of the annual pay bill, and employers will have a levy allowance of £15k per year to offset against the levy they must pay
Matt O’Conner Managing director, John O’Conner
The levy, though uncomfortable, will ring-fence funding for apprenticeships, give us greater predictability about our skills pipeline and, I would hope, with the addition of degree apprenticeships and by joining forces with the arboricultural Trailblazer, will encourage us as employers to collaborate and raise the profile of the sector, and 8
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lift the industry from its low paid status to a professional level craft. The levy means that we employers can demand more from training providers, driving up competition and quality so that by the end of the apprenticeship we’ve developed a motivated, well trained workforce to support business growth. As chair of the Hertfordshire Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, these are the positives that I’ll be focusing on so that by April 2017, we’ve got a clear vision on how the levy will be utilised to benefit the industry.
Dr Marcus Watson Managing director, Ground Control
At Ground Control, we already invest heavily in the training and development of our people, and because we can claim the apprenticeship levy back in the form of training credits, our costs won’t necessarily go up. In addition, we will continue to invest at a higher level than the levy anyway because it is good for our business and our people. More broadly, I do think the levy could have a positive impact on the landscaping industry. It will encourage more employers to take on apprentices and provide the training required to help the younger generation excel. Along with the new Trailblazer apprenticeship scheme, employers now have much more of an input in the development of the younger
generation and the future of the horticulture and landscape industries. Taking a vital role in developing the standards of the new scheme, Ground Control is committed to helping young people develop the skills to become future leaders in the industry. By demanding contribution from employers, the government is creating a platform for young people to learn and grow. These changes are set to benefit the industry without negatively impacting organisations who, like Ground Control, already invest significantly in the skills of their people.
Stuart Phillips Project development manager, Lantra
When the government announced its intention to introduce the levy, training was seen by some as a tax on businesses; however, this apparent additional financial burden will only be paid by the small number of employers in the landscape sector who have a wages bill in excess of £3m. The aims of the levy are clear. It should help boost the number of apprenticeships, to enable to the government to meet its target of 3m by 2020, and increase funding for training to help address the skills shortages in various sectors. If the levy meets these aims, increasing the number of landscaping apprentices, it will help to aid staff retention and progression, and should help in improving skills. www.prolandscapermagazine.com
20/10/2016 12:32
INFORM
Bill Trotman Managing director, Continental Landscapes
It has been acknowledged for some years now that there is an ever-decreasing pool of skilled staff within our industry, with employers seeming to favour shorter ‘quick win’ courses over the traditional skills for life training that would take place in blocks of two or more years. Within the sector, this seems to have been exacerbated by several factors, the first being the limitations imposed by shorter contract terms. For example, a contractor would be unlikely to commit a number of employees to two or more years in training on a three year contract, for reasons of practicality and competitiveness. With the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, employers over a certain size will now be committed to having an ongoing cycle of apprentices within the business regardless of the contract terms they are operating to. This will benefit all employers operating these fixed term contracts, and their clients. The current apprenticeship model is too distant from the employer, with the main relationship existing between the training provider and student. The way that the apprenticeship levy is structured goes some way to reconnecting apprentices with employers. Whilst the levy will clearly advantage those seeking apprenticeships, how this will pan out www.prolandscapermagazine.com
Agenda.indd 9
for employers seems less certain. Smaller employers will benefit from an up-skilled workforce in the marketplace without the constraints of the levy, with the financial onus for training falling to those over the threshold. Those businesses with a stable workforce will surely struggle over time to find apprenticeships to put their core staff on, and with their levy payments then diverted to other businesses, this may be a bitter pill to swallow.
Chris Whittingham Commercial director, Hultons Landscapes
One of the toughest challenges that the industry and we as a business face is the chronic skills shortage in the sector. We believe all businesses, not just in this sector, have a corporate social responsibility to provide opportunity and develop young people and we support any positive change to encourage this process. Following on from this year’s government approval of the Trailblazer apprenticeship programme, this can only generate further publicity for the industry. We work with local educational establishments to assist in supporting young people getting involved in an industry that has so much to offer. Our only concern would be the red tape and extra costs these schemes can bring; if the government wants businesses to embrace these changes, making it as simple as possible is key.
Paul Downer Managing director, Oak View Landscapes BALI National Chairman
Yes, I think the levy will benefit the industry. It will encourage companies who have not previously engaged with apprenticeships to do so, giving young people a structured training opportunity whilst in employment in the sector. With the new employer-led Trailblazer initiative coming on stream very soon the delivery of apprentice training and assessment should be to a much higher standard. Provided that distribution of the levy is carefully managed and monitored, I believe we will see a marked improvement in the size of the skilled workforce. This won’t be immediate but, as with the construction industry, having identified the crisis in respect of too few skilled workers, we are now being serious about addressing the problem.
NEXT MONTH
WHAT IS THE ONE THING THE INDUSTRY NEEDS TO DO BETTER IN 2017? Have your say: editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Pro Landscaper / November 2016
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INFORM
NEWS Ian Drummond appointed as efig ambassador
Perennial CEO to retire in spring 2017
After three years as the chair of efig, creative director of Indoor Garden Design Ian Drummond has been appointed as an ambassador of the organisation. His role will centre on communicating the health benefits of plants alongside the work of efig, viewing it as fundamentally important that people understand these benefits from both a health and a creative perspective. He also plans to use his professional profile within Indoor Garden Design to find ways of promoting and supporting efig. Ian was among the first to receive this newly created role alongside fellow past chairpersons
Richard Capewell, the chief executive of Perennial, has announced his plan to retire next spring, and the charity is now seeking his replacement. Prior to joining Perennial, Richard worked in the social care and charity sector having studied economics and trained as a social worker. He joined the horticultural charity as CEO in 1999 and since has been responsible for the evolution of Perennial, from a traditional charity reflecting its Victorian origins as a benevolent fund for retired gardeners to a fully inclusive charity for horticulturists. Richard said: “I feel very proud to have overseen so many positive
of efig. He commented: “I thoroughly enjoyed my three years as chairman of efig, and after stepping down, I am deeply honoured to now be asked to represent efig in this way and thrilled to have the opportunity to spread the word about an industry I’m passionate about.” The choice to step down as chairman comes after 10 years of serving on the efig committee, and will allow Ian to offer more time to the other committees that he supports, including the RHS Tender Ornamental Committee. His first book, ‘At Home with Plants’ will also be published on 6 April 2017. www.indoorgardendesign.com
changes within the organisation, from establishing our free and confidential casework and debt advice service that annually sees an increase in clients, to ensuring all our services are available to all those who work in or are retired from horticulture. This job is hugely varied and enormously satisfying and working alongside such a group of passionate and dedicated people makes it a true pleasure.” Richard will continue in his role as trustee of Lantra, the land-based and environmental sector awards body, and added that he looks forward to finding his successor for Perennial in the coming months. www.perennial.org.uk
Ground Control presented with Queen’s Award Lord Lieutenant of Essex Mr John Patrick Lionel Petre presented the Ground Control team with a Queen’s Award for Innovation at a special ceremony held at the company’s offices in Billericay, Essex on Monday 3 October. The award, achieved in the year of the Queen’s 90th birthday, recognises the significant contribution Ground Control’s application of technology has had on servicing its customers, including live reporting systems that enable the company to respond rapidly to evolving demands. Commenting on the presentation, managing director of Ground Control Dr Marcus Watson 10
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said: “We are extremely honoured to receive such a prestigious endorsement for our innovation and service to customers. Across 45,000 sites throughout the UK, upwards of 3,000 people work hard to deliver to our customers and are proud of this fantastic achievement.” Ground Control has also recently implemented the StaySafe solution across several key divisions to improve the safety of its lone-working employees. StaySafe offers an app and monitoring service which allows an employer to monitor the location and safety status of its lone workers while a session or alert is active. www.ground-control.co.uk
Pro Landscaper / November 2016
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
20/10/2016 11:01
INFORM
The Royal Parks to build ‘super nursery’
Glendale Horticulture urges designers to discuss plant requirements for 2017 shows
Plans have been unveiled to build one of the UK’s most innovative greenhouses in Hyde Park. The Royal Parks has said that the £5m ‘super nursery’ project will help it grow nearly all of the 500,000 flowers and shrubs it plants across its eight London parks. The project is already underway, with the demolition of the old and dilapidated nursery in Hyde Park to make way for the state-of-the-art nursery that will serve the 5,000 acre Royal Parks estate. The nursery, to be constructed by Deforche Construct NV and Climate Controls Ltd, will be the first major glasshouse production facility in the UK to use Deforche Cabrio technology, allowing the roof to open and close dependent on the weather. This will help to acclimatise young plants so that they will not have to be moved outside for hardening, saving on labour and maximising space. As well as helping The Royal Parks save £200,000 annually on planting costs, the nursery will also deliver educational opportunities for Royal Parks apprentices and engage the community through workshops and open days. Other features of the nursery will include a rainwater recovery system, LED lighting throughout and existing boilers fitted with new flues to ensure maximum energy efficiency. The glasshouse will also be split into 13 controlled zones, each operated by Climate Controls’ latest technology, which will adapt the climate according to the needs of the plants. The new nursery is expected to be operational by summer 2017. www.royalparks.org.uk
Lewis Normand, Glendale Horticulture’s head of garden design, has invited designers with a desire to produce show gardens next year to discuss their plant requirements with him as early as possible to ensure the best quality end results. Glendale Horticulture contract grew for a number of show gardens at each of the main RHS shows this year, continuing its four year return to show garden plant production, and it is keen to undertake even more in 2017.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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NEWS IN BRIEF Leicestershire Garden Design wins business award
Lee commented: “It’s never too early to start discussing plant selections and ambitions for finished sizes with your grower. Some plants will naturally look good for the shows and generally aren’t a major concern, while others prove to be a huge challenge. The earlier these plants are started, the better the likelihood for success.” Glendale Horticulture already has plants in production for a couple of gardens. More details will be revealed at a later date. www.glendale-horticulture.co.uk
Apprentice shortlisted for Nectar Business Small Business Awards An apprentice of St Albans-based Lanwarne Landscapes has been shortlisted in the eight national Nectar Business Small Business Awards. James Curnock has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category, a new addition this year. The awards celebrate the achievements of small businesses and people across the UK and will be judged by a panel of experts led by one of the UK’s leading business women, BBC ‘Dragon’ Sarah Willingham. If James is successful, he stands to win £1,000 cash for himself as well as £1,000 cash and 50,000 Nectar points for Lanwarne Landscapes. Along with this employer, he will be invited to the Nectar Business Round Table and awards ceremony which will be taking place in November.
The Niche Business Awards, hosted by Leicestershire publication Niche Magazine, announced Leicestershire Garden Design as the winner of its Trade and Construction Award, due to its exceptional customer feedback and the quality of its designs. www.leicestershire gardendesign.co.uk
Findings published on Garden Bridge investigation
The National Audit Office has published findings for its investigation into the Department of Transport’s grant of £30m towards the Garden Bridge. It is clear there remains a significant risk that the project will not go ahead, and the government may be approached for extra funding. www.nao.org.uk
Husqvarna unveils global report on urban parks 2030
Lanwarne Landscapes is already an award-winning company, with owner James Lanwarne having won Tradesperson of the Year at the Nectar Business Small Business Awards in 2013. James said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted. As a company, we invest a significant amount of time and money in training and developing our employees and being shortlisted is recognition of our efforts and James’ hard work over the past two and a half years.” www.lanwarnelandscapes.co.uk
Husqvarna has unveiled a survey on urban parks and green spaces in 2030 that has resulted from 533 landscape architecture students in 15 countries pointing to the growth of green spaces in urban areas in size and importance, maintained with the support of sensors, robotics, drones and citizens. www.husqvarna.com
DCF rebrands for new scholarship season
The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) has undergone a rebrand, to best represent the horticultural minds that it supports through its scholarships, who have a passion for plants. www.davidcolegrave foundation.org.uk
Pro Landscaper / November 2016 11
20/10/2016 11:01
INFORM
Matthew Wilson accepts designer position at Clifton Nurseries
Green-tech promotes from within to gear up for expansion plans
Following the acquisition of Clifton Nurseries by Gavin Jones Ltd, Matthew Wilson has accepted a position as ‘designer in residence’ at the nursery on a part time basis, as well as assuming an ambassadorial role for the Gavin Jones group of companies. Matthew is best known as an expert panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time and for his RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 garden, ‘God’s Own Country – A Garden for Yorkshire’, which was voted People’s Choice. He joined Clifton Nurseries in February 2011, prior to which he
Green-tech has announced a new structure in preparation for its future expansion plans. The awardwinning supplier has an ambitious target of hitting £20m turnover by 2020, which has led to a comprehensive review of the sales side of the business. As a result of this there has been a widespread restructure, with new departments and roles being created and many long term employees receiving promotions including Richard Gill, Mark Wood, Andrea Questari, Roger McGivern and Dean Jackson. In addition, there have been several new recruits across all departments, with further planned at various projected growth stages.
has held roles at RHS Hyde Hall Garden, RHS Harlow Carr Garden and as the RHS head of gardens creative design. www.clifton.co.uk www.gavinjones.co.uk
John O’Conner receives Large Employer of the Year Award John O’Conner has been announced as a winner at the East of England National Apprenticeship Awards 2016 regional ceremony in the Large Employer category. The awards, now in their 13th year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognise excellence in two areas: businesses that grow their own talent and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.
On winning the accolade, managing director Matt O’Conner commented: “We are delighted to receive the award. With our 2016 apprentice cohort having recently joined us and working on our contracts, the recognition we’ve received is a tangible accolade we can refer to, to inspire our apprentices to become the managers and directors of the future.” www.johnoconner.co.uk
Managing director Rachel Kay commented: “All five key players in the new sales structure have extensive knowledge and a wealth of experience of the customer base and industry. I am delighted that we have been able to promote from within the business and capitalise on their skills. This is a great move for them personally as well as gearing Green-tech up for the next stage of growth.” www.green-tech.co.uk
ARE YOU GOING? NOVEMBER 24 Landscape Institute Awards 2016 www.landscapeinstitute.org DECEMBER 2 BALI National Landscape Awards 2016 www.baliawards.co.uk
TUES 15 NOVEMBER
Sandown Park Racecourse, Surrey www.futurescapeevent.com
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20/10/2016 11:03
Star Rubber provides everything the safety surfacing community desires, from installing surfaces such as traditional EPDM, Tiger Mulch and Agri-Flex to supplying material Tiger Mulch to trained licensees as well as innovative Star Kerb, Star Covers and the tools needed to succeed in the installation of Wet Pour. We test all our products to the highest standards of BS1788 and BSEN1177 whilst using the strongest and most reliable binders available. This reflects the reason all our surfaces come with a five-year guarantee and peace of mind that the end user can enjoy environments safely.
TIGER MULCH/AGRI-FLEX: Star Rubber is the UK’s only manufacturer of Tiger Mulch and Agri-Flex, durable bound rubber mulch and aggregate systems made from 100% recycled truck tyres combined with high performance PU resin. An ideal landscaping or play surface product that has been tested to the highest standards of BS1788 for Slip Resistance, rate of ignition, tensile strength and more and BSEN1177 for critical fall heights up to three metres. WET POUR: Our Wet pour surface Safti-Top is a permeable surface perfect for every aspect of children’s play, installing graphics or using vibrant colours collaborated with the highest standard of certification means children have excellent entertaining areas to run and play whilst staying safe in the event of bumps and falls.
STAR KERB: Star Kerb has been designed by Star Rubber Ltd to create the perfect edge for laying wet pour onto a hard surface, steering clear of the traditionally risky chase cut and totally irradiating the age old problem of thermal shrinkage. Providing a firm vandal resistant edge as well as a distinct clean finish to the surface, which also stands as a demarcation point for the start of the surface. Star Kerb can be used in collaboration with a new surface or also help repair existing surfaces. STAR COVER: The Star Cover is a quick and easy solution for the use of surfacing over existing drains and manhole covers removing unsightly iron works and erasing the costly construction fees. This enables the original drain to remain fully accessible for maintenance, whilst punched wholes in the bottom of the drain cover increase drainage and greatly reduce pooling. Available in various sizes and depths the Star Cover is zinc and powered coated with a uniquely designed lifting system, which acts as an anti tamper and anti finger trap whilst a double rolled edge
Star Rubber Enviromental Ltd • Belmont House • Aller • Somerset • TA10 0QN 01458253377 www.star-rubber.co.uk StarRubber2_Advert.indd Advert template.indd 22 22
11/10/2016 17/10/2016 15:27 09:30
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ASSOCIATION
INFORM
NEWS
APL update ‘Stone Off’ panel session at the APL Spring Seminar which demonstrated the high level of member interest in the area of paving, walling and driveway installation. It will APL Stone Seminar An APL Stone Seminar is coming up early next year to tackle topics such as ethical and environmental sourcing, product availability, techniques, innovation, legislation, health and safety and consumer law. The one-day seminar follows the success of the
and AGM, also happening at Whittlebury Hall on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January 2017.
take place on Tuesday 17 January 2017 at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire, aiming to provide today’s landscaping contractor with a complete insight into this sector through a mixture of presentations and interactive debates. The event is timed to run alongside the HTA Contact Conference and dinner, and the BPOA Spring Conference
APL Annual Review This year’s APL Annual Review will take place on Tuesday 15 November at FutureScape, Sandown Park Racecourse, Surrey. This will include the announcement of the new APL chairman and give APL members a chance to discuss any topics or issues within the community. www.landscaper.org
Parks Alliance matters
Call for more data In our submission to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s inquiry into the future of public parks, we called for data on the state of public parks to be routinely collated and analysed. Without this, how will we have a full understanding of how these assets are being used, managed or invested in?
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We all know our parks are in crisis. Our own survey work suggests that local authorities, voluntary groups and contractors have done an excellent job of seeking to limit the damage from significant budget reductions, by working inventively and collaboratively to get b and find temporar or new solutions. However, a side
Alexandra Park, Hastings
©TLG
e ect of this has been to disguise the depth of the crisis facing parks and open spaces. The Alliance would like to see the Green Flag Award scheme either extended (if additional resources can be found) or complemented by a nationally administered ‘relative quality standard for parks’ that could support the progressive improvement of parks and open spaces. All local authorities should establish a locally elected member champion for parks. Public parks and open spaces are part of the green infrastructure of this country
Bowls Maintenance Leamington Spa ©TLG
and need to be maintained, managed and invested in. What we need is a credible and sustainable funding plan for ensuring the viability and vitality of our parks. We look forward to the committee’s evidence sessions. www.theparksalliance.org Twitter: @ParksAllianceUK
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INFORM
BALI briefing GO Landscape
is a serious career path with a host of real opportunities, encouraging retention not only within colleges but also the wider industry by linking future employees with employers.
building real careers
GoLandscape set to launch BALI is launching its new initiative, GoLandscape, at FutureScape on 15 November. GoLandscape aims to address the skills shortage in the landscape industry by inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds that landscaping
John O’Conner GM apprentices at work
BALI partners with Adtrak BALI has bolstered its membership benefits b partnering with Adtrak, a leading web design and digital marketing agency who are also Google Premier Partners. BALI has chosen Adtrak to deliver new services including web design, digital marketing, photo and video work and email marketing. BALI members can no benefit from an increased online presence, enabling them to reach a wider audience.
Linden Landscapes receives prestigious ELCA Trend Award Mick Callahan, owner of BALI Registered Contractor Linden Landscapes Domestic Gardens Ltd, received the coveted ELCA Trend Award for ‘Building with Green’ at this year’s International GaLaBau event in Nuremberg, with judges calling it an ‘Outstanding example of an English garden project featuring sophisticated landscape design and implementation’. The Box House in Sevenoaks, designed by BALI Registered Designer Andy Sturgeon MBALI and built and constructed by Mick and his team, received universal praise from the European panel of experts in September.
Mick Callahan receives his award at GaLaBau
40th BALI National Landscape Awards 2016 With just over a month to go there is still time to book tickets for the BALI National Landscape Awards which will take place on 2 December at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The list of winners can be found on the BALI website, and the coveted Principal, Grand and Special Awards will be revealed on the night. www.baliawards.co.uk Twitter: @BALI_Landscape
SGD bulletin ● Anouchka Feller
● Miles Raybould
● Anne Jennings MSGD
SGD Awards 2016 finalists announced This year’s independent judging panel has placed 36 inspiring projects on the shortlist, including the walled garden of a historic British palace and several community gardens. The shortlisted projects in the three Residential Garden categories and in the International, Public & Communal Outdoor Space, Garden Jewel and Roof Garden categories will now
16
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● Arabella Lennox-Boyd MSGD ● Cassandra Crouch MSGD ● Chris Parsons MSGD ● Dan Lobb MSGD Roof garden – Adolfo Harrison MSGD
be entered into the People’s Choice Award. The same finalists will also be competing for the Grand Award. SHORTLISTED DESIGNERS ● Adolfo Harrison MSGD ● Ana Sanchez-Martin MSGD ● Andrew Wenham MSGD ● Andrew Wilson FSGD and
Adam Hunt
● Marcus Foster
● Daniel Shea ● Emily Erlam
● Ian Smith MSGD and Debbie
Roberts MSGD
● Ingrid Swenson
● Joanna Bingham-Hall ● Joanne Willcocks ● John Wyer FSGD ● Jon Sims
● Karena Batstone MSGD ● Lucy Willcox
● Lulu Urquhart and
● Marian Boswall MSGD ● Robin McAfee ● Ruth Willmott
● Tommaso del Buono MSGD.
The winners will be revealed at the SGD Awards ceremony on Friday 27 January 2017. The event returns to London’s Landmark Hotel for a second year. Tickets for the ceremony go on sale on Friday 21 October. Visit the SGD Awards website to see images of all the shortlisted projects in the main award categories. www.sgd.org.uk
Image ©Mischa Haller
Gavin McWilliam
● Andy Sturgeon FSGD
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
20/10/2016 09:51
INFORM
efig outline
FutureScape FutureScape is heading ever closer and will be a mere couple of weeks away when you read this. This year we will be there, hosting our own seminars focusing mainly on interior landscaping. Seminars Session 1: The future of interior landscaping This seminar is scheduled for 1pm. ‘Being Green’ is the buzz word, it’s important to enhance the space we work and live in with planting. ‘Green Buildings’
are becoming more important as developers and architects seek to create more environmentally friendl buildings The efig panel will discuss how the interior landscape industry should approach the new opportunities. Session 2: The benefits of office planting and how to maximise it In this seminar scheduled for 2pm we will present the most up to date information from our bank of research. This will include the health and economic benefits of interior planting and how you can use the information to the benefit of our clients and of course your business. Be sure to visit us at FutureScape on 15 November.
Awards We will be announcing the closing date for our awards within the next few weeks. Our awards acknowledge expertise and excellence in a number of categories within interior landscaping and are open to our members. Terms and conditions are available on or website. Entering and winning awards are great morale boosters for your team but are also a good opportunity for companies to shout about themselves to clients and the media. We will be celebrating next April with a ‘new look’ awards ceremony once sites have been visited and judging has been completed. But more of that next time.
Post Working Christmas Trees Week Because our members get booked up so quickly, last month we held our week-long digital campaign to promote members’ Christmas services. As part of the campaign we wrote, tweeted and Facebooked about this year’s Christmas award winners, trends and general information about the festive celebrations. www.efig.co.uk
RHS report RHS London Urban Garden Show Preview Evening on 11 Nov This year the RHS will unveil a new and exciting addition to its RHS London Show repertoire, which will highlight the gardening possibilities available to urban dwellers with limited
Urban Oasis designed by Chris Beardshaw, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2012
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green space. The RHS London Urban Garden Show will take place 12 to 13 November 2016 at the RHS Lindley Hall, and will o er isitors a chance to e plore an array of species suitable for indoor planting. Gardening enthusiasts will be able to participate in handson workshops ranging from oristr to the art of o edama and terrariums. Also not to be missed is the preview party on Friday 11 November, which ill o er li e music a choice of botanical cocktails, vegan food and handcrafted beer. For more information or to book tickets please visit: www.rhs.org.uk/londonshows
Yorkshire Christmas Shopping For two weekends this month, 12 to 13 and 26 to 27 November, RHS Garden Harlow Carr will be hosting its annual Yorkshire Christmas Shopping Showcase. Visitors are invited to meet the makers and sample some of the festive delights in the Harlow Carr Shop and Plant Centre. Don’t miss the talks and guides to Christmas house plants or the chance to buy favourites including natural tree decorations, wreaths, mistletoe and holly.
RHS garden Harlow Carr’s Winter Walk
RHS Garden Harlow Carr’s Winter Walk To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of RHS Garden Harlow Carr’s Winter Walk, 5,000 irises have been planted along with daphnes, witch hazels and birch trees. This is a must-see from November through to March. www.rhs.org.uk/gardens
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INFORM
A WALK IN THE PARK Pro Landscaper met Alistair Bayford, director on the board of the Parks Alliance, in the picturesque setting of Regent’s Park to discuss his role within the association, its stance on the recent State of UK Parks report and its future plans now that it has submitted evidence to the government’s inquiry The state and future of the UK’s green spaces has received a significant amount of attention this year, with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) publishing its second State of UK Parks report and the government launching an inquiry into the sustainability of public parks following budget cuts.
