Pro Landscaper June 2019

JUNE 2O19

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

TONY WOODS

COMPANY PROFILE

DEFINED DESIGN

SHOW PREVIEW

FITTING IN

Soil consultants Tim O’Hare Associates

Streatham Hill, Kingston Landscape Group

RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2019

Neil Parslow on choosing the right lighting

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DESIGN TANK PHOTO MAX ROMMEL

Cycle Design: Sanna Lindstrรถm

vestre.co.uk

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WELCOME

W E LCO M E U

it’s not just our image which has been updated.

The four sections we introduced when we spruced up the magazine in March 2016 have been joined by a fifth – People. You’ll also spot some new faces amongst the regulars as we welcome more contributors to the team, and we’re going to be bringing you even more features on technology and recruitment to solidify our Educate section as an essential guide for businesses.

With Pro Landscaper stepping into a new chapter this month, it seems only fitting that our June issue is where we launch the search for our next 30 Under 30: The Next Generation winners.

The initiative highlights young people within the industry who are making waves and encouraging change in this sector for the better. We hope you think Pro Landscaper is doing the same, and that this redesign shouts loud enough that we won’t stop doing this any time soon.

We look forward to hearing your feedback on our new look – our latest milestone, but certainly not our last.

PART OF GROWING IS EVOLVING, AND WE DON’T WANT TO REST ON OUR LAURELS

NINA HEAD OF CONTENT, PRO LANDSCAPER

©Paul Upward Photography

nless this is your first time reading Pro Landscaper, you might have noticed a few changes to your favourite monthly magazine.

And by a few changes, I mean the biggest redesign in the brand’s history.

The familiar blue and green has moved over for a sleek, stylish and sophisticated black and white palette which is no less distinctive than its colourful predecessor.

In short, we’ve grown up. We’re taller, now, with a little extra weight. That’s not to say there was anything wrong with the previous design.

We’re really proud of how much the brand has developed over the past eight years. But part of growing is evolving, and we don’t want to rest on our laurels. As Richard Branson once said, “every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change. A company that stands still will soon be forgotten.”

The first part of the brand to change was our logo, which we revealed in a rather mysterious spread in our last issue. We then delved into the pages, with a new typeface, new paper, and more space.

Our senior designer Kara Thomas has been working tirelessly to create this modern look. But

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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The Talasey Group is one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of landscaping solutions

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS supporting the landscaping industry

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THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

GET TO KNOW THE TEAM BEHIND THE REDESIGN

NINA MASON HEAD OF CONTENT

RACHAEL FORSY TH FEATURES WRITER

FRANKIE YOUD FEATURES WRITER

JESSICA MCCABE HEAD OF SALES

JAMIE WILKINSON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Nina is the go-to for editorial enquiries, with a background in features writing and a degree in English Language.

Rachael loves meeting people within the industry and telling their stories. She has a background in publishing and a degree in English.

Frankie is the newest addition to the team, her background includes feature writing, documentary making and a degree in Journalism.

Having grown Pro Landscaper to deliver 25% year on year growth, Jess stepped in to manage the entire commercial process at Eljays44.

Coming from a sales background, Jamie enjoys challenges and thrives on setting and exceeding personal goals.

Redesign highlight “I really enjoyed visiting Highclere Castle. I got to have tea with Lord Carnarvon and peek into the head gardener’s private greenhouses!”

Redesign highlight “I’m looking forward to seeing how the RHS Chatsworth preview turns out! It was really interesting to research the gardens.”

Redesign highlight “I have really enjoyed being able to talk to our suppliers about the big changes and creating some excitement amongst the industry.”

Redesign highlight “The increase in size, which has allowed more space to be creative with features and to make the most of the fantastic imagery we receive.”

Redesign highlight “The whole process has been fantastic, but seeing the new logo and the front cover for the first time made me so proud of how the brand has developed.”

K ARA THOMAS SENIOR DESIGNER

KIRST Y TUREK DESIGNER

AMY FITZ-HUGH ONLINE CONTENT EDITOR

SAM SE ATON SUBEDITOR

KIA WILSON SUBEDITOR

Kara has a passion for magazines, design and the great outdoors, and has now been working on Pro Landscaper for over six years.

Joining the team a year ago, Kirsty does design work for Pro Landscaper events as well as the magazine.

Amy organises the online content and social media for Pro Landscaper, and brings readers the Friday Wrap every week.

After joining the team in January, Sam has just finished a Journalism degree and works hard to make great pages even better.

Kia polishes our editorial to make it ship-shape and shiny.

She has a 30-year work history in publishing and is word and design-obsessed.

Redesign highlight “Our new People section, especially Have Your Say, which will hopefully spark some interesting industry debates on social media.”

Redesign highlight “I’m excited to see the redesign for the first time as the team has worked so hard to make an exciting, professional magazine.”

Redesign highlight “I am fascinated by humans, so it’s awesome that a section of the magazine is devoted to people, keen to share their stories.”

Redesign highlight “Experimenting with new ideas, typefaces and layouts, for new articles.

Seeing it all come together!”

Redesign highlight “Seeing all the newly designed pages come together has been really exciting, it’s always nice to be able to have large images, especially with the new size.”

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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CONTENTS

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INSPIRE

INFORM

45 48 52

10 12 17 18 23 28 31 32 35 36 39

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genda A Landscaping to prevent crime News Our monthly roundup of industry news News Extra 50 years of Blakedown Landscapes

Defined Design Kingston Landscape Group Outdoor Room with a View Kate Marshall Garden Design Victorian Flavour Langlea Garden Design & Construction Landscape Architect’s Journal Kinnear Landscape Architects Demise of the Front Garden Anji Connell RHS Chatsworth 2019 Preview

Future Projects Google Headquarters Lets Hear It From Tony Woods Company Profile Tim O’Hare Associates

NURTURE

View from the Top Adam White Tech Savvy Holly Youde It’s Worse Than I Thought Andrew Wilson The Heat Is On Katja Griffiths The Real Downton Abbey A visit to Highclere Castle

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56 58 61

75

45

67 72 75 78 79

Feature Garden Manor Farm On The Wild Side Allison Walters Nursery Focus Hortus Loci Top Class British Sugar TOPSOIL Tree Planting Equipment Urban landscape projects

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CONTENTS

J U N E 2 01 9 E D U C AT E 83 84 85 87 88 90 91 92 95 98 100 102 103 104 105

Fitting In Neil Parslow What’s Next?

Lee Bestall The Weakest Link Angus Lindsay Kit Feature Ride-on Mowers checklist Ride-On-Mowers A look at the latest products Sprayers Focus on three options Talasey Group Celebrating 15 years Colouring the Way Ground Control Are you GDPR compliant?

Owen Baker, BALI Breaking Out of the Cycle AGS Together Site Visit Arbor Forest Products Fencing M&M Timber Product DNA Kebur Artificial Grass Creative installations Inside Greenblue Urban

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112

PEOPLE 109 112 115 116 119 122

Out & About Chelsea JUNE 2O19

30 Under 30 Chris Chippendale Ride GoLandscape The next challenge

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

TONY WOODS

Love Horticulture Matthew Pottage Have Your Say Nina Baxter Little Interviews Quick-fire questions with the individuals who make up our industry

COMPANY PROFILE

DEFINED DESIGN

SHOW PREVIEW

FITTING IN

Soil consultants Tim O’Hare Associates

Streatham Hill, Kingston Landscape Group

RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2019

Neil Parslow on choosing the right lighting

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GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE CANTER 3.5t Get your hands on a Canter 3.5t Dropside for £75* a week Expertly navigate through parks, woodland and the suburban streets of Britain with this small but mighty truck. With a 1.5t body/payload allowance, the smallest turning circle in its class and a cab width of under 2m, the Canter 3.5t can go anywhere a van can go. A 7t max gross train weight means it’s strong enough to pull chippers, plant trailers and ride-on mowers, with no special training required, this strong yet agile truck packs a punch.

Canter can do loads more. To find out more visit Canter.co.uk

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CONTRIBUTORS

CO N T R I B U TO R S ADAM WHITE This issue Adam White, president of The Landscape Institute is joining the View from the Top contributors. Adam discusses how The Landscape Institute has launched a new biosecurity toolkit developed in partnership with BALI, APL and the SGD. The toolkit has been designed for the landscaping industry and strives to ingrain biosecurity into every stage of a landscaping project.

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HOLLY YOUDE P32

W W W.LANDSCAPEINSTITUTE.ORG @TALKLANDSCAPE

Katja Griffiths

ANDREW WILSON P35

Climate change is a vital topic for discussion when it comes to global temperatures, and we can all play a part in reducing the heat. In the first of a two-part series, Katja Griffiths presents useful strategies for those in the industry, including increasing green spaces and educating clients when it comes to sustainable methods, and how to reduce their carbon footprints.

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W W W.DESIGNBYK ATJA.COM @DESIGNBYK ATJA

ANJI CONNELL P58

Neil Parslow New Pro Landscaper contributor Neil Parslow, founder and lead designer at Light Visuals, reveals his top tips when it comes to choosing products for exterior hardscape. Neil also discusses soft plant lighting, the right system for your lighting and the environmental benefits and cost saving when it comes to LED light options.

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W W W.LIGHTVISUALS.CO.UK @LIGHTVISUALSUK LEE BESTALL P84

Allison Walter s Pro Landscaper welcomes Allison Walters to the nurture section with the first of her three-part series. Explaining how she transformed a disused brownfield area with wildlife at the forefront of her mind, Allison discusses why it’s so important to bring projects back to nature. Allison also talks about her company awSCAPE which she set up in 2018 in order to focus her devotion of rewilding landscapes.

CONTACT

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W W W.AWSCAPE.CO.UK

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

@AWSCAPE

ADVERTISING Business development manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 585

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

Head of sales – Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587

Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2019 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.

Head of content – Nina Mason nina.mason@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 593

Horticulture Careers – Liam Colclough liam.colclough@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 446 076

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

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

Features writer – Frankie Youd frankie.youd@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Tel: 01903 777 570

Subeditor – Kia Wilson kia.wilson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 597 Subeditor – Sam Seaton sam.seaton@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 591 Design – Kara Thomas, Kirsty Turek

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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JAMIE BUTTERWORTH P67

Subscription enquiries – Chris Anderson chris.anderson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Online content editor – Amy Fitz-Hugh amy.fitz-hugh@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 583

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.

ANGUS LINDSAY P85

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 Cover image ©Garden Club London

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INFORM

AGENDA

HOW CAN LANDSCAPING HELP TO PREVENT CRIME? Mak Gilchrist

Romy Rawlings

Darryl Moore

FOUNDING DIRECTOR AND CURATOR, THE EDIBLE BUS STOP

UK BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, VESTRE

JOINT DIRECTOR, CIT YSCAPES

By introducing design-led intuitive landscaping and planting into areas previously known for anti-social behaviour, from our experience, a transformation occurs.

Social behaviour is encouraged and these areas are forgotten or left behind

When it comes to outdoor furniture, individual elements have a key role to play in crime prevention. The most critical might be in hostile vehicle mitigation – ideally not huge lumps of concrete dumped around the perimeter of a site!

Other examples include secure cycle parking – often the Sheffield type hoop – being desirable to enable three-point locking, which should deter bike theft.

The thoughtful positioning of seating can help to alleviate perceived anti-social activities, such as street drinking. Even the provision of adequate litter bins should play a part in thwarting the crime of dropping litter. In addition, maintaining

We always have to address the issue of ‘designing out crime’ whenever we engage on new public projects – this generally involves considering the impact of planting on visibility lines. Also, the arrangement of street furniture is something that funders wish to address.

WE START BY ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY VERY EARLY ON AND LET THEM FEEL WELCOME TO HELP PLANT WITH US by communities. When a public realm improvement is delivered with planting, especially where edibles can be picked, such as herbs, berries or fruit trees, this helps engender pride and a sense of place within that community.

We will often work with local stakeholders to generate in-kind support, such as pavement washing, adding trash cans and fixing lights. All these elements along with the planting will help to lower crime and dysfunction.

We start engaging with the community very early on and encourage them to feel welcome to help plant with us.

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THE THOUGHTFUL POSITIONING OF SEATING CAN HELP TO ALLEVIATE PERCEIVED ANTISOCIAL ACTIVITIES every feature of a landscape in good condition will prevent further deterioration and effects of the ‘broken windows theory’, which suggests that visible signs of crime and disorder create an environment that encourages further law-breaking.

MAKING SURE THAT A PLACE IS WELL USED AND HAS BUY-IN FROM LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IS ESSENTIAL Making sure that a place is well used and has buy-in from local stakeholders is essential to its general success and in turn to addressing crime. Creating green spaces that provide people with opportunities to dwell increases the number of ‘eyes on the street’, which leads to a decrease in crime and anti-social behaviour. Ensuring that community groups are involved early in the process helps with a sense of ownership and pride.

Landscaping isn’t a silver bullet to solve crime problems but can work hand-in-hand with social strategies if approached in the right way.

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INFORM

Jon Sheaff

Jaz Vilkhu

Emily Hook

DIRECTOR, JON SHEAFF AND ASSOCIATES

MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR LANDSCAPE PROTECTION, MARSHALLS

PSE OFFICER, KENT POLICE

I think that there are all sorts of ways in which through very practical design interventions you can positively impact crime and social behaviour.

We recently worked on Silkstream Park in the London Borough of Barnet. This was a park that had been fundamentally neglected – it was derelict and had a huge

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF WAYS IN WHICH THROUGH VERY PRACTICAL DESIGN INTERVENTIONS YOU CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT amount of poor quality vegetation. Along with this, there were poor sight lines.

Silkstream Park became a bit of a no-go zone outside of walking straight through it, just serving as a quick A to B. Fundamentally, we’ve gone in and swept a load of that stuff away and it looks so much clearer. It’s looking much better now with new play facilities, new footpaths, new bridges, new lighting – new everything.

That is going to help people feel that it’s a space they want to be in and that they can go into safely with their children. It is difficult to change people’s behaviours. So, we do all of these very practical, immediate things that have a focus on robustness as well as simplification.

It’s not an immediate ‘quick win’, it is something that will take time for us to do.

If you’re able to make a case for investment, you can make a space that is central to a community. It’s important to help locals adopt these spaces and make them a part of their lives. We have to commit to recognising the importance of these spaces and what they can do for people.

Crash-tested street furniture products are increasingly being used to mitigate against vehicle-borne terror attacks.

These measures, from planters and seating to litter bins and bollards, can be integrated seamlessly into a landscape and offer a more aesthetically pleasing solution to the more traditional approach of anti-ram barriers and concrete blocks.

These products can clearly help businesses protect themselves from criminal activity, such as ram-raids on shop fronts and ATM machines, which have become more frequent in recent years. However, this is a different type of threat to a terror attack.

In the majority of situations, developers and retailers will only need security products that mitigate against a vehicle weighing 2.5 tonnes or less and travelling at low speeds. It is unlikely that they will need those manufactured to the highest specifications needed to counter

THESE MEASURES, FROM PLANTERS AND SEATING TO LITTER BINS AND BOLLARDS, CAN BE INTEGRATED SEAMLESSLY INTO A LANDSCAPE a terror attack. To address this challenge, we’ve engineered a range of street furniture products, crash-tested to the government’s Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 170 regulations.

These provide businesses with measures that can stop vehicles of this weight travelling at between 10 and 20mph.

Kent Police’s ‘Design for Crime Prevention’ has seven ‘Principals of

IT PROMOTES THE USE OF FEATURES TO TRANSFORM SPACES TO MINIMISE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CRIME, FEAR OF CRIME, ASB AND NUISANCE Design’ to help deter and deflect criminality and ASB (anti-social behaviour). It promotes the use of features to transform spaces to minimise the opportunity for crime, fear of crime, ASB and nuisance. For example, defensive planting: prickly plants and trellis as a simple way to deter potential trespassers and offenders. Climbing over can result in offenders leaving traces of evidence, which can help identify them.

It can also be used against a building to protect from criminal damage.

Suitable native species include hawthorn, rose and fruit bushes, many are non-toxic, so suitable for use near care homes and schools. Other examples include using lighting, water features, street furniture, street art, bollards and pavement treatments, all designed to be visually pleasing while helping protect people, buildings and spaces from risk.

There are many standards from vehicle mitigation where there are counter terrorism concerns, ATM protection and protecting privacy.

There is also Secured by Design, a police initiative that improves the security of buildings and their surroundings to provide safe places, as well as listing accredited products.

N E X T M O N T H : A R E D E S I G N A N D B U I L D C O M PA N I E S T H E F U T U R E O F L A N D S C A P I N G ?

H AV E YO U R S AY: C O N T E N T@ E L J AYS 4 4 .C O M

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INFORM

NEWS

SO ILSC O N 2019 – BACK BY PO PUL A R D EMA ND !

T

he ‘must attend’ landscape industry’s soils conference will take place this year on Thursday 26 September, returning to the elegant Phyllis Court in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. This year’s event will be the fourth soils conference to be organised by soil scientist and landscape consultant Tim O’Hare of BALI Affiliate member Tim O’Hare Associates.

Utilising the extremely helpful and generally positive feedback from delegates who attended the previous conferences, SoilsCon 2019 has been designed to give landscape architects, contractors, garden designers, developers,

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topsoil manufacturers and other industry professionals another packed day of invaluable professional development, discussion and networking. Presentations will be led by some of the leading experts in their respective fields from the UK and overseas. Speaking this year are: • Tim O’Hare, principal consultant, Tim O’Hare Associates • Neville Fay, founder and director, Sustainable Soils Alliance • Simon Leake, managing director, SESL Australia • Sarah Morgan, Sarah Morgan Gardens and chair of the Society of Garden Designers • Tim White, senior associate, Tim O’Hare Associates • Andy Spetch, national topsoil manager, British Sugar TOPSOIL • Catherine Dawson, technical director, Melcourt Industries • James Hewetson-Brown, managing director, Wildflower Turf www.toha.co.uk

UK NEEDS 5 0 M I L L I O N NEW TREES PER Y E A R TO GET Z ERO CA RB O N EMISSIO N S BY 2 0 5 0

T

he Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) report published on 2 May outlines the stark increase in woodland expansion needed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The report recognises that neither internally legally binding targets (as seen in the Climate Change Act) nor externally binding commitments (the Paris Accord) will be met given the current trajectory in the reduction of carbon emissions.

