Pro Landscaper February 2019 by Eljays44

Concept to Delivery

February 2019

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hear it From

PHILIP JAFFA PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

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FutureScape

SPRING SEMINAR

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Contemporary cool JOHN NASH ASSOCIATES Cover final.indd 1

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Bring your questions to the Urban Infrastructure Hub

STAND G160 Futurebuild 5-7 March 2019 ExCeL, London

Climate change and urbanisation? We’ve Green Infrastructure solutions for that

Poor air quality within urban environments?

Urban Heat Island effect?

Alternative drainage?

Keeping Blue-Green roofs alive?

We’ve Green Infrastructure solutions for that

We’ve the expertise to help reduce that

We’ve drainage-throughplanting solutions for that

We’ve systems for that

With our environment becoming ever more fragile as a result of Urban Heat Island effect, increased urbanisation and poor air quality, there’s a real need to address the resilience of our built environments and the people who live in them. Polypipe has the expertise, the systems and solutions to help overcome these issues, helping to make space for water, create green spaces, amenity and encourage biodiversity. If you’re looking for a Green Infrastructure answer to all these challenges, there’s a solution for that. Visit our stand at Futurebuild, ExCeL, London.

To register your attendance and ensure your place at Futurebuild 2019, visit

polypipe.com/futurebuild

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WELCOME

Concept to Delivery DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

February 2019 | Volume 9, Issue 2

February 2019

Let’s Hear it From

PHILIP JAFFA

PRO LANDSCAPE R BUSINESS AWARDS SHORTLIST ANNO

Welcome to February 2019

UNCED

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FutureScape

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Welcome to the February issue of Pro Landscaper. This month sees the second annual Pro Landscaper Business Awards, which we’re very excited for! We’re proud of the shortlisted companies in this year’s awards, who have shown excellence in their business practice. We’ll be at East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf for the awards ceremony on Friday 8 February and will report back with all the winners in the March issue.

WE’RE PROUD OF THE SHORTLISTED COMPANIES IN THIS YEAR’S AWARDS, WHO HAVE SHOWN EXCELLENCE IN THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICE

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 EDITORIAL Editorial director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579

We also have some other fantastic news. Nina Mason, former deputy editor of Pro Landscaper has rejoined the company as head of content – it seemed her heart never left the magazine and this wonderful industry. I’m sure many of you will be seeing or hearing from her in the coming months as she works together to strengthen our brands even further. With FutureScape Spring just around the corner, you can see the full programme of events on pages 14–15. If you’re not sure whether to come, this will hopefully tip the scales in our favour: It promises to be a highly educational day with some inspirational and thought-provoking topics.

ADVERTISING Business development manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 585 Head of sales – Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587

Deputy editor – April Waterston april.waterston@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

Horticulture Careers – Liam Colclough liam.colclough@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 584

Features writer – Amy Fitz-Hugh amy.ﬁtz-hugh@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 583

Managing director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 589

Features writer – Rachael Forsyth rachael.forsyth@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578

MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Tel: 01903 777 570

Subeditor – Kia Wilson kia.wilson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 597

Subscription enquiries – Chris Anderson chris.anderson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

Subeditor – Sam Seaton sam.seaton@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 591

Design – Kara Thomas, Kirsty Turek

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Contemporary co JOHN NASH ASSO CIATES

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NOW WE’RE READY TO WELCOME IN SPRING AND THE START OF THE NEW LANDSCAPE SEASON As usual the team will be there in force and we look forward to catching up with everyone. Register for your free tickets now at www.futurescapeevent.com. January seemed to go in the blink of an eye, which is probably good news as it’s a notoriously slow month in our industry. Now we’re ready to welcome in spring and the start of the new landscape season, so have a great month!

@jimeljays

Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd – Connecting Horticulture Pro Landscaper’s content is available for licensing overseas. Contact jamie.wilkinson@ eljays44.com Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2018 subscription price is £95. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts. Whilst every eﬀort has been made to maintain the integrity of our advertisers, we accept no responsibility for any problem, complaints, or subsequent litigation arising from readers’ responses to advertisements in the magazine. We also wish to emphasise that views expressed by editorial contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Reproduction of any part of this magazine is strictly forbidden.

Cover image ©Anna Omiotek-Tott/ John Nash Associates

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@lisaeljays

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an aﬃliate member of BALI

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an associate member of The APL

MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

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CONTENTS

February 2019 27 INFORM

Agenda Getting the most out of subcontractors

News Our monthly roundup of industry news

FutureScape Spring A taste of our exciting new event

Association News The latest from APL, Plants@work, BALI, SGD and RHS

Concept to Delivery

February 2019

New Challenges

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

ESL’s new CEO Phil Jones

Let’s Hear it From

PHILIP JAFFA

Let’s Hear It From Philip Jaffa, Scape Design

Landscape Architect’s Journal

PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

Bespoke SOIL MIXES

Grant Associates

FutureScape

SPRING SEMINAR

Pro Landscaper Business Awards Announcing the shortlist

View From The Top Marcus Watson

PROGRAMME

Contemporary cool JOHN NASH ASSOCIATES Cover final.indd 1

Make the right choice Holly Youde

Senior Service?

INSPIRE

Andrew Wilson

Green Plan It

Park Life Rochdale rejuvenated

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

Contents.indd 4

Suffolk Circles

60 60

Stewart Landscape Construction

Adam White

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Contemporary Cool

Anji Connell

John Nash Associates

Small Wonder Cube 1994

Art Outdoors Artificial Grass Three green case studies

Planters Trends for 2019

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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CONTENTS

EDUCATE

Pro Landscaper Business Awards: Winner Profile Oakview Landscapes

52 NURTURE

Nurture News News from the UK’s growing sector

Designer Plants Corina Vlad

Heaven Scent Ian Drummond

Shady Climbers Andy McIndoe

Farewell Africa Jamie Butterworth

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Curtain Call Sean Butler

Sympathy for the Bevel Angus Lindsay

What I’m Reading Dianne Blood

Spot The Problem

Jeff Stephenson

Nursery Fact File

Husqvarna

Architectural Plants

Topsoil Living Walls Tips for design, installation and maintenance

Product DNA Global Stone

Bespoke mixes

Trading With

Look Out For Ashley Zymanczyk

Little Interviews Quick-fire questions with the individuals who make up our industry

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

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INFORM

SPOTLIGHT ON

CONTRIBUTORS

Marcus Watson

Anji Connell

Jamie Butterworth

Angus Lindsay

Director, Butterworth Horticulture

Group head of assets and fleet, idverde

Managing director, Ground Control

Interior architect and landscape designer, Anji Connell Interior Design

With Brexit on everyone’s minds, Marcus talks about how it could affect the industry and what we can be doing to make sure we alleviate its impact. Although he believes our industry to be fairly safe, there are still many ways in which we may feel the pressure should we not respond positively to the change.

This month Anji explores how art can be brought into the garden to punctuate a space, fill a gap or add interest – there are many options to suit a range of styles. Monumental land art pieces can be created, or sculptures can be installed – or by simply adding a decorative piece of furniture or rug you can effectively personalise a space.

In his final instalment on South African gardens, Jamie explores Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden – formerly a derelict farmland. Its scale, diversity, location and significance are awe-inspiring. Having been on his must-visit list for many years, Jamie shares some of the amazing sights he discovered there.

Look after a vehicle and its components will look after you. This month Angus shows us how to care for your engine so that it lasts longer and runs smoother. Something as simple as warming the engine for a couple minutes before use should be common practice, while not doing so can lead to a hefty fee.

ground-control.co.uk @MDrWatson

anjiconnellinteriordesign.com @anjiconnell

butterworthhorticulture.co.uk @gardener_jamie

idverde.co.uk angus.lindsay@idverde

Other contributors Holly Youde Director/designer, Urban Landscape Design Ltd

Ian Drummond Creative director, Indoor Garden Design

Jeff Stephenson Head of horticulture and aftercare, Bowles & Wyer

Andrew Wilson Garden designer and lecturer

Andy McIndoe Leading horticulturist

Sean Butler Director, Cube 1994

Adam White Director, Davies White Ltd

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

AGENDA

TO KEEP YOUR REPUTATION INTACT, HOW DO YOU ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE SUBCONTRACTORS YOU USE?

Getting the most out of subcontractors can be a tricky topic sometimes. These four directors explain how they balance great work and professional behaviour on site

Ken White Managing director, Frosts Landscape Construction

The first thing to remember is that subcontractor is not a swear word. Subcontractors have businesses to run just like us and their reputation on the whole is important to them. After that, you ensure the quality of their work in just the same way as you would with a directly employed member of staff. We seek feedback from our managers and clients and set key performance indicators to measure their performance. Word of mouth or recommendations from suppliers is a good starting point when seeking to start a new relationship with a new subcontractor. Where possible, go and see their work for yourself, gain references and talk to them about the quality you are looking to achieve and the ethos of your company. Work on developing the relationship, give feedback 8

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and take on board their feedback – it’s a two way partnership. You may kiss a few frogs before you find the right subcontractor!

Craig Nester Director, Habitat Landscapes Ltd

Working within the domestic market we quickly came to realise that the most powerful type of marketing is word of mouth. To have contractors completing works for us and essentially representing our brand is no small thing to manage. Ensuring that any subcontractor’s work meets your standards is essential in retaining a good reputation, ensuring that work is completed efficiently and to a high standard. For us, it boils down to two main things – trust and passion. We have to trust the contractor is reliable, approachable and skilled in what they do. We have regular subcontractors who have worked beside us for many years and we have come to know exactly how they work. Over the years we have used subcontractors that have not met our standards or have lost our trust by being unreliable and they have quickly

been removed from our lists. All our contractors sign an agreement of services which details not only what we expect from their service, but also how we expect them to conduct themselves. If this agreement is broken, then so is our trust in them. It’s really important to look at each subcontractor and gauge their passion for the job. Do they have the eye for the detail? Do they love their work? Do they share your vision for the end product? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then for us, they are not right. If we find a suitable subcontractor that we can trust, and we can see their passion for the work, then we usually find that the end results actually enhance the quality of our work, and in turn uphold our reputation.

Tecwyn Evans Director, Living Landscapes

If I am using subcontractors on site, I first ensure that they are contractors I have worked with before, or I know another trustworthy www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

landscaper they have worked for that can comfortably recommend them. Even then Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m on site to manage them, from their arrival to review the work they are undertaking, to carefully vetting their costs and work schedule. Then I ensure they complete the work correctly, to the required standard, and that they conduct themselves with a professional attitude within their work and towards other team members, the designer or the clients. We tend to complete most of the work ourselves and only bring in specialist trades like surfacers, electricians and roofers.

Luke Mills Director, The Landscape Service

Using and recommending good-quality subcontractors is essential to delivering a

NEXT MONTH

well-built landscape or garden. Working with companies who come recommended from other industry professionals works best for me. I started out in the industry as a landscape gardener and understand how vital subcontractors are to any designer. They can turn proposals into reality and are very important when it comes to delivering whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promised to the client. I find getting subcontractors on board early works very well. This provides a great opportunity to provide feedback on the design from a construction point of view. Suggestions can be made prior to finalising plans for tender, creating a smoother build process and cost savings. The most important thing to me is communication and treating subcontractors with genuine respect. Subcontractors are fundamental to The Landscape Service. They are knowledgeable, skilled and essential to solving problems on site and creating bespoke landscape elements from design proposals.

The timescale between submitting a tender and finding out if the work is going ahead is increasing. What main reasons are clients giving for the delay?

Have your say: content@eljays44.com www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

NEWS HRH The Duchess of Cambridge designs RHS Chelsea garden

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HRH The Duchess of Cambridge has codesigned a garden for the Royal Horticultural Society at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with award-winning landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White, of Davies White Landscape Architects. The RHS Back to Nature Garden is a woodland setting for families and communities and encourages those from all backgrounds to connect with nature and enjoy growing plants for their health and wellbeing. The primary inspiration behind the garden was childhood memories triggered by the natural world. Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, said: “We could not be more thrilled, or feel more honoured, that The Duchess of Cambridge has co-designed our RHS Garden at Chelsea Flower Show this year, with Andree Davies and Adam White. “For over 200 years the RHS has been championing the power of gardening and growing plants for the environment for health and wellbeing. To have The Duchess advocating this with us, and to be continuing our partnership with NHS England will further highlight the powerful benefit that access

Countrywide Grounds wins contract with Greenfields Community Housing

to gardens, nature and growing plants can have for health and happiness.” The RHS Back to Nature Garden is key to the organisation’s partnership with NHS England. It promotes the physical and emotional well-being that access to green spaces and gardening provides. After RHS Chelsea, much of the planting and some of the landscaping will go to an NHS Mental Health Trust, as part of a national competition run by the RHS. The Duchess of Cambridge and Davies White will also be co-designing two further RHS Gardens which will maintain many of the elements from the Garden at Chelsea. They will feature at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, which will open in the Autumn later this year. www.rhs.org.uk

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

Countrywide Grounds has won a new five-year contract with Greenfields Community Housing. It will deliver grounds maintenance to green spaces surrounding its 8,500 homes across Braintree. The contract is worth over £1 million and started on January 1 2019. Greenfields has awarded Countrywide the contract to provide a year-round grounds maintenance service across its towns and villages. The work will include over half a million square metres of grass cutting and litter collection. Additionally, there will be over three hectares of pruning and two and a half of weeding, and over four kilometres of hedge cutting. Also, a gritting service will be available for the

residents in Housing for Older People Schemes to ensure paths remain clear and safe. Andrew Gilliar, Regional Director of Countrywide Essex, said: “We are happy to win this new contract with Greenfields Community Housing. Our teams are trained to the highest standards, and they have the commitment and enthusiasm necessary to provide a service that’s second to none. We recognise that Greenfields’ housing and its appearance are key to the standing of the organisation. We will do everything to ensure that the grounds will always look their best. We are happy to have already started the work and look forward to the seasons ahead. www.countrywidegrounds.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

Kew Gardens 260th birthday celebrations This year, RBG Kew marks its 260th birthday, which will be celebrated with the opening of several new spaces for visitors to enjoy at both Kew and Wakehurst, as well as new scientiﬁc research publications and the appointment

of a new Director of Science. The first of the new spaces to be officially opened in 2019 is the Winter Garden at Wakehurst, a beautiful and contemporary space to lift the spirits on a cold winter’s day. The second new space to open will be the brand-new Children’s Garden, opening its gates to the public for the first time in May, inviting young learners to discover plant science and develop their love of nature and the outdoors.

The Agius Evolution Garden, located in the current order beds, will also be completed in the summer, and represents a major new piece of design that promises to bring the fascinating story of plant evolution on earth to life. Festival-wise, it’s another bumper year, kicking oﬀ with the 24th annual Orchids Festival, which for the ﬁrst time will celebrate the vibrant culture and wildlife of Colombia. Visitors can expect orchid displays, Colombian music, carnival crafts, dance, street food, and more. www.kew.org

Ground Control creates woodland Ground Control is to plant over 22,000 trees in response to the Government’s ongoing efforts to grow woodland cover. The Billericay-based company will create 22 acres of woodland in Essex. Benefits of this include removing CO2 from the atmosphere and driving forward conservation. The woodland will include of 22,734 native trees and shrubs which should create a new, sustainable habitat and capture 3000 tonnes of CO2 by year 50, and improve water quality and flood catchment management.

