Pro Landscaper October 2022

ACCESS ALL AREAS

A new diversity, equality and inclusivity charter

BIODIVERSITY IN BRENT

A seven-acre park in a new London neighbourhood

LET’S HEAR IT FROM Nick Osman, NAO Landscapes

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Welcome

We’re in the mourning period following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as I write this. It’s one of two major events to have taken place since the last issue of Pro Landscaper was published. The first took place the day before the Queen died; her last act was to the swear in the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, who won a brutal weeks-long battle against her opponent Rishi Sunak to become head of the Conservative party. In the hours that followed, a new cabinet was announced, including a new Environment Minister.

Then it stopped. Just one day into Liz Truss’ new role, Parliament closed for 10 days and the UK went into mourning. In less than one week, we had not just a new prime minister, but a new monarch, as King Charles III acceded to the throne.

Once the Queen’s funeral has taken place and parliament resumes, we’ll start to look ahead to what these changes might mean for us and for horticulture. King Charles III – dubbed the ‘Activist King’ – has been calling for change for decades when it comes to environmental issues. Last year, at COP26, he said that “…nature is our best teacher” and he has been an open supporter of improving biodiversity. Whilst the head of state must remain politically unbiased, could the ascension of King Charles III spark new sustainability targets and legislation?

And what of our new Environment Minister, Ranil Jayawardena? He has commercial experience in numerous sectors, including construction, so you could argue this latest appointment could be good news – if the landscape side of construction is taken into account. Either way, change is afoot and there are seemingly opportunities for the sector to be heard.

Increasingly, clients in the public domain are opting for street furniture fitted with bamboo. The sustainable character of the material, bamboo can be harvested 5 years after planting, is, next to its versatility, a frequently mentioned argument. FURNS can supply all products with bamboo as a responsible alternative to hardwood, as shown in the STORR SERIES above.

Ready for harvest after 5 years.With a growth rate of up to 1 metre per day, bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world.

Roundup

Our monthly roundup of industry news

Access All Areas

A new charter to bolster diversity and inclusivity

UK Landscape Barometer

The statistics and facts recorded in June 2022

Declaration of Independence Neil Edwards

Ask the Expert Sarah Eberle

Collaborating with the Community Thomas O'Mahony

Manifestos That Matter

Lynne Marcus

Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Shade

Christopher Martin

Learn and Adapt Nigel Cox

Landscape Institute Campaigning to connect people, place and nature

Diverse, Unique and Naturally Beautiful Ashtead Common

When is a Meadow Not a Meadow? (Part 2) Nick Coslett

CONTENTS

Respecting Regional Architecture Lewis Normand

The Risks of Cedar & PPM Steve McCurdy

Two Decades of Majestic Trees Anniversary symposium

PlantBox Living Walls Growing Revolution

Boosting Biodiversity in Brent Union Park

Renovate, Redesign and Rewild jarmanmurphy

Trends: Outdoor Kitchens Debs Winrow

A Picture or 1,000 words Grillo

Keeping Britain's Streets Safe Street Furniture

Combatting Vehicle as Weapon Attacks Bailey Street Furniture Group

The Bamboo Boom FURNS Street Furniture

The Light Touch Ray Molony

Let's Hear it From Nick Osman, NAO Landscapes

Weathering the Storm Building against climate change

Down and Grout Gareth Wilson

Survival of the Fittest or the Most Adaptable? Alison Warner

Considering Compassionate Leave Oracle Solicitors

Who's Got Your Back? Angus Lindsay

Commercial Ambitions

The Cutting Edge

supplier quizzing

5 Minutes with Oliver Hemson

CONTRIBUTORS

ANGUS LINDSAY

Angus briefly breaks away from talking kit to share his thoughts on how important it is to drop the stiff upper lip and look after each other’s mental health and wellbeing. idverde.co.uk

JASON MCKENZIE AND KUMSAL KALELI

Bereavement is a sensitive topic and one which requires careful consideration. Oracle Solicitors explains what is expected from a legal point of view. oraclesolicitors.co.uk

LEWIS NORMAND

Local identity should be treasured when designing spaces, says Lewis Normand, who applauds Suffolk council for appointing a design champion as part of its planning team. iplantsman.com

LYNNE MARCUS

SGD launched a new sustainability manifesto to address the climate crisis. Chair Lynne Marcus shares the thinking behind it and what SGD members can expect. sgd.org.uk

NICK COSLETT

In the second of his series on what constitutes a meadow, Nick considers whether one made up solely of non-native plants could fit the definition and what its benefits could be.

RAY MOLONY

New contributor and lighting expert Ray Molony shares key tips for lighting a landscaping scheme successfully, including some perhaps surprising considerations. buildbackbetterawards.com

STEVE M C CURDY

After recently being forced to destroy nearly 20 cedar trees, having lost a High Court battle against Defra, Steve explains the events leading up to the destruction notice. majestictrees.co.uk

THOMAS O’MAHONY

As community-led landscapes are becoming increasingly pertinent, Thomas explains how and why Maylim is bringing in community participation earlier in schemes. maylim.co.uk

PLANS SUBMITTED FOR MAJOR STRATFORD ESTATE REGENERATION

Plans have been submitted for the redevelopment of the Carpenters Estate in Stratford, one of London’s largest and most ambitious estate regeneration programmes.

The outline planning application is being brought forward by Newham Council’s wholly owned housing delivery company, with a multidisciplinary team led by the Tibbalds CampbellReith JV and including

ROUNDUP

Industry Updates

The Bourne Group gathered together its industry colleagues to celebrate 75 years of supplying to the landscaping sector.

Held on the evening of 9 September at the Mercer Roof Terrace in central London, Bourne’s anniversary event saw some of Bourne’s prolific clients in attendance, such as Mark Gregory, Tim O’Hare and Randle Siddeley.

CEO Peter Bourne, the second generation owner, and his son, Jonathan Bourne, director of its Bourne Amenity arm, spoke about how the Bourne Group was first founded three

quarters of a century ago in agriculture. It has since grown into a supplier of high-quality landscaping and sports turf materials, with its own blending facilities and FORS Gold accredited haulage fleet.

The Kent-based company has supplied numerous high-profile projects including Superbloom at the Tower of London, the transformation of 180 The Strand, and the redevelopment along the Greenwich Peninsula, as well as projects for the Bankside Open Spaces Trust and the YMCA Milton Keynes. bourneamenity.co.uk

Metropolitan Workshop and Proctor & Matthews Architects who are collaborating on the masterplan, and landscape architects LDA Design.

These proposals centre on a new masterplan that will deliver up to 2,022 much-needed new, refurbished and replacement homes, alongside a diverse variety of community, education and commercial uses to support the growing

RHS STUDENT’S DESIGN CREATES NEW COMMUNITY WELLBEING SPACE

Anew wellbeing garden at Kings College

Guilford is now open to the public following a design competition won by RHS diploma student Emma Leaper. Students completing the RHS Diploma in Horticultural Practice course at RHS Garden Wisley were tasked with designing a garden that prioritised wellbeing, helped build community connections and inspired users to take time away from busy lives and transform an existing disused space for the College.

Emma Leaper’s ‘Lifecycle Garden’ was chosen by staff and the Eco Group at Kings College as the winning design. Her design incorporates soft, sensory planting with trees to provide shade and plenty of room for people to relax and socialise. The design also makes use of drought-tolerant plants for the exposed site and features such as a long grass meadow and fruit trees in the Wildlife Grove. It contains a Growing Lab, with planters for soft fruit and herbs which can be harvested, and a Sustainability Centre containing composting bays, a tool shed and a water butt.

Emma Leaper, designer of the winning garden, says: “The Lifecycle Garden is a freeflowing, dynamic space for learning and growing together. Young people from Kings College can use the Growing Lab, visit the Sustainability Centre or relax in the Wildlife Grove. It’s a place to nurture young minds, and support the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of all.” rhs.org.uk/education-learning

©RHS/Luke MacGregor

neighbourhood and create "a real piece of London".

The masterplan has been structured around enhancing and combining existing open spaces and key historic routes across Carpenters. A large neighbourhood park sits at its centre, surrounded by lower rise apartment buildings, houses and maisonettes served by intimate mews, streets and communal courtyards.

A network of multi-functional open spaces and landscaped pedestrian routes would work together to create

a varied public realm and fine grain pedestrian network supporting a 15-minute neighbourhood. Seven key open spaces range in character from a central neighbourhood green to vibrant public squares animated by spill-out spaces and distinctive play features.

In total, over £1bn will be invested in restoring the estate and creating new homes through phased plans that will be delivered over the next 15 to 20 years. lda-design.co.uk

Quote of the month

It is hard not to feel paralysed by the enormity of climate change and the implications of the tragic loss of biodiversity that humans are responsible for, but depend upon...it is easy to take the path of least resistance, we must all be crusaders in this urgent campaign.

Lynne Marcus MSGD Chair of the SGD, on its new manifesto

Online exclusives

HEY GOOGLE, ARE SMART GARDENS THE FUTURE?

Numerous lockdowns saw the British public want to invest more in their gardens. Alongside this has been the development of smart technology, including products for the outdoors. Are we likely to see the two combine? The Smart Home Garden invited us to its immersive experience day. prolandscapermagazine.com/hey-google-aresmart-gardens-the-future/

30 UNDER 30 UPDATE: CHARLOTTE WILLIAMS

One year into her role with AECOM, Charlotte tells us about the switch towards working on large infrastructure projects and earning her Chartership.

AECOM is undoubtedly in a fortunate position, boasting a chartered landscape architect who enjoys planning and is eager to explore policy. prolandscapermagazine.com/30-under-30update-charlotte-williams/

As a professional regulatory body and charity, we uphold the highest standards of conduct and are committed to being a modern, welcoming, and inclusive organisation. Conduct and behaviours that fall below the standard that members should expect of its professional Institute will be challenged.

If the LI had not investigated the disclosure about Mr McAllister’s conduct and he had become President, we would have undermined our standing both as a professional regulatory body and charity. The allegations were serious and had to be investigated properly in accordance with our rules and recommendations from the Independent Review.

The correct process was followed, and it was fair and proportionate. The LI Advisory Council concluded unanimously based on the compelling evidence before

them and experienced by them that Mr McAllister’s conduct and behaviour fell significantly below the standard the Institute required of its members by breaching the Institute’s Trustees Code of Conduct on multiple counts and he was not fit to occupy the position of Trustee, Council member or to hold office within the Landscape Institute.

One of the outcomes of the Independent Review conducted last year was that the Institute needed to address poor member behaviour. The LI Advisory Council is determined to do that and will be relentless in our pursuit of diversity, equality and inclusivity. We will not tolerate the abuse of powers or workplace bullying no matter who the individual is and are determined to provide a safe and welcoming workplace for our staff and members/volunteers.

PRO LANDSCAPER’S SMALL PROJECT BIG IMPACT SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

The Pro Landscaper small project BIG IMPACT Awards 2022 shortlist has been announced. Running for its fifth year, the spBI Awards 2022 has seen a plethora of entries from across the sector, and now the best of the best have been put up for judging by an esteemed panel. Winners will be announced at FutureScape on Tuesday 15 November 2022. prolandscapermagazine.com/pro-landscaperssmall-project-big-impact-shortlist-announced

Head to prolandscapermagazine.com

THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE RELEASE A STATEMENT ON THE REMOVAL OF BRODIE MCALLISTER AS PRESIDENT

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Get MORE from your turfcare partner this year: More products . More advice . More training . More finance

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Access

ALL AREAS

“This charter is so important. Key leads from different organisations have worked together at pace. We want everyone to feel they can be involved in this industry, and it has to start with leadership. We need to work together, and we need to include everyone’s thinking in decisions that are made. This approach ensures everyone feels valued and, in turn, they will be able to offer their own qualities to the industry.”

ADRIAN WICKHAM AND TESSA JOHNSTONE, BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF LANDSCAPE INDUSTRIES

“The charter is a welcome start to creating a diverse and inclusive industry. It is great to see all the major organisations within the sector collaborating, sharing knowledge, experience and resources. Working together is the only way we can ensure that we can address barriers to full participation within our professions in order to reflect the reality of wider society, and to be able to draw on a greater diversity of perspectives.

DARRYL MOORE, SGD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR EDUCATION, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, AND DIRECTOR OF CITYSCAPES

“The more inclusive our industry is, the more vibrant and successful it will become. As the leading professional body for arboriculture, it’s important that we lead by example. By working with our colleagues in horticulture and landscape we can share ideas and learn from each other. Being involved in the creation of this charter is just one of the many ways that the association continues to tackle the succession and ED&I issue. We want arboriculture and tree care to be seen as an attractive career for all.”

MICHELLE RYAN, CHAIR OF THE ARBORICULTURAL ASSOCIATION

“It is essential that the wider industry comes together to work on the issues affecting the progression of breaking down barriers in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and the APL are so pleased that the major industry organisations have successfully agreed and committed to this charter. It’s of utmost importance to the APL and all industry colleagues that we are all active and successful in providing inclusive and accessible careers.”

HOLLY YOUDE, ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPERS (APL)

“We believe this is a great first step towards becoming a more inclusive and diverse industry for the whole of horticulture. It has been great to see so many organisations get together and think about how we tackle such an important issue in our industry. This charter is a step in the right direction, and I encourage businesses to put this into action and continue to push for change. The YPHA committee is being proactive in initiating the changes that the charter encourages across our association.”

MOLLIE HIGGINSON, CO-CHAIR OF YPHA

Representatives from a number of associations have agreed to sign a charter, with the intention of putting together guidance notes for implementing best practice or policies that can be aligned.

The Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter for the Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscaping & Garden Media profession came about after BALI’s Access All Areas webinar last December. Associations and organisations including the LI, RHS, SGD and APL have all pledged their allegiance to the charter, which can be amended and added to over time. Other member organisations are also welcome to sign, though businesses and individuals are currently not being asked to do so.

Signatories will be confirming their commitment "to progress the breaking down of barriers in the industry and increasing access and progression for all" and "to work openly and respectfully with other chartered members".

THOSE COMMITTED TO SIGNING THE CHARTER:

• Sue Morgan, Landscape Institute (LI)

• Mollie Higginson, Young People in Horticulture

• Chris Moncrieff, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

• Mo Kebbay, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

• James Barnes, Horticultural Trades Association (HTA)

• Darryl Moore, Society of Garden Designers (SGD)

• Lynne Marcus, Society of Garden Designers (SGD)

• Michelle Ryan, Arboricultural Association

• Phil Tremayne, Association of Professional Landscapers (APL)

• Holly Youde, Association of Professional Landscapers (APL)

• Michael Palmer, Garden Media Guild

• Adrian Wickham, British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI)

• Tessa Johnstone, British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI)

WHAT IS IN THE CHARTER?

• We commit to create an inclusive culture and measure how we engage and improve representation.

• Support the development of our industry from an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion perspective – regardless of area of specialism, through the sharing of work and good practice.

• To recognise and monitor Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion across the industry, using a set format to benchmark performance.

• Provide access to resources for educating and upskilling colleagues and members on diversity and inclusion.

• Promote the Industry as a fully inclusive and accessible environment with opportunities for lifelong rewarding careers.

The industry is coming together to improve the diversity and inclusivity within the landscaping sector

YEAR ROUND

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Enquiries plummet

AS SUMMER COMES TO AN END

IN THE LANDSCAPING INDUSTRY

In the month of July there has been a dramatic drop in enquires with half of our respondents claiming to have seen a decrease. A fall in enquires isn’t unheard of; it typically happens around this time of year. However, with the current cost-of-living crisis and an expensive winter expected ahead, could this decrease be something more than the usual post-summer slump?

There is always the possibility that people simply cannot afford to have any work carried out on their gardens at the moment, which could explain the 66% decrease in enquires this month from the domestic landscaping and garden design industries. One respondent said that there is, “general caution”. They are “expecting markets and confidence to sway” and predict that “maybe wealthy clients [will] delay projects one year unless the bail out plans kerb inflation”.

However, with this in mind, only 10% of respondents reported a decrease in projects. With projects holding steady, perhaps the future will not be so bleak in the coming months.

PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS MORE CONFIDENT COMPARED TO LAST MONTH

Nurseries

Nurseries typically foreshadow the rest or the landscaping industry, being one step ahead in the supply chain. Therefore, the lack of confidence from them is arguably not a good sign

CONFIDENCE

Last year

Last month

Higher

Equal

Lower

Quotes within the nursery industry have increased compared to July last year, possibly because COVID-19 is no longer hindering it. However, they have decreased by 67% compared to last month. One respondent says “costs continue to rise on all fronts” which could be a reason for the decrease in quotes. With the overall cost of living increasing and the reduced work felt all over the industry, the lack of quotes this July compared to June is not a surprise.

QUOTES

Last year

Last month

prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper | October 2022 NEWS 14 Interested to find out more? Please email jessica.dean-hill@eljays44.com, visit our website or scan the QR code on the previous page.

INDEPENDENCE Declaration of

Another upbeat month – this time in the midst of the traditionally slow holiday period – proves yet again that the UK construction sector has no truck with the economic and political chaos that has gripped the rest of the nation. Neil Edwards looks back at the month of August 2022 with a mix of surprise and admiration.

In the run-up to the Brexit vote in June 2016 that set the UK on course to leave the European Union, there was a huge amount of concern about how that new-found independence might impact upon the UK construction sector.

But it now appears that through the Brexit experience, the UK construction sector has learned a great deal about the potential benefits of independence. And now as the UK is gripped by inflation, political upheaval and economic concern, construction has seemingly cast itself adrift and has universally agreed to play no part in the unfolding chaos.

In what is traditionally a quiet month curtailed by the summer holiday season, the BCLive league table hit an impressive and unseasonal £6.2bn

In what is traditionally a quiet month curtailed by the summer holiday season, the BCLive league table hit an impressive and unseasonal £6.2bn to further distance itself from the gathering economic crisis.

In a month in which 15 companies collected new contract awards valued at more than

£100m, Kier Group soared to the top of the BCLive league table, landing an impressive haul of 20 new projects. The largest of these is a £400m new build and landscaping of a prison at Full Sutton in York for client the Ministry of Justice. Equally exciting for professional landscapers is a £162m mixed use development secured by JRL Group in Tottenham. That project comprises the construction of 482 flats for client Argent, together with extensive landscaping works. Further north, landscapers will be eyeing the £120m Victoria Riverside Project. This landmark project includes the erection of a residential-led mixed use development comprising three towers or 37, 26 and 18 storeys. These will provide 634 residential apartments and townhouse accommodation together with 1,222m2 of commercial accommodation with associated residential amenity areas, refuse storage, car parking, cycle storage, landscaping and new public realm including the re-instatement of Bromley Street and other associated works. Housebuilding remained

the top sector, contributing £1.89bn across 136 individual projects, although water and sewage enjoyed timely uptick in demand, delivering a further £505m to the monthly total.

Regionally, London clung on to its top spot, reporting 99 individual projects worth a combined £1.45bn. But Yorkshire (£666m) Scotland (£566m) and the North West (£492m) all enjoyed positive upticks in workload. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Wales which just passed the £121m mark this month.

Quite how long the UK construction sector can remain removed and unmoved by the vagaries of the wider economic climate remains to be seen. But, for now at least, the separatist sector continues to bask in positivity while fear and concern gathers all about them.

Neil Edwards is CEO of Builder’s Conference, the construction industry’s leading trade body. It provides its members to sales leads and market intelligence, as well as statistical data and networking opportunities. BCLive is a realtime league table of construction contract award activity. Operated by the Builders’ Conference, the BCLive league table monitors more than 6,000 new contract awards each year with a combined value of more than £80bn. buildersconference.co.uk

NEIL EDWARDS

AS K THE EXPERTS

As a garden designer, howcan I help to ensure biosecurity?

Pests and pathogens threaten our plants, but Sarah Eberle advises how designers can help to prevent them being introduced or spread

As designers we have the responsibility of ensuring that the selection, specification, and chain of supply is secure and safe.