Images © TLG
THE MOST PROMINENT AND POSITIVE ISSUE BEING RAISED IS THAT DESPITE THE BUDGET FOR PARKS DECREASING, THEIR USAGE IS ON THE UP The most prominent and positive issue being raised is that despite the budget for parks decreasing, their usage is on the up. The Communities and Local Government Committee asked for evidence to be submitted by 30 September on this and other issues for an inquiry, www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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including the impact that budget cuts are having on the estimated 27,000 parks and open spaces in the UK. The Parks Alliance is one of many that submitted evidence, which is most likely to be published next year. With this achieved, the Parks Alliance will now be turning its attention on itself, focusing on building its membership and putting a strategic business plan in place to support its future. Director Alistair Bayford commented: “The inquiry was the immediate short term focus of our resources. We now need to focus on growing our membership base in terms of the voice, the users of our parks, and getting more industry support.” The Parks Alliance is still a fairly young not-for-profit organisation, having been set
up in 2013 by 40 industry professionals as a result of the funding and usage problem. It answered calls for an industry voice for parks, and the Heritage Lottery Fund funded £9,600 as a start up grant. “The investment allowed us to
WE NOW NEED TO FOCUS ON GROWING OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE IN TERMS OF THE VOICE, THE USERS OF OUR PARKS, AND GETTING MORE INDUSTRY SUPPORT look at our business strategy and commission a consultant’s report to tell us what the Parks Alliance should consider to move forward, and how to create a sustainable business model.” Alongside the Landscape Institute, which looks after press and communications for the Parks Alliance, green service provider idverde UK placed a business manager at the organisation’s disposal to work with it for two days a week, and within three months it became a formally constituted body. Alistair’s role as regional operations director for strategic business within idverde is how he came to be involved in the Parks Alliance, though his reasons for joining were also personal: “Back in 2015, I alongside Sarah Hughes-Clarke [strategic development director at idverde, the Pro Landscaper / November 2016 19
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company formed by the merger between The Landscape Group and Quadron Services Ltd], and Nick Temple-Heald [CEO of idverde] approached Mark Camley and Sue Ireland,
WE ALL HAVE DAY JOBS AND ARE UTILISING ALL THE SPARE TIME WE HAVE TO AFFECT AS MUCH CHANGE AS POSSIBLE directors on the board, and posed a degree of business and personal investment. For me at this stage in my career I wanted to be part of the development of the alliance and its future as I would directly benefit from its success – we all earn a living from parks and green space. The board at the time had achieved a great deal but I wanted it to reflect the future, my future and that of my peers. To be able to influence that is incredibly important to me.” With everyone involved in the Parks Alliance volunteering their time, apart from a fixed business manager, Alistair acknowledges that it is difficult to achieve goals quickly: “We all have day jobs and are utilising all the spare time we have to affect as much change as possible. It’s a
vocation, not a job, but idverde and the business manager enable us to dedicate the time to developing the organisation and its aims.” However, idverde does not want to be seen as the voice of the Parks Alliance: “We’ve invested the person to move it forward, and we’re now looking for the industry to stand side by side with us because the issues affect everybody. We’re keen to share the platform that the Parks Alliance provides to change the future of parks funding. We don’t have all the answers, so we need everybody across the broader sector to come together, because ideas on how we can make parks more sustainable will be extracted from all of those discussions and knowledge that exists within the industry.” The HLF’s State of UK Parks 2016 report has played a role in highlighting the problems that the Parks Alliance has been set up to tackle. It reported that parks are now more popular than ever, following an £850m investment by the National Lottery towards 800 open spaces in the UK, but the resources to manage them are depleting, and the downward trend in the condition of parks that the HLF predicted in its 2014 report is set to continue. Speaking about the report, Alistair says: “The key thing about the report is to take it on board and actually generate something tangible from it.
© TLG
INFORM
We can quote that we have an ever-decreasing budget and that there is more use and more pressure, but now is the time to seize the opportunity to fix it because we’ve been talking about it now for over three years. “The report hit the mark, though I would have liked to have seen more guided outputs for the
PARKS ARE NOW MORE POPULAR THAN EVER, BUT THE RESOURCES TO MANAGE THEM ARE DEPLETING
© TLG / Strobix Photography
future. It stopped short of recommending how to move forward, but this shouldn’t be seen as a criticism, more of an opportunity to come together and create positive action on the ground.” So what’s next for the Parks Alliance? “We have had the consultant’s report back and have been reviewing it. We will be placing more dedicated resources into the Parks Alliance so that it can move forward and be selfsustaining. We cannot continue with it going alongside day jobs, because it needs to have a focus in its own right. We have some initial funding so that we can further demonstrate our worth to the industry, and our business plan will come over the next few months.” Next year is looking to be a crucial year for the Parks Alliance, with a growing membership and a business strategy being put in place, meaning the organisation is here to stay and is determined to make a difference. 20
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Add stylish and practical touches to your outdoor space with Kentish Ragstone. This versatile and attractive stone is ideally suited for walling, paths, patios, steps, fire pits, garden furniture, water features and general landscaping requirements. Gallagher Aggregates Ltd is the only company still quarrying Kentish Ragstone, the most widespread building stone used throughout the South East of England. With our bespoke masonry machinery and skilled, experienced staff we are able to meet all of our customers’ requirements.
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INFORM
How did you get into horticulture? I left school at 16 years old with no qualifications. I’d failed all my O Levels, but I was already mowing lawns for a neighbour who subcontracted for Barratt Homes. I was the most uninspired teenager there has ever been, but I carried on until my dad decided I had to get a career together. He helped me apply for a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) position at Pacific Nurseries, a wholesale nursery which supplies to local independent garden centres around the Midlands. I worked there for a year before I decided to have another go at academia. I went to the Staffordshire College of Agriculture to do a National Certificate in Horticulture, and then continued with the Advanced National Certificate in Horticulture at the Welsh College of Horticulture for another year which was even better. I worked for a couple of years at Art Into Landscapes in Kent and then started my own business in my early twenties called Midfield Landscapes. How did running your own business at such a young age work out?
Let’s Hear it From
NIGEL BOWCOCK
Nigel Bowcock started in horticulture over 30 years ago. Pro Landscaper spoke with him about his early career, starting up his own business and his aim to treble Acre Landscapes’ turnover within the next five years
It only lasted for six months because I was offered a job at Hasmead in Milton Keynes that I couldn’t turn down. I started there as a supervisor doing commercial work all over the south, working my way up as contracts manager and finally director for 19 years until 2008. Landscape architecture and commercial landscaping was at this time on the up. We were on the cusp of a great change – commercial landscaping was becoming recognised as a necessity in the build process. I like to think that my generation of landscaper pioneered a way of working we still see today, no longer ignored or viewed as a necessary evil. Nowadays most developers, project managers and main contractors respect and value what we do. What were your responsibilities as a director at Hasmead? Winning work, installation, maintenance and controlling a whole division. We were allowed complete autonomy from head office; it was very rare I visited there. Towards the end of my time I was based at Heathrow where we were building, maintaining and landscaping Terminal 5. There were over 120 of us on site at any one time. It was a very enjoyable period. 1 Nigel Bowcock 2 Terminal 3 trees at Heathrow
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How have you seen your pricing change over the last few years? I would say it’s increased by around 10%. I did a Master’s degree while at Hasmead and learnt how to use analytics as a way to improve the running of a business. You have to differentiate yourself and not just hope to win on cost. Sadly, this industry is still largely controlled by price and price alone regardless of skill levels, and the only way that will change is by responsible tendering. I can’t see us ever moving forward as an industry until people start pricing correctly and stop undercutting. How do you structure your business?
I LIKE TO THINK THAT MY GENERATION OF LANDSCAPER PIONEERED A WAY OF WORKING WE STILL SEE TODAY, NO LONGER VIEWED AS A NECESSARY EVIL
Why did you leave? It was obvious that, as the next generation of the firm that we had built up, we weren’t going to be given the equity that had been promised. It was a difficult decision but one I don’t regret. I take no pleasure in the fact that they are no more – the industry has lost a company which once stood out to represent the industry and all that is good about it. Did this lead you to set up Acre Landscapes? Yes. It coincided with the finish of Terminal 5 at Heathrow, which at the time was the biggest construction site in Europe. We had delivered over £11m worth of landscaping over a five year period so I needed the next big challenge. I was 40 years old (and having a midlife crisis) so I started Acre Landscapes in 2008. I had been working 14 hour days, five days a week so it was refreshing to go back to my horticultural roots, which for the first two years meant five of us doing nothing but maintenance. How did you find your work as a new business in 2008? I started by buying a small firm in Hampshire and taking over the maintenance portfolio. The very month we exchanged contracts was the same 24
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month the banks crashed. March 2008 is a month I’ll never forget. I needed a break from the mad commercial landscaping world in which I’d been for the past 23 years, so I thought I’d play it safe with maintenance for a couple of years and see where it would take me. I really enjoyed the work, but started to feel the pull of what I was used to. Since 2010 we’ve been growing both the maintenance and construction sides of the business. What’s the percentage split between maintenance and construction now? About 40% maintenance and 60% construction. Where does your work come from? When we started, we won 100% of our work through tendering. Our reputation and skill levels grew from there, which helped. Currently, about 60% of our work is won through competitive tendering (which I’m not very good at) with the remainder through people approaching us. Where are you in terms of pricing? I would say we’re at a responsible level. We’re not the cheapest, but we’re obviously not the most expensive because our overheads are relatively low.
There’s me and two boy wonders – one looks after maintenance and the other runs the construction side of the business. We then have supervisors and operatives which make up a team of 18. What’s the plan for the next two to three years? Our plan is to treble our turnover and margin. On what basis? Because that satisfies my ego! If you had spoken to me in 2010, I would have said stick at it and enjoy horticulture, but I really want to make a difference. I have a goal to reach with this business; I want it to be fair, a business that people respect and I would like to create a legacy. In 15 years I want the two guys working with me now to take over and for them in turn to be thinking about their succession which might be my two sons, George and Thomas. What about selling the business? I’d release the equity, which is exactly what didn’t happen to me in 2008 and preceding years. It will happen for the two guys that work with me now. What geographical areas do you cover? Mainly we work in London, and the south and south east. The furthest we go for maintenance work is north London and we cover central London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire on the construction side. Would you like to get involved in possible future airport expansions? I’d love to be involved in that. We’re still involved with Heathrow Terminal 3 and we’ve just www.prolandscapermagazine.com
18/10/2016 15:49
INFORM
I CAN’T SEE US EVER MOVING FORWARD AS AN INDUSTRY UNTIL PEOPLE START PRICING CORRECTLY AND STOP UNDERCUTTING handed over Terminal 2. It’s what I know, but it’s also a political hot potato at the moment. No one has had the nerve to pull the trigger on anything major infrastructure-wise. I hope Teresa May will. Where do you feel the growth of the business will come from? Our market share will increase by us following the principles of ‘do it once, do it right’ and being able to invest in this company from the grass roots level. We will service more relationships with project managers and landscape architects. Do you think garden designers know of you? Probably not. Marketing isn’t one of our strengths. I don’t go out and actively court
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landscape designers and architects – I rely on the people that know us and that we meet through mutual projects. Would you consider building show gardens? It probably would increase our exposure. You need to be set up especially for this – it’s not beyond our capabilities and I would never say no if the right project came along. What other companies in the landscape industry do you admire? I admire those that are happy and successful in what they’re doing. The ones that get that message across are Willerby Landscapes and The Outdoor Room. I don’t look at many companies and think ‘I want to be like that’, I just have a set of values and a way I want to be. What led you to become involved with BALI? I believe that what it’s about is standards and having a right way of doing things. I joined BALI because I was asked to by Paul Downer and Wayne Grills.
Do you think tenders should include a requirement for being BALI registered? That can be restrictive. I remember when I started; we got a tender through for the Olympics and read the small print. We weren’t allowed to work there because we were still in our two years’ probation period, so I found that a bit exclusive, especially when I saw the standard of some of the work that was completed. But that would help standards. I believe in freedom of choice. If a client wants to choose the lowest priced tender or spend an inordinate amount of time reducing the cost of a build, then spend just as much time dealing with the consequences, they have every right to make that decision. If you look back on BALI in two or three years, what would you like to have achieved? I want to have unified the industry as much as possible, and ensured that people recognise the 1 GlaxoSmithKline maintenance 2 Acre staff planting the Sackler Gallery in Hyde Park 3 Serpentine Sackler Gallery, Hyde Park
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colleges to record that. We are piloting it as a South Thames initiative now and will be picking examples of anyone who chooses to come into this industry, and tracking them to see how long they stay.
logo and what it stands for, whether that’s members, the public or prospective and existing clients. What is GoLandscape? David Dodd and I came up with the idea of GoLandscape around a year ago as a move to tackle the skills shortage and lack of people coming into the industry at any level. It became apparent that even college leavers weren’t staying in the industry, let alone school leavers being attracted to it. We’ve set up a strategy to attract as many people as possible. Where did the name come from? That was actually my idea. I remember David saying it’s his idea if it works well and mine if it doesn’t! It seems everything applicable to the younger generation has ‘Go’ in front of it, so we had that in mind when it was created. How will you judge its success? We have to be marked by how many graduates stay in the industry. We’re going to encourage 26
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What can landscapers do to help? It will all become apparent at FutureScape on Tuesday 15 November when the initiative is launched. We need as many BALI members as possible to offer their services, to help out at careers events and point any prospective employees towards GoLandscape. We all know of successful careers in the industry – it’s a viable option at any level and that’s the point we’re trying to make.
I WANT TO HAVE UNIFIED THE INDUSTRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND ENSURED THAT PEOPLE RECOGNISE THE LOGO AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR What’s BALI’s involvement? BALI is funding it. At the FutureScape 2015 industry debate, our members mentioned that the biggest challenge we face as an industry is the skills gap, so our purpose is to do something about that and help to solve the problem. You’ve been known for raising quite a bit of money for Perennial with your marathons. How did you get into that? Good question, how did I end up doing that? Going back to 2010, I’d started putting on so
much weight when I came off the tools and would sit behind my computer for 10 hours and eat. I started running and, being the obsessive that I am, I ran from one mile to two, and then did a local park run. I built up to the Brighton Marathon and put a punt in to do the London one, too. Then I got chatting to Kate O’Shea from Perennial at an SGD event and I suggested doing it for Perennial. Within five minutes she was on stage mentioning it! I couldn’t pull out of either marathon so I did both last April, but I’d be lying if I said I enjoyed it. I wanted to do it in a combined time of less than nine hours, though, which I achieved. Outside of work, how do you relax? I support our two sons playing Sunday league football and look after our allotment – I need to get my hands dirty. I still run, with a half marathon to do soon. I also do the FA Cup tour, which involves watching every round of the cup, following a local club until they get beaten, then watch the team that beat them until they get beaten and so on until ending at the final. I get to see some good standard of grass roots football doing that. 1 Cutty Sark Gardens in Greenwich 2 Chelsea Creek
CONTACT Acre Landscapes The Gate House, Basin Road South, Southwick, West Sussex BN41 1WF Tel: 01273 722696 www.acrelandscapes.com
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
18/10/2016 15:51
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INFORM
COMPANY
PROFILE
Managing director Lee Webster and commercial director Chris Whittingham joined Hultons Landscapes around 12 months ago when the company was going through some turbulent times. It has now doubled its turnover, and Pro Landscaper visited the HQ in Warburton to find out how they turned the business around and what their plans are for the future
Can you tell us a little bit about the company? Chris: Hultons Landscapes was established in 1968 by Michael Hulton, who ran the business successfully until deciding to sell it in 2013 to Praetura Capital, a Manchester-based firm specialising in venture investment and corporate advisory services. A new management team was put in place, and Hultons merged with another company, LCS Landscapes, at the beginning of 2014. Between then and the following year the company ran into a few issues, and it was at that point the decision was taken to put in place a new management team. Lee came in as managing director, and myself as commercial director, and we were tasked with turning the business around. For the last 12 months we’ve been busy ensuring the business is fit for purpose and on a sound financial footing which has enabled us to concentrate on growing sales. We now cover a variety of sectors including commercial, retail, education and residential, and we recently moved into private developments. We also undertake around £1m worth of grounds maintenance a year to supplement our landscape construction division. What were your backgrounds before joining Hultons Landscapes? Chris: I’m a chartered accountant with a background in finance, having most recently worked in the construction sector for Forrest Construction, a Bolton-based firm. Lee and I had the chance to invest our own money into Hultons and that was a big draw for us. We’ve had some tough times but we have a thriving business now. Lee: I worked at The Landscape Group for 17 years as operations director until the opportunity arose to make an impact on the industry elsewhere. We took a huge risk, but Chris and I felt that our skill set could take Hultons to another level. 28
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IT’S ALL ABOUT EMPLOYING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND TRAINING THOSE THAT YOU HAVE, MAKING THEM FEEL WANTED
Eighteen months ago the company was struggling financially, but has since doubled its turnover. What changes did you make? Chris: The most important thing for us over the last 12 months has been getting more investment into the business to make it financially stable. This has given us the necessary platform to begin to deliver further growth and put the business back on the map. Lee: We did an initial review, and have since made 100 changes to bring Hultons Landscapes into the 21st century. We produced a detailed strategic plan, looking at the key points of the business that needed to be moved forward and then how we could make positive changes in these areas. We also applied to be a member of BALI, which we thought was integral. Chris: We have done a lot to improve the workforce as well, including setting up a communication council for all our employees to voice concerns, and vice versa, we thought it was vital that all our people felt more a part of the business. They were given a voice in deciding which uniforms we procured, and input into which vans we went with when we looked at refreshing the fleet. We will have 23 new vans by the end of the year and a new 18t wagon, as well as new equipment for the yard. Refreshing the brand has played a huge part, as has a change in the mentality of our people. You’ve also placed a firm focus on training? Lee: We’ve spent about £30k in training over the last 12 months, which we probably couldn’t afford, but we felt it was beneficial. We wanted to be self-sufficient. Everyone has the opportunity to develop their individual careers, and there’s a better structure of pay in place. One of our apprentices was awarded Apprentice of the Year at the Warrington Business Awards 2016, in www.prolandscapermagazine.com
19/10/2016 13:54
INFORM
which we were also a finalist for Employer of the Year. We’re even a BALI finalist in the Employer Excellence category. It’s all about employing the right people and training those that you have, making them feel wanted – every department has now had training. We employ 65 people; 40 on the ground and 25 in the office. We now have the right people in the right place to grow the business.
IT’S A REALLY GOOD INDUSTRY TO BE IN AND NEEDS A LOT OF TECHNICAL ABILITY What’s the company’s turnover now? Chris: When we joined Hultons, turnover was around the £4m mark, and now we are forecast to deliver between £7m-£8m, something which we’ve worked hard to acheive. Our secured orderbook and pipeline remain strong and we are positive about the market despite the hype surrounding recent events such as Brexit. What percentage of this is landscaping, compared to garden maintenance? Chris: At the moment, our turnover is predominately landscape construction which returns around 80%. Grounds maintenance 15%, which we’re looking to increase, and the domestic and private division which we set up around 10 months ago around 5%, this is an area we are also looking to develop in the future. Is the majority of that commercial projects? Lee: A lot of our work is commercial, and we’re looking to move towards being a main contractor, but for the next two or three years we will carry on working with the local construction companies. Chris: We’re concentrating on building the domestic private side, too. We built a garden at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2016 which received a Silver-Gilt medal and was awarded Best in Show. We also helped on a Back to Back garden, which is being donated to Claire House Children’s Hospice. Trainees from Reaseheath College, Nantwich, built the garden and it was awarded a Bronze medal. It was a good experience for them, and for us too, as it raised our profile as a business. www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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What size of project do you normally undertake? Chris: We’re happy to look at any project based on its merit. We have projects at the moment for £10k and have won a £750k flagship project, so it’s anything between those values and upwards. We’ve just been nominated for a BALI Award for one of our schemes, Sci-Tech Daresbury. It’s our first submission, and a great achievement in our first year of accreditation. Much of the market still views Hultons as predominantly a soft landscaping business, so we’re keen to promote that we now have the skill sets to offer other service lines specifically in the area of hard landscaping. What geographical areas do you cover? Chris: Our core market has always been the north west of England, but we have been branching out recently to other areas, which is part of our strategic plan. We’re undertaking a job in London at the moment, as well as a job in Cardiff, and we’re hoping to open an office in the Midlands soon.
Finally, what is one thing you think the industry could do better? Lee: For me, it’s that we don’t promote ourselves enough. We do in our own community, but nobody else really knows what we do. There’s huge opportunity to bring people in, but we portray ourselves as cutting grass and putting a few trees in. It’s a really good industry to be in and needs a lot of technical ability. 1 Chris Whittingham (L) and Lee Webster 2 Bluebells Development 3 Sci-Tech Daresbury 4 RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2016 5 Altrincham Grammar School
CONTACT Hultons Landscapes Barns Lane, Warburton, Lymm WA13 9UG 0161 928 1274 @HultonsLandscap enquiries@hultonslandscapes.com www.hultonslandscapes.com
Pro Landscaper / November 2016 29
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17/10/2016 09:59
VIEW FROM THE TOP PHIL JONES
HEAR MORE FROM
PHIL JONES AT DESIGN
BUILD
M A I N TA I N
www.futurescapeevent.com
Phil Jones warns of the disgruntled employee who expresses his or her gripes to the customer, rather than the employer “The customer used to be up here”, said the local postman as I chatted with him, raising his hand above his head. He was in the process of explaining why he had changed rounds from rural to town. He told me that on his previous route he knew all of his customers, their routines and the safe places they preferred their packages to be left if they were away from home. In the following few minutes I was treated to a description of internal politics and workplace favouritism. He believed that company working practices and systems were overriding the needs and expectations of the customer. A week or so after that, I was at a regional airport in the south of England. I enquired to one of the airport staff, who had been assigned to help, as to where our meeting room was. It took ten seconds for him to point me in the direction of our accommodation for the day – and then a couple of minutes further to tell me how unsatisfactory he found his employer to be. He had noticed which company I was from and realised that I belonged to a competitor organisation. He told me that the current contract had two years to run and he was hoping that someone else would win it next time round! www.prolandscapermagazine.com prolandscapermagazine.com
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Interacting with as many people during travel nor should it be. I believe, as I do, it’s quite usual to have a chat relating however, that effective employee to the events of the day. It usually provides, engagement, strong cultural alignment indirectly, an insight into the working life of and communication, and ownership of the other people. company’s mission and values should encourage What seems to be getting employees to feel like a real more prevalent is the part of an organisation. I’ve BUSINESS LEADERS propensity for employees to experienced great examples DO NOT HAVE THE be openly critical about their of where this works, both employers to members of the in my own organisation RIGHT TO EMPLOYEE public – often when those and elsewhere. LOYALTY – THEY MUST members of the public are I am frequently greeted EARN THE PRIVILEGE also customers. by a particular cabin crew Both examples I have member when I’m flying outlined demonstrate how vulnerable those who north, who stands at the top of the aircraft steps run companies can be in relation to the and, when asked “How are you today?” always message that their employees give to the says “Living the dream, sir, living the dream” with outside world. I would hope the behaviours I a broad smile. She is clearly very happy with her encountered would send shockwaves lot and loves her job. If she isn’t, she does a through any organisation. great job of hiding it! What could happen Where does the responsibility for the outward between the face of any company lie? It is a joint responsibility, management and a team effort. However, everyone in the business supervision of a needs to feel a part of that team to be able to company and the represent it appropriately and be ambassadors employee at the rather than terrorists. coal face, to Business leaders do not have the right to lead to a expect loyalty from employees, they must take disgruntled the responsibility of earning that privilege. employee ABOUT PHIL JONES venting their frustration to the customer rather than the company? Why would an employee not tell their management of their disenchantment, and instead tell the customer? Is it correct to say that boards have little influence on the messages their staff deliver to the customer? Ultimately staff behaviour cannot be controlled,
Phil Jones is managing director of ISS Facility Services Landscaping and is based at the company’s head office in Wo in urrey. e ained an in landscape construction and moved into rounds maintenance early on in his career urther ainin an . e has been ith the company since and as ell as runnin the landscapin business he sits on the UK operational management board of ISS Facility ervices and is chairman o . ollo hil ones @philjonesISS ollo andscapin @ISSLandscaping
www.isslandscaping.co.uk
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20/10/2016 10:22
INFORM
HORT COUTURE? ANDREW WILSON
Inspired by a recent Twitter conversation, Andrew Wilson explores the education of gardeners vs garden designers I recently responded to a tweet asking if garden designers should have a horticultural background. I replied “Not necessarily,” but also that tweeting was perhaps not the right format for a reasonable answer. So here goes. Fundamentally, design is a creative process and horticulture a science. There is some middle ground in which both disciplines occupy a shared territory. Most, if not all, garden design programmes incorporate elements of horticulture, planting design, plant awareness, soil science and management of planting, but if this is expanded too much the design focus is lost. Most horticultural programmes include some design teaching but this is generally related to plants and is of limited scope. Too much design and one loses the focus on horticulture. Major questions arise as students in both fields
approach the end of their programmes. What does a garden designer do? Well design gardens, of course. What does a horticulturist do? Well... answers on a postcard as soon as possible please!