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Ground Control worked with the Forestry Commission to develop this woodland creation project, with tree planting scheduled to begin at the end of November 2019. Crowders and Alba Trees have supplied the broadleaved trees and shrubs and Green-tech will be providing the shelters and tree spiral guards. Chris Bawtree, Project Manager at Ground Control, explained: “The creation of more woodland is important to us and supports the government’s commitment to increase UK woodland cover. We

NEWS IN BRIEF Pro Landscaper names to take to the stage at APL Awards 2019

Two of Pro Landscaper’s own will take to the stage at the APL Awards 2019. Nurture Editor Jamie Butterworth will host the awards, and long-time contributor Adam White will join him to talk about the adventures of his career so far. www.aplawards.co.uk

Earth Cycle launches new range

Organic compost producer, Earth Cycle has launched two new landscaping soils as part of its organic, peat-free range. Both products sit within the broad portfolio of Earth Cycle’s peat free range of products. www.earthcycle.co.uk

Thrive Launches Campaign

encourage everyone to protect and enhance our environment for future generations.” www.ground-control.co.uk

It’s Not Just Gardening is a week-long campaign running from Monday 1 April to Friday 5 April 2019 promoting how gardening can help physical and mental health, social engagement, the learning of new skills. It will also highlight that gardening makes you feel good. www.thrive.org.uk

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN WWW.FUTURESCAPEEVENT.COM 22/01/2019 16:44

INFORM

Michael Gove has unveiled government proposals to place the environment at the heart of new developments. The government is consulting on mandating biodiversity net gain in development to protect and enhance habitats for the future. The proposed new rules need developers to assess the type of habitat and its condition before submitting plans. Car parks and industrial sites would usually come lower on this scale, while natural grasslands and woodlands would have a much higher ranking. Developers would then have to prove how they are improving biodiversity, whether through the creation of green corridors, planting more trees, or forming local nature spaces. The consultation proposes to tax developers when they are unable to do so. This

will pay for habitat creation or improvement elsewhere. The proposed standardised, mandatory approach would give developers clarity and certainty. This is the first step in the government’s ambition to embed the principle of ‘environmental net gain’ in development. Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, said: “Our commitment to protecting and enhancing our natural world can go hand-in-hand with our ambition to build more high-quality homes. This will not only create better places for people to live and work, but ensure we leave our environment in a better state for future generations.” The consultation opened on 2 December, and will be running until 10 February. www.gov.uk

Brambledown Landscapes wins HLF project

©PA

Michael Gove sets out proposals for greener developments

Brambledown Landscape Services Ltd has been appointed main contractor at Hirst Park in Ashington, Northumberland as major work begins on a multi-million pound Heritage Lottery Funded parks improvement project. In a project backed by Heritage Lottery “Parks for People” grant funding, alongside Ashington Town Council and Northumberland County Council, Brambledown Landscapes has begun the task of bringing Hirst Park back to its former glory. The £2 million HLF Park project is expected to take approximately 7 months and will see new landscaping, a formal garden modelled on the original Hirst Park sunken garden lost in the mid20th century, a MUGA, play area, a horticultural training building, footpaths and a water play

feature amongst many other exciting features. Built in 1915, the park has fallen into decline over recent years but HLF and Northumberland County Council funding will ensure that the park is rejuvenated and landscaped, with a new play area and splash pad developed and greenhouses and buildings restored to provide much improved public spaces. Brambledown Director Paul Curry said: “Brambledown Landscapes is proud to play such a vital role in the restoration of another Heritage Lottery Funded park project. This exciting project will further enhance and protect the park, and its heritage, for the community for the next century and enable generations to play, learn and relax in this wonderful space.” www.brambledown.com

Lady Penelope to work on Sussex hospice project Lady Penelope Gardens is working with volunteers of St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Bosham on two new landscaped gardens. Angela Palmerton, owner and founder of Lady Penelope Gardens, said: “I have always wanted to do something special for a hospice, following personal experience of the fantastic work 12

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they do and the chance came when I heard that St Wilfrid’s was building a new hospice – a DREAMBUILDING”. Angela has designed the soft landscaping for the new hospice garden and has also offered to provide support and advice on an ongoing basis. The Lady Penelope Gardens team will work

with volunteer gardeners in the aftercare and establishment of the new scheme. Diana Duffell, volunteer gardener at the hospice, said: “The team looks forward to working with Lady Penelope Gardens; creating beautiful outdoor spaces for our patients and their loved ones.” Fundraising continues

for the St Wilfrid’s Hospice DREAMBUILDING appeal, which has aims to raise over £900,000 for the hospice. To donate please go to: dreambuilding.org.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 16:44

DESIGN TANK PHOTO MAX ROMMEL

Atlas

Design: Espen Voll, Tore Borgersen & Michael Olofsson

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INFORM Following the success of FutureScape 2018, we are pleased to announce the seminar programme for FutureScape Focus. Taking place on March 12 2019, the seminars will be held in four speciality-focused zones.

Spring The Business and Technology Zone The Business Zone will be located at the far end of Surrey Hall. Covering topics from recruitment through to technology, these seminars will tell you everything you need to know to take your business to the next level.

Keep an eye out for the full show guide in next month’s issue of Pro Landscaper. In the meantime, head to www.futurescapeevent.com to register for your free tickets – this is day you won’t want to miss! 10am – Growing Your Business This session will look at how to identify business goals and understand how growth can be achieved in the current market. The panel will take us through their strategies to promote development within a business which has in turn lead to their success. 11am – Better Business Debate Learn how your business can be operated more eﬀectively with the help of our panel. They will be discussing tactics for striving towards your next goals and oﬀering their best advice to make your business as successful as it can be.

2pm – How Technology Can Help with Recruitment and Development The panel will be sharing their thoughts on recruitment and development, from looking at producing job speciﬁcations to nurturing individuals’ skills to enhance their progression. This seminar will raise this issue of the skills shortage in our industry and discuss how to promote our industry in the best possible way. 3:30pm – Future Technology in Landscaping The world of technology is ever changing. In this seminar, the panel will be quizzed on how the industry is evolving, keeping up with these new trends and how they can help to continue to strengthen businesses across the landscaping sector.

MARCH 12 2019 SANDOWN PARK RACECOURSE, ESHER, SURREY, KT10 9AJ

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

The Plant Theatre Head to the centre of Surrey Hall to ﬁnd The Plant Theatre. Leading the programme is Pro Landscaper’s very own Nurture editor, Jamie Butterworth. He’s pulled together an informative line-up of seminars covering everything soft landscaping.

11am – Planting Design An insight into how some of the UK’s leading horticulturists tackle planting design. The panel will discuss their expectations for the future of planting design in the UK, trends, patterns and the steps they take to put together the very best planting combinations. 2pm – Climate Change and the Impact on Horticulture This seminar could be arguably the most important and topical discussion of the day. In this conversation we discuss the impact of global warming on the horticultural industry, how we think this will impact the way we garden, and what we can do as an industry to help ﬁght against climate change.

Also look out for...

RHS 10am – How-to Guide: Creating Gardens at RHS Shows Come and ﬁnd out more about what it takes to create a successful garden at the ever popular RHS shows, from planting to logistics, to the ever important question of funding and sponsorship. The seminar will be hosted by the RHS and include friends from the horticulture industry. Join the RHS for an informative session on when, why and how to get into designing, building or shows for RHS.

3pm – Growers and Showers With a combination of organisers, growers and installers, this seminar will celebrate the people behind the scenes who make the world’s greatest flower shows happen. From growing and showing the plants to managing a horticultural epicentre, this session aims to discover some stories from the people who work hard to make every show a success. 4pm – Evolving, Improving, Adapting A conversation between some of the UK’s leading head gardeners and horticulturists on the importance of proper horticulture in the aftercare of a designed garden. This session will look at how different gardens (including commercial, private and public gardens) require different aftercare regimes.

Plants@work Plants@work is excited to report that we will have a dedicated interior landscape space at Futurescape Focus in March. As well as representatives of industry suppliers, we will have a full-day programme of seminars aimed speciﬁcally at this area of the industry. Members will celebrate their industry awards following the show.

01903 777570 WWW.FUTURESCAPEEVENT.COM @FUTURESCAPEUK

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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21/01/2019 02/05/2018 11:38 14:58

ASSOCIATION

INFORM

NEWS

BALI briefing BALI focused on industry collaboration at annual Palmstead Soft Landscape Workshop On Wednesday 23 January, BALI, alongside the Landscape Institute, Society of Garden Designers and the Association of Professional Landscapers, discussed the importance of industry collaboration and the signiﬁcant beneﬁts this provides to members of each respective

organisation. This year’s Soft Landscape Workshop, held at the Ashford International Hotel, saw more than 300 delegates attend from across the wider landscape industry, with key talks from John Wyer, Andrew Wilson, Adam White and Ken Thompson. The theme, Green Connections, was the focus of the day. BALI confirmed as Programme Sponsor for Specifi Landscape BALI will be exhibiting at eight Speciﬁ events, from February through to October. It is looking forward to promoting its members’ services and

the wider landscape services industry at Speciﬁ’s meet the buyer format events which welcome professional landscape architects and garden designers to network and relax with a free three-course dinner and bar. BALI secures new partner to conduct brand audit With the association set to celebrate 50 years in 2022, BALI has partnered with design and branding agency, Acumen Design, to carry out a brand audit to ensure that BALI is delivering the right level of service to its members and that the brand remains strong and

relevant today and well past the 50 year mark. Acumen will help BALI develop a visual brand strategy, brand toolkit and core guidance document which members will be able to utilise. BALI members informed of 31st March 2019 renewal deadline BALI members will have been notiﬁed that their renewal for membership year 2019/20 is due by 31 March 2019. The deadline for the 2% early bird discount is 18 February 2019. Members must return their renewal form by 31 March. bali.org.uk

turning Blue Monday Green and Houseplant Appreciation Day were perfect. We’re looking forward to Stress Awareness Month in April and National Clean Air Day on 20 June. Start your own awareness day You could start your own awareness event. That’s what we did with National Plants at Work Week which will be in its seventh year in July. Once again, we will be promoting the power of plants in the workplace as part of biophilic

design and for wellbeing and mental health issues too. Before that, there’s a date in the diary which we’re looking forward to – on 12 March we will be participating in FutureScape Spring with a dedicated interior landscaping section and a number of seminars. Here’s to some good dates in 2019. www.sgd.org.uk

plants@work outline There are many awareness days coming up throughout the year. We’ve already had Blue Monday which was on 21 January, which we tried to make green instead. We’ve also had Tempura Day (7 January), Houseplant Appreciation Day (10 January) and Clean oﬀ your Desk Day (14 January). January was also designated Clean up your Computer and Get Organised Month. Some of these days are linked to charities and are

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to raise awareness of health conditions. You can always get involved by explaining why it is important to you or those reading it. The point is, there is always something out there that you can hook onto to promote your business, whilst also doing something good for society. For our members,

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RHS report

Snowdrop Weekend, RHS Garden Rosemoor, 2–3 February Take the chance to discover rare and unusual varieties of one of Britain’s best loved early-spring ﬂowers. Stands will be available to browse from some of the UK’s top growers and nurseries. Scarecrow Making Weekend, RHS Garden Hyde Hall, 2-3 February Bring along your old clothes, pick up a scarecrow kit and get creative –

imagination is the only limit in this annual make, which sees 60 scarecrows dressed as everyone from Princess Leia to Buzz Lightyear take up residence at Hyde Hall. Medicinal Herbs Workshop, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, 6 February Find out how to make your own herbal remedies for everyday ailments using plants from the garden and hedgerow. Join

herbalist Bel Charlesworth as she shares her top ten herbs for your home medicine. You will also enjoy a herb walk during which Bel will share her knowledge. RHS Early Spring Show, RHS Garden Hyde Hall, 9–10 February Join some of the country’s top growers and nurseries to welcome in the season with stands and ﬂoral displays. RHS experts will be on hand to answer spring garden queries.

February Half Term Family Fun – Eco Superheroes, all gardens, dates and times vary, 16 February–3 March Embark on an eco-hunt this half term, and enjoy all kinds of eco-adventures along the way, including creating bug hotels and crusader costumes. Children can even become scientists themselves, learning how to compost, discovering the health properties of plants, and ﬁnding out all about the beneﬁts of being outdoors.

MSGD says: “It will take a few years to establish properly but my clients are loving watching them develop. In a few years, it will provide interest from April to late November with relatively little maintenance.” Log Walls and Multiple Metals Barbara Samitier MSGD confesses to being obsessed with log walls, saying: “They can act as a feature wall, a boundary or a screen while providing a necessary habitat for insects and a wide range of wildlife” She also expects we will be seeing more metal in gardens. Gabion Walls Both Louise HarrisonHolland MSGD and Barbara

Samitier MSGD are introducing more gabion-style walls and structures into their garden design. Louise predicts that stone work will be used in a less structured way in 2019. External Mdf Prepare to see more charred timber cladding in gardens this year. Jon Sims MSGD has been experimenting with Shou-SugiBan and is also introducing rough shutter-faced concrete into his projects. www.sgd.org.uk

SGD bulletin Garden Trends for 2019 As we’re now well into the new year, some of the SGD’s leading designers have shared their predictions for the new trends in planting and landscape materials for 2019. Wild and Loose Nature is coming to the

Barbara Samitier MSGD

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forefront in 2019, says Louise Harrison-Holland MSGD of Blue Tulip Garden Design. We will see on-going support for wildlife corridors in the wider landscape, especially around the survival of our native hedgehog, whose numbers have plummeted in the past years. Louise says: “The move toward a slightly looser, wilder style of garden design will help support this initiative.” Wild and Perennial Meadows Lots of designers have been experimenting with wildﬂower and perennial meadows in 2018 and this trend is set to continue. Sue Townsend

Sue Townsend MSGD

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APL update APL Awards 2019 – Don’t miss out! Got any plans yet for 15 March? You do now! This year the APL Awards 2019 will be hosted by Jamie Butterworth, joined by Adam White who’ll be talking about the adventures of his career so far. Plantsman and horticulturist Jamie Butterworth wears many hats. Jamie is an RHS Ambassador known for travelling across the UK to show students just how exciting horticulture can Half Page Advert be. ForHTA the16820 pastAPLyear, he’s

worked with the UK’s leading natural paving specialist London Stone to bridge the gap between hard and soft landscaping. Recently, he set up his own soft landscaping company based in the home counties and London. Adam White is the President of the Landscape Institute. He is also a chartered landscape architect and Fellow of the Landscape Institute. In 2008 he established Davies White Ltd with fellow landscape architect Andrée Davies. Together they’ve won two RHS Gold Medals, two RHS People’s Choice Awards and an RHS Best in Show award. The APL Awards 2019 takes 2019.pdf 1 15/10/2018 17:36 place on Friday 15 March at

The Brewery, London. Spaces are booking up fast, so make sure you don’t miss your chance to book APL Awards 2018 Supreme Winner – Ryan Alexander Landscape Design & Build’ your seat! for networking with key players The event is proud to from across the industry, and a recognise and reward the chance to view a snapshot of high standard of landscape all shortlisted projects contracting carried out by APL in our reception room before registered members. The APL the event. Awards promote commitment to For further information and quality landscaping and keeping to book your place, please visit their customers satisﬁed. www.aplawards.co.uk or Alongside our high-quality contact events@hta.org.uk. presenters, the Awards lunch www.landscaper.org.uk will provide plenty of opportunity

AWARDS 2019 Friday 15 March, The Brewery, London Our Judges have deliberated, the shortlist has been announced – book your place at the APL Awards 2019!

2018 Supreme Winner, Ryan Alexander Landscape Design and Build

Book online today at www.aplawards.co.uk to avoid disappointment

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NEW CHALLENGES ESL’s new CEO Phil Jones

Pro Landscaper catches up with ESL Landscape Contractors’ CEO Phil Jones to find out more about the company and its future plans

ith a lifelong career and extensive experience in the sector, Phil Jones, formerly MD of Tivoli Group (previously ISS Facilities Services Landscaping) recently started his new position at ESL Landscape Contractors, based in St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex. ESL started out as East Sussex Landscapes in 1993 in St Leonards on Sea, and has grown to a business that employs around 80 operational and 35 office staff. Having been acquired by private investors with limited knowledge of the sector two years ago, Phil Jones was approached and brought in to take up the position of CEO at the end of 2018. A different type of business to ISS or Tivoli, ESL brings Phil back to where he started his career in commercial landscaping. Founded in 1993 and with steady growth for over 20 years, by 2016 the company was turning over £6m a year when it was taken over by two investors. After aggressive growth to almost £10m in the last couple of years the business is now ready for new input from Phil, who plans to develop a good working culture for the teams whilst also looking for more growth. 20

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“The business has suffered the typical growing pains that you get from a traditional family business,” Phil says. “The investors are great to work with, are very interested in the business and are keen to develop it. However they have limited industry knowledge and don’t want to run it on a day to day basis, which is where I fit in”. Phil says his aim is to make the company more profitable and facilitate further growth. By providing development opportunities for his team members and streamlining some of the current systems and processes, this should be perfectly achievable. ESL’s work is generally with large construction companies such as Kier, Durkins and Dyer & Butler and covers regions from Sussex to Cambridge and Kent to Hampshire. A significant proportion of the turnover comes from builds with around £1m in maintenance (largely from projects it has constructed). Project values range from £25,000 to £750,000, and the company is pitching up against the likes of Willerby, Blakedown and Kingston Landscape Group. Although a member of BALI, up until now the company has had little participation with the association, but with Phil’s involvement in BALI and NCF this is likely to change. This ‘under the radar’ company is profitable but as is typical in this sector of the industry the

margins are small. Phil sees his appointment as ‘an exciting challenge’, as having been in the maintenance sector for a number of years he can now reconnect once again with the soft landscape construction sector. His immediate

HIS IMMEDIATE AIMS ARE TO IMPROVE SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERNAL SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES aims are to improve their supplier relationships and internal systems and processes, including the IT platform used by the company. He would like to see a 30% uplift on their maintenance contracts – coming mostly from projects the company has built. The company currently sub-contracts specialist works and fencing so there may also be an option to bring this in-house. However, Phil says he’s keen not to make any ‘rash decisions’ and will assess the business as a whole before implementing any changes. We ask if perhaps to build the profile of the company that they might consider getting into the show garden arena? “I’m not sure we would, simply because it wouldn’t necessarily build the brand in the area we want to, domestic build isn’t on the agenda for the business”, Phil says.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 11:39

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21/01/2019 11:42

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Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hear it From

PHILIP JAFFA SCAPE DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Intrepid traveller, sustainability advocate, and founder of Scape Design Associates Philip Jaffa talks about his rise to international success within the hospitality industry and his plans for the future What was your route into the industry? My pathway into landscape design was certainly not typical. I have a degree in chemistry, but always sought out creative and outdoor pursuits, such as painting, life drawing, travelling, with a passion for exploring the natural world. During my final exams I was introduced to a landscape architecture student and was fascinated and wanted to know more. As a chemistry graduate, it took some convincing but I was accepted on a number of Masters conversion courses, and chose Manchester 22