So, what are the questions we should be asking when sourcing plants? First, ensure you are up to date with risks and threats by visiting planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk and other sources available to the industry and select your species accordingly.

When designing for a project where the plants are sourced by the contractor, make sure your specification covers requirements for plant health, biosecurity and certification including phytosanitary certification where relevant (generally on importation to UK). Preferably nominate the supplier so that you be confident that you are familiar with their protocols. Always view and check the submitted certificates and where possible inspect the plants yourself.

The Defra Plant Health website states “From June 2022, Defra and the Forestry Commission will introduce a 12-month pilot to test a new biosecure procurement requirement as part of the England Woodland Creation Offer and the Tree Health Pilot grant schemes. This means suppliers will need to demonstrate that they can meet the biosecurity requirements set out within Plant Health Management Standard. The Plant Health Management Standard sets out a number of practical requirements for businesses to help protect the plant supply chain. The standard is regarded as the benchmark biosecurity standard and forms the basis of the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme.”

The panel

HOLLY YOUDE

Chair of the APL, Holly Youde, is a director at Urban Landscape Design in the North West and The Landscape Academy, a purpose built training centre dedicated to landscaping in the UK.

JAKE CATLING

• Category A evidence – current membership of the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme (or have officially applied to join the Scheme and will do so within one year).

At the time of writing, there are currently some 28 large nurseries that are certified under the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme, so the first question must be to ask whether they are current members or intending to join within the next 12 months. If members, then you can be assured that all is well.

• Category B evidence – a successful Ready to Plant Assessment by Fera Science Ltd. The Ready to Plant (RtP) assessment provides an opportunity for a supplier to demonstrate that a consignment of plants complies with the requirements of the Plant Health Management Standard (PHMS) If this is the case, then you can be confident but ask to see relevant evidence.

When sourcing from smaller or unregistered nurseries then ask to see a copy of their Plant Health Strategy. Ensure you know the original source of the plants (international/UK/nursery grown), inspect the plants at source and check plant passports. This is particularly important with regards to Xyella fastidiosa as many shrubs and sub shrubs that are so familiar in our gardens are host species. Preferably keep a copy of the host species list on your desktop and specify UK grown.

Remember discretion is the better part of valour, so ensure you play your part in ensuring the survival and fitness of our plant communities.

Jake founded his domestic landscaping company, The Landscape Consultants, aged just 24, and has since become one of the Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30s and has delivered various awardwinning gardens and outdoor spaces.

KEN WHITE Ken White, former chairman of the APL, leads the multi-award-winning Frosts Landscape Construction, which carries out large commercial and private estate projects across the UK.

ROSEMARY COLDSTREAM

Rosemary has won numerous awards for her work, creating high quality gardens for both domestic and commercial clients. She is a fully registered member of the SGD and sits on the board of directors at BALI.

SARAH EBERLE

Chelsea’s most decorated designer boasts a collection of RHS medals and is a member of the LI, SGD and the Institute of Horticulture. Sarah strives to create as sustainable gardens as possible.

2022 SHORTLIST

SUSTAINABLE GARDEN

Under £35,000

Sponsored by Medite Smartply Cricklewood Acacia Landscapes

Ascot Gravel Garden Bryan Halliday Gardens

Kerry’s Garden Gaia Gardeners

Wildersmoor Barn Lymm Tom Bannister Studio Design

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Under £20,000 Sponsored by Re-flow

Emma and Julie Pride Landscape Design

HARD LANDSCAPING

Under £35,000 Sponsored by Westminster Stone

Beck Road Acacia Landscapes

Sunken Delights Landtech Landscape

Webb Garden Turner Landscapes

Chestnut Springs Wilson Landscapes Ltd

INTERNATIONAL GARDEN

Under £35,000

Family Garden Lavender Landscapes

SPECIAL FEATURE

Under £25,000

Sponsored by Stone Warehouse

The Floating Deck Adam Vetere Landscape & Garden Design

Peri’s Garden Cat Datta Garden Design

The Water Rill Painted Fern Garden Design

DIY SOS New Ross Residence Peter Donegan Garden Design

Whitefield Garden Pavillion Robert Hughes Garden Design

PLANTING DESIGN

Under £25,000 Sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries

Jungle Box Alice Meacham Gardens

The Gravel Garden Katherine Lee Garden Design

Gardenplan Design Lupin Gardening Ltd

Weston Green M Hunt Design

Beaufort Sculpture Garden

Nancy Rodgers Garden Design

Water Rill

Painted Fern Garden Design

Eternal Garden Rae Wilkinson Garden Design

Toothbeary

Tom Bannister Studio Design

BUILD Under £35,000 Sponsored by Adtrak Cosy Courtyard Garden Crouch End Acacia Landscapes

Bunny Garden Blue Rose Landscapes

The infinite Porcelain Project DW Construction and Landscape Ltd

Beech Road Eastleigh Arborists

Family Garden Elliot Rise iScape Garden Construction

Modern Vs. Classic Montrose Landscapes

Spa Green Garden Quality Outside Living Ltd

Melgund Road TGM Landscapes

DESIGN

Under £35,000 Sponsored by Readyhedge

The Contemporary Courtyard Garden

Adam Vetere Landscape & Garden Design

The Escape Room Blue Daisy Garden Design Ltd

Ascot Gravel Gardens Bryan Halliday Gardens

Blue Town Garden Cristina Bergamin Garden Design

Manwood Road

Epoch Garden Design

Mediterranean Garden Marketa Garden Design

Isle of Dogs Gravel Garden Peter Reader Landscapes

The Secret Courtyard Rosemary Coldstream Garden Design

Western Road Sarah Naybour Design Ltd

DESIGN AND BUILD

Under £35,000 Sponsored by Palmstead Harworth Browning and James Garden Design Ltd

The Bijou Garden Landscapia Ltd

The Elements Garden Landtech Landscape

Heavenly Escape Malpas Landscapes and Designs

New Build Garden Raine Garden Design

Tannery Gardens Rob Howard Garden Design

Taybridge Road Tom Howard Garden Design & Landscaping Ltd

Blank Space to Sense of Place Urban Earth

Collaborating WITH THE

COMMUNITY

In 2010 when the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and the Asset Transfer Unit published ‘Communityled spaces: A Guide for Local Authorities and Community Groups’, people wanted a more significant say in how their local parks and public spaces were managed. As budgets tightened, local authorities wanted to maximise the help communities could offer.

This being said, community-led landscapes are not a new idea. In the 19th century, the Bankside district, located on the south side of the River Thames, was the capital’s industrial centre and one of London's poorer areas. In 1887 the social reformer Octavia Hill established a tiny site, Red Cross Garden, as an ‘open-air sitting room for the tired inhabitants of Southwark’. Unfortunately, by the end of the 20th century it was neglected and underused. In 2005, with support from the community, local charity Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST) secured funding for its restoration. BOST continues to manage and programme the site with a group of volunteers helping to maintain the garden, run historical tours, and host community events.

More pertinent today, communities have become increasingly conscious and interested in their local green spaces. Planning more equitable public parks and gardens responsive to community needs is now central to the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Recent research has shown the increasing importance of green space and nature to improve wellbeing, reduce stress and support good mental health.

Research published in June 2022 has shown that when public spaces and their programming are community-led, they tend to have a "ripple effect" and have been seen to support in areas such as skills and training, participation and youth engagement. They have also contributed to broader community development and resiliency.

This is true of the BOST Future Gardeners programme. Future Gardeners is an innovative training and work experience scheme

providing core skills to gain entry-level jobs in the horticulture industry without needing any prior experience. Earlier this year, Maylim formalised its relationship with the programme by supporting the scheme through workshops, career advice, and graduate placements.

Historically at Maylim, our connection with communities has often been limited to our obligations under the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS). However, we are now embarking on projects much earlier in the RIBA stages, where community participation in the design, delivery and management is a critical factor in the success of the public realm.

Looking at the South Thamesmead project, residents have had a say in how their neighbourhoods will examine and develop in the years ahead. The newly-formed South Thamesmead Garden Estate Community Design Collective is a group of local residents committed to increasing the green space within the neighbourhood. The Collective has helped co-design the improvement works with the design team and Making Space for Nature, a programme finding new ways for residents to enjoy these spaces. I am delighted that Maylim has secured the contract to deliver the improvements at South Thamesmead, and we look forward to progressing community participation through co-build projects.

Thomas O’Mahony is managing director of Maylim, a BALI Grand Award-winning organisation, specialising in high-quality external works and landscaping schemes. Originally from a civil-engineering background, Tom has over 30 years’ experience across a diverse range of landscaping, infrastructure and urban regeneration projects. maylim.co.uk

THOMAS O’MAHONY

Thomas O'Mahony shares why Maylim is pushing for community-led landscapes

Communities have become increasingly conscious and interested in their local green spaces

SOUTH THAMESMEAD

ESSENDINE PRIMARY SCHOOL

It is hard not to feel paralysed by the enormity of climate change and the implications of the tragic loss of biodiversity that humans are responsible for but depend upon. We are privileged to have the opportunity to make a difference, but despite being furnished with a growing canon of information, research and resources, with imagination, education and training as well as years of experience in other fields along with a large dollop of common sense, it can be easy to take the path of least resistance.

There are many vested interests and a wholesale ‘greenwashing’ industry working overtime to persuade us and our clients that it’s ok to use peat, inconsequential to cover gardens with plastic lawns, to fill skips and landfill, to burn furnaces at thousands of degrees for garden products and crane in mature trees – just to get that ‘look’.

In June the SGD gathered with guests and experts at our first Symposium at RHS Wisley to consider how to design and specify gardens with a lighter footprint, that sequester carbon, provide healthy ecosystems and offer diverse habitats to help reverse the loss in biodiversity. We started to work collaboratively to establish principles and methodologies where sustainability is the priority when we design and specify gardens – which is not to say that we intend in any way to compromise design principles or disappoint our clients. The result of our collaboration was to publish a short manifesto as follows: “We the members need to reduce the environmental impact of our gardens and landscapes and to reverse the decline of biodiversity which has accelerated over the last 50 years.

“This should be achieved by recognising key elements which include hard landscape materials, construction and approach to resources; water as a resource; soils; and plants, planting and an increase in biodiversity.”

This can be found on the SGD website, accompanied by a guidance document to be updated every six to 12 months with input from our members and industry partners. It includes:

• Recycling/upcycling resources on site

• Reducing hard landscaped areas and carbon heavy/energy intensive materials, using local, natural stone and renewable materials

• Water conservation/natural ponds/drainage

• On- site soil modification

• Plants, planting, resilience, increasing biodiversity, restoring ecosystems and establishing/encouraging wildlife ‘corridors’, plant smaller and reduce transport

• Using biological controls and mechanical methods; not herbicides and insecticides

• Striving to ban artificial (plastic) grass – ‘just say no’

• Green play solutions

• Collab orating with suppliers and manufacturers to develop products that are recyclable and environmentally friendly.

• Encouraging clients to ‘love the wild’

Please work with us. We must all be crusaders. Buy our Symposium online, join us on 26 November at our Autumn Conference ‘NATURAL NETWORKS – Connectivity in Garden and Landscape Design’ at the Royal Geographical Society, London and you can also book onto our developing ‘sustainable’ CPD programme – all on the SGD website.

Lynne is a panellist for: The Collaborative Approach: Skills, Diversity, Sustainability and Competition Tuesday 15 November, 2pm, The Pro Landscaper Theatre

LYNNE MARCUS MSGD,

Lynne Marcus has been designing gardens since 1997 having trained under Professor David Stevens FSGD. Her awardwinning portfolio includes contemporary, traditional, formal and naturalistic gardens recognisable for their innovative use of space, strong, pared-down layout and the sensitive integration of natural materials and planting. Lynne has also been Chair of the SGD since September 2020. sgd.org.uk

Lynne Marcus shares the SGD’s new manifesto and ways forward for sustainable gardens and landscapes

Please work with us. We must all be crusaders CHAIR OF THE SOCIETY OF GARDEN DESIGNERS

INTO THE SHADEOut of the Frying Pan,

Readers around the world have experienced uncommon levels of heat in cities this summer, and urban heat is playing on my mind a lot after managing a working week in 40° London.

Thinking about where to work this year in London, Paris, Palma, and Copenhagen, the air conditioner has clearly been the go-to solution for keeping cool for long enough.

Let’s not muddy the water; AC is an ecological disaster. Buildings use more than half of the world’s electricity, mostly for temperature maintenance and ventilation, with cooling being responsible for one gigatonne of CO2 emissions. One cannot escape the cruel irony that cooling our buildings and cities is warming the planet. Our cities used to be designed to respond to local conditions and climates, and local building techniques created unique cities. These are the cities we tend to want to visit now because they are genuine, honest and of a place – they are what we stick on instagram or my parents send a postcard of because they are captivating places unlike everywhere else.

Marrakech, Tunis, Palma, Santorini, Florence – all were made to respond to and protect city dwellers from urban heat. Walls are made of thick stone and organised around the central patio, often being partially covered to provide shade and cool the air throughout the accommodation. Likewise, urban spaces are organised around the movement of the sun and were clouded in shade throughout the day to keep the air cool where people walk and spend time. So, what happened?

In colonial periods, traditional ways were dismissed in favour of a European style to attract English, French, Spanish or Portuguese to live in these cities – losing the ingenious cooling techniques that supported themselves. The International Style and globalisation also took hold, with the birth of steel frame construction. These glass towers are the most

vulnerable to the sun’s rays, yet were reproduced around the world regardless of climate to show we’re open for business. Dubai has in fact always been a city of towers; however, traditionally, this meant the use of square turrets on the top of a building that would channel air inside via openings on all four sides. These wind towers have been used in the Middle East since at least 1300 BCE — naturally conditioning the air in buildings by manipulating the wind.

Moving forwards, we need to start cleanly gaming nature like we used to. Just as the ancient wind towers of the Middle East manipulated the wind for personal gain, modern urban design and architecture needs to rapidly accelerate its manipulation of natural conditions to the benefit of people and planet. We need to accept that we let modern life, globalisation and an inevitable splash of greed take hold.

We need political leaders to learn from places like France in terms of how to get voted back in for being climatically bold, and we as urban designers need to stop layering up technology to reach equilibrium and start creating unique places that game the local environment in clean ways to our benefit.

Christopher is a panellist for:

The Green Highway: Retrofitting our high streets with urban greening Tuesday 15 November, 2pm, Urban Greening Zone

Christopher is an influential urban designer and planner working all over the globe to help communities improve their public spaces; as well as supporting cities and governments to develop strategy, change policies, and make great places possible. He is co-founder and director of Urban Strategy at Urban Movement; a trustee of the UK charity for everyday walking – Living Streets; vice chair of the UK Urban Design Group; and is a member of the United Nations Planning and Climate Action Group. urbanmovement.co.uk

Let’s explore how we can use the natural environment to cool cities, suggests Christopher Martin

One cannot escape the cruel irony that cooling our buildings and cities is warming the planet

TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER

Pro Landscaper Theatre In association with Caledonian Stone

10:00

How the landscape industry must change to tackle climate change and reverse ecological decline

Mark Laurence

The industry, as it stands today, is not fit for this purpose and must make radical changes to remove damaging practices and materials. We have to embrace the new and be the change we want to see.

11:00

The State of Our Industry: Where do we go from here?

Jim Wilkinson | Neil Edwards | Helen Elks-Smith | Tim Howell

Taking a deep dive into Pro Landscaper’s UK Landscape Barometer data from the last two years, discussions will focus on high and low points, trends and more to help us shape the future.

14:00 15:00

The Collaborative Approach: Skills, Diversity, Sustainability and Competition

Wayne Grills | Phil Tremayne | Sue Morgan | Lynne Marcus

An opportunity to challenge industry influencers and your trade organisation representatives on headline topics that continue to affect your business, your marketplace and your strategic plans.

The Olympic Park Legacy: Celebrating landscape excellence 10 years on Christopher James | Thomas Bellamy | Mark Camley

Exploring elements of the Olympic Park’s landscape creation, development and maintenance, panellists share their Olympic Park journeys from concept to construction and its footprint.

Inspire Theatre In association with Garden House Design

10:00 11:00

A Lighter Footprint: Building More Sustainable Show Gardens

Malcolm Anderson | Liz Nicholson

This seminar offers practical examples around how we can design, build, and importantly transport and reinstate show gardens in a sustainable way. Areas covered include designing out waste, modular design and how to reduce concrete use.

Going for Gold: The RHS Shows Garden Judging Process Explained

James Alexander-Sinclair

Join us for this session for the ultimate insight into the RHS shows garden judging process. We will cover elements such as mechanics of the process, the judges’ governance structure, and of course what the judges are looking for in a great show garden.

Nurture Theatre 10:00 11:00 14:00 15:00

The Natural Environment: The Promise of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

Lewis Normand | Ben Gardner | Brian Hawtin | Jack Potter | Peter Massini | Nick White | Helen Nyul

The panel will discuss BNG principles, policy and how landscape design and construction can help to achieve +10% net gain in biodiversity.

The Subject of Soil: Reaping the Rewards of Regeneration

Tim O’Hare

Tim O’Hare will be tackling the topic of soil regeneration – what does it mean? How can it be achieved and what are the benefits?

Site analysis – what is it and why does it matter?

Helen Elks-Smith

You can never know too much about a site and as designers we know we need to go to site, but what do we do when we get there? And how do we ensure good ideas are not lost and opportunities missed?

The Plants take Priority: Plant-led Landscapes

Lewis Normand | Sarah Eberle | Roger Smith | Charles Blumlein | Jack Skinner | Chris Stone | Kenny Raybould

This panel will be putting plant choice first for a better landscape outcome. Specifying and selecting the right plants, trees, shrubs, hedging and perennials – and the nursery - for height, spread, aspect and conditions, soft landscaping leads the way.

14:00 15:00

Walk our Path: An RHS Shows Garden Designer’s Journey James Alexander-Sinclair | William Scholey | Jane Porter | Paul Hervey-Brookes

We explain the pipeline of opportunities for designers of all levels at RHS Shows. We will be joined by designers who have created some of these gardens to talk about how it has benefitted them.

Money Matters: How We Can Help You Find Funding

Victoria Dowling | Jude Yeo | Emily Grayshaw

Come along to this session and learn how the RHS can assist you in funding your show garden. There are many ways the RHS can help you realise your design dreams. You are not alone!

Focused

The Price is Right – Or Is It?

Nick Ruddle | Lee Bestall | Jake Catling | Sam Hassall | Mark Youde With representatives who recognise that challenge only too well, our panellists will discuss how to pitch pricing at the right level without undervaluing your work, your time and your expertise.

The Power of the Apprenticeship: Shaping and Showcasing Talent

Matt O’Conner | Nigel Bowcock | Rupert Keys | Dee Vickers | Ros Burnley

Hiring an apprentice can help your business develop a motivated and loyal workforce. Hear from those who took this route, as well as the colleges encouraging the next generation of apprentices.

The Arbordeck Awards

Business Theatre In association with Kebur Garden Materials 10:00 11:00 12:00 14:00 15:00

Making the Most of Marketing Ben Shaw | Anthony Macson Digital marketing agency Adtrak will share its social media and marketing insights before a discussion around the industry’s use of both, offering tips and tricks to boost your presence.

The Route to Success: Putting the Right Systems in Place

Nick Ruddle | Kim Sones

Learn how to build an efficient and profitable business, map out and systemise your customer journey and use tracking tools to help you run projects profitably.

Seminar programme

WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER

Pro Landscaper Theatre In association with Caledonian Stone

10:00

The Hearts and Minds of Landscape: Focus on Health and Wellbeing Oliver Hemson | Jo Manfredi-Hamer | Roger McGivern | Oliver Vikse | Kate Cooney | Helen Waddington

With mental health of relevance to every one of us, employees should not be facing their challenges alone. Help is out there, and the panel will assist in directing the audience to organisations such as Perennial and Andy’s Man Club.