TOO MUCH DESIGN AND ONE LOSES THE FOCUS OF HORTICULTURE
Some horticulturists become gardeners, maintaining and developing gardens and landscapes, some move into the nursery profession, and some become... garden designers! Are they trained to do so? Rarely! Do they think they know how to design gardens? Generally, yes! Do they design successful gardens? Well, frequently, no. Flipping the coin, do garden designers themselves design successful gardens? Well, frequently yes. Are they knowledgeable horticulturists? Frequently, no. Does this affect the quality of their gardens? Most of the time, no. However, not all garden design graduates are successful and in any profession the good will float to the top. Are all horticulturists good at their jobs? Well, ditto, I would say. As employers of garden designers in our studio, Gavin and I look for creative passion, a sense of spatial awareness and some ability to balance hard and soft materials successfully. We look for people who can understand and manipulate CAD, communicate effectively in a Andrew Wilson dons the gardening gloves at Chelsea 2014 visual language, respond
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profoundly to a site and its context, deal with clients – whether delightful or awkward –, understand three dimensional level changes, inspire and excite in putting design ideas together and hold their own on site with landscape teams. Do we look for horticulturists to do these things? No, as they have a completely different skill set. We find these skills in well trained garden designers or in landscape architects. As a director of a garden design college I have to balance all of the above elements in my course – is one more important than the other? I generally take mature students who already have a first, sometimes a second degree or even higher qualifications. They are also bringing first career transferable skills to bear on their future profession. I take students who are already trained designers, who want to add garden design to their skill base together with horticulture and business. I take students from horticultural backgrounds who want to learn design and business skills and I take students from the wider business world who want to learn design and horticulture. Of those three groups, it’s often the horticultural students who have the greatest difficulty in adjusting to the needs of the course and their chosen career. Many students ask if horticultural training is a requirement. Well, it’s not going to do any harm, but I’d prefer to produce a design graduate first who might then study horticulture rather than vice versa. But, and this is a big but, has anyone asked me whether they should study hard landscaping first before taking on the course? The answer is never in my 30 years. Discuss! ABOUT ANDREW WILSON Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden designer and a director of Wilson McWilliam Studio. He is also a director of the London College of Garden Design, an author, writer and lecturer.
www.wmstudio.co.uk
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
20/10/2016 09:47
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INFORM
KNOWING YOUR LIMITS
HEAR MORE FROM
DAVID DODD AT
DAVID DODD Garden design and landscape contracting can be a risky business. But there’s nothing wrong with that, and to some extent we need risk takers who can push the boundaries of design and construction. Without these people, David Dodd explains that, as a whole, the industry would stagnate
I’ve never thought of myself as much of a risk taker (other than going to see Palace away to Millwall back in the day), but with every project that comes in, I find myself asking just how far we can test our skill sets and complete projects within some very tight timeframes. If a fantastic design comes in which I love, I’ll always want to build it. We’re usually booked up from anywhere between three to six months in advance, but if the dream job needs starting in the next couple of weeks, how far am I prepared to stretch the company to fit it in? What will be the detrimental effect to current projects and how will the staff react to the extra workload? These jobs very often come with their own form of risk assessment, which is more linked with the risk to my business rather than the usual form of risk assessment where we have to judge the danger of someone tripping over a peg or accidently drinking a can of petrol. My overall view is that if we’re fully booked and already stretched, the stress and sleepless nights just aren’t worth it and sadly I’ll let them go. I know some other companies are happy to say yes to everything, and if they can juggle things around and make it work, good luck to them. However, I know a few who cock it up and find themselves chasing their own tails whilst infuriating clients and designers in the process.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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DESIGN
BUILD
M A I N TA I N
www.futurescapeevent.com
15 NOV 2016
very difficult gardens. A couple of projects in On a more positive note, new challenges can Putney backed onto the Thames, which is tidal at be great for some of the staff. They often that point, and there was no access through or appreciate the overtime and working under a over the properties so everything had to be certain degree of stress can actually bring out the brought in by barge. If you got your delivery best in some people. They feel tested and if the times wrong you simply project is successful they had to wait for the next sense a great level of IF YOU’RE GENUINELY high tide! On the first achievement and pride. one we lost a fortune, When it comes to more TOO BUSY TO FIT IN MORE unique garden designs, WORK, AND THE CLIENT WON’T but we learnt from it and with the second we with bespoke or new WAIT, DON’T DO IT knew exactly what we materials to work with, the were doing. staff has the opportunity to As a company we’re getting a great learn and develop new skills. This makes their reputation for building roof gardens that require a working lives much more interesting and creative, lot of careful planning, but it’s a bit like anything in which also keeps them keen and motivated. life – the more you do, the better you get, so Working for designers like James Aldridge maybe taking those initial risks is starting to pay and Andy Sturgeon has pushed us enormously off (and pay back some of the money lost on as a company by asking us to build some those early projects). technically and, more importantly, logistically My advice is, if you’ve got a particularly challenging design or build, research it and weigh up whether or not the potential financial loss is worth it. Secondly, if you’re genuinely too busy to fit in any more work, and the client won’t wait, don’t do it. You’ll sleep better! ABOUT DAVID DODD David Dodd has been in the landscape industry since the age of 17. Having studied and then taught at Merrist Wood College, he set up The Outdoor Room in 1995. In 2013, he went into business with landscape architect Joe Perkins to form Longview Design Ltd. David has also lectured in design and construction for over 20 years.
www.theoutdoorroom.co.uk
Pro Landscaper / November 2016 35
19/10/2016 12:38
INFORM
ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN ANGUS LINDSAY
Creating and maintaining a safe working environment should never be seen as an option or a tick box exercise, it should be at the root of your day-to-day operations; constantly reviewed and communicated, and one of the foundations on which your business is built. Failure to do so could lead to injury, a hefty fine, or worse still, imprisonment and a criminal record, says Angus Lindsay As an industry, I’d like to think we’ve come a long way from hover mowers on ropes, ignorance of PPE, or spraying dangerous chemicals around. Risk assessment and legislation has eliminated many of these bad practices, but accidents still happen due, in many cases, to taking shortcuts, a lack of training, or an ignorance of the risks – none of which is a defence in a court.
I DON’T WISH TO BE SEEN AS THE HARBINGER OF DOOM, BUT IN THIS DAY AND AGE WE SHOULD NOT BE PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK WHILE THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY JOBS Since April 2008, when the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act came into force, the HSE now publishes a lot more detail about its investigations into breaches, and some of them make harrowing reading. Many are not directly attributable to our industry, but there are some very close comparisons. These include a worker being crushed by faulty lifting equipment, a mechanic maimed by an exploding tyre, falls from height due to using the wrong equipment, a machine operator killed as a result of poor maintenance practices – the list goes on. With fines from £5,000 all the way up to £1million, it’s small compensation for the loss of a limb, paralysis or worse, but what about the others affected? The family, the other workers 36
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who are now out of a job because the business has folded – all because somebody thought they could save a bit of money by cutting a corner? Maybe they just couldn’t be bothered with the paperwork, or thought the basis of a good risk assessment was to say, “it’ll be all right, just take your time and be careful!” Many still see health and safety compliance as a costly investment from which you get little or no return, but consider the benefits of putting your staff through the Register of Landscape Operatives (RoLO) health and safety course, or your managers through IOSH or even NEBOSH training. For a small investment your staff become more aware of their working environment, the risks affecting them and others, and what they can do to make things better, or more professional – a worthwhile investment in my book. Whilst ‘zero harm’ is the mantra bandied around, construction sites, agricultural and land-based industries still account for a large number of deaths and serious injury. In many cases, this is down to lone working with dangerous machinery, unpredictable livestock, or people putting themselves in dangerous situations. We in the landscaping industry don’t
have so much in the way of livestock issues, but the others do represent a clear and present danger. I’m sure we’re all aware that the HSE now charges for any investigations where health and safety has been breached, be it a minor transgression to a full blown investigation – and don’t think that your insurance will pay for it. I don’t wish to be seen as the harbinger of doom, but in this day and age we should not be putting people at risk while they go about their daily jobs. The bottom line is that profit should never come before safety. By implementing a sound and workable health and safety culture within your business, you will have a much greater and longer lasting effect on its future profitability. ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAY Angus spent several years working on arable farms in Scotland before joining VSO in Egypt, implementing a mechanisation programme, managing field operations for a commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and working as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen. He gained an MSc in agricultural engineering and mechanisation management at Silsoe, joining Glendale as machinery manager in 1994 and then in 2009, idverde UK as group head of assets and fleet. Contact: angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
18/10/2016 15:12
INFORM
COLLABORATIVE WORKING
HEAR MORE FROM
PETE JONES AT
PETE JONES
DESIGN
BUILD
M A I N TA I N
www.futurescapeevent.com
15 NOV 2016
Pete Jones believes that the future of the industry shouldn’t be dependent on BALI alone. Collaborative working could, and should, be happening across the board New and groundbreaking initiatives that are implemented by any organisation generally come at a cost to their members. Understandable, as the development and ongoing management do have a financial impact in order to ensure its successful delivery. Sitting at the AGM of BALI earlier this month, the association wished to increase fees again, this time by a staggering 9%. The attendees were those who are supportive of the association and their goals, and so this increase was duly passed and we can all expect to pay a bit more for the services of BALI over the next 12 months as a result. The reasons cited for this increase, alongside rising running costs, were predominantly to fund the implementation and ongoing management of the new GoLandscape initiative. It is designed to engage those at school with the landscape industry at the earliest possible stage – essentially, to safeguard the industry’s future by raising awareness and highlighting opportunities. There are in excess of 850 BALI members who are going to have to put their hand in their pocket to fund this through their membership fees, if they wish to remain members of BALI. In light of the need to save money in many sectors over recent times, any increase in costs generally cannot be passed down to the client. I suspect this increase will be met with some resistance and it will undoubtedly mean that some choose to terminate their possibly long-standing relationship with the association. It seems clear and straightforward to me. BALI members are being asked to pick up the tab for industry failings over the years. What of the other industry associations? Are they sitting back, waiting for the problem to be solved by BALI members? Perhaps they don’t perceive www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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BALI MEMBERS ARE BEING ASKED TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR INDUSTRY FAILINGS OVER THE YEARS. WHAT OF THE OTHER INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS?
there to be a problem. I am getting tired however, of hearing about the skills gap from those who choose to make no attempt at devising a solution and in that, BALI is at least attempting to help. I haven’t heard of any previous or intended discussion of collaborative working between the organisations to try and fund this attempt at alleviating the current crisis, the funding of which remains firmly with the membership of one sole association. If groups other than BALI are making strides in the same direction, I am certainly not aware of it, but it may be the case. The lack of collaborative working that we manage to achieve at association level in our industry is staggering, as is the lack of awareness of other associations’ intentions. In an industry regularly referred to as ‘small’, it needs to happen on a far more frequent and better directed basis. Perhaps the thought of any meaningful collaborative working between trade associations only exists in some kind of utopia. In the case of this industry-wide crisis, I feel it is a necessity. Without it, and assuming the initiative thrives, are BALI members going to be
asked to accept a continued increase in fees over the coming years to account for the expenditure? The revenue has to come from somewhere. At some point BALI members will simply have had enough and may choose to vote with their feet, compounding the problem. No promise could be made in terms of the level of increases members can expect to pay. Surely we can find a way to spread the load and all contribute to what remains a fundamental issue for us all. Perhaps it is down to regional groups of the various associations to try and drive collaborative working possibilities, to break down the barriers that seem to currently exist. ABOUT PETE JONES After 20 years in the landscape industry working across many sectors, Pete Jones is now creating and maintaining award-winning landscape solutions with LDP Ltd. He is a BALI NCF and BALI South Thames committee member investin time and effort to improve our industry wherever possible. Twitter: @LandDesignPete
www.ldp.uk.com
Pro Landscaper / November 2016 37
20/10/2016 09:48
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17/10/2016 10:09
INFORM
PLAYFUL PLANTING ADAM WHITE
HEAR MORE FROM
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M A I N TA I N
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15 NOV 2016
Adam White explains why he believes that getting into the mindset of a child can help with planting choices in play areas
Plants have magical effects on children and add a critical dimension to any play environment, whether it’s an urban park, school playground or garden. Experiencing success in growing plants as a child is often a person’s first memory of gardening. Mine was growing cress and mustard in margarine tubs and selling it from a decorating table at the end of our drive. Plants greatly extend the range of sensory stimulation beyond that which can be provided by manufactured objects. Ever-changing, expressing seasonal cycles, presenting fluctuating palettes of texture, colour, form, fragrance and sound, plants are unmatched in their ability to stimulate the senses and create a positive aesthetic effect. There are many publications that deal with planting design theory but few that deal specifically with the benefits of plants in children’s environments. In Robin C Moore’s www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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1993 book ‘Plants for Play’, he shares his years of experience in selecting plants that support children’s play activities. More than 200 plant species are listed in 18 plant function tables. Here at Davies White Ltd it is our mission to create playful landscape projects which spark an interest in specifying playful planting for children’s play spaces. As adults, we know that plants provide shade, visual screens and wind barriers, but to children plants create a magical world where imaginations can roam. Leaves and other natural loose parts become toys and props. Indoor curricular activities can be taken outside where science, maths, art and literature can be learnt through interactions with nature. Plants make it possible for outdoor games like hide and seek to promote higher levels of physical activity. Providing the opportunity for these experiences requires adults to put themselves in the mind of a child, looking for those extra special qualities that plants can bring to outdoor play. Evergreen trees provide shade all year round. Is that a positive quality in your play space? Do you want shade in the winter, or only in the summer? Annual plants provide instant colour, but die every year. They provide great opportunities for children to get involved in planting, but areas of annuals should be limited to avoid replanting the entire space. These basic considerations can help with plant selection. Where do plants want to live? They are designed by nature to survive in various environments. There are many factors that contribute to a successful planting effort where all of the plants continue to grow and thrive. The most important function is the ability of plants to enrich the experience in the natural world of a child, where plants add beauty, provide sensory stimulation, produce shade, attract visitors from the animal kingdom and can be harvested and eaten.
Play area planting tips • Vary the texture and shape of leaves: evergreen with deciduous; shiny with rough; serrated with smooth edges; thin with thick; simple with compound, and oblong with palmate. • Vary the form, size and colour of plants. • Select plants that emphasise seasonal change: autumn colour, early leaves, late flowers and seeds and berries. • Select plants with fragrant leaves and flowers. • Select plants for craft and culinary activities. • Select plants for auditory stimulation, such as reeds and grasses. • Use plant species that are native to your region and that match the soil and sunlight conditions of your site. However, using plants for play, learning and nutrition provides some exceptions to using native species.
ABOUT ADAM WHITE FLI Adam White FLI is a director at Davies White Ltd, a multi award-winning chartered landscape architects’ practice in Kingston upon Thames. He is the youngest landscape architect to be made a fellow of the Landscape Institute and an RHS Gold Medal and BBC People’s Choice Award winner. Twitter: @davies_white www.davieswhite.co.uk
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19/10/2016 12:41
INFORM
STATE OF NATURE
LESLEY MALONE Our small island is home to an incredible array of species, landscapes and topographies, but is now one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, according to the recent State of Nature report. Published by the RSPB, it brings together data collected by conservation organisations across the British Isles to give an authoritative analysis of the health of our native wildlife – and it does not make comfortable reading. A shocking 1 in 10 species faces extinction, amounting to over 1,000 species; 19% of plants, 11% of invertebrates and 11% of fungi are at risk of being lost forever within the UK. Priority species of special conservation concern have declined by a massive 67% since 1970, including 12% between 2002 and 2013. Many ecosystems are heading towards fatal collapse, and time is not on their side.
INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND HAS HAD AN ‘OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVE’ IMPACT The report states in no uncertain terms that how we manage and use our land determines whether native flora and fauna thrive or disappear, with farming the worst offender in terms of the latter. In the UK 75% of land is
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farmland, and changes in farming practices in recent decades have had a devastating effect on wildlife. The intensive management of agricultural land has had an ‘overwhelmingly negative’ impact, the report states. Over-grazing, increased use of pesticides and fertilisers, and loss of ponds, hedgerows and uncultivated margins have decimated the multitude of species that farmland was once home to. Other natural environments are also increasingly blighted by our lack of judgement. Heathland and meadows have been lost to development and suburban sprawl; uplands are suffering from over-grazing and burning in the name of grouse shooting, that most wantonly destructive of blood sports; coastal habitats are being destroyed by rising sea levels and damage caused by now frequent storms and floods - all due to climate change. Urban environments, home to 80% of the country’s human population, have less and less room for wildlife – although, surprisingly, more than half of the total urban area in England is green space. Brownfield sites, which support many urban species, are being built over as the pressure on development land increases, and domestic gardens are getting
smaller and harder. To add to the gloom, government spending on biodiversity is now just a minuscule 0.025% of the national GDP. So what is to be done? Although the report paints a bleak picture of the long term decline of many species and the loss of natural habitats, it’s also clear that species can and do bounce back, and that habitats can be restored. This, I believe, is where the landscape profession comes in. The report argues that habitat creation is key: not only in creating new havens for wildlife, but protecting and improving those that already exist, as well as extending and connecting fragmented scraps of land to create bigger and better habitats. This is well within the power of landscapers and designers, who work with an understanding of the interdependence of land, soil, climate and species, and an appreciation of natural ecosystems. Many of the species under threat are unremarkable plants, humble fungi, and unglamorous invertebrates. But knowing that they all have a role in supporting other species, creating fertile soil and living oceans, isn’t it time for working in landscape to mean thinking like a conservationist? State of Nature 2016 is available to download from www.rspb.org.uk ABOUT LESLEY MALONE Lesley Malone is a freelance writer, editor and photographer, with a focus on public space and regeneration. She is online at lesleymalone.com and tweets at @tangentials
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Lesley Malone discusses the recent State of Nature report, and how landscaping can help improve the negative outlook
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INFORM
in the
Pro Landscaper talks to Cardiff City Council about its evolving parks and green spaces offer, and the innovative ways it tries to get every member of the community involved
I
n recent years, Cardiff has regained its status as a major world destination, something it hasn’t enjoyed since the early 1900s, when it was a centre for shipping and coal. There are clear reasons for this, not least the transformation throughout the Nineties of the area now known as Cardiff Bay, which regenerated the entire southern portion of the city. This in turn led to further, ongoing commercial development, and a parallel upturn in productivity. Cardiff is currently responsible for around 20% of Welsh GDP. As well as more wealth, one upshot has been an increase in commuter activity, with around 42
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40% of the workforce now coming in from out of town. This, according to local authority Head of Parks Jon Maidment, makes its green spaces essential to the functioning of the city in a way that is quite unique. Greenest places Jon began his career as a YTS horticultural trainee in Devon earning £25.50 per week straight out of school. He is currently responsible for the strategic planning, management and maintenance of the council’s parks and public open space provision. Speaking about the preponderance of open
areas in Cardiff, he said: “We are a city of parks; we have around 1,600 hectares, and are one of the greenest cities in the UK on per head of population basis. We also have to factor in a huge transient population alongside our residents. That includes commuters as well as tourists and the students from the universities, of whom there are in the region of 45,000. “They all make very good use of our parks. In fact, without our open spaces, Cardiff wouldn’t be able to function in the way that it does, because they make the city such a calming and vibrant place to be amidst all the business of daily life. The people of Cardiff have a real affinity with www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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INFORM
e their parks, probably more so than anywhere else I’ve experienced in the UK.” Peripatetic deployment Cardiff has in the region of 350 individually named green spaces. The ‘destinations’, many of which are situated in the city centre, include the Victorian Roath Park, with its 39 acre manmade lake, and Bute Park, which is another major point of convergence for everyone in the city. As might be imagined, the level of maintenance required for these parks in particular is substantial, not just because they get so much use but, as with all city centre areas, they’re constantly in the ‘shop window’.
IN TERMS OF PLANT PROVISION, WE’RE MOVING TOWARDS A PREDOMINANTLY IN-HOUSE MODEL. WE PRODUCE ALL OUR OWN BEDDING PLANT MATERIAL We asked Jon about how his team is made up, and about how they’re deployed around Cardiff. “At the moment, we’re running at 110 full-time equivalent staff within parks,” he says. “That includes gardening staff alongside park rangers, and our arboricultural team. “In terms of deployment, our gardening staff are geographically based, with the city carved up into two halves under two area managers. Saying that, there’s always a bit of overlap, particularly when it comes to specialist areas of work, and certain teams will cross area boundaries when required.” He continues: “We’ve also got teams that operate on a mobile, demand basis. Park rangers are peripatetic in nature. Our arboricultural teams work on a programmed and reactive basis and where tree stock priorities exist.” Do they have enough staff to do the job? “Our workforce has reduced, certainly, but that’s the same with any local authority. We’ve taken layers of management out of the system and, in my view, are lean in this area.” www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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We ask whether the decrease in funds has impacted on planting and maintenance strategies as well. “It’s just a matter of finding different and innovative ways of doing things,” says Jon. “Again, not unlike other local authorities, we’ve started to introduce large areas of wildflower meadows to our offer, which in turn has benefits when it comes to pollination. We’re constantly looking at methods of efficiently managing and maintaining sites. The city centre parks are a mixture of different kinds of horticulture, including ornamental, woodland, and an arboretum. You name it, it’s in there. “In terms of plant provision, we’re moving towards a predominantly in-house model. We produce all our own bedding plant material currently, and numbers have reduced year on year as we’ve gone to more permanent planting. With regard to hardy nursery stock, we grow the majority in house, with about 10% brought in from outside. Tree stock is currently bought in.” Green lung Probably the most high profile park in the city is the aforementioned Bute, which was bequeathed to Cardiff by the fifth Marquess of Bute in 1947 (having, in its time, been landscaped by both Capability Brown and Andrew Pettigrew). It’s a tranche of Green Flag-status parkland stretching up behind the castle – which was likewise bequeathed by the Marquess – bisected at points by the River Taff. In Jon’s words, it provides a ‘green lung and sanctuary’ to those working in Cardiff’s administrative district and financial area. The park has in recent years attracted substantial investment in its infrastructure, including the provision of three cafeterias and a training and education centre. This is in part due to the council’s desire to make those that use the parks even happier, but also to get even
1 Roath Park, Cardiff 2 Roath Pleasure Gardens, Roath, Cardiff 3 The nursery in Bute Park, Cardiff 4 Cardiff City Council’s parks apprentices Pro Landscaper / November 2016 43
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INFORM WE’RE PROACTIVELY ADDRESSING ISSUES AROUND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING THROUGH VARIOUS INITIATIVES. WE WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE FEELING EXCLUDED FROM SOCIETY
more people visiting them – something which ties in directly with its health and wellbeing strategy. Speaking of the recent developments, Jon says: “Bute Park was the largest ever public parks project in Wales, costing around £5.3m in total. It combined the restoration of historic features, as well as core infrastructure upgrades such as pathways and benches, improvements to the arboretum and so on. The funding was in part provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), alongside money we acquired via section 106 agreements.” Why is it so important to get people using the parks? “For us, a lot of it is to do with health and wellbeing, both physical and mental. I mentioned earlier the importance of our city centre parks – people can relax, and can genuinely be lifted. It’s the power of nature. “There’s also, clearly, massive physical health benefits to be had from just moving around outside, which is something that’s hardwired in to the council’s policy when it comes to parks. Sport is an important part of what we do, and there are thriving cricket, football, rugby and baseball fraternities within the city. “We want to help take the burden off health services by helping to keep people healthy, and have developed links with GPs and the local health board. We have also recently been able to secure a six-figure Heritage Lottery Grant for Parc Cefn Onn in the north of the city, a project that will see restoration of green space and infrastructure improvements with a focus on use for people with ambulatory disability.” Sense of community One impressive – and quite unique – aspect of the Cardiff City Council parks strategy is the 44
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way that it draws in potentially marginalised people within the community. This is something which in large part is down to Jon’s influence, going back to his own experiences when he was younger. Returning to the idea of open spaces facilitating mental health as well as physical, there are around 40 individual groups, including 27 constituted friends groups, within the city, that not only help with the parks themselves, but also represent a thriving community. This is clearly great for fostering a sense of both belonging and purpose amongst their members, whoever they might be. Unlike many similar groups that exist around the UK however – fantastic though they are – Cardiff deliberately tries to bring in those who are suffering through difficult times in their lives. Speaking of this aspect of the council’s work, Jon says: “We’re proactively addressing issues around emotional wellbeing through various initiatives. We work with people who are feeling excluded from society in some way, and the friends groups in particular are very welcoming. “One group of people that we particularly want to help are those who have been unemployed for a long term, as well as young people looking for an opportunity to gain practical experience. “We have created a People Programme that is basically our internal succession plan, offering our own trade apprenticeship schemes – including a Children Leaving Care Scheme – as well as supporting third party schemes. These people enrolled on the programme are not simply convenient resources, but valued members of the team.”
