Pro Landscaper October 2012 by Eljays44

Concept to Delivery October 2012

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

INSPIRED GARDEN DESIGN

sIttINg Pretty A designer takes the client’s seat, creating a stunning garden of his own

let’s Hear it from...

Giles Burley, Chief Executive, G Burley & Sons

Portfolios

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Plantsman’s Plot

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18/09/2012 11:24

October 2012 | Volume 2, Issue 10

rEGULArS

POrTfOLiOS

4 news shed

Round-up of news from the industry

8 association news The SGD, APL and BALI report

14 Business tips

Inspired Garden Design

More useful advice from our regular columnists

29 let’s Hear It from

IN-eX Landscapes

Tim Lynch Associates

Giles Burley, Chief executive of South east-based maintenance contractor G Burley & Sons

52 Plantsman’s Plot This month’s popular plants

fEATUrES futurescape Update on

Pro Landscaper’s industry event launching in November

Hedging Janine Pattison

suggests alternatives to close board timber fencing

site Visit This month we

pay a visit to Readyhedge nursery in Worcestershire

57 Paving

Focusing on sustainable drainage systems

67 t rending

Pro Landscaper looks at what’s different

68 People

44 edItorIal editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk director – lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk Tel: 01903 234077 editorial assistant – rose Hales rose@pro-landscaper.co.uk

49 adVertIsIng Business development Manager Jamie Wilkinson Jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077 sales executive – luke chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077

edItorIal adVIsorY Panel Mark gregory Chairman APL and Landform Consultants sam Hassall LandPRO Ltd russell eales Lawn Care expert karl Harrison Decking expert keith sacre Tree expert

sales executive – sophie abbott sophie@pro-landscaper.co.uk

futurescaPe co-ordInator Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077

general enQuIrIes tel: 01903 234077

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Managing director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234077

Look Out For… Tristen Knight, events Diary and The Little Interview

ManageMent Managing director Jim Wilkinson director Lisa Wilkinson

ProductIon design and reproduction: Russell Cox Design & Production

Business development Manager Jamie Wilkinson

Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK

ofﬁce Manager Joe Wilkinson cIrculatIon subscription enquiries: lisa.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk Tel: 01903 234077 Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by eljays44 Ltd. The 2012 subscription price is £75.00. Subscription records are maintained at eljays44 Ltd, County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

Published by © eljays44 Ltd – Business Intelligence

Business intelligence

eljays44 ltd County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT Tel: 01903 234077

October 2012

News Shed

A busy planting season looms Autumn has officially arrived and with it comes the glorious season of autumn colour and the end of the growing season. But autumn also marks the start of a very busy time for many with the beginning of the bare-root planting season. Pro Landscaper’s Rose Hales’ insightful article highlights the benefits of this type of planting and offers advice and tips from experts in this field. As Pro Landscaper enters its second year, we’d like to reiterate how vital it is that “If you have any we continue to provide you suggestions for our readers with interesting, articles or would like informative and actionable content. If you’ve any suggestions to submit a project, please get in touch” for articles, would like to get involved by submitting a project for our Portfolio section, or just take part in our Little Interviews, please do get in touch. Also if your company has any exciting news, or something you would like to shout about, just email us so that we can find out more. We’ve also just recieved news of the BALI Awards 2012 winners, congratulations to you all. Have a great month and let’s hope the weather is good to us so we can make up for the lost work during the front half of the year… Jim and Lisa Wilkinson editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

Rutherfoord quits SGD chairmanship

Charles Rutherfoord has resigned as Chairman of the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) after holding the position for eight months. He leaves the post with immediate effect. The SGD commented: “Charles (pictured) has worked tirelessly for the Society and has

achieved much during the time he held the post. “In particular, Charles cemented the agreement between the SGD and The Garden Museum for a garden design archive as well as instigated an exciting initiative with the National Garden Scheme for 2013.”

The Detail is in the Design at next month’s FutureScape FutureScape promises to be an industry event like no other; we have an outstanding programme of seminars, masterclasses, and an excellent array of indoor and outdoor exhibitors. We are now very pleased to announce another fantastic and exciting new event which will1take RW_3xAds_55x186:Layout 11/09/2012 13:12 Page 2

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place at FutureScape: The Detail is in the Design, sponsored by Readyhedge Ltd. This event is intended purely for designers and will take the form of a question and answer session, with four of the industry’s leading designers making up a panel to respond to and debate

queries from the audience. For the panel we have secured four of the industry’s leading designers: John Wyer, Andrew Wilson, Janine Pattison, and Ann-Marie Powell. Many people have already pre-registered for the event, don’t miss out. www.futurescapeevent.com

News Shed

NPP shortlisted for exceptional service award Natural Paving Products (NPP) has been shortlisted for the Affiliate Exceptional Service Award in the BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) Awards 2012. NPP Operations Director Paul Shephard said: “We’re privileged to be shortlisted for the first ever Affiliate Exceptional Service Award. NPP and four other BALI affiliate members will find out who is to receive the Principal Award in the category at the BALI Awards, Grosvenor House Hotel, London on 7 December. www.naturalpaving.co.uk

RHS recognises expert gardeners of the future The RHS recently presented diplomas and certificates to the charity’s trainee gardeners. Nine students received the Wisley Diploma in Practical Horticulture, a further five Wisley Trainees received the charity’s Special Options Certificates and another seven from Hyde Hall, Harlow Carr and Rosemoor were presented with the RHS Certificate in Practical Horticulture. Guest speaker, James Wong said: “The RHS Diploma is the gold standard in horticultural expertise, which puts these guys at the head of the pack in this dynamic, ever-changing industry.”

The RHS is actively working with the horticultural trade to change the perception that horticulture is not seen as a rewarding career by young people. It will be offering 23 places for trainees at its gardens for 2013/2014. Anyone interested in applying for these positions should contact hrservices@rhs.org.uk.

Gardeners’ Question Time visits North West More than 2,000 people descended on Ness Gardens in South Wirral on 8 September, as BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time paid its ﬁrst visit to the North West. Radio 4 gardening experts including Eric Robson, Peter Gibbs, Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood, Bunny Guinness, Matthew Wilson,

Matthew Biggs, Anne Swithinbank, Paul Peacock, Christine Walkden and latest recruit Alison Pringle, offered wise gardening advice on all sorts of subjects. For details on horticultural and other related courses taking place at Ness Gardens, visit the website: www.nessgardens.org.uk.

NURSERY NEWS Autumn arrives at Deepdale The “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” is upon us. The nursery is alight with a blaze of orange, red and yellow signalling the end of our year on the nursery and heralding the start of the 2013 season. It’s been the coldest winter, driest spring and wettest summer on record. Our production staff have worked round the clock to ensure the trees constantly look their best. Our fantastic range of air-pot containerised trees means we can supply customers 365 days a year, despite the weather. The rain has been fantastic for growth on our large area of field production. All of the trees in the field have grown well this year, in particular the beautiful Claret Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Raywood, pictured). This fast-growing tree has a dense upright crown and will tolerate almost all soils. It is a great choice for avenue and street plantings and looks particularly wonderful at this time of year, resplendent with its wine red autumn foliage. www.deepdale-trees.co.uk

Contractors News

NEWS in brief Friday 5 October is free day at RHS gardens The RHS has announced Free Day Friday on 5 October, at RHS Gardens: Wisley; Hyde Hall; Rosemoor; and Harlow Carr. Visit: www.rhs.org.uk.

Lantra: inspire young into landscaping career Lantra has launched a new campaign, Inspire a Generation, and want to hear from landscapers who can show young people how rewarding a career in the industry can be. Visit: www.lantra.co.uk.

Landscape Institute chief says ‘offer placements’ Landscape Institute President Sue Illman has urged Registered Practices and other employers in the profession to offer short professional placements to Licentiate members who are currently unemployed.

Next phase commences at Jubilee Gardens The second installment of landscaping has started at Jubilee Gardens on London’s South Bank by landscape architect West 8 and Frosts Landscape Construction.

Quadron diversifies into arboriculture joint venture Quadron has purchased a 50% share in arboricultural specialist Blythe Valley Ltd. Based in Wythall, near Birmingham, Blythe Valley employs 13 highly skilled arborists and landscapers and carries out work for Birmingham City Council as well as the construction, utility, property management and domestic sectors. The company

also supplies woodchip for use as biomass fuel. This joint venture will allow both businesses to consolidate and diversify their current portfolios in the Birmingham area. Quadron Managing Director Clive Ivil said: “We look forward to working with Blythe Valley to further develop business in what is sure to be a

John O’Conner wins contract with Aldwyck Housing Group Aldwyck Housing Group has selected John O’Conner to provide grounds maintenance services to its customers in communities across the South East and East of England. The three-year contract was awarded in August following a stringent procurement process. Matthew O’Conner, Managing

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Director for John O’Conner, said: “We are delighted to be working with Aldwyck. We look forward to using our knowledge, experience and skills to help provide attractive and sustainable neighbourhoods for the benefit of all residents.” John O’Conner will take on apprentices and offer work experience opportunities, as well as sourcing from local suppliers as part of its long-term commitment to the areas served by Aldwyck. www.johnoconner.co.uk

successful, rewarding partnership based on geographic, operational and cultural synergies.” www.quadronservices.co.uk

Rural family business grows The DTMS Group, run by Dan and Elaine Clarke and based in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, has recently rebranded. The company began by providing pest and weed control before expanding to a full portfolio of services. The rural business employs and invests in local people by providing permanent positions, training and development through technical qualifications, work experience and apprenticeships. Dan Clarke said: “We started 20 years ago as a team of two; today we are a team of 25. We are a strong example of how a rural business can survive and thrive. www.dtmsgroup.co.uk

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Association News – SGD JOHN GLOVER

MARIANNE MAJERUS

Gardens competing in the SGD People’s Choice Award: Left: Clockwise from left, designed by Stuart Craine MSGD; Dan Pearson MSGD; Pat Fox MSGD; John Wyer FSGD.

What’s your favourite garden? E

People’s Choice Award shortlist announced

arlier this year, the SGD launched its ﬁrst Awards scheme to reward outstanding achievement in the garden and landscape design

profession. Since then, a panel of illustrious judges have drawn up a shortlist of entries for the 12 coveted titles and now the Society is calling on the public to have

their say and vote for the garden they think deserves the SGD People’s Choice Award. The gardens shortlisted in the International and three Residential Garden categories will be competing to win the People’s Choice Award. The ten gardens (pictured) range from tranquil, plant-ﬁlled sanctuaries in London to a garden created in the inhospitable landscape of the US Rockies. Cast your vote online To ﬁnd out more about all the gardens competing for the

Below: Clockwise from left, designed by Andrew Wilson FSGD; Charlotte Rowe MSGD; John Wyer FSGD; Ian Kitson FSGD; Ian Smith MSGD; Debbie Roberts MSGD.

People’s Choice Award and to cast your vote, visit the SGD Awards website: www.sgdawards. com/peoples-choice-award. The SGD People’s Choice Award will be managed by Awards media partner Homes & Gardens magazine. The voting will close on 26 October 2012 and the winner will be announced alongside the winners in all the other SGD Award categories at the Awards ceremony on Friday 9 November at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London. Have your say and support the SGD Awards.

MARIANNE MAJERUS MARIANNE MAJERUS

October 2012

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

News Leading British brand

ArtIfIcIAL GrASS October 2012

launches in South Africa Easigrass products will be available across the whole of South Africa as Britain’s leading artificial grass company has opened their franchise up to Van Dyck, the region’s leading carpet manufacturer and distributor.

Van Dyck Director Mehran Zarrebini shakes the hand of easigrass MD Anthony Gallagher.

Mehran Zarrebini, Director of Van Dyck, saw the opportunity to create a whole new concept for his customers. Easigrass would allow him to offer a range of products suitable for a variety of applications such as garden lawns, play areas and maintenance free landscapes.

Van Dyck immediately saw the value and advantages in stocking and rolling out of the Easigrass brand. They were extremely confident that the easigrass business model and marketing strategy would benefit both their company and their customers.

Meet the easigrass team at

easigrass awarded best in show at IOG Saltex

Tuesday 20th November sees the leaders of our industry attending FutureScape, a new and exciting one-day industry supported event for landscape contractors, designers and architects. The exhibition and demonstration areas will feature must have products and services such as easigrass. The easigrass team will be demonstrating the full range of their quality products and will be on

Another award topped off the perfect day at IOG Saltex exhibition in Windsor. It was great to see this year’s showcase of new and innovative products (as well as the free bar) and the award for ‘Best Stand in Show’ further demonstrates that easigrass are still at the forefront of an exciting and ground-breaking industry. The award follows our RHS Chelsea Show Gold Medal for Most Creative Tradestand. The IOG Saltex show is attended by open space management

hand to offer all the help and advice you need. Anthony Gallagher (MD) and Matthew Spedding (National Accounts Manager) will be there to meet with any potential Franchisees or interested businesses. If you want to see an innovative display of some of the best quality products, then join us at FutureScape.

professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors, so it is the highest compliment to receive an award from the leaders and professionals within our very own industry. Interested in what Easigrass has to offer? Email Matthew Spedding direct to arrange a meeting matt@easigrass.com

19/9/12 16:01:09

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07/08/2012 09:16:47

Association News – APl

Survive... Adapt... Grow

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

At HTA Garden Futures 1 HTA Garden

2 Speaker Andrew Simms from the Futures 2012 New Economics dinner venue, Foundation. St Ermin’s 3 Speaker Marshall Hotel; (inset) Dirks from conference Proven Winners venue One Great USA. George Street.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to attend the HTA Garden Futures Dinner and Conference which take place on 9 and 10 October in London. This prestigious, must-attend event for all in the garden industry tackles the tough challenges retailers, growers, landscapers and suppliers face in the sector today. Sponsored by Hozelock and Scotts Miracle-Gro the dinner takes place at St ermin’s Hotel on 9 October and the conference at One Great George Street on 10 October. The latest speaker joining the exciting line up is Dr Brian Clark, Senior economist at Barclays who will present an overview of the current economic climate and share his views on where it’s going and how this will impact businesses and consumers in the years ahead. Other speakers include: ● Paul Loft, Managing Director of Homebase. ● New economics Foundation’s Andrew Simms. ● Marshall Dirks from Proven Winners USA. ● Paul Hogden of IT Genetics and Mark Pitman from Hillier Garden Centres. ● Speakers from visa and Barclaycard will define the www.prolandscapermagazine.com

changes that retailers will see in payment technology and how this will affect the industry. ● Future Foundation’s Jason Mander. Industry leaders including Mark Pearson of Gardman, Andy McIndoe of Hillier Nurseries and James Barnes of Dobbies will explore how we can grow again and move forwards in The Big Debate. The HTA Garden Futures dinner which takes place the evening before at St ermin’s Hotel in London on Tuesday 9 October is a must-attend gathering of the key players from across the garden industry and will be a memorable evening in stunning surroundings. For further information about this event and to view the full programme visit www.garden futures.org.uk or email events@ the-hta.org.uk. Marketing/proﬁtability focus for aPl networking seminar The APL networking seminar, From Promotion to Profit, takes place at Wyevale east Nurseries on Wednesday 17 October from 4pm. The seminar will provide an excellent opportunity for landscapers and designers to get

together and hear from industry experts on different aspects of landscaping projects from marketing to profitability. Speakers include Paul Hodgen from IT Genetics who will talk about how to use social networking effectively using real examples and also how to maximise return on these activities. The talk will look at common misconceptions about social media and highlight some of the work that Hilliers is doing to make social media work for them. Rod Winrow from Garden House Design will look at the ways in which his landscaping company has been able to really add value (and profit) to their business in the current economic climate. This has been achieved through identifying great professional quality products that require a specialist service which have helped them stand out from the crowd and importantly stimulate additional work for their construction teams.