11:00

Portfolio: Elephant Park Ewan Oliver

Lendlease has been working in partnership with Southwark Council to deliver a mixed-used development in Elephant & Castle, London. Landscape architect and development manager Ewan Oliver reflects on the journey over the last seven years to create a public realm designed around people and nature.

14:00

The Housebuilding Question: Developers and Landscapers in Unison?

Gemma Jerome | Brian Hawtin | Phil Askew | Kirk Nelson | Peter Massini

For those in the commercial landscape sector, a partnership with a housebuilder may generate a healthy, steady volume of work and be easier in terms of planning, scheduling and managing labour, equipment hire and materials. But how is the housebuilding sector performing? And what role is landscaping going to play in its future?

Inspire Theatre In association with Garden House Design

10:00

The Fashion in Foliage, Form and Flower: Catching the colour trends

Landscape and garden design principles call for careful consideration of colour palettes, blends, contrasts and conflicts. This year’s Pantone Colour of the Year is “Very Peri” - a blue with a velvet red undertone. But what’s popping in this year’s palettes? How are they working in designs and planting plans? What’s the next big colour drop?

11:00

The Material World: Styling the future landscape Steven Walley | Jonathan Cooper

What is around the corner in the materials marketplace? What elements are most important in product choice? Which factors are driving new product development? Who is leading the way? From the remarkable to the recyclable; the durable to the adaptable; the permeable to the practical, our panel will dissect the finer points of landscaping materials and how they form an integral part of any design.

14:00

The Sustainable Option: Taking the green initiative in product choice

Seeking true circularity across the landscape envelope, the marketplace for sustainable products is bursting with innovation. Exploring the factors driving the sector forward, our panel will consider old favourites and newcomers in the landscape assortment, as well as those falling from favour and their potential replacements.

Nurture Theatre 10:00 11:00 14:00

The Call of the Wild: Rewilding and Restoring Ecosystems Lewis Normand | Chris Churchman | Ben West

Encouraging the return of native plants, missing species and allowing nature to thrive, rewilding projects and community efforts are flourishing across the UK. Reversing biodiversity loss is a worthy goal, but to succeed these projects should be planned and managed properly and, from experience, the panel will weigh up how best to tackle this.

TBC

The Plant Health Commitment: A Passport to Biosecurity Lewis Normand | Steve McCurdy | Richard McKenna | Michael Buck | Jim Teague

Protecting our trees and plants and safeguarding our gardens and landscapes needs a biosecurity commitment at every step: from seed producer, plant producer and retailer to landscapers and the gardening public. How growers are tackling plant health may differ, but the end game is the same.

Business Theatre In association with Kebur Garden Materials

10:00

Success story: Nurture Group

Gareth Kirkwood | Peter Fane

Since it was founded on April Fool’s Day 2008, Nurture Landscapes has grown from a four-member team to a nationwide group with three leading brands. Chairman and founder Peter Fane and CEO Gareth Kirkwood share the journey of Nurture’s success and its future goals.

11:00

The Recruitment Dilemma: Sub-contract or employ? Marian Barker | John Wyer As your business grows, so will your labour requirement. Considering the best route to build your team profitably, professionally and with personal development in mind, the options to recruit are diverse, as are your HR considerations.

Seasonal or permanent? Full-time or self-employed? HR experts and landscape business owners discuss the merits of each option with a wealth of experience to call on.

14:00

The Kit Switch: Considering the greener equipment option

Angus Lindsay | Robert Cunliffe | Reuben Wilson Juggling energy efficiency, a climate-friendly conscience, power and functionality, grounds maintenance teams are no strangers to the Green Agenda. With a panel of experts from those on the tools to those at the cutting-edge - some quite literally - of new product development, the debate will consider the practicality and feasibility of using greener equipment on site, and the challenges ahead.

Guided by Nature

Schellevis® produces concrete paving and elements to connect architecture with nature. Always supporting and respecting the outdoor space they are placed in.

The entire range has the same Schellevis® appearance. Used in combinations, the products help transform every outdoor space into a harmonious, timeless living environment.

Visit our website to see our products in a variety of outdoor spaces, in different ways and often combined.

GUIDED BY NATURE

GRDN Landscape + Garden Design (Photography by Alister Thorpe)

LEARN

ADAPT

This summer, Britain has seen everything from droughts and wildfires to severe floods, all serving as a stark reminder of the impact climate change is having on our land. It once again raises the question of what industries, including horticulture, can do to mitigate the effects of a changing climate.

Bridgwater and Taunton College’s horticulture course leader Nigel Cox has been involved in organic and sustainable horticulture practices for a while, and with an increasing need to share these has recently launched a new course focusing on teaching both amateurs and professionals how to better care for the planet.

The new programme, ‘Plant Botany and Sustainable Horticulture in the Modern World’, covers seven modules, which include organic soil management, managing plant health without the use of chemicals, and biosecurity. These can be taken one day a week over 19 weeks, or can be taken as standalone modules.

One which is likely to prove popular is the ‘Organic principles and practice’ module which will be taught at Yeo Valley’s Organic Garden.

Nigel has known head gardener Sarah Mead for years and fortunately the Organic Garden is nearby the Cannington college campus, where the course will be based.

Nigel also garnered the support of the Soil Association, which was keen to be involved, and there will be a number of guest speakers throughout the course, including water management specialist Janet Manning and biological control expert Neal Ward, who runs the Biobest Academy.

Students will also have the opportunity to develop a sustainability project together too. Amongst Nigel’s numerous roles – including horticultural consultant, running a permaculture community project and national lead assessor for Lantra – he is vice chairman of the horticulture committee at the Royal Bath & West Show. “We have a horticulture section there where students, and others, can come and design and build a 4m x 4m garden, which is judged professionally. The theme this year is sustainability and reuse, so students will have a collective project to put together a garden for the show,” explains Nigel.

On completing the course, there is a follow-up, 11-week

course on sustainable garden design available which will cover how to implement what they have learnt in ‘Plant Botany and Sustainable Horticulture in the Modern World’. Whilst the course is also open to amateur gardeners, Nigel encourages those in the industry to join these courses as an opportunity to “refresh and perhaps look at things in a different way” to understand modern practices and challenges.

As sustainability remains a hot topic, this new course may help to answer how the horticulture industry can incorporate a more environmentally approach to creating green spaces.

The modules

‘PLANT BOTANY AND SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURE IN THE MODERN WORLD ’

• Plant botany

• The root zone and organic soil management

• Methods of propagation

• Managing plant health without chemicals

• Organic principles and practice

• Fruit and vegetable growing

• Biosecurity, contemporary attitudes to horticulture and community engagement

Nigel Cox of Bridgwater and Taunton College has placed years of experience into a new course on sustainable horticulture

prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper | October 2022 FEATURE 29 The theme this year is sustainability and reuse, so students will have a collective project to put together a garden for the show

Cam p ai g ning to connect

PEOPLE, PLACE, AND NATURE

The Landscape Institute (LI), with the support of Homes England, will bring together members, partners, universities, local authorities, and stakeholders in a series of inclusive learning and networking events between October and December 2022.

The programme, Campaigning to Connect People, Place, and Nature, will visit every region/nation of the UK. Its mission: to unite the profession across the country in championing the transformative value of landscape at a point where it’s never been more crucial to our future.

Deborah Ward, Local Government Capacity Centre director at Homes England, says: “Our recent work with the LI for Homes England’s Local Government Capacity Centre has shown yet again just how transformative landscape interventions can be for people, homes, and places.

“These events are a fantastic opportunity to bring together representatives from local government with private practice, placemaking pioneers, educators, and students to focus on this vital area.”

The LI represents a membership of more than 5,000 landscape architects, landscape professionals, urban designers and more – change-makers who, through their everyday work, create and improve the places where we live, work, and relax. Landscape interventions connect people, transform places, and protect and restore nature on every level, at every scale.

Nature-based solutions deliver for biodiversity, climate resilience, community prosperity, health, wellbeing, and so much more

As a professional body with a Royal Charter, the LI must deliver certain charitable objectives: to protect, conserve, and enhance the natural and built environment; to promote landscape research and education; and to safeguard the highest standards of landscape practice. The end goal of the campaign, says LI chief executive Sue Morgan, is to create a professional Institute that delivers these objectives as best as it can.

“Across our membership is a staggering amount of energy, knowledge, and passion,”

The Landscape Institute takes its message across the UK this autumn as it launches a new campaign to connect and amplify local voices to shape the future of landscape

THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE BOARD, COUNCIL, AND SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Sue says. “This campaign is all about capturing and supporting that; about creating a progressive, inclusive professional body that delivers our values of being caring and nurturing, creative and passionate, and socially and environmentally aware with enthusiasm and integrity.

“Green infrastructure is of fundamental importance in tackling so many of today’s challenges. Nature-based solutions deliver for biodiversity, climate resilience, community prosperity, health, wellbeing, and so much more.

“Now is the time to galvanise the profession to meet these challenges. To do this, we need to be agile, innovative, and forward-thinking; a unified voice that makes an unequivocal case to developers and policymakers to lead with the green.”

The campaign will be reflective as well as forward-facing. Starting in Manchester and travelling to Leeds, Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Newcastle, and finally London, it will celebrate the landscape profession and its achievements, while also exploring the present realities and future possibilities of community and social resilience in the UK.

To this end, Campaigning to Connect People, Place, and Nature aims to be as inclusive as possible. The programme will bring together LI members and non-members alike: community leaders, universities, local authorities, partner organisations, fellow professional bodies, and more.

“We’re throwing our doors wide open,” says LI immediate past president Jane Findlay. “We’ll be holding roundtables, running field trips to fantastic local projects to share good practice, and putting on multidisciplinary panels and networking events. A series of “landscape labs” will invite placemaking pioneers, educators and students, and representatives from local government and private practice to share diverse perspectives and explore areas of synergy.

“We’ll be interrogating the major macro topics, such as Levelling Up and net zero, as

well as looking inwards at EDI [equity, diversity, and inclusion] and ESG [environmental, social, and governance] progress. We will also be sharing insight from our Landscape Skills and Workforce Survey and inviting everyone to contribute towards turning these insights into action for the coming years.

“As a signatory to the recent action plan for creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive built environment, the LI recognises the importance of plural discussion. The answers to the questions we’re asking need to deliver for everybody, so we’re embarking on this journey to engage as many people as we can.”

“Landscape is all about connections,” adds LI vice president Noel Farrer. “Physical connections between the man-made and the natural, yes – but also connections across the built environment sector, between professions and professionals, between communities and the designers that serve them. It’s so important, especially after nearly three years of COVID, to get out there and proactively make these connections.

“I’m thrilled that we’re doing this – that we’re strengthening those connections with our members on the ground. You don’t need to come to us; we’re coming to you. We’re taking this opportunity to build strong foundations, to maximise our impact and relevance, and lead from the front to deliver a construction industry fit for the future.”

The scale and ambition of Campaigning to Connect People, Place, and Nature

represents a consolidation and refresh of the LI’s activity and ambitions. The Institute that comes out of the campaign, Sue says, will be a confident, relevant, and influential home for one of the world’s most important professions.

“We want to find out what matters most to our members, their colleagues, and the communities they serve,” Sue continues. “What strategies and interventions work best. Where we can make the biggest difference. How our members and volunteers can make the most meaningful contributions possible to our work – and indeed, how we can best support them in theirs.

“We innovate through testing, learning, and sharing. By facilitating dialogues around local challenges and multidisciplinary best practice, we aim to develop the blueprint for a new form of inclusive decision-making that delivers for practitioners, educates and empowers existing and future generations, and strengthens our Institute for years to come.”

“Every landscape matters,” Noel concludes. “Landscape systems are scalable, and more to the point, they work. The LI of the future will be an interconnected network of professionals who all contribute towards connecting people, place, and nature, at all levels – whether it’s a biodiverse roadside verge, a local greenspace, or a region-spanning green infrastructure strategy. The LI of the future will lead the sector through evidence and practice. The LI of the future will marry the very best of our heritage, our current talent, and our future innovations. Together, we can all play a part in shaping it.”

Campaigning to Connect People, Place, and Nature will take place across the UK from 18 October to 1 December 2022. Book your place at people-place-nature- 2022. people-place-nature-2022.eventbrite.co.uk

• Find out more about the LI at landscapeinstitute.org

• Follow the campaign on social media: #peopleplacenature #inclusivelandscape

We’ll be holding roundtables, running field trips to fantastic local projects to share good practice, and putting on multidisciplinary panels and networking events

naturally beautiful

Situated on the doorstep of Southwest London, Ashtead Common is a natural wood that is described by the Woodland Trust as having “wide grassy avenues, dormice, an ancient earthwork and is the site of an Old Roman Villa”. It seems as though Ashtead Common's unique features have helped towards it standing out, as this year it again won a Green Flag Award, an accreditation given to publicly accessible parks and open spaces mainly in the United Kingdom. It aims to promote standards of good management and practise within the sector, with green spaces judged on their site-specific management plan and documentation and on whether the management plan is in practise on the site. A specific set of criteria set by Green Flag Awards must be met and points are given depending on this.

Andy Thwaites, head ranger for Ashtead Common, tells of the site’s history and its significance: “Ashtead Common is owned and looked after by the City of London Corporation; it’s one of the City's more recent acquisitions, with the site being acquired in 1991. Before that it formed part of a Lord of the Manor estate and historically was manorial waste, so it was an area that was unfenced and uncultivated.

“Over time people established ‘commoners’ rights, which still exist to this day; but archaeological evidence tells us that the

area was occupied before the Roman period in the late Iron Age. We have the remainder of a Roman villa and the remains more significantly perhaps of a quite extensive brick and tile manufacturing operation which produced, its estimated, enough brick and tile for 50 Roman villas. That product was exported all over southern Roman Britain, and we know that through chemical analysis of the tiles, but in doing that archaeological work we’ve done things like pollen sampling, so we know the vegetative makeup of the common was similar in Roman times to how it is now.

"The Romans left, we think, because the ground conditions deteriorated; they finally had enough and gave up. There’s evidence to suggest that grazing started at that time, and we still graze to this day, so we have 2,000 years of continuity of management of the grazing site, harvesting firewood that’s given us the wooded common we have now and the wood pasture landscape.”

The main focus of the work at Ashtead Common, as described by Andy, is to maintain and keep the ancient pollard trees alive. Each and every one of the trees has its own management plan which may call for the tree to be pruned every so often and to have any competing vegetation removed from around its vicinity. Fire risk is also something that has to be managed by the rangers in order to keep the trees alive. Andy explains: “Our individual tree management plan aims to keep those

Inspecting award-winning green space Ashtead Common and what keeps it thriving today

We have a management plan that takes us to about 2031 which focuses on the rotational management of the habitats including increasing the area in which the pollards grow

trees alive for as long as possible so we don’t lose any more of them – our target is to keep losses below half the percent of the population in one single year, and that is broadly being achieved, but the risk of fire does mean that we could lose lots in one go. It’s important that we manage bracken and fire breaks so if a fire does start it doesn’t spread. With the recent hot weather, we have been very concerned; we have had some small fires deliberately set but fortunately in an area away from where the ancient trees are. There’s also areas of scrub and grassland on the common as well, and the fire was more into one of the scrubby areas, but we are incredibly glad it’s rained since.”

So, what does the future look like for Ashtead Common? The ancient pollards are a huge focus. The site has plans to recruit a new generation of trees that will hopefully become future ancient pollards. “We have a management plan that takes us to about 2031 which focuses on the rotational management of the habitats including increasing the area in which the pollards grow,” says Andy. Ashtead Common is also aiming to have 20% of the reserve grazed by 2031.

Fifteen Green Flags were awarded to the City of London Corporation this year, and Ashtead Common has obtained a Green Flag Award and Green Heritage. On why the importance of the award for Ashtead Common, Andy notes: “We can survey for our ecological performance; so, we just had a fly survey and we now know we have nearly a thousand different species of fly at Ashtead Common. To an extent we can survey and consult people on our service standards as well but we can’t do that all the time. What Green Flag means is looking at those aspects of our work every year as a kind of validation that we are maintaining our standards.”

Ashtead Common is a diverse place with an incredibly rich history, but there’s more to make it an award-winning space. “Ashtead Common is award winning partly because of the quality of the habitat and open space itself and its ecological characteristics. It does have some rarities; a lot of them are quite small and hard to identify because a lot are associated with the decaying wood in the older trees. They’re called saproxylic invertebrates and are

ROMAN TILE KILN FURNACE

decaying wood specialists. When we were surveyed, we ranked in the top 10 of UK sites. We’ve probably gone down a bit now since other sites have been surveyed but Ashtead Common is high value with its decaying wood habitat.”

Andy also comments on the community involvement Ashtead Common prides itself on. “It’s not just the ecological side, it’s also that the community is involved with it as well because that’s a strong element here and always has been since 1991. We have quite an active group of local volunteers who are out today. We achieve 6,000 hours of volunteering a year and I think that’s one of our ways engaging in the local community and explaining what we do because they’re also helping us out when they’re out there in the community talking to their friends about why we’re doing what we’re doing and that enables us

to carry out proactive management without getting some the adverse publicity that other sites get on occasions. The local community is actually very supportive.”

It seems right to assume the community involvement also allows people to have more respect for the green space and better understand why its exists and is important to maintain for future generations.

Andy also tells of how Ashtead Common has obtained the accolade of being one of the Queen’s Green Canopy woodlands. “They chose 70 mature woodlands across the whole of the British Isles, one of each year of the Queen’s reign,

1 Bluebells – good indicators of ancient woodland

2 Volunteers undertaking survey work

3 Woodland ride at sunset

4 Ranger Zuza Featherstone surveying for bats

Ashtead Common is award winning partly because of the quality of the habitat and open space itself and its ecological characteristics

and we were lucky enough to be one. We were very pleased because it was against the odds in some respects; we don’t have the features people expect to find visiting a site like this. Traditionally, there would be a carpark, a café and maybe a children’s play area and we don’t have any of that. We deliberately set up a different model of doing things that is a lot more low-key, community focused, rather than focusing on other facilities and infrastructure.”

The natural way the site is set up without the infrastructure makes for a beautiful consistent green space that can be appreciated by all who visit it for its unique and charismatic way of preserving plant life,

animal life and its ancient Roman monuments. With 50 different species of trees and shrubs and more than 300 other species of plants, Ashtead Common is a great way to explore nature. There are 324 species of fungi within the area including rare oak polypore and the sites ponds streams and ditches are home to four of the six UK species of reptile that make up part of the wide diversity of this site. It seems that Ashtead Common is a green space that will remain well maintained and protected for years to come, with its popularity being shown through the willingness of the community to be involved in managing the green space and its various awards that acknowledge its natural beauty.

5 Grazing behind temporary electric fencing

6 Ancient oak pollard

Photographs courtesy of the Ashtead Common management team

With 50 different species of trees and shrubs and more than 300 other species of plants, Ashtead Common is a great way to explore nature

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Install Scan

This is the view of some ecologists who say native = good, non-native = bad. Why is the word “meadow” so evocative to us? Is it that it triggers bucolic images of fields of spring flowers? I thought this subject worthy of some review.

A meadow is an area of grassland comprising grasses and other non woody plants (herbs and wildflowers), especially one which is cut for hay, an ancient method of land management for winter fodder. Meadows were often on a river floodplain and subject to occasional flooding. They provide a mixed habitat rich in diversity of spring flowering species and the invertebrates which depend upon them. Sadly, the UK

When it’s made up of non-native plants? questions Nick Coslett, in the second of a series around what constitutes a meadow

has lost some 97% of its original hay meadows and they are now quite rare habitats with only a small proportion protected under environmental legislation.

Why have we lost so many? The decline arrived with changes in agricultural practice; the move from the horse to the tractor allowing ploughing of previously un-ploughable land.