As readers of Pro Landscaper may remember, this is something the magazine covered in 2014, with a news story about four apprentices who were graduating to full employment with the council. Their training included arboriculture, plant production, ornamental horticulture and much more, and they went on to work across the city in various roles – ultimately acting as mentors for new apprentices. It is truly a fabulous initiative. Sunny afternoons As indicated, Jon has both professional and personal reasons for wanting to help make sure that people who could be perceived as ‘left behind’ are given a little extra help. He says: “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school but took the opportunity to enroll on the then Youth Training Scheme as a trainee gardener. It was an opportunity that provided me with impetus and the prospect of a career in horticulture, and I want to ensure that the council does everything it possibly can to provide young people with similar opportunities.’’ It’s not the only thing it inspired Jon to do however, as anyone familiar with Cardiff’s green spaces story will know. As a result of his and his teams’ hard work, they are some of the most resolutely well-maintained and customerfocused parks we’ve seen. They’re also – most importantly – lovely places to spend a sunny afternoon in the city.
1 Roath Pleasure Gardens, Roath, Cardiff 2 Jon Maidment 3 Alexandra Gardens, Cathay’s Park, Cardiff
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20/10/2016 12:44
LONDON GARDEN DESIGNER
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Turning an angled front courtyard into a quirky and inviting space
HIGH AND MIGHTY
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PAUL NEWMAN LANDSCAPES Creating a relaxation space on a London roof terrace
IN THE FRAME ARALIA LANDSCAPES
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Updating a courtyard to create an indoor/ outdoor living space
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Enhancing the grounds of a family holiday destination
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G T N O FR
N E D R A
PORTFOLIO
PROJECT DETAILS Project value £17k Build time Oct 2014 to Feb 2015 Size of project 42sq m
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ARCH ANGEL LONDON GARDEN DESIGNER This angled front courtyard has been turned into a quirky and inviting space
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he front courtyard of this Islington Mews property was transformed from an oppressive parking space into an inviting, contemporary entrance.
The brief A traditional style of landscaping with a modern edge was desired for this front garden, in keeping with the style of the new build house. The intention was to maximise the space and increase light into the ground floor rooms, improving the outlook onto the high, dominant brick wall of the neighbouring house. The design The garden was originally off street parking with hardly any greenery and a shed which had become the uninvited focal point. The small courtyard presented a number of challenges due to its enclosed aspect and unusual shape; rather than try to form straight lines, its distinct outline was embraced through emphasising the space with quirky angles and contemporary materials, whilst maintaining a soft palette of planting. One of the key views as you entered the courtyard was an unattractive but practical shed. This view was screened with a partition Cor-Ten arch, and the shed was painted dark grey. The arch serves to entice visitors into the space, and a framed Cor-Ten rose arch echoes its silhouette, forming the view out from the lounge. The materials The existing brick pavers needed to be removed in order to increase the planting areas. Also key to the success of the design within the narrow space was the use of poured resin bound gravel, which formed a seamless surface material, light in colour and adaptable to the unusual angles. The light silver grey paving offset the
use of Cor-Ten and orange within the garden, creating a restrained palette that is echoed in the planting. Additional details such as the decorative wall tiles create visual impact within the overall colour scheme. An adequate sized seating area was created directly outside of the lounge doors that also captured the best position for the morning and afternoon sun. The client’s furniture has been reused and she is delighted with the finished courtyard, which has been transformed into a garden far more spacious and attractive than before, with plenty of seasonal planting interest.
ABOUT LONDON GARDEN DESIGNER 1 The arch breaks up the oppresive view formed by the neighbour’s brick walls 2 The main colours were pinks and oranges, based on the client’s existing Camellia and love of orange 3 The light green and coppery foliage of Dryopteris erythrosora offsets the Cor-Ten panel 4 Flaster tiles, usually used for flooring, form an economical but decorative wall feature 5 Curved boundary walls create a traditional feature to balance the contemporary design elements 6 The outside space as it was 7 Installing the resin bound path 8 The asymmetric design required all the edges to be set out carefully with galvanised steel angle edging 48
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London Garden Designer LONDON was set up by Sara Jane GARDENDESIGN Rothwell in 2002. The company has designed and built over 300 projects during this time and prides itself on an exceptional design service and meticulous attention to detail, creating award-winning, uniquely tailored gardens. Sara Jane trained in horticulture and landscape design and brings to her gardens a further 11 years design experience from her or in lm and theatre. www.londongardendesigner.com
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REFERENCES Designer London Garden Designer
Sara Jane Rothwell 16 Highgate West Hill London N6 6NP 07976 155 282 www.londongardendesigner.com Contractor Clinton Wootten Landscapes
Lower Ground Floor Flat 37 Oaklands Grove London W12 0JD Arch Iron Art of Bath
www.ironart.co.uk Pots Urbis
www.urbisdesign.co.uk Resin bound gravel Gaysha
www.gayshasurfaces.co.uk Flaster tiles Blue Print Ceramics
www.blueprintceramics.com Trees Deepdale Trees
www.deepdale-trees.co.uk Plants The Palm Centre
www.palmcentre.co.uk
BEFORE/DURING www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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Y T H G I M D
N A H G I H
CAPESerrace S D N t N LA n roof
WMA pace on a Londo E N L PAU sy relaxation s
s g a cla Creatin
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he brief for this central London roof terrace was to construct a high end contemporary usable space for the family to enjoy.
Background Paul Newman Landscapes was contacted by the clients in March 2015 to undertake the design and build of their large roof terrace in central London. After several meetings a design was presented along with costings for the build. As a starting point the services of a structural engineer were utilised to assess the existing roof structure. A survey was undertaken, and the outcome was to fit new steel beams to span across the roof space, which would allow the new design to ‘float’ over the existing roof.
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The design The terrace had great potential but was only used for the occasional barbecue, so the solution was to create a relaxation area with the existing hot tub, a large lounge area with green wall and water feature, and a kitchen and dining area
1 Dining area with flame heater 2 Water feature with artificial green wall 3 Prunus lusitanica gives screening around the jacuzzi 4 Millboard walkway connecting lounge with dining area 5 Artificial green wall, smoked oak Millboard and stainless steel water feature 6 Uplit olive trees in white cube planters 7 Overview of the lounge area with contrasting Millboard
PROJECT DETAILS Project value £85k Build time April 2016 to July 2016 Size of project 150m2
8 The bespoke kitchen unit 9 Water feature at night reflecting the LED strip
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together with artificial grass incorporating a putting strip. LED remote control lighting featured throughout the design. For the flooring, enhanced grain Millboard composite decking was chosen in smoked oak and carbonised charred to create contrasting walkways and define the space. Glass reinforced plastic planters were the choice throughout with a carbon grey and white matte finish. For the boundary Griselinia littoralis was planted, a tough New Zealand evergreen shrub ideal for windy locations. Clipped olive trees surrounded by buxus cubes add height and make a feature of the dining area. The roof terrace was divided down the middle by an existing wall, to which an artificial green wall and stainless steel water feature were installed on the lounge side. A deck walkway links the other half of the terrace where a play lawn was installed for the children, together with a golf putting strip complete with flag and cup. For the kitchen and dining area a bespoke kitchen unit was constructed complete with barbecue and rotisserie, under counter fridge, sink and stainless steel cupboards. Tall cylindrical planters with clipped buxus and a low built-in planting bed complete this area. Collingwood low voltage LED lighting features throughout the terrace and is operated on a remote control system to allow individual control over the zones. For the front planters, an RGB colour change LED strip was installed underneath which is Wi-Fi controlled from a smartphone app. This adds a bit of fun and drama to the lounge and lawn areas, as it can also be set to pulse to music.
ABOUT PAUL NEWMAN LANDSCAPES Established in 1993, Paul Newman Landscapes provides a complete landscaping service from concept to completion for clients throughout London and Hertfordshire. aul e man andscapes oers hi h uality individual design and build projects to suit clients style and bud et. terior desi n solutions have included roof terraces, bespoke hard ood structures courtyard ardens city spaces lar e amily ardens and more. www.paulnewmanlandscapes.co.uk
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DURING WORK
Challenges As it was a roof terrace build above the fifth floor with huge quantities of materials required, access issues in and out of the building had to be overcome without disturbing the tenants; the only real solution was to use a furniture hoist. This piece of kit is only the size of a transit van so avoided the need for a crane on site including costly permits and road closures. Three parking bays were suspended, one for the hoist and the other two as a loading bay for materials as they arrived. Timing of deliveries was also crucial, so everything was ordered to be delivered to site on the same day. Two crews were armed with walkie-talkies for communication which made the whole process run smoothly from ground to roof. www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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1 Dining area with bespoke kitchen unit
REFERENCES
2 Millboard detail with colour change LED under planters
Design and build
Artificial grass
Paul Newman Landscapes
Trulawn
3 Fire Magic BBQ and granite worktop 4 The only way is up! The hoist going up to the roof
Office 01707 395 797 Mobile 07775 733 753 info@paulnewmanlandscapes.co.uk www.paulnewmanlandscapes.co.uk
5 View from the roof waiting for a load
Decking
6 Evening in the lounge area
www.exteriordecking.co.uk
7 Fitting slatted wall panels 8 Materials being delivered
Millboard decking
Planters Europlanters
www.europlanters.com Plants The Palm Centre
www.palmcentre.co.uk Hedges Direct
www.hedgesdirect.co.uk
www.trulawn.co.uk Lighting Collingwood Lighting and Lighting for Gardens
www.collingwoodlighting.com www.lightingforgardens.com Green walls Vista Green
www.vistagreen.com Kitchen appliances Fire Magic
www.fire-magic.co.uk Slatted trellis panels The Garden Trellis Company
www.gardentrellis.co.uk
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IN THE FRAME
ARALIA LANDSCAPES A lesson in updating a courtyard to create an indoor/outdoor living space
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undle House is a late 14th century, Grade II* listed building located within a small village in rural Essex. The clients had moved into the property a few years previous, and were in the process of carrying out architectural renovations to the main house in the form of a contemporary family room which subtly and tastefully references the history of the building. This change is what prompted the redesign of the immediate courtyard space which connects the house to the wider garden.
WINNER Design Excellence Award, Overall Scheme over £50k
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The brief The clients were looking to bring the outdated space up to a standard which meets that of the internal works, in order to create an indoor/ outdoor terraced area which would become an extension to the hub of the family home.
The courtyard is where the clients wanted to live, eat and entertain when outdoors. The clients wanted a contemporary space, but which had some reference to the historical backdrop of the house to avoid creating an aesthetical disparity. Being part of a larger garden, the courtyard must also create a suitable threshold that avoids completely disjointing itself from the more ’natural’ garden, particularly given the change in level between the two. Other factors within the brief included the need for privacy from neighbouring buildings, as well as a keen use of lighting and healthy incorporation of planting. Views out from the property were a big consideration in terms of bringing the feel of greenery into the internal spaces, as well as framing views to other areas of the garden. www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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PROJECT DETAILS
PORTFOLIO
Project value £70k Build time Six months Size of project 320m2
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interested in pursuing the second, which resulted in tiered grass landform helping to bridge the height change, whilst creating both a contemporary statement and a fun element for the children to play on and use. Within the courtyard, three separate living spaces were created using a division of planting; one for eating, one for entertaining and one for relaxing, all of which were deliberately flexible and interchangeable. A sense of enclosure and seclusion were sought for two of the terraces, one using a row of pleached trees for privacy, and the other a large oak/steel pergola which now provides a frame for the existing wisteria to climb across. The oak of the pergola sits perfectly against the brickwork of the building whilst the clean cut geometry is a refreshing change from the undulations of such an historic house. The pergola uses tubular metal
1 Prunus serrula and oak pergola 2 Framed view through pergola to wider garden 3 Allium, Euphorbia and Stipa gigantea 4 Stone paving and gravel creates an informal path 5 Chiminea used for both warmth and cooking 6 Metal ‘foot feature’ to oak dining pergola 7 View across garden with Alliums, Euphorbia, Lillium and Stipa gigantea
ABOUT ARALIA
A
Aralia is an award-winning and A _RALIA visionary design practice which works to the highest professional standards, continually pushing the boundaries and exploring new concepts for landscape design. It has a strong track record of delivering residential gardens which are unique to each of its clients with a distinct character that relates to both the architecture of the house and the surrounding landscape.
www.aralia.org.uk
Images 1,2,3,5,7 © John Glover
Design and build Aralia addressed the courtyard in a geometric fashion to create a contemporary base frame which offered generous spaces for both useable spaces, and planting. This was a welcome change following the previous layout, which was all pathways and narrow spaces. The threshold between courtyard and wider garden was cleaned up entirely, with vegetation, concrete and old trellis work removed; which allowed a better connection to the views to a large horse chestnut tree at the foot of the garden. Two options for the threshold between the courtyard and wider garden were offered; one was a formal extension of the geometric hard landscaped forms in the courtyard, and the second was a wildcard which expressed a more natural form, bringing the lawn right up to the main living space. The clients were very
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supports to prevent bowing, as well as holding up one of the overheads which couldn’t be supported by a vertical in order to avoid blocking the annexe window. Bespoke fabricated steel legs were made to keep the timber out of the ground and prevent rotting – the timber was routed to fit the legs perfectly, for a flush finish. The bird spikes are temporary. Annexe Midway through construction of the courtyard, the clients asked us to look at extending the scope of our works slightly to include a small
terrace by the annexe, with steps down to the lawn. The annexe was at the time planned to be renovated at a later date (currently in progress at time of writing) and the clients simply wanted a small space for general purposes. Steps down to the lawn were spaced and laid out to roughly match the change in levels set by the lawn, and a small planting strip either side allowed for planting to hide the interface, which now hosts cascading mounds of fragrant lavender. Yorkstone kerbs and instant Buxus hedging were also added at the front of the property to help formalise the
aesthetic of what is such an integral part of the village’s heritage. Challenges The build ran extremely smoothly, which is often a rarity, and the clients were very pleased with how the garden was constructed, and with the overall aesthetics and practicalities of the garden. The planting has had just over 12 months to establish and is already looking good, which we feel is a reflection of great soil preparation and a choice of plants that are ‘fit for their location’.
REFERENCES Designer Aralia Garden Design
1 The rest of the garden before construction 2 The small terrace by the annexe 3 The courtyard during construction
Studio 2, New House Farm Lower Sheering Road Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire CM21 9LE 01279 721 461 www.aralia.org.uk Wildflower Turf Wildflower Turf
www.wildflowerturf.co.uk Landscaper Focused Landscapes
www.focusedlandscapes.co.uk Stone Paving London Stone
www.londonstone.co.uk Trees Deepdale Trees
www.deepdale-trees.co.uk Plants Robin Tacchi Plants
www.robintacchiplants.com
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PORTFOLIO
PROJECT DETAILS Project value £299k Build time Six weeks Size of project 100 acres
GREAT ESCAPE THE CGM GROUP (EAST ANGLIA) LTD
The grounds of this family holiday destination were enhanced with soft and hard landscaping
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T
he CGM Group (East Anglia) Ltd was awarded this project through a competitive bill of quantities tender process, having completed no previous works for either the landscape architect, park owner Bourne Leisure or Hopton Holiday Park itself. The process CGM was approached by Clews Landscape Architecture Ltd in late November 2014, having located CGM through the BALI directory. A tender pack was issued and quotation returned within the designated time frame, culminating in CGM successfully securing the works package mid December 2014. Over the following weeks designs were finalised, working drawings were issued and materials were procured in readiness of mobilisation. All works were to be started and taken through to completion within the six week time frame when the park was shut to residents and holiday makers, from 12 January to 20 February 2015. The brief Hopton Holiday Park is located on the north eastern Norfolk coastline between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. The park comprises of 1,000 owned and holiday let units receiving up to 80,000 guests per annum, making it a thriving family holiday destination. The project involved the enhancement and regeneration of the existing landscape, combining both soft and hard landscaping. The final look was achieved by reimagining the existing use of space within the park to provide attractive planting and family friendly spaces, including the erection of sustainable 58
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WINNER Soft Landscaping construction (non-domestic) £300k - £1.5m
wooden play equipment. The brief received by CGM was to enhance the existing landscape with soft and hard landscaping, achieved through redesign and installation at specific locations within the existing park consisting of pathways to assist pedestrian foot traffic, mature tree planting, wildflower turfing, green walls, play equipment and 1,000t of mound formation. The build Whilst on site, two further landscaping packages were added to the order. As all three packages of works were located in the same park development, this meant numerous areas of work were being undertaken concurrently to ensure handover was completed to the designated deadline. Regular site meetings and weekly progress emails ensured that the works were delivered ahead of schedule and on budget. All three projects – gardens, lakes and showground – were handed over on 18 February 2015,
receiving a practical completion certificate on 8 March 2015. This is a large site, where the breadth and scale of work will be fully appreciated on a site visit. All works were completed by CGM in-house with the exception of the installation of a resin bond pathway to the showground location. Whilst these pathways were located within their site boundaries this item was not in their package and was sub-contracted. ABOUT THE CGM GROUP (EAST ANGLIA) LTD Having recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, The CGM Group employs nearly 200 members of staff across its complimentary disciplines o rounds maintenance, landscaping, arboriculture, cleaning and pest control. CGM manages hundreds of commercial contracts across East Anglia, from schools and local authorities, to housing associations and utilities providers. www.cgmltd.co.uk LANDSCAPES
FA C I L I T I E S
A R B O R I C U LT U R E
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PORTFOLIO
REFERENCES Bark, mulch and soil Material Change
www.material-change.com Ivy screens Mobilane UK
mobilane.co.uk Trees Deepdale Trees
www.deepdale-trees.co.uk
1 New improved reception area 2 One of the several new areas for children 3 Grasses provide seasonal interest 4 Unsightly bins screened by new fencing
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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INSPIRE
RETURN TO NATURE Anji Connell considers the natural swimming pool or ‘swimming pond’, a wildlife haven and alternative to the chlorinated pools found in most gardens
Environmentally friendly natural pools blend beautifully into the landscape. They’re chemical free with crystal clear water and a haven for ildlife such as dragon ies fire ies and water lilies. “Natural pools are fantastic for those who might be allergic to chlorine plus ou eliminate the extra hassles of having to balance chemicals The are a beautiful ecos stem says Daniel Lloyd-Morgan of Swim Natural. “A swimming pond or natural swimming pool is a body of living water kept in a very low nutrient state similar to a mountain la e here the water is clean and clear; not because it’s cool but because there are er fe nutrients entering the ater from people animals plants or trees sa s Tim ans director of artenart
artenart
Swimming Ponds. He adds: “Natural swimming ponds are designed to maintain this low-nutrient state and under these conditions the ater is ‘self-cleaning’. Phytoplankton and bacteria are consumed and kept in control by other microscopic organisms. There are different ways of achieving this by using plants or materials hich ta e nutrients out of the ater or ith aggregates certain t pes of gra el or other small grained materials hich gro a biofilm as ater passes through it thereb e tracting nutrients from the main bod of ater Natural pools are di ided into t o areas separated by submerged walls with a swimming one and a regeneration one filled ith a uatic
plants that absorb nutrients and oxygenate the ater A special seedbed filters the ater hich is then circulated by a pump; the pool is also inoculated with microorganisms that help eliminate algae. Some companies focus on ‘swimming ponds’ which look like ponds and others on ‘natural pools’ which more so resemble pools. ‘Living pools’ have no plants at all. Pure living pools need less work but have higher running costs The filtration is a phosphate absorber a li ing biological filter hich brea s do n aste ithout adding an thing This filter needs bac ushing and stirring occasionall to maintain e en o and it ill need replacing hen saturated usuall e er t o to three ears A robot cleans the surfaces on a weekly cycle and can e en be left in the pool ool steps awkward corners and slopes or sides may need
A SWIMMING POND OR NATURAL SWIMMING POOL IS VERY SIMILAR TO A MOUNTAIN LAKE WHERE THE WATER IS CLEAN AND CLEAR
artenart
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brushing to prevent them getting too slippery or discoloured b biofilm The biological pool filtration can be s itched off in inter but lea ing the skimmer pump on keeps leaves clear. www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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INSPIRE
might feel cold in chlorinated ater for example, actually feels comfortable in natural ater sa s Evans, recommending that you leave your Existing pools can be converted to natural pool unheated for the ones, usually with a small amount of reshaping first ear and the addition of a planted filtration one sa s nitial prices for lo d organ The minimum si e recommend natural swimming ponds is a 70m2 water surface area with one area of and conventional pools the s imming one being at least m deep are comparable as for A large deep body of water is more stable in maintenance, although natural pools are terms of minimising temperature uctuation and self-sustaining ecosystems requiring little overheating, and is important for the health of maintenance lants ill need thinning and some the pool ecolog replanting ust as other parts of the garden do “One advantage to having large shallow t s recommended to ha e a maintenance planting beds is that they act as giant solar service which takes two to four hours per month panels, which quickly heat the water to a depending on the pond si e and comple it and comfortable swimming temperature so no an annual spring service is recommended with a additional heating is needed major service every three to four years ans confirms this e find when the regeneration area is that even in England cleaned f the nutrient le els swimming ponds do not are too high you can get need to be heated, and the blanket weed, but only ater can get up to evaporated water needs to in warm periods, and stay be replaced which on hot at for long periods da s can be up to cm o er the summer o e er aterfalls fountains and it is certainly possible to lighting can also be added to heat them artificiall in enrich the beauty of the im Natural general swimming ponds can be ponds nli e traditional heated to although the sun ill swimming pools they do not need to take them higher) and natural pools without be covered over in winter, adding year round plants to ith negligible running costs interest to our garden and attracting ildlife onds can be heated up to if necessar But is there a downside? Lloyd-Morgan says: and using solar panels is an option Natural This depends on our point of ie f ou don t water feels much more comfortable on the skin like sharing your pool with frogs, newts and and is not as harsh as chemical water, so what other ater life it s probabl not for ou
NATURAL WATER FEELS MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE SKIN AND IS NOT AS HARSH AS CHEMICAL WATER
Gartenart
im Natural
Gartenart
ABOUT ANJI CONNELL Internationally recognised interior architect and landscape designer Anji Connell is a detail-obsessed Inchbald Graduate, and has been collaborating with artisans and craftsmen to create bespoke and unique interiors for a discerning clientele since 1986. Anji is a stylist, feature writer and lover of all things art and design.
www.anjiconnellinteriordesign.com
NATURAL SWIMMING POOL COMPANIES
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Water Features aterfeatures co u
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Woodhouse Natural Pools naturals immingpools com
Swim Natural s imnatural com
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Ponds, Lakes & Water Management Gordon Low are established UK suppliers of high performance liner materials for residential, leisure and commercial aquatic applications. Any size is possible up to 1800m2 in one piece, larger sizes being welded or seamed on site. Tailor made box welded liners made to your specification. Nationwide delivery. • SealEco Greenseal EPDM Rubber 1.00mm & 0.75mm • Firestone PondGard EPDM Rubber 1.02mm
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INSPIRE
INSIDE LOCATION LANDSCAPES Pro Landscaper’s Nina Mason visited Charles Blumlein, managing director of Location Landscapes, to find out how the company has been so successful after only three years in the industry, and its decision not to offer hard landscaping from the start
L 1 Sussex garden maintained by Location Landscapes
2 Two members of the Location Landscape team planting Prunus Snow Goose trees
3 Charles Blumlein, managing director of Location Landscapes
4 West Sussex barn garden designed by Chris
Moss and maintained by Location Landscapes
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ocation Landscapes, despite having only been founded three years ago, is already setting a standard in the industry. The Hampshire-based company specialises solely in soft landscaping and garden maintenance, and since being founded in 2013 it has already taken on a number of prolific projects, including three RHS show gardens. Having only become BALI accredited this year following a two year application process, Location Landscapes’ success is admirable, and part of this is likely down to the company’s clear direction. Managing director Charles Blumlein’s focus has always been on soft landscaping and, recognising a niche in the market for a company that specialised in this as well as in high end garden maintenance, Location Landscapes was established. He explains: “Three of us formed the company – myself, director Tracey Harding who handles the accounts and administration of the company, and Sam Day who manages the projects outside – because when looking at hard landscapers, there was a contrast and sometimes a disinterest in
soft landscaping. We wanted to specialise in this and maintenance to give garden designers and private clients another option.” Charles’ background has always been dominated by planting, from studying horticulture at Sparsholt College Hampshire to landscape construction at Merrist Wood College, Surrey, where his focus lay with planting and tree assessment. His role before establishing Location Landscapes was managing the soft landscaping for a company in Haslemere. “I always enjoyed the plant side more than the construction side. Soft landscaping and the involvement of plants is why I came to this industry,” says Charles. Concentrating on soft landscaping is something that Charles feels gives Location Landscapes an advantage. At least 90% of its quotations come through to fruition, and the company has also grown largely through recommendations. “I think that’s the key to our business – getting everything right, from the invoices going out to quotes looking presentable, to clean marked vans and uniforms. Everything is efficient, and we’re very mindful of the expectations of the client. Pro Landscaper / November 2016 63
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INSPIRE INSPIRE
years. “We only maintain domestic gardens as opposed to commercial – not to say that we wouldn’t, but we only offer half a day or a full day’s maintenance to make sure that we get the quality right, and because anything less is not cost effective. There has never been a job we thought was too large, though.” Location Landscapes undertakes a variety of projects on its soft landscaping side. The largest project so far in value was a new build, which it worked on in conjunction with garden designer Jane Brown, totalling around £170K mainly due to the plant supply. The majority of its projects are within a 40 minute radius of its office in Petersfield,
© Stephen Studd
“It seems to work really well – we haven’t not been chosen because we don’t offer hard landscaping. Normally, when architects are involved, a designer will be brought in, then the builders who construct the house will be able to do the hard landscaping, and finally we will carry out the soft landscaping, from irrigation and soil preparation to the planting and lawn.” All eight members of staff currently employed by Location Landscapes have the ability to do both soft landscaping and garden maintenance. There is no team divide, allowing all members of staff to be flexible throughout the seasons. In the last financial year, garden maintenance made up a third of the company’s turnover, and this side of the business is purely high end, another niche in the market that Charles was keen to fill. “About five years ago I attended a seminar by Andy Sturgeon, who was discussing how before designing a garden he asks what the client’s plan is for maintenance, as there’s no point spending a fortune on the design, plants and build without the garden being maintained properly. “I could tell there was a gap in the market – maintenance has been seen in the past as the poor relation of landscaping, but it’s actually the bread and butter of the industry.” Clearly an accurate perception, as the business has only grown over the past three
MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN SEEN IN THE PAST AS THE POOR RELATION OF LANDSCAPING, BUT IT’S ACTUALLY THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE INDUSTRY
Hampshire, though it has gone as far as the Isle of Wight. It also undertakes projects in London, though this carries a number of challenges: “Going in to London, we do charge higher rates as there are a number of factors we have to consider, including the staff working longer hours and needing to be paid overtime. We only accept a minimum of a day for maintenance in London.” The company has also completed a number of show gardens. After less than a year of being established, Location Landscapes worked alongside Outdoor Options to plant Charlotte Rowe’s main avenue show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2014, which was awarded a Gold medal. The following year, it worked with Ann-Marie Powell on her garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which also achieved a Gold medal, and again with Ann-Marie on the RHS’s ‘Greening Grey Britain’ garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea. “I’ve wanted to do a show garden since I was at Merrist Wood College. The camaraderie is always very good, people are always willing to share their knowledge – you don’t find that in every industry.” With so much having been achieved in just three years, and the company about to advertise for further staff, we look forward to seeing what else is on the cards for Location Landscapes.