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University. Looking back, I realise that the duality of skills from my right and left brain gave me a strong foundation for a successful career in this profession. But I certainly had catching up to do in terms of all-round knowledge, which mainly occurred whilst working, not on the course. How did you come to form Scape Design? There were several key insights and events that led me to create my own design studio. Professionally, I worked my way from graduate to practice principal whilst working for several renowned design practices. By definition, most landscape design studios are

generalist in their approach â&#x20AC;&#x201C; hence I gained a broad experience in hospital design, superstore planning, town centre regeneration, masterplanning and mixed-use projects. I stayed around long enough to create an impressive personal portfolio of built work in each practice. In the early Nineties, many global architecture firms opened London studios to service the beginning of what was to become a trillion-dollar construction boom in the Middle East, including firms such as WATG, HOK, RTKL and Woods Bagot. Through these new collaborations, I was introduced to international hotel design, and I www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

jumped at the opportunity to explore the exciting challenges that it would bring. My first major project was the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dubai, one of the very first hotels in that city. Hotel and resort projects soon followed in Oman, Jordan and Greece. Ultimately, I took the plunge by accepting an offer to live and work overseas, firstly in Cairo, then Tel Aviv and finally Dubai. It all felt very adventurous back then and the work opportunities were fantastic. I got to explore different cultures and environments whilst enhancing my personal reputation for delivering finished projects. My last two roles were running design studios for two different international practices, the second of which was back in London. However, by 2000 I realised there was a gap in the market for a specialist, hospitality-driven landscape architect firm, which as an entrepreneur I could not resist. 19 years later, Scape remains the only hospitality-focused, independent landscape architect firm in the whole of Europe. So, travelling is a big part of your life? I’m an explorer by nature. I don’t see jumping on a plane at short notice as a problem – rather it is all part of the big adventure, resulting in so many amazing work experiences. Where is the favourite place you’ve lived? I have lived in six countries outside of the UK and they have all captured my imagination for different reasons, so it’s hard to pick a standout. But, my heart is in Greece. I adore the country, the people, the food and its breathtaking www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM natural landscapes. I feel very at home there and it has been so kind to me professionally, as I have designed at least one project there each year for the last 20 years. What’s a stand-out project from your career? The project that seems to get the most media attention is Laucala Island in Fiji, a private island escape for Dietrich Mateschitz, the owner of Red Bull (see photos 4 and 12). To preserve this tropical paradise in line with the sustainable approach demanded by the client, coupled with his desire for style, luxury and the adventurous spirit of the Red Bull brand was a thrilling design challenge. The island is now almost self-sufficient with organic produce grown in its farms and gardens and fresh fish caught off its shore. Delivery of the project required that we place staff on site for two years during construction. What’s the biggest challenge you face in your job? Tourism is a $8.3 trillion industry, responsible for 10.4% of the global GDP according to the World

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Travel and Tourism Council. At the same time a recent report by the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes difficult reading for the environment: the total destruction of our coral reefs with a 2°C global temperature increase, for example. Equally many hospitality destinations have been ruinous to their local environments. Hence there is growing move towards Conscious or Responsible Travel. At Scape this is definitely part of our daily debate. We are witnessing the emergence of what has been labelled the “conscious traveller”. They are people that are globally aware, well informed and much more inclined to act with a social conscience than previous generations. They are arguably less concerned with consuming, and they see travel as part seeking a more transformational experience, while leaving a lighter footprint on the environment. This “conscious traveller” is no longer just taking a holiday to take time out and relax, they are seeking experiences that will

empower them to create meaningful connections that could prompt change in their lives. At the same time, they want to make sure their travel is somehow also impacting others positively and where possible to give something back. Travel is becoming more about community and connectivity – connecting to themselves, each other, local communities and of course to Mother Nature herself. As an industry, we have a responsibility to change the conversation about luxury travel – to become strong advocates of sustainability, restoration and preservation of pristine parts of the earth. If we look to some of the ancient cultures – the Aborigines, Aztecs, ancient Greeks, to name a few – having a reverence for nature was deeply embedded in the psyche of these ancient societies. They knew how to live in harmony with the seasons and cycles, they took much of their direction for how to live, grow, harvest, how to commune with the spirit of a place from Mother Nature herself. I am advocating a new kind of tourism that is not just about sustainability and preservation –

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although it includes both – it is a tourism of harmony, connection and restoration – living in conscious relationship with the earth. So much of luxury travel has been about being ‘exclusive’ and can only be afforded by the elite. But we have a different duty to ourselves, our communities and to nature if we are to restore and protect the earth from further degradation. The wonderful thing about travel is that it can break down barriers – we begin to understand one another as human beings, that goes past language or culture. The industry is in a unique place right now; we can be the ones that help build the bridge to connection, collaboration and promoting a unique and harmonious relationship with the magnificent natural world we live in. What are you working on now? It’s a busy time and we spend most of it pushing the agendas of sustainability and the value of nature within each project. We have a range of exciting projects in the office right now, including the flagship hotel for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. We’re also working on refurbishment works to several hotels in Greece and Spain, as well as fantastic new resorts in Turkey and Montenegro, both for major luxury hotel chains. What do you do to relax in your spare time? I spend a lot of time in nature, its where I find my inspiration and how I ground myself as a balance to my busy day to day life. I also read a lot, as I am dedicated to staying abreast of the latest www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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thinking into the changing needs of society. Right now, I am particularly inspired by “Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work” by Jamie Wheal & Steven Kotler, and “The Nature Fix” by Florence Williams, both are incredibly inspiring. 1 Amirandes Luxury Hotel, Crete ©Grecotel 2E ntrance to Il Riccio Beach House Hotel, Turkey ©Il Riccio, Bodrum 3 Spa garden at the Il Riccio Beach House Hotel, Turkey ©Studio Frezza 4 Infinity pool on Laucala Island, Fiji ©Jason Loucas 5 Arrival deck at the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum 6 Moonlit courtyard of the Cape Sounio Resort in Athens ©Grecotel 7 Ariel shot of the Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum ©Mandarin Oriental 8F loating deck dining experience at the Amirandes Luxury Hotel, Crete ©Grecotel 9 Mirror pool at Cape Sounio ©Grecotel 10 Palm-fringed arrival to the Amirandes, Crete ©Grecotel 11 Overview of the Il Riccio Beach House Hotel, Turkey ©Il Riccio Bodrum 12 B each bar on Laucala Island, Fiji ©Laucala Island Resort 13 L uxury spa pavilion at the Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum ©Mandarin Oriental Bodrum 14 Arrival to the Amirandes, Crete ©Grecotel

CONTACT Philip.jaffa@scapeda.co.uk Tel: +44 207 7297989 www.scapeda.co.uk

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Filton Airfield, Bristol

Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore ©Darren Chin

Forest of Imagination, Bath

LANDSCAPE

ARCHITECT’S JOURNAL

In this month’s feature, we find out how Andrew Grant went from working out of his dining room to gaining international recognition. Growing up on a family farm in rural East Yorkshire, Andrew Grant was always immersed in nature and landscape. At school he developed an interest in architecture, but he lacked the right A levels to get into any www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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architecture degree courses. He did, however, have exactly the right A levels for the new subject of landscape architecture, and thus his career began. FOUNDING GRANT ASSOCIATES Andrew founded Grant Associates in 1997 following a stint overseas in Qatar and ten years with Nicholas Pearson Associates (an environmental planning and design consultancy

in Bath). Initially, Andrew worked out of his dining room, working on several projects with architect Peter Clegg of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. It was Peter who put Andrew’s name forward for the Earth Centre project near Doncaster. Creating his proposal, Andrew did in-depth research about how to apply sustainable design concepts to landscape at a time when most of the landscape world was not yet tuned into this way of thinking. Pro Landscaper / February 2019 29

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Ankarafa Field Station, Madagascar

HS2 Curzon Street Station, Birmingham

Madrid Castellana Norte, Spain

The client was impressed and Andrew was appointed to the Earth Centre project. This enabled him to take people on (co-directors Keith French and Peter Chmiel) and formally found and work as Grant Associates. GOING INTERNATIONAL From the outset, the team knew that working internationally would be important to the practiceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public profile and their growth. The team supported several architect-led projects, including several projects in Spain with Rogers Stirk Harbours Partnership and the University of Management in Singapore with Cullinan Studio. 30

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However, the project that changed everything for Grant Associates, was the Gardens by the Bay nature park in Singapore. Grant Associates masterplanned the whole of Bay South, leading a core British design team to internationally acclaimed success. At 54ha, Bay South is the largest of the three gardens planned for the visitor attraction. Grant Associates has always been inspired by the possibilities of sustainable landscapes and driven to connect people and nature. The practice is a strong believer in collaboration, working closely with extensive international consultants and local partners, across Europe, Asia and Australia.

CURRENT PROJECTS In Spain, Grant Associates is currently working with Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners to create a new business and residential district in northern Madrid. The proposal for Madrid Castellana Norte aims to transform a 500-hectare tract of neglected land close to ChamartĂn railway station. The scheme constitutes the most significant regeneration plan for Madrid in more than 20 years, and one of the largest scale masterplans in Europe. Closer to home, the practice is working with WSP, Grimshaw and Glenn Howells Architects on proposals for a new station at Curzon Street, www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Waterman’s Cove, Barangaroo, Sydney Barangaroo. Sydney

Accordia, Cambridge Madrid Castellana Norte (detail)

Birmingham for HS2. Due to open in 2026, the new station will offer seven high-speed platforms to rail passengers, along with significant new public spaces around the new station. STAND-OUT PROJECTS Along with the success of Gardens by the Bay, Grant Associates won the RIBA Stirling Prize for Accordia, an £80m, high-density housing scheme in Cambridge, UK. Grant Associates worked with Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios to create a landscape modelled on the concept of ‘Living in a Garden’ for Countryside Properties. Further from home, Grant Associates has created the landscape strategy for two hectares www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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of public realm at Barangaroo South, Sydney’s landmark waterfront development by urban regeneration specialist Lendlease. The mixed-use scheme’s public spaces include a new harbour cove, a park, an expanded waterfront walkway and a pier. COMING UP In the context of climate change, biodiversity loss and depletion of resources, Grant Associates considers it a duty and opportunity to promote landscape-led projects worldwide. The practice is also involved in a David Attenborough backed project to create the Ankarafa field station in Sahamalaza-Îles

Radama National Park, in aid of saving the habitat of critically endangered lemurs. In Bath, Grant Associates continues to develop a special community project, the pop-up event Forest of Imagination, which won best Temporary Landscape at the 2018 Landscape Institute (LI) Awards. CONTACT Grant Associates 22 Milk Street Bath BA1 1UT Tel: 01225 332664 Email: info@grant-associates.uk.com www.grant-associates.uk.com

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HEADLINE SPONSOR

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED! FRIDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2019 EAST WINTERGARDEN, CANARY WHARF

Pro Landscaper is pleased to announce the shortlist for the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2019. Taking place on Friday 8 February at East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf, the awards will bring the landscaping community together to celebrate the excellent standards set within our industry. To book your tickets to this unmissable event, call Laura Harris on 01903 777 580. GARDEN DESIGNER Sponsored by Global Stone Paving • Rachel Bailey • Rosemary Coldstream • Louise Harrison-Holland • Katja Griffiths • Martha Krempel

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VIEW FROM THE TOP MARCUS WATSON

Bored of Brexit? Marcus Watson explains why Brexit matters to the landscaping industry and why we should not be ignoring its impact Don’t get me wrong, Brexit is important. It’s had an impact on our economy and will continue to do so for some time. Taking our currency as an indication of confidence and stability, the British pound has lost 12% against the dollar and 4.5% against the euro since last year’s highs. More worrying is the fact that Brexit has dominated our politics and distracted those responsible for leading critical issues such as health, education, housing, infrastructure and national security. To trivialise Brexit would be a mistake. In my Brexit-related articles in April 2017 and March 2018, I shared my views on mergers and acquisitions and the impact of Brexit on the landscaping sector. Whilst many of my thoughts remain unchanged, I am more optimistic about our sector in relative terms to other sectors in our economy. Why? Well, unlike manufacturing, our services cannot be offshored, this being central to the current US-China trade war. Nor can our services be wholly replaced by internet offerings. Technology can be a significant enabler and companies that fail to invest in technology will inevitably be left behind. That said, our customers actually need us in person at their sites – this is a solid foundation for our industry. Whilst there is now sustained demand for business services, companies in the landscaping sector are increasingly facing pressure on their resources and margins. Unless we respond positively to the challenges, our businesses will inevitably feel the pressure. So, how can we mitigate the impact of Brexit? Or, if like me you are bored of Brexit, how should we improve our businesses to be more resilient to shocks and be more competitive? As a people-based industry facing labour and skills shortages, we must focus effort and 34

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investment on improving our operations and productivity. This would help alleviate the UK’s productivity conundrum where the previous plentiful supply of cheap labour resulted in lower investment in labour-saving devices, machinery and technology. Another way to improve productivity is to train and specialise, and become really good at what we do.

BREXIT HAS DOMINATED OUR POLITICS AND DISTRACTED THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS HEALTH, EDUCATION, HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATIONAL SECURITY However, industry alone cannot close the productivity gap that exists with other economies. We need strong and focused government-led investment in our national infrastructure (highways, railways, airports, communications networks) as well as continued investment in education and training programmes that meet industry needs. Other key areas to consider are the threats and opportunities that arise from technology. The two clearest areas for investment here are complying with GDPR regulations and protecting your business from cyber threats. Most importantly, we must become the best

we can at attracting, developing, retaining and motivating our people to be the best that they can be. In addition to recruiting from our industry, we must help talent from adjacent industries see landscaping as a viable and exciting career option. In addition, we should be creating exciting opportunities to help meet their career aspirations. This will mean investing in the development of skills across the broad spectrum of roles we rely on. Importantly, so as to maximise our appeal to all candidates, we must be leaders and champions for diversity. We cannot afford to be followers in this arena. In closing, I too am bored of Brexit. However, Brexit has had and will continue to have an impact on our industry, economically at least. Irrespective of the outcome, we can prepare for it, making our organisations more resilient and more effective in the process. ABOUT MARCUS WATSON Joining Ground Control in 2011, Marcus Watson champions outstanding customer service and innovation in the grounds maintenance, arboriculture and landscaping sectors. In 2016 Ground Control was recognised with a Queen’s Award for Innovation, celebrating the company’s application of technology.

www.ground-control.co.uk

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22/01/2019 14:31

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03/01/2019 21/01/2019 12:41 11:53

MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE

INFORM

HOLLY YOUDE

Recruitment can be difficult for any business. Holly Youde outlines the do’s and don’ts for sifting through candidates The minefield of recruitment can make even the most experienced business people shudder at the thought. Ask anyone and there is an ever-increasing list of tales of the unexpected that have unfolded, even after a careful recruitment process. To avoid taking on the rogue employee who upsets the balance, here are a few tips to help you make the right choice. Depending on what position you are looking to fill, the start of the year is always a good time to attract your potential candidates. Supposedly, the 11 January is the most popular date to search for a new job. When trying to attract the right candidates, display as much information as possible. What skills do you require, which are desirable? Don’t forget to mention opportunities that you can provide and perks of working for your company – these could be crucial selling points.

REMEMBER YOU CAN ALSO ASK YOUR EXISTING STAFF TO SPREAD THE WORD OR IF THEY KNOW ANYONE SUITABLE Advertise on social media, forums, websites such as Indeed (some value this and some don’t), in your local network, or through industry recruitment companies such as Horticulture Careers or your trade association. Remember you can also ask your existing staff to spread the word or if they know anyone suitable. Interviewing is the most tedious part. I’m not sure if anyone else experiences this, please tell me if you do, but at least 50% of candidates we book in for interview don’t turn up. We used to find this frustrating but have now come to expect www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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it, so a good tip would be to always invite more than you actually want to interview. Now for the do’s and don’ts of interviewing. Do recognise nervousness and allow for it. Let the interviewee speak, try to get to know them as much as possible and find out what drives them. Have a list of specific questions in front of you and note down answers so you can make a good comparison if you are struggling to make decision later on. It’s always good to ask where they see themselves in three to five years’ time as this will give you an insight into their ambition. Beware of discrimination, avoid asking about marital status, sexual orientation, children or plans to have, religion or age. Asking age can only be an appropriate question if they are required to be a certain age to do the job – for example, are you over 18? Always check references, we have made this mistake several times in the past, and had we checked them properly and comprehensively we could have been saved a substantial amount of time and trouble! When it comes down to it, go with your gut. If you get a bad feeling about someone, as with potential customers, avoid at all costs.

Attitude is everything. We have generally found that if a candidate is displaying the right attitude, then their skills are irrelevant to a certain degree. If they are open and willing to be trained, then skills can be taught. Finding a candidate with the right attitude is becoming harder, so if we find this rare breed, we snap them up! On a final note, it is always good if there are at least two of you able to interview – two heads are always better than one. Sometimes when we are busy, we will make a decision based on desperation rather than what fits with the future of the company. So, take a step back and really think about what that person is going to contribute, and if you can see them enhancing your company, then go for it. ABOUT HOLLY YOUDE Holly is joint director of north west based Urban Landscape Design Ltd, having a fundamental role in the growth and diversiﬁcation of the business. Recently they have won Best Commercial Garden at the APL awards, Employer Excellence Award in the BALI Awards and the High Sheriﬀ of Cheshire Award for Enterprise. Holly has also been listed this year as one of the Business Insiders 42 Under 42 entrepreneurs in the north west. www.urbanlandscapedesign.co.uk

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22/01/2019 14:33

INFORM

SENIOR SERVICE? ANDREW WILSON

Andrew Wilson questions the trend that sees the architect spearheading planning applications and asks is it time for change?