The World War II drive for food caused many hay meadows to be ploughed up to grow cereals. Once ploughed, the special mix of grasses and wildflowers was lost. More recent changes have seen hay cutting and drying (which allows seeds to drop out)

before baling change to silage. Silage is where grass or other green fodder is cut, compacted before it is dried and baled and wrapped in plastic for use as animal feed in the winter. This has resulted in the decline in biodiversity of meadows.

Over the last couple of decades, the landscape industry has seen a big development in seed and turf based “instant meadows” including flower rich seed mixes with almost guaranteed colourful displays. These are far more colourful than a native hay meadow. The Tower of London’s Superbloom and the ‘Field of Gold’ at the London 2012 Olympics are a couple of examples of this. Research has proven that the more colourful a landscape is, the higher the levels of enjoyment experienced by the visitors and viewers.

Seed mixes offer an economic way of creating colourful displays with annuals and perennials and are used by many designers to temporarily cover areas before a permanent design can be constructed.

A number of seed companies offer similar mixes – Pictorial Meadows is one which has an extensive set of successful mixes to suit different soil types and mixes of annual or perennial flowers. Not all, but some of these mixes are flowers from non-native meadow plants and this can be where the dilemma with purist ecologists can arise. They see use of these seed mixes, which initially destroy existing vegetation and habitats before cultivation and seeding with non-natives, as detrimental and not benefiting our native

Sadly, the UK has lost some 97% of its original hay meadows and they are now quite rare habitats

LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC PARK “FIELD OF GOLD” DESIGNED BY NIGEL DUNNETT

OPINION

ecology. This is not entirely true as there are ecological benefits from the non-native flowers. They can offer a large source of nectar and pollen for invertebrates outside the usual spring timing for native flowers, extending the food season. They are also good for the opportunist insects. However, they do not generally support the breeding cycle for invertebrates who have evolved with our native wildflowers and hay meadows. So, which is best: native or non-native?

The native or non-native issue was rigorously researched by the RHS in its ‘Plants for Bugs’ project 2009 – 2013. It found the best planting strategy for gardeners (and therefore landscapers) working in urban – though not in a semi-natural – environments was to use a mixture of native and non-native plants for supporting the largest range of invertebrates.

Surely, we the UK landscaping industry need to harness all the planting options at our disposal when working in the artificial conditions of the urban and built environment. A planting mixture from different origins offers the widest range of support for biodiversity. Bringing the colour of not just our native flowers but others which extend the season of colour and therefore enjoyment to the populations most disconnected from the natural world must be one of our highest priorities. The increase in biodiversity such plantings bring will further increase observation and engagement and participation in the planted natural world.

However, can we call the non-native flowering plant mixes a meadow? What else can we call them? Suggestions on an email please to content@eljays44.com.

To support pollinators

A mix of flowering plants from a range of different countries and regions offers the best support, with emphasis on native plants from the UK and non-native (near natives) from the Northern Hemisphere. The RHS found plants from the Southern Hemisphere were good in extending the flowering season and provided nectar and pollen for some specific pollinators but not all. However, the RHS stated that regardless of plant origin, the more flowers a garden/landscape can offer throughout the year, the greater the number of bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects it would attract and support.

To support plant-dwelling invertebrates

Garden plants can support a wide range of plantdwelling invertebrates. The greater the planting density the more insects are supported. Native planting schemes will support the most plant-dwelling invertebrates. The RHS recommendation is to plant a predominance of plants native to the UK. If near natives are planted, they will support some 10% fewer invertebrates, and if exotic Southern Hemisphere plants are used, they will support some 20% fewer invertebrates. Regardless of the plant origin, the more densely a scheme is planted or allowed to grow, the more invertebrates it will support.

To support ground-active invertebrates

Garden plants can support a wide range of groundactive invertebrates. These are the fauna of the soil and soil surface and include detritivores who play a role in recycling decaying plant material, irrespective of origin, into nutrients and include woodlice and millipedes. Overall, the denser the planting, the more invertebrates are supported and with increase in numbers comes increase in diversity. Native planting schemes, enhanced with native or non-native evergreens support the greatest quantity and diversity of ground-active invertebrates.

Nick is now retired but has worked in landscape offices, parks management and horticultural nurseries. For the past 20 years, he has also run soft landscape workshops at Coblands and Palmstead. He has been involved in BALI at a regional and national level, and is a trustee of the BALI Chalk Fund, as well as an awards judge.

The more densely a scheme is planted or allowed to grow, the more invertebrates it will support

NICK COSLETT

LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC PARK ANNUALS SEED MIX (NON-NATIVE)

©Nick Coslett

Regional Architecture RESPECTING

Lewis Normand praises Suffolk’s introduction of ‘Design Champions’

Design aesthetic is an interesting subject. Naturally, it is totally subjective and one person’s beautiful is another’s ‘Carbuncle’ (to quote Prince Charles on the proposed extension to the National Gallery).

I adopt a ‘variety is the spice of life’ approach to design and welcome differing opinions on what constitutes beautiful design, but I don’t necessarily want to see them displayed ‘theme-park-style’ in our building and landscape design in villages, towns and cities across the country.

Unique, localised architectural style, like corbel stepped roof details from where I come from in Fife, Scotland, are treasures that we should preserve. Regional architectural identity is important, and I have long felt that our planning strategy has been woefully inadequate when it comes to preserving the regionally specific and preventing an ingress of samey buildings or, often worse, an architectural mish-mash of styles.

We can’t allow town planning to be at the whims of architects and planners looking to support the building of poorly designed buildings that lack identity in themselves and contribute to the loss of regional identity in architectural style.

I live near Dundee, which is part way through a 30-year strategy to upgrade the waterfront of the city. The V&A museum is designed to bed into the ground and look like a ship as a reminder of Dundee’s shipping history. Older stone buildings around the waterfront have been rejuvenated and some eyesores removed. The Eden Project will shortly be building a site there and there is generally much to come.

It comes after Dundee decided that enough was enough when it came to allowing very poorly designed buildings to be built among some wonderful stone buildings primarily from the 19th and 20th century. Awful shed-like warehouse buildings in garish brick with no thought to their surroundings populated these spaces in the 1980s and detract from the beauty of their surroundings.

I was delighted to see that Suffolk has become (probably) the first council to appoint a Design Champion as part of their planning team. Chris King could well set a path for other councils to champion unified thinking in good design in our architectural style and our green space design. This is a great moment for the future of good design and one I hope is rapidly taken up elsewhere. Joined up thinking and

a clear strategy to lead the direction of design aesthetic, preserve and highlight regionality and prevent poor design from homogenising our buildings and landscapes.

I’m not in favour of re-establishing the old town planning offices that designed by committee in the 1960s and 70s across the UK.

I think many of them probably limited much of the sympathetic design that could have been undertaken, instead intent on leaving their mark. They make sense in the creation of new towns, but less so in the development of existing urbanised areas. Design Champions, however, could really tie together the needs of expansion and development with the existing architectural and design value; someone charged with maintaining a thread of local appropriateness to the designs submitted for planning and the layout and composition of greenspace should make a huge and positive difference to preventing ill-conceived and locally incongruent design from taking over. I watch eagerly to see what will happen and if other counties will follow.

Lewis is hosting a number of seminars in the Nurture Theatre: Tuesday 15 November, 10am –The Natural Environment: The Promise of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) 3pm – The Plants take Priority: Plant-led Landscapes Wednesday 16 November, 10am – The Call of the Wild: Rewilding and Restoring Ecosystems 2pm – The Plant Health Commitment: A Passport to Biosecurity

LEWIS NORMAND

Lewis has worked in a wide variety of roles within horticulture over a 20-year career. He has lectured on garden design and horticulture, and designed gardens in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Since 2011, Lewis has focused on nursery sales, now working as sales manager at Bernhard’s Nurseries, and has helped to launch a number of new plants into the UK plant market. He is a specialist supplier to show gardens, supplying more than 100 gardens at major shows.

Design Champions could really tie together the needs of expansion and development with the existing architectural and design value

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THE RISKS

of cedar & ppm

On 28 June, Majestic Trees obtained an emergency High Court injunction in London and filed for a judicial review. This is after Defra ordered it to burn £106k worth of cedar trees without compensation, because of Defra’s claim that they might be a secondary host for a new pest, Pine Processionary Moth (PPM). Defra could not provide proof of this, but because they claimed the cedars’ destruction was an emergency, the judge ordered both parties to be back in court on 7 July.

The following day, Defra petitioned the court for more time, successfully putting back the court hearing until Tuesday 26 July. Even then, it missed the court ordered submission deadline by two days, as its legal team attempted for the second time to run down the clock to make it almost impossible for Majestic to have time to file its rebuttal to Defra's claimed evidence.

Majestic Trees, in defending its successful emergency injunction and its request for a Judicial Review, argued that issuing Destruction Notices for the Cedrus, purely based on suspicion of PPM because cedars are listed on the EPPO list of secondary hosts, was not reasonable or proportionate, especially as Defra was unwilling to offer compensation.

Sadly, in the judge’s summing up on Friday 29 July, Majestic unbelievably lost, not because Defra could prove the trees had PPM –in fact, after five months, they could not produce any evidence that there was any PPM on these cedars – but because the judge ruled in his one hour and 20 minutes summary, that Majestic would need an Act of Parliament to change the law that empowers Defra to take whatever action they determine appropriate solely based on suspicion without evidence or compensation.

This all started on Friday 11 February, as an experienced Majestic Trees team were setting out 5-7m+ tall pines prior to potting and came across a number of Pine Processionary Moth nests. That same afternoon Majestic reported the interception to APHA, and the next day showed the inspectors what to look for and assisted them as a few more nests were found on the pines. These were all cut out, some taken for lab analysis and the other nests incinerated. Subsequently, PPM was found elsewhere that APHA had missed, avoiding a UK outbreak.

APHA inspected the pines three times and, once cleared, Majestic Trees completed setting the pines out and potting them. However, Defra later decided to order the destruction of the Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra and a Pinus ponderosa that nests had been found on by incineration. Later, a third Destruction Order forced the burning of all pines and Abies concolor that were totally clean, all told a major loss of around £60k in stock to Majestic Trees.

All of these trees were imported from a French nursery accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, issued by French Plant Health, stating the pines had been grown in a PPM-free place of production, and that French Plant Health inspected them in the growing fields and at the point of loading for

Majestic reported the interception to APHA, and the next day showed the inspectors what to look for and assisted them as a few more nests were found on the pines

Steve McCurdy shares the journey leading up to Majestic Trees losing its High Court fight for a judicial review – and the wider issue this raises

APHA INSPECTORS INSTALLED A FINE MESH HOPING TO CATCH PPM MOTHS TO NO AVAIL

A PPM NEST ON A PINE TREE

AFTER NUMEROUS INSPECTIONS, NO PPM COULD BE FOUND ON THE CEDARS

OPINION

transport to the UK. Whilst investigation and discussions were ongoing, Defra issued a hold notice on additional cedar stock, based on its extreme modelling that they could be a PPM host of last resort. Majestic Trees operated in a spirit of co-operation and engagement to ensure this interception of PPM had been eradicated, offering to quarantine the trees for as many years as Defra required, even though they came from a field 6.5km away from the infected pines. Ironically, during this time, Majestic Trees was certified as ‘Plant Healthy’, initially a Defra-sponsored biosecurity scheme.

Following Defra issuing of the Destruction Notice for the Cedrus, Majestic Trees appealed and provided numerous documentations, Phytosanitary and Expert Opinion reports thinking Defra would change its mind. However, Defra continued to insist there was a French Phytosanitary Plant Health Inspection for 14 March, confirming its suspicion. When Majestic obtained a copy of this report, it was for the loading of deciduous trees for Majestic Trees on that date, and the report said that no PPM was present.

Whilst there is no doubt that PPM, by its very name, breeds and feeds on pines and may be devastating if it was able to establish in the UK – which in itself is highly questionable due to our wet, cold winters – there is limited observation and very patchy reports of PPM living on Cedrus, especially in France. Majestic claimed that to order the destruction of 20-year-old cedars, purely on suspicion, is unreasonable and a scorched earth policy, and not what was intended when Defra was given the powers to issue destruction notice. In Majestic Trees’ opinion, they were only meant to be used for the destruction of a crop where a notifiable pest or disease had been found, not for suspicion – especially on an improbable, secondary host.

To recap;

In the High Court, Defra could not produce any proof that the cedars have ever had PPM:

A. Defra’s barrister belittled expert witness John Adlam’s report that clearly showed that there were no PPM nests on these cedars, just as both APHA inspectors and Forest Research could not find any.

B. Defra’s barrister dismissed Dr Dealga O’Callaghan’s Expert Opinion, an entomologist, in which he proved that PPM will not go on a cedar unless the pine population is decimated, which was not the case in this new outbreak area and not on the nursery in France.

C. Defra claimed the mitigating measures originally proposed had been shown not to work or be entirely impractical on the ground, even though;

a. No caterpillars were caught on the sticky glue traps on all 25 cedars in the March to May period, further proving that there were no nests on these trees.

b. The rootballs were wrapped with a very fine mesh with sticky yellow traps under the mesh catching various inserts and small micro moths again proving that they work but no PPM under the mesh.

c. Pheromone traps installed by Defra did catch other moths, proving they work, but didn't catch any PPM moths with the hatching period now over.

This was an incredibly expensive fight for Majestic Trees with £25,167 in legal fees and two expert witness reports, pitted against Defra’s barrister and three government lawyers. The judge did reduce Defra’s cost award to £15,389.92 as Defra had missed court ordered deadlines, but it still was an additional bitter pill for Majestic to swallow, as it had hoped a Judicial Review might lead to changes in the law and forthwith offer fair compensation to nurseries nationwide. However, the massive home goal Defra has created is that, whereas they depend on nurseries informing them of notifiable pests and diseases, many may no longer take the risk for fear that, as in Majestic Trees’ case, it could unjustly cost them over £200k!

Steve is managing director of Majestic Trees, which he formed 20 years ago. He, often with another team member, spends weeks walking the fields of nurseries all over Europe, tagging tree stock he buys to grow on. He's embarked on many of these trips in his search to ensure the best quality and the UK’s highest biosecurity. majestictrees.co.uk

STEVE MCCURDY

MAJESTIC STARTS DESTRUCTION OF THESE BEAUTIFUL CEDARS AFTER LOSING IN THE HIGH COURT

MAJESTIC TREES WAS

TO

THE CEDARS AND THE

THOUGH WITH

BY APHA

The massive home goal Defra has created is that, whereas they depend on nurseries informing them of notifiable pests and diseases, many may no longer take the risk

Thanks for such an inspiring and motivating day....the event was really first class and being able to connect with so many friends and colleagues and talk gardening, design, professional development, plant health and progression for the industry was an absolute joy. The event was incredibly well organised, the nursery was so impressive and you and your team were the perfect host.

ANDY JASPER, NATIONAL HEAD OF GARDENS AND PARKLANDS, NATIONAL TRUST

Just wanted to say thank you so much for a fantastic, information packed day...It was a fantastic day, superbly organised... but as expected with your team everything was excellent and went like clockwork.

JUDY SHARDLOW, HEARTWOOD GARDEN DESIGN

Two Decades of MAJESTIC TREES

In 2002, Majestic Trees held its first open day. Steve McCurdy and his wife Janet were hoping to tap into the UK market with a new nursery offering mature trees and, above all, exceptional service. Twenty years later, Majestic Trees celebrated its anniversary the way it started – with another open day – and by doing something which it has been doing for the last two decades: giving back to the industry.

Its Landscape Industry Symposium on 13 September boasted around 300 attendees and big names discussing hot topics, hosted by James Alexander Sinclair. But it opened with two

tributes, the first from Majestic Trees’ local MP Sir Mike Penning to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as well as to King Charles III.

Its Landscape Industry Symposium boasted around 300 attendees and big names discussing hot topics

The second tribute was delivered by Steve McCurdy. It honoured the late Peter Seabrook and his dedication to the industry, as well as his support to the next generation. It was Peter who suggested that Majestic Trees offer a bursary for a student to work on a nursery, which it now does together with the Colgrave/Seabrook Scholarship foundation.

This is just one of many highlights for Majestic Trees, though it recently experienced an unfortunate low – the forced destruction of 25

imported cedar trees, which you can read more about on page 47. Steve looked to use his experience as a stark warning for the industry that many other secondary host tree imports could be banned by Defra without any evidence.

Following Steve’s call to action, Majestic Trees’ aftercare, apprenticeship and training manager Eliot Barden explored two plant health concerns, the first of which is up to 60% of all trees being delivered with the root flare buried. This can cause bark and cambium to rot, preventing nutrients reaching the canopy of the tree, and

can act as a key entry point for disease. He also spoke on crown gall, which he said could be “an epidemic” as it is now widespread across Europe. Whilst there are products available in the US and Australia which can treat crown gall, the EU and Defra are yet to approve these for use in the UK.

With this in mind, Steve took the opportunity to promote the Plant Healthy certification, which Majestic Trees achieved this year, proving its biodiversity credentials. Panellist Nick Dunn, who sits on the RHS council and runs tree nursery Frank P Matthews, expressed concerns that only larger businesses would have the resources to implement this certification, though, and that we still rely on imports from

prolandscapermagazine .com Pro Landscaper | October 2022 51 Majestic Trees invited the industry to a symposium at its site in St Albans to celebrate its latest milestone

Europe. Unsurprisingly, this sparked a question from the audience as to why we cannot supply solely UK grown trees.

Several reasons were put forward by the panel, which also included Jonathan Whitmore of Johnsons of Whixley, Richard McKenna of Provender Nurseries, and retired plant health inspector Mike Robinson. “There is opportunity in the UK,” said Richard, "but a lack of support, so the industry must import sensibly, and expectations may have to change around what is available." Nick added climate and soil quality are a barrier to growing more in the UK too.

From the audience, professor Alistair Griffiths of the RHS commented on the benefits of plant diversity, so importing remains important and we should work with those overseas to improve biodiversity and climate resilience. Barcham Trees’ David Johnson expressed concern that there are many nurseries out there “trying to make a quick buck”, to which he said it is the specifiers' decision on where they buy plants and whether they are willing to pay more to ensure plant health.

After a short break, a new panel explored the commercial sector, which Landform Consultant’s Mark Gregory says is in a “good position”. Garden designer Stephen Woodham said we need to “embrace opportunity” as a result. "The silver lining of the pandemic is the public appreciating gardens and green spaces even more, and we now need to educate clients that they are stewards for the piece of land outside their home," said SGD chair Lynne Marcus.

An audience member questioned whether we need a government taskforce, and how we need to lobby government to take horticulture seriously. BALI chief executive Wayne Grills explained how the industry has made great progress in lobbying, but says we need to talk to civil servants who are the constant rather than changing ministers. He also mentioned the possibility of a BALI Academy to tackle the skills shortage, with garden designer Ruth Willmott adding that it's young people who can help to make a difference.

How can we encourage young people to enter horticulture and the public to value the industry? Alistair Griffiths hosted his own seminar sharing the mental and physical benefits of horticulture, and

could be included in the school curriculum, as well as the issue of pay.“We’re in charge of changing the way the industry is for young people, and that’s by offering the Living Wage," said Andy. "It’s a race to the bottom sometimes," added Jane. "But we need to value ourselves highly for others to do the same."

Finishing the symposium was a discussion on show gardens, led by an introduction from Mark Gregory, who has been building show gardens for 33 years and has become one of Chelsea’s most sought-after contractors. He shared his show garden highlights, focusing on how trees have been important to success.“Designers often think too small…I would say go big [with trees],” he said, adding designers should “push their boundaries”.

explained how we need to reduce garden footprints and instead increase garden handprints.

The topic of attracting the next generation continued in the fourth seminar, hosted by garden designer and TV presenter Arit Anderson, but with a focus on how horticulture can become a more diverse industry. Arit quoted numerous studies which showcased how horticulture is not on the aspirational list of careers for young people, and yet gardening is a top hobby.