5 Location team 6 Gold medal-winning garden
at RHS Hampton Court 2015, designed by Ann-Marie Powell
7 Topiary and herbaceous border
garden in Hampshire maintained by Location Landscapes
8 Structural garden in West
Sussex maintained by Location Landscapes
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CONTACT Location Landscapes, The Old Tractor Shed, Lower Cowgrove, Heath Farm, Heath Road East, Petersfield, Hants GU31 4HT 01730 239 345 @LocationLand info@locationlandscapes.com www.locationlandscapes.com www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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INSPIRE
WORK
Best project Some time has passed since I personally put a project in the ground. We are fortunate to be involved in some high end and prestigious projects. I thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the Olympic Park both pre-games and during transformation. We recently completed the Magic Garden at Hampton Court designed by Robert Myers, which was a fantastic project. I love seeing how the children interact with the space. Colleagues We have a very skilled team at Frosts Landscapes and I love them all to bits. They work exceptionally hard and pull together. Mentors It’s important to have mentors in your work and personal life. I have a work mentor called Mark Kelly who is excellent at pointing a flat mirror at me; no distortion, he just tells me how it is. Often when you’re in charge people tell you what they think you want to hear and not how it really is. I’ve started mentoring a few companies through the APL buddy scheme, which is a great way to give back. Don’t tell them, but I get as much from them as they do from me.
INSPIRATION
Issues to address Staying focused and true to our core values. Best learning curve I am never happier than when I’m learning something new. My biggest learning curve came when I was not long out of college and working under Tom Kennedy, who taught me how to manage contracts. High point of your career Undoubtedly, this has got to be becoming managing director of Frosts Landscapes, to be given the opportunity to take this respected family business forward. Low point of your career Fortunately this was a long time ago, when I spent the summer on a team responsible for spraying the weeds at Bristol Harbour in scorching weather. Leadership style Meddling. I need to learn when to leave things alone. What you hope to achieve in your work during the next 12 months We hope to build on our success at RHS Chelsea and create a Main Avenue garden.
LIFE/STYLE
People People who inspire me are those who pay it forward and give more to life than they take. I read a fantastic book recently called Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, who has devoted his life to promoting peace through building one school at a time in Pakistan and Afghanistan. I cannot help but be inspired by children such as Esther (pictured) who are fighting cancer. The children and families that the charity Supershoes (www.supershoes.org.uk) reach show such courage and strength of character whilst facing such adversity. We could all learn a lot from these super brave fighters. Gardens My favourite garden is The Garden of Cosmic Speculation by Charles Jencks, which plays to my minimalist side. I also absolutely love Stourhead in Wiltshire. 66
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Ken White
The managing director of Frosts Landscapes on what makes him tick in and outside of work
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INSPIRE
PERSONAL Hobbies When time permits I like to spend time on the golf course. Watching Leicester Tigers play is a great passion of mine; I like nothing more than going to the derby against Northampton Saints and seeing the Saints get whipped. Design tastes My design tastes are somewhat different to that of my wife, Sarah, who loves ‘shabby chic’. Mine is more minimalist, clean and functional. Sarah lets me wear the trousers in our relationship, she just tells me what colour and style of trousers to put on, so shabby chic wins. Most treasured possessions The same as most people’s; it’s my two girls, my wife and my extended family. My most treasured material possession is a split cane Scottie salmon fishing rod that used to belong to my grandfather. Favoured dress style I’m becoming one of those old gits who likes to spend my life in shorts (it’s an age thing); but you can’t beat a well-tailored suit and crisp white shirt. Food I like to cook, although my favourite meal doesn’t require much skill to produce – mussels, steak, crusty bread and a good bottle of wine (food for the soul). Drink It’s got to be wine; although I am partial to a gin and tonic as long as it’s not served in a bloody jam jar. What is that all about? Being served food on a bread board or bit of slate with the sides in a basket drives me nuts – give me a plate, please. Most fun you’ve ever had Best to keep that a secret.
TRAVEL Favourite continent Of all the countries I’ve travelled to date, the biggest collection of places I’ve enjoyed visiting is South America. How you like to travel I’m happy to travel any which way I can. Sarah is not a big fan of flying so over the last few years we’ve driven through most of Europe on our holidays, going wherever the mood takes us on the day. How you like to stay when you’re on holiday If I can I like to stay a while in an area to get to know the people and the culture. I’m not a big fan of hotel holidays. Places you’d like to go I went to Switzerland for the first time last summer and spent a few days in the Rhone Valley at a place called Nendaz. It was truly breathtaking and I would love to go back and explore more of the surrounding areas. On my bucket list of places to visit is the Kingdom of Bhutan – the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh used to send plant hunters to the kingdom and I have always wanted to visit, ever since being a student at Edinburgh.
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PORTFOLIO INSPIRE
GREENFINGERS
Suncast Resin Kensington Five Horizontal Storage Box • Easy assembly • Maintenance free • Will take a padlock (not supplied) • 10 year warranty • Fire and rot resistant Dimensions: W 223.5 x D 91.5 x H 86.5cm Price: £332.95 WWW.GREENFINGERS.COM
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Neath Cycle Rack • Cycles are loaded semi-vertically into trough supports set at alternate high and low positions ase plate fi ed • Available as a standard version with 350mm centres • Centres can be set at 457m to allow room to accommodate ost Office cycles including their letter panniers • Semi-vertical, space saving cycle rack supplied single sided for positioning against a wall Dimensions: H 5ft 5in x D 2ft 9in x W 4ft Price: £490
WHEELIE BIN STORAGE DIRECT Bellus Double Wheelie Bin Chest
• Storage for two wheelie bins • Fully enclosed four sided unit with opening door and lid • Pressure treated timber from renewable sources • Automatic bin lid opening via connecting chain • 10 year guarantee Dimensions: H 1200 x W 1450 x D 804mm Price: £249.99 WWW.WHEELIEBINSTORAGEDIRECT.CO.UK
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THE POSH SHED COMPANY Recycling Store • Attractive solution to recycling needs • Safe place for parcel delivery • Good access to both shelves inside loping roof finished with mineral felt oor comes fitted ith a fi e lever lock and black furniture Dimensions: H 5ft 5in x D 2ft 9in x W 4ft Price: £490 WWW.THEPOSHSHEDCOMPANY.CO.UK
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INSPIRE
LIGHTING
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Castlewood decking boards are backed by one of the most comprehensive guarantees in the industry. 25 year limited transferable warranty and a 2 year labour warranty for residential applications and a 10 year warranty for commercial applications. Our composite decking boards are one of the most attractive and durable boards on the market. Combining the proven strength of high density polythene plastic and wood fibres with a unique outer shell of polymer that encapsulates the board in an impermeable layer of protection from scratches and fading. This unique polymer cap also makes the board easy to clean and maintain. Our decking boards are doubled sided. Side A has a natural wood finish. Side B has a more subtle wood grain combined with surface grooves.
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IT WORKS OVER 20,000 JOBSEEKERS VISIT OUR SITE A MONTH
48,000
OVER 450 cvs online to browse
OVER emails are sent to candidates monthly
cv
on average there are strong candidate applications per ARB job
5
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Weekly jobs mailer
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Jobs featured on weekly news and round up emails
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Different solutions to secure quality applicants
official job board:
visit the website at horticulturecareers.co.uk call amber today on 01903 777 581 HortCareers_Nov.indd 1
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30 UNDER 30
F
ollowing the success of the inaugural 30 Under 30: The Next Generation last year, we were really pleased to have launched the initiative again this July to find yet another 30 young inspiring people in the industry with some incredible achievements. We initially launched 30 Under 30: The Next Generation to help young people working within the horticulture and landscape sectors gain recognition and celebrate their achievements to date, and to promote them in a way that would enhance their careers. This has certainly been the case with the inaugural 30, who have commented that the accolade has helped them to make more connections, raised their own profiles as well as that of the industry, and that it provided a platform for shining a light on the new generation. This year, we received a high volume of applications from all sectors of the industry, including garden design, landscaping, landscape architecture, arboriculture and suppliers. The response has been fantastic, and after careful scrutiny we are proud to reveal our 30 Under 30 for 2016, with an official presentation to be held at FutureScape 2016 on Tuesday 15 November.
We really look forward to following the progress of our 30 over the next year and continuing to promote their successes. We would also like to offer thanks to all those who applied – please do make sure to apply again next year. Finally, we would like to thank CED Stone Group, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of natural stone, for sponsoring this year’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation, and to offer huge congratulations to this year’s winners. We look forward to seeing you all at FutureScape.
The Pro Landscaper team
From the sponsors... With seven members of CED Stone Group having achieved their 25 years of service, and double that having achieved 10 (with a majority of those having been with us since leaving school), CED Stone Group appreciate developing people in their careers and providing an environment in which people can grow; it is this that makes CED Stone Group’s sponsorship of Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation a logical choice. Established in 1978, CED Stone Group have been supplying natural stone to the landscape and construction industries for almost 40 years. With five nationwide depots and a dedicated commercial department, we offer a comprehensive service to commercial, trade and domestic customers. All depots hold a vast amount of stock ranging from paving to wall cladding and aggregates to feature stones, as well as ancillary products such as gravel stabilisation systems, CEDAgrass, grouts and mortars – meaning that it’s more convenient than ever to find all of your natural stone solutions. Not only are we one of the UK’s leading natural stone suppliers, we also offer bespoke services – if you can draw it, we can make it. We can produce in-house CAD production drawings, create art and text specific to your design using sandblasting, produce bull-nosing for steps and copings, plus many more. Your imagination really is your only limitation. Whatever you are looking for, our team of highly skilled, experienced and knowledgeable staff will be able to assist. We are experts in marrying together creative designs with specialist technically sound materials, meaning that you can rest assured your vision is brought to life using only materials which are fit for purpose and will withstand the test of time.
For more information on any of our products or services, call us on: 01708 867 237, email us at: sales@ced.ltd.uk or visit our website: www.ced.ltd.uk
Turn to page 76 to find out who made the list... www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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20/10/2016 14:46:43 20/10/2016 15:02
30 UNDER 30
Russell Malton
Age
25
Senior estimator and key account manager Johnsons of Whixley Luke started at Johnsons of Whixley nine years ago as a plant centre assistant and over the years has climbed the career ladder to reach the forefront of the company. As senior estimator and key account manager, his role is to manage the amenity division’s tender process on a day-to-day basis. He also oversees a small portfolio of key clients in the South East. Luke has carried out work placements in New Zealand, Canada and the Netherlands, and his manager says he goes above and beyond for the family business, contributing to maximum effect in all that he does. He is a key member of the team and widely accepted on his own merits.
Team leader Holland Landscapes Russell is a team leader at Holland Landscapes and has been in the role for two and a half years. He studied horticulture Level 2 and passed with a merit. His role includes the day-to-day running of his site which involves liaising with clients, designers and directors, ensuring the team works safely and to a high standard, completing all the required site paperwork and building gardens to the expected high standard. According to his manager, Russell picks up skills with very little experience and soon masters any task. His ultimate career goal is to become the director of a successful landscaping company. He says young people should enter horticulture as the sense of achievement you feel upon completing a task is difficult to match within any other industry.
Age
28
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Luke Richardson
Age
27
Sales manager Green-tech Ltd According to his manager, Dean joined Green-tech ‘fresh and full of hope, at the young age of 18’ as an office administrator back in September 2006. Dean went on to work his way up the ranks before reaching sales manager in October 2015. Now his role involves setting targets in line with company strategy for each of his team members, ensuring these are met and mentoring and developing each of them through regular one-to-one meetings. His manager says that Dean is one of the most experienced members of the sales team and is respected throughout the company. Dean adds that no two days are the same; offering advice to people brings its own rewards and he believes young people can make a difference for the future.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
20/10/2016 11:46
30 UNDER 30
Senior landscape designer Janine Pattison Studios Melissa joined JPS as a landscape designer in May 2014 after completing a degree in garden design at Falmouth University and six months as a gardener for Llangoed Hall, Powys. She became a senior landscape designer for private clients in October 2015. Melissa’s job role includes leading the private client department by supporting and training the design team, ensuring deadlines are met, dealing with project or client queries and attending all client meetings. Her manager says Melissa is an incredible asset to JPS; she strives to improve herself, her technical and software skills and her horticultural and construction knowledge every day. Melissa believes horticulture is a fast-paced and dynamic industry that always has new avenues to explore.
Rob Lilley
Age
29 www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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Melissa King Age
25
Business development manager Mitie Landscapes Following several jobs outside of the horticulture industry, Rob started at Mitie in September 2015. He is currently studying an MSc in finance, accounting and management at the University of Bradford, and previously completed a degree in sport and leisure management at the University of Salford. Rob’s role at Mitie requires him to be innovative, using his technical understanding of service delivery to develop relationships through good communication and organisational skills. His manager says he has a friendly and professional manner which has helped him establish and develop valuable business relationships throughout his career. He says that the opportunities for development within the horticulture industry would present any young person with the prospect of gaining a long and rewarding career.
Michael Buck
Age
28
Michael started working at Hortus Loci in March 2014 as joint show plant manager, and by the following October had become the general manager. He attended Berkshire College of Agriculture, achieving an RHS Level 2. His job involves helping with the general running of the nursery and he is in direct contact with landscape architects and contractors every day, ensuring a top-class service. Michael’s manager has only good things to say: “He’s a super-fast learner with a constant drive to learn more, with limitless energy. A rock of stability and an air of authority and knowledge, together with a hugely likeable personality, endear him to all who meet him.” Michael believes that young people should enter into the horticulture industry because it has something for everyone.
General manager Hortus Loci
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30 UNDER 30
Darren Barnett
Age
27
Area supervisor North East Scotland ISS Facility Services Landscaping Darren started working at ISS in 2008 as a team leader and by 2013 had become the area supervisor for North East Scotland. He studied horticulture at Moray College, attaining a Level 3 qualification. His long term goal is to continue to work his way up in the industry, developing best practice and inspiring his team to ‘become the future’. Darren’s manager says he is an invaluable member of the ISS management team who displays good communication skills and has developed excellent relationships with his clients: “He is a hardworking, loyal team player and is exactly the right person to succeed and lead the future of this industry.” Darren thinks young people should enter horticulture because it is an enjoyable and healthy outdoor occupation which allows you to meet many different types of people.
Murielle Jayer
Christopher Chippendale
UK & Europe sales manager Platipus Anchors Ltd
Graduate landscape architect Ground Control Ltd
Murielle joined Platipus Anchors after working at Soparco from 2010 to 2013 as their sales manager for UK and Ireland. Her job at Platipus Anchors consists of managing accounts in the UK and Age Europe with direct clients and distributors. She delivers CPD presentations to landscape architects in order to assist them in specifying Platipus’s different products. She also works with landscape contractors, advising and supporting them in choosing the right product. Murielle strives to provide the best service possible to the professionals to make their visions and ideas become a reality. Her ultimate goal is to become a sales director within the landscaping industry. She says young people are essential to keeping the horticulture industry fresh, dynamic and innovative.
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Age
23
Chris joined Ground Control in July 2014 as a graduate landscape architect following a first class degree in landscape and garden design from Writtle College. Now studying for a masters in landscape architecture, supported by Ground Control, he is on track to complete the course and graduate in September 2017. The biggest achievement for Chris so far has been his first design and build project on site. A community park in Coventry, he says it was great to see his first design come to life. Chris’s manager says he is an exceptionally talented, enthusiastic and diligent landscape architect who is excelling in the early stages of his career.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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30 UNDER 30
Jack Dunckley Director and principle designer Jack Dunckley Ltd
Age
23
Jack started working at Birchfield Nursery in 2010 as a nursery worker, before moving up to nursery manager in 2012, garden designer and project manager in 2013, and ending up as the director and principal garden designer in 2014. His role is to run a garden and landscape design studio situated in his own plant nursery in Sussex. The general manager at Jack Dunckley Ltd says he and his colleagues were attracted to working there because of Jack’s great reputation, and they see first-hand how hard he works. Jack believes young people should enter horticulture as there are so many different ways to be involved and it is such a creative industry.
Age
29
Laura Welborn-Baker www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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Colin Smith
Regional account manager Gritit Ltd
Age
29
Colin joined Gritit in 2015 after working for ISS Landscapes as an area manager. Having studied NEBOSH construction at Carnegie College and SVQ 3 amenity horticulture at SRUC Oatridge Campus, his current job role is to grow Gritit’s business regionally, focusing on client retention, and identifying and successfully acquiring new business opportunities. His manager says that since joining in 2015, Colin has offered a significant contribution to integrating grounds maintenance into their business and importantly shaped the structure, processes and procedures in this regard. He is currently regional vice chair for BALI in Scotland, and the skill set Colin offers Gritit in the area has proved invaluable. His ultimate career goal is to become the director of a successful land-based company.
Landscape architect Smeeden Foreman Laura joined Smeeden Forman in 2012 and has been working as a landscape architect for them ever since. She studied at Leeds Beckett University, obtaining a merit in her masters in landscape architecture; before that she gained a degree in History of Arts at the University of Leeds. Her job role is quite varied – she is involved in a huge range of projects including hard and soft landscape design, masterplanning, landscape and visual impact assessment, landscape management and many other aspects of landscape. Her manager says that Laura has gained some great experience during her time with Smeeden, and she approaches a wide variety of projects with enthusiasm. Her ultimate career goal would be to design and build a show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. She believes young people should enter horticulture as it is an amazing industry to work in and there is the opportunity to have a direct effect on people’s everyday lives.
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30 UNDER 30
Luke Mills Senior landscape designer Janine Pattison Studios
Age
28
Business development executive Hultons Landscapes Lexi joined Hultons four months ago. She is responsible for researching organisations and individual decision makers to identify potential new leads and markets. Lexi says she is a highly motivated, conscientious and hardworking individual with excellent networking, resourcing and organisational skills. Her manager says that in a tough market, with high barriers to entry, Lexi has shown great tenacity and enthusiasm for the challenge which has resulted in a continually rising sales pipeline and a number of significant contract wins. Lexi believes young people should enter horticulture as she believes it is vital for Britain to have skilled professionals and as a young person entering the industry there are amazing opportunities available.
Age
26 Luke joined JPS in September 2013 as a landscape design technician and in March 2014 was made a landscape designer. His role involves managing all commercial projects from initial consultation through to completion with unrivalled client service. Managing the design team is another task; they need to deliver sustainable landscapes for large-scale housing developments, public realm and the caring sector. His manager says Luke is loyal, polite, honest and kind and these qualities speak volumes about a young designer who is destined to achieve great things in the industry.
Age
22
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Lexi Harrison Lead landscape estimator Kings Landscapes Scott joined Kings Landscapes in June of 2015 as a soft landscape operative after studying at Writtle College, where he attained a degree in horticulture, and previously working for Wyevale Garden Centres. He became project co-ordinator in September 2015, and in October of the same year was promoted to lead landscape estimator. Scott is responsible for the preparation of competitive tenders for all landscape construction, maintenance and residential enquiries. His manager says Scott likes to be challenged; the previous estimator resigning was the perfect opportunity for him to step in and take on the challenge. Scott says his huge interest in horticulture and the landscaping industry was sparked while working part time at a local garden centre, and he has a keen desire to make an impact.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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30 UNDER 30
Jamie Butterworth Show plant manager/RHS ambassador Hortus Loci Jamie Butterworth joined Hortus Loci in May 2015 as the show plant manager. He attended Askham Bryan College from 2011 to 2013, obtaining a Level 3 in applied horticulture. He also has an RHS Wisley diploma in practical horticulture. His role at Hortus Loci is to grow the plants that are used by some of the world’s leading garden designers at the RHS shows, in particular the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This involves dealing with designers on a daily basis to make sure the plants are exactly as they had imagined. Jamie’s manager says that he is a massive talent with numerous qualities way beyond his 21 years, and he deals with anything you can throw at him with an infectious enthusiasm. Jamie says a career in horticulture is one of the most rewarding jobs he can think of, as plants naturally bring happiness and make people smile.
Age
21 Stephen Westmore Arboricultural consultant Lockhart Garratt Ltd Stephen joined Lockhart Garratt in May 2013 as a graduate arboricultural consultant, before being made an assistant arboricultural consultant in May 2014 and a full arboricultural consultant in May 2016. He studied at Myerscough College, gaining a merit in his masters in arboriculture and urban forestry. He also has a degree in countryside management from Harper Adams University College. Stephen is responsible for the delivery of arboricultural surveys in accordance with BS5837:2012 and assisting clients through all arboricultural elements of planning related matters. His manager says he is a highly enthusiastic member of staff, popular across all departments. His biggest achievement to date is attaining chartered arboriculturist status with the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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Age
29 Age
28
Brad Cole Regional operations manager ISS Facility Services Landscaping Brad joined ISS in 2009 as an area supervisor, leading to a promotion to contracts manager in 2013, and another the following year to area manager. This year Brad took on the role of regional operations manager. He now runs a team of around 220 operatives, 28 site supervisors, seven area supervisors, three contract managers and four area managers. Brad’s manager says he is one of their most trusted and has the respect of his peers and superiors. He is quick to adopt modern operating practices and brings real results and added value to his area. He has high ambitions and his ultimate career goal is to become the managing director of ISS.
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30 UNDER 30
Ben Cracknell
Age
29
Head gardener Gavin Jones Ltd Ben has worked at Gavin Jones for four years as a head gardener, and has been fortunate enough to work on some of England’s most prestigious sites, including Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace. He studied at Inchbald School of Design, obtaining a diploma in garden design. His job is to maintain gardens, and to surpass the expectations of the clients he services. Ben’s manager says that it is a pleasure to have Ben work and represent Gavin Jones in the manner and aptitude he applies to the role of head gardener at Neo Bankside. He says Ben has grown in confidence in his four years at Gavin Jones and has become an energetic, enthusiastic landscape gardener. Ben thinks young people should enter horticulture as it isn’t just weeding or cutting grass, as many people believe. Ben says there are many different career paths within the industry for everyone.