James Steele Sargent of Arun Landscapes will describe how a landscaper can increase a project’s profitability through streamlining and improving core business elements such as sales skills, staff efficiency and quality control through his ‘team harmony’ approach. The seminar will also feature a presentation from Mandy Buckland of Greencube Garden and Landscape Design, who will explain how designers and contractors can build trust and develop clear communication for detailed plans to achieve wonderful gardens. Places cost £15 + vat per person for APL members and £30 + vat per person for nonmembers. For further information and to book your place please visit www.the-hta.org.uk/calendar or email calendar@the-hta.org.uk. Have your say at our agM The APL AGM takes place on 17 October 2012 at Wyevale east Nurseries before the networking seminar starting at 3pm. Do you have any suggestions or key issues you would like raised at this meeting? email: claire.hayward@ the-hta.org.uk with any questions on this. October 2012

Association News – BAli

ALI’s National AGM, held in the Paddock Pavilion at Windsor Racecourse on the Wednesday of IOG SALTeX, was attended by some 50 members. 2012 has been a year of celebration and consolidation for BALI and the progress made in developing the Association for the benefit of its members was articulated by the outgoing National Chairman Paul Cowell, the Honorary Treasurer Martyn Mogford, and the Chief Operations Officer Wayne Grills, in their respective reports delivered at the meeting. Paul listed among BALI’s achievements in 2011/12: ● The work of the Regional Development Officers in seeing and supporting grass root members; ● The closer relationship between regional committee officers and the Landscape House team; ● The marked growth in take-up of the ROLO Health and Safety Awareness course and the BALI administered LISS/ CSCS skills card; ● The collaboration with other industry bodies to lobby the water companies to achieve exemptions from the Temporary Use Bans; ● The partnership with the National Contractors Forum, providing administration and lobbying support; and ● The wonderful achievements of BALI contractors and Affiliate members in delivering the Olympic Park landscape. Wayne Grills reinforced these successes but focused on the future, citing BALI’s recent market research programme that identified key indicators that will help BALI provide even more

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

From left: Bob Field, Vice Chairman; Chris Carr, National Chairman; Paul Cowell, Immediate Past Chairman; and Martyn Mogford, Honorary Treasurer

This month’s update features the AGM, Awards and a forum support for members, to increase promotion of the BALI brand to the public and commercial sectors, and to increase membership across all categories. Martyn Mogford, BALI Treasurer, was able to report a healthy Balance Sheet and sound financial stewardship of BALI funds. This will enable the Board to invest in initiatives that will directly benefit members, including the possible instigation of a Technical and Policy role at Landscape House. The business of the AGM saw four new Board directors elected by members: Terry Drew of Upcher & Co in Hampshire, Clive Ivil of quadron Services in Somerset, Matt O’Conner (son of former BALI Chairman John O’Conner) of John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) in Hertfordshire, and Richard Stone of Bawden Contracting Services in

BALI Awards judges met recently to agree this year’s winners. From Left: John Melmoe, Willerby Landscapes; Steve Roberts and

BALIBrieﬁng Wiltshire. They join existing Board members who represent companies from across BALI’s geographical membership. After two years as National Chairman, Paul Cowell handed over his chain of office to the new Chairman, Chris Carr, Sales and Marketing Manager of BALI Affiliate member q Lawns. Chris will be supported by new vice Chairman Bob Field of BALI contractors Robert Field Landscapes. Martyn Mogford remains as Honorary Treasurer. A brief presentation by Wayne Grills followed the AGM, after which members enjoyed a networking lunch. BalI-ncf forum With so many BALI members having attended the AGM, those who are also members of the National Contractors Forum (BALI-NCF) met after lunch in the

Michael Chance, industry consultants; Richard Barnard, Hillier Landscapes; Angela Donovan, BALI Awards project manager; Greg

Allen, Writtle College and Chairman of the Judging Panel; Wayne Grills, BALI COO; and Robin Templar Williams.

main Grandstand for presentations, introduced by BALI-NCF Chairman Bob Ivison. The theme was ‘Making change happen’ in the context of Britain’s public parks and green space, and being part of that change. Presentations from Peter Neal, landscape architect, on Rethinking Public Parks; from Kate Lowe, editor of Horticulture Week, on the Make Parks a Priority campaign and the political dimension; and Dr Sid Sullivan on what is it that contractors provide, gave members an insight to the changes that are already happening. In conclusion, Bob Ivison asked Forum members how BALI-NCF could help to make the change happen in a way that its members wanted and asked for member feedback to support lobbying. BalI awards And finally… the BALI Awards judges have met and agreed the winners list for the 2012 BALI National Landscape Awards in association with Horticulture Week. This will be published in the next edition of Pro Landscaper but is available now on the Awards website at www.baliawards.co.uk, where you can also order your tickets for the Awards ceremony, to be held at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, on Friday 7 December. October 2012

Business Tips

■ TO GET WORK Each year thousands of people visit flower shows looking for ways to transform their gardens. A show garden showcases your skills and distinguishes you from the cowboys. It promotes your business direct to people interested in gardens without the expense of glossy adverts. How many leaflets would you have to deliver to reach show visitor numbers such as: Southport – 70,000; and Chelsea (pictured) – 157,000.

Why create a show garden The best reason to do a show garden is an open secret: it’s great fun, but can also provide invaluable publicity and boost the proﬁle of your business, says Michèle Martin

■ FOR MEDALS Medals can persuade clients to choose you over a competitor. In 2005, I did a show garden at Southport Flower Show, which won a gold medal (pictured) and a job on a 3 acre garden that kept me busy for several years. Some show visitors come in search of a contractor, and others are still at the dreaming stage. The dreamers may come to you years later when they have got the money to realise their dream garden.

■ FOR A SPONSOR

■ FOR PUBLICITY Why does Diarmuid Gavin create sky pods (pictured) and giant pyramids? Tot up the value of his newspaper column inches, add in TV and radio airtime (one TV advert = £50,000). Get the picture? Gavin’s show gardens generate publicity worth far more than his gardens. Love ’em or loath ’em, you must agree Gavin knows how to get publicity for his business.

■ TO RAISE YOUR GAME Building a show garden beside other landscapers allows you to benchmark your designs – working closely on site you get to see what tools and techniques others are using. Over a cuppa you can find out about new

October 2012

■ TO MANAGE CASH FLOW It’s easy to obtain work during the springtime but good landscapers understand that they need to keep their income stream going throughout the colder months. Late summer and early autumn shows are best timed to bridge the winter gap in enquiries.

suppliers and services. If you didn’t get the medal you wanted most judges are happy to give constructive criticism. Ask them what you need to do to improve, act on it and you’ll raise your game. As an exhibitor you can wander round the show before the public is allowed in, giving you a sneak preview of new equipment when it’s quiet. Most of the top nurseries do lots of shows so it’s a great way to find out about plants from national experts happy to help.

Most show gardens couldn’t be built without some kind of sponsorship, which can be in money, goods or services. A good sponsor can increase press attention and may even get you new clients. Sponsors can also help man the garden during the show,

■ DO SOMETHING NEW Remember the first time you saw a fire pit? Or a gabion? Or a sedum

which is essential if you don’t want to miss a potential client while you pop to the loo.

roof (pictured)? Bet it was in a show garden. If you have a fantastic new idea there is no better way of launching it to the world. All show gardeners from sole traders to big corporate sponsors can tap into the show’s vast publicity machine hungry for stories to feed all their media contacts – and who knows, you might end up on the telly.

ABOUT miChÈle mArTiN Garden designer Michèle Martin has worked with Carol Klein and Chris Beardshaw for BBC TV at Chelsea Flower Show and advised the public on live gardening phone-ins on local radio. She is currently organising

the show gardens and talks at Southport Flower show as well as designing and building gardens for clients from the Merseyside coast to The Hague in the Netherlands. Tel: 01704 510160 Web: www.outsideinfluence.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Business Tips

The costs of soft landscaping Tree planting – part 1 of 2

scope In this cost investigation we examine the operations and costs of planting nursery stock and semi mature trees on a landscape site. Mature trees will be addressed in a later cost investigation. The cost

operations shown on these tables are involved when planting trees. notes about the following tables ● All items are shown at cost (readers should make an

The following items are addressed in these tables. Readers can choose which option they wish to use and then build up prices for the planting operations. These will be addressed in the cost issues as shown.

allowance for profit). ● The labour rate used is £19.50 per hour. ● The price of the tree itself is not included in these costs. This material price should be added in the planting cost.

THIS ISSUE 1

Operation

Work and cost implications of the operation

Selection costs

Has cost implications if the contractor has to visit a nursery to hand select the tree(s)

2a and 2b Setting out

If setting out from a design tree positions can often have exact setting out or positioning requirements

Excavation of tree pit

The work to excavate a standard compliant tree pit appropriate for the size of the tree. This table includes hand trimming operations and removal of excavated material if appropriate. A shingle drainage layer is optionally added

Unloading and movement of trees

Depending on whether the trees are being hand loaded off or machine unloaded

NEXT ISSUE 5

Placing to pit (planting)

The simple act of placing the tree to the correct level in the treepit

Staking or anchoring

Stakes or other anchoring systems

Tree pit soil improvements

Fertilisers, gels, composts

Tree pit irrigation

Perforated pipe or proprietary systems (not automatic irrigation)

Backfilling

Imported topsoils or excavated materials and the associated movement or labour costs

Maintenance and defects liability

The liability for the tree for a specified period and its initial maintenance

1 Selection costs

All items listed at CoST Allow for PRoFIT 16

October 2012

2a Setting out

These tree selection costs are based on travel to a local

nursery, travelling time not exceeding 2 hours each way.

No of trees

Selection time (hrs)

Cost (£)

0.75

246.25

51.00

1.5

27.25

2.5

15.38

3.5

9.79

7.90

If you are setting out from a design, tree positions can often have exact setting out or positioning

requirements. The table below illustrates what cost implications to add to your final price.

Setting out costs from drawings: Time per tree: 2-man team

Critical position Hours

Approx position

random or obvious positions

Hours

0.5 19.50

0.2

7.80

0.05

1.95

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Business Tips

2b Setting out Once initial setting out works have taken place the following planting operations can take place. Sizes of tree pits are based on this table.

Girth

Usual container

Container dimension (cm)

Approximate container weight

Diameter root-ball size

Approx. root-ball weight

8-10cm

40LP

40 x 35

20kg

40cm

40kg

10-12cm

40LP

40 x 35

20kg

50cm

50kg

12-14cm

40LP

40 x 35

20kg

50cm

50kg

14-16cm

80LP

50 x 40

50kg

60cm

60kg

16-18cm

80LP

50 x 40

50kg

60cm

80kg

18-20cm

80LP

50 x 40

50kg

70cm

150kg

20-25cm

200LP

80 x 50

250kg

70-80cm

225kg

25-30cm

200LP

80 x 50

300kg

80-90cm

250-400kg

30-35cm

200LP

80 x 50

400kg

90cm

400kg

table courtesy of Hillier Nurseries website: www.hilliertrees.co.uk / tel: 01794 368733

3 Tree pit excavation The following prices assume a two-man team in both machine and hand dug scenarios. Girth

Pit sizes mm. Vol incl bulkage 25%

Machine dig + hand trim

Hand dig

Disposal costs to stockpile Hand Machine (£) (£)

Shingle base 100mm thick

l x w (mm)

Depth (mm)

Vol. m3

Machine time (hrs)

Total (£)

Hrs

8-10cm

600

0.27

0.090

5.10

0.30

11.70

6.73

1.51

1.62

10-12cm

700

600

0.37

0.123

6.95

0.41

15.93

9.16

2.05

1.89

12-14cm

700

600

0.37

0.123

6.95

0.41

15.93

9.16

2.05

1.89

14-16cm

800

0.64

0.213

12.10

0.71

27.73

15.95

3.58

2.88

16-18cm

900

800

0.81

0.270

15.31

0.90

35.10

20.18

4.53

3.24

18-20cm

1000

900

1.13

0.375

21.27

1.25

48.75

28.03

6.29

4.05

20-25cm

1100

1000

1.51

0.504

28.59

1.68

65.54

37.69

8.45

4.95

25-30cm

1200

1000

1.80

0.600

34.03

2.00

78.00

44.85

10.06

5.40

30-35cm

1200

2.16

0.720

40.83

2.40

93.60

53.82

12.07

6.48

4 Unloading and moving to position

ABOUT sam hassall Moving costs: 50m max distance

The following table assumes the costs of crane offload from a delivery vehicle and moving trees maximum 50m to their planting positions.

Hand load to position

Machine load to position

Tree Size

Men

Hrs

Trees/hr

8-10

0.1

3.90

1.05

10-12

0.15

5.85

1.57

12-14

0.2

7.80

3.14

14-16

0.3

17.55

6.85

16-18

0.35

20.48

8.22

20-25

0.4

23.40

16.44

25-30

0.5

29.25

27.40

30-35

–

101.71

● The analysis performed within this article are only examples, therefore readers are responsible for accuracy of final calculations

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Sam Hassall is the UK’s only dedicated specialist landscape cost consultant. As managing director of LandPro Ltd he provides cost and implementation information to landscape design professionals and landscape contractors. Sam also compiles the Spon’s External Works and Landscape Price Book and developed the market leading LiberRATE Estimating system which is available as a 90-day trial. Visit www.landpro.co.uk, or call: 01252 795030.

October 2012

Business Tips

We set the scene for the Jodie Read seminar at Pro Landscaper’s FutureScape event next month

A question of compliance Running a business is challenging enough without the added pressure of determining what quality, environmental, health and safety systems you need to have in place to meet legal or customer requirements. Jodie Read will be delivering a seminar on this topic at the forthcoming FutureScape event. Here is what what you can expect from that seminar. Within the landscaping sector, businesses are often asked to demonstrate evidence of a range of Standards or schemes such as ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS18001, NHSS18, CHAS or Constructionline. During the seminar, which will be an interactive 20 minute session, followed by questions and answers, Jodie will review what is legally required, and consider why companies might choose to implement others. The seminar is free to attend and is designed to appeal to landscape contractors. The

session will last for 20 minutes, with a further 10 minutes for questions and answers. It is intended to be a fast-paced, fun and interactive session. Approximately 30 spaces are available, so anyone interested in attending is encouraged to pre-register via email to editor@prolandscaper.co.uk.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING For attendees, there will be an opportunity to: ● Complete a free compliance checklist. ● Understand what Standards are applicable. ● Ask questions to clarify how requirements apply to your own business. ● Find out where to source extra information.

ABOUT JODIE READ Jodie Read is the Managing Director of Penarth Management Limited; a company which specialises in the provision of compliance consultancy and training for quality, environmental, health and safety management. She and her colleagues assist companies to implement and maintain management systems, such as ISO9001 (Quality), ISO14001 (Environmental) or

OHSAS18001 (Health and Safety). The company is an affiliate member of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and Jodie is one of only a few approved Register of Landbased Operatives (ROLO) health and safety trainers in the country. If readers have any queries regarding any of these standards, they are welcome to contact Jodie via e-mail: jodie@penarth.co.uk or by telephone on 029 2070 3328.