Panellists Andy Jasper of the National Trust, Eliot Barden, KLC course leader Humaira Ikram, past president of the LI Jane Findlay, RHS president Keith Weed, and Capel Manor College’s Sophie Guinness tackled questions on how horticulture

He then joined a panel hosted by James Alexander Sinclair, including RHS director of shows Helena Pettit and garden designers Juliet Sargent, Kate Gould and Sarah Eberle. Helena explained ways the RHS is aiding those who are hoping to feature a garden at its shows find funding, and mentioned it is also hoping to increase the Young Designers' budget from the current £5,000 per garden.

Sustainability was also raised and the importance of relocating gardens – something the RHS has made mandatory. To find a new home for the garden, Sarah says designers need to find a site first. Juliet adds they shouldn’t have a problem as there are plenty of places looking for green additions to their site, but gardens need to be designed differently to be rehomed, says Mark.

This symposium was not only a celebration of the nursery’s two decades of success, but also a celebration of the industry and the nurseries that support it.

Majestic Trees’ symposium was not only a celebration of the nursery’s two decades of success, but a celebration of the industry and nurseries which support it

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PLANTBOX for landscapers

Matt Lindsay, general manager at Growing Revolution, says that PlantBox provides flexibility for any size garden, home, office, or workspace. On the larger end of the spectrum, Canary Wharf, London’s central business district, has recently traded its corporate exterior for a greener look. More than 3,000 PlantBoxes were installed to create expansive living walls in prominent locations, helping to create a pleasant and relaxing environment for workers, residents, and visitors.

“Living walls are growing in popularity as sustainable lifestyles penetrate design and landscaping briefs. Canary Wharf is a notable example of what PlantBox living walls can achieve on a grand scale. One of our landscaping partners, Biotecture, used the PlantBox system to bring Canary Wharf to life. The brief was to allow the space to better work with nature, as one of the area’s many steps to becoming a more sustainable part of the city. From

conversations with landscapers, we are unsurprised that this brief is not too dissimilar to what private clients hope to achieve at home.”

Matt adds: “Landscape designers can install a completely customisable project for your client’s home, using as little as 60cm x 60cm wall space. In terms of practicality, each PlantBox trough has a 1.8L water reservoir and capillary felt, that allows plants to draw up the water they need. This ease of care makes living walls

Garden designer Simon Orchard used PlantBox to convert the outside space of his 1930s Hampshire home (left). The aim was for the living wall to add texture and soft greenery to bring the terrace to life. The custom designed wall space is a perfect example of where landscapers can create a dramatic effect in smaller residential projects.

Made from 100% recycled materials and with a cascading watering system that simplifies plant care, PlantBox was a 2021 RHS Chelsea Sustainable Garden Product of the Year finalist.

a great recommendation to customers, and the cascading overflow system avoids the risk of overwatering and water wastage, making it appeal to eco-conscious clients.”

Growing Revolution trade partners receive many benefits including quantity-based discounts, drop shipping, marketing material, installation, assembly support and more. To become a trade partner, visit: growingrevolution. com/trade

Canary Wharf is a notable example of what PlantBox living walls can achieve on a grand scale

BEFORE AFTER

© Simon Orchard Garden Design

prolandscapermagazine .comPro Landscaper | October 202254 Matt Lindsay from Growing Revolution explains how living walls are easily achieved in residential and commercial projects with PlantBox

Simon Orchard Garden Design and Photography

Photography

BRENTBoosting biodiversity

PROJECT

Anew neighbourhood is being created in north west London, and with it comes the creation of a seven-acre park on what was once a large asphalt car park. Those behind the project are touting Union Park as the first new local park in more than 100 years, saying it emphasises the importance of horticulture in the overall transformation of the 85-acre Wembley Park, which 5,000 residents will call home.

Property developer Quintain is delivering the scheme which, when complete, will cover the equivalent of nearly five Wembley Stadium football pitches in the London Borough of Brent. Union Park will be taking up more than a tenth of this, boasting a new playground, pond

and children’s padding pool, freshly planted trees and expansive lawns, as well as outdoor training equipment. It’s not just Union Park which will provide greenery to the residents; half of Wembley Park will be open space, residents’ gardens or rooftop terraces.

Southern section

Whilst the northern section of the park is not due to open until 2024, the three-acre southern section of the park has already opened to the public. Visitors can now enjoy an outdoor gym and a multi-use games

1 Union Park, Wembley Park – the first new park in area from Quintain

court. For biodiversity benefits, an urban meadow has been introduced, as has a wildlife pond and a bug hotel, which was built by one of the construction apprentices working on the Wembley Park site.

For children aged 0-8, there is a wooden playground too. “The theme was ‘Wemba Lea’, the original name for Wembley – a clearing in the forest in Anglo-Saxon. So, timber was the natural choice and promoted play with a natural material complete with the knots and fissures associated with bark stripped timber,” explains Kirk Nelson of LDA Design, the landscape architecture firm appointed by Wembley Park.

“The brief included the need for a canopy –we spent a long time coordinating the location of the posts to avoid the utilities and ensuring views between the park, the residences and Olympic Way were not impeded.”

Water play has also been included, which Nelson says was a “bold choice” by Quintain. “We knew the story of the park needed a source pool and ideally a waterfall or fountain to celebrate the gateway to the south entrances. We looked at natural pool systems but realised with the fall in levels we needed a series of linked pools. The opportunity to create winter condition – a pool with a fountain that can transition to a play pool on warmer days and throughout the summer with fountain jets, nozzles and a running stream – has proved immensely popular during the recent hot summer.

“The idea of interactive water also subtly references the introduced boating lakes that formed part of the 1924 British Empire Exhibition. Brent, one of London’s largest and most diverse boroughs, needs more places like Union Park; distinctive, invested-in places where people can socialise, relax, or get active.”

Choosing trees

It’s not the only nod to the history of the area. Key views have been accentuated by carefully placed trees in the style of Humphrey Repton, who designed the original landscapes at Wembley Park in the 1790s. Single trees surround the central lawn and, at the corner of Wembley Stadium, a collection of conifers and

THYRSIFLORUS

The southern section of the park is now open, whilst the northern part is set for completion in 2024. It will feature a more naturalistic design to bring even more biodiversity and will include a bandstand and community centre.

winter/spring foliage planting forms a pinetum, adding colour and seasonal interest.

Amongst the many plants included in the scheme, many are natives and pollinators as well as sensory planting, including redwood, salvia, snowball, snakebark, maple, euphorbia, aster and brunnera. An impressive 985 trees have been planted across the entire Wembley Park state so far, including waterside tree species such as alnus and taxodium.

“The original site was a sea of tarmac – with no trees or vegetation – with just a tiny strip of loose gravel slope along the road edge,” says Nelson. “Our starting point was procuring and planting native trees and biodiversity planting including echinacea, encouraging bugs with the early works, attracting birds to the site, cabin bug hotels, and green roofs during the construction period. We noticed starlings first, followed by sparrows and house martins and swifts swooping down to drink from the pool. Now the park is full of pollinators for most of the year, allowing a greater number of bird species.

“The surrounding apartment buildings all have podium gardens and green roofs ensuring that wildlife links are created between, through and over the buildings into the wider

2 Water features are distinctive elements

3 Views accentuated by carefully placed trees in Humphrey Repton style (1790s landscape designer)

New multi-use Atlantic Court offers a bookable space for sports such as tennis and netball. Outdoor training equipment nearby offers an alternative way for residents to keep fit.

masterplan, and importantly to connect to the Wealdstone Brook directly – one of the capital’s Blue Ribbon designated wildlife zones with the vegetation of the railway to the south. Within the masterplan concept, this was known as the ‘green lasso’, an arc of nature connecting wildlife and nature around the stadium that had become a barrier.”

Increasing the area’s biodiversity is just one of the ways Union Park is aiming for a positive environmental impact. Its ponds form part of its SuDS, with rainwater running off the surrounding buildings and into the main pond with a fountain. When it overflows, water is slowly released into the surface water drainage system.

Handover hurdles

"As with any scheme this size, one of the biggest challenges was the construction and the handover sequencing," explains Nelson, with nine apartment buildings residing on Wembley Park, including the Canada Gardens and The Robinson – for which John Sisk & Son is the main contractor, with site cabins on Union Park – and The Madison, managed by main contractor Wates along the south boundary. A hoarding line separates these different contracts within the park.

“This required a design that could respond to the handover sequence, with the first part of the park opening with the first apartments and the last part two years later upon removal for the site cabins,” says Nelson. “Working with the client and construction team, we were also able to install the below ground utilities, attenuation cells and foundations for the play park tent to enable the site cabins to be erected. This included early planting of trees within the construction site along Engineer’s Way, which was then subsequently planted heavily to create a ‘leasing walk’, screening the site cabins and allowing the incorporation of bug hotels.

4 Fountain in the largest pool celebrates the gateway to the south entrances

5 A space for residents & community to enjoy, including the Atlantic Court

6 Union Park features a wooden playground for children aged 0 to 8 years

7 Pets are also welcome with dedicated, secure dog runs available

REFERENCES

Landscape architect LDA Design lda-design.co.uk

Lighting design Equation equationlighting.co.uk

Consultant Buro Happold burohappold.com Stace stace.co.uk Foreman Roberts foremanroberts.com

Faithful and Gould fgould.com Gleeds gb.gleeds.com

Principle designer PRP prp-co.uk

Masterplan architects Flanagan Lawrence flanaganlawrence.com

Management contractor Sisk johnsiskandson.com/uk

Hard landscaper Harringtons harringtonsplc.co.uk

Soft landscaping Goddards Landscape Contractors goddards-landscape.co.uk

Trees Lorenz von Ehren Nursery lve-baumschule.com

Water feature Fountains Direct fountains-direct.co.uk

Precast concrete elements Evans evansconcrete.co.uk

Play equipment Timberplay timberplay.com Jupiter Play jupiterplay.co.uk

Tensile canopy Architen Landrell architen.com

Bollards/HVM furniture, Mistral paving/ conservation kerbs Marshalls marshalls.co.uk

Bespoke coloured concrete to playable splash pad Lazenby Concrete lazenby.co.uk

Timber plantroom cladding, seating tops to PCC Doug Phillips dougphillips.co.uk

Fencing General Metal Constructions Limited gmcgroup.co.uk

Stormwater treatment Hydro International hydro-int.com/en

Stone boulders CED Stone Group cedstone.co.uk

Pop up power Lucy Zodion lucyzodion.com

Bespoke Multiminium bins mmcité mmcite.com/en

Rough and Ready benches Streetlife streetlife.nl/en

Outdoor gym Proludic proludic.co.uk

A bug hotel was designed and built by one of the construction apprentices, reusing waste materials to create the habitat.

REFERENCES

Soil cells DeepRoot Silva deeproot.com

Drainage ACO aco.co.uk

Resin bound gravel SureSet sureset.co.uk

Drinking fountain Halsey Taylor halseytaylor.com/us/en

“The other challenge was dealing with below ground services, including an existing sewer, gas, HV, LV, District Heating Network, Envac, water services, and BT services – some of which set underneath our raised water wall. There are more than one hundred access covers in the park, with nearly 50 in the lawns that we are seeking to reduce the visual impact via a variety of means following a ‘lessons learnt’ session. We are hopeful that we can find a way of integrating them with the park over the coming months.”

Lasting legacy

There may still be two years until the entire Union Park is open to the public, but it is already

having an impact, from boosting biodiversity to providing facilities for visitors to play, relax and exercise. The southern section of the park, which has been designed as a more formal space, will host small performances and public art, while the larger, more rugged northern section will host larger-scale performances once complete, and the park is managed by the Wembley Team Park to ensure its longevity.

8 Bug hotel to boost biodiversity in Union Park

9 Pool & fountain, or a play pool on warmer days

10 Water features attract a variety of bird species Photographs ©Chris Winter/Wembley Park

Lighting Simes simes.com/en LED Linear: Architectural FX afx.lighting Debbas debbas.com/en Rosco emea.rosco.com/en Targetti targetti.com/en LightGraphix lightgraphix.co.uk Tokistar via Light Projects lightprojects.co.uk/ tokistar LiniLED via Design Intent

ABOUT

Quintain is the team behind Wembley Park, one of London's most exciting mixed-use neighbourhoods and the largest single site of Build to Rent in the UK, with homes operated by rental management team, Quintain Living. Quintain is also the third largest residential developer in Ireland, with 9,000 homes in the pipeline. quintain.co.uk

Temple Lane, Bisham, Marlow,

reating a garden which is as sustainable as possible whilst also being aesthetically pleasing is not easy, but jarmanmurphy worked with the clients and the architects of this project to achieve exactly that.

The design studio was brought on board to redesign both the front and back garden of a converted barn for a couple who run a contemporary art consultancy. The property, where the couple lives with their teenage daughter and two dogs, was being renovated by Brooks Murray Architects, which recommended jarmanmurphy.

The front courtyard reused a screen from Tom Raffield’s stand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show to create a dramatic entrance to the home and to define the parking and garden areas

Environmental considerations were to be key to the design of the gardens, as were the client’s own inspirations. A parking space for multiple cars need to be added to the front courtyard, as well as an entrance to the property by foot and vehicles. The existing brick walled courtyard was to have a contemporary design, whilst the rear garden needed to be made more inviting and become a place where the clients could go and explore, with different plants, trees and textures.

Both gardens were to offer a sense of sanctuary, whilst the enclosed courtyard was to be updated to match the new modern interiors and exterior renovations to the architecture.

Reuse and rewild

As many existing materials on the site were reused as possible. Old tarmac from the original car park, for instance, was broken up and used to raise the levels under the decking in the back garden. Chippings from tree work were saved and used for informal trodden paths in the back, and jarmanmurphy created piles of brush and foliage to encourage wildlife to feed and nest.

jarmanmurphy intentionally kept the hard landscaping minimal to allow the surrounding countryside to merge visually

Made from Corten steel, the water table from The Pot Company blends seamlessly into the naturalistic landscape and requires little maintenance.

with the garden and to lessen the impact of landfill and transport on the roads. It collaborated with Brooks Murray Architects to ensure key views from the house were enhanced by the planting.

Choosing natives

For the soft landscaping, the plants were sourced from various UK nurseries and included Euphorbia x pasteurii ‘John Phillips’, Rosa spinosissima, Melica altissima ‘Alba’, Cephalaria alpina, Sanguisorba ‘Chocolate Tip’, Trifolium rubens and native plug plants. A number of native species were used, in fact, and the trees were all native apart from the Gingko in the courtyard, which jarmanmurphy used to provide a focal point to the space.

1 Gingko biloba ‘Chi-chi’ in planting pocket and thyme varieties

Amelanchier lamarckii, Calamagrostis ‘Waldenbuch’ and bulbs

Acer campestres link back garden with the countryside beyond

Filipendula vulgaris ‘Multiplex’ and Roseraie de l’Hay

Seating area, fire bowl, Calamagrostis brachytricha and Buxus

The Teasel features a chocolatecoloured, oval-shaped seed head. This is really good for greenfinches to feed on during the autumn and winter. Seed heads are left for winter structural interest, cutting them back in early spring. Grass below is Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’.

Lockdown challenges

The gardens were built during the first lockdown, so jarmanmurphy had to tackle the new challenges caused by COVID, such as being careful as to how many times they visited the site. There was also a very large and thick pad of concrete in the back garden which hadn’t been identified on the survey. It had been left over from when the property was part of a farm and had to be removed. This caused an extra week on top of the schedule and large machinery had to be brought in to remove it before the build could progress.

After 11 months, though, the front and back gardens of the property had been transformed and the new design encourages the clients to venture into the back garden, which they had previously avoided. Jarmanmurphy designed a space for them to explore and enjoy, whilst also creating a relaxing space to entertain and potentially exhibit artworks in future.

ABOUT

Inspired by nature and the landscape, jarmanmurphy observes and develops elegant and subtle solutions that capture the spirit of the place. It creates beautiful gardens for clients and nature with sensitive planting sitting alongside subtle, bold designs. It has a deep consideration for environmental impact now and in the future. jarmanmurphy.co.uk

REFERENCES

Contractor The Garden Co. thegardenco.co.uk

Steel edging and railings T Brown and Sons Ltd tbrownandsons.co.uk

Screens Tom Raffield tomraffield.com

Stone CED Stone Group cedstone.co.uk

Wall lights Lampsy lampsy.com

Ground lights Lighting for Gardens lightingforgardens.com

Decking Millboard millboard.co.uk

Water bowl and trough The Pot Company thepotco.com

Plants

New Wood Trees newwoodtrees.co.uk

Deepdale Trees deepdale-trees.co.uk

Hopes Grove Nurseries hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk

How Green Nursery howgreennursery.co.uk Rochfords rochfords.net Tendercare tendercare.co.uk

Daisy Roots daisyroots.com

Babylon Plants babylonplants.com

W Godfrey & Sons wgodfrey.co.uk

Arvensis Perennials arvensisperennials.co.uk

Sunnyside Rural Trust sunnysideruraltrust.org.uk

Naturescape naturescape.co.uk

Avondale Nursery avondalenursery.co.uk

6 Boundary holly hedge is trimmed to echo the forms of landscape beyond Photographs ©Anna Murphy

Customising outdoor kitchens

From the simplest freestanding BBQ to the very hi-tech fully integrated outdoor cabinetry, outdoor cooking areas will continue to be part of the design brief for garden spaces in the months ahead.

BBQ manufacturers were amongst the first to design high quality accessories for their ranges to include different size cabinets, cupboards, drawers, and other elements now deemed essential like fridges, sinks and the like, giving us great components to build bespoke kitchens for our clients.

Whilst possibly the intention was to sell more appliances, they did a great job at opening up the marketplace and getting consumers to re-think about what BBQ cooking and entertaining was all about. No longer is it just a few sausages and burgers, but nowadays drinks, brunches and nibbles are all central to the cooking spaces, even when outdoors.

By introducing water-tight storage spaces, it helps to hide away bags of charcoal, BBQ tools and other essentials.

They are now showing their next wave of innovation with BBQ’s being smarter, integrated, electric, and almost cooking the meal for you. Social media platforms buzz with chefs cooking outdoors on their appliances; recipes can be found online; and the supermarkets even allocate whole sections on their shelves to make even a lazy cook appear capable.

We’ve also all experienced stay-at-home vacations and re-aligned our thoughts about how we want to live in our homes and gardens, and the manufacturers are right at the top of their game.

Clients can choose between bespoke kitchens or modular options for cooking outdoors, and Debs Winrow shares how best to include either

Do be aware, however, that bespoke kitchens can take quite a lot of design and project management time and you’ll need to ensure that you have all the necessary skills for building them, cladding, connecting gas, electric and water and then whether the worktops are also done in-house or by specialists brought in. Sometimes the designs can also be a little limited as the focus quite rightly from these guys is about great cooking.

Next entered the new kids on the block, with us seeing more modular kitchen companies offering great design and innovation; different price points for all budgets; and more importantly, cutting the design and build time by over half making the landscaping community able to price in outdoor kitchens with the knowledge that the build doesn’t over run. Larger and complicated designs can still be installed by a skilled team within a day, adding a nice, profitable finishing touch to the garden project.

They’ve focused on the overall experience of the customer by either keeping the product range simple, or by offering a suite of farrow and ball type colours, textures, gadgets and accessories – chosen for their high performance as well design appeal. A number will also have seating or furniture options matching the kitchens, so you can offer a full design proposition.