The CCC analysis outlines that 32,000 hectares of net woodland increase annually is required for the next 30 years. This would move the UK from 13% to 17% woodland cover. This equates to a million hectares of new woodland cover, and around 1.5 billion trees.

Beccy Speight, CEO of the Woodland Trust, said: “It is essential to address the climate and natural environment crises together. Recognising them as being interconnected and not two separate challenges. Climate change is the biggest long-term threat faced by our natural environment. Landscapes are being impacted by climate change in a multitude of ways.” www.theccc.org.uk

RHS BACK TO NATURE GARDEN TO BE DONATED AFTER CHELSEA

T

he RHS Back to Nature Garden will be relocated to the Devon Partnership NHS Trust Dewnans Centre after the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019.

The accommodation, which looks after men with mental health needs, won a national competition as part of the NHS and RHS partnership to raise awareness of gardening for good mental health. The news

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

NEWS IN BRIEF SPA LANDSCAPING COMPLETE THE EXPANSION OF THEIR HEAD OFFICE SPA Landscaping has announced the expansion of its head office in Sheffield.

Along with this, it has also acquired new and innovative machines to enhance its range of equipment and services. www.spalandscaping.co.uk

W IL D F LOWER ME ADOWS BEING P L A N T ED ACROSS T H E UK

A

s part of a commitment to promoting sustainability and biodiversity while making the best use of open spaces, Adur & Worthing Councils is embarking on a widespread programme of seed scattering.

‘Where The Wild Flowers Grow’ will see parks staff work with community groups and residents to scatter seeds in carefully cultivated areas. Carefully selected seed mix including borage, cosmos, cornflower, flax and marigold. These will only not create stunning, attractive displays but also provide rich nectar sources for pollinating bees and other insects, supporting local diversity.

Similarly London Borough of Brent is building a ‘bee corridor’ in time for Summer 2019. This is thanks to 22 wildflower meadows that are being sown in some of the borough’s best-loved parks and open spaces.

A recent study, published in March by the

©RHS/Neil Hepworth

comes as a Ipsos MORI poll shows that nearly 80% of people say gardening has a positive impact on their mental health.

The RHS has also revealed the award winners at this year’s Chelsea, with Andy Sturgeon picking up Best in Show for The

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journal Nature Communications, highlighted a huge drop in the number of pollinating insects across the UK since the Eighties.

Researchers believe the loss of wild habitats has played a large part in this, with more than 97% of the UK’s wildflower meadows disappearing since the Second World War. Many butterflies, bees, dragonflies and moths rely on these flowers to thrive.

To help halt the decline in biodiversity, Brent Council is sowing a number of urban meadows which together will form a ‘bee corridor’ across the borough. Veolia park teams are in the process of ploughing special plots that have been picked as meadow areas. Once the ground is ready, seeds including ragged robin, cowslip and common poppy will be sown to encourage visits from pollinating insects. www.adur-worthing.gov.uk www.nature.com/ncomms

M&G Garden. Best Construction in the Show Garden category was awarded to The Resilience Garden, built by Crocus and designed by Chelsea’s most decorated designer, Sarah Eberle.

The Facebook Garden: Beyond the Screen scooped two awards, with designer Joe Perkins winning Best Space to Grow Garden and contractor The Outdoor Room winning Best Construction for Space to Grow/Artisan Garden.

Alistair Bayford’s Family Monsters Garden received the award for Best Artisan Garden.

To find out more about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019, see page 109.

ONLINE VOTING OPENS FOR LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE BOARD AND COUNCIL ELECTIONS Voting for the Landscape Institute (LI) Advisory Council and Board of Trustees elections for 2019 is now open. All Landscape Institute (LI) members will receive an email directing them to the LI elections website, where they can vote for the positions they are eligible to elect. www.landscapeinstitute.org

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR RHS MASTER OF HORTICULTURE PROGRAMME Applications are now open for the RHS Master of Horticulture 2019 programme.

Delivered mostly online and commencing in October, the three-year course is designed to work around a full-time job and hone candidates’ managerial and business skills. www.rhs.org.uk

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INFORM

NEWS FROM THE WEBSITE

PROFESSORS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD TO TRANSFORM MELBOURNE ARTS PRECINCT

HOW USEFUL IS SOCIAL MEDIA TO YOUR BUSINESS? We put together a survey to find out how people in our industry use social media, why they use it and if they find it beneficial to their business. Take a look at the varied results we received at: www.prolandscapermagazine.com/ the-results-of-our-social-media-survey

P 12 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO ENTER THE PRO LANDSCAPER SMALL PROJECT BIG IMPACT AWARDS If you’re considering entering the Pro Landscaper small project BIG IMPACT Awards in 2019, we’ve put together 12 reasons why you should put your project forward: www.prolandscapermagazine.com/ 12-reasons-why-you-need-to-enter-thepro-landscaper-small-project-bigimpact-awards

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©Berkeley Homes North East

spaces. The plantings will be designed to provide a succession of seasonal, month-by-month highlights that will mirror the changing art shows within the National Gallery of Victoria.

An estimated 10,000 jobs will be created during the regeneration project. Once complete, the arts precinct is expected to draw an three million additional visitors to the area each year.

Professor Hitchmough said: “The Melbourne Arts Precinct is another major project in which planting is seen as one of the key issues in making rich and exciting public space. It is a great coup for the department to have its staff playing major roles in such world-leading projects.” www.sheffield.ac.uk

ASH DIEBACK IS PREDICTED TO COST £15 BILLION IN BRITAIN

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REPORT HIGHLIGHTS LONDON’S RISE UP THE GREEN ROOF LEAGUE TABLE We’ve summarised the new report launched by London’s deputy mayor for the environment, highlighting increasing number of green roofs in London. Read it at: www.prolandscapermagazine.com/ report-highlights-londons-rise-up-thegreen-roof-league-table

rofessors Nigel Dunnett, a winner at the Pro Landscaper Podium Awards, and James Hitchmough from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Landscape Architecture have been appointed planting designers for Melbourne’s new arts precinct project.

They will be creating cutting-edge plantings with minimal water-use in 18,000 square metres of renewed public space in the heart of Melbourne. They will also be working in collaboration with international design practice HASSELL and New York-based design firm SO-IL (also known as Solid Objectives).

In the Southbank area, the team will create an elevated park, gardens and pedestrian

team of researchers from the University of Oxford, Fera Science, Sylva Foundation and the Woodland Trust has calculated the true economic cost of ash dieback. The total cost of ash dieback to the UK is estimated to be £15 billion. Half of this (£7 billion) will be over the next 10 years. The predictions were published in May in the scientific journal Current Biology.

The total cost is 50 times larger than the annual value of trade in live plants to and from Britain, which is the most important route by which invasive plant diseases enter the country.

There are 47 other known tree pests and diseases that could arrive in Britain and could potentially cost an additional £1 billion or more.

The predicted costs arise from clearing up dead and dying trees, as well in lost benefits provided by trees, for example water and air purification or carbon sequestration.

The loss of these services is expected to be the biggest cost to society.

The scientists say that the total cost could be reduced by replanting lost ash trees with other native trees. They advise that the government’s focus now has to be on preventing introductions of other nonnative diseases to protect our remaining tree species. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

B L A K E D OW N LANDSCAPES C E L E B R AT E S 5 0 Y E A R S

AWARD-WINNING BLAKEDOWN LANDSCAPES CELEBRATED 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS AT THE CROSSRAIL PLACE ROOF GARDEN, CANARY WHARF LAST MONTH. CEO STEVE BUCKINGHAM AND DIRECTORS PAUL HOOK AND CHRIS WELLBELOVE REVIEW THE COMPANY’S ONGOING SUCCESS IN BUSINESS

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lakedown Landscapes has won multiple awards for its work over the last half a century, consistently delivering high-quality and interesting projects. Crossrail Place Roof Garden in London’s Canary Wharf is set in beautiful surroundings and as one of the company’s most renowned projects, was the obvious venue for celebration.

Along with Bourne Amenity and Robin Tacchi Plants, the party was staged in the street food market with views of the Thames. Guests included a whole host of companies with whom Blakedown Landscapes has worked including Wayne Grills, BALI’S Chief Executive and Noel Farrer of Farrer Huxley Associates.

When Blakedown Landscapes was first set up, the focus was on making small steps to create and develop a high-quality commercial landscape contracting company. It has certainly achieved this aim today, with its award-winning projects bringing in a turnover of £20m and the company employing around 150 staff members.

CEO Steve Buckingham says: “Each year we set new targets and meet new milestones, as we endeavour to further develop the business.”

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Blakedown Landscapes has always focused on high-quality commercial landscaping, which has accounted for more than 90% of its work. It does also undertake bespoke or specialist domestic projects as well as numerous regeneration projects.

Chris says: “The lottery investment in parks and open spaces was a noticeable change, and we have taken part in many large heritage lottery funded projects and created some amazing parks for local residents.”

Blakedown Landscapes now complete single projects in excess of £5m. Some of its standout projects range from work on the southern entrance of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, the redevelopment of the seafront gardens and cliffs at Hunstanton Park in Norfolk to Isabella Plantation, a site of special scientific interest in Richmond Park, South West London.

The way the company operates has altered over the 50 years. Chris says: “Every year we see changes in the market from the way work is procured to the types of landscape project which are receiving the most focus.”

Technology has also been a major change since the company first began, with the speed

of information exchanged being a huge factor.

Steve explains: “At one point, the company operated from eight regional offices, but with the progress of modern working methods we have been able to streamline the operation with personnel working across the country, and just three main offices in key locations.” Director Paul Hook says: “One of the key aspects to Blakedown’s success over the years has been the ability of our staff to resolve complex design problems within projects both quickly and economically, thereby ensuring programmes and budgets are maintained for our clients” Looking back at its many achievements it is clear to see why Blakedown Landscapes is proud to be reaching this milestone anniversary.

Says Chris: “It is amazing to look back at the range of projects over 50 years and see how the company has helped change the landscape in so many key areas in London and across the country.” Steve adds: “The projects change year on year, depending on markets, planning, funding, and trends, but our strength lies in being able to adapt to these changes and utilise our skills and experience to consistently achieve quality and award-winning projects.”

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INFORM

FUTURE PROJECTS

GOOGLE headquarterS King’s Cross

WE SPOKE TO MATT AINSCOW, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR OF WILLERBY LANDSCAPES, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS SET TO BE ONE OF THE MOST ASTONISHING PODIUM LANDSCAPES TO EVER BE BUILT IN THE UK

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ourmet food, walls for rock and on humans. “The policy is relatively climbing and dogs allowed. complex, but Google is helping us to follow it,” Working at Google certainly has says Matt. “We try to procure materials through its perks – and its quirks. The the right sources anyway, such as using FSC company rents a herd of 200 goats to maintain certified timber. the lawn at its headquarters in California, the “Google is interested in the benefits its 'Googleplex'. So, what can employees expect at building brings to Googlers. It is very cognisant the tech behemoth’s new office in King’s Cross, of the environment and the fact that they’re London, set to open in 2021? building a new property in London. They want The impressive 11-storey building has been it to be the very best.” designed through a collaboration between There’s a lot of pressure, then, on those Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studios. working on the building to deliver, but Matt and Over 4,000 employees – which they his team are eager to take on the refer to as 'Googlers' – will be based challenge. “It’s an exciting project. It’s at this new £1bn site, which a very big scheme and the logistics stretches from Regent’s Canal to are colossal. We’ll be working in a King’s Cross station. really busy area of London, right Whilst the design of the building outside a major train station. itself is remarkable, it’s the "The key to any roof garden, 300m-long rooftop garden which is though, is planning. This makes it capturing the headlines, though. remarkably straightforward. You have Designed by landscape architect firm to think of every eventuality and know Gillespies, the garden spans the what you’re lifting, when, and how T O TA L C O S T O F T H E NEW BUILDING full-length of the building. much of it. You don’t have the luxury Proposed drawings of the of spare space.” landscape show the multi-level With this in mind, Willerby garden split into four parts: ‘Plateau’, Landscapes has been working on a ‘Field’, ‘Garden’ and ‘Headland’. fresh approach to lifting items on to Across these sections there will be the rooftop. “One of the ways the wildflower meadows, green roofs, tender was adjudicated was on decked seating areas and a rooftop innovation,” says Matt. “Google isn’t café with free food and drink for the just interested in best price but also staff. Large staircases will lead in best quality. It wants to see people people through the garden. build things in new ways. So, we’re “The landscape is very high up on developing a new lifting system to get the soils Google’s agenda,” says Matt Ainscow, up to the roof, which is going through various operations director of Willerby Landscapes, trials at the moment.” which has won the tender to build the largeDetails of the new lifting system are being scale podium landscape. kept under wraps, though. With Willerby not set As with the rest of the building, all materials to be on site until next autumn, it might be a sourced will need to meet the criteria of the while until the big reveal. Until then, Matt and Google Healthy Materials Program, which tests his team are refining the plans for construction products for their impact on the environment of the expansive garden.

300m

LO N G

P R OJ ECT D E TA I L S Client Google Landscape Contractor Willerby Landscapes Landscape Architect Gillespies Architects Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) Design Delivery Architect BDP Property Developer Argent Construction Lendlease

R O O F TO P

GARDEN

£1bn

55,000+

P L A N TS

230+

T R E ES

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“Google is at pre-construction phase,” says Matt, before explaining that the lengthy process. “Every single component of the project is being drawn in 3D. You can basically zoom through the whole building, seeing every pipe and cable”. The building work is also being programmed through BIM modelling into a 4D sequence, “so you can watch video footage of the various components being put together in the right orders”, says Matt.

Over the next few months, Willerby will be installing irrigation pipes off-site into the multi-service module (MSM), “an open-ended metal box the size of a portacabin, with a walkway”. As well as irrigation, the MSM will manage a host of services, including heating, waste and water. “It’s very collaborative and a much safer way of working. Rather than having to use a MEWP in order to access high levels, we’re able to work at ground level.”

More than 55,000 plants and 230 trees will be planted on the roof – including Malus ‘Evereste', Amelanchier lamarckii and Betula pendula. Perennials such as Rudbeckia maxima,

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23/05/2019 09:50

IT’S AN EXCITING PROJECT, WITHOUT A DOUBT. IT’S A VERY BIG SCHEME AND THE LOGISTICS ARE COLOSSAL Allium sphaerocephalon and Galtonia candicans will all appear across the roof garden levels.

A lot of the products are bespoke, such as curved benches and seating areas created from Corten steel. Willerby will be hosting a number of workshops with Gillespies and Lendlease on these products. “There are things like opening benches with complex hinging mechanisms which will need to go through the process of trialling so that we can demonstrate to the client that it works before moving it on to site,” says Matt.

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The construction of the 300m-long garden sounds rigorous, but the biggest challenge is not the build itself, says Matt – it’s managing Google’s expectations. “When we worked on 20 Fenchurch Street, the landscape came under a lot of criticism because it was brand new, while the CGIs beforehand were of a mature landscape. So, managing Google’s expectations in regards to how mature the landscape will be on day one will be the challenge.”

Along with this is meeting the expectations of the public. Just how will the King’s Cross office compare to the Googleplex's services, facilities and of course, herd of goats?

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Allium sphaerocephalon Amalanchier lamarkii, multi-stem Betula pendula, multi-stem Galtonia candicans Malus 'Evereste', single stem Rudbeckia maxima

Main image ©Google Plant photographs ©Willerby Landscapes

INFORM

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ENTER YOURSELF OR A COLLEAGUE Who? The rules are simple, you can nominate yourself or a colleague as long as the nominee was aged 30 or under on 1 January 2019 and currently works within the horticulture, arboriculture, garden design or landscape sector. Entrants must have worked in the industry for at least one year.

Why? Entering 30 Under 30: The Next Generation is a great way to gain recognition for your own work or the work of someone you know. Previous winners have expressed that winning the awards is a wonderful way to enhance their careers.

How? Simply email 30u30@eljays44. com to request an entry form.

Fill out the form to the best of your ability, picking out key moments from your career and showcasing some of your best work. Email the form back to 30u30@eljays44.com along with a high-resolution head shot by 30 August 2019.

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2018 WINNERS

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23/05/2019 10:43

INFORM

TONY WOODS, DIRECTOR OF GARDEN CLUB LONDON SHARES HIS BUSINESS ETHOS, DESCRIBES THE EFFECTS OF WINNING YOUNG DESIGNER OF THE YEAR IN 2013, AND EXPLAINS HIS REASONS FOR CREATING A SHOW GARDEN AT THIS YEAR’S RHS HAMPTON COURT GARDEN FESTIVAL

Let ’s Hear it From

© @domx999 for @instakaned

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TONY WOODS DIRECTOR, GARDEN CLUB LONDON

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ony began his horticultural career mowing neighbours’ gardens for pocket money. It was from this young age that he knew he wanted to attend horticultural college, and he continued to work and study simultaneously for the next few years in various positions – from completing grounds maintenance on what was at the time Europe’s largest green roof, to a plant production manager with a catalogue of more than 10,000 plants.

It was in the summer of 2012, when London was buzzing with the excitement of the Olympics, that Tony decided the time was right to strike out on his own to set up Garden Club London (GCL).

Tony went on to win Young Designer of the Year in 2013 which propelled GCL on to design the roof garden for John Lewis’s 150th anniversary celebrations at its flagship Oxford Street store – and subsequently establish a fantastic working relationship with the retailer – and win numerous RHS medals and association awards for its outstanding projects.

It was by chance however, that Tony was able to resubmit his Young Designer of the Year application, having withdrawn it at the last minute. “I went to bed that night and I was just so worried I withdrew my application. The next day I was even more gutted that I’d withdrawn it and missed the deadline,” Tony explains.

Thankfully, the RHS had extended the deadline for applications due to website problems, and this enabled Tony to enter the competition and subsequently win it.

“I returned home and put winner of Young Designer of the Year and Gold medal winner on our website and then the phone just went dead for three months.” After this huge achievement, Tony experienced the curse of winning a gold medal when clients wrongly perceive that prices will soar as a result of the win.