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October 2012

Business Tips

Team gold Forming a successful team takes time and the process includes a number of vital stages, says Yvette Etcell While recruitment activities and appraisal processes focus on the appointment and development of individuals for specific roles within your organisation, people will also often be required to work together as part of a team. Teams can achieve far more as a group than their individual members could alone; each member brings different perspectives, experiences, and skills. effective teamwork is therefore essential – however, it is unrealistic to expect a team to perform to the highest level from the outset. Team formation takes time and there are a number of recognised stages in the journey. By recognising and understanding these stages, you as a leader can help your team to become highly productive as quickly as possible. In 1965, Bruce Tuckman published his research into the theory of social group dynamics, which described the stages relating to teamwork as “forming, storming, norming, performing (and later added a fifth stage: “adjourning”). The five stages are detailed as follows: ● FORMING The earliest stage, which is generally fairly short and may only be relevant for the first meeting. Team members may be anxious or excited about the challenges ahead and spend time feeling things, and each other, out. Your role is to direct the team and to establish clear objectives for the group as a whole. ● STORMING Perhaps coined, since this can resemble a “choppy sea” as people jockey for position, challenge each other and www.prolandscapermagazine.com

clarify their roles/position within the team. It is critical for the leader to take control here by establishing processes and a structure to ensure conflicts are resolved, and to smooth the path for good relationshipbuilding between members. You may need to reassure some and tame others by remaining positive and firm if your leadership or the team’s goals are challenged. You may even wish to discuss the stages involved in team-building, thus having the opportunity to explain that in team-building the ‘calm’ comes after the ‘storm’. ● NORMING By now, patterns of behaviour and leadership are established; the team will have developed a demonstrable commitment to the team goals and progress towards it will be apparent. Individuals may begin to socialise together, seek feedback from and offer constructive advice to each other – in other words be working as a collective team. At this stage, you should be able to take a step back and allow/facilitate the team to take

responsibility for progress towards the goal. This could be the optimum time to organise a team-building activity. ● PERFORMING At this stage things are really happening. Sustained hard work and effort will be having a direct outcome on results. During this stage new members may join the team and others may leave, without impacting the performance culture. As the leader, you can now delegate much of the ‘doing’ and concentrate your efforts on developing individual team members. Aim to manage with a ‘light touch’ and take the opportunity to focus on the future strategic development of your business. ● ADJOURNING Most relevant for shorterterm project teams; since the team have become used to the close working patterns and support provided by the collegiate group, disbanding may be hard. Take the opportunity to celebrate achievements and ensure the perceptions of the experience by individual team members remains positive (you may need them to work together again). Your role is to guide your team towards sustained high-performance as soon as possible. Start by identifying which stage you are currently at, and then consider what is required to move the team towards the Performing stage. Remember to regularly review team performance to ensure progress through the stages is recognised and your leadership approach is adjusted accordingly. Being part of a high-performing team is a tremendously positive and powerful experience – not forgetting it is also great fun. Although it takes understanding, professionalism and patience, it will almost certainly be well worth the effort.

ABOUT YVeTTe eTCell yvette Etcell is Director of Business Development and HR at Gavin Jones Ltd. With an early career in sales, advertising, marketing and assisting with personal injury litigation she then took a career break to spend time with her family. yvette spent five years with English

Landscapes as an Operational Contracts Manager (Coventry City GM/Cleansing contract), then as Area Manager with a portfolio of circa £5m/pa contracts. yvette joined Gavin Jones Ltd in 2003 as Business Development Manager, was promoted to Company Secretary in 2008 and to the board 12 months later. Contact: yvette.etcell@gavinjones.co.uk

October 2012

Business Tips

Collect call RUSSELL COX

Follow-up calls to potential clients are largely avoidable if the sales process is followed correctly, says Phil Jones. But his simple tips can boost your chances of ultimate success

I am often questioned on the best way of making follow-up calls when chasing quotes or proposals. I have a simple take on this and there are two ways I approach this challenge. First, every follow-up situation is avoidable if the sales process is followed correctly. Second, if you do ﬁnd yourself in a situation requiring follow-up, I have some important tips that will get back in the driving seat. The sales process is all about control. The aim is to be in control throughout and lead your proposal from enquiry to decision by steering

The sales process is all about control. The aim is to be in control throughout and lead your proposal from enquiry to decision by steering them through the maze them through the maze. A common mistake is to try and cheat tried and tested practices by fast-tracking. It’s too easy to believe that potential customers make a purchase based solely on price, so on receipt of an inquiry we often jump to providing a quotation as quickly as possible, before having a discussion on price. People actually buy on value and will typically buy into a person they trust before buying a product or service. Knowing that people buy people, the starting point in avoiding difﬁcult follow-up scenarios is to build a genuine relationship and, where possible, do this face-to-face. In meeting you will 22

October 2012

build rapport and ask questions to equip yourself with the information you need to make a recommendation to your potential customer. It is here that simple mistakes are often made. The goal is to put yourself in a position where you can deliver your recommendations in person and not by post or email. With this in mind, you should arrange the meeting to discuss your findings before leaving the first meeting. The easiest way to do this is to give your customer a choice of two dates for your return visit. They will either pick one or suggest an alternative. On returning with your recommendations, understand that you need to start near the beginning again. Reconfirm your customers’ requirements and then walk them through your recommendations explaining exactly how you can help. Close in person, on the day, and leave with the decision, avoiding the need of follow-up. Avoiding chasing decisions is definitely the goal and I promise the time you invest in controlling this process at the beginning will result in improved conversion rates and less time chasing decisions. However, you will still find yourself faced with outstanding opportunities that you would like to turn into confirmed orders so here are some simple tips. 1 Don’t leave voicemail messages; this prevents you from calling again. 2 Open your call by checking they received your recommendations (not quote or proposal). 3 Ask them what questions they have. Their answer here puts you back in control. Any

questions can be answered to lead to a decision. No questions means a decision has been made. 4 If the ﬁrst form of communication fails then try something different. Don’t harass. 5 If it’s worth it, pop back in to see them face-to-face. 6 Take your offer away by making it time dependant. Just like the fear caused by removing a child’s uneaten dinner with a threat of no dessert – limiting your offer can have the same result. Finally, remember that the biggest reason that people do not buy from you is that they remain undecided. Everybody facing indecision will at some point make a decision and if your follow-up remains unproductive then don’t just stop. Continue to communicate by newsletter and diarise an opportunity to make contact again in the future, because at some point their circumstances will change and they may just need your help.

ABOUT PHIL JONES Phil Jones has been in business since he was just 14 years’ old and has been fine-tuning his sales process since. Published author of Toolbox and an award-winning business educator, Phil has been instrumental in turning around underperforming businesses and his expertise makes him an invaluable source for organisations to tap into at all levels. Email enquiries@philmjones.com, or telephone 01527 531 393. www.philmjones.com

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October 2012

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Business Tips

Keeping up appearances

The successful maintenance and management of a designed space is a highly desirable outcome to which I’m sure we all subscribe. The difficulty is that within this profession we are all on one side of a divide that can sometimes seem cavernous. Why is it that such a straightforward act of protecting the original investment and enhancing the environment is so often problematic? Money is of course at the root of much of the issue. Clients pay for the design, then pay for the build and then perhaps understandably find themselves financially fatigued by the time it comes to paying for maintenance. Part of the issue here may be found in the way whole projects are approached in a compartmentalised format; each party asking for their stake but no-one apparently seeing the broad overview. As the first through the door it should fall upon the shoulders of the designer to introduce the concept of ongoing maintenance with others following in support. Those designers who shy away from the subject are being dishonest and disingenuous, winning contracts without revealing the full story. It must be said, however, that designers should also work with a realistic view of aftercare in mind having first identified its potential scale and complexity. Look out for new BIM (Building Information Modelling) legislation on the horizon that just might help this situation. lack of understanding On the client’s part there is work to be done. Most have a complete lack of understanding of costs for outdoor works and little respect for the skill base that produces it, a situation that has sadly prevailed for decades and which many in the media still peddle. An appetite for the lowest price possible at tender stage suggests an uphill struggle when it comes to maintenance costs, the old capital versus revenue argument. Everything needs to be maintained or managed over time to protect the original investment and yet buildings and structures will enjoy the lions share while often swingeing cuts will be made against external works. In a recent joint bid for a project with an architectural www.prolandscapermagazine.com

The changing planting palette from woody species to perennials is still not understood by many who maintain

wmstudio

Designers need to ensure clients are aware of the reality and cost of ongoing aftercare, explains Andrew Wilson

practice, several questions were asked about the costs of maintaining the planted elements but nothing about the building as a whole. This negativity needs to be addressed for it is widely acknowledged that a green environment is a desirable and productive one. Look at any promotional information for commercial developments or estate agent blurb for private houses and the external spaces will feature heavily. Something here doesn’t add up it seems. And what of those who actually maintain? There is a wide-ranging skill base currently supporting both landscape and garden design maintenance. Too many gardeners are unskilled,

ABOUT andrew wilson Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden designer as well as Director of Wilson McWilliam Studio. He is also a Director of the London College of Garden Design, an author and an RHS judge of Show Gardens. www.wmstudio.co.uk

not simply falling back on mowing and blowing but capable of doing lasting harm to recently completed designs. Even those with skill and experience are rarely given any ongoing training that might deliver capabilities in looking after and nurturing perennials and grasses as opposed to the wholesale pruning (or trimming) of shrubs and woody species. This should alarm any designer who has followed the trends of the ornamental meadow, prairie or new perennial planting. In the commercial and public sector there is a chicken and egg situation. The skill base is often insufficiently capable of providing appropriate management for more innovative, complex or site-specific planting. The result is that we rarely see it designed let alone implemented and so our country is littered with acres of trimmed and moulded Pyracantha, Lonicera nitida and Prunus ‘Otto Luyken’. It is no wonder that clients lose interest and see landscaping as a waste of money, often forced into some sort of token provision by the planners. Mmmm, now, planners – there’s a whole new subject. October 2012

Business Tips

natural selection

Converting difficult-to-maintain green space to wildflower meadow is a realistic alternative, insists Angus Lindsay

Despite ‘Olympic fever’ now fading to memory, I’m sure that seeing our athletes doing so well and the whole spectacle of the Olympic venues still stirs national pride within us. Aside from the sports action, I was struck by images from the Olympic Park on television showing an abundance of wild flowers and naturalised grass areas and less of the traditional manicured lawns. More importantly, I thought how good these wildflower areas looked and how easy they were to maintain. Once the transformation works are complete on the Olympic Park, The Landscape Group is looking forward to keeping the biodiversity flourishing and we applaud all the landscape designers involved in such a forward-thinking and sustainable scheme. For grounds maintenance professionals across the UK, this year has been a challenge for all stakeholders involved in keeping our green and pleasant land within specified tolerances. Considering this, is it time we revisited these specifications in light of changing weather patterns and economic squeeze? Cutting grass in torrential rain on sodden ground is hard on people, machines and the

amenity and also does nothing for the general health of the local environment. Nobody likes to see windrowed clumps of sodden grass; so why don’t we consider some realistic alternatives? I am not suggesting that we stop cutting grass altogether and turn the verges, open spaces and parks of Britain into wildflower meadows. I believe we should instead consider areas which are difficult to maintain, such as central reservations on low speed roads, banks and slopes too steep for safe mowing operations,

Do parks and large open spaces really need to be closemown expanses of grass with relatively little biodiversity? sites next to rivers, roads, railways or where there are significant access problems. Rather than spend thousands of pounds on expensive specialised machinery to keep the grass down, why not seed it with wildflowers and let it grow to add a splash of colour and in some cases provide a natural barrier? The machinery would not be totally redundant as the grass would still need cutting and the arisings collected, but not so often. In the case of a central

ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAy As an agriculturist, 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 as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in yemen. During this time he

October 2012

reservation this could save fuel, lane closure costs, overtime and potential accidents. Our clients at Bristol City Council have done so where the M32 enters Bristol, and the results are stunning. A colourful new meadow has popped up at the bottom of the M32, transforming this normally dull side of the busy road to a rainbow of cheerful flowers such as red poppies, pink cosmos, blue cornflowers, and yellow marigolds. Do parks and large open spaces really need to be close-mown expanses of grass with

also spent a year at Silsoe, gaining an MSc in Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation Management. Returning to the UK he joined Glendale as machinery manager in l994 – going on to become Company Engineer – before joining The Landscape Group in 2009 as Group Head of Assets and fleet. Contact: alindsay@ thelandscapegroup.co.uk.

relatively little biodiversity? Wouldn’t they (and we) benefit by annually rotating sections as wildflower meadow to encourage wildlife such as butterflies and bees, which we know are struggling to survive in today’s chemically dependent world. Nature trails cut into these meadows make it easy for park users and their families to move around the park and get close to nature. The recent Tv programme Bees, Butterﬂies and Blooms, presented by Sarah Raven, demonstrated how wildflower plantings in amenity areas can soon gain public support, once their purpose and benefits are explained. Wildflower areas and banks have already been successfully introduced across a number of The Landscape Group’s sites and the ensuing biodiversity reports have shown numerous butterfly and moth species returning and flourishing; an attractive sight in itself. Constantly cutting around tree bases can be a contentious issue too. ROPS frames have to be lowered to get the machine beneath the tree www.prolandscapermagazine.com

1 Bristol City Council has created a new meadow where the busy M32 motorway enters the city. 2

canopy. The ride-on operator tries to get as close as possible to reduce the need for back-up mowing and the tree (and sometimes the machine and operator) gets damaged. For young trees, we understand the need to mow to reduce competition from grasses, but once the tree is mature and well established, why not leave this area to grow and form a ring around the canopy base? This protects the tree and allows for more productive mowing. With good communication and explanation, this practice can soon gain acceptance. The week after the Olympics closed, the news came out that the government had sanctioned selling off school playing fields for building development â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ironic in a recession when the construction industry is on its knees. What is even more ironic is that after such an amazing performance by our athletes and a pledge by the same government to invest in sport, the green spaces where we all grew up playing sport are now being torn up and replaced with concrete, tarmac and steel. Our green and pleasant land does not have to be confined to the countryside. With a bit of thought and lateral thinking we could soften the harshest of environments and bring a little bit of colour back to our streets and neighbourhoods. We could also save ourselves the headache of trying to keep nature at bay when the elements are against us.

2 With a bit of lateral thinking the harshest of environments could be softened and colour brought back to our streets. 3 Area of wild flowers and naturalised grass at the Olympic Park in Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stratford.

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October 2012

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October 2012

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let’s hear it From...