So, we have the supply chain of choice, but how is the client responding? We've seen more clients wanting to be very self-sufficient once in their outdoor entertaining space. Fridges, dishwashers, integrated hobs, and even coffee machines are being requested. Clients don’t want to be going back indoors once they are there, and as hosts

they want everything to be on hand, stored away and allow themselves to enjoy the space . This has very much come from the trend of open plan living indoors, where kitchen, dining and lounging all play a huge part in their modern and possible re-styled interiors. Larger kitchens are also being requested, allowing dual cooking methods. Double fridges, sit up bars, waste bins, and plenty of storage. They need to go through all seasons due to the investment, so quite often the kitchen area will also require a shelter, so canopy/kitchens are making amazing combos. This also allows for the client to put either table and chairs, or more relaxed loungers. Accessories have also been considered, such as herb gardens, wine fridges, power points, stylist storage, cutlery dividers – again from the interior of finished and styled spaces. Anything missing? I wonder if kitchen designs also need to cater for smaller spaces. Perhaps one cabinet with a nice worktop where a pizza oven or small BBQ can be stored underneath and then placed on top, but not permanently. This will be great for balconies, pool sides, smaller canopy options and just when it’s all about two or three people wanting an intimate outside meal, quick brunches or a spare for delish takeaway and drinks. Let’s see if this takes off!

DEBS WINROW

Debs Winrow, creative director of award-winning landscape company Garden House Design, is an avid trend spotter, responsible for seeking out the latest and best outdoor living products, and developing an expansive portfolio to offer to both consumers and fellow landscapers and designers. gardenhousedesign.co.uk

3 of the best...

OUTDOOR KITCHENS

The Pizza Oven Shop

Igneus Pro 600 wood fired pizza oven It’s one of the best all-round ovens on the market today.

Price: £1,275 thepizzaovenshop.com

Grillo Outdoor Kitchens

Grillo kitchens are design-led, blending iroko hardwood with beautifully finished carbon steel. Configurable and customisable –design and cost yours online.

Price: From £4,920 grilloliving.com

Silverland Stone

OkBox

A modular outdoor kitchen system made from non-combustible all-weather materials. Easy and fast to assemble with any customisation and finishes.

Price: From £365 per module silverlandstone.co.uk

We see more clients are wanting to be very self-sufficient once in their outdoor entertaining space

A PICTURE or 1000 words?

They say a picture paints a thousand words. Some would say this means 1,001 words are worth more than a picture. Either way, the old adage rings true, in our industry as in any. Communicating effectively with clients so they can easily envision your ideas is key to a successful project, and nothing communicates more effectively than an image.

But how to produce an image of a project that does not yet exist? Most of us don’t have the resources or know-how to produce photorealistic CGIs. And not all of us have a garden designer’s artistic skill to attractively and accurately sketch out the finished result. At Grillo, we are all too aware of the challenge of presenting our ideas to the end client. It’s something we’ve been working on for a while, and in early 2022, we had a bit of a breakthrough.

The Grillo Configurator was an industry-first. No one had created an outdoor kitchen configurator before, and for the first time, designers could quickly and easily mock up kitchen layouts and see the price (including install) updating live to the side. It is a brilliant provision that continues to serve us and the industry well. But its simplicity and ease-of-use had a shortcoming – for the

configurator to work, its visuals had to be 2D. And 2D is just a bit – not quite all there; one dimension short of reality.

So, throughout 2021, whilst the website teams were working on perfecting the configurator and improving the website, they always had one thing niggle at the back of their minds: How can we harness the simplicity of the current system, and apply it to a much more realistic and useable means of visualising our kitchens? And they found a way – enter the Grillo Configurator 3D Viewer and GrilloEye Augmented Reality Viewer.

3D and AR are yet another industry-first, and we’re

Presenting your ideas so that clients can easily visualise them is always a challenge. Kevin Marsh outlines Grillo’s innovations, helping end users to picture a project long before it comes to fruition.

incredibly pleased to offer this service to the trade free of charge. It’s a game changer for landscape professionals. Whereas before it was necessary to scrawl on the back of an envelope or try to cobble together a layout in Sketchup, now that layout can be viewed in 3D at the click of a button – panned around and zoomed in, all in remarkably highfidelity photorealistic

rendering. Click the AR button and you can view the layout in its final position in the garden, using the power of augmented reality.

If you haven’t tried out the 3D and AR features yet, do give them a go. And if you have, let us know how you got on. We’re always on the lookout for new ideas. Hopefully that puts you in the picture – in considerably less than 1,000 words!

Kevin steers Grillo’s marketing and web efforts, ensuring a class-leading online experience and making client interactions easier, one click at a time. grilloliving.com

KEVIN MARSH

3D and AR are yet another industryfirst, and we’re incredibly pleased to offer this service to the trade free of charge

...AND THE FINISHED PROJECT

AUGMENTED REALITY(AR) VISUALISATION

KeepingstreetsBritain’s safe

STREET FURNITURE?

The UK government has called for the passing of a new piece of legislation called the protect duty after what they describe as a “number of recent low-sophistication terror attacks in public spaces”. These attacks include several hostile vehicle weapon attacks that have happened throughout the country. The government advises that tragic consequences have followed in recent years after such events as the Westminster and London Bridge attacks of 2017. Lara Valdur Eha, marketing manager at Marshalls, comments: “Over the last few years there has been an increase in vehicle-related incidents that has led to a rise in the requirements for protective measures.”

The term street furniture refers to any object that comes under the classification of: benches, post boxes, phone boxes, light boxes, traffic lights, streetlamps, traffic signs, outdoor sculptures, and waste bins that are seen on the street. This furniture is used to provide comfort, beauty, navigation, and safety to all residents in a particular city.

Hostile Vehicle Mitigation focuses on reducing risks associated with vehicle terror threats to create safe public spaces. Barrie Woodcock, sales director of Baileys Street Furniture Group (BSFG) explains: “There’s a big focus at the moment on vehicles weapon attacks where people are just getting in the car and driving into people on the pavement. Anything that’s in the way

generally makes you think twice about driving at it if it’s substantial, so putting street furniture there which is also going to enhance the usability of the town centres does help with public safety.”

Lana adds: “Without a doubt, vehicle collision of any kind, terror or accidental, has become a major concern, particularly in busy urban areas. Protective street furniture provides effective and assured, yet measured, protection against incidents without transforming public spaces into fortresses that can make people feel scared and anxious.”

So, street furniture seems like it could be a good answer to helping mitigate HVM attacks, but what exactly is classed as street furniture and what options are there?

Jana Tyrer, managing director of mmcité, discusses the options that her company offers: “Great public spaces with amazing street furniture increase social value as visitors gather and bond with a sense of ownership. This social ownership has direct positive impacts on the economic value of adjacent residential and commercial properties alike. We believe all this starts with amazing street furniture.

“We offer several styles of seating from mountable to moveable, from straight to curvilinear, from backless to backed and loungers too.

If street furniture is placed intelligently, then it can enhance but also be protective

How is street furniture being used to make our public areas safe and is demand for these products growing?

We also offer structures. More and more public spaces are connected to public transportation. These connections require refuge from the elements and opportunities for public message boards.”

Versatility seems to be a key element when considering what options to develop for street furniture. Lara says: “In addition to our standard range, our expert engineering team allows for, in some cases, a more bespoke approach to projects in more unique locations where we work collaboratively to develop suitable solutions. The landscape protection market in general now offers a wide range of innovative products designed to protect the public realm.” Marshalls currently offers seating, planters, litter bins, post and rail systems, and bollards within its portfolio of products.

BSFG has also been working on a specific HVM range. “We have developed, ready for launch shortly, a full range of street furniture that incorporates litter bins; there will be an impact testing seating element. There will be cycle stands, planters and there will be a bollard system as well. That’s a full range of street furniture that we can offer with some sort of impact products,” says Barrie.

The options of street furniture appear to be varied with multi functionality considered when it comes to HVM but the way the street furniture is placed will also help to mitigate attacks by considering how best to use the space in a protective way that causes minimal disruption. “Placement of street furniture is very important,” explains Barrie. “The way street furniture is designed in the landscape can not only enhance the landscape but it can also be protected in the case of chicanes and slowing vehicles down; for example, if you had a chicane type effect that was seating with cycle stands or maybe some bollards rather than have some speed rated products you could reduce the speed henceforth reducing the risk because you’re stopping the vehicle from getting up to speed. If street furniture is placed intelligently, then it can enhance but also be protective.”

With this additional requirement for street furniture products to protect, there needs to be additional tests to ensure products are mitigating threats. Lara advises: “To determine the placement of protective street furniture products, we would always recommend a vehicle dynamic assessment to be conducted to identify the nature of

threats and provide an analysis of their probability and impact. This will determine the locations and rating level of the products needed to the standards of PAS 68, PAS 170 and IWA 14.1.”

The increase of hostile vehicle attacks indicates that there could be a demand for products that incorporate aesthetic and protective features. With COVID-19's impact lessening, warmer weather and people's desire to be outside more, what does this mean for public safety products? Barrie says the need for these products has grown in recent years: “A few years ago, there was a big push for having shared-spaces towns, where there isn’t really a distinction between pavement and a road. If street furniture hasn't been placed with the proper caution, and it’s somewhere you need to protect people, someone could just drive through as many people as they want!”

Jana also notes: “The trend of the last 120 years shows rural living declining while urban cores are growing. With this trend, we see the need beyond just street furniture.”

The need for these products speaks for itself and the industry seems to be responding with many options to make the streets of the UK safer with sturdy, well designed street furniture.

The trend of the last 120 years shows rural living declining while urban cores are growing. With this trend, we see the need beyond just street furniture

PROMOTION

HOW BAILEY STREET FURNITURE GROUP IS HELPING COMBAT VEHICLE AS WEAPON ATTACKS

“If it’s not today it will be tomorrow.”

Barrie Woodcock, sales director of BSFG, discusses the company’s anti-terrorism/Hostile Vehicle Mitigation

(HVM) range and how it's designed to help keep our streets safe

To say that public safety consideration needs to evolve would be an understatement, with a seemingly growing number of vehicle as weapons attacks being covered by the news. NBC, for instance, reported a 21% increase in these attacks from 2019 to 2020, and the government has been pushed to put through the imminent protect duty, a new piece of anti-terrorism legislation to ensure more public protection from terror threats.

Barrie recalls an attack which occurred in Blackpool, where several pedestrians were injured when a vehicle intentionally mounted the pavement to drive into them. Barrie says there is evidence of attacks happening all over the world, so an effective deterrent is clearly needed.

Bailey Street Furniture Group has created a solution with its new PROTECT range. “We started our journey developing these products about two and half years

ago. We had the opportunity to work with CPNI (Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure) developing a range of street furniture that wasn’t currently available, preparing for the imminent protect duty legislation. We introduced the first items in the range around eight months ago, starting with our INSPIRA PROTECT planter system, and it’s been a continuous development since then with further design driven items that are IWA test standard compliant.”

With milder winters and an exceptionally hot summer, people are eager to be outside, so the products are arguably needed now more than ever, with clever discreet designs to make people feel more comfortable as well as safe. “We are sympathetic to the environments we’re putting these products in, so rather than just being a big piece of steel and a big piece of concrete, we offer a planter system with the aim of

bringing back the greenery to benefit physical and mental health whilst also being a functional piece of furniture. A lot of products in the market at the moment do one job – to stop a vehicle. These have been designed as functional and not aesthetic products; they are just an HVM product.”

The new range is designed with ground services in mind that are below the pavement level; the product range requires a 200mm depth foundation as services are often 300mm depth.“We’ve really thought about how this can be done with minimal disruption and enhanced aesthetics – the public will look and see,‘ a nice seat’,‘a functional cycle stand’ or ‘a planter’ rather than ‘a big bollard’ or ‘a big piece of concrete’.”

Products have been thoroughly tested through certified testing houses to IWA 14-1 standards – this is where a

product is fitted in front of an impact line and rammed at speed with various vehicle types. A pass or fail is given depending on how far a vehicle travels past the point of impact.“All of our planters have been tested and they are 'zero penetration', which stops the vehicle at the impact line. If the public are behind the products and the vehicle travels further, there is a high chance of injuries. Ideally, products need to be 0-1m max penetration.”

The new PROTECT range includes planters, seating, litter bins and cycle stands that will greatly help in the fight against vehicle as weapon attacks.

All of our planters have been tested and they are 'zero penetration' which stops the vehicle at the impact line

THE BAMBOO boom

As a rapidly growing supplier of street furniture with our own design department and in-house production, FURNS is able to furnish very diverse projects. Delivering customised work is our specialty; no project is the same and therefore we like to think along with the client. We are always looking for new materials that we can use to distinguish ourselves and, as with bamboo, contribute to a more sustainable world. Bamboo can be harvested as soon as five years after planting!

At FURNS, we share one common passion – to work more efficiently, better or more sustainably every day. In 2020, for example, the decision was made to adapt the entire collection so that we could offer bamboo in addition to various hardwood species. Bamboo is not only the fastest growing raw material; it is also the product with the largest market growth. In more and more projects, there is a growing demand for one type of material for all applications, be it for the facades,

decking or furniture in a project. The versatile character of bamboo is a great advantage in this respect. In cooperation with sister company Awood, we offer companies, municipalities and developers a total exterior design using the same sustainable material. FURNS operates as a one-stop-shop for all projects.

In addition to its versatility and durability, MOSO Bamboo X-treme is also highly impactresistant and therefore has

a very high resistance to vandalism. Other advantages are, for example, that it dries quickly because it is so hard that moisture hardly penetrates.

High level of sustainability

Thanks to a special patented thermal treatment and a very high compression rate, MOSO® Bamboo X-treme® furniture beams are very stable and durable. This special treatment ensures that MOSO® Bamboo X-treme® achieves the highest durability class within EU legislation (class 1 according to EN 350). Like any hardwood species, MOSO® Bamboo X-treme® will age when exposed to weather conditions, giving it a beautiful, natural look.

Not just for seating but used as a single material to create a consistent look of the total project including litterbins, bicycle stands, etc. For our STORR collection, for example, we used bamboo. This collection also includes our greenpoints, the movable tree islands with an

integrated seating area. The products from the STORR collection have a high degree of sustainability. For example, the frames of the litter bins are made of aluminium that is 100% recyclable and the picnic sets and benches are made of galvanised steel partly recovered from scrap metal.

We will soon be launching a new product, namely a bicycle charging point. It is the equivalent of a bicycle rack, only with the possibility of charging your bicycle. Nowadays, you see various bicycle parking solutions where the rack is hardly ever used. People are so careful of their e-bicycles that they don't trust a rack, because of the potential damage if they fall over. At our bicycle charging point, one only has to put the bicycle on the stand.

Street furniture made from bamboo is gaining ground in public spaces. FURNS Street Furniture is increasingly using bamboo as a sustainable alternative to tropical hardwoods

Bamboo is not only the fastest growing raw material; it is also the product with the largest market growth

LITTER BINS

The light touch

Think infrastructure

Think infrastructure from the off.

You’ll need to coordinate the planting and the lighting early on, so you can plan trenches and ducting. Drainage too is a key concern – electricity and water don’t mix, so don’t put lights (no matter how ‘waterproof’) anywhere where water can form a pool. And finally, LED lights need drivers – best to bring these together into a waterproof box for protection and maintenance.

Vermin – your biggest enemy

In the UK, vermin are your biggest enemy, and unprotected cable simply won’t work. Squirrels and foxes love rubber, including the so-called tough rubber-sheathed cable supplied as standard by many lighting manufacturers. Rats and mice, by contrast, chew PVC and armoured (SWA) cables to sharpen their teeth and remove parts of the sheathing for nests. It is best to protect cable in metal ducting or flexible metal conduit from a manufacturer such as Adaptaflex.

Avoid ‘hot spots’

Much of the garden lighting we see in the UK consists of hot spots created with spike-mounted spotlights. In isolation, these appear disconnected from the landscape and create an extremely high contrast environment. Instead, think about layers of light using both spots and linear elements. Grazing a textured wall or fence, for instance, can create a wonderful backdrop for illuminated plants.

Eliminate glare

Glare has no place in a landscape lighting project. Aim luminaires away from the line of sight, and use accessories such as cowls, louvres, honeycombs and snoots on spotlights to manage the beams of light.

Consider wireless controls

Wireless lighting control technology has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and it saves the need to route control lines throughout the space. For instance, the Hamilton Air is a four-channel system which can control up to 4kW of garden lights or other loads such as pond pumps.

Use a mix of light fittings

Using just one type of luminaire –spike-mounted spotlights, for instance –seriously limits the effects you’ll achieve. So, consider a mix of lights and beam angles. For instance, wall lights, especially ones with a grazing effect, work really well in gardens, but make sure they’re glarefree and not too bright for the purpose. Less is more!

Consider a 'dark sky' approach

With light pollution a major concern for its effect on wildfire and the visibility of the heavens, consider measures to eliminate spill light. Instead of uplighting a tree, for example, consider lighting it from the top down using projector lights attached to the trunk, larger branches or a nearby structure. You can also get light-blocking ‘umbrellas’ for festoon lights – try Lumisphere Products.

Futureproof your installation

Luminaires with adjustable beam angles, on-board dimming and accessories such as snoots and honeycombs make aiming and commissioning easier and help future proof the space as plants change. Also allow maximum flexibility with the infrastructure, as it’s expensive and difficult to make changes when the garden is mature.

Ray is chairing the Lighting Zone at FutureScape: Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 November

Ray Molony is editor of the Circular Lighting Report and head of content at the Build Back Better Awards. He was the co-founder of Revo Media, whose brands included the LuxLive exhibition, LuxLive Middle East, Lux Review, Lighting magazine and the Lighting Design Awards. He’s the award-winning author of ‘Light: Re-Interpreting Architecture’ (Rotovision, 2014). He studied engineering at Dublin City University.

buildbackbetterawards.com

Getting the practicalities right is key to professional landscape lighting, says Ray Molony, who shares eight things you need to remember for a successful landscape lighting project

RAY MOLONY

UPLIT TREES AND THE ILLUMINATION OF THE PATHWAY WITH STRIKING LUMINAIRES LEND DRAMA TO THE COMMONWEALTH PARK IN GIBRALTAR. PROJECT BY DAVID ATKINSON LIGHTING DESIGN

©David Parody and Moses Anahory

“WE DREAMT OF BECOMING A LARGE-SCALE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING FIRM IN LONDON, AND BIT BY BIT WE ARE GETTING THERE.”

From the recognisable shells of Sydney Harbour to the iconic London skyline, Nick Osman brought his passion for landscaping halfway around the world. The Australian visited the UK in his 20s whilst travelling around Europe with a friend and planned to work with a landscaping company for a year before returning home. A decade later, he continues to work in the UK, but now he’s the owner of his own landscaping company – and one that’s rising through the ranks.

It's not the career Nick envisioned as a teenager. He’d attended a school specialising in sports back in Sydney and was working towards becoming a professional footballer before an injury halted him in his tracks.

“It was by pure chance that, through a friend in football, I started working for a landscaping company part time while I figured out my next plan. I always appreciated architecture and gardens, so it was an easy move to apply for an

NAO Landscapes’ managing director Nick Osman is making a name for himself in the capital

apprenticeship with a large landscaper in Sydney at the age of 17, after a year or so working as a labourer. I went on to get horticulture qualifications at a Sydney college and moved into a supervisory role.”

Then another friend who he met through football invited Nick to join him for a year in London, where he found a role with a commercial landscaping company in the capital. “They carried out a lot of hard landscaping and I really enjoyed the construction side; it was something that was lacking in Australia for me, so when I went back to Sydney, I felt like I needed to come back, that there was something missing in my career. I love London, though I miss the Aussie summers, and once I met my wife here it became clear I was here for good.”

At the age of 27, he’d worked his way up to operations director, but was ready to take his career to the next level. “I had got used to significant responsibility and really enjoyed the challenge of winning work and overcoming challenges on sites. I had always wanted to start my own business, and with my wife Lucy’s encouragement and involvement to manage the day to day running of the business, we together started the company in 2016.”