Tony decided to make the best use of this time and follow up on previous marketing plans: to rebrand the business in order to further develop and expand his portfolio of work. The Gold medal win caught the attention of an agency pitching a project for retailer John Lewis who wanted to transform a roof space

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INFORM

having been unimpressed by beach and outdoor cinema pitches. The agency believed a garden concept would work well in the space and asked Garden Club London to achieve the vision. Tony had to work with the equivalent of 12 clients to short deadlines. “It was absolute chaos, but ultimately brilliant,” says Tony. His commitment and hard work paid off, and five years later, the company is still working with John Lewis.

WE WERE SKILLED ENOUGH, BUT YOUNG AND NAIVE ENOUGH TO PULL IT OFF As business has expanded, and based on previous work experience, Tony has developed a different mindset for GCL. “In the past I have been told: ‘whilst you think they’re ideal, your business ideals are not ideal for business’.”

But Tony’s aim has always been to let the quality of GCL’s work make a name for the business, and this means retaining and attracting talent. The company pays its employees at least 10% more than the industry standard, and offers a profit share with a KPI bonus scheme, gym membership, private healthcare for all staff and complete transparency with regard to development, progression and profitability.

Incentives are also offered such as a recent Christmas examples when employees were given vouchers to buy Fitbits to use in conjunction with Vitality Health with treat rewards such as monthly cinema tickets and free coffee for achieving health targets.

The Garden Club Bible, a guide of house rules and method statements, encourages employees to maintain and exceed standards of quality, ranging from how to lay paving to cutting timber, mixing cement, or even cleaning a client’s toilet after use! The company now carries out all elements of soft and hard landscaping using their directly employed team, and the business is supported by contracting for other designers who like to get to know the teams, rather than wonder which subcontractor other companies will send along.

Tony is a BALI Go Landscape Ambassador and keen to promote young people entering the industry in order to enable them to hit the ground running. “We like to launch interns with a cracking CV and a portfolio that other designers, even our competitors, can relate to so that they can gain employment if we can not employ them ourselves,” explains Tony.

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INFORM

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GCL’s continued commitment to its employees is evident in its project portfolio.

Floating Pocket Park in London’s Paddington Basin on the Grand Union Canal has won several awards, including the BALI Principal Award. GLC converted the once dreary area into a luscious space to attract the local business community as well as families with young children.

GCL devised a series of floating gardens, connected by walkways and made up of areas of lawn, planter beds, trees and benches, interspersed with pools set in and around it.

Undertaking a project like this is no easy feat, and Tony believes it is down to the attitude of the company that it was even able to go ahead.

“We were skilled enough, but young and naive enough to pull it off.” Had they got a bigger name to design the project the build budget potentially would have been all but gone, and because the scheme was high-risk, the budget could have been far higher when it came to finding a contractor, meaning it most likely would have fallen through.

Balancing the floating pontoons was a delicate process and, at various stages of the build, the garden appeared to be sinking while the levelling works took place. GCL continues to assist the estate team in managing the space.

For example, in the soaring heat of summer 2018, the team advised on the precise amounts of required to achieve balance between the floating pontoons.

EVERY GARDEN BUILT IS AS IMPORTANT AS A CHELSEA GARDEN 4

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Also last year, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, GCL’s Urban Flow garden involved an intensive publicity programme. Enthusiasm for the space was infectious as numerous suppliers got involved, including London Stone offering workshop fabrication of cladding and Stark & Greensmith helping to design an ornamental fretwork for the cantilevered Corten pergola, which later was available to purchase as a stock pattern.

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Floating Pocket Park, Paddington Urban Flow garden, winner of a Chelsea Gold medal Pop-up garden, Euston Urban Flow at Night Fire-pit garden Small garden design, Fulham Corten feature wall

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INFORM

GCL’s team gained valuable experience during this process. “Everyone in the company went on site at some point, so that each individual could enjoy the work experience and add it to their CV. It really strengthened our long-term team.” In turn GCL itself also became a stronger business during the build. An intense process of checking orders, budgeting and labour informed every project that followed because, according to Tony, “every garden built is as important as a Chelsea garden.”

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CREATING BEAUTIFUL SPACES FOR SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN CAN INTERACT WITH NATURE, THAT’S WHAT’S WORTHWHILE Having won Gold Medal and Best Space to Grow Garden at last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, GCL will once again be creating a show garden with sponsorship from Thames Water. This year the project, The Thames Water Flourishing Future Garden, will appear at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

The garden aims to demonstrate how gardeners can encourage biodiversity. “I want users, particularly schools and communities to walk round the space and interact with it.” It will also address climate change issues, focusing on water conservation and protecting rainfall.

Each section of the garden will represent a different climatic environment scenario that could be a reality in the UK in the next few years.

9 There will be a Thames On Tap water bar where visitors will be able to get free refills.

Last year this facility helped reduce the amount of waste caused by plastic water bottle disposal.

A competition is also being launched inviting local schools in the Thames region to submit a redesign sketch for a neglected area of their school. Tony plans to repurpose the show garden and work with the winning schools to reinvent these dilapidated spaces, giving children a chance to enjoy gardening and being outdoors.

8 SGD Award-winning garden 9 John Lewis Christmas roof garden 10 Sculpture garden, Chiswick

C O N TA C T WG06, Vox Studios, 1-45 Durham Street, Vauxhall, London, SE11 5JH Tel 020 3126 4994 Email info@gardenclublondon.co.uk

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www.gardenclublondon.co.uk

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23/05/2019 10:43

INFORM

TIM O’HARE ASSOCIATES IS THE GO-TO SOIL CONSULTANT FOR LANDSCAPERS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND TOPSOIL COMPANIES ALIKE. WE FIND OUT WHY THE COMPANY’S EXPERTISE IS CRUCIAL FOR A SCHEME TO SUCCEED, HOW THEY ARE HELPING TO RECREATE THE EDEN PROJECT IN OMAN, AND HOW THE COMPANY IS WORKING TO EDUCATE THE INDUSTRY ABOUT SOIL

How was the company established?

The company was established in 2006, but I’ve been involved in this line of work since 1994.

The first company I worked for was a laboratory in West London, and landscape architects and contractors used to turn up with bags of topsoil asking for them to be tested.

When we issued the test results, they asked what they meant. We then started writing interpretive reports for them, and have done so ever since. We then started going out to development sites at the early stage of the build, conducting soil surveys and investigations – really, the business evolved from there. We’ve always stayed independent with no affiliations with any soil suppliers or other companies. It brings an element of trust, which is crucial.

COMPANY PROFILE

TIM O’HARE ASSOCIATES

Can you tell me a bit more about what you do?

Essentially, we’re soil consultants to the landscape industry, working on anything from domestic gardens to large commercial projects.

We often get involved at the early stages, conducting soil surveys, but also during the design phases, and all the way through to construction and aftercare. A lot of our input supports the work of landscape architects and contractors. For example, by providing specific baseline information on the soils of their site, or some of the design aspects, such as tree pit design, soil specifications and management plans, or even sports pitch drainage design.

We also do a huge amount of product development and testing for topsoil companies nationwide, initially at the feasibility stage and then with ongoing compliance testing once they start manufacturing and processing soils. We also offer advice on how to sell the product by giving companies an understanding of how the market works, as well as highlighting any limitations their soils may have.

Why would you say it’s essential for you to be involved for a scheme to succeed?

I wouldn’t say it’s always essential, but it certainly helps. Soil is the foundation of a landscape scheme, and therefore influences so

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CHAVASSE PARK, LIVERPOOL

TOPSOIL MANUFACTURE, GIBRALTAR

SOIL SURVEY

KINGS’ CROSS REGENERATION, LONDON

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A3 BYPASS, HINDHEAD, SURREY

INFORM

many other aspects towards a schemes success; the plants, the hydrology, SuDS, biodiversity, contamination. There’s no point investing £10,000 a piece on trees if they have been planted into wholly inappropriate soils, causing these trees to really struggle or even fail.

ESTABLISHED 2006 EMPLOYEES 12 AWARDS PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS 2018 WINNER – SOFT LANDSCAPING SUPPLIER TURNOVER £1.3 MILLION

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION

SOIL HANDLING AND MANAGEMENT

OLYMPIC PARK

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Company Profile Tim O'Hare.indd 29

What are some of the most common problems you come across?

On landscape construction projects, soil compaction is the biggest problem. As soon as you excavate and store topsoil, or travel, store materials or put site compounds on the subsoil, the soil becomes compacted. There should be a plan in place to rectify the damage and then the scheme will be fine. De-compaction is a really simple step, but is so often missed.

Tree pit design is still a huge problem, with simply too much topsoil being put in tree pits.

Tree pit designs often will automatically require the pit to be dug to 1m whether they need to or not. It is far better to replicate the natural soil profile and use a combination of topsoil and subsoil, and only dig the pit as much as soil conditions require.

On some occasions, projects don’t evaluate the soil resources they already have on site, and instead of trying to re-use as much as possible, the site soils are automatically taken off site and new soils are brought back. These often end up being worse than what they started with.

Can you tell me about some past projects?

We were delighted to work on the Athletes Village development In Stratford, which was very challenging due to the variety of landscapes we had to create. As well as designing ‘normal’ parkland soils, we also developed specifications for low fertility soils for the huge wetland areas, biodiverse lightweight media for the green roofs atop the buildings, and podium soils for the courtyards in the middle of each block.

Further afield, the Commonwealth Park project in Gibraltar was lovely. Working with Mark Gregory and the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens team, we advised on all soil requirements for their first ever public park. We did a lot of work manufacturing soils from otherwise waste materials, and the outcome was probably the best topsoil I have ever produced.

What are you currently working on?

We’re working on a big botanical garden project in Oman. It is part-research, part-tourism venture, very similar to The Eden Project but out in the desert. It will encapsulate all the habitats and plants that grow in Oman.

They’re building biomes, but instead of being heated for tropical plants, these will be

refrigerated with cool mountain mist coming down. Firstly, we completed a baseline assessment of what soil resources they had.

Some soils were good to be used, and some were the most toxic soils to plants you’ll ever find.

Once we knew what we were dealing with, we worked with the botanical teams to understand what soils the different habitats required.

We’ve helped them with specifying soils for both the growing on phases at their nursery and the production for the main site as well. We found all the raw ingredients they need and completed

ESSENTIALLY, WE’RE SOIL CONSULTANTS TO THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY mixing and growing trials to work everything out.

They’re just about to start construction now.

With all these projects you investigate what you have and haven’t got. You look at what you want to try to produce and between that, you come up with a strategy.

What’s next for the company?

We’ve expanded our consultancy team by three in the last year and we’re looking to add a few more to keep up with demand.

At the moment I am regularly asked by landscape practices, contracting firms, institutes, trade bodies and even colleges if I can come to do a talk, a CPD seminar or a lecture.

There seems to be an increasing demand for learning and professional development so that’s an area we’re likely to look at in more detail.

Perhaps develop targeted courses for higher education and landscape professionals.

Our soils conference ‘SoilsCon’ is in its fourth year and is being held in Henley-on-Thames on 26 September. It’s a CPD style conference to learn and exchange ideas on anything related to soil. The overriding theme this year is ‘Sustainability’, with some fantastic speakers from a range of disciplines in our industry. It’s set to be a real transfer of practical knowledge.

C O N TA C T Tim O’Hare Associates, Howbery Park, Wallingford Oxfordshire, OX10 8BA Tel 01491 822653 Email info@toha.co.uk

www.toha.co.uk

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INFORM

A DA M W H I T E VIEW FROM THE TOP

ADAM WHITE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE DETAILS ITS NEW BIOSECURITY TOOLKIT FOR LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS, DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SGD, BALI AND APL

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hen I took over as president of the Landscape Institute (LI) in July 2018, I shared my key priorities. These included a desire to take a fresh look at cross-industry collaboration and the urgent need to raise awareness of plant health and biosecurity risks within the landscape profession.

I am delighted to announce the LI has published a new plant health and biosecurity toolkit to help landscape professionals tackle the pests and diseases that threaten our landscapes. The toolkit will be followed

by CPD training on the subject, which will help landscape professionals tackle the pests and diseases that threaten our landscapes.

Developed in partnership with the SGD, BALI and the APL, the toolkit represents a milestone in collaborative working in the landscape sector.

With the uncertainty in the UK’s trading future with the EU, it is crucial that those in the landscape sector implement biosecurity principles at every stage of their work.

Pests and diseases can be very damaging in areas where they have few natural control measures or predators. In 30 years, Dutch elm disease has killed some 60 million British elms, and its effects persist today. More recent examples include ash dieback, oak processionary moth, sweet chestnut blight and Massaria disease of plane trees. These new pests and diseases have economic, social and environmental effects.

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Plant pests and diseases are a normal characteristic of the environment. They usually exist in equilibrium with their hosts, which naturally limits their spread. At a landscape scale, some pests and diseases can even be beneficial in terms of habitat creation and the carbon cycle.

As a professional body, the LI are keen to see better skills and standards developed. This toolkit should align well with the Plant Health Management Standard, which focuses on risk throughout the ornamental and amenity plant supply chain.

THE TOOLKIT REPRESENTS A MILESTONE IN COLLABORATIVE WORKING IN THE LANDSCAPE SECTOR The toolkit follows the LI and RIBA Plans of Work, providing guidance for landscape practitioners at every stage of a project, from assessment to landscape management.

A key feature of the toolkit is the species selection guide, discussing 90 of the genera most used or encountered by landscape architects. It sets out their risks, pests and pathogens, along with the appropriate courses of action to take when using them.

Introducing this toolkit to delegates at our biosecurity CPD day at Kew Gardens on Friday 14 June will be the first step in encouraging members to adapt their thinking about biosecurity at every stage of their work.

The Landscape Institute has coordinated an industry-wide response, preparing the first piece of guidance aimed specifically at those working in landscape assessment, design and management.

This toolkit embeds the principles of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and the UK Biological Security Strategy, and will become an essential part of every landscape project. Biosecurity is something that affects the whole industry, and failure to plan ahead could be catastrophic.

Pictured above: Lakeside Centre, Ferry Meadows, Peterborough. Designed by Davies White Ltd © Simon Whaley

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 / June 2019 31

23/05/2019 14:24

INFORM

H O L LY YO U D E TECH SAVVY

WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF APPS, SOFTWARE AND SOCIAL MEDIA AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESS, HOLLY YOUDE LISTS HER TOP CHOICES

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ust when I think I’m up to date with technology, I speak to someone who raves about a new plug-in or app and realise I need to update my software knowledge. Regardless of how technologically advanced you are, it’s worth keeping an eye out for anything new. It could help make your job easier, and keep you organised and ahead of the game. Here is a little insight into what we use at Urban Landscapes to help you navigate your way down the list of useful apps out there.

Accounting software is fundamental for small businesses. There are some excellent online apps and software available that will also work as your customer database, keep track of costs on projects, and point to where your finances are. We have used online accounting software Kashflow in the past, but have recently switched to Xero accounting, to create paperless accounting.

There are constant debates about whether businesses need social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter. For us, these platforms are a good way of keeping staff and potential customers up to date with what we are doing and can be a powerful way of staying under the spotlight. Facebook and Instagram are great for sharing photos and videos, Twitter is a good place for commentary, and LinkedIn to create a professional network and build on relationships.

We have found MailChimp to be a successful mechanism for marketing campaigns and an effective way of reaching new people and tracking the results of your publications.

When planning and organising our work we go to Google Earth, Google Maps and various weather apps to gain an accurate overview of a site, and use these tools for scheduling work.

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In order to plan and organise our staff and resources efficiently we use the TeamUp app.

This is a useful and flexible resource that helps us track multiple projects. Timetastic, on the other hand, helps us record staff leave time to

IT COULD HELP MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER, AND KEEP YOU ORGANISED AND AHEAD OF THE GAME

range of platforms including WhatsApp, texting, Slack, Skype and FaceTime.

Call me traditional, but a good natter on the phone is still often the best way. We are also regular users of Dropbox – an excellent way to share images and documents across the team.

My favourite all time app is Trello. Having a terrible memory, I have to write everything down, so Trello is basically my ongoing work-inprogress list. It’s a handy organisational tool to monitor projects and prioritise tasks.

These recommendations are just a handful of the huge choice of apps out there, and listing those we regularly use has made me realise just how much the team and I rely on handy technical tools every day.

For those of you now frantically searching and downloading my suggestions, there is one app you might want to try first so that you can sleep tonight – Headspace. I highly recommend this meditation app to catch some well earned rest after a hectic day.

A B O U T H O L LY Y O U D E

avoid any disputes over holiday bookings and accommodate any shortfalls of staff during our busy periods.

To keep health and safety a primary priority we utilise CDM Wizard and Citation to form our method statements and risk assessments.

Communication within the team is via a wide

As joint director of Urban Landscape Design Ltd, Holly plays a fundamental role in the growth and diversification of Urban Landscape Design. Recent wins for the company include the Pro Landscaper Business Awards Landscape Company <£2m Turnover Award, Best Commercial Garden at the APL awards, Employer Excellence Award in the BALI Awards and the High Sheriff of Cheshire Award for Enterprise. This year Holly has been listed as one of the Business Insiders 42 Under 42 entrepreneurs in the North West.

www.urbanlandscapedesign.co.uk

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23/05/2019 10:45

INFORM

ANDREW WILSON “IT’S WORSE THAN I THOUGHT”

ANDREW WILSON LOOKS AT OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS PLANTS IN OUR WIDER ENVIRONMENT AND PONDERS ON THE CONCEPT OF ‘PLANT BLINDNESS’

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riginally, I was an urban boy.

I grew up in St Helens which, although it has its good points, is basically an industrial town.

I remember being fascinated by plants and gardens, but suddenly felt disadvantaged when I started studying landscape architecture. Many fellow students came from rural backgrounds and it seemed they had an innate knowledge of trees and plant species in the wider landscape.

Gradually, with study and experience, that plant knowledge has expanded dramatically, but mainly because I’m sufficiently interested.

One of my younger neighbours recently asked me to have a look at what was in her garden having recently moved in.