Advanced apprentice idverde UK Paul joined idverde UK in February 2015 as a horticultural apprentice, and recently became an advanced apprentice in July this year. He attends Capel Manor College, and having already passed a Level 2 diploma in horticulture in 2015, he is currently studying for his Level 3. At the college’s annual awards ceremony in 2015, Paul received the London Garden Society Award for Showing a Pride in London by the Cultivation of Flowers and Shrubs, and also the award for Best Functional Skills. His role includes undertaking horticultural management work individually or as part of a team in parks, playing fields and landscaped areas, while being mentored by a more senior member of staff. Paul’s manager says he is an asset to the team and has been since day one. He is keen, polite and picks up skills very quickly. Age
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Noemi Mercurelli Owner and garden designer Mercurelli’s Garden Design Noemi set up Mercurelli’s Garden Design at the end of 2012 and has previously worked as a freelancer for many garden-related professionals. She studied at KLC School of Design where she achieved a merit in her garden design diploma, Age and she also has a degree in applied bioecology from the University of Cagliari. Noemi’s day to day job role involves taking care of surveys, masterplans and project supervisions but she says her forte lies in delivering the planting plans and managing the planting teams. Her biggest accomplishment to date was the five-storey living wall at Gatti House that she designed for Bestique 2015.
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30 UNDER 30
Tom Downing
Contract delivery manager Ground Control Ltd
Estimator/junior QS NT Killingley Tom joined NT Killingley as an administration assistant in 2011, moved up to junior estimator in 2012, became an estimator in 2014 and in 2015 also took on a junior quantity surveyor role. He studied at New College Nottingham, gaining a Level 3 in construction in the built environment and recently passed a Level 4 foundation degree for construction operations manager. His job as an estimator involves forward planning and meeting deadlines, along with very accurate interpretation of drawings and design. As a quantity surveyor, he ensures the financial position of construction projects is accurately reported and controlled effectively. Tom’s manager says he is always keen to take on a new challenge and is now a key player in both the office and the business at a young age.
Ross Conquest
James began working at Ground Control three years ago as a project manager, before being made the contract delivery manager in 2014. He previously worked as an arboricultural technician at Landscape Planning Group and also worked at Interserve Group. He studied for a BTEC QCF Level 3 certificate in forestry and arboriculture and C&G QCF Level 2 extended certificates in arboriculture and forestry and passed both with distinction. He has also achieved Lantra’s Age Professional Tree Inspection Certificate QCF Level 4. His role is to work in liaison with the contract director to ensure overhead power line arboriculture work is completed within a geographical area, utilising a team of operational staff. He believes young people should enter horticulture because the industry offers great employment, training and funding opportunities to young people who do not necessarily enjoy traditional academic environments.
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Age
23
James Sadler
Age
26
Managing director Conquest Hard Landscaping Ltd Ross has been in the industry for 10 years, moving up from an apprentice carrying out planting and maintenance to being the managing director of Conquest Hard Landscaping. He studied for an NVQ Level 2 amenity horticulture apprenticeship at Plumpton College and gained a BTEC in construction at Central Sussex College. Ross is hands on with everything in the business, from consulting with clients, arranging contracts and managing contract builds from planning to completion, to marketing and engaging in social media. He is passionate about landscape construction and always looking to improve himself. Ross values what Mark Gregory said a few years ago in a London Stone catalogue: “Designing and building gardens to a high specification takes creativity, careful planning and skilled execution.”
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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30 UNDER 30
Alex Philpot Landscape foreman Hillier Landscapes
Age
26
Alex studied at the University of Gloucestershire, gaining a degree in landscape architecture, and worked at Hillier throughout 2011 before moving to Bartholomew Landscapes for just under five years. He returned to Hillier this year as a landscape foreman. He leads a small team responsible for carrying out both hard and soft landscape installation works on private garden schemes. Alex’s manager says that he is a popular member of staff whose biggest personal achievement so far has been to run a large value site. Alex thinks young people should enter the horticulture industry as it offers a broad range of work and experiences that will keep the job interesting and challenging throughout their career.
Alec Summersgill Landscape supervisor Land Design Partnership Ltd
Aled Roberts Commercial assistant Ground Control Ltd Aled joined Ground Control in January 2012 as a construction co-ordinator and was made a commercial assistant in May 2014. He had previously worked at Vale Contract Services. He studied at Birmingham City Age University, achieving a 2:1 in accounting and finance. He is in charge of the preparation and submission of interim applications along with justifying and agreeing final accounts, chasing payment certificates, submitting sales invoice requests and more. His manager says Aled has demonstrated the drive and enthusiasm to embrace the landscaping industry and is dedicated to furthering his education and personal goals. Aled is about to start his MSc in quantity surveying, and is hoping to graduate to a high standard.
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Age
26
Alec joined Land Design Partnership in August 2015 after previously working at Sevenoaks, National Flood Forum and also as a selfemployed groundsman, trainee tree surgeon and gardener. He studied at Beacon Community College, Crowborough from 2001 to 2008, and has a degree in geography from the University of Gloucestershire. He is currently studying for an RHS certificate Level 2. His job role is to undertake and manage all elements of landscaping required in a proficient and professional manner, through demonstrating skills and influencing the end result. His manager says that Alec is a proficient communicator, well-mannered and a real asset to the company. Alec believes he is a confident and responsible individual who prides himself on great communication skills and a high work ethic.
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30 UNDER 30
Andrew Ryder
Age
28
Business development co-ordinator Hultons Landscapes Andrew joined Hultons in November 2015 after previously working as the contracts manager for UK Landscapes. He studied at the University of Chester, achieving a degree in media and TV production. At Hultons his job is to identify potential clients and opportunities across all service lines within the business. He manages all enquiry channels, assessing every tender and pricing opportunity, and deciding whether the enquiry would be suitable for the business to pursue. His manager says Andrew goes above and beyond their expectations every single day and has played a leading role in the accelerated growth of their business, increasing their tender wins by over 100% in the last six months.
Mathew Shufflebotham
Age
28
Contracts director Coatech Ltd Mathew began working at Coatech Ltd in July 2006, starting as a labourer within the company, and worked his way up to contracts director. He has studied and passed several safety schemes, gained a Level 6 NVQ diploma in construction contracting operations (the first to achieve this qualification in the industry) and is currently studying Level 5-7 strategic leadership and management at Cardiff Metropolitan University. His job is to manage and lead all the companies’ contracts, which involves liaising with Coatech’s domestic and commercial clients. He also coordinates the site team. His manager says that Mathew has a great affinity for working Age with people and bringing out the best in them.
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Rob Dwiar Landscape architect International Design Group Rob works as a landscape architect for International Design Group, a small multidisciplinary design office in Bristol that specialises in international projects on a large scale. He joined a year ago, having worked for the RHS from May 2014 to August 2015. He studied at Writtle College, obtaining a postgraduate diploma in landscape architecture, and a degree in landscape and garden design. He lists his biggest personal achievements as being one of the three finalists of the RHS Young Designer of the Year competition in 2016 and winning a Gold medal with his first show garden. He thinks young people should enter horticulture as it is so much more than the word ‘gardening’ – it is design excellence, innovation, and the list goes on.
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JAMIE BUTTERWORTH The joint show plants manager at Hortus Loci talks his all-time favourite plants
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NURTURE NEWS Boningale expands fleet to facilitate growth Boningale has recently expanded its fleet of vehicles to facilitate growth for its expanding portfolio of commercial products and services. These included the company’s award-winning green roof division Boningale GreenSky and Worfield Plants, which specialises in quality alpines and herbaceous perennial plants. The plans also involve VIRIDIS, a new business created to offer landscape designers a bespoke plant sourcing service.
The new vehicles include two 18t delivery trucks, which will be used by Boningale Nurseries, GreenSky and Worfield Plants, and a smaller Ford Transit L3 350 for VIRIDIS’s plant delivery service. Sales and marketing director Frank Sandford commented: “Transport is a key part of our operation and it’s essential we have our own dedicated fleet of modern vehicles. This ensures that we have complete control in making sure all our plants arrive on time and in perfect condition.” www.boningale.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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Tatham and Durr to collaborate with Wyevale Nurseries Two award-winning garden designers have announced that they will be working with one of the UK’s leading nurseries. Caroline Tatham, who runs Cotswold Garden Design, and Kate Durr will be collaborating with the team at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford on a series of projects that are currently confidential. Adam Dunnett, sales and marketing director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “The duo partnered with us to host our open day earlier this year, designing and planting displays inspired by the key new horticultural trends seen at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“We’re delighted that Caroline and Kate will be working with us on future projects. We have a great working relationship with them and are very pleased we can continue our relationship.” Kate, who designed and built her first RHS show garden at the Malvern Spring Festival 2015, commented: “Wyevale Nurseries has its fingers on the pulse and knows what’s ‘hot’ in the plant world. We are thrilled to be harnessing our design talents with Wyevale’s horticultural excellence and its fantastic range of plants.” www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk
Hedges Direct on track for new growth after £2.7m investment Online hedging retailer Hedges Direct is poised for growth following a £2.7m investment to boost its e-commerce success in the online hedging and landscaping market. Hedges Direct has over 10 years’ experience, selling and dispatching over 1m plants a year, supplying hedging, topiary, trees, turf, topsoil and planting essentials. Euxton Group, which owns Hedges Direct, received the investment through a Buy In Management Buy-Out by the Foresight Group and its dedicated
regional investment fund, which focuses on private equity investments into SMEs. Managing director of Euxton Group Michael McVey said: “Our expertise in the horticultural and landscaping market is reflected in the year on year growth of our order volume and value. Through Foresight’s investment, we will be able to develop our business further and capitalise on our position as the leader in online horticultural retailing.” www.hedgesdirect.co.uk
British Sugar TOPSOIL grows by 5% British Sugar TOPSOIL, supplier of topsoil to the construction, landscaping and amenity sectors, has reported a 5% growth in revenue in the financial year to September 2016. Commenting on the company’s performance, national topsoil manager Andy Spetch said: “Five per cent growth in turnover is an excellent result. Despite concerns that customers might be affected by the uncertainty caused by Brexit we have experienced sustained strong demand for our products and have continued with new product development. “In June we launched Hort Loam, a premium BS 3882:2015 compliant planting topsoil, and this autumn our Sports and Turf product, an 80% sand dressing for the sports and home lawn markets, will be launched.” British Sugar TOPSOIL is working on capital projects to increase storage capacity at its Norfolk and Nottinghamshire sites to meet increasing demand for its topsoil products. www.bstopsoil.co.uk
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NURTURE
SOILSCON 2016 Pro Landscaper attended the second SoilsCon organised by Tim O’Hare, to hear from a range of industry professionals about how we can better manage our soils SoilsCon 2016 proved to be a huge success, with 120 delegates attending the event on 5 October at Henley-on-Thames. Soil scientist and landscape consultant Tim O’Hare organised the event following the positive feedback from the inaugural soils conference held last October, and it is now likely to become an annual event. With industry professionals hosting seminars, this year’s conference focused on soil use and management, highlighting the common problems and mistakes that occur. Tim started the first seminar of the day on soil compaction, which he suggests is the biggest issue with landscape soils. He presented the consequences of compaction, including reduced permeability, before discussing the causes such as vehicle trafficking and foot trampling. Whilst admitting it is difficult to avoid compaction without leaving the soil alone, he said it is possible to minimise it and suggested methods for de-compacting the topsoil otherwise. Managing director and senior arboricultural consultant of Treework Environmental Practice,
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Luke Fay, followed this up with his talk ‘Tree root and soil systems – What is going on beneath our feet?’ He touched on certain myths regarding tree roots before talking about the role they play and how issues such as soil compaction can prevent roots from drawing in moisture, resulting in the tree’s demise. Focusing on drainage, which he labels “one of the biggest problems in my career in terms of plant failure”, award-winning garden designer
THIS ISSUE OF SOIL MANAGEMENT SEEMS TO HAVE HIT A LOT OF DISCIPLINES, AND THIS IS REFLECTIVE IN THE SPEAKERS AS WELL Andy Sturgeon used examples from his own career in his presentation, which highlighted how handling soil incorrectly can affect the success of establishing plants, trees and turf. Andy Spetch, national topsoil manager at British Sugar TOPSOIL, summarised the products that derive from the sugar beet, including manufactured topsoil. He gave an overview of the process of topsoil manufacturing and advised the audience what a good analysis report should include, and what questions they should be asking a supplier. Contaminated land was the topic of Richard Brinkworth’s presentation. The director of Leap Environmental focused on how clean cover systems can help with the problem, though will not necessarily solve it, and briefly covered the two types, engineered and simple, which he spoke about in depth.
Talking about wildflower grasslands from a soil scientist’s perspective, Tim White, senior associate at Tim O’Hare Associates, gave the penultimate presentation, listing the types of semi-natural grasslands and their benefits. He discussed how soil characteristics help to define the character of the grassland and can ensure that no one species becomes dominant. The final seminar of the day came from Alistair Bayford, regional operations director for strategic business at The Landscape Group. He spoke about how reduced park funding with increased park use has an impact on the soil. Using the examples of the Olympic Park and the Jubilee Gardens, he explained how challenges such as high usage were considered in the original design process and how soil selection and specification took into account these issues. Commenting on the event, Tim O’Hare said: “I’m really pleased. A lot of those who attended last year are here, and there’s also a lot of new names and companies. We have a really good selection from the industry including landscape architects, garden designers, landscape contractors, soil suppliers and growers. This issue of soil management seems to have hit a lot of disciplines, and this is reflective in the speakers as well.” Pro Landscaper is sure that the feedback will once again be positive and we look forward to the announcement of a third SoilsCon next year. Pro Landscaper / November 2016 91
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NURTURE HEAR MORE FROM JAMIE BUTTERWORTH
Joint show plants manager at Hortus Loci, Jamie Butterworth, discusses what his favourite plants mean to him
A
s you travel to new gardens, meet new people and see new plants, your internal plant database naturally grows and grows. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to plant selection, and I always find it fascinating to see what these are and why. Below is a selection of some of my favourite plants, from my time living in Yorkshire, working at RHS Garden Wisley and at Hortus Loci, and of course travelling around the county admiring other folk’s gardens.
PERSONAL PREFERENCE
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Jamie Butterworth
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
If you want to know when autumn has really arrived, go and stand underneath a large specimen of Cercidiphyllum – it truly is one of life’s greatest pleasures. I was first introduced to this incredible tree by Andy McIndoe at the Hillier Arboretum. The incredible rich scent of candyfloss or caramelised sugar emerges as the leaves begin to fall. I do not know of any plant with a better smell.
Eryngium martimum Sanguisorba ‘Blackthorn’ After a visit to Avondale Nursery in Coventry, I was introduced to this slightly more unusual cultivar of Sanguisorba. I have always had a love for this genus, with the way that it bobbles and mingles through surrounding planting. This cultivar starts off rich burgundy when tight in bud and opens to a fuzzy soft pink, and will flower for months on end – a real gem for naturalistic planting.
ALL OF MY FAVOURITE PLANTS TELL A STORY – WHERE I FIRST SAW IT, WHO INTRODUCED ME TO IT, WHERE I’VE GROWN IT AND WHY
Eryngium maritimum Not necessarily a plant I would suggest using in a planting plan, this was one of the plants that we attempted to grow for Hugo Bugg’s RHS Chelsea 2016 garden. No matter how careful we were, or how clever we thought we’d been, we couldn’t get it to grow. Fast forward three months to a holiday on the small island of Alderney, I discovered that it grows like a prolific weed there – like little blue jewels sprinkled around the beaches. Nature always does it best, always. For me, all of my favourite plants tell a story – where I first saw it, who introduced me to it, where I’ve grown it and why – and sharing these plants with other gardeners has to be one of the real highlights of gardening for me. ABOUT JAMIE BUTTERWORTH
Pennisetum alop ‘Red Head’
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Pennisetum alop ‘Red Head’ There are always so many amazing grasses to choose from, and it can be exceedingly difficult to choose just one – but I’ll give it a shot. This autumnal grass has huge fluffy heads that become tinged with red and look amazing when caught by morning dew. This plant was used by the Rich brothers at their mammoth garden build for Coco Chanel at the Saatchi Gallery last October – and has been one of my favourites ever since.
Graduating from RHS Garden Wisley with a distinction in summer 2015, avid plantsman Jamie now works as joint show plant manager at Hortus Loci, growing the plants for major o er sho s such as helsea ampton ourt and atton. amie is a oun ort associate director and oun mbassador promotin horticulture to youn people across the . amie is also a ardenin broadcaster or adio ondon.
Email: jb@hortusloci.co.uk www.hortusloci.co.uk
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NURTURE
A
few weeks ago, I decided I would write about cacti for this month’s column and thought about their appeal, and why we are seeing the current spike (!) in popularity. This got me thinking about Vegas (bear with me) – the way that you approach Vegas by car through the Nevada desert and how you’re surrounded by a vast landscape of dust, rocks, mountains and heat. You could leave the freeway with its rumbling juggernauts and sedans stuffed with holidaymakers and drive off road into the desert for a couple of miles, get out of your car and be the very first human being to walk on that particular piece of ground. There’s literally nothing there. Except cacti. A lot of cacti. So, you’re on the road, driving along, taking in 360° of rugged, unpolished nature, and then suddenly Vegas looms up like a mirage of artifice, representing everything that’s synthetic and man-made, and there is a surprising and surreal beauty in that. And this, I believe, is the appeal of cacti and interiors – the uncompromising juxtaposition of two opposites. On one hand you have your meticulously considered environment – the expertly crafted details, grown from architects’ plans and made into
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COOL CACTI
Ian Drummond
Caring for cacti ● Light and warm is the way to go – direct sunlight isn’t a problem. ● Water moderately and allow the soil to dry out. Don’t allow to stand in water.
three dimensional reality, and to that contrived perfection you introduce these prehistoric desert hooligans, which cannot be crafted and are not designed to be touched. They exist only to be exactly as they are and to embody nature at its most raw. For the interior landscaper, this potent visual strength is further enhanced by the vast variety of shapes and sizes that are readily available. Group a range of tiny mixed cacti together in a shallow, grit-topped planter and you can easily create a miniature desert garden effect that’s both charming and intriguing. They’re effective planted in rigid symmetry too; it’s so at odds with their perfectly imperfect nature. Or you can source some of the more unusual varieties, those with less familiar shapes, some of which can resemble curled snakes, starfish or even gnarled human faces – they virtually cry out for the pristine gloss of a glass terrarium. For larger scale cacti, the Sagoaro, native to the Sonoran desert in Arizona, California and Mexico, is an archetypal classic and one we would all recognise. Picture this standing tall and still within an airy atrium at dusk, casting deep and vivid shadows on a cool white marble floor. It’s hard to imagine anything more in contrast with its native environment – and that is exactly the point.
● Feed with specialist cactus food during the summer months. ● Allow to rest during winter months, giving little or no water. This has the added benefit of encouraging flowering.
ABOUT IAN DRUMMOND Ian Drummond is the creative director of Indoor Garden Design, Europe’s leading interior landscape design company. Based in Highgate, north London, IGD has been bringing nature into offices for over 40 years.
www.indoorgardendesign.com
Images © www.thejoyofplants.co.uk
The rugged, hostile aesthetics of cacti are ideal for creating a striking juxtaposition against a meticulous interior environment. Ian Drummond considers the charm in these bold beauties
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18/10/2016 14:33
NURTURE
Andy McIndoe offers his tips on winter maintenance and keeping plants alive during the colder months
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inter can produce some beautiful effects in the landscape: the tracery of frost on evergreen leaves, jewel-like droplets of water on winter buds, glowing stems and richly coloured bark. However, it can also cause irreparable damage to some plants, especially as we like to push the boundaries with what we grow. Over the past few decades our experience of milder winters and access to a wider palette of plant material has led to the planting of less hardy, more exotic subjects. When harsh weather hits, these are the plants that are likely to suffer, so is there anything we can do to protect them? Individual specimens of more tender subjects such as phormiums and cordylines can be protected using horticultural fleece. The leaves should be gently gathered together and tied loosely with a strip of fleece before wrapping loosely in a layer, or layers, of the fabric. Never use polythene – it traps wetness which causes damage whether it freezes or not. In larger plantings the use of this protection is just impractical. When planting new stock, it is worth considering position; planting under the shelter of deciduous trees or large shrubs and away from the early morning sun helps to prevent damage. Astelia is particularly susceptible to damage if sun catches the frosted leaves. In reality the best precaution is to plant subjects that survive the growing conditions,
COLD SNAP
Gunneras protected by leaves
Andy McIndoe
OUR EXPERIENCE OF MILDER WINTERS AND ACCESS TO A WIDER PALETTE OF PLANT MATERIAL HAS LED TO THE PLANTING OF LESS HARDY, MORE EXOTIC SUBJECTS not only in terms of frost hardiness, but also winter wet. Waterlogged soil is probably responsible for more plant failures than cold, especially when it comes to evergreens. Heavy winter rainfall causing short term flooding and
soil saturation has been a feature of recent winters, especially on clay soils. This often results in the death of parts of the root systems of even mature evergreens, causing whole branches or parts of the plants to die the following spring. Choisya, viburnum and euonymus are familiar victims. Mediterranean subjects, especially lavender, hate wet on the lower parts of the stems and foliage. Covering the ground around the plants with grit or gravel helps; it prevents soil splash onto the foliage, and reflects light and warmth onto the lower part of the plant. On heavy soils it is advisable to plant a little higher than normal, with the surface of the growing medium slightly above the soil. Then cover the ground with a thick layer of 10mm shingle, creating an area of scree around the plants. Autumn and early winter is not the time to prune many shrubs, however it can be the time to shorten the growth on subjects that suffer from wind rock. Roses left with the tall growth of late summer are often disturbed by wind if the growth is not shortened. Autumn is also not the time to feed with high nitrogen fertilisers, especially bulky organic manures; these can trap winter wet and stimulate soft growth, susceptible to frost damage. However the use of a light application of sulphate of potash can be beneficial. Potash helps to harden growth and it also prevents that bronze discolouration of foliage so often seen on buxus in the winter months. ABOUT ANDY MCINDOE
Phormiums under snow
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Andy McIndoe is a practical horticulturist with more than 30 years’ experience in ornamental horticulture. He has designed and advised on gardens of all sizes and has been responsible for 25 Gold medal winning exhibits at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Twitter: @AndyMcIndoe
www.andymcindoe.com
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NURTURE
Noel Kingsbury discusses our sometimes difficult relationship with Dutch growers, and considers how Brexit may affect it
N
o one knows at the time of writing what ‘Brexit’ will mean – certainly not, one suspects, our government. Whatever happens, we will continue to import plants and have many other dealings with the European continent. There is a wider context to this, however, and that is our complicated relationship with plant imports. We are happy enough to import cheap plants or plants not produced by British growers, but also like to complain that we feel we have to. Our relationship with the Dutch is particularly two-sided. The Dutch nursery industry is extraordinarily efficient. I am always astonished at how cheap Dutch plants are, even given an unfavourable exchange rate. And this is not a low wage economy we’re talking about – they have had centuries of practice, as the ornamental and landscape nursery industry there dates back to the late 1500s.