And so, NAO Landscapes was born into a hugely competitive commercial sector in the capital. “We were young and probably naïve enough to take on the challenge. London and the industry had always been very welcoming to me, so I felt that I had the connections there to win some work and the experience for projects to go well. We dreamt of becoming a large-scale commercial landscaping firm in London, and bit

by bit we are getting there. We are a young, dynamic team, all striving to work as hard as we can to build the business. We are six years in now and have almost doubled our turnover every year on year.”

It has been a steady organic growth, developing through word-ofmouth recommendations. That’s not to say there haven’t been challenges as a budding commercial landscaping company, but Nick says NAO Landscapes has “stuck to our guns” when it comes to pricing, rather than allowing clients to push down the price, and its reputation speaks for itself. “Winning work is through our delivery of these projects, the skillset that we've got and the teams I've built up over the years. So, that is our strength – our product that we sell, my workmanship, our skillset and good landscaping knowledge that can deliver these projects on time for the client.”

Now, NAO Landscapes is winning contracts for around £1.5m, managing its drawing board with a managerial team of seven and around 40 operatives on the ground. It’s currently working on five large-scale commercial projects across London, including the hard landscaping for the final phase of Aberfeldy Village in Poplar for developer EcoWorld London.

The multi-phase regeneration project is transforming a seven-acre site into 1,000 homes in East London.

Whilst 90% of its projects are commercial, NAO Landscapes also takes on large-scale domestic work, such as a residential project in Oxshott with an international garden designer, which is set to start in the autumn and is upwards of £1m.

We have a lot of knowledge and experience in building these gardens now, and they’re becoming more in demand in London especially, but they’re hard work

Exceeding the £1m mark is just the beginning for the London-based company. It’s now working towards winning contracts for more than £3m and has its sights set on boosting its trophy cabinet, having already won numerous BALI National Landscape Awards. Last year, for instance, it won an award for its construction of the Level 56 roof garden at the South Quay Plaza for Berkeley Homes. NAO Landscapes has now become known for its podium landscapes, which Nick is pleased with but admits these projects are often the most challenging.

“We have a lot of knowledge and experience in building these gardens now, and they’re becoming more in demand in London especially, but they’re hard work. Every building is different, every spec is different, so each has its own issues with getting things signed off by clients and then there’s access. We built one at Canary Wharf that was around 200m off the ground, so we had to take over the crane and have our own slinger there to get up all the materials. It’s fun if you get it right, and rewarding if you make money from it and, obviously, when it’s a nice design. We’re building another big roof garden for Berkeley Homes next to the Oval Cricket Ground, which is extremely challenging at the moment – so, I’m in two minds. At the end of the day, we know what we’re doing, and we can deliver these types of schemes, so it’s an area we want to keep pushing.”

NAO Landscapes also started to install car charging points two years ago alongside another groundwork contractor as part of larger contracts, and this is another area which the company is further developing. It also offers a 12-24-month period of maintenance on a completed build, though not a separate maintenance or aftercare service for projects it has not been involved in.

Nick is keen to grow the team in order to take on more work but is also looking to specialise in using more environmentally friendly materials –sourcing more locally and using ‘greener’ kit – and is exploring the need for drought resistant planting schemes, inspired by those in Australia.

1 Cotswold stone clad walls at a large private residence build

2 Award-winning roof terrace build for Berkeley Homes at South Quay Plaza

3 Hard landscaping at the Metro Building, Hammersmith for Thirdway Contracts

4 Custom bar area for a private residence project

5 Marketing suite build at Twelve Trees Park, West Ham for Berkeley Homes

We are a young, dynamic team, all striving to work as hard as we can to build the business

“From the summer we just had, and having spoken to a couple of nurseries, it’s definitely the future, especially on larger schemes where they want to save money on irrigation systems. Drought tolerant plants definitely need to be further developed in the UK. In Australia, most of the plants are drought tolerant and there are lots of tropical plants; it’s a different climate altogether, but the summer we just had is very similar.”

Hard landscaping materials also seem to differ in Australia, says Nick. “Australian urban landscapes tend to feature a lot more concrete rather than paved and or resin areas. The climate means that on the one hand people are outside for more of the year, but equally there is a lot of time where it is too hot or there's risk of flash floods.”

After just six years, there are plenty of growth areas for NAO Landscapes and avenues to explore, but Nick is also trying to maintain a strong work-life balance, especially after the recent birth of his daughter and with a boisterous three-year-old son. He also says his wife has given him the “green light” to play golf more often. Always eager to be outside, Nick spends as much time in the countryside as possible or "pottering” in his family’s own garden in rural Kent – and enjoying his collection of Australian and French wine.

Between missing Australian summers and the wine it has to offer, there may be a return to his native Oz on the cards in the future. But in the meantime, the commercial sector has an ambitious competitor digging its feet into the market, and with its sights firmly set on the multi-million pound contracts, it is more than capable to complete.

6 Water features as part of a private residence build 7 Stone work for the Metro Building for Thirdway Contracts

Drought tolerant plants definitely need to be further developed in the UK

Photo by Erik Mclean on unsplash Design by vincentdesign.co.uk

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THE STORMWeathering

With temperatures soaring across the UK and weather warnings being issued for extreme heat as record highs are recorded, the question we explore is how are companies designing and building public space with climate change in mind?

This summer was a scorcher. The BBC reported record-breaking temperatures which exceeded 40C for the first time in the UK and it was the sixth driest summer since records began in 1836. It was part of a widespread heatwave, advised the Met Office, which left the majority of the UK suffering with a drought and scattered hosepipe bans.

Soaring temperatures took their toll on cities, with temperatures in London reaching 37C and a drought being declared in August, leading the London Fire Brigade to draft in extra staff amidst the amber heat warning. City dwellers across the UK were likely to be feeling the heat thanks to the urban heat island (UHI) effect too, where heat is created from the mass of transport and people, as well as buildings being close together and the use of building materials designed to insulate heat rather than lower its retention.

So, how can landscaping help to combat this, and how is climate change already being considered in designs?“There are perhaps a number of considerations when it comes to the impact of an individual project on climate change,” explains Alistair Bayford, business development director for Maylim.

“For a domestic client, it is as simple as making green choices and being comfortable with those decisions. In a commercial world, the potential for positive/negative impact is no different but is, of course, scaled up. The tide is certainly changing, and we are seeing consideration in

What is CLIMATE CHANGE?

Climate change refers to a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet’s weather patterns and average temperatures. The main contributors to climate change have been humans with the release of carbon dioxide being ongoing since the 1800s and other greenhouse gases being released into the air. This causes global temperatures to rise, resulting in long-term changes to the climate. Since the Industrial Revolution, the average temperature of the planet has risen by 1°C.

schemes, but also seeing the responsibility to reduce waste and CO2 pass down to the contractor.”

Climate change should be considered in all landscape designs at every stage, says Benjamin Brown, head of policy and information at the Landscaping Institute. “There is no landscape design decision that can’t be put through the consideration of climate change. There are two ways to think about that: one is more sustainable, low carbon decisions – such as considering the materials and whether local materials, lower carbon materials or even recycled materials from the site – for example, reclaimed materials or leftover materials – could be used.

"The other way to think about it is climate adaptation, adapting for the impact of climate change as well as making sure the designs are low carbon. We need to make sure that the designs that go in the ground are fit for the next 50 years.”

Considering flood risk is also a part of adaptation for climate change, Alistair advises: "Hard landscaping (non-permeable) beads of water will run off of the landscape and flood an adjacent piece of land. So, lots of considerations come under that banner of adaptation to climate change.”

Companies such as Ground Control seem to have been incorporating climate change considerations continuously. Associate landscape architect Matt Goddard MLI says: “Within Ground Control we have always approached design in a collaborative manner working alongside our other disciplines – ecology, arboriculture, SuDS, biodiversity and our GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping teams – to ensure we can maximise any potential to improve the environment at micro and macro levels. It’s part of our service and something that as landscape architects is engrained into our processes.”

Suppliers are having to consider the impact of their products too. “All our designs are done with climate change in view we allow for a sufficient rooting volume for trees and green infrastructure to hold significant amounts of water not only to mitigate flooding but also to allow evapotranspiration through the hotter drier summers,” says Howard Gray, PR and specification consultant for GreenBlue Urban. He explains how the designs incorporate and ensure longevity: “GreenBlue Urban has always included the view that all green infrastructure should be allowed to progress and grow to its species’ potential longevity, so we carry out significant research and development on different soils and then assorted other products to enable that to happen.”

Matt also comments on what exactly Ground Control is doing to make a difference. “Our strap line within our team is to work with nature’s processes to create green connections, maximise biodiversity that creates dynamic, long lasting, impactful and sustainable designs that connect people with nature. At the inception point of each project, we discuss as a team how we can implement these strategies to maximise our impact.

“On a basic level, one of the easiest things that we can do is to plant more trees and plants; every kilogram of carbon stored within the leaves, stems and trunks of a plant or tree is one less kilogram of carbon in the atmosphere. But there is more to it than that. One of the big things we are trying to do is improve connectivity between projects. Using GIS, we are now plotting past, present and potential future works across the UK which provides us with the opportunity for our clients to work collaboratively with very little input required on their behalf. This power to link these greening elements together so they can be more impactful is a game changer. It really helps that our client base spans the country with rail, waterway and highway clients, providing us the opportunity to

The tide is certainly changing, and we are seeing consideration in schemes, but also seeing the responsibility to reduce waste and CO2 pass down to the contractor

Alistair Bayford, Maylim

interlink our green strategies and improve the bigger picture.”

Landscapers are working on tackling the urban heat island effect too, which occurs when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings and other materials that absorb or retain heat as building materials are usually very good at insulating. Benjamin says that the Landscape Institute is hopeful that landscape designers are considering this. “We published a report a few years ago called Landscape 2030; this was a case study on landscape schemes that were responding to climate change. Broadly speaking, the urban heat island effect is made worse by working areas where there’s no vegetation where the sun is directly hitting hard areas that absorb and then re-emit the heat. So, at a very broad level, the more vegetation you put into an urban environment the better the urban heat island will be; this does depend on the type of vegetation and the management of the vegetation – it needs to be watered and if it dies it could become a fire risk. Placement also matters; it needs to be in places where people are.”

Alistair explains how Maylim is hoping to tackle to the urban heat island effect. “We would first look at what we are directly contributing to the problem. So,

our focus has been on reducing air pollution and emissions. Through a combination of fossil free fuels and electric vehicles we are moving our operations in a direction that reduces our total emissions in the delivery of projects. If we were looking at a project and how best to prevent it, then urban greening is the answer. We should first look at what we have, for example seeking not to remove existing trees that already provide shade for an area. We could look at thermal performance of materials to determine where hard landscaping is required and what materials have the highest deflection capabilities.”

So, what role can landscaping and urban greening play in sustainable builds and are their limitations? Local areas can be made more eco-friendly with green infrastructure, such as living walls and green roofs. Alistair says:

“I have always believed the industry's impact on climate change and implementation of green solutions is in our gift.” It seems as though landscaping can play a large part in mitigating climate change effects in urban areas, and Matt agrees: “If as design teams we can work together more progressively using robust future-proof materials that can be sourced locally, we can help ensure the built environment is robust and flexible enough to face the challenges of the future.”

This ties into the Landscape Institute’s advice. Bejamin says: “Landscaping is at the heart of it. To a large extent, these agendas are happening in parallel.

Even a small increase in temperature will destabilise the water cycle and could make water scarcity much worse. Rainfall patterns being affected means both drought and flooding are more intense and more frequent.

The carbon emissions increase also means air quality is compromised, affecting human health and causing conditions such as asthma. Climate change doesn’t just impact forests or coral reefs, it affects everyone. Increasing food prices will also occur because of extreme weather.

Climate change also means rising ocean levels, ocean acidification, extreme weather events, flooding of costal regions, food insecurity, conflict and climate migrants and damage to marine ecosystems.

Sustainable in a building context around concrete, glass and steel internal heating systems and ventilation – it’s happening very much in parallel to a broader question about sustainability in the builder’s environment including open spaces, the landscape realm, etc.” Benjamin comments on how often landscape architects are labelled as the ‘green’ people in the room, which means they are often the voice of broader sustainability. “Obviously, everyone has a responsibility to address climate change; the role the outdoors plays in that is vital.”

There’s seemingly a general consensus that a lack of a deeper focus on types of plants and a lack of access to data is limiting contributions from the industry. Benjamin explains: “We need better information across the sector and all suppliers. We will need regulation and coherent systems of carbon reporting so everyone is aware of the same data and people can use that data in a comparable way across the whole

Why is BEING CONSCIOUS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPORTANT?

Using GIS, we are now plotting past, present and potential future works across the UK which provides us with the opportunity for our clients to work collaboratively with very little input required on their behalf

Matt Goddard MLI, Ground Control

platform.” However, it seems that all landscape professionals are wanting to do the right thing. Alistair comments on the urgency to focus on climate change: “The recent weather events have illustrated the importance of getting the specification of plants and soils in the establishment of high quality and functioning green infrastructure – whether that be for shade, biodiversity, water management, etc. We have to, as an industry, be critical of our work to date and challenge the previously accepted norms to ensure we are making decisions that are ensuring the long-term success of our schemes… With the attention drawn to the industry as being the vehicle for climate change mitigation, that means whatever we deliver

must be established quickly as well as contributing immediately.”

Matt adds: “The fact we are describing it as a climate emergency tells you all you need to know. It is incredibly urgent.”

It seems the landscaping industry is working tirelessly to include climate change considerations within designs and regulations.

Howard says: “We’re aiming for net zero by 2040 and all the time we’re investigating new products and new materials and designs to reduce our impact on the growth. We don’t have another 10 to 15 years left to waste not doing anything.”

The Landscape Institute urges people to come forward to help join the fight against climate change together. “We want to work with and hear from anyone who is interested

BEING MORE SUSTAINABLE

• Focus on education, research and spreading the word

• Avoid planting high water demand trees such as birch

• Be critical of work and challenge previously accepted norms

• Create shade where possible to help mitigate heat retention

• Work with younger generations for further awareness of the challenges

in contributing towards improving this situation. For us to regulate the landscape sector, it’s important to hear from those working within it. So if someone is out there, we want them to get in touch because we really want to be doing everything we can do towards this agenda which we see as being the most important agenda of all.”

It seems that if the landscaping industry works together, the sector will really be able to make a difference.

At a very broad level, the more vegetation you put into an urban environment the better the urban heat island will be

Benjamin Brown, The Landscape Institute

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We are having the hottest, and one of the driest, summers on record and my phone and social media messages are literally ringing 8-10 times a week. They are very much the same issue each time – grouting disasters.

One common mistake is grouting before the mortar bed has dried out beneath the paving slab. This may cause efflorescence staining which will mean a complete re-grout of the patio. Manufacturers recommend 21 days of waiting time if you use site batched mortar. This is due to the porcelain slab being virtually non-porous and moisture from the bedding mortar can only escape from the grout gaps themselves. The moisture carries with it the efflorescence salts which permeate through the semi permeable grout. One way around this is a permeable bedding mortar which allows you to grout in four to six days. Judgement may be used on the 21st day lead time, depending on the temperature.

The most important rule you must follow when grouting is temperature. If the temperature is at 20°C don’t even bother getting your grout pad out of your van, as you will live to regret it. At 20°C, a porcelain slab will be approximately 40°C, meaning if you apply grout to a porcelain slab it will bake the grout dry in minutes and 30°C grout within seconds. The best advice is an early start at 5.30am-6.00am. Use cold water in your mix – sometimes water from hosepipes can be as warm as a shower if they’ve been in the sun for only an hour. And always make sure you add the correct amount of

GROUT Down and

water as manufacturers specify or you may get colour variation. As soon as the temperature reaches 18°C start wrapping up and clean the slabs thoroughly.

My preference would be a three-person team, consisting of two people grouting and one cleaning as the grout is just starting to turn and ready to clean. No matter which brand of grout you use, black pigment grout will always take you up to 50% longer to clean off by hand. I would also have a good quality haze remover handy at all times, just in case you get caught short or even miss some of the paving. The same principles above apply to Flowpoint, although GFTK has a maximum temperature of installation of 25°C.

My absolute top tip is to purchase a Raimondi Berta sponge grout cleaner. This is worth every penny. The cleaning time is literally cut by 60% when using a Raimondi Berta and I found mine paid for itself within four months.

Gareth is a panellist for: How To Become A Better Landscaper Tuesday 15 November, 3pm, Training, Education and Employment Village

GARETH WILSON

Leaving college at 17, Gareth has worked in the landscape industry since 1989. Progressing onto high-end projects over the years, he has picked up 30 RHS medals, including Gold at Chelsea. Now a freelance tutor to The Landscape Academy, Gareth is a member of multiple professional bodies. He provides technical and product advice to companies, mentors and trains landscapers across the UK, and provides arbitration and mediation services. gkwilsonlandscaping.co.uk

Gareth Wilson shares how to avoid the grouting disasters he’s come across recently

The most important rule you must follow when grouting is temperature

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST or the most adaptable?

Trades coach Alison Warner shares her tips on how to weather the storm

Istrongly believe that during challenging times in business, it is possible to have great success. I started my business during a recession and have never been without work. Businesses fail in good times as well as bad, but they can also thrive in difficult conditions, not just when the sun is shining. In other words, it has very little to do with the external environment and mostly everything to do with how you respond to it. Here are my top tips:

Limit your news intake

My personal strategy is to remain informed, but not drown myself in the constant negativity of the 24/7 news cycle. I strongly believe that a high percentage of our results are linked to our mindset, so I think very carefully about what I expose myself to.

Invest – in yourself and your business

Take action

This is so important! A different mentor of mine once said that not making a decision is actually a decision in itself! Even if you make a decision and it doesn’t turn out as planned, you’ve still learnt something. At least you’ve tested it and you now know. However, if you procrastinate and do nothing, you are sure to stagnate.

Stay close to your customer and continue to market

So many businesses cut marketing when times get tough, but this is exactly when you should be promoting yourself

Yes, there’s an argument to keep your business lean, but you should be doing this in any case, in the same way that you should be measuring the return on investment/expenditure you make. One of the best things I ever did was to invest in my own personal development –not only because I’ve learnt so many valuable skills, but it’s also helped me maintain a positive mindset.

Surround yourself with positivity

One of my early mentors told me that we are a product of the five main people that we spend time with. If your peer group are mood hoovers, guess where your mindset will go? Conversely, if you are surrounded by positive, forward thinking people, you are more likely to follow suit. This is why mastermind groups are so powerful, as you can’t help but learn and be motivated by positivity.

So many businesses cut marketing when times get tough, but this is exactly when you should be promoting yourself. There is still business out there, and by giving your customers what they want and keeping standards high, you are more likely to be one of the businesses that not just survives, but thrives!

To find out how Evolve and Grow can help you grow your business, take our free BUILD system scorecard, available on our website: evolveandgrowcoaching.com.

Alison Warner is founder of Evolve and Grow, a business coaching firm that specialises in the trades and construction industry. She is also the author of bestselling book ‘How to go from Tradesperson to Managing Director in the Construction and Trade Industries’. https://amzn.to/2QIb467 evolveandgrowcoaching.com

ALISON WARNER

A beautiful water feature - made easy!

The OASE wall spout range

OASE’s wall spout range is the perfect addition to any pond or garden project. Easily installed and dynamic in their use, this feature brings the sight and sound of flowing water into the smallest space. There are four different spout designs in either oil rubbed bronze or antique copper finishes. All made from solid brass. Why not use alongside our OASE waterfalls, patios or larger spillways.

Installing a wall spout into your project is simple. Either attach to pipework or use our optional Connection Kit to make life even easier. Did you know OASE also offers LED lights for these spouts? The light illuminates the flowing water from inside the spouts creating a truly captivating installation. A built-in drip edge also ensures a smooth water pattern and prevents backflow.

illuminated!