There was nothing particularly special or rare in there but on completing my rounds and identifying the various species her response was: “Wow!” I asked what her “wow” was for, and she confessed to being stunned that

someone could carry that knowledge in their head about all of the plants that surround us and admitting that she knew none of this.

This experience came to mind when talking to my students about clients and people’s

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attitudes to their gardens as opposed to the wider landscape and shared public spaces.

Many become (or are) extremely defensive and possessive of their gardens, nurturing and caring for their private outdoor space. In a startling contrast, these same people seem to care little for the communal green spaces which might be right on their doorstep.

APPARENTLY, PLANTS ARE FAR TOO STATIC TO BE APPRECIATED I also mentioned to them that by describing myself as a garden designer, it brought clarity to a layperson about what I did as a career.

Previously, describing myself as a landscape architect often brought bemusement and confusion. I followed up once by stating that I designed public and communal spaces, to which the response was: “I didn’t realise those spaces were designed.”

Whilst pondering this attitude, Stephanie Mahon tweeted about an article on the BBC website relating to ‘plant blindness’. It seems that this is a real and, for our profession especially, a worrying phenomenon. The phrase was coined by American botanists who realised that many were unable to notice or visually register the plants in their own environments.

Apparently, plants are far too static to be appreciated. As children, we are aware of living animals that surround us much earlier in our development than plants. Animals move – we can interact with them as responsive entities.

Plants simply exist or grow generally at a rather slow rate. As a result, we take them for granted as always being there or literally fail to notice them at all. Children introduced to plants and green learning environments from an early age will develop a different appreciation of plants and the natural environment, which should be a source of great encouragement to the RHS and their significant initiatives in primary education.

This lack of interest and awareness at a deep psychological level has implications not simply for horticulture, but also for plant sciences, medical research, the health and sustainability of our natural environment and therefore the health and sustainability of us as human beings.

David Attenborough might well shock us with his new series on climate change, and rightly so, but we have the power in our profession. This is not simply through plants and green spaces, but through inspiring others to say “wow” to the wonders of the natural environment on our doorsteps and to encourage them to consider, or to participate in, careers that might just help to save our planet.

Pictured: What are we seeing when we look out of the window or walk through the landscape?

Milton Keynes office courtyard, by Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam.

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

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 35

23/05/2019 15:36

INFORM

T H E H E AT I S O N

IN THE FIRST OF A THREE-PART SERIES, K ATJA GRIFFITHS DELVES INTO THE IMPACT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING ON GLOBAL TEMPERATURES AND HOW THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY CAN HELP TO TURN DOWN THE HEAT

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oung Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is making her mark on the global climate movement. She is in talks with leading politicians all over the world and encouraging students to strike from school in protest of inactivity to prevent climate change.

On 23 April this year, her message to the British government was: “the basic problem is nothing is being done to halt – or even slow – climate and ecological breakdown, despite all the beautiful words and promises.”

WE NEED “SYSTEM CHANGE, NOT CLIMATE CHANGE”

solution to the problem. Deforestation is the second leading cause of climate change.

It contributes to nearly a third of our carbon dioxide emissions. Conversely, trees and plants absorb nearly a third of our emissions. We should end deforestation and plant more trees; drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy; switch to sustainable agriculture; and consider new technologies, such as carbon capture and storage.

Forests and trees play a crucial role in food security, drinking water, renewable energy and rural economies. Large cities such as Vienne, Tokyo, Johannesburg and Bogota obtain significant amounts of their drinking water from protected forests. In the USA, 180 million people rely on forests for their drinking water,

G R E TA T H U N B E R G

Just four days earlier, more than three million people watched David Attenborough’s BBC programme Climate Change – The Facts, designed to do for climate change what Blue Planet did for single-use plastic. With the recent disruptions caused by Extinction Rebellion throughout its ten-day protest in London, perhaps the message will filter through.

Climate change is here and, as Thunberg says, we need “system change, not climate change”. Limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees will require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes, particularly in how we manage land, energy, industry, building, transport and cities. Large expanses of forest are being destroyed at an accelerating rate – we are destroying the planet’s lungs and part of the

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cities need to be those that increase floristic biodiversity, and we need to opt for sustainably grown products, supporting and buying from local suppliers to reduce our carbon footprint.

In a city environment increased temperatures, attributed to climate, are exacerbated by the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Built surfaces produce, store and re-radiate heat whereas urban green spaces reduce temperatures through evapotranspiration, storing and re-radiating less heat than built surfaces, and via direct shading. Increasing green space, especially in densely built-up areas, is a valuable means of reducing the threat posed by this heat increase.

Simply planting deciduous trees on the south side of buildings can provide shade in hot conditions and optimise solar gain when leaves fall. Selection of species can contribute to diverse and healthy urban forests, and we need to become more proactive and encourage discussion between businesses, policymakers and non-governmental organisations in order to offer a promising approach.

A B O U T K ATJ A G R I F F I T H S according to its Forestry Service. And we are already aware that wood fuel accounts for as much of the world’s renewable energy supply as solar, hydroelectric and wind power combined.

As an industry, we can do our part. We need to educate our clients by choosing optimal and suitable trees and shrubs in urban areas.

The challenges when selecting these include consideration user requirements and growth conditions. The trees and shrubs we plant in

Raised in Switzerland, Katja studied a Bachelor in Business Administration in Europe. In 2009 she formed Design by Katja, and relocated to the UK in 2014. The practice offers a deep understanding of the swimming pool industry and extensive horticultural and garden design knowledge. Katja’s experience of different cultures gives her a unique sense of place, in tune with her clients’ aspirations.

www.designbykatja.com

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13/05/2019 09:55:45 23/05/2019 10:46

INFORM

THE REAL

DOWNTON ABBEY WE VISIT HIGHCLERE CASTLE, A SITE MADE WORLD FAMOUS BY THE RENOWNED DOWNTON ABBEY, TO LEARN WHAT INTRIGUES THE GROUNDS HOLD FROM HEAD GARDENER PAUL BARKER, WHILE THE CURRENT LORD CARNARVON AND EIGHTH EARL GEORGE HERBERT FILLS US IN ON ITS RICH HISTORY AND FUTURE PLANS

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ighclere Castle is undoubtably best known for being home to the wildly popular historical drama Downton Abbey. The award-winning TV show was inspired by the lives of Highclere Castle’s own residents and attracted millions of viewers from all over the world. The striking Victorian mansion sits on 5,000 acres of estate and its current owners George and Fiona Herbert take huge pride and interest in the gardens.

Politician Robert Herbert inherited the estate during the 1700’s, and it was his specific ideas about how a gentleman’s residence should look that shaped much of what can be seen today.

Lord Carnarvon explains that one example of this was a series of follies which would look upon the castle, which “though lovely are now quite a frustrating and expensive legacy.”

Another creation by Robert Herbert was the beech avenue, of which only four original trees remain. Lord Carnarvon and Paul Barker have recreated the avenue, using semi-mature beech trees hand-picked from elsewhere on the estate, including a purple and a copper beech.

In fact, a huge number of trees were lost to a storm in 1990 as Lord Carnarvon describes: “We were lucky that we didn’t have that much damage to the castle. The wind speed was very

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high and we lost enormous amounts of cedars, including ones very close to the castle. It smashed up large parts of the gardens and the park. There was a massive amount of work needed to sort that out.”

The estate grounds are even more impressive when discovering there are only four full time gardeners needed to manage the

THE STRIKING GEORGIAN MANSION SITS ON 5,000 ACRES OF ESTATE gardens. Current head gardener Paul Barker has been in the position for seven years, having taken over from his predecessor in 2012. Don Dowsett, the previous head gardener, held the position for 42 years. Paul made sure to absorb Don’s knowledge and experience before he took on the task of upkeeping the diverse collection of gardens which Highclere Castle holds.

With a massive amount of footfall, you would imagine there is an attempt to control where visitors go in order to protect the

gardens. Paul and the team take quite the opposite approach however, with the Lord and Lady echoing the sentiment. “The trick is not to be too overprotective,” Paul explains, “It’s not marked in any way, we want people to go and explore and find their own way around. Lady Carnarvon won’t have straight lines, she likes everything to be meandering so you’re always going around a corner to see what’s next.”

It is perhaps the encouraged exploration and excitement in discovering the estate that makes them such a delight to uncover, with both Paul’s and Lord and Lady Carnarvon’s passion for the gardens evident throughout.

Monk’s Garden The estate once belonged to the Bishop of Winchester and was used as a summer retreat for monks. This was when the oldest part of the gardens, now known as Monk’s Garden, was established. The walled garden is home to a mixture of planting, whilst a yew hedge runs through the middle of the space. The hedge supposedly wasn’t so large until the World War One, when the gardeners joined the war effort.

With no one there to look after it, it grew and has been enormous ever since. The arched wall to

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 39

23/05/2019 10:03

INFORM

the west of the garden is somewhat of a mystery, though. Paul explains one theory: “Don used to say that it was to allow air to flow through the garden, reducing the chance of frost in winter.”

This area has remained fairly unchanged since it was first created. Plants have been replaced and gaps have been filled, but the lavender beds, herbaceous border, yew arches and peach house which shape the space have occupied the garden for centuries. Nestled behind the yew hedge, you are met with the white border, changed from a perennial border by the 7th Earl and the Countess in the Nineties.

Reserved only for white planting – hence its namesake – wisteria grows on the north side of the wall alongside climbing hydrangeas whilst white daffodils sit in pots. All the planting over the whole of the estate is surrounded by woodchip. Whilst also helping to feed the trees and shrubs, it makes maintaining the beds much easier as the team are able to strim around the edges and the bases of the trees, enabling them to keep everything looking tidy without lots of manual labour.

GARDENS DON’T STAND STILL, THEY ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND YOU HAVE TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE Secret garden Designed by Jim Russell, the secret garden is 50 years old and certainly feels like a mystery worth unraveling. As you emerge from between two pine trees, you are met with a stunning blossom.

Though the herbaceous borders delicately lead you through the garden, it is the collection of cherry trees which really catch the eye.

The present collection is expanding this year as the Japanese embassy are donating cherry blossoms to the site. These are being planted in various sites around the country to mark the relationship between Japan and the UK, and Highclere Castle was lucky enough to be one of the chosen sites.

“There will be six flowering cherry blossoms within this space put in in November,” Paul tells us. These won’t be the first trees on the grounds with an overseas link though, as a Canadian maple was planted last spring to mark 100 years since the Constitution of Canada was signed at Highclere Castle. However, Paul had to hark back to a historical solution when planting the

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INFORM

maple in its chosen spot near Jackdaw’s Castle. As with the 100-year-old azaleas, which preferred acidic soil as apposed to this particular area’s chalk ground, a solution had to be found to help the maple tree thrive.

“Back when they were planting the azaleas, they dug huge holes, retrieving acidic soil from Surrey Heath and filling the holes with this.

All these years later we still have full flowering azaleas in solid chalk, which doesn’t happen.

So, we used the same technique when planting the Canadian maple,” Paul explains.

Interestingly, the azaleas themselves are unidentifiable, as a previous Earl cross-bred azaleas to create what stands there today.

Wildflower meadow The 1,000 acres of parklands within the estate were mostly shaped by Capability Brown, including the breath-taking sweeping view out to Heavens Gate, one of the estate’s eight follies. Not all areas of the garden are shaped however, and one beautiful example of how nature has been able to flourish is the wildflower meadow.

Originally intensively grazed, as the nutrient levels in the soil dropped the wildflowers were able to thrive and self-seed. Today, Paul encourages this self-seeding. “At the end of summer when everything has gone to seed, we will rake the whole area twice. The scarifying also scratches the surface so the seeds can get into the soil to germinate. We are now finding wild orchids growing, which is great.”

Towards the top of the wildflower meadow stands another link to history – a solid cedar carving of a pilot in memory of the aircrafts that crashed on the estate in World War Two. The statue is carved from a single 200-year-old cedar tree and is surrounded by cedar benches. These were carved into tail wings and perched upon Perspex tubes filled with scraps from crash sites.

Greenhouses Though they may not look like much, the greenhouses play a pivotal role. “We have to produce displays for the castle all year round, so I need these greenhouses in constant operation to produce what we need,” Paul explains. “The castle’s not a particularly great place for planting. It’s dark and it’s hot, so things don’t last that long in there. We need a constant turnover and a huge part of our time is generating the plants for the castle.”

The greenhouses are indeed jam-packed full of an array of plants – from Salvia ‘Amistad’ kept for filling planting gaps to a three-year-old

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5 Geranium maderense, Cymbidium, grapes, peaches and nectarines. Citrus trees grow soon to be used in Highclere Castle’s very own gin.

Future plans “We’re striving to improve it all the time.

Gardens don’t stand still, they are constantly changing and you have to meet this challenge,”

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7 Paul says. Lord Carnarvon mirrors Paul’s passion for the estate: “I never get bored of the place. Different times produce different light and shade, giving more interesting views.”

In terms of goals for the future, the key word is preservation. Lord Carnarvon is keen to keep the estate as one single unit by generating new income and adding value to the estate. It’s not an easy feat, however: “It’s a bit of a challenge really. Just as I think we’re getting by and

getting better at it, some new horror from the Victorian time, or some other engineering issue, suddenly appears,” Lord Carnarvon explains. In addition, Paul is keen to hire more staff and with links to Sparsholt College, he hopes to train up another apprentice for the team.

They are also particularly keen to continue to develop the wildflower meadow as it seems to be a particular favourite for the team. Paul notes: “when it’s in full glory, it’s stunning, really stunning,” while Lord Carnarvon elaborates: “The hum from the wildlife it attracted – if you had recorded it on your phone, it would have sounded loud. It was amazing.”

There are also some more plans for Highclere Castle coming up, with a Downton Abbey movie scheduled for release in 2019 and a new book on Highclere Castle to be released at Christmas.

Today, it may be the castle itself and its links to Downton Abbey that pulls visitors in to begin with, but it is undoubtably the grounds and the acres of experiences and discoveries they hold that keep guests returning year after year.

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Monks Garden from above Climbing roses Lady Carnarvon in the Rose House Paul Barker raking leaves View of Highclere Castle from the gardens One of Highclere Castle’s follies Inside view of the greenhouses

C O N TA C T Highclere Castle, Highclere Park, Newbury, RG20 9RN Tel 01635 253210 Email theoffice@highclerecastle.co.uk

www.highclerecastle.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 41

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n August 2017, Kingston Landscape Group were contracted by London Square to complete the landscaping element of Streatham Hill, a gated residential development in South London. The area is well known for its mix of independent and high street shops and its numerous green spaces – in particular Streatham Common, the largest area of acid grassland and woodland in its borough, Lambeth.

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About the site Measuring approximately 1,228m2, the south facing garden consists of first and second floor levels that are situated above a retail unit and a car park. These two levels are connected by an external staircase with secure pedestrian access from the main road.

The overall design aim for the garden was that it should be clean and linear, with Corten steel used to create clearly defined lines between the hard and soft landscaping. Corten was used to create seating, borders and to clad three raised water features which all received lack basalt pebbles and aquatic planting.

The selected planting was aimed to provide year-round interest with a vast range of herbaceous perennials to offer seasonal interest and colour. Digitalis parviflora brings a brownish-red hue to the planting and Achillea

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3 ‘Credo’ adds a splash of creamy-yellow colour, while Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ compliments the two with white petals and yellow central cones. Wispy Calamagrostis brachytricha and Carex ‘Ice Dance’ softens the texture.

The use of scented plants and herbs were included for residents to enjoy as well as to emphasise a Mediterranean theme.

The garden also included over 60 semimature trees. These add height and structure, underplanted with over 6,000 spring bulbs to offer seasonal interest.

The process During construction, the contract manager on the project, Simon Whitlock, recalls the access as being extremely restricted as there was no natural ground floor ingress. Because of this, all materials needed to be craned into position

and deliveries needed to be booked two days in advance as there was also no room for on-site storage. As all sub and topsoils were brought to site, the landscaping team had no unexpected problems with the ground conditions.

Their greatest challenge, however, was when wind conditions prevented the use of the cranes. This would throw tightly co-ordinated schedules apart, not just for them, but for co-ordinating work with other trades. Despite being faced with these natural challenges, the project was completed on schedule and to an excellent standard.

ABOUT KINGSTON LANDSCAPE GROUP Over the past three decades, Kingston Landscape Group has built a strong reputation as one of London’s leading landscape contractors.

Specialising in commercial and residential landscape installations, the multi-award-winning landscaping company has been committed to delivering high-quality services to their clients. They are also one of the few landscape contractors that own two of their own plant nurseries, The Otter Nursery based in Ottershaw & SemperVirens based in Twickenham.

www.klguk.com

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ooftop garden R A seating area under a pergola O ne of the three water features View of the main podium garden

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Alternate view of the rooftop Echinacea purpurea Astrantia Close-up of lavender planting Seating area within the garden Inside the main podium garden

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REFERENCES Landscaping Kingston Landscape Group www.klguk.com

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Corten Metal Edging Everedge www.everedge.co.uk Turf Paynes Turf www.paynesturf.co.uk Fine composted bark AHS Ltd www.ahs-ltd.co.uk

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Plants Robin Tacchi Plants www.robintacchiplants.com Photographs ŠPaul Upward Photography

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Subsoil and topsoil Tarmac Building Products Limited www.tarmac.com Green screens Mobilane www.mobilane.com/en/

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Timber seating Woodscape www.woodscape.co.uk

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OUTDOOR ROOM

WITH A VIEW 1

FA I R S E AT C O A S TA L G A R D E N K AT E M A R S H A L L G A R D E N D E S I G N N AT U R A L E L E M E N T S , A N A R T S A N D C R A F T S T H E M E A N D T H E E N D U R I N G R E L AT I O N S H I P O F L A N D A N D S E A A R E REFLECTED IN THIS DAZZLING SCHEME

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PROJECT D E TA I L S Project value £125k Build time 1 year Size of project 1,250m2 Awards Finalist in SGD Awards 2019

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wned by a family with a keen interest in sailing, this coastal property demonstrates a strong connection between site and sea.

The original house was demolished and a new one built in an Edwardian style, in striking contrast to its contemporary poolhouse. Kate Marshall Garden Design worked closely with the clients and contractor Adam Crisp of Crisp Constructions from the initial stages of the build which meant that the landscape design could inform the building works and ensure the garden layout and views were not compromised.