Giles Burley Chief executive, G Burley & Sons Based near Dorking, in Surrey, G Burley & Sons was founded by George Burley some 60 years ago and it has since grown to around 170 employees. Current Chief Executive Giles explains his journey into landscaping, the company and his day-to-day role. How did you get into landscaping? After starting a career editing in the film business, I decided that working in a dark office wasn’t for me so I started a summer job at Burleys on The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea housing contract. After four years, I moved to emsworth, Hampshire and helped supervise a Ministry of Defence (MOD) contract at Thorney Island. A year later I was back to Head Office which is based at a rural walled garden near Dorking, Surrey, supervising on various housing, MOD and local authority maintenance contracts. I went to Plumpton College on day release during the evenings to get my qualifications. When was that? About 25 years ago. But even though I joined officially in 1988, I had often worked during the summer months to enable me to travel abroad in the winter. england is the best place in the summer, but come the winter it was nice to go away. Back to my school days, in the holidays I used to help out at the parish recreation ground, using a Ransomes Motor Triple mower to cut the outfields. In a way I have been involved in landscaping and grounds maintenance for a lot longer than 25 years – just not officially! When was g Burley & sons established? In 1951; last year was our 60th anniversary. My www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Large facilities management firms and PLCs have increased their order-books through aggressive pricing and very low margins. We see the market consolidating in the future grandfather George Burley set up the company. He started by doing a lot of landscape install work around the Crawley New Town area. Once the town was built, they needed someone to look after the grounds; so that is how we got into maintenance. My father John and his brother David then took over the business. My father is now retired, and David works three days a week so we are on to the next generation. What is your day-to-day job? I am the Chief executive, general overseer and strategic decision-maker of the business – I wear lots of hats. How many of the next generation are at the company now? I have a cousin and a brother here now. Luke, my cousin, is an area manager and my brother is at college. Along with me that is pretty much it. Is maintenance the main part now? I’d say maintenance is 75% of our work, the

remainder is made up of landscape install, arboriculture and so on. Historically, we gained most of our maintenance work from Wates estates. We also won work from the MOD and government departments and then when CCT came in, during the late 1980s, things started to move towards local authority work and housing contracts. How is the business coping with the cutbacks? We are definitely having to do a lot more for a lot less, as well as be more creative and forward thinking when it comes to service delivery. What is your company structure? While we have a typical board structure, we have a senior management team of Directors, Area Managers, Finance and Business Development, that ensure the business strategy is delivered on a day-to-day basis. Burleys strongly believes clients should be able to access managers and directors alike and we October 2012

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strive to ensure that all staff feel included and part of the ‘family’. Will there be another generation to come through? Certainly, I have three boys who cut my grass at home so are in training already. David also has two boys who are already at Merrist Wood. How many employees do you have? In excess of 100 permanent staff and just fewer than 200 summer staff. Then we have our own workshops – we deal with everything in-house and have always done it this way, as it not only better enables us to control costs but we can turn things around very quickly when required.

What are the growth opportunities in your company? More of the same – we are a specialist green

How do you source new opportunities and new business? We make use of tender-searching websites, word of mouth, existing relationships, repeat and return clients. We have a small tendering department and we all get involved in the decision-making process. We work hard to ensure we follow our integrated management system and deliver a high-quality customer-focused service which underpins our commitment to quality, the environment, staff welfare and of course customer satisfaction.

service provider predominantly delivering grounds maintenance, however, we do undertake soft landscape works and arboriculture. We don’t use subcontracted labour or agencies, preferring to selfdeliver and continue to provide a high-quality green service.

What are the major challenges ahead for your company? Due to the current economic climate, we are seeing contracts move from quality to price. As a family business we have worked hard to build a reputation based on quality. We won’t sacrifice our reputation for the sake of turnover.

What areas do you cover? We cover a large area of the South of England. We consider each potential contract on its individual merits so I wouldn’t want to be specific about coverage.

How much does looking after the environment play a part in your work? Given the industry within which we operate, we believe we have a responsibility to promote and maintain the natural environment. We take

That is disappointing. Burleys prides itself on delivering a quality service offering good value for money. We are already seeing contractors failing to deliver services as they can’t afford to resource contracts due to the low tendered sums. I fully expect to see some consolidation in the market as companies chase turnover instead of profit. It is important that our business is sustainable.

Does it affect the way you purchase the equipment? It does and it doesn’t. My uncle deals with all the mower and plant buying and he does drive a hard bargain. We try to buy in bulk where we can. Over the years we have built up long term relationships with our suppliers. David enjoys the haggling side of the business. How is your relationship with suppliers? Unlike others, we pay on 30 days and try to use local suppliers who have the same environmental and sustainable ethos as we do. As a relatively small company, we know how important cashflow is to a business. Is the majority of your turnover from the public sector? It’s mainly from local authorities, housing associations, developers, building main contractors, architects, and crown estate. We were the first grounds maintenance company to gain a Royal Warrant back in 2005. What is your turnover? Did it increase on the year before? Turnover is circa £6.5m; an increase on last year. We’re following our strategic three-year plan and so far it has worked for us. The competitive environment out there – people are tendering at less than cost price, are you noticing this? 30

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competitors still in the marketplace that haven’t been swallowed up by PLCs, such as John O’Conner – there aren’t that many of us left. I admire those who don’t drive down the industry rates to an unachievable limit; it’s not helping to find quality horticultural staff for our industry.

house, it’s not just one specific contract, it’s everything. You won’t find many of our competitors doing that. Who are your main competitors? Large PLCs as well as the small contractors are tendering for the same work as us and at the moment the market is certainly very crowded. We find that there are still clients who value the family ethos and quality of work, who know that we will deliver on our promises. What’s the market like? The market over the last few years has seen large facilities management companies and PLCs increase their order-book through aggressive pricing and very low margins. We see the market consolidating in the future and believe there is still a place for a quality family-led business.

seriously our responsibility for protecting and respecting our natural surroundings for the benefit of future generations. We have to comply with and benchmark ourselves against accreditations all the time. We have tried electric hand tools, LPG, the Modec, Groupil, and we are currently looking at Tata electric. We harvest rainwater at our head office as well as heating the main office with a wood burning stove and the workshops with recycled oil-powered heaters. All of our batteries and oil filters are recycled as well as almost 100% of our green waste. Because everything is done in www.prolandscapermagazine.com

How do you see the market over the next few years? I am seeing changes in next-generation contracts which are reverting back to regional rather than national contracts which I find reassuring. I’d like to see more of a quality-versus-price balance. What are the trends? Accreditations are becoming more and more important in the industry, not only to ensure that as a company you are acting professionally and safely but also to give clients assurance that a first class service will be delivered. Are there any other contracting companies that you admire? As a generalisation it is good to see like-minded

What are your feelings about the industry associations? It is important to be seen to be a member of your trade association such as BALI. However, over the years, we feel BALI has focused more on the smaller landscape companies than the grounds maintenance (GM) contractor. GM contractors have been left to fend for themselves, hence why we were keen to be one of the founding members of the National Contractors Forum, which we hope will raise the profile of grounds maintenance and enable us to be represented at a government level. Is the industry training its staff well enough? We have got apprentices in place in grounds maintenance and arboriculture and it is a programme we are expanding. It is true that less and less young people see horticulture as a career and it is down to us as employers to encourage and enthuse the next generation. Tell us about yourself. I love being busy with both work and home projects on the go – I always have lots of to-do lists to work through. I feel one of my roles is to constantly nag so things get done. What do you do to relax etc? It depends on the season and wind conditions. I love windsurfing and game shooting, and I’m a qualified pyro-technician so I like to help out at firework and bonfire events locally. Most weekends I’m at the beach with the family teaching my three boys to windsurf.

contact G Burley & Sons Ltd Burleys Corner, South Holmwood, Dorking, Surrey RH5 4LJ Tel: 01306 711799 Email: enquire@gburley.co.uk Web: www.gburley.co.uk

October 2012

Marcus Harpur

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eyeopener Inspired Garden Design Designing your own scheme can be a difficult prospect when you look at things from the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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I’ve designed a great number of gardens over the years, but I didn’t really understand what it was like from our clients’ perspective

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Project duration 6 months Size 56m2 Cost £20,000

ABOUT INSPIRED GARDEN DESIGN Inspired Garden Design Ltd was established in 2004 by Lee Bestall Bsc MSGD. Lee is an award-winning garden designer and fully registered member of the Society of Garden Designers. Having recently won a gold medal for his show garden at the Harrogate Flower Show, he enjoys designing contemporary outdoor spaces inspired by his clients’ lifestyles. Lee operates his design practice in Sheffield and enjoys writing gardening articles, painting landscapes with plants and working with clients who share his passion for quality design. www.inspiredgardendesign.co.uk

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his was the most difficult garden I have ever had to design, and it took around six months. The main problem was trying to decide what style, colours and materials to choose. It’s very easy when designing someone else’s garden and you don’t try to complicate the design with a million different ideas that you have seen throughout the past eight years of your career. The worst bit is that (like most clients) I wanted a £40k garden out of a £20k budget. It’s a brand new house so the top and subsoil had been stripped, leaving solid bedrock behind. We had to excavate a further 170 tons of rock to make a level site and planting areas. I’m so fussy about the condition of the soil in which we plant, which meant I imported local topsoil with added recycled green waste and manure from our local stables to bring in worms and life.

tHe garden – ‘desIgned tHrougH tHe clIent’s eYes’ I’ve designed a great number of gardens over the years and our customers are always delighted with the end results, but until I had my own garden transformed, I didn’t really understand what it was really like from our clients’ perspective. Of course, as we all do, I’d tried to put myself in their shoes, to see it 1 The raised seating area with Iroko cube table. 2 Planting detail in raised border. 3 Echinacea purpurea flower. 4 Pod chairs sat on artiﬁcial lawn. 5 View from the kitchen. 6 Water feature with floating stepping stones. 7 Final levels creation with a 3 ton machine. 8 Block work wall construction. 9 Day 1 clearing the site with a 7 ton machine. 10 Design drawing. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

through their eyes, to pre-warn them about the mess, mud, skips, deliveries and inevitable mid-project lull, but nothing quite prepared me for it. I just wanted to get it finished. The contractors I used were fantastic, some of the best guys in town and they used the garden to enter the BALI awards last year where they won the principal award for

Domestic Garden Scheme less than £20,000. Being the control freak that I am, I did the soil prep and planting myself. It’s a mixture of things I have propagated and bought in, but it changes monthly. I’m planning to take it all out in the autumn to try a new scheme – on second thoughts, it might just be easier to move house.

REFERENCES Designer Lee Bestall Inspired Garden Design Ltd, Suite 115, Khepera Business Centre, 9 Orgreave Rd, Sheffield, S13 9LQ Tel: 0114 2133 660 Email: info@inspired gardendesign.co.uk Web: www.inspired gardendesign.co.uk Main contractor James Bird Landscapes Ltd 100 Queen Victoria Rd, Totley, Sheffield S17 4HU Tel: 0114 2589290 Email: james@jabird.co.uk Web: www.james-birdlandscaping.com Fossil mint sawn; honed imported sandstone A Cowley & Sons Ltd

Turnerwood, near Thorpe Salvin, Worksop, Notts S80 3LA Tel: 01909 772302 Email: enquiries@ cowleystone.co.uk Web: www.cowleystone. co.uk

Stainless steel water blade Landscapes Direct Acresfield Barns, Acres Lane, Upton, Chester CH2 1LJ Tel: 0800 731 6534 Email: sales@ld-uk.com Web: www.ld-uk.com Lighting The Lighthaus 54 Alderley Rd, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 1NY Tel: 01625 548517 Email: sales@thelighthaus. co.uk

Web: www.thelighthaus. co.uk

Plant suppliers Knowl Park Nurseries Knowl Rd, Mirfield, West Yorkshire WF14 9UU Tel: 01924 492645 Email: sales@knowlpark. co.uk Web: www.knowlpark. co.uk Grass Lazylawn Operated by Evergreens UK Ltd, Extons Units, Market Overton Industrial Estate, near Oakham, Rutland LE15 7PP Tel: 01572 767 058 Email: trade@evergreens uk.com Web: www.lazylawn. co.uk

Furniture Bhs Limited 6th Floor, North West House, 127-129 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5PX Tel: 0844 411 6000 Web: www.bhs.co.uk Firepit Amazon Web: www.amazon. co.uk Steel balls Homebase Web: www.homebase. co.uk Fencing and planters Lee Bestall Planters available from Inspired Garden Design Web: www.inspired gardendesign.co.uk

October 2012

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GREENAND PLEASANT

ABOUT IN-EX LANDSCAPES IN-EX Landscapes is an award-winning landscape design and build company that operates across London and the Home Counties. The team has undertaken a broad range of both private and commercial projects with numerous show gardens featured at the Chelsea Flower Show. Ongoing schemes include public realm spaces and regeneration works. IN-EX can undertake any scale of project, from conceptual design through to practical completion. www.in-exlandscapes.com

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Gigantic flowers and large play bugs create a magical Alice in Wonderland feel and the flowering arch gateways give a taster of things to come

IN-EX Landscapes Residents of East London have been treated to a imaginative makeover of St Stephens Green

N-EX Landscapes was employed as the principal contractor for St Stephens Green in Bow – a centrally located commercial scheme that forms part of ongoing regeneration works throughout East London. The brief for this project was to work closely with the client and architect providing design and material solutions to a defined budget. INEX Landscapes created an imaginative, safe and playful environment for the local residents and children of East London. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Natural stone was sourced from various locations and specifically cut to CAD schedules compiled by IN-EX, accuracy was therefore particularly important with radial pieces which could not be adapted on site. Due to the location of the site and its proximity to the 2012 Olympic Games it was vital that all deliveries and programming was project managed efficiently and to schedule. St Stephens Green reached practical completion in May 2012 and was handed over to the client for an opening ceremony in June. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The existing site presented various problems and opportunities, being centrally located within a busy residential environment required strategic management of all deliveries and careful scheduling of the work to provide fluidity and minimise disruption. The bulk of all ground and earthworks were undertaken within a three-week period to enable IN-EX to commence the landscaping works on a blank canvas and also to reduce the ongoing movement of soil and excavated material to and from site. Two contrasting colours of granite were used throughout the scheme with other natural stone elements including a dry limestone wall and polished seats. These were all cut from

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stone schedules compiled by IN-eX, which included radial boundary kerbs and all paving elements. Daisy sculptures and decorative entrance gates were independently commissioned and carefully installed. Resin bound paths together with wet-poured ePDM safety surfacing continued the contrasting circular path and play arrangements throughout. These surfaces were fully installed within a three-day period. Play areas were specifically designed by the architect and equipment sourced for its hard-wearing nature and longevity. Specific areas of play included the hoppers and timber walkways with bouncing flowers. The scheme was complemented with a timber trim trail to the sunken lawn areas and various fitness elements including rowers and outdoor gyms. aBout tHe sIte St Stephen’s Green is the size of a traditional London Square, bound on all sides by roads, and located in Bow, east London, which is a two-minute walk from victoria Park. It is the intention that the local school can utilise the space for imaginative learning. There are

Project

timeline 38

›› Site set up and clearance Jan 12

October 2012

›› Electrical/ water dig to road lay services to site Jan 12

two oval lawn areas, one is sunken, each with its own planting style, a woodland character under the existing tree canopy to the north and ornamental planting closer to the older residents and where there is more light. Lighting is integral to the scheme and illuminates the footpaths, gigantic flower stems and entrance gateways into the green. The drainage for the project utilises a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDs). desIgn concePt The design has always had a strong concept of

›› Removal of soft landscape Jan 12

‘scale and fun’. Gigantic flowers and large play bugs create a magical Alice in Wonderland feel; the directional footpaths taper to create the illusion of being longer than they really are and the flowering arch gateways provide a taster of things to come. actIVItY There are three activities that have been provided for residents young and old. Gigantic play bugs for imaginative toddler play, a trim trail around the green and a gym for the fitter resident to work out.