Considering

COMPASSIONATE LEAVE

Jason McKenzie and Kumsal Kaleli of Oracle Solicitors explain what is expected of employers when it comes to bereaved members of staff

Bereavement leave (also known as compassionate leave) allows employees to take time off work following the death of a family member or loved one. The time is given to employees to make funeral arrangements and complete legal tasks such as organising the deceased’s possessions and will, as well as pay their respects and begin the grieving process.

How much time off can the employee take?

According to the Employment Rights Act 1996, UK employers are obliged to give employees an unpaid “reasonable” number of days following the death of a family member, or dependent.

However, the length of bereavement leave the employee is entitled to is not specified in the legislation and it is usually given at the discretion of the employer, depending on the circumstances.

Whilst some

employers make their decision on a case-by-case basis, others specify a set number of days, and the position is usually set out in the employment contract or the employer’s staff handbook.

Whether the employee is able to extend the leave beyond the amount of days agreed or stated under the employment contract will again depend on the employer and the individual situation.

Who are classed as family members?

A “family member” for the purpose of the legislation is also not defined. Employment contracts and policies generally refer to “close relatives” in this context and these are usually defined as: a spouse or partner, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, stepbrother or stepsister, or brother or sister-in-law. Some employers extend the definition further to include others (such as aunt/uncle, niece/nephew or someone the employee cared for).

Parental Bereavement Leave

There is a separate statutory leave entitlement in circumstances where an employee loses a child under the age of 18 or has a still birth after 24 weeks of pregnancy; here, there is an entitlement to Parental Bereavement Leave.

There is qualifying criteria for this to apply, but in brief, an employee can take two weeks’ leave from the first day of their employment for each child who has died or was stillborn and there is usually an entitlement to Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay at a defined rate.

Practical steps for employers

It is advisable for employers to have a clear policy in place to explain how compassionate leave is handled, in particular to clarify:

• Who is covered

• Whether leave is paid or unpaid (and whether length of service is a factor)

Whilst some employers make their decision on a case-by-case basis, others specify a set number of days

It should be noted that employers have no legal obligation to pay employees for bereavement leave; however, some employers choose to offer a period of paid leave, as well as a period of additional unpaid leave.

• Whether there are exceptional circumstances to extend stated limits

• Interaction between this leave and other statutory leave (such as Parental Bereavement Leave)

• The process for requesting leave.

ORACLE SOLICITORS

Oracle Solicitors is an award-winning law firm with a deep understanding of the landscape industry and expertise in employment, commercial, litigation, property and contract law. Oracle Solicitors, founded in 2002 has since grown to include offices in London, Belfast, Birmingham, Manchester, Frankfurt, and Addis Ababa – please visit: oraclesolicitors.co.uk

Who's gotYOUR BACK?

Abit of a departure from my usual articles around machinery and vehicles, but one that I feel has significant relevance in that it can affect us all in some form or another, even though we may not be aware and where I feel it is important for us to look out for each other.

The events of the last couple of years have very much changed how we go about our daily lives; increasing fuel and food costs coupled with the threat of recession make everything we do a bit more of a challenge. But what of us as individuals? How are we coping, and do we take the time to speak to our colleagues and those we interact with to ensure that they too are managing? We sometimes don’t appreciate that we all deal with pressure and stress in a different way.

As a result of the pandemic, working from home, Teams and Zoom meetings have all become the new norm, but has this change of routine and lack of day-to-day contact other than via email or phone call led to a certain amount of isolation from colleagues and do we appreciate this? The British stiff upper lip and the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ attitude is all well and good, but for some this departure can lead to alienation and loneliness.

Before COVID-19, mental health was almost seen as someone else’s problem and that if you were struggling it was a case of “man-up” and get on with it, but the pandemic has radically changed attitudes for the better, whereby we have more appreciation of our own and others’ mental wellbeing. I am no expert in this field and can only speak for

myself and others who have struggled at times over the last 24 months, when the pressure of work, personal challenges and life in general can at times seem overwhelming. These are the times when you just need to speak to someone to make things seem a bit less hopeless. Being busy is all well and good and keeps your mind occupied but getting the work/ life balance right is a bit of an art and many people let this fall by the wayside, which can cause issues further down the line. Sometimes it just needs somebody to ask if things are ok and listen to the problems or challenges and proffer an opinion which may help to see things in a different perspective and make a huge difference to that individual’s day. As I said, everyone deals with stress and pressure in different ways, and we should all respect this by looking out for each other.

Sometimes what you see on the outside is not a true reflection of what’s really happening; there may be bigger issues brewing beneath the surface. There is an excellent quote which I think encompasses this situation: “I never feel alone, as loneliness is always with me”. So, more than ever, I think we should be looking out for those around us and make sure we talk to them and make sure all’s ok in their world.

Angus is a panellist for: The Kit Switch: Considering the greener equipment option Wednesday 16 November, 2pm, Business Theatre

With more than 27 years working for national contractors and responsible for managing 2,000 vehicles and 18,000 assets across the UK, Angus Lindsay – group head of assets and fleet management at idverde UK – annually manages a capex budget of £5m and 300 vehicle replacements, a demanding and challenging role. angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk

ANGUS LINDSAY

Angus Lindsay takes a break from talking machinery to instead share the importance of looking out for each other’s wellbeing

Everyone deals with stress and pressure in different ways, and we should all respect this by looking out for each other

Commercial AMBITIONS

AriensCo is quickly becoming known in the UK market for its growing range of commercial outdoor power equipment. But as director of sales and marketing Brad Stiles will tell you, it’s the company’s ethos which also sets it apart from its competitors. Its brands Ariens, and the recently acquired AS-Motor, both have one thing in common: their core values – to be honest, fair, keep their commitments, respect the individual, and encourage intellectual curiosity – and their vision statement: to pass these down to the customer.

AriensCo’s goal, as an entity, is to astound customers, says Brad. But it’s not naïve enough to

culture for the EMEAA market, and its acquisition of German manufacturer AS-Motor last year will help it to do this and to grow its range of commercial products. AS-Motor brought with it high-quality high grass and slope mowers, adding to AriensCo's zero-turn mowers, and in the EMEAA market, it has its own teams for R&D, marketing, production and logistics.

“We don’t have a structure where everybody reports to the US; everything is decided here so that we can move efficiently and so we can build products and relationships and a service that pertain to EMEAA customers, because we know they are different to the

For instance, rear discharge decks are not widely used in the US, but they are in the UK commercial market, so these needed to be developed. “For us, that was the biggest statement we could make for the market, that we’re building rear discharge decks and putting them on our APEX and

ZENITH line-up. Almost every commercial product that comes out now has a rear discharge deck.”

Then there’s the ARROW, AriensCo’s first stand-on mower which will be launching at this year’s SALTEX. It stands for 'Ariens Ride or Walk', the idea being that you can stand on the unit or flip up the platform and walk behind it. It’s a more compact commercial model so can fit more easily onto smaller trailers in the UK or in smaller gardens. “The ARROW is an opportunity for us to broaden our range and hit niche products that our commercial customers need.”

It is also battery powered equipment, which AriensCo is focusing on for the EMEA market. At SALTEX, the company will be announcing its extended range of the battery powered ZENITH E. When the ZENITH E first launched two years ago, it was sold with two 60-inch cutting decks, one side discharge and one rear. Now, it is launching a 52-inch and a 48-inch. For those concerned about the reliability of a battery-powered

can be easily swapped, allowing it to be used all day.

With more tenders insisting on greener equipment, Brad says battery power is an area the company will be investing in. It will also be focusing on its commercial line-up and range for the high-end consumer market.

“We’re just excited for the future. It has been a tough couple of years for outdoor power equipment with supply chain issues; but we’re investing in EMEA, and have departments dedicated to the service and to the support of our dealer partners. How do we expect to grow in the commercial market? Through service and support –and making sure we give these to the dealer too so they can provide this to the end user.”

Visit AriensCo on Stand E090 at SALTEX to see a range of commercial products from Ariens and AS-Motor.

AriensCo’s commitment to the EMEAA market will be on full display at SALTEX

AriensCo

ZENITH E

YAK

Reclaiming valuable raw material from waste

We’ve learned a lot about reclaiming valuable raw material from waste: that’s why we developed composters. But compost creates heat and moisture so materials need to be chosen carefully.

Wooden composters begin to decay and steel starts to rust. That’s why we love our composters: the rot- and moisture-resistant choice.

• Dimensions (LxWxH): 1m x 1m x 900 mm

• Easy assembly

• Weather-resistant, maintenance-free, durable

• Material and use match perfectly

• For professional gardeners and keen amateurs

• Delivered as a kit excluding base.

CUTTING EDGE

Get to know these edging suppliers better

SECOND LIFE PRODUCTS WALES LTD

Tell us a bit about the company.

Second Life Products Wales Ltd is one of the leading suppliers of British recycled waste plastic wood products with more than 25 years' experience and expertise. We supply our wide range of furniture, profiles and sheet material throughout the UK and beyond, and are renowned for our helpful and friendly customer service.

Where are you based? Based in Swansea, we supply all over the UK and Europe

Tell us about the edging you supply. Our range of EKOedge path edgings is suitable for all landscaping projects to create a longlasting divider between two landscaped areas or surfaces. Our EKOedge product is ideal for installation around

the perimeter of all types of pathways, garden edging, ponds or driveways.

Is it suitable for commercial and domestic projects? Absolutely.

What is it made from and what are the benefits of this material? Made from 100% recycled mixed waste plastics, this material cannot rot and requires no maintenance.

What is the key USP of the edging? Its flexibility to fit a wide range of applications.

What are your lead times? Generally, it is in stock ready for dispatch. slpw.co.uk

Tell us a bit about the company.

CORE Landscape Products is a family run business with more than 30 years’ experience designing, manufacturing, and supplying a wide range of sustainable landscaping products.

Where are you based?

Our headquarters (offices and warehousing) are based at Iver Heath near Slough – ideally located close to the M25 for both customers to collect their own orders, and for our couriers to collect orders for customers further afield. As all our products can be delivered by pallet or parcel, we are able to supply our fantastic products across the world.

Tell us about the edging you supply.

CORE EDGE is a wonderful product and has several differences which sets it apart in the marketplace. It has unique dual locking tabs where each section joins the next –providing more strength than just one fixed point. This means

edging out and start again!

Our pack sizes are also supplied as linear packs – so a five-metre pack is five metres exactly end to end when installed – whereas others in the marketplace include the overlapping/joining section within the one-metre section –meaning you end up with less edging than you think.

you can join long runs of edging together before placing into the ground. The ground spikes are reinforced with a unique fold along the centre which provides additional strength – ideal for tougher ground conditions.

We also offer optional extension pins should you come across soft ground during installation, which you can easily retrofit and fix on without having to pull all the

Is it suitable for commercial and domestic projects?

Indeed – we offer a 1.6mm thick steel edging for beds and borders and a 2.5mm thick for heavy duty uses, with longer 2.2m lengths to save time and money on installation for larger projects.

What is it made from and what are the benefits of this material?

CORE EDGE is manufactured from a high-quality steel, and then powder coated using AkzoNobel powder coating –this 110-micron polyester powder coat finish is specific for external use and is UV stable, so it will not fade, chip, or crack.

What is the key USP of the edging?

Cost, strength, durability, and ease of installation. We are really nice to deal with too!

What are your lead times?

With more than 300,000 linear meters in stock at our Iver HQ, customers are able to collect same day, or we can deliver the next!

corelp.co.uk

CORE LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS

Tell us a bit about the company. We develop and produce product solutions to inspire our customers.

We are a family business that is mainly involved in the development and production of profiles for the construction sector.

Where are you based?

We produce at our company headquarters in Dürrenäsch, Switzerland. We supply our products to the landscape merchants across the whole Europe, who sell the products to the landscaper/paver.

Is it suitable for commercial and domestic projects?

The steinfix profiles are used in all landscape projects; no matter if it’s in cold places like Iceland or in the desert, no matter if it’s the smallest areas or large public spaces.

What is it made from and what are the benefits of this material?

Tell us a bit about the company.

Hardscape Resourcing Limited has been supplying the hard landscaping sector with ground control material for more than 20 years. As a specialist in provision of reinforcing grids for gravel, grass and granular fill as a sustainable, permeable paving option, we have incorporated a full range of flexible and aluminium landscape edgings, which have found applications beyond our core markets in supporting pavers, asphalt, resin and concrete paving perimeters.

Where are you based? We’re based in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, and nationwide distribution is offered.

Tell us about the edging you supply.

What is it made from and what are the benefits of this material?

Principal benefits are that they provide an elegant, unobtrusive edging solution, which is very fast to install, in a permanent, durable and non-rotting material. Rigid and flexible versions are available so clear straight lines and attractive curves are easily formed without expensive cutting and shaping.

Tell us about the edging you supply.

We started with fastening profiles for garden stones. The idea was always that you don't see our profiles, but that the lawn grows perfectly to the garden stones and slabs, i.e. there is no brown edge around the square or path. The advantage of this is that you don't have to pour concrete, so it's quicker to install and yet the slabs have the same hold. In the meantime, we also have this in our range for ceramic, natural stone and trafficable areas.

The profiles are made from 100% recycled PVC material, mostly from window frames or industrial waste. We use solar energy (only 30% of which is sufficient) and recycle the water ourselves. The advantage of the material is its durability and resistance to impact and bending. It can also be reused or recycled if the garden space is rebuilt after 10 years.

What is the key USP of the edging?

• Fixing tiles without concrete (Fast and independent laying)

• immediately ready for use (save time)

• Green lawn edges (Perforation ensures water permeability)

What are your lead times? We have all products in stock. It always depends on if the regional dealer has it in stock, but we don't have more than two weeks anywhere in the UK. profilsager.com

Our StableEDGE edging range includes both structural edge restraints, where lateral load resistance is important and flat landscape border edgings for lawns, gravel paths and separation between different landscaping elements.

Is it suitable for commercial and domestic projects? Both product ranges are suitable for residential and commercial applications.

What are your lead times? Products are supplied made to order on short lead times, and StableEDGE is backed up by sound technical and customer support. hrlonline.co.uk

details on all jobs, please go to

GARDEN MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR

ALFIE BINES GARDENS Location: London

Alfie Bines Gardens is an award-winning garden company based in North London, looking after a variety of commercial and domestic high-end gardens. It is looking for motivated individuals who are passionate about horticulture with good commercial awareness and communications skills. The company prefers supervisors to have at least three years’ experience, excellent plant knowledge, good work ethic, and all-round practical skills in garden maintenance involving the use of power tools and mowers.

For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk

LANDSCAPE OPERATIVE

ELMTREE GARDEN CONTRACTORS Location: Bristol

Elmtree is a landscape construction and grounds maintenance company based in Bristol. It was awarded Employer of The Year and Supreme Winner at the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2022. It has full-time permanent positions available for experienced landscape operatives. You will be carrying out duties like planting trees and shrubs, turfing, ground preparation on some of the interesting commercial and new build schemes it is working on. It's looking for someone with good eye for detail to maintain its high standards.

For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk

GARDENING EXPERT – FREELANCE CONTENT WRITER (F/M/D)

PLANTURA GMBH

Location: Nationwide

Plantura is passionate about creating fun, accessible content for gardeners and plant enthusiasts. The freelance content writer will have the chance to become part of Plantura’s team of horticultural experts in its editorial department and help build a successful digital platform for plant and garden lovers. Applicants must be studying horticulture, plant sciences, agricultural sciences or a similar subject.

For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE OPERATIVE (TEAM LEADER OPPORTUNITIES)

GLENDALE

Location: Scotland

Glendale is one of the largest green space management service providers in the UK. Applicants must be reliable and conscientious, have a can-do attitude and willingness to learn. You should be able to adapt to different working conditions as the post is physically demanding. It would be advantageous if you have experience using small engine machinery but if not, full training will be provided to get you up to speed.

For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk

HORTICULTURAL SALES ESTIMATOR

HOW GREEN NURSERY LTD

Location: Kent

The successful applicant will be undertaking tasks such as: compiling quotes for garden designers/landscapers through our computerised nursery management system; purchasing and allocating stock via the computer system; liaising with customers regarding availability and delivery information; giving sound horticultural advice and plant suggestions; communicating with growers for out-sourced plants; providing excellent customer service; and assisting the office team with day-to-day activities.

For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk

GARDENING TEAM LEADER

THE GARDEN COMPANY Location: Hertfordshire

The Garden Company is looking for a gardening team leader to service prestigious residential and commercial sites in South East England and North London. You will have proven leadership skills and excellent time management. The company offers a vibrant workplace with friendly people, as well as a commitment to your ongoing training and development. A car is very useful to get to and from the Garden Company premises as it is based in a semi-rural location. Work vehicles will be available during the workday.

For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk

TEAM LEADER

GLENDALE

Location: Scotland

Glendale carries out grounds maintenance and landscaping for public sector and commercial clients across the whole of Scotland, with bases in Edinburgh, Falkirk and Aberdeen. For people with ambitions to develop a career with Glendale, there will be the opportunity to gain tickets for relevant equipment and horticultural qualifications. Applicants must be reliable and conscientious, have a can-do attitude and willingness to learn with the ability to work on their own initiative. Full training will be provided.

For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk

SENIOR LANDSCAPE CLERK OF WORKS

ALIGN JV (HS2 C1 PACKAGE)

Location: Hertfordshire

The ALIGN senior landscape clerk of works (LCoW) will work within the Environment Department reporting to the landscape lead and will be responsible for assuring successful delivery of landscape packages across the ALIGN C1 project. They will ensure that quality control and supervision on landscape-related works are carried out in compliance with specifications and maintained, and check site conditions with the contractor. Must have Bachelor’s degree/post-graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture.

For more details, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk

Five minutes with OLIVER HEMSON

What inspired you to pursue a career in horticulture?

I remember as a kid watching my mother growing veggies and screening hedges. She’d brush the snow off the little hedging plants to keep them alive. I never wanted to help! So maybe it was guilt later in life, but I ended up working really hard to prove myself in a commercial landscaping company.

What’s your favourite part of working in landscaping?

I particularly love it when your domestic client starts to see the construction come together. I love seeing that smile on their face as they appreciate the potential of their surroundings and realise how it will affect their life positively.

What advice would you give to a business just starting out in horticulture?

Don’t be afraid of working outside your comfort zone.

Don’t be ashamed of it. Be prepared to call in help as this will ultimately help you to grow. Don’t try to control everything – other people’s ideas and methods can lead to a better end result.

How do you think the younger generation could be more attracted to horticulture?

I think it would be great to see some younger people commanding a high-profile presence in the industry, getting on TV, sexing it up a bit. It would help to diminish the assumption that gardening is all about grandparents pruning the roses correctly.

There are a lot of challenges facing the industry, but what is something we should be optimistic about?

All the upheaval, all the extra expense has, I believe, encouraged people to be a bit more focused on what they have. They’re looking at how they can invest some time and money into making their space more aesthetic. If, as a nation, we’re improving what we have then I feel that will make us more appreciative and grateful.

What’s next for Tony Benger Landscaping?

Like it or not, we just can’t sit still!

We’re not aggressive about our growth, we’re quite ‘family’, but our grounds maintenance teams are growing exponentially and changing the balance of the company. We’ve gained funding to launch our tree care services – that’s just great because it opens up some more training and career options for our staff.

What keeps you busy outside of work? I’m juggling a house project and a puppy –why on earth would anyone do them at the same time?! I bought a neglected property; the grounds head-high in brambles and some impressively vigilant rosebay willowherb. Understandably, I have prioritised planting up the garden! I also spend time reading up about the science of human behaviour. I find it tirelessly interesting.

CONTACT

Tony Benger Landscaping

Tel 01404 831 844

Email oliver@tonybenger.com tonybenger.com

A quick check in with Oliver Hemson, general manager for Tony Benger Landscaping, to learn more about his history, philosophy and thoughts for the future

Don’t be afraid of working outside your comfort zone

I love seeing that smile on their face as they appreciate the potential of their surroundings and realise how it will affect their life positively