Brief Kateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clients required a coastal garden in keeping with its locality and to complement the

Edwardian style of the house. The most important aspect of the garden was to retain the uninterrupted view of the sea. The clients also wanted to create a large terrace to wrap around the house as an extension of the sitting room and kitchen. This would provide a wind-sheltered area for dining and socialising.

To further provide areas for entertaining, the clients were keen to establish a small kitchen garden with an intimate seating area close to the house. For aesthetic and practical reasons, steps and terracing were required to ease access across the different levels of the site.

A gate at the end of the beach was also essential to allow access for boats to be carried to and from the beach, as well as to provide daily access for walks.

The client also wanted to include plenty of foliage and flowers to create an impression of softness and movement throughout the garden with an abundance of seasonal interest.

5 The preferred plants included lavender, Nepeta, Buxus and grasses. The brief also asked to make a focal point of a weather vane on a neighbouring property to the west of the site, while screening properties to the east.

Design The concept for the design combined inspiration from the Arts and Crafts gardens of the Edwardian age with the contemporary design of the infinity pools. The mix of these need to demonstrate a strong, uncompromising approach to complement the landscape and the buildings. As a result, the layout is bold and geometric, and reflects the elegant proportions of the house. The design begins in a very formal garden around the house, but as you move down through the different levels of the space, closer to the coast, it opens to reveal an expanse of mixed materials and planting.

Pivotal to the whole scheme is an infinity pool design, represented in the upper garden which has been planted with a border of lavender. When in bloom the blue-purple flora represent the blue water of the pool.

This design has a functional purpose to house the large underground water tank, and also creates a useful divide between the formal and informal areas. Symmetrical steps wrap around the structure, accommodating the vast difference in levels. At the base of the steps, in a sheltered sun trap, while the winding gravel paths lead through an abundance of informal planting to the back gate access to the beach.

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1 The middle terrace 2 Steps up from the beach 3 The kitchen garden 4 Gravel path and planting 5 Looking down towards the beach

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The view from the terrace, looking down towards the steps, displays a wonderful contrast between the abundant colour and texture of the planting with the calm flat blue vista of the sea beyond â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a remarkable mix of the cultivated elements of the scheme within the natural and uncontrollable elements of nature.

Materials The hard landscape materials offer a textural palette with riven sandstone, herringbone brick paths and cobbles. The proximity of the beach meant that timber, gravel and cobbles were particularly appropriate for use in the less formal areas of the garden.

By choosing an Arts and Crafts theme for materials and planting choices, the contrast with the contemporary poolhouse is striking.

The tiled mosaic of a sailing scene was created and installed by local artist Doreen Weatherall. This space was designed and tailor-made to house the artwork.

Key to the success of this garden is the

planting, such as the low-level hedging which provides a microclimate for some of the tender plants in the kitchen garden. The lavenderplanted, low-raised walls create shelter for the small seating areas without restricting views to the sea, while various grasses link the different areas of the garden.

The effect of the plants is transformative, giving the garden a lush vibrancy. No longer a bare site exposed to the sea, the planting is a gentle foil for the different styles of the build, and helps link the individual areas of the garden.

Challenges The garden is south facing and extends down to the beach without shelter from the sun, wind or salt. Challenging physical constraints included a very steep slope dropping 5m across the site, a large underground water tank to incorporate into the design, and the need to consider the mix of building styles. Managing the heavy clay soil was a further challenge to cultivate, improve, irrigate and mulch on a steep gradient.

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DEMOLISHING THE OLD HOUSE

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6 Steps lead down to the lawn area 7 Tiled mosaic artwork created and installed by local artist Doreen Weatherall

LAYING FOOTINGS

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A B O U T K AT E M A R S H A L L GARDEN DESIGN Freelance garden designer Kate Marshall studied a BSc in Landscape and Garden Design at Writtle College, and was awarded MSGD status whilst working with the talented landscape team at Notcutts. Kate has worked with award-winning landscapers Holland Landscapes and Gladwell Landscapes, and is currently involved in a range of exciting designs from contemporary courtyards to wildflower meadows with natural pools and collaborates with Ashworth Specialist Landscapes to bring these gardens to life.

www.katemarshallgardens.co.uk

REFERENCES Designer Kate Marshall Garden Design www.katemarshallgardens.co.uk Hard landscape contractor Adam Crisp www.crisp-construction.co.uk Soft landscape contractor Kate Marshall Garden Design www.katemarshallgardens.co.uk Paving Global Stone www.globalstonepaving.co.uk Irrigation system Tey Farm Systems www.teyfarmsystems.co.uk

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Oak timber sleepers, gravel & bricks Kent Blaxill www.kentblaxill.co.uk Plants Premier Plants www.premierplantsuk.com Cobbles Global Stone www.globalstonepaving.co.uk

THE RETAINING WALL

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BUILDING THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Lawn Greener than Green West Mersea, Colchester

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PROJECT D E TA I L S Project value £24k inc VAT Build time 4 weeks Size of project 28m2 Awards BALI Special & Principal Award winner

V I C TO R I A N

F L AVO U R C O U R T YA R D G A R D E N LANGLEA GARDEN DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION THIS TWIST ON VICTORIAN DESIGN ADDS THE PERFECT FINISHING TOUCH TO A C H A R M I N G H O M E R E N O VAT I O N 52 Pro Landscaper / June 2019

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his courtyard garden is an extension of the client’s newly renovated Victorian home. Its design reflects the traditional elements of a decorative era and makes use of contemporary, industrial style materials to create a charming property with an individual and quirky style.

Build In order to lower the level of the original garden, excavation works were carried out by hand.

A concrete base was laid to the correct falls, ready for the porcelain tiles. Topsoil was imported to the planting beds and raised planter.

Gnarled mature Olive trees were positioned in the raised planter to add presence and provide privacy from neighbouring properties. The addition of the custom-made Victorian style panelling provides a beautiful boundary treatment and conceals spacious storage to one side to house the client’s bicycle collection.

Porcelain paving with refined detailing defines two gravel areas for the client’s dogs to use.

Langlea strategically installed spiked mesh which

sits under the ground level planting. This prevents the client’s dogs from digging it up or walking over the planting.

A concrete raised planter provides a back rest to a porcelain clad seat with Victorian style feet made from reclaimed balustrades. The installation of a brass backdrop brings out the colours of the planting around the courtyard and unites with the interior of the home.

The concrete raised planter was created by constructing a timber shuttering mould with framework. Alongside this, steel reinforcement mesh was used within the concrete to support the weight.

Langlea designed and installed a shimmering brass backdrop which was fabricated locally, then secured to the rear boundary wall.

Unusual features The porcelain-clad seating offers generous outdoor seating for the client and their guests to enjoy the scheme. Seamlessly incorporated into the floorscape, it creates the illusion of enlarging the limited space available in the courtyard.

1 The bright porcelain floorscape creates the illusion of space 2 Skilful landscaping mirrors the home’s modern interior 3 Mature olive trees

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Challenges Because access was restricted to the client’s house, careful planning and logistics were required to ensure that no damage occurred to the interior of the client’s home. During the absence of a boundary wall, some materials were stored in a neighbouring garden.

During this project, internal renovation works remained in progress, and required crucial liaison between the architect and the building contractors as well as the coordination of Langlea’s tasks with the other on-site personnel.

Materials The materials for this project were selected and sourced through regular suppliers, meaning that quality and standards could be assured. The majority of general buildingmaterials came from Chandlers and other materials from specialist suppliers.

A selection of local nurseries provided the plants, flowers and shrubs used around the garden to add colour and ambience.

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4 A view from the house looking out to the inviting exterior 5 Vibrant green offers a striking contrast to the white porcelain details

Langlea is an award-winning, innovative, fully integrated garden design and construction company, founded by a husband and wife partnership. Projects are executed to the highest standards, intent on surpassing the demands of the most discerning private clients. Challenging commissions, creativity and the aim to stimulate the senses are all key to Langlea’s mission: to fully realise the enduring relationship between properties and their landscapes.

www.langlea.co.uk

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Photographs ©Simon Callaghan

ABOUT LANGLEA

BEFORE

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LYNN KINNEAR AT KINNEAR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS REVEALS HOW DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH INFORMS ITS VARIED WORK

LANDSCAPE A R C H I T EC T ’S T JOURNAL

hirty years’ work experience in London has endowed Lynn Kinnear with a strategic view of the city. This insight combined with her ecological approach to landscape architecture enables Kinnear Landscape Architects (KLA) London, to align itself with the aims of the capital, such as achieving National Park City status.

Lynn’s work also includes working in an advisory capacity, as a Mayor’s Design Advocate, reviewing funding and policy for London.

Urban curation When Lynn set up KLA in 1991, her goal was to encourage others to get involved in improving the landscapes of local communities, a philosophy that remains a driving force today. KLA’s Brentford High Street project is a perfect example of a curated environment and won a Landscape Institute’s Presidents Award in 2015 as well as the LI Urban Design and Masterplanning Award the same year.

This project for London Borough of Hounslow was funded by the Greater London Authority, Canal and Rivers Trust and involved various local community groups. The brief was to reconnect Brentford High

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Street with Golden Mile businesses such as GSK and Sky and reinstate its identity, as high levels of traffic had eroded its character. KLA worked with various organisations, artists and engineers to determine and address the core issues in the area. For instance, Meanwhile Space advised on how to enhance the appeal of the high street to encourage new shops and businesses into empty properties.

KLA also enlisted a multidisciplinary design collective called the Decorators. In response to the brief, the group devised a floating high street (a boat) to connect some of the more affluent businesses located on the Golden Mile with Brentford High Street itself.

The practice also enlisted help from Sue Ball at Media and Arts Partnership (MAAP) to create an opportunity for local residents and new businesses to propose further regeneration ideas for the high street.

To help reduce traffic congestion and encourage local businesses to cycle rather than drive, KLA created a new cycle network and secured funding for a fleet of cargo bikes.

To attract greater use of the towpath between Brentford town centre and the Golden Mile, KLA collaborated creative London artist Simon Periton to transform disused sheds into light and attractive spaces. The once unsafe and ugly buildings were re-clad with fretwork facades, designed by Lynn. “We may be landscape architects, but we don’t possess all the skills to realise a vision, “ says Lynn.

“Collaboration is key to the success of a project like this – it might complicate the process at certain points, but the vibrant and eclectic result is so worth all the effort involved.”

Ecological sensitivity While collaboration adds depth to a project, KLA also underpins its projects with a foundation of ongoing research. They have issued five practised papers to address specific issues and devise solutions for topics ranging from city trees to urban water. This detailed research helps sketch an informed profile of an area, and reveals major issues to address.

Walthamstow Wetlands is a good example of this research-based approach. Having worked in the area for seven years, KLA has built up considerable knowledge about the context of this particular landscape. Because the reservoirs have SSSI, SPA and Ramsar status and are part of the water supply to London, KLA has to work within a strict framework.

One of the requirements of the project was to increase public access to nature with the challenge of ensuring careful consideration of

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how this might impact on the site and its wildlife. KLA converted a chimney of a marine engine house into a habitat for swifts and bats with the aim of protecting the species and also to raise awareness of their declining populations in the UK. Lynn summarises: “It was rather like placing a big arrow onto the landscape and saying, ‘look, there is something happening here’.”

Instead of installing new benches on site, KLA created seating by reusing concrete left over from improvements to the railway. The company also installed new reed beds in the reservoir, having agreed this with Thames Water, who were losing storage capacity. The challenge for KLA was to achieve these aims while preserving the site’s ecology.

THAT’S WHAT I’M INTERESTED IN – THAT BIGGER STORY AND HOW IT CONNECTS TO PEOPLE Project diversity KLA projects include working with schools, encouraging young people to engage positively with their surroundings and support their perception of their role in society. “When a school is perceived as public realm by those who use the space, it promotes a respect and duty of care of a place,” says Lynn.

The practice also worked with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris on the redesign of a Burntwood School in Wandsworth, which won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2015.

KLA has also carried out a lot of work encouraging play in parks to be cross-generational and non-territorial. The Drapers Field project in Leyton, London with its undulating ground plane and playful landscape is testament to this ideal.

Currently, there are several other major projects in the pipeline. For Crystal Palace Park KLA are involved in three

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5 separate areas of work, including improving the national sports centre and dinosaur cafe and introducing a new skate park. Further afield, the practice is involved with a works-based project opposite Hoxton Rail Station in Cremer Street called Brickworks. This will be a series of inter-linking gardens at London’s Geffrye Museum, that wraps around the base of the building. The project will sit on the footprint of the old terrace houses, the living rooms will be visible, and the gardens will occupy what were once the various rooms of people’s houses.

“It’s quite a nice romantic idea, and on a very different scale from the works space adjacent, which is a monumental building,” says Lynn.

This particular project pays tribute to the great British garden designer, Gertrude Jekyll, and KLA plan to use some of the planting the she would have used in tribute to her legacy.

This attention to detail is crucial in landscape architecture as London moves towards National City Park Status. Lynn concludes: “When you pull in these sorts of influences, you are left with something which goes way beyond what people see in front of them. That’s what I’m interested in – the bigger story.”

1 Threshold to Walthamstow Wetlands 2 Brentford Market 3 SuDS proposal for Ferry Lane to Forest Road 4 Water play at Brentford High Street 5 Green and open space strategy for Tottenham Hale 6 Swift and bat chimney at Walthamstow Wetlands

C O N TA C T Kinnear Landscape Architects 3rd Floor West, 1-3 Coate Street London E2 9AG Tel +44 (0)20 7729 7781 Email info@kland.co.uk

www.kland.co.uk

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PORPHYRY FILETTI STONE DRIVEWAY AND PLANTING

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DEMISE FRONT OF THE

FOODSCAPING BY MINISTRY OF THE FENCE

TIVOLI EVORA HOTEL, PORTUGAL

T ANJI CONNELL DISCUSSES THE DECLINE OF GREEN FRONT GARDEN AREAS AND PROVIDES A LT E R N AT I V E SOLUTIONS TO S I M P LY H AV I N G A CONCRETE D R I V E W AY

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©RHS

he English front garden, once a pride for homeowners, has seen its floral displays disappearing in their millions, vanishing under slabs of paving stones, concrete and asphalt to become a prized parking spot.

Of course, compared to keeping a garden, concrete requires far less of our attention, time and money. However, the loss of our front gardens not only impacts on the aesthetics of our homes, but can also inflict significant damage on our communities and environment.

Hedgehogs, bees, common birds and insects are all suffering as their homes and food sources vanish and our air quality is suffering too. We need trees and plants more than ever to soak up pollution, particularly in urban areas.

A simple lawn on its own provides a very limited habitat for pollinators and other animals and requires adequate planting to make up a healthy, diverse ecosystem. A lawn, furthermore,

also consumes an enormous supply of water and fertiliser to keep the grass green and healthy.

Tim Davies, managing director at David Harber ponders: “It’s strange that we spend so much time and money on designing, building, planting and maintaining our rear gardens, yet very few people ever see them.”

“Depending on the garden size, parking the car is the biggest issue aesthetically – who really wants to look out of the front window at a parking bay? Because we tend to position our vehicles as close to the front door as possible, any aesthetic beauty available to us is ruined,” says Andrew Duff, managing director of Inchbald School of Design.

When parking is restricted to our front gardens and therefore unavoidable, there are alternatives to creating a traditional concrete space. A carpet of reinforced, hexagonal-shaped plastic mesh set into the soil that holds grass seed will give you a lawn that you can drive over and provide a space for parking that, most importantly, allows drainage.

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GARDEN Combine this with planting around and beneath the vehicle with low-growing, hardwearing plants. Plant in small spaces and add trees, shrubs and bushes where you can, and consider planting in containers and window boxes.

OUR ROSE-SCENTED GARDENS HAVE BEEN MADE OVER FOR OUR CARDEPENDENT NATION Sustainable Urban Drainage or grass block pavers (also known as turf block pavers) or grow-through pavers, are another alternative.

Made of concrete or recycled plastic, they have open cells that allow grass to grow through them. They are a porous, eco-friendly option for driveways and parking areas, and walkways.

They reduce stormwater runoff which is one of the most significant sources of water pollution as the rain runs over asphalt and concrete, picking up oil and road pollutants and washing it into our rivers, streams and bays. If time and budget constraints dictate the use of concrete, then choose a fast-draining one that soaks up rainwater rapidly.

Sean Murrayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 Chelsea garden demonstrates how to incorporate parking in a front garden. It includes trees and other forms of vertical planting, a water feature, a place to sit, and integrated car parking on hard landscaping, interspersed with gravel and hard-wearing plants placed

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FLOAT HOUSE BY PITSOU KEDEM ARCHITECTS

below and around the car. There is always a compromise, but a mix of hard and soft landscaping that is designed ecologically and is also easy to maintain is the way forward.

Rills and reflecting pools are enjoying a renaissance. They add an architectural and ornamental element while inviting wildlife into the garden, transforming the landscape into a living sculpture. The beauty of a rill is in its quiet flow through the garden, while it reflects the sky in all its weathers and offers an ever-changing visual dynamic.

Adding black dye or a black base such as polished black granite increases reflection and depth, and using a low jet fountain creates gentle ripples rather than offensive noise.

The front garden layout needs to signal where people should go, and whereas a direct path to the front door is clearly practical, think about using large stepping pads, or strips of stone interplanted with low plants or grave to break the journey up visually. A small tree will

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BELLA FOXWELL: LONDON DOORS

also help add privacy to upstairs windows and mask the view from street level.

Create festoon doorways and frontages with flowering climbers, topiary balls and window boxes. Use shrubs or planted trellising to screen unsightly dustbins and drainpipes and create the illusion of space especially where it is in short supply by using mirrors to guide the eye and reflect interesting features.

If you are lucky enough to have a front garden with a view, then you may want to enjoy this fully by adding a viewing platform or deck to the house frontage, or pithing the front garden itself.

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.