©Erin Cadigan/Shutterstock.com

It is a state of affairs that most landscape architects and garden designers are seen as junior consultants to architects. Most clients do start with an architect when they want to design or re-design a building or development, and the landscape generally follows on as a secondary consideration. It is still a rare thing to call in the garden or landscape designer from the outset. For many reasons this is a pity, not least as the whole character and quality of the external spaces can be affected as a result. The early relationship formed between the client and the architect can sometimes also exclude other associated professionals who come later to the table, making it difficult to win the client’s confidence when decisions are being made. How annoying is it to have your design proposals looked over by the architect as if somehow their approval carries more weight? Slightly more frustrating and patronising is that architects are comfortable

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enough agreeing to undertake this role! When it comes to the inevitable planning application it seems obvious that the architect takes the role of lead consultant. This has traditionally been the case on the basis that the building is the focus of attention and the central feature that generates approval. Our recent experiences suggest that this model may no longer prove fit for purpose. In view of the fact that architects are still educated to be the senior professional service, many continue to believe in their God-like powers well after graduation (I had hoped that this attitude might have changed by now!). As a result, they still see the planning system as architecturally focused. Several submissions recently made by architects have effectively wasted or ignored our professional input and cost the client valuable time and money. In a recent case, having prepared landscape drawings and submission information for the necessary application, this was omitted from the building alterations package by the architect resulting in a refusal of the entire application. The failure of the application, it transpired was due to the lack of landscape and planting treatment. The architect was in possession of this information but simply chose not to submit it, concentrating instead on the works to the building. Although this information has now been submitted through a re-application, to outside observers and especially to the planners this could now seem like a half-hearted approach, arousing suspicion where none is needed. Planners are increasingly requesting more information on planting, permeability and

materiality which architects are often still choosing to ignore. Although most architects would confess to seeing the landscape as important, few really understand it. Many, despite their protestations, see the external space to their buildings as of secondary importance at best. At worst, it’s treated as a dumping ground for air conditioning units, additional and sometimes underground storage or service runs that are somehow pre-eminent over all other needs.

THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION, IT TRANSPIRED WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF LANDSCAPE AND PLANTING TREATMENT. THE ARCHITECT WAS IN POSSESSION OF THIS INFORMATION BUT SIMPLY CHOSE NOT TO SUBMIT IT The sense that the tide may be turning, that development is about green space as well as build may well be passing architects by. It should give garden and landscape designers cause for concern. Perhaps, it could even give the sense that they might do a better job of submitting an application more balanced in terms of information delivery, in which the architect is a fellow contributor rather than the head honcho. It’s much better to be working together than to be at odds. Consultation, involvement and engagement may also help with all stake holders along with a consideration that perhaps architects don’t know everything after all. ABOUT ANDREW WILSON Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden design consultant, director of the London College of Garden Design, and an author, writer and lecturer.

www.lcgd.org.uk

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GREEN PLAN IT

INFORM

ADAM WHITE This month landscape architect Adam White provides an insight into the RHS Green Plan IT Challenge which reconnects children with nature, whilst raising awareness of the various career opportunities within the landscape profession As a child I was inspired by nature and plants. Today, I still hold the same fascination with seeing a seed germinate and grow. Nothing beats growing your own veggies, and as my Uncle Syd says: “It’s cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes.” At 13 years old I established a ‘friends of’ group in our village to help restore and regenerate the local pond which was overgrown and uncared for. ‘Project Lily Pit’ involved surveying, analysing and then designing a scheme (including making a scale model) to make the pond more accessible and valuable to the local wildlife and community. I managed to secure £2,000 from the council and then with

THIRTY YEARS ON AND I AM STILL ON A MISSION TO RECONNECT FAMILIES WITH NATURE the help of volunteers we transformed the pond and surrounding landscape into a local beauty spot. Little did I know at the time this was my first step to becoming a landscape architect. Thirty years on and I am still on a mission to

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reconnect families with nature and in 2012 I was made Fellow of the Landscape Institute for my efforts. With an ever-growing skills gap in our industry, it is now more important than ever that we inspire and encourage more young people to choose a career in landscape by working

knowledge about landscape design, science, planning and management. Green Plan IT is designed to be student led and allows them to explore community needs and environmental issues, as well as grow their understanding of how plants and nature play such a valuable role in our lives. Many of the students are surprised to hear how similar the process is to that of a chartered landscape architect and even more surprised to discover they could be paid to do it in the future!

IT IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO CHOOSE A CAREER IN LANDSCAPE together across this exciting profession. As President of the Landscape Institute I was therefore delighted to hear about the RHS schools campaign, The Green Plan IT Challenge. Inspiring young people to choose landscape as future career is right at its core. The Green Plan IT Challenge teaches students about nature and plants and builds their skills and confidence. Over the course of 10 weeks in the Autumn term, students across the UK are tasked with researching, planning and building a model showing their ideas of what would make an innovative or exciting new garden, park or public space for their school or local community. In 2018 I was lucky enough to be invited to be a speaker and join a panel of assessors at two of the celebration days. I was very impressed with the quality of the designs and the amount of research that went into making sure they stood up to vigorous assessment from a panel of industry experts. Teams are matched with mentors from the horticulture, garden design and landscape industry. They then guide them through the project, offering

The great thing about this initiative is how relevant it is to a number of curriculum subjects including Science, D&T, Geography and Art, as well as Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship. During my involvement I saw children develop skills in leadership, teamwork, presentation skills, creative thinking and self-confidence. In the spring the RHS will no doubt again be on the lookout for volunteer mentors, assessors and most importantly teams of year 8-9/ S2-3 students to take part in this year’s RHS Green Plan It Challenge. If you think this is something you could help with do get in touch with the RHS Green Plan IT team at greenplanit@rhs.org.uk. ABOUT ADAM WHITE PLI Adam White PLI is a director at Davies White Ltd, a double RHS Gold Medal, double BBC People’s Choice and RHS Best in Show award-winning Chartered Landscape Architects practice. He is the President and a Fellow of the Landscape Institute. Social media: @davies_white www.davieswhite.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / February 2019 41

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INFORM modern green space. Denehurst Park meanwhile will likely attract visitors from even further afield, once its current, incredibly inventive and intriguing makeover comes to full fruition. Paragon of Victorian parks As mentioned, Rochdale was once a major industrial centre (and one of the UK’s first industrialised towns), rising to prominence in the 19th century primarily as a hub for textile production. As such, it was once teeming with wool and cotton processing plants, silk manufacturers and so on. These sat alongside mines situated on the outskirts of town, which were necessary to produce the steam used to power the mills.

WE ALSO HAVE A SERIES OF MORE MODERN LOCATIONS WHICH WERE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED FROM THE 1950S ONWARDS

Park life Pro Landscaper travels to Rochdale to discover how the council is rejuvenating its parks and green spaces by offering an element of interactivity

s with many towns located in the north of England, Rochdale has undergone a change of identity in recent years following the decline of its identity as an industrial centre. While not necessarily a major location for tourism, it more than holds its own when it comes to attracting visitors from outside the borough. It does this through sites such as the

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Pioneers Museum (located at the birthplace of the modern co-operative movement), as well as an award-winning arts and heritage centre Touchstones. It also had its profile raised considerably in the mid-to-late-noughties through Waterloo Road, a major TV drama set in a local school, and more recently the town hall was featured in scenes from Peaky Blinders. With this in mind, one of the key assets used by the borough council to get people to visit – thereby helping to boost the local economy even further – is its parks offering. As anyone that’s ever visited the town will know, core destination site Queen’s Park is a gem, mixing Victorian design principles with all the requirements of a

While in many respects, the impact of the Industrial Revolution is a only distant memory to the people of Rochdale, there are still reminders of its influence dotted around the town. Nowhere is this more clear than in its parks and green spaces which – as in other similar nearby industrial centres such as Oldham and Manchester – were viewed as integral to the health and wellbeing of those spending the majority of their existence toiling in the factories. Speaking of this, as well as the history of the parks more broadly, Rochdale Borough Council green space development and countryside manager Ian Trickett says: “Rochdale is, historically speaking, a very industrial town, something which is reflected in the layout of the parks. At the same time, we also have a series of more modern locations which were designed and constructed from the 1950s onwards. The offer probably changes every few years, as new social themes rear their head and the requirements of people change.” The main destination in Rochdale is undoubtedly Queen’s Park, which is situated in the west of the town (in the town of Heywood) and exists to this day as a paragon of the philosophy behind the Victorian green spaces project. Opened in 1879 – an occasion marked with a parade consisting of local traders, mill Pro Landscaper / February 2019 43

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INFORM workers and so on – it contains a lake, crown green bowling greens and pavilion, wetland and wildlife areas. While it’s crucial that Queen’s Park still retains its essential character, Ian also believes that’s it’s just as important to move with the times when it comes to what’s offered within the park itself. “If something was designed 100 years ago,” he says, “we can’t just keep it as it is, or it’ll become irrelevant to the people who need it today. “With that in mind, one of the bigger things that we are involved in currently is promoting healthy activities across the borough, primarily as an active way to help keep people out of the hands of the NHS.

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

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Elaborating on the subject, he continues: “One of the core ideas that’s come to fruition in relation to parks in recent years is what’s known as multi-functionality. These spaces can’t just have one identity anymore, which is why we’ve installed things like tennis courts to go with our bowling greens, purely in order to make them attractive and interesting places to visit for as many people as possible. Another example of that is the installation of an outdoor gym in Queen’s Park ten years ago, which was part of a Lottery-funded effort across the park.” As well as updating the parks’ feature attractions, Ian also believes that it’s necessary to be proactive when it comes to garden design and planting-up. As might be expected much of the reason for this is economic, with Rochdale also suffering from the effects of the government’s ongoing austerity project along with

many other locations around the country. At the same time however, there is also an awareness that visitors always need to see something new in order to retain their interest, particularly in this day and age. Speaking of this, Ian says: “Since the cuts started to kick in around 2012, we’ve put a number of fundamental, fairly elementary things in place – for instance, reducing the amount of bedding that we use. We’ve moved away from rockeries and rose beds and gone for more permanent landscaping features in interesting locations.” There are a number of sites around the town where floral installations have been used to draw attention to local history. One example of this is a 12ft statue referencing a phoenix, just up the road from the Phoenix Brewery, which has operated in the town since the early 1980s. Meanwhile in Queen’s Park a large Manchester Bee design commemorates those who died in the recent 2017 terrorist atrocity at the Manchester Arena Ariana Grande concert. “We’re trying to become much more inventive in how we use our horticultural resources,” says Ian. “Another example is the effort we’ve put in to

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INFORM reinvent the old Victorian idea of the stumpery. We do a lot of tree work, so we’ve started to use upturned stumps as a feature in sites around town, which again is a design idea offering us another alternative to what people might find in a traditional public park. “Obviously, we’re not getting away from the old fashioned flower-bed type model completely because people love it. But at the same time, you constantly need to engage everyone and this is just one of our strategies for doing that.” Unique ideas Going back to the subject of Queen’s Park, one of the core attractions is what Ian refers to as a: “fifties Hollywood Bowl-style outdoor theatre”, which the council uses to stage concerts and events. This is a truly unique feature, and one of the many reasons why the site has remained so popular since it was opened over 100 years ago. With that in mind however, Rochdale council also now seems to be trying to out do even Queen’s Park, via its current efforts to rejuvenate

WE’RE LOOKING AT CREATING A PUMPKIN PATCH AS WELL. WE WANT TO MAKE THINGS AS INTERACTIVE AS POSSIBLE Denehurst Park in the north west of the city. By Ian’s own admission, this project amounts to nothing less than an attempt to engineer a destination park, something which is in itself a unique endeavour in these days of making the best of what you have. Perhaps even more interesting however is the methods which are being used to try and achieve this aim, including some truly inventive landscaping choices. “Denehurst Park is probably our biggest current project,” says Ian. “We’re rejuvenating the whole site, again opening it up to as wide a range of potential visitors as possible. A major part of the site now is a field about the size of www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Phil Mason Rochdale.indd 45

four football pitches, where we’ve included wooden sculptures, as well as an orchard with a free-to-pick scrumping lane. We’re looking at creating a pumpkin patch as well. We want to make things as interactive as possible.” A core part of that interactive process was consulting with potential users themselves in order to find out what they wanted from the park. This was particularly the case with the park’s new play area, which was designed in collaboration with the town’s Redwood School. Speaking of this, Ian says: “Redwood is a local school for children with additional needs, and we thought it made far more sense to use their expertise rather than just plonking down a new play area. We showed them different pieces of playground kit, looking at a range of design elements in relation to accessibility, how we can cater for those with sensory impairment and so on. We didn’t just look at the kit, but how the whole space is laid out.” Rochdale possesses many vibrant parks and green spaces to rival the bigger towns and cities around it and across the country. In the hands of its innovative council, it’s precious green spaces look like they will be able to thrive for many years to come.

1 Gold award-winning WW1 display at Tatton Park with volunteer group Rochdale in Bloom 2 Heritage Co-op van planted in the centre of town 3 Phoenix display outside the brewery in Heywood 4 Manchester Bee display in Queen’s Park, Heywood to commemorate the 22 lives lost in the Manchester Attack 5 Wildflower display 6 Denehurst Park volunteers on the stumpery 7 Volunteers and council workers alongside military veterans at the opening of the WW1 pop-up garden in Rochdale town centre 8 Friends of Denehurst Park volunteers cheering the latest Green Flag award 9 Council staff at the WW1 town centre pop-up garden

CONTACT environmental.management@rochdale.gov.uk Tel: 0300 303 8884 www.rochdale.gov.uk

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PORTFOLIO

SUFFOLK CIRCLES STEWART LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION The circular global growth vegetable garden at RHS Hyde Hall offers a striking visitor attraction and a valuable educational resource in Suffolk

he Global Growth Vegetable Garden at RHS Hyde Hall in Suffolk has transformed a site previously used as an area for polytunnels and storage into a new high-profile visitor attraction â&#x20AC;&#x201C; part of the organisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall vision for the future. Sponsored by Witan Investment Trust and designed by Suffolk-based landscape and garden designer Xa Tollemache, Stewart www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Landscape Construction was delighted to be awarded the contract for landscaping and set to work in January 2016. Brief Following initial discussions with the RHS, Xa Tollemache created the masterplan to create a garden not only to draw new visitors to Hyde Hall, but also to produce vegetables to be

cooked and served in the on-site restaurants as well as a garden that could serve as an educational resource for young and old alike. Build Once the site had been cleared, the first consideration was around the levels. The cruciform layout of the paths would link the area to the rest of the gardens at Hyde Hall in all four directions. This formality, reinforced by the overall circular design, needed to sit comfortably on a steep hill, without appearing to twist or undulate. It was also important that the slopes and walkways be accessible to all, including those with reduced mobility. To achieve this, the design was reconsidered from a mathematical point of view, to make sure it functioned smoothly and that all transition Pro Landscaper / February 2019 49

22/01/2019 11:00

PORTFOLIO

DURING AFTER

PROJECT DETAILS AWARDS

APL Awards 2019 shortlisted

points with the rest of the site were neither too high or two low. The hard landscaping materials were chosen and specified by Hyde Hall, and largely comprised of natural stone porphyry paving in three formats, and French oak sleepers. The porphyry was supplied by CED Stone Group, along with specialist aggregates to be used as sub base and for jointing. The French oak was supplied by timber merchant Matthew Nice. The raised oak sleeper beds required particularly careful attention to detail. As well as straight lines, the perimeter of each bed was comprised of arcs and curves, which link to create circles when viewed from above. The curved walls are constructed on falls, 50

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Project value ÂŁ135k Build time Seven months Size of project 4,300m2

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PORTFOLIO meaning that the walls vary in height according to the ground level. However, the finished top of wall height around each bed needed to be level. Meanwhile, the height of the individual beds varies from one to the next, meaning that no two pieces of timber were ever the same length. The circular design of the garden symbolises a globe with four quarters, representing Europe and the Middle East, Asia, North and Central America and South America. At the centre of the garden is a bespoke octagonal glasshouse manufactured by Hartley Botanic, used to grow familiar, exotic and ornamental vegetables from around the world. Outside, the RHS are trialling the tender edibles in the dry Essex climate, planted in a combination of ground level and raised beds, to see how they develop. Surprising edibles, such as Hosta leaf tips, the tubers of Cannas and Dahlias, and Hemerocallis flowers are grown across the garden. Other intriguing crops are Cyperus esculentus, with coconut-flavoured edible tubers, and Decaisnea fargesii, commonly known as the blue bean shrub due to its

curious seed pods. The intention from the outset, was for the garden to inspire visitors to experiment with all types of edibles, at home and in their communities. The project overall was highly collaborative, drawing on the skills of the designer, the team at Hyde Hall, the construction team and the suppliers and Hartley Botanic. This team work has resulted in a dynamic and inspiring garden, which will be enjoyed by the public for many years to come.