OTHER BUSINESSES ARE NOT NECESSARILY SEEN AS COMPETITORS BUT AS POTENTIAL PARTNERS Throughout my 30-odd years in the business, there have been periodic moans about the Dutch, often centring around mislabelling of plants or unspecified sharp
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DOUBLE DUTCH Noel Kingsbury
practices, even accusations that the surge in vine weevil in the Nineties was somehow down to them. Dutch culture has always been ruthlessly commercial, but there is another side to it which is something British growers, and indeed the British generally, should learn from. This is the collaboration between different growers and plant dealers; other businesses are not necessarily seen as competitors but as potential partners, with whom, after a bit of hard bargaining (liberally fuelled by strong coffee and cake) a deal can be made which benefits both parties. Paranoid outsiders may see it as ‘stitching up the market’ but the reality is that agreements to specialise and pool resources have helped keep costs down and quality up. There is, at the moment, a strong trend to promote the buying of British grown plants. This can be seen as a kind of ‘soft protectionism’, and is typical for periods of economic uncertainty. In the case of plant buying, it is inevitably
aimed at reducing Dutch imports. There is a sustainability element to this, aimed at lessening the transport miles clocked by plants, which in
THE REALITY IS THAT AGREEMENTS TO SPECIALISE AND POOL RESOURCES HAVE HELPED KEEP COSTS DOWN AND QUALITY UP the case of larger plants is possibly significant. Much of the Dutch source of supply and British site of end use (the south east) is, however, not so far apart, so I don’t always find this very convincing. More important perhaps is the issue of limiting the spread of pests and diseases. Whilst ash dieback spreads naturally over long distances, there is little doubt that importations of young ash seedlings from the continent has hastened its spread. A plant pathologist might make a very good case for regional supply of such important plants as native tree species. Speculating about the future, we may see a growing increase in plant diversity coming from Dutch growers. The ‘Oudolf’ effect has been a huge stimulus to perennial sales and the development of new varieties. The best of these will inevitably be taken up by the big growers from the increasing number of specialist retail nurseries the country has. At the end of the day, I tend to think blaming imports is cover for failing to get to grips with our own problems. Whether it’s efficiency, business relationships or plant health, we need to face our own problems squarely. Left: The Hummelo nursery established in the Eighties by Piet Oudolf (but now no more) can be seen in retrospect as a major innovator in Dutch horticulture; its impact on this country’s dynamic industry is sure to be seen for many years to come
ABOUT NOEL KINGSBURY Noel Kingsbury has been involved in the horticulture industry since the mid Eighties as a nurseryman, garden designer and writer, with features appearing in The Garden, The Daily Telegraph and Gardens Illustrated. He has played a major role in introducing the British gardening public and the horticulture profession to naturalistic planting with a series of books since the mid Nineties, four of which he has written with Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.
www.noelkingsbury.com
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18/10/2016 14:40
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NURTURE
Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’
Euphorbia robbiae
Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’
Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’
Hakonechloa macra
Stachys ‘Silver Carpet’
Stipa tenuissima
Designer PLANTS The brief was to create a family garden that worked in harmony with the client’s modern, newly refurbished home in Chiswick. The clients asked for the large lawn, shed and trampoline to remain but desired a garden with symmetrical lines, soft colourful planting and areas to entertain and relax in. The planting plan was created with a focus on cool colours such as purple, blue and white tones to soften the appearance of the large existing fence and sloped rear boundary. Silver leaved plants added texture and enhanced the cool tones. In particular, large Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’ were selected for their beautiful rounded form, which provides a soft silver structure that can 98
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anchor a planting scheme. This plant is often frowned upon within the industry for being wrongly selected for car parks and roundabouts; however, I consider this to be a mistake, as it provides an excellent evergreen structure to a border which enhances the plants around it. The only negative point, in my opinion, is that it has very bright yellow flowers which I often remove. Geranium, Nepeta, Salvia and Iris provided colour to the scheme while grasses such as Stipa tenuissima and Hakonechloa macra provided movement. Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae gives a good contrast to the blue and purple colours and provides extra evergreen structure for the garden. Elements of the planting scheme are repeated within three large corten steel planters, which were custom made by The Pot Company, to bring the garden closer to the house.
Plant list
• Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’ • Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae • Geranium phaeum ‘Lily Lovell’ • Hakonechloa macra • Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’ • Iris ‘Black Swan’ • Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ • Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ • Stipa tenuissima
ABOUT ROBERT BARKER DESIGN Robert Barker is an awardwinning garden designer based just outside of Cambridge, creating gardens for clients nationwide. At the 2016 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Robert was awarded a Gold medal for his garden ‘The Red Thread’.
www.robertbarkerdesign.com
Images ©Palmstead Nurseries Ltd
Robert Barker discusses the planting for a modern family garden in Chiswick
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18/10/2016 14:27
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FOREST EDGE NURSERIES Heather has been in the background over recent years, with the number of specialised growers decreasing; however, David Edge, owner of Forest Edge Nurseries, suspects that may change in the coming months. Pro Landscaper visited his nursery to learn more about David and Forest Edge Nurseries Predicting a growing trend towards the use heather in landscaping projects, David Edge plans to take advantage of this opportunity. He aims to expand into the landscaping sector, which currently makes up 10% of his business – the rest of which is garden centre trade. Recent promotion within the media is the main reason that David predicts a growth in heather’s popularity, as well as it being a suitable plant for gardens attached to new builds. He explains: “There’s been a lot more mentions in the media recently, more interest in heather. Also, the gardens that are being created with new builds are fairly small, with limited space for even medium sized shrubs. Heathers are smaller, compact plants, and there’s an increasing interest in growing them in tubs and troughs during the winter months.” To cope with the anticipated demand, Forest Edge Nurseries is stocking more plants on a larger scale that would be suitable for landscaping projects, producing more in 3L tubs as well as the smaller varieties. David explains that, whereas garden centres lean towards brightly coloured heathers that will sell quickly, landscapers need the plant to be hardy and right for the soil they are using. 100 Pro Landscaper / November 2016
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David first became involved in growing heather at the height of its popularity in the Seventies, which he attributes to nurseryman Adrian Bloom: “He promoted conifers and heathers as a good combination for low maintenance gardening, so garden centres became interested in stocking heathers. There weren’t many suppliers about, so it was a fortunate coincidence that I was in the right place at the right time, being near Bournemouth where the soil was right for growing heather.” After three years at Hadlow College, David rented three acres of ground at St Leonards in 1974 where he built up a nursery. When the five-year lease expired, he decided to buy a permanent site, purchasing the current site at
FOREST EDGE NURSERIES HAS NEARLY 500 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF HEATHER IN TOTAL
Woodlands in Dorset. At the time of purchase, the area measured just over two acres, but David has since bought additional ground bringing the total to nearly four acres. Across this, Forest Edge Nurseries has nearly 500 different varieties of heather in total, though part of this is David’s personal collection: “This is where a conflict comes in to play, because heathers are my interest as well as being a
business, so one can end up with a collection. We actually aim to produce about 100 varieties in commercial volume quantities, and that tends to cover all the requirements of the trade.” A few of these varieties have been collected from abroad, though the nursery carries out its own propagation on site: “We assess and compare foreign heathers with existing varieties. If there are improvements, we will propagate these and grow them on.” Exhibiting at FutureScape this year, the nursery will have a range of its plants and pot sizes available on its stand. There will also be a heather lawn for visitors to see, which was originally on display at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year on behalf of The Heather Society. David will be available on Stand 122 at FutureScape on 15 November to discuss the variety of options with heather and how it can be beneficial to many landscaping projects. Make sure you stop by. CONTACT Forest Edge Nurseries Woodlands, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 8LJ Email: heathers@forestedgenurseries.co.uk Tel: 01202 824 387
www.forestedgenurseries.co.uk
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20/10/2016 15:58
SEAN BUTLER
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Sean Butler advises on how to bring the aesthetic brilliance of fires into the garden
FUNCTIONAL, AESTHETIC, FEATURE
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ROBERT WEBBER The principles on which Robert Webber bases his approach to garden lighting
THREE PEAKS PERENNIAL
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Catching up with the riders from the Three Peaks challenge following their charity cycle
TRADING WITH WILDFLOWER TURF
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James Hewetson-Brown explains what Wildflower Turf can offer the industry
EDUCATE
FIRE IN THE GARDEN
PLUS...
WHAT I’M READING (P106) WINTER MAINTENANCE (P109)
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FIRE IN THE GARDEN Fire plays a central role in the home, keeping us warm and when night descends, fuelling our passion. Sean Butler explains how to capture its ethereal qualities Today’s ever-changing modern world brings with it many challenges. As creators of landscaped gardens we have to keep apace of what’s out there, so that we can be innovative with every garden we design and build. Since the loss of patio heaters as we used to know them, many new styles of fire have been thrust upon us. The effective and popular pyramid shaped patio heaters are now too commercial and are more often found in bars, clubs and restaurants. Heaters in residential gardens need to be aesthetically pleasing, easy on the eye and with the right ambience. FIRE TABLES We have used fire tables in many garden designs for both heat and light. The fire tables can be run from LPG or mains gas. A piece of advice when using LPG: buy four 47kg bottles. These must be stored outside for safety. Using four allows for two to be connected to give the correct pressure required and two always in spare. We have sited LPG bottles up to 38m away with no drop in output, so in most gardens the bottles can be strategically placed and hidden within the design. Only use a certified gas fitter to install
the pipework. Always future-proof your project by installing ducting to the underside of the table – this can serve both the electric and gas feeds. Fire tables start at around £5,000. The great thing about these is that the range of colours in both base and top are extensive. Any RAL can be chosen for the base option. The heat output when used with glass shields is comfortable enough to allow you to stay in the garden even when it’s otherwise chilly around you. Some models also have the benefit of remote controlled lighting, which can be adjusted to any mood that you want to create. Fire tables are also perfect for sitting a group of friends around and are easy to place drinks on without getting too hot around the edge.
SEAN BUTLER AT
DESIGN
BUILD
M A I N TA I N
www.futurescapeevent.com
15 NOV 2016
THINGS TO CONSIDER WITH YOUR CLIENT WHEN CHOOSING AN OUTDOOR FIRE
FIRE PITS If your clients want an outdoor fire but don’t have the budget for a luxury table, fire pits are in my opinion a great alternative. There is something quite primitive but still very inviting about a real log fire pit. The flickering light, the dancing shadows and the smell of burning logs all add up to a great feature that gives lots of benefits to the enjoyment of a landscaped garden. The only downside is cleaning them, but this is heavily outweighed by the incredible price difference. The fire pit in my own garden doubles up as a barbecue. My favourite dish for a dinner party is butterflied leg of lamb marinated the day before in olive oil, five sprigs of lavender, rosemary and pepper!
Advantages • Getting the maximum use out of the garden. • A feature in its own right, a centrepiece to magnetise people around. • A great double up for ambience with both heat and light. Disadvantages • Cost. Allow for the gas fitter’s cost including your duct work, and remember to include a small recessed manhole cover over the valve which has to be sited under the fire table. Due to the weight, manpower is essential for most gardens due to narrow access, so also allow for this in your cost. • With a fire pit, the disadvantage is the cleaning.
ABOUT SEAN BUTLER Sean Butler is a landscape designer and director of Cube 1994. With a background in civil engineering, Sean has an in-depth understanding of the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built landscape. www.cube1994.com
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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To mark two years of writing for Pro Landscaper, Robert Webber returns to the foundation of crucial principles he always follows when lighting gardens This month I’m lucky enough to be writing my article from Oniro, a bar overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on the island of Cyprus. It’s not all digging in the rain as a lighting installer! As this month is FutureScape 2016, I thought I’d try and summarise a few topics that I’ve sought to address since I started writing for Pro Landscaper in 2014. I’ve really enjoyed the last two years, pushing forward with my teaching at the London College of Garden Design and speaking at FutureScape 2015. It’s so good to be part of the whole education process to enable designers to confidently tackle lighting systems. There is a conversation I have repeatedly with clients – those who will actually use, enjoy and benefit from a quality designed and installed
system. Inevitably I hear about past lighting systems they’ve had, and often it’s not a positive conversation. They talk about how much they paid for a system that didn’t look good, didn’t do what they wanted, kept breaking down, and how eventually they just gave up with it all. From the start, I’m tackling a mountain trying to get to the bottom of both what they need now and their lighting journey to date. Often their requirements are simple: they want a system that works from one switch, always turns on and 104 Pro Landscaper / November 2016
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FUNCTIONAL, AESTHETIC, FEATURE
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ROBERT WEBBER AT
never trips. The lighting looks good throughout every season, and lengthens the time they spend in their garden with family and friends. It’s not an unrealistic list when you think about it. My first approach is to use the scenic lighting FAF principle: ● Functional ● Aesthetic ● Feature Not any faff there! They’re the three easiest steps for any designer or client to start to appreciate what needs lighting and where to start. I’ve covered each step in depth in a previous article, but here’s a quick overview. ● Functional – Lighting, often from above, that will help you move around the garden safely, turn on when you need it, and often automatically controlled. ● Aesthetic – Lighting that helps to create mood and ambience within a garden, often in areas where you would relax. Tends to be a lower level of light. ● Feature – Lighting that helps create the ‘wow’ factor and picks out key features. Below that is the dark art of garden lighting – an ever changing cauldron of physics, creativity, technology and innovation.
DESIGN
BUILD
M A I N TA I N
www.futurescapeevent.com
15 NOV 2016
I’ll endeavour to take another layer off to help designers, landscapers and other installers create lighting for life. If you can’t afford it, don’t do it. Don’t talk the client round to lighting at stage one, but do futureproof any garden with conduits. It’s cheap and easy to put them in from stage one – it’ll show your professionalism and care for them into the future. If the budget is small then just light one feature, or make the light a feature itself. A feature light hidden behind a fret work board will create effects on a patio you wouldn’t believe. Treat the garden like a picture; the frame is the windows that your client will view it from when it’s not being used. Finally, make it simple to control, and where possible, automatic. It’s easy to fit a timer and dusk to dawn to any one circuit lighting system. That way the lights are enjoyed with no effort, and also become a security deterrent. ABOUT ROBERT WEBBER Robert Webber is the founder of Scenic Lighting, a specialist exterior lighting company based in Berkshire. He designs and installs garden lighting throughout the UK and internationally. Robert can be contacted on rob@ sceniclighting.com or via his mobile on 07766 051 000.
www.sceniclighting.com
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
19/10/2016 11:44
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21/04/2015 14:29 20/10/2016 08:59
EDUCATE
WHAT I’M READING
Title Meadows at Great Dixter and Beyond Author Christopher Lloyd, new introduction by Fergus Garrett Publisher Pimpernel Press Ltd
THERE IS A MYRIAD OF ADVICE ON GRASSES, BULBS AND PERENNIALS TO HELP A LEARNER LIKE ME TO LEARN I became interested in meadows personally almost by default. I had agreed – with both immense pleasure and uncertainty – to open my small London garden for the first time this past summer for the charity Perennial. I, however, was not convinced there was really enough going on to amuse our fee-paying guests. My garden has two deep borders either side and a rectangular lawn in the middle – pretty standard. I had been toying with the idea of putting a strip of wildflower turf down the middle of the lawn for some time, and early this year thought that the time had come to just get on and do it. I decided on a mix of native and non-native species to produce a bio-diverse habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, and other invertebrate species.
Butter Wakefield, Butter Wakefield Garden Design
BUTTER
A dear friend persuaded me to think slightly differently on where to put it, though. He suggested laying the wildflower turf on two sides, butting up to the flowering borders, and leaving a gentle curved path of lawn through the middle. His idea was a stroke of genius, so much so I wish I had thought of it myself. He did all the preparation and hard work, and being the thoughtful sort of chap he is, the book arrived in the post a few weeks later. My turf gives me endless pleasure, and my Perennial guests also seemed captivated by it!
huge field for experiment, of which I should like to do much more, for I am
FOR THE BEGINNER It is the most delightful and informative read. Fergus Garrett reintroduces us to the first addition of the book written by Christopher Lloyd, and describes artfully his early impressions of the great man and his experiences in the garden. Christopher goes onto explain in great detail about his passion for meadows, the history of the flowery meadow, which can be traced back to the Middle Ages, his own experiences with them at Great Dixter including their management and upkeep, our responsibility to the countryside and the importance of meadows going forward. There is a myriad of helpful advice and tips on grasses, bulbs and perennials, to help a learner like me to learn. ENCHANTING TOUR ‘Here at Dixter, I have learnt quite a bit about meadows and a record of my personal experiences must have some value for those who are likewise interested, particularly gardeners seeking inspiration for their own. Like anyone else’s our meadow areas are a dynamic, ever changing tapestry. They are a
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ever conscious of the limitations of what I have already achieved. But still, the developing picture is encouraging and gives me much joy, as equally it does to my great confederate, Fergus Garrett.’ ‘Another essential is to have a mown path through an area of meadow. Not only does this involve you more closely with it and allow easy access, but paths confirm the message that the meadow is meant to be there, and add: this meadow is to explore, but I will direct you.’ He takes us on an enchanting tour around Great Dixter, describing how and why areas have developed from his childhood to today. One such account that I found most endearing was his description of the spring bulbs in the Upper Moat: ‘In the first half of March, the Dutch crocus hybrids are at their best. They have self-sown freely over the years and are now so thick that they make my heart bounce, given a sunny spring day. I am most definitely going to plant early Dutch crocus in my little meadow, and I look forward to my ‘heart bouncing’ very soon.’ Another very useful read is ‘How to Make a Wildflower Meadow’ by James Hewetson-Brown. ABOUT THE BOOK Prolific British gardener Christopher Lloyd talks about his passion for meadows and the wealth of knowledge he has accumulated over the years, particularly focusing on his garden at Great Dixter. First published in 2004, this latest edition includes an introduction by his head gardener Fergus Garrett.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
19/10/2016 12:31
ALMOST
£35,000
ra i s e d s o f a
r
THE THREE PEAKERS
RIDE AGAIN
Pro Landscaper has been covering The Three Peakers Ride Again challenge since April. Now the event has been completed, we caught up with the riders to find out how it feels to have crossed the finish line
DARREN SKIDMORE SKIDMORES OF HERTFORD
The highlight was meeting up with the team as well as the new members. The journey up was quite a laugh too – myself and Matt collected Martin, our guide. Poor bloke, he’d never met us before, but the first thing that greeted him was Matt’s Batman outfit and my purple wig. The biggest challenge was the hills – I swear that Barrie Clarke, the MTB guide, could find a steep hill in a desert.
PAUL COWELL PC LANDSCAPES
The experience was great – the camaraderie, the pain and the pure enjoyment of being with a great bunch of characters. Whether it was cycling through water, up steep rocky slopes or flying down fire tracks, the smiles on our faces were constant and amongst the fun we raised money for Perennial. Brilliant!
CROWDERS NURSERIES GARDENLINK LTD
This fundraising event was a big challenge for all of us. The way everyone pulled together with such great spirit in order to help and support others in the industry was truly inspiring.
Kate O’Shea, Development Manager at Perennial
DAVID HOUGHTON KINGS LANDSCAPES
ROBERT CROWDER DAN FLYNN
The challenge represents what is possible when our industry comes together to support colleagues who need the help of Perennial. The team was determined to beat their 2013 fundraising total (£26,000 for the Three Peaks Extreme Challenge) and it’s fair to say they’ve smashed it!
I feel a great sense of achievement having spent so much of the summer preparing. Brian Herbert told PIE Events to give the ‘roadies’ a challenging route – the benefit was that we cycled through spectacular scenery. One of the most rewarding elements was being part of a team of motivated people all from the industry.
Challenging is not the word – I felt like Bear Grylls for a week. I pushed my body to the limits and had to dig deep in my mind to ride up the hills. I just felt lucky to have completed a once in a lifetime trip mountain biking halfway across the UK – it was great and was all about finishing as a team.
MARK GREGORY LANDFORM CONSULTANTS
MARK GARTHWAITE QUADRON SERVICES
BRIAN HERBERT OUTDOOR OPTIONS
The highlight of being on the road team was beating the MTBs back most evenings, but the Devil’s Staircase and Black Mountain climbs in Wales were truly awesome and will stay long in my memory. One word to sum up the week is ‘camaraderie’, from the tandem team right through to the support crew.
I am exceptionally proud to have been a cog in assisting to assemble this team of people. There is definitely a unique dynamic amongst us – I think it must be the tenacious mindset you need to survive in an industry like ours, it produces exceptional characters.
Louise and I added to the challenge by attempting it on a 30-year-old tandem borrowed from Richard Gardiner, which seemed like a good idea at the time, but I hadn’t factored in the sheer weight of the bike and the amount of hills involved. Going downhill was great fun!
DAN RIDDLESTON
Event sponsors Donate now! Text GRBS66 £5 (or any amount) to 70 070 justgiving.com/teams/three-peakers-ride-again www.prolandscapermagazine.com
Three Peaks.indd 107
When I arrived in the foothills of Snowdon I was wondering what I had let myself in for. There was great camaraderie in the team and I have come to appreciate the mountain bikers and their off-road antics. You never know – the bike might come out of the shed for the odd weekend ride.
© Images: PIE Events
BOWLES & WYER
Pro Landscaper / November 2016 107
19/10/2016 12:14
THE ELIET SUPER PROF THE FUTURE IN SHREDDING
In 1994 with the launch of The Super Prof, Eliet introduced the first professional shredder. Today the Super Prof Shredder is more comfortable, efficient, environmentally friendly and smarter. • • • • • •
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EXPERT VIEW: OVERCOMING WINTER MAINTENANCE CHALLENGES
ANDY SIMPSON WINTER OPERATIONS MANAGER, GROUND CONTROL
Ground Control has invested a huge amount of time and energy to build the industry’s best winter maintenance and customer reporting system. I’m aware we’re only as good as our systems, preparation and logistical set up. Successful delivery means we spend all summer planning – our motto is ‘planning, planning and more planning’.
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Ground Control offers a wide range of services and does not depend on its winter maintenance income unlike other winter maintenance companies. This means we can afford to plan and invest the significant sums required to deliver services during a harsh winter. The recent milder winters have meant depleted salt supplies are less of an issue, and a lot of companies now say
that they offer winter services, but without a strong foundation to support service in a harsh winter. My challenge is to ensure that we have the best systems in place to deliver our service. We overcome this by developing market leading systems, coupled with the willingness to spend money on our infrastructure to ensure we deliver whatever is needed.
Pro Landscaper / November 2016 109
20/10/2016 11:30
PEOPLE
TRADING WITH WILDFLOWER TURF
CONTACT
Company name Wildflower Turf Address Ashe Warren Farm, Overton Basingstoke, Hants RG25 3AW Tel 01256 771 222 Email wildflower@wildflowerturf.co.uk Twitter @wildflowerturf
Wildflower Turf pioneered the soil-less growing system designed to erase establishment issues with wildflower meadows. Pro Landscaper spoke to managing director James Hewetson-Brown
Facebook wildflowerturf1 Web www.wildflowerturf.co.uk
a robust R&D programme to make sure we are keeping up with new developments. We want to be able to offer genuine tried and tested advice to make things work for our customers, we’re not just interested in selling them turf. Can you tell us a bit about Wildflower Turf? We’ve had a soil-less system since 1983 when we first set up Coronet Turf. Though producing James turf was going well, it was Hewetson-Brown, difficult to compete, so in managing director 2003 we decided to try soil-less wildflower turf production and as a result our company was awarded the registered trademark ‘Wildflower Turf’, which was a major achievement. After a couple of years of trial and error, the company has since grown year on year. Our main site is based in Hampshire, as is our recent second site. We’re also close to working with a contract grower elsewhere in the country. And you have an accredited partner scheme? We started the scheme three years ago, aimed predominantly at contractors who would be installing the meadows, as we found they were struggling to make them work. We set up training days and now have over 280 accredited partners. We also have a CPD structure in place for landscape architects, which involves us visiting their practices with samples and explaining what the options are for wildflower meadows. This has been running for two years now and we have visited over 50 practices. What makes Wildflower Turf unique to landscapers and garden designers? It’s the guarantee of wildflower meadow success, which gives them a risk-free solution. We also have 110 Pro Landscaper / November 2016
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Do you offer trade discounts? Yes, landscapers get a trade discount as a matter of course, but if they take part in the accredited partner scheme they get the best discount of any we offer. Additionally, those in the scheme also benefit from the referral system on our website – we’d prefer our domestic clients to use an accredited partner for the installation because then we know it’s done properly. What has been your favourite project to work on? It’s difficult to choose one – we see endless interesting and unusual projects, from domestic gardens right through to huge commercial projects. The 2012 Olympics stands out for a number of reasons – our growth since then has been substantial. We were also involved in the transformation after the Olympics, and in total those areas we covered came to well over 80,000sq m. The Hive at Kew was an amazing project to work on, and we also supplied wildflower turf for Dan Pearson’s garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015. We supplied
SEE US AT
STAND 123 elements for the Harry Potter films, and most recently supplied the Tarzan set with our Wildflower Earth system. We’re now working on a massive project in Lancashire called Rossall Ecology Park which is reinforcing this coastal region to prevent erosion and flooding. What can visitors expect to see on your stand at FutureScape? We’ll be showcasing our new book, ‘How to Make a Wildflower Meadow’, published by Filbert Press. It’s an out and out practical guide, talking about what we’ve learnt over the years about how to deliver a successful meadow. Our stand will be concentrating on that, as well as our accredited partner scheme and CPD. There will also be samples and we’re keen to help people understand what they’re buying into when they decide on a wildflower meadow, the different long term prospects and management regimes. Have you anything new for next year? We’re working with the University of Portsmouth looking at pollution mitigation with wildflowers, and we’re doing a report on SuDS work by a university where Wildflower Turf was used in the experiment. We also have our relatively new product Wildflower Earth, which we’ve just produced a promotional video for which is now available on our website. www.prolandscapermagazine.com
18/10/2016 14:48
JOBS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX Location:
Xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxxxxx xxx xx For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk. For full details on all jobs, please go to For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk. www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.
Call 01903 777 587 or email ellie.downes@eljays44.com with your vacancy. Call 01903 777 570 or email hortcareers@eljays44.com with your vacancy
HORTICULTURIST / MAINTENANCE GARDENER
CONTRACTS MANAGER
Our client is looking to recruit a horticulturist / garden maintenance operative to join their expanding team with potential for promotion into a supervisor position. You will be working both independently and as part of a team on a range of gardening tasks and soft landscaping projects. Projects will be situated on various residential development sites and marketing / show areas within the Essex, Kent, Suffolk and London areas and all work must be completed to a very high standard.