URBIS WATERBOWLS

www.anjiconnellinteriordesign.com

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R H S C H ATSWO RT H F LOW E R S H OW 2 0 1 9

PREVIEW F R O M 5 – 9 J U N E T H E R H S C H AT S W O R T H F L O W E R S H O W , PA R T N E R E D B Y W E D G W O O D , R E T U R N S T O T H E S T U N N I N G 1 , 0 0 0 - A C R E C H AT S W O R T H E S TAT E I N D E R B Y S H I R E

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he theme of this year’s event centres around the five senses of horticulture with edible herb species providing tastes and smells, while various flowers and plants with assorted textures provide a sensory experience for visitors. The beautifully designed Long Borders which have become a show staple will touch on the five senses, with a display of 6,000 dahlias amongst them. Show manager, Liz Patterson, says:

“It’s so apt that we’re celebrating the senses at our 2019 show as gardens and gardening engage all. Being the RHS’ newest show, we’re building on the success of the last two years.

We’ve definitely got something for everyone to enjoy at our stunning show.” The concept of finding peace and tranquillity through gardening will also be a central theme this year, displayed by the five new Mindfulness Gardens which will each illustrate wellbeing and mental health in their design.

FEATURE GARDEN BREWIN DOLPHIN ARTIST GARDEN

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Designer Paul Hervey-Brookes Contractor Big Fish Landscapes Sponsor Brewin Dolphin Paul Hervey-Brookes returns to Chatsworth for the third year with a garden to celebrate artisan crafts.

The Brewin Dolphin Artist Garden is designed as a working area, with the plants chosen for their artisan uses, such as dyeing textiles. A structured open courtyard includes a reclaimed corrugated tin barn paired with herbaceous borders and traditional planting, such as geraniums and common hornbeam. For each day of the show, a different artist will appear on the garden to create their product, from oil paintings to baskets.

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MINDFULNESS GARDENS TENDING THE MIND

EUTIERRIA

Designer Brent Purtell Contractor Xardin Ltd

Designer Neil Sutcliffe Contractor Creative Roots Landscaping Ltd Sponsor Miles Nurseries, CED

Designer Brent Purtell who exhibited earlier this year at RHS Cardiff now brings his creativity to the Chatsworth estate.

Drawing on inspiration from the abstract art of Piet Mondrain, Tending the Mind includes three raised planters abundant with herbs, creating a space which transforms the everyday herb garden and takes it to a new level. With this design Brent reminisces on his experiences that gardens brought him in his investment banking days, and hopes this garden allows visitors to find relief from stress and find peace.

Returning to Chatsworth this year Neil Sutcliffe’s garden Eutierria draws on inspiration from the cliffs of the River Trent. Planting mimics a forest, woodland theme, giving a sense of a wild surrounding.

‘Eutierria’ is the act of being ‘at one with nature’ which this garden illustrates via a relaxed, calming atmosphere with minimalistic planting of architectural style.

The design integrates large boulders and rocks as well as earth and water walls which create a relaxing space for visitors.

SPACE WITHIN

THE THRIVE GARDEN

Designer Rae Wilkinson Contractor GK Wilson Landscape Services Sponsor Harrod Horticultural, London Stone

Designer Richard Rogers Contractor Xardin Garden Design Sponsor To The Fairest

Award-winning garden designer Rae Wilkinson has created multiple show gardens over the past few years at RHS events and will be debuting her Space Within garden at this year’s Chatsworth.

The garden acts as a biophilic meditation space providing a reflection area for those wishing to escape the chaotic outside world. Two moon gates represent portals from the busy working world to the tranquil garden space which is represented by luscious foliage and plants.

Designed to support Thrive, the gardening health charity, debut designer Richard Rogers has created a garden which illustrates the link between the natural world and human nature.

The key focal point of the design is the 1.8m high Leafspirit face sculpture created by Simon Gudgeon, designed from bronze.

Mirrors, installed in the rear walls surrounded by lush, ornate planting, allow visitors to glimpse their own reflection as they explore.

THE MANDALA MINDFULNESS GARDEN Designer Rachael Quin/ HeldQuin Design Partnership Contractor Patios, Pots & Pergolas In collaboration with the Mindfulness in Schools Project, this garden provokes creativity and reflection allowing children to relax. Mandalas made from natural materials feature along with wildflower turf areas.

A triangular shaped sculpture crowned with a stone leaf is central to the design, representing the Zen symbol of simplicity. Children are invited to create their own mandalas with natural materials at a large, central oak table.

INTERVIEW

PRO LANDSCAPER SPEAKS T O E M I LY B A R N E S , R A D I O SHEFFIELD’S COMPETITION WINNER ABOUT DESIGNING HER ELEMENTS OF SHEFFIELD GARDEN

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INSPIRE

SHOW GARDENS FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

THE WEDGWOOD GARDEN

Designer Lynn Heslop Contractor R&M Builders Sponsor R&M Builders, ADP Architecture, Green Mile Trees

Designer Jamie Butterworth Contractor Keyscape Gardens Sponsor Wedgwood

Debut designer Lynn Heslop draws on her own personal experience in order to create From Darkness to Light. The garden represents the journey of individuals who have gone through traumatic experiences. A tunnel acts as a metaphor for the initial distress individuals face with holes throughout the tunnel acting as a chance for visitors to “glimpse hope and normality” in the outside world. Freedom from these dark times is represented by the initial dark planting colour scheme becoming brighter and more vibrant.

Celebrating Wedgwood’s 260th anniversary, this garden draws on RHS founder John Wedgwood’s vision of using plants and the power of horticulture to bring communities together. Debut designer Jamie Butterworth has created a simple, scaled back design to allow the plants, which have been carefully selected from Wedgwood’s original plant journal, to be the centre of attention. The planting colour palette of roses and sweet peas echoes Wedgwood’s Jasperware of rich blue, vivid greens and deep crimsons.

How does it feel to have won the competition?

I couldn’t believe it when I was told. I felt the odds were against me because I’m a first-year horticulture student. It’s everything that I’ve been working towards, I’ve wanted to design a show garden for years. To win was a dream come true.

Can you tell us about the design?

It’s a 6m x 4m garden for a newly introduced category at RHS Chatsworth this year. The brief was to represent the heritage of my local area – I grew up in, and currently live just outside, Sheffield, on the edge of the Peaks.

Some elements of the design refer to the steel industry of the area, while others represent the Peak District.

My garden went over budget, though, so Bradstone are supplying the paving and

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Polypipe are sponsoring the planting and rainwater harvesting system, which will be laid under the patio to absorb and store rainwater and prevent flooding.

Are there any challenges you’re anticipating?

For me, one of the biggest fears is that I’ve never had one of my garden designs built before. It’s going into unknown territory. It’s quite a modern design, too, and I’m slightly nervous about what people will say about it.

FIND YOURSELF… LOST IN THE MOMENT Designer Samantha Harvey Contractor Creation Landscapes Ltd Sponsor Derby College Group, Robert Watts Sculptor, Harlow Bros Ltd, Creation Landscapes, Ocean Designs Designed by a group of 40 volunteers to evoke mindfulness and provide visitors with a space in which to lose themselves, Samantha Harvey’s garden boasts two beautiful carved wooden spiral sculptures, rising up from delicate planting. Following the success of their Silver medal win last year in the long border competition the team will work together again to create Find Yourself… Lost in the Moment.

The central feature is a circular wooden patio, ornamented with coloured glass in a dainty, spiral pattern.

incredible. Lee’s from Sheffield, has designed show gardens before and is full of advice.

After graduating, what are your plans?

I want to provide green spaces that people enjoy, and design gardens that attract wildlife and respond to key environmental issues.

BBC RADIO SHEFFIELDʼS ELEMENTS OF SHEFFIELD

How does it feel to have Lee Bestall as a mentor?

I never imagined I would get the chance to work so closely with such a great designer, it’s

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ON THE WILD SIDE I N T H E F I R ST O F A T H R E E- PA R T S E R I E S , A L L I S O N WA LT E R S EXPLAINS HOW SHE T R A N S FO R M E D A BROWNFIELD SITE WITH WILDLIFE IN M I N D A N D W H Y I T ’ S I M P O R TA N T TO B R I N G P R OJ EC TS B AC K TO N AT U R E

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e are moving into an era where nature is of great importance and the need for climate change awareness is obvious.

Yet trying to convince people and decision makers we need significant change often feels like hitting our heads against a wall.

The question for some is simply whether we want nature, which comes with creepy crawlies, slimy entities and wild things? While it may come with these, our brains are wired to need nature. Much of nature is so beautiful, balanced and calming. It is the essence of our existence on this earth, but is sadly under grave threat.

At awSCAPE, the mission is to maximise wildlife potential for all projects whilst realising the client’s design intentions. Sometimes this is a difficult balancing act, but if we take something away, we should be giving much more back. awSCAPE’s first appointment last year was a project in Blackshaw Moor, Staffordshire – a brownfield site in a countryside setting.

Working with ctd architects in Leek, a small market town, we redesigned a former army and Polish resettlement camp into a cohousing development, utilising existing buildings and introducing new eco homes on similar platforms to the original army camp. awSCAPE was set the challenge to maximise biodiversity whilst creating usable and functional spaces.

Located on the periphery of the Peak District, the site has many challenges, including

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a steep incline and its exposure to the elements, leaving it waterlogged. The existing buildings have local heritage value but are in a desperate state of repair. The site itself has suffered from neglect, looking more like a demolition site than a former army camp. Some wildlife has taken over, but they have been pushed to the edges of the site as the area is still used for storage and grazing.

IT IS TIME TO CHANGE, TO ALTER THE BALANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR WILDLIFE AND THE FUTURE OF OUR WELLBEING The eco homes and the community buildings were all designed by ctd architects.

Together, we ensured the siting of new buildings was appropriate, following the guidelines of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.

The openness of the site from the road was imperative to retain its character, maintaining a pastoral envelope around the site.

The site includes allotments, orchards, edible gardens near the community building and a small arable field for the self-sufficiency of the residents. Native trees, hedgerows and an earth-filled dry stone wall planted with bilberries provide shelter. This may seem straightforward and it is really, but so often we forget the value of native trees and hedgerows.

The trickier elements of the site include ensuring herbaceous and shrub planting is all native, and that the appropriate grassland communities are used. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust provided a comprehensive list of local grassland and shrub species prevalent on wildlife-rich sites in the local vicinity which has been specified for use throughout the site.

This will create a development that blends seamlessly into the natural landscape. More importantly, the development will have a positive effect on biodiversity and once established it will be low input. The development is currently in planning and awaiting a formal decision.

I am sure some will question how design like this or rewilding in general could work in an urban setting. Higher population density does not mean we need these manicured lawns, perfect hedges and a tidy landscape.

Surely it is time to change, time for us to alter the balance for the future of our wildlife and for the future of our well-being.

A B O U T A L L I S O N W A LT E R S After earning a degree in environmental biology, Allison joined Glendale as a contract supervisor in its grounds maintenance department. After overcoming a cancer diagnosis, Allison says her calling to ecology resurfaced. She studied parttime at BCU, graduating as a landscape architect and working at Wardell Armstrong for 10 years, where she became chartered. In 2018, Allison set up awSCAPE, focusing on her passion for bringing nature into projects and rewilding landscapes.

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17-acre site, conveniently nestled in Hampshire between the M3 and M4, Hortus Loci offers an extensive selection of quality plants. I’d argue that it is perhaps the only wholesale nursery in the UK to offer such a comprehensive collection of plants of distinction at a single site.

The company was launched eight years ago by Robin Wallis and Mark Straver, who both come from a long line of nurserymen. As a ‘new breed’, the nursery is built on the foundations of Robin and Mark’s knowledge and enthusiasm for horticulture.

The success of the nursery has resulted in an international directory of first-rate growers at their disposal. Nowadays Mark heads up the business, focusing on customer and supplier relationships.

Like Mark, Robin has supplied quality plants to top designers as a horticultural specialist.

Hortus Loci’s expertise stems from years of growing and sourcing plants for the biggest horticultural shows – RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court and Malvern to name but a few. In fact, the nursery has its own team dedicated to show gardens, enabling plants to be selected internationally. The two directors have been an essential part of gold medal winning projects year-on-year. You will have seen Hortus Loci’s plants featuring on Tom Stuart-Smith’s RHS Bridgewater

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Garden, Tom Dixon’s IKEA Garden and Mark Gregory’s Welcome to Yorkshire Garden.

If it is plant inspiration you are after, taking a wander through the nursery’s comprehensive selection of show-quality specimens is enough to excite garden design concepts of all shapes and sizes. The nursery is a destination for professional gardeners, landscapers, designers and its clients to browse a wide range of

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top-quality trees, perennials and shrubs.

A browse at Hortus Loci is also a great excuse to sample outstanding coffee from its on-site cafe HOBO.CO In The Shed, an artisan coffee house and kitchen run by Sebastian Bonfield.

Hortus Loci also offers The Plant Centre, a retail arm which supplies smaller planting projects. The outlet enables admittance to more than 4,000 different varieties from the

nursery itself. The Plant Centre provides the general public with access to the latest plant introductions much sooner than other garden centres, with a chance to buy larger specimens than might be found elsewhere.

Hortus has one aim – to supply the best plants possible. “We now raise over 85% of all the plants we supply, so we can guarantee availability and quality,” says Mark. This is achieved by receiving most of its stock as liners, plugs or jumbo plugs from the UK’s most notable growers. Most UK suppliers offer 2L perennials. Hortus raises these into containers dependent on the needs of the plant, whether that be 3L pots or long toms catering to each individual plant requirements, minimising stress during the growing season, resulting in a happier and healthier plant. On a typical nursery you might find two, perhaps three, different composts. Hortus Loci boasts six separate formulations to meet the specific needs of each individual plant.

As well as an excellent stock of specimen trees, shrubs and large pot perennials, Hortus also uses specialist propagators, providing them with some more rare and unusual specimens. It is the variety and quality readily available at this nursery that makes Hortus Loci a one-stop shop for some of the most notable names in the business.

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he landscaped grounds around British Sugar TOPSOIL’s new headquarters in Samson Place, Peterborough, provide staff and visitors with a beautiful environment in which to work. Thanks to the company’s topsoil products – HortLoam premier planting soil and Landscape20 general purpose topsoil – the trees, plants and lawns are flourishing since they were planted last autumn.

As an active Registered Affiliate (supplier) member of BALI, British Sugar TOPSOIL was keen that a BALI Registered landscape contractor was selected to deliver the landscape scheme. The design was created by Gloucestershire-based Davies Landscape Architects. Award-winning contractor NT Killingley was awarded the £250k contract for the soft landscaping scheme by the main contractors, Bowmer & Kirkland.

NT Killingley used 1,420t of HortLoam planting soil at a depth of 450mm to plant ornamental hedging and around 6,000 ornamental shrubs. Two hundred semimature trees were also planted in HortLoam, with the highlight of the scheme being a striking avenue of 5m tall Carpinus betulus (hornbeam) box head trees. These were planted in specialist 4.5 x 5.5 x 0.8m shared tree pits installed by the contractor and backfilled with load-bearing structural soil.

The semi-mature trees in soft areas were planted in individual 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.8m tree pits and those in hard landscaped areas were planted in a single trench, built on the load-bearing RootSpace system from Greenblue Urban and backfilled with HortLoam.

HortLoam is a BS 3882:2015 compliant planting topsoil, developed in response to customer feedback. It contains coarse sand and additional reserves of organic matter in the form of BSI PAS 100 & CQP compliant ‘green’

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compost, giving it a more open and freedraining structure. Its coarser texture is ideal for shrub and vegetable planting schemes, podium projects, raised beds, and the planting of trees and ornamentals. It was selected as the base planting medium for RHS Garden Hyde Hall’s Global Growth Vegetable Garden, designed by Xa Tollemache and formally opened in July 2017.

THE TREES, PLANTS AND LAWNS ARE FLOURISHING SINCE THEY WERE PLANTED LAST AUTUMN Across the lawn areas, Landscape20 topsoil was used, another BS 3882:2015 compliant soil used for general landscaping, seeding and turfing.

Screened to 20mm, it is a friable topsoil derived from the rich arable soils that adhere to the sugar beet brought into British Sugar’s factories.

Despite restricted site access and British Sugar’s exacting level of quality control, NT Killingley completed the works on time and within budget to achieve practical completion. Using British Sugar TOPSOIL’s products, they have created a landscape that reflects the quality and professionalism expected of BALI registered contractors and suppliers.

ABOUT BRITISH SUGAR TOPSOIL As part of AB Sugar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc, British Sugar TOPSOIL was set up 20 years ago to improve the sustainability of the sugar refining process. It is the UK’s largest supplier of quality topsoil products to the landscape and amenity industries.

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NURTURE

GREENBLUE URBAN K I N G ' S C R E S C E N T, L O N D O N This award-winning housing scheme in Hackney was devised by Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design and designed by Karakusevic Carson Architects. Working with GreenBlue Urban and designed by Muf Architecture, the public realm areas carefully consider the infrastructure so that the new trees can establish in a heavily engineered environment. Natural elements were incorporated around the trees, providing a playspace for children, an area for community events and socialising and benches. RootSpace 600, ArborVent Aeration, Guying and Tree protection will ensure maximum value is gained from the site as the trees establish and mature to provide their multiple benefits. www.greenblue.com

TREE PLANTING EQUIPMENT T H R E E C O N T R A ST I N G P R OJ EC TS I N LO N D O N , YO R K S H I R E A N D D U B A I D E M O N ST R AT E T H E VA R I O U S B E N E F I TS O F I N T R O D U C I N G T R E E S C H E M E S TO T H E U R B A N L A N D S C A P E

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Green-tech assisted York City Council with its urban landscaping scheme in the town centre, as part of a regeneration process for the Roman city. One focus of the project was on one of York's oldest streets, Fossgate. The council has changed the direction of traffic and overhauled the area, including relaying the road surface and repaving the Yorkstone paths, widening the narrow footpaths, introducing street furniture and planting several trees. Green-tech supplied everything needed for successfully planting a tree in an urban landscape setting and to finish, a contemporary cast iron tree guard and grille was installed with bespoke etching specific to York City Council. www.green-tech.co.uk

PLATIPUS ANCHORS B LU E WAT E R S I S L A N D, D U B A I Platipus was involved in the Bluewaters Island project in Dubai.