›› Removal of street furniture Jan 12

›› Removal of railings Jan 12

›› Removal of footpaths and bollards Jan 12

›› Bases and foundations Jan 12

›› Installation EI / Water Jan 12

›› Installation of concrete kerbs Jan – Feb 12

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›› Ins of blo Jan –

ation te

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1 Dissecting granite footpaths cut through the purity of the green oval. 2 Steel entrance gates echo the

PlaY concePt Some of the play elements play on the theme of scale, relating to the sculptural gigantic flowers, there are big bugs such as the timber grass hopper, bee, dragonfly and frog all located among the magic toadstools and bouncing flower. Timber balancing items create a circular route around the green for the more energetic children, with the additional inclusion of three items of gym equipment for the fittest resident. ● St Stephens Green is now open to the public from 8:00am until 7:45pm (summer) and 5:45pm (winter)

›› Installation of block paving Jan – Feb 12

›› Boundary works Feb 12

›› Hard landscaping / wall/ walkway/ levels and drainage Feb – Apr 12

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›› Street furniture and lighting Feb – Apr 12

5 Aerial plan drawing. 6 Progress photo from March 2012 with the main sculptural elements already in position.

Sculpture Gideon Peterson Stafford House, Pembrokeshire SA66 7TF Tel: 01437 563308 Email: gideon@ creativespiral.co.uk

Irrigation Howard Water Solutions Ltd 52 Tuscan Drive, Chatham, Kent ME5 8TG Tel: 01634 900340

REFERENCES Main contractor IN-EX Landscapes 610 Goffs Lane, Goffs Oak, Herts EN7 5EP Tel: 01707 873444 Email: info@in-ex.co.uk Web: www.in-ex landscapes.com Landscape architect PRP Architects 10 Lindsey Street, London EC1A 9HP Tel: 0207 6531200 Email: lon.prp@prp architects.co.uk Web: www.prparchitects. co.uk Play equipment Timberplay Ltd Aizlewoods Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG Tel: 0114 282 34 74 Email: info@timberplay. com Web: www.timberplay. com

sculptural flowers. 3 St Stephens Green opening ceremony. 4 Contrasting wet pour safety surface to ﬁtness play area.

Playdale Haverthwaite, Ulverston,

›› Play and fitness Feb – Apr 12

Cumbria, LA12 8AE Tel: 015395 39837 Email: enquiries@playdale. co.uk Web: www.playdale. co.uk Wicksteed Digby Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN16 8YJ Tel: 01536 517028 Email: sales@wicksteed. co.uk Web: www.wicksteed. co.uk

Street furniture Omos Units 1-3 Military Road Industrial Park, Naas, Co Kildare, Ireland Tel: +353(0)45 899802 Web: www.omos.ie Flower sculptures/gates/ iron work Artist Helena Roden Web: www.helenaroden. co.uk

›› Resin-bound gravel Mar 12

›› Soft landscaping Mar – Apr 12

Railings and granite IN-EX Landscapes (See previous contact details.) Limestone FeelyStone Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Ireland Tel: +353(0)7196 62066 Email: info@feelystone.ie Web: www.feelystone.com Aluminium edging Kinley Systems Haywood Way, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4PL Tel: 01424 201111 Email: sales@exceledge. co.uk Web: www.kinley systems.com

›› Installation of gates Mar – Apr 12

Planting Barcham Trees Eye Hill Drove, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 5XF Tel: 01353 720950 Email: sales@ barchamtrees.co.uk Web: www.barcham. co.uk Growing Concerns 2 Wick Lane, London E3 2NA Tel: 0208 9853222 Email: info@growing concerns.org Web: www.growing concerns.org

›› Footpaths Mar – Apr 12

›› Electrical 2nd fix Mar – Apr 12

October 2012

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thegrey outdoors

Tim Lynch Associates This care home garden has been transformed into a calm sanctuary for its eldery Jewish residents

ightingale Care Home for Older Jewish People, based in Wandsworth, London commissioned both the architects and Tim Lynch Associates to produce a state of the art dementia unit. Construction commenced in 2010 with the demolition of an existing wing to the main home, to allow for an extended new build. We were required to link into the existing gardens, yet at the same time provide secure space and surroundings for those with dementia. To provide this visually unobstrusive security a low 1.2m-high hedge was planted that is not

We were required to link into the existing gardens and provide secure space and surroundings for those with dementia only evergreen, but between the months of May-July produces white flowers (Osmanthus x burkwoodii) that are heavily fragrant. The dementia garden is divided into five clearly defined areas: 1 Quiet and semi-shaded area This area is next to the activity room within the main building and allows for a quiet space to sit outside. This area, with its circular paving surrounded by planting, has a slightly textured flooring that is coloured similarly to the carpets inside the main building, .to provide a sense of continuity which 40

October 2012

is important in encouraging those with dementia to come out of the building. 2 Main patio and activity space A pathway leads from the quiet zone and passes two iconic English landmarks or mapping points, being a red telephone box and historic letterbox. After this point, residents pass under an archway with a low swing-back gate. This gate is positioned to be opened and provide a sense of journey from one area to the next. It is repeated throughout the scheme. The main patio is connected to the dining area through wide opening doorways, so residents can walk out on to the two-sector patio. Some residents will not move far from the comforts of the home. Therefore, seating, features and a semi-enclosed space with low trellis help to form a sense of calm and security in a partly shaded location. The second half of the patio is more open and has an interactive water feature, seating and a greater sense of openness and sun. This area has a built-in external hi-fi system, so music or sound can be added to any event held. 3 Garden Club area A 1950s-style gardening area with raised beds, garden shed with tools relevant to the period and an over-sized thermometer on the outside for all to read the temperature throughout the day. For those who do not want to take part in this area, an existing curved pergola, covered in wisteria, jasmine and thornless climbing roses provide an excellent walkway and shaded seating area. 4 Period Garden 1940sâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;50s Leading from the garden club area or covered pergola, the www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Project duration 6 months Size 2,500m2 Cost approx. ÂŁ200,000

ABOUT Tim lYNCh ASSOCiATeS

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Tim lynch Associates solely designs gardens and grounds for the elderly, special needs and dementia throughout the UK and europe. with more than 25 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in designing for the elderly more details can be found at: www.tlassociates.co.uk

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path leads out into a recreation of a period garden that, in form and style, reflects the gardens found in London and the surrounding area during that period. The path passes a period bus stop, with themed signage and bus timetable. This is located in front of a garden gate and driveway gates that residents can open and close. Walking into this space, a washing line with clothes and washing basket can be found, as well as a Morris Minor – an iconic car of the period. This car, as with the telephone box and letterbox, is recognised anywhere in the UK. Residents, families and children can sit in it and either play, or more importantly evoke memories past, which can be recorded by staff for future use on themed days. Planted containers, hanging baskets, a lawn area, water feature and a gazebo all add to the sense of theme and mapping points for residents. The gazebo has a dual activity, the first being to look back down the whole length of the dementia garden and the second being its view to the open area that has been designed as a park. 5 Park area The therapeutic dementia garden has a park-themed garden next to it with a 42

October 2012

1 Main patio and dining terrace. 2 Period garden. 3 Garden club area.

4 Park area. 5 Residents enjoying a view across the garden.

children’s play area. This park is at the far end of the overall garden, to give a sense of connection with the dementia garden while being outside. The children’s play area is for grandchildren, who may find visiting a relative with dementia slightly intimidating, to enjoy and run around, thereby reducing any anxiety they may have. For the resident concerned, there is a sense of moving outside and visiting somewhere new. If correctly monitored by staff, they can ask the person concerned if they are enjoying their visit, what memories they have of it and what may have been brought back to mind. All this helps in recording facts about a person and may help that person be more open and happy in their environment. With well-trained staff, these memories can be remembered and events take place to develop further the person’s wellbeing. For further information visit the website: www.dementiasensorygardens.co.uk.

references Landscape architects/ consultants Tim Lynch Associates Eastern House, 16 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire BA15 1JZ Tel: 01225 865866 Email: info@tlassociates. co.uk Web: www.tlassociates. co.uk Landscape contractor Goddards (Landscape Contractors) Goddards Farm, Bowling Alley, Crondall, Farnham, Surrey GU10 5RJ Tel: 01252 850637 Web: www.goddardslandscape.co.uk Plants Wyevale Nurseries Wyevale Way, Hereford, Herefordshire HR4 7AY Tel: 01432 845200 Web: www.wyevale nurseries.co.uk

Gazebo Stan Fairbrother Units 2 and 3 Altys Brickworks, Station Rd, Hesketh Bank, Preston, Lancashire PR4 6SS Tel: 01772 814274 Web: www.stan fairbrother. co.uk Water features Primrose 44 Portman Road, Reading RG30 1EA Tel: 0118 903 5210 Web: www.primrose.co.uk Trees Hilliers Ampfield House, Ampfield, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9PA Tel: 01794 368733 Web: www.hilliertrees.co.uk Hedging Living Walls Monxton Nurseries, Green Lane, Amport,

Hampshire SP11 8AN Tel: 01264 352533 Web: www.living-walls. co.uk

Bus stop Littlethorpe of Leicester 142 Church Hill Road, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8DE Tel: 0116 2603777 Web: www.bus-shelters. co.uk Raised beds Living Leaves The Nursery Garden, Main Road, Kingsley, Hampshire GU35 9LU Tel: 01420 479950 Web: www.livingleaves. co.uk Trellis and pergola Garden Trellis Company Unit One, Brunel Road, Gorse Lane Industrial Estate, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 4LU

Tel: 01255 688361 Web: www.gardentrellis. co.uk

Play equipment Kompan Ltd 21 Roebuck Way, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes MK5 8HL Tel: 01908 201002 Web: www.kompan.co.uk Seating Cyan Unit 8 Pipers Road, Gateway Business Park, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 2AR Tel: 0845 6789 890 Web: www.cyan-teakfurniture.com

Sound post Experia Unit 8B, Langthwaite Bus. Pk, South Kirkby, West Yorkshire WF9 3AP Tel: 0845 644 0977 Web: www.experiainnovations.co.uk

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October 2012

Event

FutureScape: Seminar and Masterclass Programme Speakers include… Janine Pattison

Stephen Fell

Thomas Rathbone

Time 10.00 am

● Paul Willavoys – Ponds and water features A water feature is a must in most gardens but the choice is huge and varied from ornate formal rills through softly planted ponds to upright, statement water features. So, for the landscape professional there is a lot to consider in the design phase and a lot of skill required to interpret that design on the ground. Paul Willavoys from Landscapeplus is on hand to guide you through the process of selecting the product that will turn the ideas into successful reality.

11.00 am

● Ellie Parry and Paul Holland Social Media Turf-tweeter Ellie Parry and landscaper Paul Baker invite you to find out how Twitter can benefit you and your business. This session is ideal for those who want to know their hashtags from their retweets, and their twitpics from their tweetdecks.

12.00 pm

● Paul Willavoys – Lighting Products Garden lighting is a key component of any garden and usually represents a significant outlay for the client. However, if it is designed and installed properly it creates a “wow” factor that takes the design to a higher level and brings the garden to life at night. Paul Willavoys from the Landscapeplus Product Zone gives you the inside track on the products and components that you should be considering when you think about garden lighting.

13.00 pm

● Paul Willavoys – Irrigation in the garden Tap times, control panels, rainwater harvesting, solenoid manifolds, pop-up sprinklers, compensating drip-line and micro irrigation – where do you start and which product should you choose? Landscapeplus’s Paul Willavoys takes the mystery out of garden irrigation and runs you through the key decisions when designing, integrating and installing an irrigation system in a garden.

14.00 pm

● The Detail is in the Design This event is intended purely for designers and has been specifically created with them in mind. It will take the form of a question and answer session. For this event we have secured four of the industry’s leading designers to make up the panel: John Wyer, Andrew Wilson, Janine Pattison, and Ann-Marie Powell.

15.00 pm

● Question and Answer Session with Mark Gregory Jim Wilkinson runs through questions on the industry from the audience with the chairman of the APL Mark Gregory.

17.00 pm

● A View From The Top This is our version of ‘Newsnight’; we have a host and panel of experts who will answer industry-related questions. The audience will be made up of 70/100 leading industry figures who will get a chance to question the panel and put their own views across.

Phil Jones

Jodie Read

Angus Lindsay

October 2012

Desert Orchid Suite

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Event

Tuesday 20 November 2012 Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5AQ To pre-register, simply go to: www.futurescapeevent.com Room 1

Room 2

● SAM HASSALL – COSTING AND QUOTING Regular Pro Landscaper contributor Sam Hassall will be talking the audience through the best tips on costing and quoting accurately to help you avoid losing jobs. He will also teach you how to correctly build in a profit to your quotes.

● JANINE PATTISON – WELL LIT DOESN’T MEAN LIT WELL Leading garden designer Janine Pattison MSGD MBALI will reveal the secrets of creating the perfect garden-lighting plan for the gardens you are designing and building for your clients.

● KARL HARRISON, THE DECKING DON – TOP TIPS ON MAKING COMMERCIAL DECKING PAY Pro Landscaper’s ‘Decking Don’ Karl Harrison will be presenting a masterclass on the best practice and top tips on how to maximise profits on commercial decking installation.

● STEPHEN FELL – GREENING URBAN SPACES Green space and green infrastructure have a vital role to play in tackling climate change. They also add greatly to people’s enjoyment of a place. This seminar will look at why we should use grass in the landscape and more.

● THOMAS RATHBONE – WOOD AFTERCARE The question often asked by clients after having a new deck installed is “how do I keep and maintain that ‘just-laid look’?” We will look at the advantages and drawbacks of finishing new decks, how the wood should be prepared and the reasons why preparation is so important, and the various finishes available.

● MAGGIE FENNELL – GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE URBAN TOOLKIT This seminar will provide an introduction to green roofs, green walls and rain gardens, with a focus on how they can work to maximise the environmental performance of a building or development.

● BARRY BROWNE – THE RIGHT SOIL FOR THE RIGHT APPLICATION Soil isn’t just soil and getting it wrong has major implications for landscape schemes and those responsible for implementing them. Protect yourself and your reputation by understanding why the right soil for the right application is so crucial.

● GILES HEAP – MORE TO LIFE THAN CHINESE GREY GRANITE? For many years up to the early to mid-1990s Portugal was our main source of granite, but for the last 10-15 years the majority of granite products in the UK have been supplied from various sources in the Far East. There were good reasons for that, however, times are changing and Giles hopes to be able to bring to the attention of all that there is more to life than Chinese Grey Granite.

● ANGUS LINDSAY – PURCHASING FOR PRODUCTIVITY With a few exceptions our industry has traditionally gone down the one job, one machine route. Times are tough and we need to look at alternatives to get the best from our assets; both people and the equipment they use.

● PHIL JONES – 7 OF 137 WAYS TO SERIOUSLY SKYROCKET YOUR SALES From this seminar, you will take away strategies, hints and tips, which you can implement in to your business immediately and see instant results from doing so.

● JODIE READ – COMPLIANCE Find out what you are legally required to have in place, and why some companies choose to exceed minimum compliance in a fast-paced seminar.

● TAMSIN SLATTER – SITE INFORMATION MODELLING FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY IN SITE DESIGN An overview of the new developments to Site and Building Information Modelling and what it means for landscape designers.

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October 2012 45

Event

Tuesday 20 November 2012 Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5AQ ■ The Detail is in the Design This event is intended purely for designers and has been specifically created with them in mind. It will take the form of a question and answer session, with four of the industry’s leading designers forming a panel to respond to and debate queries from the audience. The panel will consist of John Wyer, Andrew Wilson, Janine Pattison, and Ann-Marie Powell. Many people have already pre-registered for this event, don’t miss out as there is limited space available!