Urban Planters is a highly respected brand in both interior and exterior landscaping with many large corporate and SME customers. The shareholders now wish to appoint a top performing contracts manager to lead all operational activities, including account development. To succeed as contracts manager, you will have a strong track record in the delivery of B2B horticultural services and be known for your excellent people management skills. You will be a people person, a great communicator and an innovative thinker who delivers on promises and sets high standards.
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
OPERATIONS MANAGER
HEAD GARDENER
Responsibilities of the role will be to deliver outstanding quality of maintenance and customer service, manage multiple maintenance contracts to ensure horticultural quality of vertical walls, keep accurate records of daily works and corresponding costs, visit each site regularly, manage multiple relationships and liaise with clients and designers. The ideal candidate will have experience working with external contractors, hold a full UK driving licence, have horticultural knowledge and be an enthusiastic team player with the ability to motivate and manage a technical an operational workforce.
Experienced head gardener required to manage the garden and grounds of a hotel and house on the Isle of Sark that is run organically and incorporates permaculture and biodynamic ideas. There are 80 acres of farmland and 4 acres of landscaped area that require management. You will be required to grow a wide range of fresh produce for the hotel kitchen. Other areas include cut flower garden, kitchen garden, woodland, orchard lawns, shrubbery and herbaceous borders. Accommodation will be provided for the first three months of employment until own accommodation is found.
IDC GREENSCAPES Location: Essex
ANDERSPLUS Location: London
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
URBAN PLANTERS Location: Reading
HORTICRUITMENT Location: Isle of Sark
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
DEPUTY MANAGER / PLANT MANAGER
TRAINEE LANDSCAPER GARDENER
We are seeking two people for a site that will be redeveloped up to a £5m site. As deputy manager you should already hold a similar role and be able to manage 30 or more people and have a good knowledge of horticulture. As plant manager you should be a strong horticulturist, able to lead a team, and ideally have a horticultural qualification.
Greenscape Gardens Ltd is a successful, well-established landscaping company which specialises in transforming domestic gardens in South West London and Surrey. Our creative and expanding team is looking to recruit trainee landscaper gardeners who are keen to learn and want to build a career in the landscaping industry. Successful candidates must be exceptionally motivated, enthusiastic, punctual and have a hunger to succeed as part of a team where standards are set extremely high.
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
LANDSCAPE ESTIMATOR
GLADE GARDENING CO-ORDINATOR
Award-winning Willerby Landscapes Ltd is seeking a suitably qualified candidate to fulfil the requirements of an estimator. Your key responsibilities will include responding to client enquires, preparation of competitive tenders, production of high level costs plans, communicating with main contractors and clients, identifying scope for value engineering, and more. The ideal candidate will have five years’ experience as an estimator, be computer literate, have excellent communication skills and knowledge of NEC or JCT building contracts is an advantage.
The post holder will lead and work with a small team of young people to provide a friendly and professional gardening service in gardens and open spaces for local authority, corporate and private clients around Surrey and its borders. Applicants must hold a minimum NVQ Level 3 certificate in garden maintenance or landscaping. It is essential applicants hold a full clean driving licence and have the ability to drive a vehicle with a trailer. Applicants must hold a PA1 and PA6 spraying certificate or be willing to attend courses.
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
TAYLOR2RECRUITMENT LTD Location: South Yorkshire
WILLERBY LANDSCAPES Location: Kent
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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GREENSCAPE GARDENS Location: Surrey
YMCA DOWNS LINK GROUP Location: Guildford / Surrey
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search ‘PRO Go to the appLANDSCAPER’ store download the free app search ‘PRO LANDSCAPER’ choose and download download the free appyour issue
Scag 52” Velocity Plus Mower, twin wheels 3 available £3’750 £3’400 Abei HC44 Scythe mower – 65” working width, 2WD, HST, 11hp £1’950 Allett Buffalo 24” Cylinder Mower £1’950 Allett Shaver 24” Cylinder Mower £2’000 Allett Buckingham 20” Cylinder Mower £ POA Allett Tournament 20” Cylinder Mower £3’500 Applied 414RS Greens Sweeper – 2WD, HST, only 125 hours £2’500 Hustle Trimstar – 36” Rotary RD deck, 2WD, HST Timber Products £2’200 Lloyds Paladin Cylinder Mower Unwanted grounds maintenance equipment? £1’250 Ransome Marquis 51 Cylinder Mower 1 21/01/2015 12:17 £1’700 Ransome 61 Super Certes Cylinder Mower Don’t scrap it - SELL it at Tamlyns Outdoor AuctionsPL App Ad.indd £2’500 John Deere 180c Greens Mower – 11 blade Unit (18”) £ 21/01/2015 500 John1Deere JX90C – 21” commercial rotary mower PL App Ad.indd 12:17 Next Sale Days: £1’200 BCS 710 Scythe Mower – 38” width of cut Compact, lightweight mobile shredder Saturday 11th July: The Sale Field, Camon C8 Rotovator – choice 3 from £ 750 goes Blakes Road, Wembdon, Bridgwater, £ 750 www.oxfordplanters.co.uk Camon turfwherever cutter it’s needed £2’950 Compact, lightweight mobile shredder Charterhouse Core Collector 3000 TA6 7RS Makes easy work of branches, £ 475 Eliet turf edger goes wherever it’s needed www.oxfordplanters.co.uk wet green-waste and mixed leafage QUALITY GRASS SEED SaturdayProviders 8th August: The Oak Tree ‘Fred The Edge’ turf edger choice of 2 £ 300 of English Handcrafted Planters and Outdoor Furniture Makes easyturfwork of branches, Arena, Edithmead, M5 J22, Somerset, Season in Oak, Iroko or Accoya. John 4 Deere E35shredder edgerfor year choice of 2 £ 500 wet green-waste mixed leafage £ 1’250 Sisis Auto Outfield Slitterand – 30” working width round effectiveness TA9Other 4HAProviders of English Handcrafted Planters and Outdoor Furniture services include a bespoke joinery service for all interior & exterior design. £1’500 Sisis Auto Turfman Aerator with hollow tines 4 Season shredder for year in Oak, Iroko or Accoya. Produces easily- compostable Enquiries to Tamlyns, 56 High Street, Compact Tractors round effectiveness For more information email info@oxfordplanters.co.uk or call 01608 683022 BioTech™ chipsRUBBER 01473 328272 www.schsupplies.co.uk Bridgwater, TA6 joinery 3BN service for all interior & exterior design. Other servicesSomerset, include a bespoke COLOURED CHIPPINGS IDEAL £6’500 John Deere 855 easily& frontcompostable loader, diesel, 4WD, HST, PTO, turf tyres Produces of Martin oRRP £49.99+VAT For 458241 all horticultural www.drsimmons.co.uk and Garden design enquiries please prcontact T 01278 £7’750 John Deere 4300 &AREAS, front loader, 32hp diesel, 4WD, HST, turf tyres For more information email info@oxfordplanters.co.uk or call 01608 683022 FOR PLAY LANDSCAPING, BioTech™ chipsBritish built, robust equipment on 07765 188725Tel: or email 01775 info@martincadams.co.uk Market Way, 723320 / 766028 £8’500 John Deere 4300, 32hp diesel, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar www.landmarktimber.co.uk 0808 129 3773 E 45 ross.whitcombe@tamlyns.co.uk All products manufactured in the Cotswolds using sustainable timber. EQUESTRIAN ARENAS CHICKEN RUNS espo orders ta enwithAND e 39hp can uild to speci cations For all horticultural enquiries please contact Martin Pinchbeck, Spalding,and Garden Fax: design 01775 760451 / 714970 £10’500 www.psdgroundscare.co.uk John Deeree4500 & front loader, Cab diesel, gearbox -our 1709hrs PROFESSIONAL WLincolnshire www.tamlynsprofessional.co.uk onPE11 077653PE 188725 e-mail: or email info@martincadams.co.uk sales@drsimmons.co.uk £13’750 Kioti DK551C with Cab, 54hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 612 hrs 129 3773 All products manufactured in the Cotswolds using sustainable timber. £8’000 Kubota B2530, 25hp diesel,MORE 4WD, HST, roll bar – 809 hrs www.psdgroundscare.co.uk CONTACT US FOR DETAILS £8’750 PL App Ad.indd 1 21/01/2015 12:17 Kubota B2230 & front loader, 22hp diesel, 4WD, HST, turf tyres 1117hrs Unwanted grounds maintenance equipment? 29 3773 01977 529570 info@ecochippings.co.uk £7’500 GET READY FOR THIS SUMMER Holland TC27D, 27hp, 4WD,58x90.indd HST, turf tyres, PSD2700 New - ELIET ProLandscaper Adverts 2 roll bar – 2312 hrs 13/03/2013 12:38 Don’t scrap it SELL it at Tamlyns Outdoor Auctions www.ecochippings.co.uk Make your Children’s play area safer and your garden more £7’500 Yanmar FE280H, 28hp diesel, 4WD, turf tyres, roll bar – 262 hrs QPPL advert templates.indd 24 18/07/2013 App Ad.indd 1 21/01/201515:43 12:17
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ALL MATERIALS ALL MATERIALS The Major 4S Mobile Shredder the interactive app •The Major 4S Mobile Shredder •1 Go to the app store •2 search ‘PRO LANDSCAPER’ the free app •43 download choose and download your issue • 08450 773 773 Call: Classified ALLCLASSIFIED YEARClassified Call: 08450 773 773 Classified ALL MATERIALS ALL YEAR The Major 4S Mobile Shredder Liners Fawcetts • • Pond Liners • big • Call: 08450 773 773 www.fawcettsliners.co.uk Classified ALL YEAR
Jacksons of Chobham RUBBER CHIPPINGS IDEAL 19/03/2015 11:44 colourful and vibrant with www.ecochippings.co.uk nursery COLOURED of distinction Simmons3 PL Apr15.inddro1of PSD2700 Ride-On - ELIET ProLandscaper Adverts 58x90.indd 2 p Mowers Jacksons of 1936 Chobham FOR PLAY AREAS, LANDSCAPING, Next Sale/ Tractor Days: Established 1948 and still going strong due to Compact, lightweight mobile shredder Since QP advert templates.indd 24 18/07/2013 15:43 The Major 4S Mobile Shredder EQUESTRIAN ARENAS AND CHICKEN RUNS John Deere X740, 54” SD deck, Low-Tip Collector Saturday 21st March: The Sale Field, being our main concern. choice of 2 nursery of distinction goes wherever it’squality needed www.oxfordplanters.co.uk CHAINSAW CHAIN John Deere X748, 48” SD deck, Hi-Tip Coll. 24hp, 4WD, HST - 1188hrs EcRide-On rubbEr Tractor Mowers Compact, lightweight mobileSince shredder Blakes Road, Wembdon, Bridgwater, 1936 CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS
£1’500 John GT235, SD deck, 18hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 355 hrs goesDeere wherever it’s48” needed 01977 529570 info@ecochippings.co.uk £2’500 John Providers Deere X320, 48” SD deck, 22hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 195 hrs of English Handcrafted Planters and Outdoor Furniture www.ecochippings.co.uk Makes easy work of branches, • Suppliers top quality container grown £3’000 Collections by appointment only John Deere GX355D, 48” SD deck, 16hp or diesel, 2WD, HSTshrubs, – choice of 2 inofOak, Iroko Accoya. • Available in vibrant, long lasting, weather grasses, herbaceous, climbers & specimens wet green-waste and mixed leafage Piranha® fit diesel, Stihl2WD, MS201T JUST £5.50* John Deere X495, 48”Chain SD deck,to 24hp HST – colours 1922 hrs resistant (will not rub or wash off) £5’500 Other services include a bespoke joinery forlitre interior & design. •grown Available in of 100kg, 250kg 500kg, 750kg and • Suppliers of top quality •year Good range in service 3container and 10 pots £6’250 4 Season shredder for John Deere X740, 54” SD deck, Low-Tip –all choice 2 exterior Great performance for aCollector fraction ofshrubs, the 1000kg bulk bag orprice easy to handle 20kg bag grasses, herbaceous, climbers & specimens IDEAL John Deere X748, 48”FOR RD deck, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST to– absorb 1380 the hrsimpact from falls and £6’750 round effectiveness • Helps • Cash and carry service For more information email info@oxfordplanters.co.uk or call 01608 683022 £2’250 upRDAREAS todeck on the top10brand tumbles-reducing PLAY && collector, Etesia Save Bahia, 32” •66% Good range in 2WD 3 and litre potschainsthe risk of injury • Doesn’t splinter or decompose Produces easilycompostable We provide collection LANDSCAPING Etesia H124DS, 48”operation RDand deck, Hi-Tip Collector, 25hp diesel –contact 828 • Recommended for hrs PlayMartin Areas, Recreational£4’750 service and curb side Monthly cost cut dramatically For all horticultural Garden design enquiries please and carryUKserviceAreas, Landscaping delivery throughout BioTech™ chips and Chicken Runs £ POA Etesia Attilaon Bank Mower (Ex• Cash Demo) low hours 07765 188725 or email– info@martincadams.co.uk
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Kioti DK551C with Cab, 54hp, 4WD, Box – 612 hrs due to Since 1936 Established 1948 andGear still going strong New Holland TC27D, 27hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 2312 hrs quality being our main concern. New Holland TN55D with cab, 55hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 1751 hrs ForYanmar all your golf, sportsturf and landscape irrigation FE280H, 28hp diesel, 4WD, turf tyres, roll bar – 262 hrs
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from: £5’750 £6’500 JD 3235B, 22” 8 blade ESP units – 2691 hrs £7’500 JD 3225C, 7 blade light-weight units c/w rear roller brushes – 2217 hrs £8’000 web: www.jacksonsnursery.co.uk Landscape Irrigation, Sportsturf and Golf Chobham, Woking, Jacobsen G Plex, recently serviced & extra set scarifying units available £5’500 or telephone for a brochure and samples: email: SurreyHayter GU24 8SXLT324, 6 blade units with 10” fixed heads – choice of sales@jacksonsnursery.co.uk 10 from: £6’500 Tel 0345 23001772 9697Arcadia • 612125 www.lws.uk.com Distributor: Irrigation � ��� 01252 714986 Call: Fax: 01772 615360 Hayter T424, 5 gang, 6 blade – 30” units – choice of 2 from: £9’000 Plantoil 59x91mm_Layout Ransome Highway 3s���s��r���i�irri�tio���o�u� – choice 1of 216/09/2011 15:56 Page 1 £ POA Tel 0345 230 9697 • www.lws.uk.com Ransome Parkway 3, 30” 6 blade units – 1970 hrs £ POA
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easy work branches, EtesiaMakes Attila Bank Mowerof(Ex Demo) – low hours TA6 7RS wet green-waste and mixed leafage Ride-On Cylinder Mowers Saturday 25th April:forThe Oak Tree 4 Season year JD 2653A, 26” shredder 8 blade units, spiral rollers, scrapers choice of 2 from £4’500 £££! Arena, Edithmead, M5 manufacturers J22, Somerset, JD 2500 (A)Buy (E), 22”from 11 blade, groomers, brushes, boxeand save choice 3 from £5’750 round effectiveness TA9 4HA Hayter LT324, 6 blade units with 10” fixed heads choice of 8 from £6’500 savings on pumps and filters! £12’500 Also Produces easily- compostable Hayter T424,to 5 gang, 6 blade –56 30”High units. Deluxe Cab – 2659 hrs Enquiries Tamlyns, Street, BioTech™ chips £9’950 Ransome Highway 3 –Why 1308 hrsnot visit our website! Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3BN Ride-On Front Rotary Mowers T John 01278 £4’500 Deere 458241 F1145, 62” RD deck, 28hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres – 2887 hrs www.psdgroundscare.co.uk EJohn ross.whitcombe@tamlyns.co.uk Deere various deck sizes of 7 from £6’500 or1445, telephone foranda hours brochure andchoice samples: £8’500 John Deere 1445 with Cab, 60” SD1deck, Serviced – 2126 hrs Page 1 PROFESSIONAL www.tamlynsprofessional.co.uk WPlantoil 59x91mm_Layout 16/09/2011 Call: 01772 612125 Fax:15:56 01772 615360
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Ideally John Deere 1545, 62” RD deck, 31hp, 4WD, HST – choice of 2 from: £9’750 CLASSIFIED 20/08/2015 10:11 Kioti DK55 Designers and class.indd 98 TEMPLATE.indd 123 18/02/2015 14:42 we would like you to work locally to your base and clear For John all your golf, sportsturf and landscape irrigation needs. Deere 1565 with cab, 62” RD, 38hp, HST – 1044 hrs New Holla manufacturers of For all your golf, sportsturf and 4WD, landscape irrigation needs.£9’750 snow from our clients’ sites. Competitive rates offered John Deere 1600TMowers Wide Area Mower with canopy – choice of 2 from: £8’500 n needs. New Holla Ride-On Tractor hardwood planters 18/02/2015 14:42 www.oxfordplanters.co.uk class.indd 98 Buy online at www.lws.uk.com dependant on machinary type. Metal Tree– Guards, John Deere 997 Zero Turn Mower, 60”Estate deck, 30hp 291 hrs electro galvanised BuyJohn online at www.lws.uk.com Yanmar FE and gardenneeds. For all your golf, sportsturf and landscape irrigation £1’500£9’000 Deere GT235, 48” SD deck, 18hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 355 hrs Jacobsen HR6010 Wide Area Mower – 1615 hrs coated. Easily assembled in £ POA & black powder furnishings £2’500 Contact us at gritting@ground-control.co.uk John Deere X320, 48” SD deck, 22hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 195 hrs Buy online at www.lws.uk.com Ransome HR6010 Wide Area Mower – choice of 2 from: £12’000 Ride-On 3 sections &2WD, withand ground anchors. Providers of English Handcrafted Planters Outdoor Furniture £3’000 John Deere GX355D, 48” SD deck, 16hp diesel, HST – choice of 2 Ransome HR300, 60” RD deck, 4WD, HST choice of 4 £ POA All products in 24hp Oak, Iroko or–Accoya. John Deer £5’500 John Deere X495, 48” SD deck, diesel, 2WD, HST – 1922 hrs manufactured in JD 2653A, £6’250 John Deere X740, 54” SD deck, Low-Tip Collector choice of 2 Other services include a bespoke joinery service– for all interior & exterior design. Commercial Pedestrian Mowers the Cotswolds JD 2500 ( All plus VAT & delivery £6’750 John Deere X748, 48” RD deck, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – 1380 hrs using sustainable Huge choice of RD Ferris Scag mowers – 36”, 48” 52” Zero mowers. -choice of For more information email info@oxfordplanters.co.uk or Turn call 01608 683022 £2’250 Etesia Bahia, 32” deckand & collector, 2WD Tree and Nursery Supplies & all Planting Sundries timber JD 3235B £4’750 Etesia H124DS, 48” RD deck, Hi-Tip Collector, 25hp diesel – 828 hrs d Golf ForSAW all horticultural andDemo) Garden design please contact Martin £ POA CHAIN SAW OIL 2-STROKE OIL SAW BLADE OIL JD 3235B, CHAINAttila OIL Mower 2-STROKE OILMark BLADE OIL Ltd Etesia Bank (Ex –SAW low hoursenquiries Vigrass Joseph Rochford Gardens Ltd, on 07765 188725 or email info@martincadams.co.uk JD 3225C, www.ground-control.co.uk 14986 01507 604201 / 07971 190345 All products manufactured in the Cotswolds using sustainable timber. Pipers End, Letty Green, Hertford, SG14 2PB Tractors Tel 0345 9697 www.lws.uk.com Jacobsen TelCompact 0345 230 230 9697 •• www.lws.uk.com TelMORE 0345 230 9697 •Fax: www.lws.uk.com The Stables, London Road,262847 Billericay,EssexOR CM12 9HS683022 Tel: 01707 261370 01707 FOR INFORMATION: EMAIL INFO@OXFORDPLANTERS.CO.UK CALL 01608 www.markvigrass.co.uk FREEPHONE 0800 013 7363 www.plantoil.co.uk John Deere X748, 54” Snow Blade, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – choice0808 of 2 Hayter LT3 www.landmarktimber.co.uk 0808 129 3773 www.landmarktimber.co.uk 129£6’750 3773 Email: sales@rochfords.net JD 4600 & Front Loader, 43hp, 4WD, G.Box,www.prolandscapermagazine.com Power Reverser – 4331hrs Hayter T42 £7’750 ProDeere Landscaper / November 2016 112 John www.prolandscapermagazine.com 3320, 33hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1230 hrs Ransome £9’000 www.prolandscapermagazine.com www.prolandscapermagazine.com Landscaper / March 2015 98 Pro SNOW CLEARANCE NEEDED ON A NATIONAL BASIS www.prolandscapermagazine.com JD 4410 & Front Loader, 34hp, 4WD, G.Box, Powerwww.prolandscapermagazine.com Reverser – 2279 hrs www.prolandscapermagazine.com Ransome £9’750 agazine.com Balmers GM Ltd, Manchester Rd, Dunnockshaw, QP advert templates.indd 24 24hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1720 hrs 18/07/2013 15:43 Kubota B2410, £6’900 Oxford Planters.indd 1 04/06/2015 14:33 Do you have a tractor / teleporter? 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ALL MATERIALS The Major 4S Mobile Shredder • • • • Compact, lightweight mobile shredder goes wherever it’s needed Makes easy work of branches, wet green-waste and mixed leafage 4 Season shredder for year round effectiveness Produces easily- compostable BioTech™ chips
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Pro Landscaper / November 2016 113 QP advert templates.indd 33
19/12/2013 10:39
17/10/2016 14:30
PEOPLE
CAROL WHITEHEAD Garden designer www.carolwhitehead.co.uk Most referred to gardening book Michael Littlewood’s Landscape Detailing series.
Best garden in the UK Thames Barrier Park, for its vast linear scale.
Favourite tipple Dry Prosecco. However, I always love a refreshing wellmade cup of tea, made with tea leaves – not tea bags. Simple to get right, but not many people do! Most treasured gift Felco 6 secateurs, ideal for my small hands.
Pro Landscaper asks quick-fire questions to gain a small insight into the people who make up our industry. To take part email lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com
i
JODY LIDGARD Director of operations, Bespoke Outdoor Spaces www.jodylidgard.co.uk
Best garden in the UK RHS Garden Rosemoor. Biggest life influence I was taught Aikido at an early age. The principles of this martial art grounded me for life.
Most used saying or cliché “Measure twice, cut once.” It applies to everything. Prediction for new gardening trends Less clutter everywhere.
Top plant Sarcococca: a small, tough evergreen shrub which tolerates clipping, reflects light, is drought and shade tolerant and has an exquisite scent during the ‘suicidal’ winter month of February.
Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Vivienne Westwood, the late Ian Curtis and Dr. Steven Greer.
Most treasured gift This has to be our six children. They make every day a school day for me and inspire me to greater things. Most used saying or cliché “Just a quick one for ya.”
Biggest life influence Has to be my wife Lucy, who, I will have you know, does everything except breathe for me. Top plant Rosemary officinalis. Love it to bits, never enough of it in a garden.
Prediction for new gardening trends More Rosemary planted in gardens. Rosemary being compulsory in all gardens. Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman and Marcus Aurelius.
Favourite tipple Gin and tonic.
114 Pro Landscaper / November 2016
Little Interview.indd 114
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
20/10/2016 10:49
PEOPLE
LEXI HARRISON Business development executive, Hultons Landscapes www.hultonslandscapes.com Most referred to gardening book The Wood For The Trees by Richard Fortey.
Best garden in the UK Dunham Massey.
Biggest life influence My mum. Top plant Photinia.
Favourite tipple Prosecco.
PAULA WARMAN
Construction business manager, Flora-Tec
Managing director, Aura Landscapes
Most referred to gardening book The RHS compact books – great to use on site. Best garden in the UK My own garden! Top plant I have many, but usually specimens as I have been involved in building a number of show gardens. Favourite tipple A good red wine. Most treasured gift My family and holiday home.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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Three people you’d like to invite to dinner John Bishop, Richard Branson and Bear Grylls.
Most used saying or cliché “The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”
MARTIN SALLOWS
www.flora-tec.com
Prediction for new gardening trends Simplicity in gardens – going back to basics.
Lifelong fan of (sporting team) British Eventing GB Team.
www.auralandscapes.co.uk Lifelong fan of (sporting team) Liverpool FC and Saracens RFC.
Best garden in the UK Mottisfont, Romsey.
Most used saying or cliché “Have you finished yet?” Prediction for new gardening trends Merging technology with nature. Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Oliver Reed, George Best and Elle MacPherson.
Biggest life influence My mum. Top plant Lily. Favourite tipple Champagne. Most treasured gift My daughter.
Lifelong fan of (sporting team) Saints (Southampton FC). Most used saying or cliché “Nothing is impossible – the very word says ‘I’m possible’.” Prediction for new gardening trends Porcelain patios.
Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Alan Sugar, Nigel Botterill and Michael McIntyre.
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