Hosting the Ain Dubai, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest observatory wheel, this new development on a man-made island provided its systems with a demanding urban landscape environment. Platipus was asked to provide a range of underground anchoring solutions to secure palms from four to 12m in height. The most challenging situation was the shallow planting areas on the unique 265m-long pedestrian bridge that connects the island with the main beach.

The end result was a spectacular avenue of trees leading directly to this iconic tourist attraction. www.platipus-anchors.com

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e’re all aware of the environmental benefits and cost savings LEDs have to offer over traditional light sources.

LED light fittings are available in a wide choice of qualities and styles, but the longevity of a garden lighting system will always be down to the products and installation methods used.

It’s best practice to select the highest quality products your budget will allow, even if this means installing your lighting in phases, as this will help to spread the cost.

The right system for your lighting Extra low voltage (ELV) lighting is the preferred choice for hardscape and soft plant lighting as it is safe and relatively simple to install. ELV lighting systems also have the benefit of using flexible cables such as HO5 and HO7RN-F rubber cables, rather than non-flexible steel wire cables (SWA) that are armoured and recommended for most mains 230V lighting.

The use of smaller flexible cables makes it much easier to make ingress protection (IP) rated cable connections and is especially beneficial for recessed hardscape fittings, where the core drilled hole can be very small due to the compact size of modern recessed LEDs. For larger gardens or where long drives and pathways require lighting it is usually best to install mains 230V cabling to the general

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location where the ELV lighting will be installed.

From here, the cabling can be connected to the drivers/transformers to reduce the voltage down to a safer level. Due to the associated materials required, including cable glands and enclosures, 230V SWA cabling installations tend to be more expensive to install. This type of wiring system is also labour intensive compared to ELV systems.

THE LONGEVITY OF A GARDEN LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL ALWAYS BE DOWN TO THE PRODUCTS AND INSTALLATION METHODS USED Choosing light fittings Good quality products should always be used if possible as they will be well suited to the harsh conditions endured throughout the year. This also applies to the materials the products are made from, which include machined brass, copper, 316 marine stainless steel and powdercoated stainless steels. IP68 fixtures offer the best protection against ingress of water and are a must in areas susceptible to seasonal flooding or for submersing within water features and ponds etc. Some high-end LED fittings are available with anti-moisture barriers which act as a barrier preventing water from entering the luminaire if a poor connection has been made and will also eliminate moisture build up on the underside of the fitting’s glass lens due to capillary action through the cable.

Other qualities to look out for when selecting a light fitting apart from the colour temperature

and lumen output is the colour rendering index (CRI), which states an LED’s ability to render colours accurately against a reference light source. As a guide, a CRI of 80 upwards is of acceptable quality. If you’re looking for discreet compact lighting, most fittings have the LEDs sealed in, and this has a negative effect on the environment as they are much harder to recycle.

There is, however, a handful of high-quality manufacturers who now offer much smaller fittings and use innovative replaceable LED boards, which can be changed easily by the end user in the field. This style of luminaire, although initially costly, does not require disposal when the LED eventually fails, thus saving money in the long term. Their fittings also have modular components to ease LED upgrade and recycling at the end of their life.

A B O U T N E I L PA R S L O W Neil is the founder and lead designer at Light Visuals, a London-based landscape and architectural lighting manufacturer.

Neil trained as an electrical designer before his passion for lighting and landscapes transferred to the design and installation of landscape lighting. This passion also extends to the design engineering and manufacturing of high-quality British-made lighting products. www.lightvisuals.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 83

23/05/2019 09:31

EDUCATE

W H AT ’ S NEXT? LEE BESTALL DISCUSSES THE NEXT STEPS IN HIS GARDEN DESIGN PROCESS AFTER BEING EMPLOYED BY A CLIENT

T

he client has agreed to employ you to design and manage the creation of their new garden. You’re about to schedule the work into your diary, but just before you do, the client emails and asks you: “OK, what’s next?”

For me, that’s an easy question to answer.

We use a template at Bestall & Co Landscape Design as a solution to this scenario. Template emails are a handy means of saving time while offering clarity – not only do you have to write them once, but they can be devised and checked by the user, then shared by other personnel. This method sets the tone, outlines the key information and helps to ensure

consistent communication. I believe it’s important that not only the style of language is important, but even the little things, such as the precise font you select to use, go a long way to embedding this consistency end to end in your company correspondence.

By doing this, you are setting a comfortable route for your client to follow from the very beginning. Our clients at Bestall & Co feel secure when this sense of predictability and continuity is established. It helps strengthen

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their trust in you and in turn a trust and loyalty to your brand.

Every company operates differently, but a strict and rigid process like this can work in various settings. Once a client accepts your design quotation, their journey with you and your company can begin, based on this sort of solid foundation.

The first stage is usually a topographical survey: at Bestall & Co, we use an external surveyor to obtain this data for every single job we do. Occasionally this approach might be met with some resistance, but if people really want to work with the team, then it’s the only way they’ll move forward. This information normally takes around two weeks to compile and is sent back in a .dwg format.

The next stage is a concept design, which is presented to the client usually within four weeks of receiving the survey data. The working drawings then take anything from four to six weeks and include around 12 different types of drawings. We detail everything from irrigation to conduits, lights and plants.

If tendering, we normally allow around a month. This part of the process involves meeting the contractors on site, digging soil profile holes and compiling every element of the build into a 35–50 page document. The presentation of the costs are available around three to four months after the initial client meeting. Depending on the time of year, we then have a three to six month wait for a contractor to become available – a fact which often surprises some of our clients.

However, there does tend to be a correlation between this and the available budget. Once construction is underway, we will visit the site every two weeks, perhaps more often during the first half of a project, and then less often once the on-site design decisions have been agreed.

Once the hardscaping is done, the soft planting team take on the project until the garden is finished, although often it looks distinctly unfinished! Unlike interior design which appears complete on the last day, a garden proejct takes a good deal longer to develop and look its peak best.

With this in mind, our final step is to offer clients tailored aftercare options. Initially this includes a detailed calendar of what to do and when. Most clients appreciate aftercare and it’s a great way for us to maintain and develop client contact, should they ever wish to refresh the design, or want advice on another project.

A B O U T L E E B E S TA L L Lee Bestall has been designing and managing the construction of gardens in his signature style for more than 10 years, and his honest, genuine passion is infectious. He regularly writes gardening and outdoor-style articles for magazines, is brand ambassador for Spear & Jackson and a stand-in presenter for BBC Radio Sheffield’s Gardeners’ Question Hour. www.bestall.co.uk

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23/05/2019 14:14

EDUCATE

T H E W E A K E ST A N G U S L I N D S AY D I S C U S S E S T H E I S S U E S YO U R W E A K E ST LINK CAN CAUSE AND WHY REALISING WHERE THEY M I G H T B E W I T H I N YO U R B U S I N E S S I S V I TA L

L

ike most things in the world, a business is only as strong as its weakest link. Too much reliance on one component, system, supplier or individual with no support or back-up can be disastrous if something untoward occurs.

In machines, we have hydraulic systems with pressure relief valves that activate when systems are overloaded. Drive belts, clutches and friction plates are designed to slip. Shear bolts are pre-stressed to break when something goes wrong. But what about our employees and those who manage our businesses – where are their safety systems?

From day to day, we might not notice it.

People go on leave or decide to follow a different career, but things continue to trundle on with little or no visible disruption. However, during this year’s Easter break, it became apparent that many businesses put too much responsibility on individuals with little or no back-up in place to keep things going. It’s only a week’s leave and they will get sorted out when they return – nothing is that urgent, is it?

Like a machine, a business’s strongest point can also be its weakest link The problem typically comes when this delay causes a lack of progress on equipment or vehicle delivery, leading to a knock-on effect on another aspect of your business. This can result in significant operational disruption, increased costs and unnecessary frustration, all because a basic contingency plan or delegation of responsibility hadn’t been implemented.

In today’s world where we are so focused on using only what is necessary, we are reaching a

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breaking point. Whole goods, spare parts stock and even the task of getting a mechanic to come out to service a machine are being reduced in favour of just-in-time supply. “We’ll have to get the part in from abroad” or “we haven’t got enough fitters, so we will get to you next week” are no longer surprising statements - how did we get here?

TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON ONE COMPONENT, SYSTEM, SUPPLIER OR INDIVIDUAL WITH NO BACK-UP CAN BE DISASTROUS This is also the case with people. We are becoming so reliant on technology that the direct experience which made a business successful is being lost or slowly eroded away.

The basic skills of communication, common sense, ownership and decision making are disappearing in favour of impersonal emails and texts and a growing “not my problem” attitude.

Consider how long it will take for a business to realise where its own weakest links are and what the warning signs of failure are. It might be when the phones ring and nobody answers, or something far worse – they stop ringing when customers decide they would rather go elsewhere, frustrated by constant excuses, false promises or even when key personnel walk out the door.

LINK Maybe these are overdramatic scenarios, but consider again what happens when a machine becomes overloaded and fails to perform. The weakest link fails and the whole thing comes to a stop. Usually, this can simply be repaired and it can be put back to work with the necessary adjustments.

Beware of overloading, it will soon identify your weakest link So, when a key member of your team heads off for two weeks in the sun, just consider what you have put in place to ensure business continuity both internally and for your customers. You can’t exactly say “Fred or Liz is on leave and there is nobody to sort out a customer’s query – but don’t worry, they’ll sort it out in ten days when they’re back”. This will seem unprofessional and makes it obvious where you needed a contingency plan, making you feel like Anne Robinson just sent you off in the first round.

A B O U T A N G U S L I N D S AY 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.

angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 85

23/05/2019 09:21

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23/05/2019 14:37

EDUCATE

R I D E- O N M OW E R S F

or those with clients whose lawns are typically half an acre and upwards, a ride-on mower becomes an absolute must. But forget the ‘vanity’ ride-on mowers aimed at the domestic market that can cost as little as £1,500 – the professional often needs to work in all types of weather and on different types of ground. A versatile and robust ride-on involves considerable outlay and you will also need to budget for regular servicing.

BUYING A RIDE-ON MUST BE A CONSIDERED DECISION This is also a competitive sector and there are a range of brands to choose from – many will offer unique features, so the buyer needs to do some extensive research. It is very much a case of finding what suits your needs.

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T H E C H EC K L I ST BEFORE YOU BUY A P OW E R F U L M AC H I N E I S R EQ U I R E D W H E N C L I E N TS H AV E T H E L A R G E ST L AW N S TO M A I N TA I N . W H AT S H O U L D YO U B E AWA R E O F W H E N D EC I D I N G O N W H I C H M OW E R YO U N E E D ?

Key questions Buying a ride-on must be a considered decision, and there are some main issues to bear in mind.

Engine size Higher horsepower will be able to deal better with banks and more difficult terrain. However, more power can also mean more noise and pollution, so is there a good filter?

Features More costly versions will offer features, such as articulated steering, mulching options and headlights. Professionals need to work all year round and conditions such as muddy ground require four-wheel drive. Front mounted decks are useful for cutting under items, such as benches and tables. Consider the size of the mower – will accessibility be an issue? Can it be transported and stored?

Ease of use If delegating mowing work to another member of staff, you need them to be up and running in

minutes, so straightforward controls could be important. Out front, as opposed to tractor-style mowers, tend to provide better visibility.

Manoeuvrability Zero turn mowers can pivot and circle around obstacles such as trees and ponds. They can cut closer to edges, reducing the need to trim.

Ergonomics Horticultural work can be physically demanding and strains and injuries are commonplace.

Sitting down for hours could exacerbate these, so check that the seat offers support and sufficient leg room. You should also check that changing functions can be done smoothly and that the deck lift is not overly heavy.

A final point to consider is who to buy from.

Price is an important aspect, but simply getting a good deal is not the end of the matter – excellent after-sales service is crucial. If your ride-on needs repairs, it will not be earning, so be sure to use a dealer who can ensure your investment is back in action with minimal delay.

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 87

23/05/2019 15:41

EDUCATE

HUSQVARNA HUSQVARNA R 420TSX AWD

HUSQVARNA R419TSX AWD

RANSOMES

R I D E- O N M OW E R S KIT

The HM600 is a heavy-duty mulching wide area flail mower, offering versatility without compromise. It has been developed with advanced Müthing flail technology and is designed for cutting parks, sports pitches and overgrown areas with a consistent superior finish.

The wide area platform has been developed with productivity as one of the key points, and comfort is a significant factor in providing that.

During the key growing months, operators can be out for around 10 hours a day. A focus on providing a productive environment for them to work in led to the introduction of the ISO platform, high-spec seat and adjustable operator station. This is a robust and reliable mower with the ability to tackle the toughest jobs as well as the finesse to manoeuvre in tight spaces.

The end result in a quality after-cut appearance and an even spread of mulched clippings. www.ransomesjacobsen.com

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Husqvarna has launched its Riders series, providing compact size with commercial performance. The two models – R 419TsX AWD and R 420TsX AWD – are out-front mowers built on a new chassis and innovative X-Change drive in/drive out attachment frame.

They are Bluetooth connected with an updated human-machine interface and automotive style LED headlights. With the X-Change feature, the user can quickly change attachment without the need for belt removal of any tools. The new human-machine interface display communicates with the driver, assists in handling and shows real time data and warnings.

The Riders are compatible with Husqvarna Connect and Husqvarna Fleet Services to provide useful data as well as helping contractors manage their fleet of products.

They also feature all-wheel drive hydrostatic transmissions which improve stability and traction. The tool carrier on the engine hood has an easy access 12V outlet, making it convenient to charge handheld battery products whilst mowing. The carrier can also be fitted with a cargo holder.

The R 419TsX AWD is fitted with a commercial grade 656cm3 Briggs & Stratton V-Twin engine and has the option of new X-Change 103cm and 112cm Combi cutting decks.

The R 420TsX AWD is fitted with a commercial grade 724cm3 Kawasaki V-twin engine and has the option of X-Change 103cm, 112cm and 122cm Combi cutting decks. www.husqvarna.com/uk

RANSOMES HM600

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23/05/2019 15:42

The Ransomes HM600.

HM600

The HM600 has been built in collaboration with MĂźthing to deliver a robust, reliable mower with the ability to tackle the toughest jobs, and the finesse to manoeuvre tight spaces while providing a quality after-cut appearance. From a clean, fine, rolled finish across sports pitches to routine cuts, the HM600 leaves an even spread of mulched clippings. It also tackles the irregular cuts, bringing the lesser maintained areas back under control.

Visit www.ransomesHM600.com to watch the machine working and book a demo with your local dealer.

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20/05/2019 14:38 14:37 23/05/2019

EDUCATE

L AT E ST K I T

SPRAYERS A P P LY I N G H E R B I C I D E S A N D P E ST I C I D E S E F F EC T I V E LY R EQ U I R E S S U I TA B L E E Q U I P M E N T TO E N S U R E P R EC I S I O N A N D T H E S E A R E S O M E O F T H E B E ST I N C L A S S E X A M P L E S

SHERPA SHERPA CORDLESS DELUXE 16L KNAPSACK MULTI-SPRAYER SXMD16ET

SUPATURF Supaturf â&#x20AC;&#x201C; part of Vitax â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has been manufacturing sprayers in the UK for the amenity markets for over 25 years. The battery-operated Club and the larger Professional models are the latest launches and are preferred by many grounds maintenance professionals. Simplicity is at the forefront of the product's development. The machines have a simple operation, are simple to maintain and, if necessary, simple to repair. Alongside this is a full inventory of spares, available on request, and these can usually be dispatched on the same day of ordering.

The machines are as light and as portable as possible, perfect to be used at multiple sites. They can also be easily transported and lifted from and onto a work vehicle. Flexibility is important and different nozzles can be supplied for the three spray points on the Club, while the Professional has three nozzles settings at five spray points on the boom to choose from. Included in this three-nozzle arrangement is a nozzle shut off system so that all nozzles can be isolated. A return to tank agitator is included in the Professional as standard so the material remains fully mixed. www.vitaxamenity.co.uk

SUPATURF EVENSPREY PRO

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The Sherpa Cordless Deluxe 16L knapsack multi-sprayer SXMD16ET is a lightweight, versatile and rechargeable model that offers convenience, allowing the user to go anywhere without the need for constant pumping. It also comes with a detachable and well-balanced trailer with a telescopic pulling handle. The sprayer comes with a strong padded shoulder harness and has an ergonomic tank design, making it comfortable to wear.

The trigger has a locking function, making spraying effortless.

The control knob can be adjusted as desired to switch between four nozzles for different spraying patterns. There is also an onboard display to show how much power is left. www.sherpatools.co.uk

SCH SUPPLIES

PS22 PROFESSIONAL POWER SPRAYER

The PS22 is a highly versatile sprayer and can be used on large and small areas with ease. The tank is mounted on a robust tray chassis, which has two pneumatic leading wheels and a rear castor wheel which acts as a line marker. The sprayer is fitted with a height adjustable break back boom. Its four nozzles give a spray width of 2400mm, and the two outer nozzles of the boom can be turned off to give a narrow spray width if required.

The 12v diaphragm pump has a flow rate of 7L per minute. A 22Ah battery is fitted, giving an average spray time of approximately five hours for continuous spraying. A brass hand trigger lance, complete with quick and simple twist connectors is supplied with each sprayer. www.schsupplies.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

23/05/2019 16:12

ADVERTORIAL

B

TA L A S E Y G R O U P

1

CELEBRATES

ack in 2004, hoped to inspire more young CEO Mark Wall people to consider pursuing a established Natural career in landscaping.

Paving Products (UK) Commenting on the reasons Ltd. With his passion for business, for Talasey’s continued success, customer service excellence, Mark Wall says: “There are corporate social responsibility, probably three main areas that and supporting the landscaping have been key to our growth: a TA L A S E Y G R O U P C E L E B R AT E S I TS 1 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y T H I S industry with high-quality products, hard working team of employees; J U N E A N D I TS C O N T I N U E D S U C C E S S TO E XC E E D C U STO M E R expansion was inevitable. In a short knowing what our customers and E X P EC TAT I O N S W I T H A D I V E R S E P R O D U C T P O R T FO L I O, space of time Natural Paving their customers’ needs are and E XC E P T I O N A L S E R V I C E A N D R E N OW N E D T R A I N I N G AC A D E M Y Products had developed five delivering on that need; and additional product brands (Pavetuf, robust supply chain partners.”