John Wyer

Headline sponsor:

Sponsors:

Janine Pattison

Andrew Wilson

Ann-Marie Powell

■ The View from the Top Our version of BBC’s Newsnight programme; we have a host and a panel of experts who will answer industry-related questions. The audience will include leading industry figures who will get a chance to question the panel and put their own views across. Topics will include: An Industry In Need Of Investment; Should The Industry Have One Strong Voice; Stirring Change; and Training & Qualifications, plus much more. This event is by invitation only.

■ An Audience with Mark Gregory Mark is a well-known and highly respected individual within the landscaping industry, a winner of numerous Chelsea Gold Medals, Director of The HTA, Chairman of the APL and a BALI member. He also runs highly successful design, build and maintenance company Landform Consultants. Mark will answer questions on numerous topics plus anything that the audience may wish to put to him. Make sure you pre-register for this exciting debate.

October 2012

To pre-register, simply go to: www.futurescapeevent.com

Brand New events at FutureScape

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TENDERCARE

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October 2012

Book now for a very special event

The BALI National Landscape Awards in association with Horticulture Week will once again take place at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London on 7 December. The Awards lunch is a prime opportunity to meet old friends, make new ones, and discover who has won a prestigious BALI National Landscape Award this year. With BALI celebrating 40 years of working with landscape professionals, this really is the year to support the Awards. To book, visit: www.baliawards.co.uk Early bird rate available before 14 October For more information contact Steven Lewis 020 8267 4042 /steven.lewis@haymarket.com or Angela Donovan 024 7669 8658 /angela.donovan@bali.org.uk For sponsorship opportunities contact Dan Rathbone 020 8267 8089 /dan.rathbone@haymarket.com sponsored by

Hedging

HEDGE YOUR BETS Garden designer Janine Pattison MSGD MBALI suggests an attractive alternative to the ubiquitous close board timber fence

encing is often the most suitable means of enclosure to a garden. It has the advantages of being quick to install, reasonably long lived and quite economical. It can be various sizes and made from timber like post and rail, metal like chain link or increasingly, from synthetic or recycled materials. However, there is an alternative which can be interesting, attractive, longlived, low maintenance and better for the environment: using plants to create hedges. A hedge is simply a row of plants planted close enough together to form a continuous line. They can be used to define the boundary, screen an unpleasant view, create shelter within the garden by filtering and calming the wind and improve the sense of seclusion within the garden.

Hedging plants can be chosen to look very natural, as if they had grown up wild; or they can be formal, clipped into a shape. The best plants for formal hedges usually have a small leaf so that when clipped they have a ‘smooth’ surface. There are plants suitable for creating hedges of almost any finished height. From low-growing box plants of only a foot tall, to medium-sized hedges of hawthorn or escallonia, up to huge hedges of beech, laurel or yew. Perimeter hedges can be very effective at restricting movement; they can contain children and pets within the garden as well as prevent access by unwanted visitors. Spiky, prickly or thorny hedges can contribute greatly to a home’s security. There are hedging plants suitable for every location and it is worth checking what is growing well in neighbouring gardens or taking advice from a local nursery before selecting the species. The new hedge will always be more successful if the plants are well suited to the local conditions. We do a lot of coastal planting and have learnt from experience which plants cope best with salt and wind. In your area

Best types of hedging Formal ● Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ (but beware of box blight) ● Taxus baccata (Yew) ● Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar) ● Chamaecyparis

ABOUT janine pattison

lawsoniana

● Garrya elliptica

(Lawson Cypress)

● Hydrangea

● Elaeagnus macrophylla

macrophylla For security

Informal

● Berberis thungergii

● Escallonia ‘Apple

● Pyracantha

Blossom’ ● Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’ ● Osmanthus heterophyllus

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you may have chalk or clay to contend with. The initial cost of installing a hedge can deter some clients, but when set against the ‘whole-life’ costs they compare favourably. A hedge should be considered a long-term investment. Most clients will be keen to know the maintenance requirements for keeping their new hedge looking good. Often an annual clip is sufficient with perhaps twice a year for more formal hedges to prevent them getting too ‘shaggy’. An annual application of slow-release fertiliser and mulching with compost or shredded bark will also be appreciated. Hedges can be used very successfully within a garden to create dividers between different spaces, to screen areas and to reinforce the sense of mystery. They can be used to screen unpleasant views or frame lovely ones and with a bit of creative thought can be trained, clipped or pruned into interesting shapes. A good hedge makes a perfect backdrop to a planted border but remember to leave enough space at the back of the border to be able to maintain the hedge and reduce the effect of root competition.

coccinea ● Mahonia japonica ● Crataegus laevigata ● Ilex aquifolium

For wildlife ● Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) ● Rosa rugosa ● Corylus avellana (Hazel) ● Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn) ● Ilex aquifolium (Holly)

Janine Pattison MSGD is a multi award-winning garden designer and horticulturalist who trained with English Heritage at Eltham Palace in London and at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester. A Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers, the British Association of Landscape Industries and the Garden Media Guild, Janine is also a highly qualified RHS horticulturalist.

www.janinepattison.com

October 2012

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October 2012

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Bare-root planting

rOOts OF THe MATTeR

Buying bare-root plants is very costeffective – nurseries don’t need to charge extra for the soil around the plants’ roots, and they’re a lot cheaper to move and transport

Bare-root plants can offer practical benefits as well as improve plant survival. Rose Hales reports

he bare-root planting season is fast approaching; it runs from early November through until March over the autumn and winter months when the plants are dormant. In this overview we will explain the benefits and disadvantages, as well as advice on planting. Bare-root plants are an alternative to containerised or root-balled. There are many benefits to this method of planting; some are simply practical while others can be virtually lifesaving. Buying in this form is very cost-effective; plants can be up to 50% cheaper. Nurseries do not need to charge extra for the soil around the plant’s roots, and they are also much cheaper to move and transport as often only one person is needed to lift, and many plants can be transported together quicker, and more easily and efficiently. Transplanting is traumatic for trees because

200%

HiLLiEr NursEriEs Ltd

Exposed roots can be spread out during planting which helps the plant to establish and anchor itself www.prolandscapermagazine.com

simpler with the roots exposed. These can be it is the roots which suffer most in the move. removed quickly and easily before the tree On average around 90% of roots are left is planted and prevent any future issues. The behind in the nursery after transplanting, when roots can be spread out during planting which not using bare-root methods. Usually these are the tiny absorbing roots that are responsible for helps the plant to establish and anchor itself. As with anything, there are disadvantages to most of the tree’s intake of water and nutrients, bare-root planting. Of course, not all trees and and are found in the top several inches of the shrubs are available (although there are some soil. Trees often die from water stress as a which are only available to buy this way). There result of a huge reduction in root mass. Bareis also a very narrow planting window, and trees root plants can retain a staggering 200% more have to be planted as quickly as possible as they roots than container trees. The ways in which nurseries grow the plants can’t survive long out of the soil. There are ways to help bare-root plants before they’re sold greatly affects the tree’s to survive longer and more effectually. ability to survive transplantation. The job The roots must be kept damp, if they of the nursery is to regularly transplant dry out the tree will most likely die. a young tree as it’s growing, and There are a variety of root-dips prune the roots so that a 14ft tree more water can on the market, but professionals would have a root system that sits be retained by simply advise the use of a cowithin a couple of feet of the base bare-root plants extruded polythene bag to protect of the tree. than container the roots. These bags are extra thick Further to root retention, it is trees and are black inside – to keep the roots advantageous for plants to grow in in their preferred dark and damp environment, only one type of soil. Mixing soils (soil from and white on the outside – to reflect heat. The the nursery and soil in the garden) can cause bags must be securely tied at the top so that problems as the plant grows. If the tree or no moisture can escape. The bag should be put shrub is sitting in two types of soil this makes it over the roots immediately after the tree or difficult for water to evenly penetrate the root shrub is lifted from the ground, and shouldn’t be zone; thus bare-root plants tend to establish removed until the moment it is being placed in more quickly. Containerised tree roots are its new location. often tempted to stay in the close comfortable Thank you to Jim Hillier at Hilliers Nurseries potting compost area, and often struggle in for his generous advice on bare-root planting. their second year when the nutrients have We’d love to hear your thoughts and been exhausted. comments, please contact me at rose@proThe process of inspecting the root system landscaper.co.uk. (in particular looking for girdling roots) is much October 2012

Plantsman’s Plot

A round-up of trees and plants available at some of the country’s best nurseries Today’s amateur gardener often ends up with a spring garden because they only visit their local garden centre in April. However, professionals know the value of autumn fruiting plants for extending interest into the end of the year. This is Viburnum nudum Pink Beauty. Its bright pink berries will always catch the eye. WWW.DINGLEYDELL.CO.UK

Grasses are perfect for providing late-season interest. They offer height, movement and colour and combine well with late flowering perennials. The interest extends through the winter as the dried seed heads glow in the low winter sunshine and take on a particular delicate beauty when dusted with frost. Grasses are low maintenance and with careful selection, when planted en masse, will create a stunning garden display. Ladybrook has a wide selection available in 5L pots for immediate impact. An instant border can be created when planted with our 5L perennials. WWW.LADYBROOKNURSERY.COM Wykeham Mature Plants specialises in offering larger trees, shrubs and hedging for instant effect. A particular speciality is providing plants for instant privacy and security, such as a range of ‘instant’ hedging. A particularly popular option is our laurel hedging, clipped in-situ in the growing fields twice per year for a minimum of 4-5 years or more (depending on size) before sale to provide a dense hedge. These are individually lifted during dormancy as large wirewrapped rootballs. WWW.WYKEHAM.CO.UK

This month is the time to plant; the soil is warm and plants will make root before the winter cold shuts them down. Good for transplanting conifers and trees they will benefit from the autumn rains (we usually get a drought period in spring). It’s also a good time to plant bulbs, Allium, Crocus and Narcissus in from September and Tulips from November. Do aim to get all your bulbs in the ground before Christmas and do plant them deep enough – at least 10cm deep, a bit less for crocus. On very heavy soils a bit of grit under the bulb will help drainage. The beauty of bulbs, providing you buy from a good source, is they are guaranteed to put on a show. Research proves people respond positively to colour in the garden and landscape – there is a vast range of colours to choose from. This is also when autumn colour is developing in shrubs and trees, so look out and note down your favourites. WWW.PALMSTEAD.CO.UK 52

October 2012

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Growing through caring www.prolandscapermagazine.com

October 2012

Plantsman’s Plot

Aster turbinellus is about as far away as you can get from the perceived idea of a Michaelmas daisy. It is easy to grow, reliable, long-flowering, mildew-free and self-supporting – even when laden with its huge sprays of yellow-eyed, lavender daisies during late summer. Commonly called the Prairie aster, its blooms are borne on slender, wiry stems and seem to float above the feathery foliage – giving the whole display a soft and airy feel. Being 1.2m tall with a slightly arching habit, it’s perfect for filling gaps, just as summer-flowering plants are starting to wan. Loved by butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects, it’s a great addition to wildflower areas, too. Sprays of flowers can also be cut and used in indoor arrangements. WWW.HORTUSLOCI.CO.UK With security becoming a consideration for people as well as privacy, a good evergreen hedge is Berberis Julianae or B. Verruculosa. Both of these plants are evergreen with yellow flowers in the spring to add a splash of colour. Berberis Julianae is the taller of the two reaching up to 3m, the leaves taking on red tints as the autumn slips into winter with large strong thorns held just below the leaves. Berberis Verruculosa grows up to 1.5m with good dark green foliage. Both are fully hardy and tolerant of full sun and partial shade. Readyhedge supplies both in 1m units at between 30-40cm and 40-60 cm tall and 30cm wide; they are available now at a special offer price of £15.00 each excluding VAT. WWW.READYHEDGELTD.COM

Populus tremula `Erecta’ is a form of the native Quaking Aspen tree; growing 10 to 15m tall eventually, it is good for narrow spaces and is a native alternative to the Lombardy Poplar. The foliage is renowned for shaking in the breeze, hence the name. Foliage is always a nice shade of green and yellow autumn colour. We intend that an avenue of them will be planted locally to Wyevale in Hereford, marking the course of a Roman road. WWW.WYEVALE-NURSERIES.CO.UK

Billardia longiﬂora is a lovely twining climber from Australasia first introduced to UK gardens in 1810 – yet is still relatively unknown here. The self-pollinating, slow-growing climber has delicate evergreen foliage and long, pendant cream, highly scented flowers in the summer, followed by showy, glossy, bright purple berries about 2cm in length. Flowers are produced on the current year’s growth so a light trim after flowering is recommended. At home in a moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil in part sun to partial shade, it looks great when allowed to scramble among other evergreen plants and can reach 4.5m in height and 1.5m spread. WWW.WYVALE-EAST.CO.UK

New Horizon is one of the Resista Elms – the result of 1950s research to find a hybrid elm resilient to Dutch Elm Disease (DED). Hillier was approached in the 1990s to be sole supplier of Ulmus New Horizon elms to the UK market, launching at Chelsea Flower Show in 2005 and winning Best New Plant Variety the same year. The trees are now thriving all over the UK, and were a key tree supplied by Hillier to the Olympic Park. New Horizons are DED/drought resistant, thrive in damp and or urban soils, tolerate coastal regions and have a top hardiness rating. WWW.HILLIER.CO.UK

Parrotia persica Vanessa, Persian Ironwood, is one of our favourites here at Barcham. We grow it as a tree with a central leader rather than as a bush, but with branches starting from one metre, so the spectacular autumn colour can be savoured. It makes a relatively small tree so is ideal as a centrepiece for an urban garden. Throughout the growing season the new growth is tinged bronze. We have videos of this tree on our website www. buythetreeyousee.com. There are some particularly fine specimens to see at the Westonbirt Arboretum near Stroud. WWW.BARCHAMTREES.CO.UK 5

October 2012

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4 4

Product Test

GREENLIGHT Pro Landscaper’s lawncare expert Russell Eales explains why you should go ahead and try the Green Velvet grass seed and lawn maintenance range

REEN VELVET® lawn seed is produced by Barenbrug UK which has been breeding grass seed varieties for every possible application for more than 100 years. This experience and specialist professional knowledge means that when you buy Green Velvet grass seed mixtures you can be conﬁdent you are buying the very best and that the lawn will look great allyear-round. The Green Velvet lawn seed range has gone from strength to strength since its launch last spring. Green Velvet SOS Lawn Repair is a rapid-repair mixture that harnesses a unique annual ryegrass bred by Barenbrug for its cool soil germination, and quick and superior establishment. Perfect for renovating domestic lawns that are infested with moss or affected by frost; SOS is capable of germinating in temperatures as low as 3.5°C, resulting in fast, early coverage.

Eales, who has extensive experience in all aspects of turf, grass seed, and lawn matters tested the Green Velvet SOS Repair mixture, Green Velvet Hard Wearing and Multi-Purpose varieties which are a popular choices with landscape contractors. ON THE PACKAGING The Green Velvet seed range is packaged excellently and I cannot ﬁnd fault with it. It holds up very strong when propped up in the van and the reseal on the bag is such a good feature as precious product is not lost if or when the bag falls over. The labels on each bag are clear and concise and provide you all information required in a straightforward way. Another notable point is that the labels remain stuck on unlike others I have used, so you will always know which product is which. The range is currently available in 500g, 1kg, 2.5kg, 12.5kg and 20kg packs.