1 An aerial view of the circular layout ÂŠDudley Smith Partnership 2 Edible plants from around the world 3 French oak sleepers form the raised beds 4 A traditional gravel path forms the perimeter 5 Porphyry paving used to create the internal pathway 6 The octagonal glasshouse by Hartley Botanic

REFERENCES Porphyry CED Stone Group

www.cedstone.co.uk

ABOUT STEWART LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION Stewart Landscape Construction provides a broad base of landscaping skills ranging from hard landscaping to arboriculture management and earthworks. Areas of specialism include large country gardens, bespoke urban gardens, commercial landscaping and environmental earthworks. We oďŹ&#x20AC;er an in-house consultancy service, or commission landscape design services through a variety of professional architects and designers. www.stewartlandscape.co.uk

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Specialist aggregates CED Stone Group

www.cedstone.co.uk French oak Matthew Nice

www.mwnicefencing.co.uk Glasshouse Hartley Botanic

www.hartley-botanic.co.uk Planting RHS

www.rhs.org.uk

Pro Landscaper / February 2019 51

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PORTFOLIO

CONTEMPORARY COOL JOHN NASH ASSOCIATES Reflecting the contemporary style of the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, this elegant garden is designed with sport and leisure in mind

he area in which the property is located historically was excavated for building materials. As a result, pits were formed. When this procedure ceased, several houses were built and this property is one of them. However, the ground that was left was very irregular, undulating, full of hollows, mounds and steep banks. The original house built about 50 years ago in quite a traditional style, was purchased by the clients four years ago with a view to extending and converting it into a very contemporary house. This was designed to include leisure and entertainment facilities for four teenage children and the clients required the garden to serve a similar function and purpose. Buckland Landscapes were the contractors for this project. 52

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PORTFOLIO The brief John Nash’s client is a family with four teenage children who are very sport and leisure inclined. The garden was to include a swimming pool and tennis court, an outdoor kitchen, as well as a large formal lawn and a herb garden. Lighting and colour were to be integrated into the design, along with a new distinctive entrance and beautiful views. The client wanted the design to be contemporary with seasonal interest, and to complement the house, providing structure and privacy. In addition, the client has business connections with Japan and wanted part of the garden to have a Japanese feel, including a pond. The clients also wanted the garden to encourage bird wildlife. Design and build John Nash’s Client was eager for landscaping works to start in 2015 and a tentative start was made then, awkwardly working from the back of the house towards the front. It was only when the scaffolding around the house came down at the end of 2016 that work on the garden could progress in earnest. Excavated materials from the construction work were utilised to fill the mounds, creating a regular bank and using it to form mounds in the front garden area. An old concrete air-raid shelter at the back needed to be disposed of and this was achieved by collapsing it into the ground. The design for the large garden was to break it up into a number of distinctive areas which included a terrace, a woodland garden, a tennis court, an outdoor kitchen/dining space, a roof terrace, a swimming pool, a lawn area, a herb garden, a front garden and a Japanese garden and banks. The design in part was based on a classical Italian/Roman design, specifically Villa Adriana. There, large rectangular areas and pools were lined with statues, terminating in a raised seating and dining area and this was reflected in the design for the swimming pool and main lawn. The swimming pool is surrounded by a raised patio, pergola and living wall and the lawn flanked with pleached trees, dwarf stepped hedges and Chamaecyparis arizonica sentinels, finishing

WINNER

Design Excellence Award,Overall Scheme over £125k BALI Registered Designer & Registered Contractor Joint Submission National Award 2018 with Buckland Landscapes Domestic Garden Construction - Cost £250K

1 View of the garden from the Japanese Garden 2 View to swimming pool and tennis court beyond 3 Steps leading to the upper patio 4 The impressive front drive 5 The roof terrace aglow at night www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

PROJECT DETAILS Project value £500,000 Build time 1 year Size of project 2 acres

in a flight of paraboloid kite riser steps leading to a raised patio enclosed by a pergola and sculpture. The patios afforded separate seating and eating areas, each providing a different view into the garden and to the fields beyond. Part of the design philosophy for the garden was to provide seasonal interest, surprises and views. The steep main end bank was designed in part to have geometric beds bisected with bands of mown grass transitioning into the open countryside beyond. The beds were planted with grasses, Deschampsia, Sesleria and Molinia, augmented with spring bulbs. The east side of the bank behind the tennis court was moulded into stadium tiers and planted with sculptured hornbeam and spring bulbs. Part of the design includes a Japanese style garden to reflect the client’s business connections with Japan. A path of salvaged stone pavings laid in a diamond formation winds its way through the garden over a stream dropping down to a newly formed pond. The Japanese garden also includes a sculpture representing the client’s family. John Nash wanted the tennis court to be an integral part of the garden, rather than an isolated enclosure. The area where the swimming pool is located was designed with alternating slatted and glass panels with the ends planted with yew columns. Forged entrance gates between pillars reflecting a nearby church were designed 54

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in a contemporary style in colours reflecting the house, leading to a newly resurfaced drive. To the sides of the drive, an avenue of whitebeam, Rhododendron and Camellia were planted. The large front garden where excavated material from the house extension and swimming pool was deposited formed mounds planted with Molinia caerulea ‘Poul Petersen’ and spring bulbs. A journey path linked the various parts of the garden – front, back and sides – and wound through the mound valleys and birch and pine trees. The forecourt area was planted with topiary and hard landscaped with boulders and stainless steel balls. Challenges to overcome The ground, which is largely compressed clay, was quite unsympathetic to planting and was rendered even more unworkable as a result of

ABOUT JOHN NASH ASSOCIATES John Nash formerly a chartered building surveyor specialising in the restoration and conversion of large listed country properties, worked frequently with English Heritage. This included designing the landscaping for the grounds and led to him focusing on landscape and garden design, setting up his practice 20 years ago. www.gardendesignershertfordshire.co.uk

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PORTFOLIO

DURING BEFORE

REFERENCES Plants

Irrigation

Palmstead

Watermatic Ltd.

www.palmstead.co.uk

www.watermaticltd.co.uk

Europlants Ltd

www.europlants.net

Driveway

Boot & Dart

Graveltech Ltd

www.bootendart.nl

www.graveltech.co.uk

Provender Nurseries

www.provendernurseries.co.uk

traffic compressing it further. It was also poorly drained â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this necessitated the installation of land drains. Other challenges included some of the building elements, such as the large steel pergolas which had to pass beneath a low brick arch approach bridge. Local animals also caused problems. Deer stripped the heads off daffodils, rabbits chewed tasty plants and squirrels dug up the bulbs.

Willows Forge Ltd

Hedging

www.willowsforge.co.uk

Hopes Grove Nursery

www.hopesgrovenurseries.com

Standing Stones

Readyhedge Ltd

Rhinorock

www.readyhedgeltd.com

7 Front topiary adds interest 8 The attractive entrance gates 9 The Japanese garden 10 The living wall patio 11 The Japanese garden path www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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www.rhinorock.co.uk

Bulbs

Stainless steel balls

Parkers Bulbs Ltd

Primrose

www.jparkers.co.uk

www.primrose.co.uk

Planters

Stone

Europlanters

CED Stone Group

www.europlanters.com

www.ced.ltd.uk

Artificial Grass

Metal knot

Roofingreen

Daniel Brown

www.roofingreen.com

6 Outdoor kitchen and dining area

Bespoke Gates

www.tbrownandsons.co.uk

Lighting

Stone circle

A.J. Lighting

David Newman

www.lightinginstallations.co.uk

www.swsculptors.co.uk

Sculptures Designed by John Nash

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PORTFOLIO

he clients wanted a garden that was designed in a contemporary style, with three seating areas that would make the most of the sun throughout the day. These seating areas were to include a dining area large enough to fit two sun loungers, a relaxing area – with the ability to install a fire table at a later date – and a bistro area. The clients also wanted to have a sense of privacy in their overlooked garden.

SMALL WONDER

Design and build The dominating factor in this small garden was the sheer height of the neighbouring garage walls. To draw the eye away from this, the walls were softened by implementing two textures. Taxus hedging with a height of 2.5m was planted around the boundary so that the Clean contemporary lines and a palette of greys, highlighted by focus would be on the soft greenery. pink and purple planting transform a compact urban garden This was complemented with a new system from London Stone, called Design Clad heavy top. It is made out of – a high performance box section steel, porcelain wall cladding. sandblasted and then A section in the shade powder coated. Steel Dark was designed Tall copper 'florist' pots to form a backdrop to the were placed to the rear of dining area, and was the patio so that the Design Project value applied onto the Clad wall would act as a foil £55k brickwork using a highto these impressive pots. Build time grab adhesive. These can be backlit at Six weeks Two 5.5m high night to create a stunning Cupressus sempervirens tonal effect. Further lighting Size of project were planted either side of was positioned around the 178m2 the dining area, to distract garden to balance out the from the expanse of the design at night. 1 Sheltered dining area brick wall. To complete the garden, 2 A view to the relaxing seating area A bespoke steel pergola frames the view to a colour scheme of white, pink, mauve and 3 Bespoke copper florist pots and copper lanterns the relaxing and dining areas. The steel magenta was chosen. The planting scheme 4 Bird's eye view of the dining area pergola was designed to have a cantilevered includes a herb bed containing essentials for 5 Steps lit with stainless steel smoothie eyelid lights bottom leg, in order to counterbalance the cooking, as well as Camassia, Agapanthus, 6 Lanterns frame the evening sunset patio

CUBE 1994

PROJECT DETAILS

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PORTFOLIO

WINNER

Domestic Garden Construction £30,000 - £60,000

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

Verbena bonariensis, Salvia, Veronica, Iris reticulata, Astelia and Geum. Special requirements and challenges The softened boundaries and bespoke features add to the overall impact of the contemporary design. To achieve this the right balance between hard and soft landscaping in a small space needed to be created. Maintaining privacy was a key requirement whilst also softening the neighbouring walls on all sides. With the combination of 2.5m yews and feature walls, Cube 1994 screened the enclosing brickwork, adding colour and interest without confining the space – the clients were amazed by the transformation.

REFERENCES Design and build Cube 1994

www.cube1994.com Stone and design cladding London Stone

www.londonstone.co.uk Copper ‘florist’ planters Made by Vas

www.madebyvas.com Paving stone

ABOUT CUBE 1994 Cube 1994 provides bespoke garden design, landscaping and maintenance services in Essex. From formal traditional to urban contemporary gardens, Cube will take on even the most complex projects. Accredited by the SGD and BALI, Cube has built award winning gardens at the critically acclaimed RHS Chelsea Flower Show and at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. www.cube1994.com

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BEFORE

Natural Stone Supplies

www.naturalstonesuppliesessex.co.uk Outdoor furniture Jim Lawrence

www.jim-lawrence.co.uk Fire table Rivelin

www.rivelin.co Lighting Jim Lawrence

www.jim-lawrence.co.uk City Electrical Factors

www.cef.co.uk

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INSPIRE

ART

OUTDOORS Landscaping is much more than putting up fences. Anji Connell explores personalising any outdoor space and how to make a unique, personalised site Outdoor art, as with any art, is there to be enjoyed and appreciated for its beauty, and to visually enhance our world and lives. Art has an emotional power that excites, inspires, invigorates and destresses. The selection of outside art available today is vast. Options include painting, street art, stained glass, ceramics, mosaics, sculpture and functional sculptural forms such as fires, water features and lighting along with a whole host of planting. As well as more traditional options, there are also digital installations available, such as mapping, image projection and holograms. Garden art is multifunctional, it can be used to punctuate a space, fill a gap and to add interest. It is important to remember that the garden space will change with the seasons as well as day-to-day with weather and light 60

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changes. When purchasing or commissioning a piece of art it is also important to consider its function, safety, durability and if it is to be a permanent feature. Borrowing from nature Sculptures reproducing plant forms placed in beds, borders and around ponds is an effective way to introduce art into a garden setting while enhancing and highlighting the planting.

Rhythm and Repetition. Andy Sturgeon RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 Telegraph show garden

through the garden from the foreground to the more distant parts. Earth and land art, landform architecture 20th century land art and earthworks art have created some incredibly original and unique public art. There’s monumental pieces from artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Long and their site-specific sculptures in urban and natural settings.

Rhythm Rhythm can be created within a garden using repeated elements such as plants, hard landscaping and structures. It unifies the design while creating a sense of movement, leading

Life Mounds Juipiter Charles Jencks

Maya Lin ‘Wavefield’

Charles Jencks has devoted his time to landform architecture. His work includes the Garden of Cosmic Speculation, at his own home, and earthworks at Jupiter Artland outside Edinburgh for art collectors Robert and Nicky www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 11:41

INSPIRE

Streetart in the garden realestateview.com.au

Graffiti ‘Graffiti art’ or ‘Street Art’ that defined the post-1960s craze for decorating and defacing the urban environment is still regarded by some as visual vandalism. However, it has grown and developed over the years and is often seen as mainstream. Now, it’s widely used as decorative art both inside and out. Art at Tokara Wine Farm ©Anji Connell

Wilson. This area focuses on nurturing the work of contemporary artists and commissioning site-specific work for its 120 acres of woodland and meadow. Skyscraper Architecture Architectural details, roof gardens, hanging gardens, sky bridges and fantastical planting, it’s arguably the most open, visible and available type of public art.

Hong Kong Pulse Light Festival 2019 40 Hexaedron (Pierre Ranzini, France) a visual and acoustical symphony.

Colossal For 2011 for her series Come With Me, UK-based artist Ellie Davies

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Sculpture You could commission a Richard Serra inspired work on your front lawn, such as his Sidewinder piece – Serra is known for making large-scale minimal sculptures with sheet metal. Alternatively, have a sculpture inspired by the designer and architect Maya Lin, who designs pure earth sculptures. Installation Art Mixing art, technology and fun, ENESS is a multimedia design studio working at the intersection of art and technology. In combining diﬀerent disciplines including lighting, software, interaction design, product design, sculpture and architecture, the outcomes are often unique and unexpected. For example, the intricate The Constellation installation, by Ralph Helmick in Abu Dhabi, UAE, comprises over 1,300 geometric shapes suspended from more than 1,000 tensioned cables. Extensive lighting trials were conducted in Abu Dhabi to achieve the three-dimensional rendition of the sculpture at night; 753 downlights and 1,203 uplights were custom-made to illuminate the sculpture from above and below. Hardscaping as art Take inspiration from Singapore’s innovative glow in the dark Rail Corridor, a 400m track made in four sections of surface materials; fine gravel; grass and gravel; earthcoloured porous concrete; and natural, non-toxic light green strontium aluminate minerals. These materials absorb UV light

Joanna Hedrick. Ginko-Leaves ‘Labyrinths’

during the day allowing the path to emit a soft glow at night. Decorative, metal or wooden screening, fencing, and tiling are all great ways of adding an artistic touch. Rugs Outdoor rugs are an excellent way to add a bit of colour and texture whilst defining an area within a space. Furniture A sure-fire way to add art into a space is to use functional furniture art. There are several pieces available in all price ranges and all styles from art galleries and furniture stores, so you can really personalise a space to fit your style. Gardens are quite Street Art by Wayne Bks ©Anji Connell often a work of art in themselves, visually they have structure, colours and impact. They can stimulate all of the senses and can be healing and relaxing, or stimulating and energising. Art can also occur by “happenstance”, such as a cottage garden with a charming jumble of traditional planting, ornamental planting and edibles is a work of art in itself, often with minimal forethought and planning – the ultimate celebration of ‘artlessness’. ABOUT ANJI CONNELL Internationally recognised interior architect and landscape designer Anji Connell is a detail-obsessed Inchbald Graduate, and has been collaborating with artisans and craftsmen to create bespoke and unique interiors for a discerning clientele since 1986. Anji is a stylist, feature writer and lover of all things art and design.

www.anjiconnellinteriordesign.com

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INSPIRE

EASIGRASS

HI-TECH TURF

Project name: Silverleigh Care Home Project location: Axminster, Devon Product name: Grass: Holland Park. Easi-Animals: Sheep, Giraffe, Horse, Hare, Bear. Planters and Gazebee.