For patches on the lawn I used SOS seed, the repair was impressive… the results speak for themselves From fast-establishment, deep-rooting and low-maintenance characteristics, to great year-round colour and disease tolerance, the entire Green Velvet range beneﬁts from Barenbrug’s trials, research and development programme. Completing the line up is the tough Green Velvet Shady, popular all-rounder Green Velvet Multi-Purpose and Green Velvet Luxury for a really smart lawn. There’s also Green Velvet Hard Wearing for larger lawns and landscapers. Pro Landscaper’s lawncare expert Russell www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Before

After

APPLICATION OF THE PRODUCT The green velvet range is ideal for the landscaper or lawn company that visits several different sites, because there is a large selection of bag sizes to choose from, which means you can order specific amounts of the range that you require. This makes use very economical as you don’t have leftover product sitting in storage waiting for the next job to suit. I used the range to hand seed patches in a lawn and also seeded a larger area using a drop seeder and experienced no problems with application. Within weeks it is clear from the quality of the product that it is Barenbrug. For patches on the lawn I used the SOS seed and the repair was impressive. But, I did use a pre-seed fertiliser, though the results speak for themselves. For the other areas the hard-wearing and multi-purpose products were used, which were equally remarkable. CONCLUSION Having used many of the different varieties of the Barenbrug range over the past 10 years I feel this range is an ideal solution for seeding specific areas with a top quality, professional result. This range fills the gap between the professional and retail seed ranges and simplifies the details for users in the naming of each product, such as Shady, Multipurpose and so on. To learn more about the Green Velvet range, and find out why Barenbrug is the first choice for anyone serious about grass seed, call 01359 272000, email info@baruk.co.uk or visit www.greenvelvetlawnseed.co.uk. Prices shown on the website are for the retail market – professional landscapers have access to a special price list; contact Barenbrug to obtain this list. October 2012

Love Stone specialises in Natural Stone for home, garden & commercial projects We supply a wide range of top quality natural stone products perfect for patios, interiors and driveways.

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October 2012

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Paving

robably the most important recent development with hard landscape is the move towards universal sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help in the fight against flooding. And concrete block permeable paving is set to play an essential role as a unique SuDS technique which addresses both flooding and pollution issues. The trade body Interpave has brought together evidence that maintenance requirements are much lower than previously thought. Concrete block permeable paving allows water to pass through the surface between each block and into the underlying permeable sub-base, where it is stored and released slowly. Unlike conventional paving constructions, the permeable sub-base aggregate is specifically designed to accommodate water. At the

A PerMeaBle FUTURe Architect and interpave consultant Chris Hodson discusses the merits of sustainable drainage systems

Long-term infiltration capability of permeable pavements normally exceeds UK hydrological requirements same time, many pollutants are substantially removed and treated within the pavement itself. Permeable paving also enables accessible shared surfaces to be created without the need for cross falls, channels or gulleys, while still avoiding standing water. And, increasingly, permeable paving is being used at the head of the SuDS management train as a controlled source of clean water for harvesting, irrigation and amenity as an integral part of landscape designs. IMPressIVe PerforMance Today there is a growing choice of products available from Interpave manufacturers, designed specifically for permeable paving. essentially they have the same impressive performance as conventional precast concrete paving products, including slip and skid resistance, durability and strength. various shapes, styles, finishes and colours are available allowing real design freedom. The difference with permeable paving is enlarged joints filled with a joint filling material specific to each product, which is an angular aggregate and not sand. This arrangement ensures that water will continue to pass through the joints over the long-term. Permeable paving technology has proven

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itself over decades of successful use around the world. One issue that is well understood is the performance of the block-paved surface. The infiltration rate will decrease due to the build-up of detritus in the jointing material, then stabilise with age. So, experience suggests that the design infiltration rate through the surface should be 10% of the initial rate, to take into account the effect of clogging over a 20-year design life without maintenance. even after allowing for clogging, studies have shown that the long-term infiltration capability of permeable pavements will normally substantially exceed UK hydrological requirements. long-terM eXPerIence There is also sufficient long-term experience in the UK to endorse the minimal maintenance requirements of concrete block permeable paving. For example, Oxfordshire County Council has taken a positive and pragmatic approach to adopting streets and other areas using concrete block permeable paving for some 15 years. Numerous examples there demonstrate the continuing performance of permeable paving with no maintenance for five years and

more. This is reinforced by the recent Lamb Drove SuDS monitoring project report which concluded that: “The permeable pavement infiltration study specifically illustrates the robustness of the performance of this feature to limited maintenance.” There is therefore a growing consensus that – apart from cosmetic cleaning – maintenance such as mechanical sweeping of permeable paving and refilling of joints with the correct aggregate need only be carried out at intervals of five years or so, subject to more regular visual inspection or manufacturer’s recommendations to the contrary. And, of course, with permeable paving the maintenance of conventional piped drainage is eliminated. With these conventional systems, regular cleaning of gulleys, oil separators and other equipment is notorious for being omitted and often implicated in localised flooding during extreme weather events. Problems are also difficult to identify with pipes, requiring CCTv inspection, whereas any issues with concrete block permeable paving would become immediately obvious on the surface. The latest information on permeable paving, together with case studies and comprehensive information on all aspects of paving, hard landscaping and SuDS, can be found at the Interpave resource www.paving.org.uk.

October 2012

training on your doorstep?

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Based in the South East, The Landscape Training Group is a provider of specialist short training Based operating inTO the South The Training is a provider of speciali SHORT COURSES MEET YOUR courses for the landscape industry, sinceEast, 1990. We Landscape offer aLEGISLATIVE diverse range ofGroup open or courses forDEVELOPMENT therates landscape industry, operating since 1990. We offer a diverse r bespoke tailor made courses at cost effective with a professional yet personal approach. AND BUSINESS NEEDS

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 inHealth and Safety Handling, ROLO,is Safety at Height Manual Chainsaw Training in Hertfordshire, Surrey, and Kent Based the South East, including The Landscape Training Group aHampshire, provider of specialist short courses for the including landscape industry, operating since 1990. Brushcutters, We offer a training Machinery Operation Abrasive Wheels, Angle Grinders,  Emergency First Aid at Work diverse range of open or bespoke tailor made courses at cost effective rates with a Hedgetrimmers,professional Pedestrian yet andpersonal Ride onapproach. Mowers, Polesaw, Stumpgrinder,  Health and Safety including Manual Handling, ROLO, Safety at He WoodchipperAutumn & Winter Open Course Schedule is

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October 2012

courses on

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Courses BA, BSC OR MA IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE OR GARDEN DESIGN Qualifications needed A-level or equivalent Length of course 3 years (inflexible) Type of study Independent, 1-2 days contact and classroom study and up to 30 hours private study time per week Costs £9,000 per year (general University fees) Accredited yes- these are the only courses accredited by the Landscape Institute (choice of 11 universities nationwide)

Thinking of a career in the landscaping industry or furthering the knowledge you already have? Pro Landscaper explores some of the ways to enter into the world of horticulture and landscaping or to build on the skills you possess to further develop your career

Are you… CREATIVE? CREATIVE/ PRACTICAL? PRACTICAL?

HARD LANDSCAPING/LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION/AMENITY HORTICULTURE BTEC OR NVQ Qualifications needed 4 GCSE’s grade A-C Length of course 1 year, full-time Type of study A combination of practical and theory classroom sessions, plus workshop and outdoor sessions Cost Age 16-19, £70; adult, £2,000 approx

CITY & GUILDS HARD LANDSCAPING/ LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION Qualifications needed 5 GCSEs, grade D-G Length of course 1 year – 1 day per week Type of study A combination of practical and theory classroom sessions, plus workshop and outdoor sessions Cost Age 16-19 free; adult £1,100 approx

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DIPLOMA IN GARDEN DESIGN Qualifications needed None Length of course 1-2 years (flexible) Type of study Independent, 1-2 days contact and classroom study and up to 30 hours private study time per week Costs Varies hugely from £1,500 (online/print study only – no contact) up to £7,500 Accredited No (wide and varied choice)

SHORT COURSES • Focused and specialised as part of continuing development Length of course Usually 1 day Type of study Dependent on the course, but usually skillbased practical learning (how to/safety etc) Cost Up to £100 maximum

SPECIALIST HORTICULTURAL COLLEGE COURSES IN GARDEN DESIGN OR HORTICULTURE Qualifications needed None for introductory courses; higher level courses can be reached through level progression or 4 GCSEs, grade D or higher Length of course 1 year part-time or full-time Type of study Curriculum-led, supervised teaching. A combination of outdoor practical learning; hands-on experience and theory Costs Age 16-19, free; age 19+ range from £100-£1,200

LANTRA AWARDS: A NATIONALLY RECOGNISED AWARDING ORGANISATION • Certificate of Basic Skills and ID card used to prove competence to clients • The training is designed for those working within the industry Length of course 1 hour – 5 days Type of study A combination of practical and theoretical learning Cost £50 - £600

APPRENTICESHIPS • For people already in the industry who wish to gain a qualification while remaining in employment Length of course 1 day a week at college for approximately 20 months Type of study Practical work, shadowing and continuous assessment throughout the course at college and in the workplace Cost Funded by employer who in turn can receive a government grant

October 2012

Site Visit

sIte vISIT This month, Pro Landscaper visits the readyhedge nursery in Worcestershire

ucked away in a small village overlooking the Malvern Hills to one side and the Cotswolds escarpment on the other, Readyhedge Ltd is located on a 25-acre site which includes 16 acres of field growing space and 9 acres for the vast range of container hedging, panels and screening, and a selective range of topiary plants. Simon Williamson, Managing Director, launched the business nine years ago after the concept of supplying established hedging ready to plant was developed. He had already occupied the site for 15 years expanding from 5 acres to the current 25 and had operated as a contract grower and tree nurseryman. Instant hedging has become more and more popular as a method of providing privacy screening and creating desire lines to manipulate traffic, as well as offering a form of security to buildings. Readyhedge Ltd is a wholesale nursery which is open from 8.00am-4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.00am-3.30pm Friday. visitors are readily welcome to view the range which is immaculately presented and tended. The organisation of the nursery makes it easy to see how the plants can look in-situ, particularly the panels and screening which are placed to highlight their suitability for masking 5

unwanted views. The company counts landscape contractors, garden designers and landscape architects among its customers, and they also supply to other nurseries wanting to provide their customers with quality instant hedging. You will usually find four or five plants ready-spaced in a trough (or Readybag) measuring 1m in length and in various heights. The troughs are covered with coir matting which helps to regulate water absorption, keeps the soil at an even temperature and maximises the effects of the fertiliser. Stock lines include hornbeam, beech, privet, taxus baccata, hazel,

The company’s ethos is clear – it strives to provide good value plants in pristine condition, and to standardise hedging Portuguese laurel, hawthorn, hedge maple, osmanthus and buxus, among others. There is also a demand for mixed hedging which is supplied in five plant troughs. Prices per trough start at around £22 depending on size and variety chosen. Readyhedge, which supplies more than 20km of hedging every year, also stocks a range of pleached trees, and topiary in various heights, shapes and sizes. Most of the plants are personally sourced from europe, with a large proportion also being grown on site. Readyhedge also has franchises in Holland and Ireland. The business trades and arranges delivery (at cost) nationwide, operating 1 Aerial view of the nursery. 2 Pleached trees. 3 Readybags. 4 Close-up of coir matting in troughs. 5 Rows of troughs.

October 2012

on a 24-hour delivery basis so there is no need for contractors to have to wait for a specific day or within a particular area as all orders are sent out separately. There are currently 14 permanent staff, and 10 seasonals are brought in during the busy season. All of the staff can deal confidently and knowledgeably with questions or queries when visiting the nursery, and they are also always willing to do the same over the phone. The company’s ethos is clear – it strives to provide good value plants in pristine condition, and to standardise hedging. 80-90% of the staff are employed from within the immediate locality

which supports the local community. Currently the business is picking up two to three new clients every week and future plans include looking for new and interesting plants to feature as hedging and possibly encourage a revival of some of the ‘old fashioned’ varieties such as Forsythia. Readyhedge aims to keep the maximum cost of 1m hedging under £100 but for detailed costs and/or to arrange a visit to the nursery contact simon@readyhedgeltd.com. The company’s website also gives excellent information regarding the ongoing care of all of its range.

CONTACT Readyhedge Ltd Court Gate Nursery, Station Road, Eckington, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3BB Tel: 01386 750585 Email: simon@readyhedgeltd.com Web: www.readyhedgeltd.com

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The Place Where Careers Grow...

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October 2012

Fencing

DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE There are a host of great reasons why your company should apply for EFIA membership

stablished in 1982, European Fencing Industry Association (EFIA) is a professional trade association serving the needs of the fencing industry. Its member base consists of fencing installers, product manufacturers, and other individuals and organisations with a professional interest in the fencing industry. EFIA exists to promote safety, quality and standards of professionalism throughout the fencing industry; to provide new business opportunities for and between its members; and to represent its members’ interests on national government and governing body organisations. The association is also a founder member of the Government-endorsed TrustMark Scheme and the principal Approved Scheme Operator for fencing companies serving the domestic marketplace. EFIA is also licensed as the ofﬁcial Assessment Body for fencing companies under the CHAS (Contractors Health & Safety Assessment) scheme, and represents fencing employers on the British Standards Institute’s BS1722 (Fencing) committee and Lantra’s Fencing Industry Groups. The association has recently reviewed and renewed all of its processes and procedures; set up a new website; created the online Fencing Trade Portal; established a social media presence; formed professional relationships with CHAS, ConstructionLine, Trading Standards, and other industry bodies; and re-established old relationships with Lantra, BSI and TrustMark”. EFIA is the ofﬁcial Assessment Body for fencing companies under the CHAS (Contractors Health & Safety Assessment) scheme, and they offer CHAS accreditation free of charge to Full Members. With EFIA membership starting at £300 per year, the 62

October 2012

CHAS beneﬁt alone almost covers the fee. Through the Fencing Trade Portal they provide contract leads and tender opportunities, and members can buy, sell, communicate and advertise between themselves online – promoting inter-member trade. Members wanting no more than ‘new business and

competitive rates’ will find opportunities for both on the Fencing Trade Portal. If you are interested in joining EFIA or want further information then please give us a call on 0845 450 4898, or get in touch by emailing info@efia.co.uk or via the new website, www.efia.co.uk.

EFIA member benefits ● CHAS Free assessment and accreditation with the nationally recognised Contractor’s Health & Safety Assessment Scheme.

● Fencing Trade Portal Free listing and use of the EFIA’s new business-tobusiness online trading portal, which includes weekly updates with contract and tender opportunities, industry news, a Blog, and a buying-selling facility for trading with and advertising to other members.

● EFIA website Your

● Policy templates Free business best-practice policy templates including Equal Opportunities, Customer Care, Quality Policy, Environment, Dayworks Template, Job Completion Template, etc. ● Trustmark The ability to become a TrustMark licensed company – the governmentendorsed quality mark for professional tradesmen. Includes free listing on TrustMark’s website which receives more than 3,000 searches per month for fence installers.

company details and profile registered on EFIA’s new Website database of competent suppliers and installers which is marketed to end users and local authorities.

● Dispute resolution

● Health & Safety Free

● Helpline Free telephone

Health & Safety Document Templates including Risk Assessment; Method Statement; Policy Statement examples customisable for your own business.

helpline on any fencing-related commercial or technical matter.