Project name: National Football Museum Project location: Urbis Building, Manchester Product name: HT Game

Easigrass installed a therapeutic sensory garden for residents with dementia at Silverleigh Care Home in Axminster Devon. Creating a stimulating yet therapeutic environment is proven to have a positive impact on dementia health. In two weeks, Easigrass created a vibrant green oasis, complete with its exclusive grass-covered gazebo, planters, and fun collection of Easigrass Animals. The garden offers sensory experience of sight and touch, with a soft texture of Easi-Holland Park grass. An Easigrass Gazebee provides a central focus, as well as year-round shelter. Safe, non-slip, durable, wheelchair-friendly and low maintenance, Easigrass offered a complete solution in creating a safe, sensory outside room. WWW.EASIGRASS.COM

Hi-Tech Turf’s first project in 2019 was 800m2 fitted across various areas of the seven-storey building. Areas turfed with HT Game included the Atrium, Discovery Zone and stage. Each area encounters heavy foot traffic and the 12mm HT Game is a very hard-wearing turf – it’s actually manufactured as a tennis carpet. WWW.HITECHTURF.CO.UK

ARTIFICIAL GRASS BRADLEYS SURFACING SYSTEMS Project name: Lenches Tennis Club Project location: Evesham Product name: TigerTurf Advantage Pro Lenches Tennis Club received a significant amount of funding from the local community and the rest through Sport England and Worcestershire County Council to refurbish two tennis courts and one multi-use games area. Bradleys was selected to carry out the refurbishment on the tarmac courts, which being 15 years old, were in a worn and tired state. TigerTurf Advantage Pro was chosen for the surfacing due to its high performance and durability characteristics. The MUGA includes line markings for football, netball and tennis. WWW.SURFACINGSYSTEMS.CO.UK www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO INSPIRE

URBIS DESIGN Trend: Verdigris finish

Why it will be a trend: Copper Verdigris has a timeless feel that manages to be both classical and contemporary. The dazzling bluish green Mediterranean colour lights up a space and complements any planting as on these Urbis planters. Any of the Urbis planters are available in the Verdigris finish. Product shown: Poppy Bowl in Verdigris WWW.URBISDESIGN.CO.UK

IOTA

Trend: Moveable planters

Why it will be a trend: Large planters have become a key feature of most commercial landscaping projects, but it is not always easy to find an optimal position out of the way of services and access points. IOTA is increasingly supplying steel planters with a simple modification to the base, so they are moveable by electric pump truck or forklift, thereby offering complete flexibility. There are several ways this can be done, but the neatest is a cutaway central section (as shown). Product shown: Bespoke powder coated steel moveable planter WWW.IOTAGARDEN.COM

PLANTERS Trends for 2019

THE POT COMPANY Trend: Eco-friendly products

Why it will be a trend: Consumers are showing a growing interest in sustainable products, such as its Bamboo fibre planters and dinnerware. The Green Tones range is made from recycled materials which are non-toxic, dishwasher safe, durable and will break down and biodegrade in landfills in just three to five years. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a wide range of colours and designs to choose from. Product shown: Green Tones WWW.THEPOTCO.COM

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KINLEY

Trend: Powder coated finishes

Why it will be a trend: Powder coating, which can be matched to any RAL colour, allows edging and planters to become a feature in their own right. Creating unique amazing outdoor spaces is as much about the finishing touches as the whole design, and complementing colour schemes often brings a space together. Its popularity will continue as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available on almost any type of metal, and is highly resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, corrosion, chemicals and weathering. Product shown: Kinley Planterline Bespoke, powder coated to RAL 4007 WWW.KINLEY.CO.UK www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 15:41

PERFECT PATHS FROM

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Tel: 01903 777570 22/01/2019 16:45

CORINA VLAD

Turning back gardens into tropical paradises

SHADY CLIMBERS

ANDY MCINDOE Adding colour to walls and fences

FAREWELL AFRICA

JAMIE BUTTERWORTH The beauty of Kirstenbosch

LIVING WALLS SCOTSCAPE

NURTURE

DESIGNER PLANTS

Tips on design, installation and maintenance

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NURTURE NEWS RHS confirms first new garden pest of 2019 Egg masses have been found on a magnolia in Berkshire. They’re thought to have been imported into the UK, and visually resemble a white string wrapping around branches. The immature scales that hatch from the egg masses can spread via wind. Beyond its appearance, the pest is not currently thought to cause any serious problems for the host plant. Native to Asia, the pest has spread around the world with plant trade and is particularly prevalent in parts of Italy. The

RHS is keen to hear from gardeners who find the pest so that it can build a picture of host plants in the UK and tailor advice to gardeners. Elders, magnolias, mulberries, sycamores and dogwoods are

thought to be a favourite of the pest. Also, If it is considered unbearable by gardeners, egg masses can be removed with a stiff brush and water. www.rhs.org.uk

Johnsons of Whixley part of two award-winning projects Johnsons of Whixley has supplied over £120,000 worth of plants for two award-winning projects. The North Yorkshire-based nursery teamed up with professional landscapers, Plant Style Ltd, to offer its first-class products to the Great Kneighton, Trumpington,

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Cambridge development and Tadpole Garden Village in Swindon, Wiltshire. The Cambridge development, by Countryside Properties, also saw the property firm win a Gold Award in the ‘Best Public Realm’ category at the WhatHouse? Awards 2018.

Plant Style Ltd was contracted to complete the landscaping which saw Johnsons supply £30,000 worth of plants such as 9,000 shrubs – including over 1,000 10L Buxus sempervirens and over 300 Skimmia ‘Rubella’ 5L. Meanwhile, Tadpole Garden Village, by Crest Nicholson Strategic Projects, was awarded a silver in the ‘Best Public Realm’ category at the prestigious WhatHouse? Awards 2018. Plant Style Ltd carried out all the landscaping for this project too, which included over £90,000 worth of Johnsons’ plants throughout 2015 to 2018. Varieties included nearly 150 trees over 20-25 girth size, 80 large mixed native hedging units and over 12,000 shrubs and grasses. www.nurserymen.co.uk

AA cyclists on biosecurity mission A group of four Arboricultural Association (AA) members have recently cycled from the Severn estuary in Gloucestershire to the Houses of Parliament. This was to deliver information to the government about the importance of biosecurity. The epic bike ride was to mark the official release of the AA’s Guidance Note 2: Application of Biosecurity in Arboriculture. The four met parliamentarians and lords from both houses. They also met representatives from DEFRA, The Woodland Trust and other cross-sector partners. Biosecurity is a key issue and has gained national awareness since the outbreak of Chalara (Ash Dieback) in 2012. www.trees.org.uk

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NURTURE

Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’

Tree Fern

Designer PLANTS Landscaper Corina Vlad on how she turned a challenging British back garden into a relaxing tropical paradise

Corina Vlad, garden designer for Creative Landscape worked to completely transform the back garden of a beautiful town house in Berkshire. With roots in Malaysia and a love of Malaysian style gardens, the clients wanted to swap their boring lawn for a fully planted garden that would evoke a tropical atmosphere and provide seclusion from neighbouring buildings. The design challenge was creating an intriguing, practical journey through the long narrow garden, linking entertaining decks at each end. 70

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Plant selection was key as the clients were happy to include some tender plants for effect, but the brief was to create the desired atmosphere and privacy using mainly hardy tropical style plants. It mimicked tropical plants that wouldn’t survive the UK climate with hardy alternatives whilst maintaining a tropical planting scheme. The planting of some beautifully mature plants for instant effect softened the hard landscaping, transforming the space. Multi-stemmed Photinia, Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’ and Magnolia grandiflora trees were used to add height and a collection of various Bamboo further increased the privacy in this overlooked garden. Phormium tenax ‘Variegatum’, Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, Eriobotrya japonica,

Palms

Chamaerops humilis bring drama to the garden with the help of their leafy architectural presence. Splashes of exotic looking perennial such as Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Salvia ‘Amistad’ and Kniphofia ‘Royal Standard’ accentuate the bold foliage planting. Soft grasses, such as Miscanthus zebrinus and Stipa tenuissima, in the centre of the bed add movement, texture and contrast to the larger leaved plants. A low Choisya hedge defines the back edge of bed, nearest the main deck, softened with Stipa grasses in the front to add movement and contrasting texture. Red daylilies with grass-like strappy leaves fill the centre, framed by a cluster of purple-leaf Heuchera at the front of the bed. The plants were sourced from Creative Landscape Company’s very own nursery, The Big Plant Nursery in Twyford, Berkshire. The nursery stocks an inspirational range of www.prolandscapermagazine.com

31/01/2019 12:53

NURTURE

Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’ Banana Plant – Musa basjoo

Bamboo

Cordyline australis

plants and trees in a variety of standard and specimen sizes. The planting faced many issues, such as managing big plants in a heavily planted small garden, as well as trying to mimic the tropical

plants with hardy alternatives and maintaining them as an overall scheme. Also, adding narrow access into the garden over a basement roof presented a logistical challenge for the construction of the garden. The resulting full planting scheme presents a different and pleasing view at every turn. The planting is interspersed with the gravel areas to give the illusion of space and intrigue as you journey through the garden. ABOUT CORINA VLAD

Ornamental statue

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With an degree in garden design, Corina Vlad has been designing and transforming gardens since 2011. She left Romania in 2003 to pursue a career in horticulture. Known for aesthetically pleasing mood boards, Corina creates award-winning gardens. www.creative-landscape.co.uk

Plant list • Photinia • Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’ • Magnolia grandiflora • Bamboo • Fargesia rufa • Phormium tenax ‘Variegatum’ • Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ • Eriobotyra japonica • Chamaerops humilis • Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ • Salvia ‘Amistad’ • Kniphofia ‘Royal Standard’ • Miscanthus sinensis ‘zebrinus’ • Stipa tenuissima • Choisya hedge • Stipa Calamagrostis • Hemerocallis • Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’

Pro Landscaper / February 2019 71

22/01/2019 15:34

NURTURE

When it comes to bedroom plants, comfort is the name of the game. Ian Drummond explores some of the most distinct choices

ecently I was asked about whether it was safe to have plants in the bedroom. Ironically, this made me realise how much we have achieved in communicating all the positive health benefits of plants. Save for some commonsense toxicity precautions, there are no negatives! Even five years ago, the houseplantsin-the-bedroom conversation would have been commonplace, whereas now it’s the exception. There’s a far wider understanding and appreciation of plants now, which has in turn led to a more sophisticated expectation of any planting design. It got me thinking about the year ahead, what to do differently, and what to improve. Essentially, how to create a planting environment that contains an unexpected element within it.

EXPERIENCING AN UNFAMILIAR FLORAL SCENT WILL STILL CREATE A SENSATION OF WELLBEING, CREATIVITY AND HARMONY One thought is the importance of scent, which I see very much as an offshoot of the health benefits of plants. A plant’s scent can be so intensely evocative and deeply personal, it’s like being transported, as if you can actually move through time to another place altogether – in any interior space, this is definitely a good thing.

HEAVEN SCENT

Ian Drummond

Of course not all scented plants are familiar to those around them and there is no loss here. Experiencing an unfamiliar floral scent will still create a sensation of wellbeing, creativity and harmony, while implanting memories to be recaptured another time. Either way, the experience is wholly positive. Scented plants for indoor landscapes are not plentiful, but here are a few of my favourites. Each one is blessed with a heady fragrance to stand out from the crowd.

April when the flowers begin to open, right through to the end of the flowering season. It might smell good enough to eat but all the more reason to keep out of reach of animals and children as this one is poisonous. Gardenia It’s not surprising that this one is regularly included as an ingredient in some of the world’s most popular fragrances – such is the sophistication of its scent. It also has the most perfect white flowers alongside neat, deep green foliage. Care: Beauty comes at a price and this one requires humidity and a very bright environment to maintain health and happiness. Fertilise and water regularly in the spring and summer months and keep away from draughts at all times.

Madagascar Jasmine There’s nothing subtle about this intense and powerfully recognisable fragrance, but this is only part of this plant’s charm. This, alongside its small and interesting white blooms and glossy foliage, might just make Jasmine the perfect climbing plant. Care: Constancy is key with this one, so keep the temperature as level as possible, ensuring it’s kept warm in cooler months. ABOUT INDOOR GARDEN DESIGN

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

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Established in 1975, Indoor Garden Design is a multi-award winning company at the forefront of contemporary interior and exterior horticultural design, transforming workspaces, oﬃces, hotels and restaurants, and bringing events to life. Ian Drummond is creative director.

All images ©Flower Council

Plumeria An iconic Australian plant that actually originates in Hawaii, the fragrance from this creamy white flower imbues a sense of the tropics like no other. Care: Good drainage is essential, as is a bright position. Fertilise at 10-14 day intervals from

www.indoorgardendesign.com

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22/01/2019 10:56

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22/01/2019 14:14

NURTURE

Climbing plants can redefine the look of any garden. Andy McIndoe shows us which varieties deserve a spot on the wall

s gardens get smaller, vertical space becomes more valuable. Greening walls and fences with climbers increases the planting area and blurs the boundaries. Walls, fences and surrounding buildings cast shade, so climbers that thrive in the shadows while adding colour and interest throughout the year are invaluable.

SHADY CLIMBERS Andy McIndoe

Lonicera similis ‘Delavayi’

Lonicera periclymenum ‘Belgica’, the early Dutch honeysuckle, has been cultivated in cottage gardens since the 17th century. The creamy flowers, purple-red on the outside, are produced in early summer and again in late summer. Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’, the late Dutch honeysuckle, is similar but redder on the outside of the flowers which appear from midsummer well into autumn. Plant both to achieve the longest flowering season possible.

Hedera algeriensis ‘Gloire de Marengo’

Although many are wary of ivy, when it comes to heavily shaded walls the large leaved Hederas are unbeatable – providing a wall or fence is sound, there is no reason why they should cause damage. Once established they need no support because they are self-clinging. Hedera algeriensis ‘Gloire de Marengo’ is one of the best. Once grown as a house plant, it has glossy leaves of soft and dark green, edged and marbled with white that will lighten any dark wall.

With twining stems it has interesting leaves consisting of cartwheels of round-ended leaflets. In spring, clusters of pendant flowers appear, which can range from dusty pink to burgundy. The flowers have a strong chocolate scent and last for several weeks. However, it will need wires for support. Several varieties of honeysuckle have evergreen foliage, Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’ being the most popular. It is a vigorous, bushy climber, ideal on a pergola or a high fence or

Hedera ‘Paddy’s Pride’

For a brighter effect, choose Hedera colchica ‘Sulphur Heart’ (also known as ‘Paddy’s Pride’), a superb large-leaved ivy with dark green leaves boldly splashed with rich gold. Where space allows, plant it behind a mahonia in a shady corner, or combine it with the winter flowering jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum. The latter has an untidy habit which the ivy cleverly conceals. The chocolate vine, Akebia quinata, is evergreen or semi-evergreen in colder gardens.

Akebia quinata

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Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’

wall. The fragrant creamy flowers are produced over a long period in summer. It does suffer from mildew, whereas the evergreen Lonicera similis var. delavayi does not – this is also more manageable, if a little slower to start with. For flowers, varieties of the native honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum are unbeatable. This is also one of the most wildlife-friendly plants, producing both nectar and pollen-rich flowers for bees, butterflies and moths, as well as juicy red berries that birds adore.

Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’

If a wall or fence gets more than four hours of direct sunshine a day through summer, most climbing roses will perform, and The Pilgrim English Rose is one of the best. Healthy emerald green foliage, an upright habit to three metres (10ft), and rosette-shaped soft-yellow blooms with a light fragrance over an extended period. Alternatively, the pale pink Rosa ‘The Generous Gardener’ is a good choice. With a deliciously strong fragrance this rose is regarded as one of the finest ever bred by the late David Austin who gave us so many Rosa ‘The Pilgrim’ wonderful roses. ABOUT ANDY MCINDOE Andy McIndoe is a practical horticulturist with more than 30 years’ experience in ornamental horticulture. He has designed and advised on gardens of all sizes and has been responsible for 25 Gold medal winning exhibits at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Twitter: @AndyMcIndoe

www.andymcindoe.com

Pro Landscaper / February 2019 75

22/01/2019 11:22

NURTURE

Finishing his series on South Africa’s gardens, Jamie Butterworth sets his sights on the iconic Kirstenbosch – a diverse haven under the shadow of the towering Table Mountain

n the third and final article in my series on South African gardens, I explore the internationally important Kirstenbosch botanical garden. Regarded as one of the world’s seven key botanical gardens, it has been on my must-visit list for many years now. The scale, diversity, location and significance of this garden is quite simply overwhelming.

Botanist Harold Pearson transformed what was a derelict farmland into the botanical jewel it is now famed for across the world. Pearson’s drive and vision for the gardens are credited with helping to shape and develop the gardens as we know them today. Despite his untimely death at a young age from overwork and pneumonia, his legacy lived on and inspired the future of the gardens. One of my favourite gardens within the UK to visit is always Kew Gardens. From a plantsperson’s perspective, the rich diversity of flora and collections is simply mind-boggling. It offers a safe haven to plants that would otherwise potentially be extinct – the scientific importance of botanical gardens across the world couldn’t be greater. For this reason,

FAREWELL AFRICA Jamie Butterworth

opportunity to discover plants I’ve only ever seen in books, and often plants I’ve never heard of to begin with.

For me, the reason Kirstenbosch stood out as one of the most iconic gardens I have ever visited, was the combination of horticultural importance and pioneering work within the Cape floristic region coupled with the immense

THE SCALE, DIVERSITY, LOCATION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS GARDEN IS QUITE SIMPLY OVERWHELMING

I always make a bee-line for the local botanical garden wherever I travel. It’s a unique 76

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From the tree-top walk you get a birds-eye view and unique perspective looking down into the gardens and beyond. Submerged within the lush tree canopies, you get a scale for the size of Kirstenbosch. Covering a staggering 1,400 square metres, it is a vast garden. The snaking walk-way weaves its way seamlessly throughout the tree tops. My favourite part, however, has to be the ‘dell’ area, where tree ferns and cycads create a Jurassic montage with a pre-historic atmosphere. Running water and large stepping stones lead to a tranquil pool. The shade and cooling of the trees coupled with the water creates a rather welcome escape from the midday heat. If you’re a keen horticulturist, looking to expand your planting portfolio and develop a greater understanding of plant habitats then Cape Town must be high on your bucket list. I simply cannot recommend it enough.

scale of the dominating mountain as a backdrop. Kirstenbosch offers a wealth of diversity to explore, from medicinal gardens to arboretums to a specialist water-wise garden.

ABOUT JAMIE BUTTERWORTH Plantsman and horticulturist, Jamie is an RHS Ambassador with a passion for soft landscaping. He is Nurture editor for Pro Landscaper magazine and also director of Butterworth Horticulture.

www.butterworthhorticulture.co.uk jamie@butterworthhorticulture.co.uk

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22/01/2019 11:21

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22/01/2019 12:38

NURTURE

Looking to the future, Jeff Stephenson ponders peacock spots and explains why they can be such a nuisance

good horticulturist is always on the lookout for the next potential problem. Having a solid training and keeping updated with current issues is fundamental to this. Another desirable trait is being observant and noticing when something looks different from the norm and taking the appropriate action if necessary.

SPOT THE PROBLEM Jeff Stephenson

spores locally, with new infections being highest during the autumn and winter, concurrent with higher rainfall and cooler temperatures. Outbreaks are heavier on the lower leaf canopy as rainwater carries the spores downwards. However, wind and insects will also spread infections between sites, and more importantly, landscapers and designers, who will inadvertently transport infected trees into their schemes. A system of inspection and careful selection when tagging helps alleviate this. The spot-like lesions caused by the disease enlarge during the spring and the fungus continues to sporulate, sending out additional spores as it develops. These spores (called conidia) are produced asexually. On high profile

Characteristic ‘peacock’ spots on olive leaves

I don’t remember peacock spot arising as a topic during my training at RBG Kew in the early nineties – it certainly doesn’t appear in any of my course notes or in Collins Guide to the Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Garden Plants which was widely in use by the students at that time. However, I’m writing about it 29 years later as a disease encountered with greater frequency in the gardens under my care. I first came across it in September 2014, when called to help a client with her ‘sickly’ trees on a balcony garden in Belgravia. On site I found several containerised Olea europaea, each one appearing weak, thinly

Nursery stock should be checked for diseases at selection

branched, borderline chlorotic and with low leaf coverage. Apart from being infested with woolly aphid (a relatively common insect pest of www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Jeff Stephenson.indd 79

olives). I also observed feint, circular dark patches (around 10mm in diameter, some surrounded by a yellow halo) on many of the leaves, and dark almost smut-like patches on the stems. I guessed it was probably peacock spot as I’d heard mention of this disease affecting olive groves worldwide.

WATER IS THE MAIN VECTOR FOR SPREADING THE SPORES LOCALLY Peacock spot (also known as olive scab and olive leaf spot) is caused by the host specific fungus Spilocaea oleagina (Synonyms: Fusicladium oleagineum, Cycloconium oleaginum). It infects the upper leaf surface, stems and fruits of olives as germinating spores send thread-like hyphae onto the plant tissues. Enzymes produced by the hyphae degrade the leaf cuticle, allowing entry points for the disease. The disease then grows parallel to the leaf surface and remains localised in the cutinised layer of the epidermal cell wall until the leaf tissues decay. These hyphae collectively form the mycelium (the vegetative component of the fungus which obtains moisture and nutrients from the infected host). Water is the main vector for spreading the

Olive leaf spot is found in gardens with increasing frequency

sites I regularly encourage hand removal of infected leaves in late spring and early summer for both aesthetic and disease control reasons. As temperatures increase during mid-summer the disease becomes dormant (especially in drier years) and it will survive in the infected leaves as the vegetative mycelium. Infected leaves will drop, which provides a natural control for the problem. These leaves should be cleared away to help prevent them becoming a source of inoculum. Apart from the cultural control measures already mentioned, the standard chemical control measure is to spray with a copper-based fungicide, usually around November. ABOUT JEFF STEPHENSON With more than 29 years’ experience in horticulture, Jeﬀ Stephenson (Dip.Hort. (Kew) Hons MCIHort) heads up the horticulture and aftercare division of Bowles & Wyer. He joined in 1996 and has worked on small installations, soft landscaping and gardens maintenance for the vast majority of their schemes.

www.bowleswyer.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / February 2019 79

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NURTURE

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Maytenus boaria

Architectural Plants is the home of Japanese and European topiary, hardy palms, bamboos, screening plants and a range of rare evergreens. If it’s interesting or unusual, chances are they’ll have it on their 32-acre site. They’ll proactively support your business by working with both and your clients in whatever capacity is required, making the process of selecting and buying plants simple so that your projects run smoothly. If you’re unable to visit the nursery, they’re always happy to help over the phone or by email too. They also provide training courses for trade customers, taught by leading experts in the industry. Much of their stock is UK–sourced or homegrown, which allows them to specialise in some rare plants that you won’t ﬁnd at your average trade nursery. They do great coﬀee too.

Hebe parviﬂora angustifolia

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Nursery Factfile.indd 81

Phillyrea latifolia

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CONTACT Tel 01798 879213 Email enquiries@ architecturalplants.com Web www.architecturalplants.com Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @archiplants Pro Landscaper / February 2019 81

22/01/2019 11:48

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22/01/2019 12:39

NURTURE

TOPSOIL: BESPOKE SOIL MIXES BOURNE AMENITY Soils can be manipulated to suit a number of planting conditions and environmental requirements, but it is worth discussing this with the architect/designer or talking with a specialist horticultural expert such as Tim O’Hare Associates. Since the London 2012 Olympic programme and the myriad of soil specifications that went with it, bespoke soil blending has been at the heart of Bourne Amenity’s product range development. It’s seeing more and more diverse planting programmes that all require very precise and differing topsoil performance, and it enjoys the challenge of producing the right bespoke mixes from its specialist facilities.

EARTH CYCLE Made using locally sourced plant materials, Earth Cycle has a range of high-quality, peat-free topsoil’s that can be used for a wide range of applications. As all of Earth Cycle’s topsoils are produced on-site, landscapers also have the flexibility to choose a bespoke topsoil mix that is developed specifically to suit the geographical conditions of their site. This bespoke method has proved popular with many landscapers and groundsmen opting for tailored topsoil that meets the specific requirements for each individual project.

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BOUGHTON Bespoke soil blends are designed with the plant and environment in mind, and Boughton have been supplying the industry with them for over 30 years. It’s important to identify the cultural, growing and support requirements of different plant varieties in virtually all classifications. Many will be suited to limited soil types along with their associated nutrient and drainage properties to efficiently support their growing potential and longevity. With bespoke blends, soil can in most cases be manipulated to arrive within a specified physical categorisation.

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GREEN-TECH Green-tech has an extensive range of Green-tree soils, substrates and growing media. It is seeing an increase in the number of requests to meet specific criteria or overcome a unique set of challenges. The Green-tree team are specialists in this field, and a deep understanding of the agronomic and physical properties of our soils is essential to knowing what changes can be made to improve performance. It’s soil experts work closely with customers to understand their needs and project aspirations; whether that be around the environment, soil weight, water permeability or throughflow. The team look at the soils in it’s existing portfolio and make modifications to the mixing process and recipe, achieving a bespoke tailored soil that is perfect for a customer’s application.

WWW.GREEN-TREE.CO.UK www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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22/01/2019 16:17

NURTURE

LIVING WALLS Pro Landscaper spoke to Scotscape to learn about the process of designing, installing and maintaining their living walls Design From the outset, communication with the client is key to providing and maintaining the best living walls. Once the brief from the client is clearly understood, it’s possible to proceed and develop a concept including the planting design with a selection of alternatives for the clients to consider. It is important that the structural support framework is designed, if required, to suit the site along with the type of irrigation required. At Scotscape, for example, we ensure that the planting design is bespoke for each project, as this works best to bring the client’s living wall vision to life. It’s important to focus strongly on horticultural content not just from an aesthetic point of view but also one that will deliver maximum air quality benefits in the location of the living wall. Installation Choose a recommended specialist supplier and one that can supply all the components required

to install the wall on location. Planting a living wall in situ can minimise lead times and allows for

LIVING WALLS REQUIRE SPECIALIST MAINTENANCE TO ENSURE THAT THEY LOOK GOOD ALL YEAR ROUND fast vertical greening. Having an experienced construction team interfaced with architects and structural engineers can ensure that best practice is applied at each and every location, underpinned by sound technical information. Maintenance It’s also very important to have access to integrated irrigation systems as this allows for smooth installation and maintenance. Our Fabric Living Wall system is fixed to a steel or timber sub frame and when hung it is flexible enough to be used on columns and curved surfaces for urban greening. Living Walls require specialist maintenance to ensure that they look good all year round and

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Pro Landscaper / February 2019

Living Walls.indd 84

Private living wall – Wellington Close, Central London provide maximum aesthetic and biodiverse benefits. When you choose your supplier, make sure that they can offer a maintenance service, to provide experienced horticulturists and irrigation operatives to keep the living walls maintained and healthy all year round. It is crucial that green walls are correctly fed, monitored and maintained to ensure these unique projects and all their benefits to the urban environment can be fully realised. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 15:29

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FOR ALL UK INFORMATION CONTACT: FOUR ASHES MACHINERY LTD. TEL: 01225 891158 – 07962 www.minitrencher.com 149937 – CONTACT@FOUR-ASHES.COM – WWW.FOUR-ASHES.COM

22/01/2019 12:51

SEAN BUTLER Creating hygge style

TRADING WITH HUSQVARNA

330 years in the making

PRODUCT DNA

GLOBAL STONE Italian porcelain paving

LOOK OUT FOR

95 91

ASHLEY ZYMANCZYK BALI Chalk Fund Top Student of the Year

PLUS... PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS WINNER PROFILE (P89) ANGUS LINDSAY (P91) WHAT Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M READING (P92)

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EDUCATE

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22/01/2019 12:55 12:54

EDUCATE

WINNER PROFILE This month we catch up with Oak View Landscapes, last year’s winner of the Landscape Company >£1m category

Oak View Landscapes

Winner: Landscape Company >£1M

(sponsored by Pro Landscaper)

t the Pro Landscaper Business Awards last year Oak View Landscapes won the final award of the night – the Landscape Company >£1m category, sponsored by Pro Landscaper. Oak View Landscapes, based near Colchester, Essex is an established landscape contractor which installs hard and soft landscape contracts for commercial and residential clients. In previous years it has won many BALI awards and is a registered member of the association. The company was founded in May 2004 by Paul Downer, managing director. Starting with just two members of staff, it has grown steadily over its 14 years, currently employing more than 35 members of staff. As part of the company’s growth strategy, Matthew Selby joined the board of directors as commercial director and Jakki Jenner as operations director in July 2017.

Public open space for a national house builder

Oak View Landscapes has a wide-ranging client base from national construction companies and national house builders to local house builders, private clients, hotels, schools and universities. Some of its commercial projects include the former Warley Hospital in Brentwood, Driver’s Yard Capital Square in Chelmsford and Balls Park in Hertford. It is a regional business covering

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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WINNING THIS AWARD AT THE FIRST PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS WAS A GREAT HONOUR FOR ALL AT OAK VIEW LANDSCAPES

school children to plant trees during National Tree Week as well as sponsoring a garden at Heathlands Primary School and football kits for Bures United Youth Football Club.

JAKKI JENNER, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Essex, Herts, Suffolk, Norfolk and North London with an annual turnover of £3.2m. “Winning this award at the first Pro Landscaper Business Awards was a great honour for all at Oak View Landscapes,” says Jakki Jenner. “Whilst we have won several national awards for our landscaping, to receive recognition on how we run a successful company across all areas of the business and beating other market leading companies in the process was a huge accolade”. Oak View Landscapes also has a strong belief and commitment in giving support, help, donation and sponsorship to other organisations within the community. In September 2016 managing director Paul Downer completed the Three Peaks Extreme Challenge to raise funds for the charity Perennial. The team has also helped local

Balls Park, Hertford

Along with their high staff retention figures and strong emphasis on staff training and development, the judges were also impressed with the overall structure of the company, commenting: “It has a very strategic and structured approach, which has resulted in strong growth and good profit margins. And as a business is very passionate about the landscaping sector, with their MD playing a key role in the industry, sharing knowledge, experience and helping mentor young and up and coming businesses. This is truly a very well-run business with a great ethos.”

Pro Landscaper / February 2019 89

22/01/2019 15:39

EDUCATE

CURTAINS IN THE

LANDSCAPE, HYGGE STYLE Delving into the idea of Hygge, Sean Butler takes us through how curtains can transform a building and bring comfort into any project When looking for new ideas it’s good to think out of the box a little. You may recall my article on how to build a polygon roof – here’s the finished building. We wanted to create a rustic cabin feel, with a Nordic Hygge style. Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of cosiness and comfortable conviviality, with feelings of wellness and contentment. We used warm colours, textures and natural materials used in a way that was totally new to me. You will see that we have added curtains to complete the dressed building. Due to the 40kg weight of each curtain, I designed a steel L-beam as a roof plate on top of the concrete block wall. We commissioned Dagenham’s JML Section Benders to bend both the L-beam and a 50mm steel tube. These had to be in two halves due to the circumference of 18.84LM. This enabled me to fabricate bespoke heavy-duty pipe brackets which we extended

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

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out and welded onto the L-beam. We named it Jabba – Jabba the Hut! The interior fabric Sunbury design was chosen to pick out the rusty colours of the multi-slate walls which we fitted vertically. In Jabba I designed a three-metre cantilevered steel frame which was set into the wall and finished in an air-dried oak. Copper lanterns, candles and my wife’s finishing touches all made Jabba what it is now. We also commissioned a specialist curtain maker local to us, Simon Houlding. We wanted a warm coloured fabric that was waterproof and would hang heavy so that it didn’t blow around in the wind. We decided on Kayospruce, which has an outer layer of acrylic canvas, and then Sunbury design aquaclean fabric. The canvas is waterproof and UV resistant, and surface dirt and stains are easily wiped off. I am fussy when it comes to curtains, I like the fabrics to look full when fully shut. I advise if you like this same look, to go for four times the width. It adds exuberance and a sense of luxury to the finish. The curtains were lead-weighted at the bottom to prevent movement in the wind. The ambience that these curtains add really make the room feel cosy, and warm – perfectly in harmony with Hygge style. On another project, the curtains were hung straight, again

on a 50mm steel tube. The external fabric was chosen to complement colours and tough enough to jet wash when dirty. This garden was exposed to prevailing winds, we suggested sand-filled sausage dogs with toggles sewn on for easy fitting in winter, adding another interior feature outdoors. Think outside the box, and consider fabrics and curtains in your future projects and experience a whole new Hygge lifestyle!

ABOUT SEAN BUTLER Sean Butler is a landscape designer and director of Cube 1994. With a background in civil engineering, Sean has an in-depth understanding of the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built landscape. www.cube1994.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 12:12

EDUCATE

SYMPATHY FOR THE BEVEL Machines dominate our work, our lives and our spare time. Angus Lindsay explains why it’s important to treat them with care, and how best to keep them in good shape for the future The phrase ‘mechanical sympathy’ was initially coined by Sir Jackie Stewart and was used to describe driving a car in such a way that the moving parts are subject to the minimum amount of wear. Simply put, look after the vehicle and its components and it will look after you. The same ethic also applies to the operation of machinery and powered equipment used on a day-to-day basis in the landscaping and amenity sector. However, with service intervals increasing and components manufactured to finer tolerances, should something go wrong you can end up paying a hefty price.

Control is just as important as power

Warming an engine for a couple of minutes to allow the oil to circulate should be common practice, as should returning the engine to idle for 30 seconds before switching it off. Still, I often hear the rattle of bearings as engines start from cold on full revs with no comprehension of the damage being done. It’s not just machinery, www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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vehicles suffer the same abuse. Oils are becoming ever more complex with every manufacturer having bespoke products for their engines, transmissions and drive components. Get it wrong and things can become expensive. In the past, you would have a good idea of the oil’s use by its viscosity: thick oil for axles and gears, thin oil for hydraulics. But this is no longer the case. Oils have become as technically complex as the components they lubricate. I have mentioned in past articles how crucial the 50-hour service is in identifying potential issues; with tractor manufacturers using bedding-in oils for the first 50 hours of the engine’s life it is imperative that these schedules are adhered to. Checking the dipstick, smelling or even feeling the oil is the classic image of someone back in the day checking the state of their oil. While cute, this couldn’t be further from the correct procedure. The only way to be sure if your engine needs servicing is to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines as detailed in the handbook or operator’s manual. There may well be a light to tell you when a service is due but you should always read the handbook and not just rely on the electronics to warn you. Sometimes this reliance on technology can lead to expensive failures from which the manufacturers will almost always walk away. In the same vein, using equipment for what it’s designed for is always a bone of contention. For some people the tractor is never big enough. Tractors have become more powerful and physically larger, but the seven unit gang mower or 1.8m rotavator they are pulling remains the

same size and doesn’t need any more power than it did 30 years ago. So why do we use 120hp tractors whose ability to labour when the machine becomes overloaded is replaced with sheer brutality and the ultimately, the failure of the implement?

After 35 years the same mower but twice the horsepower

Take time to appreciate what the mechanicals beneath your seat or under your bonnet are doing for you, they are much like your own body: You don’t start in the morning by immediately going flat-out, lifting things that are too heavy or running miles without preparing your muscles and eating the right things, so don’t expect a machine to. ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAY Angus spent several years working on arable farms in Scotland before joining VSO in Egypt, implementing a mechanisation programme, managing field operations for a commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and working as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen. He gained an MSc in agricultural engineering and mechanisation management at Silsoe, joining Glendale as machinery manager in 1994, and then idverde UK in 2009 as group head of assets and fleet. Contact: angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / February 2019 91

22/01/2019 11:14

EDUCATE

WHAT I’M READING Diane Blood, silverflowe design

DIANE BLOOD Landscape archetypes Title Planting in a Post-Wild World Authors Thomas Rainer and Claudia West

Planting in a Post-Wild World was a collaborative project written by landscape architect Thomas Rainer and nurserywoman Claudia West. I was initially put off by the title; Thomas Rainer writes that his mentor Wolfgang Oehme “would have thought the idea for this book was total rubbish.” He would have been wrong. Planting in a Post-Wild World is a comprehensive, well-researched and illustrated essay on the importance of ecological planting. It also offers a description of the design process used by the authors to create resilient, ecologically functional and aesthetically beautiful designed plant communities. 92

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Diagrams throughout the book illustrate how natural plant populations overcome competition: varied root morphologies occupy differing soil horizons, and a range of vegetative forms maximise light and space above ground. At the larger scale, the patterns of natural landscapes have been divided into four elemental reference plant communities, termed landscape archetypes: grasslands, woodland and scrublands, forest and edges or transition zones. Identifying the elemental visual cues from these landscapes, then distilling out and magnifying their essence, allows a designed planting scheme to truly resonate with people. To my delight, the authors highlight the importance of spending time wandering around a site to feel its effects on the emotions and of producing sketchings to understand the site on a deeper level. Observation of a site’s surroundings helps to identify the underlying landscape archetypes previously mentioned. Layers As with all ecological planting, layers are key. Four layers are clearly described: structural framework plants flagging up the archetype, drifts of seasonal theme plants to create stunning effects, ground cover vital for supporting biodiversity and soil stability and health and temporary filler species such as annuals, biennials and perennials are used to prevent gaps while the planting establishes. These fundamentals may be applied to any plant community.