Independent and free on-site inspection and reporting service to assist in resolving technical or commercial issues between clients/suppliers.

● Wind-loading access to EFIA’s unique wind-loading calculation service, enabling you to check your post and

foundation designs for different fence specifications.

● EFIA logo Recognition of the quality of your company through the use of the EFIA’s official “badge” on your website, stationery and vehicles. ● Representation The opportunity to make your interests and opinion known to national government and governing body organisations, e.g. Lantra, BSI, WPA, ConstructionLine. ● Training Access to grant-aided, discounted and/ or subsidised training courses throughout the UK covering all aspects of the industry’s needs (including CSCS, FISS, CPCS, C&G). ● Additional services Discounts with a number of industry partners who provide ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 services; accountancy and business loans; credit card facility and credit checks on your customers.

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Latest Kit

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SUDSCAPE’S SUDSCOMPLIANT PAVING SOLUTION, EXHIBITING AT FUTURESCAPE Sudscape will be exhibiting its unique SuDS-compliant permeable paving system at FutureScape on Stand 23. Sudscape is a pioneering, eco-friendly porous paving solution ideal for a vast range of landscaping requirements, and is suitable for car parks, pathways and driveways. It is comprised of a rubber sub-base made from recycled car tyres which is topped with a resin and aggregate top layer. A continuous demonstration on stand 23 will highlight how the system works by holding water in the voids within the rubber sub-base until it can be absorbed back into the water table, thereby preventing flash flooding and eliminating the risk of standing water. As it is porous, water is able

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October 2012

Saltex Review

saltex review

From 4-6 September, IOG Saltex at Windsor Racecourse showcased more than 250 exhibitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; products and machinery for the 2013 season. The varied seminar programme included debates on Water Management to Japanese Knotweed control. The BALI AGM was also held during the show, as well as a meeting of the National Contractors Forum. The weather was a dramatic improvement on 2011, with wall-to-wall sunshine for the duration of the show 1

4 2 8 3

October 2012

1 Landscaping feature at IOG Saltex. 2 Polaris ATV. 3 SnowEx range of products on show. 4 Anglo American Oil exhibits the Aspen fuel range. 5 The CED Natural Stone stand.

6 New Holland showcases its range. 7 Tracmaster demonstrates its rotovator attachments. 8 Timberwolf chippers created some interest.

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latest Kit

STANDOUT PrODUCTS AT SALTEX The LW Optimax range of blowers provides for an increased leaf and debris blowing performance. These little wonder walk-behind blowers feature a reverse-angled 7-blade all-steel impeller, which is matched with an aerodynamically constructed

Stihl’s new MS 231 chainsaw has something very special to offer. As well as meeting the latest strict emission standards cutting emissions by up to 70% and fuel consumption by up to 20% – making them cleaner to run, and also more cost-effective – it is ﬁtted as standard with an ultra-tough, ‘stay sharper’ saw

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tie-down for easy transport, and a larger discharge opening make little wonder the number one choice for professionals. Durable and with solid-steel construction, they are built to last and backed by a 5-Year warranty. WWW.LITTLEWONDER.COM

chain called STihl Picco Duro. The cutters have precisionsoldered carbide tips, staying sharp for up to four times longer. This reduces the frequency of sharpening, and is the clear choice for cutting ‘dirty’ wood such as mud-covered fallen timber. No wonder Picco Duro’s special teeth are coloured a winning, distinctive ‘gold’. WWW.STIHL.CO.UK

Kuhn introduced a new grass shredder for compact tractors as part of its growing Amenity Pro landscape maintenance range at this year’s Saltex. The Be hammer-knife shredder range includes four different-sized models, from 1.4m to 2m working widths, suitable for compact tractors from 31 to 51 horsepower. machines can be

Timberwolf has undertaken extensive research in the shredder market with people who are using the machines and what they want from the product. The ﬁndings have identiﬁed a clear gap in the market and have resulted in the creation of the fully homologated SX200 Shredder. The SX200 is lightweight and manoeuvrable and is operational

housing and curved air inlet which translates to maximum air ﬂow. Adjustable ergonomic handles allow for anti-vibration grip for operator comfort and a new transport bracket is included for a convenient tie-down. The new steel housing design plus steel

by a single user. it has a 20 hP honda petrol engine which is widely recognised as the most reliable and economic on the market. it is speciﬁcally aimed at processing green waste with reduced noise which means it is suitable to use in urban areas where noise pollution is a concern for businesses. WWW.TIMBERWOLF-UK.COM

front- or rear-mounted, and are available with the option of a ﬁxed frame or with either mechanical or hydraulic offset. height adjustable operation is governed by the position of a 160mm-diameter roller that is located close to the rotor for both excellent ground following and precision cutting. WWW.KUHN.CO.UK

Available from expert Viking dealers nationwide is the new MB 248 T lawn mower which typifies the Viking qualities of advanced technology, unique ergonomic design, sound workmanship and reliable performance. it is a nippy and nimble 46cm (18”) model, and is ideal for mowing small to medium-sized lawns. it is also easily driven around borders or obstacles and powers nimbly around corners. Another noticeable benefit of the mB 248 T is its quality performance, with a clean cut achieved in even difficult mowing conditions and on varying species of lawn. Straightforward to use as well as practical and robust, the new mower is also excellent value. WWW.VIKINGMOWERS.CO.UK

October 2012

Safety Check!

Using normal petrol can cause fatique, nausea and dizziness. BE SAFE – Aspen alkylate petrol lowers toxic emissions by 99%.

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October 2012

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Pro Landscaper takes a look at what’s different this month. Working in landscaping means your phone is at risk from all manner of hazards – it’s in constant contact with dust and dirt and it could get dropped from a height, catapulted across a hard-landscaped garden, or trodden underneath a heavy boot. There is an answer: the Survivor Military Tested Case for iPhone by Griffin Technology is only £13 and protects your phone from pretty much anything. It meets standards set by the US Department of Defence, and has been tested in extreme conditions to be wind and rainproof, shock/drop-proof, and sand/ dust-proof. Check the Pro Landscaper website for a video of the case being put through its paces! Available online at Amazon. www.grifﬁntechnology.com

There’s a different type of wall lining the banks of the Bow waterway in east London: it’s edible. The brainchild of Paul Griffiths from Growing Concerns, an independent garden

centre in Hackney, the edible wall stretches 20m and is a vertical vegetable patch of herbs and other pick-able produce such as lettuce and strawberries. The wall’s bounty is free to the public and the idea is that you can go along and pick what you need. There is a mixture of varieties, from standard to more unfamiliar herbs. It is hoped the wall will encourage others as evidence that green walls are the perfect way to get fresh produce in an urban setting.

www.growingconcerns.org

‘Where plants come from. Who discovered them. How they got their names’ is the description on the cover of The A to Z of Plant Names by Allen J Coombes, and the book definitely delivers, providing answers to these questions and more. Cleverly written, the introduction or explanation of the book explains how plant names are formed, as well as why. Using examples the introduction prepares and educates the reader on how to ‘read’ a plant name. It covers pronunciation of the Latin words; Coombes explains that one must pronounce each vowel sound separately, for example Abies is pronounced as “ab-ee-ayz” not “ay-beez”. This book is a reference guide and reads like a dictionary, an interest and basic understanding of plant names is necessary, but you will be utterly enlightened. www.timberpress.co.uk

A vertical forest, the Bosco Verticale is under construction in Milan. The vision of architect and designer Stefano Boeri, each balcony in the 27-storey apartment block is planted with trees. The trees will provide shade, as well as filter the pollution from the city. The forest element adds only 5% to construction costs and would have required 50,000m2 of land and 10,000m2 of woodland. The tower represents a collaboration between architects, engineers, and botanists. There are many complex engineering and horticulture solutions required for a 9m-high oak tree to grow on the 15th floor of a building in a busy city. The building is described as “a visionary reclamation of the nature that has vanished from our cities”. www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net

Fast, easy-to-use fencing products donated to an African-based charity by Sheffield manufacturer Gripple are working hard to protect some of Namibia’s most dangerous predators, as well as some humans. Gripple Plus wire joiners and Torq tensioning tools were given to AfriCat – a non-profit organisation working to conserve animals such as cheetahs, lions, hyenas and leopards. The charity also runs a livestock protection programme – extensive fencing needs to be erected and maintained, and in emergencies Gripple products can be used to quickly repair broken wires. When a large male lion ran into the fence and created a gaping hole, Gripple products saved the day, just in time! www.gripple.com

look Out For...

LOOK OUT FOR...

trIsteN KNIgHt RHS Young Designer of the Year 2012 – one talent to watch

Brownﬁeld Beauty garden at Tatton Park Flower Show, designed by Tristen Knight

In December 2011, an intriguing email arrived in my inbox inviting young garden designers (under the age of 28) to enter the prestigious RHS Young Designer of the Year award. Although I had not come across this award previously, a little research showed that it has stood previous entrants and finalists in great stead for their careers. The greatest appeal of the award is not only the chance to gain the title of Young Designer of the Year, but it also awarded financial backing of £12,000 to each of the three finalists to build a show garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. As most garden designers know, securing financial backing for show gardens is a huge challenge, so this was an opportunity not to miss. Over the Christmas period I began designing my entry and preparing all the documentation for submission in January, and was shortlisted to the final six for interview at the RHS in London.

Having worked for Aralia Garden Design in Hertfordshire under the guidance of Patricia Fox for four years and being involved with a range of commercial and large residential projects it gave me the self belief to push forward and try to gain further recognition in the industry. Add to this the great experience of being involved in show gardens at Chelsea in 2009 and 2012, I felt confident that should I make it to the final three I could build a successful show garden. From an early age I have had a great passion for engineering and design coupled with a love for farming life and outdoor living, so garden design seemed an ideal career. My formal training began at Loughborough University in Industrial Design and Technology where I gained my degree. Following on from this I studied for a Higher Diploma in

Garden Design at Writtle Agricultural College in essex in order to gain further horticultural knowledge and experience. When the news came that I was one of the three finalists that would be building a show garden at Tatton Park it was overwhelming, and it dawned on me that my design would become reality. Inspiration for my garden, Brownfield Beauty, came from a passion for 19th and early 20th Century industrial architecture, specifically on Brownfield sites in urban environments. The aim was to use reclaimed, recycled and rustic materials wherever possible, trying to show them in a new, innovative way. Consequently the next few months were spent sourcing and borrowing materials from my local farming community. Thanks to the generosity of friends and family my show garden experience was one of great enjoyment despite some of the worst July weather imaginable. The garden came together very smoothly and on schedule. Competition was tough with my two competitors producing interesting gardens of a very different style to my own, but the judges rewarded my innovation and hard work with the title of Young Designer of the Year 2012 and a Silver Gilt medal. Having returned to Aralia Garden Design after my show garden experience, we have a number of interesting projects underway and we are enjoying a very successful 2012. I am looking forward to a busy future in the garden design industry and aiming to exhibit at another RHS show in the very near future. To contact Tristen, email: tristen@ aralia.org.uk or visit www.aralia.org.uk.

DIARY octoBer 9–10 HTA Garden Futures Conference, One Great George Street, London. www.the-hta.org.uk 17 APL Autumn Networking event, Wyevale east Nurseries, Swanley, Kent. www.landscaper.org.uk 23–24 RHS Shades of Autumn

Show, Lawrence Hall, London SW1P 2Pe www.rhs.org.uk 24 BALI, North & South Thames Autumn Networking event, Wyevale east Nurseries, Swanley, Kent. Contact: dawn.baker@bali.org.uk noVeMBer 9 SGD Awards, Millennium Gloucester

Hotel, London SW7 4LH. www.sgdawards.com

Middlesex TW16 5Aq. www.futurescapeevent.com

10 SGD Autumn Conference, Imperial College London. www.sgd.org.uk 20 Pro Landscaper presents FutureScape, Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road east, Sunbury On Thames,

deceMBer 7 BALI Awards, Grosvenor House Hotel, London. www.bali.org.uk

YOUR EVENT if you have a diary event you wish to publicise, email details to the editor: lisa.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk 68

October 2012

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People

THE

LITTLE INTERVIEW JILL FOXLEY jill Foxley Garden Design www.the-perfumed-garden.co.uk What would you say is the best thing about your job? Seeing a completed design that was once in my head transformed into reality. What made you want to get into the industry? I always loved gardening as a hobby but after life threw a few heavy incidents at me it became therapy. How is the bulk of your work made up? My team of ‘ladies’ does mainly green (maintenance, planting etc) and the guys do the brown and grey (paving, fencing, brickwork, timber work). Design and plans are down to me. current trends in the market? Being bold.

SIMON BLACKLEY Nurture landscapes www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk What would you say is the best thing about your job? Meeting new people and learning new things, whether in biodiversity or equipment and vehicles. What made you want to get into the industry? My grandfathers were both keen gardeners and when I left school I was able to take part in a Youth Training Scheme and spent a year at RHS gardens Wisley. challenges ahead in your work? Providing clients with non-cost added value/ innovations, otherwise price is always the deciding factor. current trends in the market? Price seems to be the underlying drive for all clients right now – hopefully we are reaching the www.prolandscapermagazine.com

A small insight into the world of other professionals from our wide and varied industry. If you’d like to appear in a future issue please email enquiries to lisa.wilkinson@pro-landscaper.co.uk Who are you inspired by? Anyone with a passion for enhancing the natural world. one thing you want to do before you’re too old? Become self-sufficient. countryside or seaside? Countryside, so I can feel and see all the seasons through to my bones. Your proudest achievement? Winning a gold medal and The People’s Choice at RHS Hampton Court in 2009. Also my three gorgeous children and three grandchildren. spring, summer, autumn or winter? Spring for the wonderful intensity of colour. Where’s your favourite holiday destination? Cuba. Travel independently, an utterly intense experience that is frustrating and exhilarating all at once.

bottom of the trough and clients may start to look to quality again. Who are you inspired by? In gardening, Diarmuid Gavin, who pushes the boundaries and explores new ways to enjoy gardening. Gilbert White was our first ecologist who looked at the relationships between plants, animals and our environment. countryside or seaside? Countryside. Your proudest achievement? I’m still married after 26 years and have three teenage children. favourite song? Should I stay or should I go by The Clash spring, summer, autumn or winter? Spring. Where’s your favourite holiday destination? New Forest.

JONATHAN BOURNE Sales Director, Bourne Amenity www.bourneamenity.co.uk What would you say is the best thing about your job? variety, it keeps you fresh and alert. What made you want to get into the industry? The passion of the old man was a driving force in taking me back to my country roots. challenges ahead in your work? Keeping our products competitively priced in the face of increased costs of production. ensuring that we can satisfy increased levels of diverse soil specifications is also an exciting challenge. current trends in the market? The beautifying of urban areas has resulted in new technologies and techniques for planting in challenging environments. How do you remain competitive? Listening to the challenges of our customers and constantly evolving our product range. Who are you inspired by? Politicians – anyone who dedicates their life to promoting their ideals of social change has to have thick skin and huge determination. one thing you want to do before you’re too old? Compete in an Iron Man. countryside or seaside? The British countryside is unrivalled. spring, summer, autumn or winter? Winter – I love a sub-zero english morning and skiing. Where’s your favourite holiday destination? France. Beaches, mountains, food and wine, magnifique!

October 2012

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October 2012

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October 2012

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