To establish a planting scheme, the authors advocate minimal disturbance of the existing soil structure and ecosystem, and light use of soil conditioners with attention to compaction and weed clearance, allowing the plants to enhance the soil naturally. Young plants are grown hard, and rich “candy soil” composts are washed off.

As all plant communities are in a constant state of flux, a variety of management techniques are considered rather than conventional specification-led maintenance. Relationships with all stakeholders is emphasised for clear communication of the visual concept, monitoring and management techniques. The care team must keep layers legible, and the soil covered with a varied carpet of ground cover plants. This book shares the many thoughts and ideas I have picked up from inspirational designers and their plantings, and weaves them into a flowing narrative written with a refreshing flair and passion. This book is an essential, well-researched and enjoyable guide for designing naturalistic plantings. www.silverflowedesign.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 15:05

EDUCATE

TRADING WITH HUSQVARNA

UK commercial landscape and groundcare manager Kevin Ashmore talks about Husqvarna, the Swedish manufacturer of outdoor power tools

CONTACT Company name Husqvarna Tel Kevin Ashmore 07710 302 243 Web www.husqvarna.com/uk Facebook HusqvarnaUK Instagram @husqvarnauk and @automoweruk Twitter @UK_Husqvarna

How do you ensure the quality of your products? Quality for Husqvarna is key. All products are developed in house by our research and development team, utilising state of the art computer-aided testing facilities, paired with field testing with real users in tough conditions.

Kevin Ashmore Can you tell us a little more about Husqvarna? Husqvarna was established in 1689 and this year we celebrate our 330th anniversary. It all began in Huskvarna, Sweden, as a weapons manufacturer. Over the centuries we have produced sewing machines, bicycles, motorcycles and kitchen equipment. In 1959 the first Husqvarna chainsaw was produced resulting in a shift of focus towards forest and garden machinery. This year we celebrate 60 years of producing chainsaws. What are the main products you supply? Our history is in chainsaws and this remains a strong part of our DNA serving the tree care industry. In the ground care market we have one of the broadest ranges of professional products, including blowers, brushcutters, hedge trimmers, pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers and robotic mowers. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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How do you market your company? We have a large network of Husqvarna authorised dealers providing a first-class experience from first point of contact through to sale and we offer support with servicing. Our professional team focus on commercial activities and are there to support the likes of landscapers to find the best solutions for their tasks. Product demonstrations and advice can be utilised. Are you releasing any new products in the coming months? 2019 will see our robotic mower range expand. In 2018 we launched our fully commercial Automower® and in 2019 we will launch our all-wheel drive Automower® capable of handling slopes up to 70%. Our already extensive battery

handheld product range will also expand with the new 550iBTX backpack blower. Fleet Services™ will move on to a new generation that utilises smart phone and tablet technology to help manage your fleet of machinery. In January at a press event in Sweden, we launched the next generation of professional 50cc chainsaws, the new 545 Mark II and 550XP Mark II are our most advanced chainsaws to date. What’s the next step for the company? We see battery and robotic products using connectivity as a clear shift in direction and we have some amazing innovation in development, some already previewed at the Silent City conference in Hamburg in 2018. In the meantime, for 2019 we have some innovative new products that we would like to put in the hands of operators. Pro Landscaper / February 2019 93

22/01/2019 11:16

EDUCATE

1. Hard-wearing Porcelain Paving is an extremely hard-wearing product, which is scratch and abrasion resistant, making it ideal for pathways, patios and driveways.

2. Low moisture absorption Our paving is slip resistant (R11/R12) due to very low moisture absorption. This, combined with gently textured surfaces, makes it ideal for patios and around pools.

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5. Low maintenance Due to the manufacturing process it is almost totally impervious to moisture and not impacted by salts, oils and chemicals. This means it has low maintenance properties making it easier to clean requiring only mild detergents, brushing or jet washing, and no sealants are required. 6. Indoor tiles As indoor tiles are also available for the majority of the porcelain collection there is the ability to create an almost seamless transition from inside to outside living space. The indoor tiles are 11mm, whereas the external are 20mm thick.

RANGE OF PORCELAIN PAVING

3. Weather resistant It is also highly resistant to severe weather changes including heat, frost and cold, which means the paving is less likely to be damaged.

4. Retains colour Porcelain is not aﬀected by sunlight or natural weather conditions so retains its colour and will not fade.

• Terrazzo • Context • Metallics • Moderna • Six Series • Six Nine Series • Mixed Size Series • Siena • Toscana • Trento • Florence • Albero • Granito • Focus • Cladding

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CONTACT Tey Gardens, Church Lane, Little Tey, Colchester C06 1HX Tel 0845 60 60 240 Email sales@globalstonepaving.co.uk Web www.globalstonepaving.co.uk Twitter @GlobalPaving Facebook GlobalStoneUK Instagram @globalstonepaving

Pro Landscaper / February 2019

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 11:36

EDUCATE

LOOK OUT FOR...

ASHLEY ZYMANCZYK Pro Landscaper meets Ashley Zymanczyk, winner of the BALI Chalk Fund Top Student of the Year Award 2018. We talk about his route into the industry, what it meant to win and his future plans

garden. Whilst at college I also spent two years learning about plants, which has given me a huge advantage in my career – I am now the soft landscape manager at Guildford Landscapes. During my time at Merrist Wood I also had the opportunity to help build a show garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show with David Dodd and Andy Sturgeon, as part of the BALI Go Landscape initiative. What are your day-to-day responsibilities? I currently work for Guildford Landscapes and we do a lot of site work on new builds, including fences, turfing, paving and planting. As the soft landscape manager, I’m in charge of the planting for all projects. I do the ordering, quality control, setting out and planting.

What did it mean to you to win the BALI Chalk Fund Top Student of the Year 2018 award? Merrist Wood College put me forward for the award, but I never thought that I had a chance of winning. When it came through it was a big surprise! Receiving the award gave me a huge motivation boost and it feels really good to know that all the hard work I have done over the last four years has paid off.

What’s your favourite project you have worked on? RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show was a great experience but I’d have to say my favourite project so far has been my own garden. It’s the most rewarding project I’ve worked on because I’ve had to do everything on my own from start to finish. It’s an old Victorian garden, thin and quite narrow with a path down the side of it and grass in the middle. Now it’s got pavements put down and paths leading to it with hidden gardens throughout.

What did your time at college teach you? My time at college was invaluable. I came into the industry knowing nothing but now I’ve come out of college, I’m able to landscape a whole

What are your plans for the future? Eventually the plan is to own my own company, a landscape and horticultural company and win awards for my gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. In the more immediate future I would like to aim for winning an award at BALI in the £30,000-£60,000 category. I’ve also debated going to work in Dubai with Desert Team as it would be a great experience to learn about different landscapes and plants. There are a lot of options at the moment and I’m excited to see what the future holds! Make sure to follow Ashley on Instagram @exterior_wonders.

What was your route into the industry? I initially began working at Tendercare Nurseries at 16 years old. Whilst I was there, I started a horticultural course at Merrist Wood College, and from there it felt like everything fell into place. I worked at Tendercare Nurseries for four years, and it was there where I met my current boss at Guildford Landscape. One day I was showing him around the nursery and we got talking. I found out that he had previously gone to Merrist Wood, and we had even been taught by the same person, Tony Begg. I later reached out to him for work experience, which ultimately lead to him offering me a job.

Pro Landscaper / February 2019 95

22/01/2019 11:29

JOBS

For full details on all jobs, please goFor to full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk. www.horticulturecareers.co.uk Call 01903 777 587 or email ellie.downes@eljays44.com vacancy. Call 01903 777with 584your or email liam.colclough@eljays44.com with your vacancy

ASSISTANT LANDSCAPE DESIGNER/GARDEN DESIGNER

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS MANAGER

Design and build practice Bowles & Wyer are looking for talented designers to join their busy and thriving ofﬁce based near Tring. They’re BALI Design-build award winners and won the Grand Award and Design-build award for the same scheme, and are also International and Public & Communal Space award winners. Essentials include a degree/ diploma in landscape architecture or garden design; media skills (Photoshop, AutoCAD, SketchUp, hand drawing); construction detailing experience; communication/coordination skills; self-motivated, self-managing; comfortable in a team and willing to be taught. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

Acre Landscapes is an award-winning commercial landscape construction & maintenance company based in Sussex, working across the south, London and the M4 corridor. You’ll report to the managing director, be responsible for construction from planning to delivery, manage health and safety and be responsible for developing and implementing RAMS/safety plans. You’ll be responsible for managing multiple projects, ensuring projects are run to programme/budget and act as principal contact for clients, deal with contract variations and mitigate risks. Ideally you’ll have 10 years commercial landscape construction experience and a track record of multiple projects to a high standard. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

EXPERIENCED HARD LANDSCAPER

ASSISTANT GARDEN DESIGNER/LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Artform Landscapes are a hard landscaping company with a history of designing and building gardens to the highest quality. We are now looking to recruit a hard-landscaper to join our team. This individual ideally has around 10+ years hard landscaping experience, with strong customer facing and problem-solving skills as well as a breadth of expertise in hard landscaping with experience in some of the following skills: ground work, paving, blockwork, brickwork, carpentry, horticulture, turﬁng and irrigation. They should be passionate, hard-working, open to learning new techniques, and willing to impart their ideas, knowledge and skills to others. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

We have an opportunity for a talented and enthusiastic assistant garden designer/ landscape architect to join our award-winning design team. This full-time position would suit someone with 2-3 years experience in a landscape/design studio. We are looking for someone dedicated, self-motivated and keen to secure a long-term position with the company. The ability to work alone or in a team to deliver completed work to a high standard even under pressure for project deadlines is essential. Candidates must have a degree or equivalent in landscape architecture/garden design, strong skills in Vectorworks, Sketchup & Microsoft Ofﬁce, and ability to sketch/design digitally and on paper. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

LANDSCAPING PROJECT MANAGER (SITE BASED)

PROJECT MANAGER

Greenscape Gardens Ltd are seeking a landscaping project manager. The successful candidate will have experience leading a small team on domestic garden projects. You’ll need to liaise with both the client and director to ensure the project is completed to very high standards, on budget and on time. They will also be responsible for liaising with our manager to ensure projects are run efﬁciently, managing personnel, and organizing material. Also, exceptional man management, communication, client liaison and organisational skills, competent in areas of paving, decking, brickwork, fencing, lawns and have some planting knowledge. Ideally over 5 years’ experience in a similar role and hold a full clean driving license. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

We’re looking for a project manager to oversee hard and soft landscape construction projects for a variety of clients on the south coast. The ideal candidate will have three years industry experience, responsible for overseeing small site teams and subcontractors in delivering projects to a consistently high level and on budget ensuring excellent customer service throughout.

COMMERCIAL QUANTITY SURVEYOR

HARD LANDSCAPE GARDENER

We are currently seeking a commercial quantity surveyor. Based in Hastings, East Sussex, ESL specialises in soft landscape construction mainly for commercial customers in the south east of England. Key tasks will include liaising with BDMs, estimating team, operations and procurement; carrying out pre and post tender/pricing negotiations; maintain contract documentation and advise on pre-tender and post contract matters; prepare and issue contractual letters to clients and/or sub-contractors, and the management and valuing of variations, liaising with operational managers. A degree in quantity surveying/commercial management and/or 5 years’ experience in a similar role is ideal. For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

We are actively looking to recruit a fully skilled landscape gardener to work in a team within a small but very busy company. We primarily construct gardens for private home owners in and around the Walton-on-Thames area with attention to detail and a very high standard of work. The hard landscape gardener applicants should have a minimum of 10 years hard landscaping experience and a full UK driving license. They must be able to read and set out designs and plans, be passionate about landscaping, a team player and be good example to younger people working on site.

BOWLES & WYER Location: Bedfordshire

ARTFORM LANDSCAPES Location: Buckinghamshire

GREENSCAPE GARDENS LTD Location: Surrey

ESL LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS Location: Sussex

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Pro Landscaper / February 2019

ACRE LANDSCAPES Location: Sussex

LANDFORM CONSULTANTS Location: Surrey

FAIRWEATHERS LANDSCAPES Location: Hampshire

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

REFORMALAWN Location: Surrey

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

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

22/01/2019 16:38

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21/01/2019 12:15

PEOPLE

ROB WOODHOUSE General manager, Solent Garden Services Ltd www.solentgardenservices.co.uk Garden shows/show gardens – inspirational or not? Absolutely, 100% inspirational! I love the new categories at RHS Chelsea Flower show such as the Artisan gardens. They have given a modern twist to the traditional shows. Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? I love Spain, specifically Barcelona. The architecture, parks and outdoor spaces blow me away.

pay more attention to horticulture, landscaping and garden design. It’s a fantastic career option and I don’t think there’s been a better time to be in our industry. Best piece of trivia you know? There are more plastic flamingos in the world than real ones!

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? I’d like to pick the brains of Adam Frost and get his opinion on a whole range of subjects. One thing that you think would make the industry better? I’d like to see schools

Your favourite joke? My bank manager pushed me over. Apparently he was checking my balance… Best invention in recent years? It has to be the site radio. I don’t think we could work without it. Although, it can cause arguments at times when the apprentice gets hold of it and changes the station!

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STUART ASHWORTH Director, Ashworth Specialist Landscapes www.www.ashworthlandscapes.co.uk

Role model as a child? Eric Cantona. Not always the best role model for a child, but the man has bags of swagger! Couldn’t get through the week without... Tea and Spotify.

What would you blow your budget on? High-end materials such as composite decking or natural stone.

Pro Landscaper asks quick-fire questions to gain a small insight into the people who make up our industry. To take part email rachael.forsyth@eljays44.com

Garden shows/show gardens – inspirational or not? Yes, it’s the best place to see the all the latest trends and products. Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? Thailand’s variety of wooded mountains and palm beaches mixed together on idyllic islands.

make the industry better? The eradication of rogue traders. Best piece of trivia you know? There are more stars in our Universe, than grains of sand on the Earth’s beaches. Role model as a child? My mum and dad.

What would you blow your budget on? David Harber sculptures and water features.

Couldn’t get through the week without... Buying a new tool or two!

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? TV’s Mr Bloom.

Your favourite joke? Two fish in a tank. One says: “How do you drive this thing?”

One thing that you think would

Best invention in recent years? Tesla.

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PEOPLE

CONOR GALLINAGH Horticulture consultant & garden designer www.conorcallinagh.com Garden shows/ show gardens – inspirational or not? I just love show gardens, they are a form of horticulture art. It’s a designer’s masterpiece and the shows are their art gallery. Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? I love the Dutch style of

design, the naturalistic planting schemes using grasses and herbaceous perennials. One thing that you think would make the industry better? Getting more young people into the iindustry bringing new and fresh ideas.To get them to challenge and break down boundaries.

Best piece of trivia you know? I love telling people about how figs are pollinated by a little insect and it gets trapped inside the flower so that when you bite into it and get that crunch, it’s the little insect. (I may have exaggerated this a little bit!) Role model as a child? My granny – she was real plant woman who gave me my love

and passion for plants and horticulture. Your favourite joke? Why do potatoes make good detectives? Because they keep their eyes peeled. Couldn’t get through the week without... Love a packet of Haribo Sours.

KATE MARSHALL

JOHN NASH

Garden designer, Kate Marshall Garden Design

Garden designer and landscaper, John Nash Associates

www.katemarshallgardens.co.uk Garden shows/show gardens – inspirational or not? Yes definitely. Many of our clients will also be visiting these shows and aspiring to some of the elements featured, so it helps to be informed. Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? It has always been the Italian gardens.

What would you blow your budget on? An amazing piece of sculpture, particularly one

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of Robert Wight’s dandelion fairies for that light, fey and playful element. The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? Tom Stuart-Smith. One thing that you think would make the industry better? Ethical trading, especially in natural stone. Whether it is clothes, chocolate, coffee or gardens, our luxuries should not be bought at the expense of child labour or exploitation. Couldn’t get through the week without... Audible. I love a good story on those days when I feel restless.

www.johnnashassociates.co.uk Garden shows/show gardens – inspirational? Yes, they can be. Particularly impressed with my visit to Appeltern in September.

Realistic wages and better training/education for maintenance gardeners, To encourage more to come into the industry.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? Japan, Holland, Mughal gardens of India, and the patio gardens of Spain (Alhambra and Cordoba).

Role model as a child? My architect cousin Len.

What would you blow your budget on? Business Class long-haul flights.

Best invention in recent years? Wind power turbines.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Couldn’t get through the week without... My daily shot of espresso!

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? Spanish landscape designer, Fernando Caruncho.

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