Vitripiazza, Baksteen, Luxigraze and Resiscape) competitors. The latter, combined with a desire Looking forward to the next 15 years, Talasey is and with such a diverse product portfolio the to help address the existing skills gap and not intending to sit back, with exciting strategies company rebranded to Talasey Group in 2018, recognising the need for accredited formal and plans for further expansion – be sure to with Natural Paving continuing as the sub brand landscaping training, Talasey Group decided to watch this space! for the companies stone offer. take matters into its own hands, and in 2018 3 The company has grown at a rapid rate. the Talasey Training Academy (TTA) opened In the past six years alone, it has more than its doors. Offering a range of City & Guilds trebled its turnover. To support this growth, accredited training courses, the TTA offers the company has doubled the size of its help to everyone in the landscaping industry, Doncaster distribution centre, alongside its enabling all delegates to get hands-on practical three other large stocking locations at Tilbury, experience with a wide range of landscaping 1 Staff celebrate at Talasey House Grangemouth and Southampton. The workforce products, and to increase skills, confidence and 2 Talasey Group products, including Luxigraze ‘32 Luxury’ has also doubled in numbers with new additions product knowledge. (artificial grass), Vitripiazza – ‘Biscotto’ from the Anno Since its launch, the TTA has received range and ‘Marino’ from the Albero (wood effect) positive feedback from delegates, who have range (Italian porcelain), Natural Paving – ‘York Mix’ thoroughly enjoyed the courses. Jamie Furlong sandstone block pavers 3 Members of the Indian workforce, the source of the of Norfolk Garden Design and Landscaping Ltd, majority of the Natural Paving range who has, so far, participated in three courses – 4 Successful candidates from the TTA Resin Bound Aggregates, Porcelain Paving and 4 Artificial Grass – says: “The guys at the TTA can’t do enough to help you. The trainers adapt To celebrate its 15-year their approach to suit the ability, experience and anniversary, Talasey 2 Group is offering £15 off needs of each delegate, whether you’re a selected TTA courses*. to all departments. beginner or more seasoned professional. If a For further details visit Mark has also expanded the business into job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well and these www.talaseytrainingacademy.co.uk, international waters, launching a sister company courses can provide you with the necessary or call 0330 353 0208 to secure your place. in North America, Natural Paving USA. With a know how and practical skills to be able to

15 YEARS IN BUSINESS

high demand for natural stone hardscaping solutions, the company has experienced an impressive growth across the country, with plans to become a well-established brand in the American hardscaping industry.

Committed to offering a holistic landscaping solution, Talasey Group looked for ways it could diversify further, to set itself aside from

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achieve incredibly high-quality installations.”

Furthermore, Talasey Group is the Official Training Provider for the WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening Team, with TTA’s facilities and support being used to give the team the best chance of being victorious at the 2019 WorldSkills competition to be held this August in Kazan. Through its sponsorship, the company

To learn more about Talasey Group visit www.talasey.co.uk or call 0330 333 8030.

Alternatively, you can visit them at the next Pro Landscaper LIVE in Cheshire on 30 May. *The offer is only valid on bookings made by 30 June 2019 for porcelain paving, artificial grass and resin-bound aggregates courses. Visit www.talaseytrainingacademy. co.uk/terms-conditions/#section-20 for full T&Cs.

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 91

23/05/2019 16:59

EDUCATE

C O LO U R I N G T H E WAY

AT T R AC T I N G T H E R I G H T S K I L L S TO T H E R I G H T R O L E S C A N B E T R I C K Y – E S P E C I A L LY W H E N P E R S O N A L I T Y I S S O O F T E N A C R U C I A L FAC TO R . T H I S M O N T H W E S P E A K TO KO R E E N S A M U E L A B O U T H OW G R O U N D C O N T R O L I S U S I N G I N S I G H TS D I S C OV E R Y ® N OT O N LY I N I TS R EC R U I T M E N T P R O C E S S , B U T A L S O TO H E L P S H A P E I TS E M P LOY E E S ’ R O L E AT T H E C O M PA N Y A N D I N T U R N T H E C O M PA N Y I TS E L F

I

ntroduced to Ground Control by Clarity Consulting Solutions, Essex-based Consultancy Service, Insights Discovery® works by identifying one of four colour energies in a person. Essentially it is a psychometric tool based on the work of Carl Jung which is similar to the Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator, and used to help people understand themselves and others, so they are able to make the most of their working relationships.

Koreen Samuel, Talent Partner at Ground Control, didn’t put too much thought into her Insights Discovery® when she completed it.

“Unbeknownst to me, this short questionnaire would produce a 20-page profile, describing me almost exactly, including things I didn’t even realise were true about myself – which absolutely are.”

Koreen herself predominantly leads with the colour Sunshine Yellow energy. Sunshine Yellow people can be defined as sociable, dynamic, demonstrative, enthusiastic and persuasive,

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RATHER THAN BEING UTILISED AS A TOOL TO LABEL PEOPLE, WE USE IT TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND OURSELVES

with their motto being: “involve me”. The other colour types are Fiery Red, Cool Blue, and Earth Green. Fiery Red’s strapline is “be brief, be bold, be gone” and people that lead with this colour energy can be competitive, demanding, determined, strong-willed and purposeful.

Cool Blue’s strapline is “give me the details”, with the personality traits being cautious, precise, deliberate, questioning and formal.

Those that lead with an Earth Green personality can be defined as caring, encouraging, sharing, patient and relaxed, with the strapline: “show me you care”.

At previous companies Koreen had seen psychometric testing used as a hiring tool, which can be really effective, especially in an industry where personality is so important. Ground Control, however, goes on to use Insights Discovery® as a way to guide and develop each employee’s journey at the company. By finding out the potential blind spots of a person as well as their strengths, Ground Control is able to

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23/05/2019 17:47

EDUCATE

PEOPLE DO MUCH BETTER WHEN THEY DO THE THINGS THEY LOVE possible to enable people to excel at what they do well and enjoy, and have changed whole departments in the name of this, mine included.”

New employees who join the company attend a full-day session with other new starters from across the business and indeed the country. They come together to learn about insights, how to spot which colours a person may lead with, and how to work with them to get the best out of the interaction.

Koreen tells how understanding someone’s colour helped her to approach a situation differently in the past, which meant she could get the most out of it.

“Those who have met me will know I’m quite chatty and descriptive – I love to tell a story.

Early in my time at Ground Control I interviewed a wonderful candidate and I couldn’t wait to tell

the hiring manager all about them. However, I just wasn’t hitting the mark, he wasn’t sold.

Circa one week later, I’d had my insights session and I could then deduce that my learned colleague led with the colour Cool Blue energy.

They don’t usually like having to make decisions on the spot and often need some information first to consider.”

The results are also used to create a team wheel which helps Ground Control to understand team dynamics so that it can ensure these are effective. “We all work together in various roles across the country and try to get the best out of one another by understanding how to communicate effectively.”

Different chapters can be added to these profiles, such as an interview chapter which provides specific questions to ask candidates.

This can be a useful tool when trying to get to know who an interviewee really is, instead of the version of themselves they are presenting to you.

There is also a management chapter which helps understanding a particular person’s management style and how best to work with it to help the employee progress into a role. This kind of detailed insight can help a business operate more smoothly. It can help pre-empt the reception of interactions, and allows employees to question themselves and the inherent preferences and tendencies that can affect their decisions and interactions.

Koreen admits that not a day goes by that she doesn’t hear someone mentioning colour energy. “It really is a part of the culture here at Ground Control, and rather than being utilised as a tool to label people, we use it to understand each other and ourselves.”

Photographs ©JHM Photography

either help its employees improve in those areas, or show them alternative routes to achieving the best results.

Koreen explains: “People do much better when they do the things they love. Rather than trying to fit people into roles, Ground Control asks what are you good at? What do you not like? It’s much more real, which I think our industry is. We’ve not got the shine of media and so that’s how we approach it. We try where

W H I C H C O L O U R A R E YO U ?

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Pro Landscaper / June 2019 93

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A R E YO U

EDUCATE

GDPR

COMPLIANT? OW E N B A K E R , T E C H N I C A L O F F I C E R AT B A L I , E X P L A I N S H O W G D P R I M PAC TS T H E L A N D S C A P I N G I N D U ST RY A N D W H Y I T ’ S I M P O R TA N T C O M PA N I E S C O M P LY

P

icture this – you own a van. It has your company name on the outside and expensive tools on the inside.

One day, an associate asks to borrow the van for a weekend job. You trust them, so in a moment of generosity, you decide to lend your van and its contents to them.

There are no written terms associated with this agreement, so what attitude could you reasonably expect from your associate when you agree to the loan?

You might reasonably expect the associate to ask permission before he or she takes and uses the van. You may also expect them to look after it, use it for only the purpose you agreed and to not abuse it. You would probably want the van to be locked when not in use and stored in a safe location.

Your associate must not lend your van to someone else – or worse, sell your van (or any of the tools inside) to someone else without your permission. If the van were to be stolen whilst in your associate’s custody, you might expect to be told quickly, so that you could report it to the police and insurers.

Rather than a van, how would you feel about sharing

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your name, address and bank details with somebody?

Just like the van, this data of yours is valuable to you – but also other people. Both belong to someone, so why should this personal information be treated any differently to your personal possessions?

THE GDPR AIMS TO RETURN THE CONTROL OF PERSONAL DATA TO THE INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM IT BELONGS Of course, the reason I am asking these questions is because of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). A regulation in EU law, adopted in 2016 and enforced from May 2018 in the UK, the GDPR aims to return the control of personal data to the individuals to whom it belongs. It is enforced in the UK by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and the regulation is likely to remain regardless of Brexit.

So, why the focus on data now? The nature of data collection, storage and distribution has evolved significantly over recent years. The previous EU directive to govern data protection was implemented when

fewer than 1% of Europeans had access to the internet. This figure now stands at more than 85% and, largely thanks to the internet, a huge amount of data can be shared in seconds. Therefore, the legislation needed updating.

Personal data, as identified in the GDPR, is any information that allows a person to be directly identified – for example, your name, address or telephone number – but also more sensitive information such as health records, sexual orientation or political opinions.

You may ask yourself: “how does the regulation affect businesses working in the landscape industry? Do small contractors or designers really need to conform to GDPR?” The answer is yes. There are many examples where a landscape professional will collect or control personal data belonging to third parties, including names, addresses, telephone numbers and even bank details. Of course, in most instances it is perfectly legal to hold this data as, without it, you would be unable to provide a quote or invoice for services carried out.

But consider how you store this data. On a phone, in a notebook or perhaps on a computer.

How secure is this device? Is the phone or computer protected with a password? How about that notebook where you keep names and

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USEFUL LINKS Information Commissioner’s Office is the UK’s independent body created to uphold information rights. Check out their website to find out more about GDPR and to complete their checklists to ensure you are GDPR compliant. www.ico.org.uk Use Have I Been Pwned to find out whether your data has been compromised by one of hundreds of past data breaches.

The site checks against almost 8 billion email addresses and 500 million passwords ‘pwned’ so far. www.haveibeenpwned.com

addresses – do you lock it somewhere safe or is it left in the car or van overnight? Under GDPR, the person responsible for the data must ensure reasonable measures are taken. This of course depends on the type of data you hold, but how would you feel if sensitive data, such as your name, home address or bank details were kept on a computer without a password, and this computer was subsequently hacked or stolen?

Businesses must also ensure the basis upon which they collect, record, organise, store or use (known collectively as ‘processing’) data is lawful. This section of GDPR is key, since businesses should ensure they abide by one of six lawful bases for processing data.

Rather like the stolen van scenario mentioned earlier, the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data should be treated like the loss or theft of any other valuable object. This includes recording incidents and, in severe cases, reporting the event to the ICO. Rather like a stolen van, data breaches rarely make the news – but this does not mean significant breaches are uncommon.

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Try inputting your email address on the 'Have I Been Pwned?' website above to learn more about data breaches in which you may have been exposed.

THE NATURE OF DATA COLLECTION, STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER RECENT YEARS Despite the broad scope of the GDPR, the concepts are relatively straightforward. Most of the elements are based on common sense and an appreciation of what is reasonable.

The ICO website contains some great, easy to understand guidance. Most small businesses can implement GDPR policies and measures on their own, whilst larger businesses may require only a little guidance.

As a greater proportion of businesses use the internet and electronic devices to conduct daily tasks, our familiarity and comfort with sending information has increased significantly.

We are happier to just input our data and be done with a deal as soon as possible. But next time you send your bank details to an unknown business, think to yourself – would I lend my van to them?

ABOUT OWEN BAKER Owen Baker is a technical officer for policy and research at the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). Established in 1972, BALI promotes, supports and inspires over 900 registered members including landscape contractors, landscape architects, garden designers and suppliers to be leaders of an environmentally, ethically and commercially sustainable landscape services industry. Owen has a degree in landscape management and a Masters degree in marketing management.

www.bali.org.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

23/05/2019 09:42

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23/05/2019 14:40

EDUCATE

BREAKING OUT AG S L A N D S C A P I N G I S H E L P I N G E X- O F F E N D E R S G A I N T H E S K I L L S T H E Y N E E D FO R A C A R E E R I N L A N D S C A P I N G . M A N AG I N G D I R EC TO R G AV I N B L AC K B U R N E L A B O R AT E S O N T H E N E W V E N T U R E

A

fter spending most of your adult life behind bars, the day you step outside the prison walls should be a relief. However, almost two-thirds of those released after sentences of less than 12 months reoffend within a year, according to official figures, and the prison population in England and Wales has doubled since the early 1990s to more than 80,000 in 2018.

Eager to change this, The Together Group was established. As a community interest company (CIC), it aims to provide ex-offenders with employment opportunities in building and refurbishing homes to reduce reoffending rates. It started in Bristol eight years ago, expanding into Birmingham in 2013 and then into Glasgow a year later.

It’s the latter branch, Glasgow Together, which contractor AGS Landscaping has teamed up with. This partnership offers ex-offenders a chance to learn hard and soft landscaping skills, working alongside the company’s experienced landscapers on both commercial and domestic projects.

“We try to get across to those who work with us the opportunities they have available to them,” says Gavin Blackburn, managing director of AGS Landscaping. “If their future is

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O F T H E CYC L E

not with us, it’s with someone else when they seek future employment. It’s to help them realise what they can achieve outside of four walls.”

The Together Group as a whole boasts that only 4% of those employed through the scheme go on to reoffend, and Gavin says the Glasgow branch contributes heavily to this success.

“Barry (Mochan, CEO of Glasgow Together) and I decided we could do something really worthwhile, giving people from an offending background another opportunity to work, and Glasgow Together has lowered the reoffending rate in the city.”

WE TRY TO GET ACROSS TO THOSE WHO WORK WITH US THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM Three ex-offenders currently work with AGS, who Gavin says are doing “really well”, and he’s now looking to take on at least another two shortly. “They come from quite tough backgrounds, so we try to create an environment where we have a good amount of fun, and this helps to accelerate the learning process.

“All of our recruits are paid a living wage and on long term contracts, which in combination with our mentoring process gives them the stability they need to succeed and turn their lives around.”

Those taking part in AGS Together learn on-site, and Gavin says AGS is working towards putting a structure in place where recruits can be put through a qualification.

The venture also provides an opportunity for AGS Landscaping to develop further. “Glasgow Together is a community interest company, so when we tender for contracts in the future, what we do might be appealing to some government

bodies. That’s an avenue we can explore to bring in the volume of work which allows us to give more opportunities to new recruits.

“Everyone who owns a business wants to make money, but if you can help someone along the way and give them an opportunity to gain a foothold in the working environment, then that is just as important.”

Though Gavin had not previously worked with ex-offenders, he was a vocational training instructor for a number of years. There, he was helping those looking for work at the job centre to learn a trade, before eventually setting up his own landscaping company. “It’s something I really wanted to do again, so when the opportunity came up, I decided to go for it.”

He would now like to see initiatives such as this expand across the UK, as the ex-offenders referred to the programme are keen to be involved, and to be given a second chance.

“Some of them have been in jail most of their adult life. They now want to get on with their lives.” Initiatives such as AGS Together could help to chip away at the reoffending rate, which puts a huge strain on prisons in the UK.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

23/05/2019 09:53

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23/05/2019 14:41

EDUCATE

SA R BIOTR FOE R EVSTIPSR OID UTC TS A R B O R FO R E ST P R O D U C TS O P E R AT E S A 9 0 -AC R E S I T E , OFFERING A WIDE R A N G E O F P R O D U C TS I N C LU D I N G T H E E C O - F R I E N D LY C O M P O S I T E D EC K I N G , T R E X . O N A R EC E N T V I S I T TO I TS E X T E N S I V E S I T E I N H U L L , U N D E R T H E G U I DA N C E O F T R E X A R E A S A L E S M A N AG E R , LEE HEITZMAN, PRO LANDSCAPER O B S E R V E S T H E K E Y F E AT U R E S O F T H E C O M PA N Y, I N C LU D I N G I TS POLICY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

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S

ituated on the banks of the River Humber, Arbor Forest Products operates one of the largest privately-owned dedicated timber ports in the UK. The 90-acre site has a stock holding of up to 65,000m3 meaning that 98% of its product line is in stock at any one time.

Arbor Forest Products are suitable for both multi-site, multi-million pound organisations and single-site, owner-managed businesses alike. The company is passionate about providing the highest customer service no matter the customer. Among its extensive product range is Trex – composite decking made from 95% recycled timber and plastic.

Trex was the first company to manufacture composite decking, producing the first co-extruded product which is now available in more than 45 countries. Through the

production of Trex, £400 million of plastic and wood are saved from landfills each year as 1m2 of Trex deck is made up of 3,017 recycled plastic bags.

The company makes collections of these bags, working with schools and supermarkets across America. With this in mind, it is no surprise that Arbor Forest Products ensures this dedication to being environmentally friendly extends right through to its site in Hull.

In 2014 the company installed a biomass plant on site in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint and become more efficient. Using innovative biomass technology, the site’s waste is recycled and used to heat the 50,000 square foot MDF facility. “The plant is running well and showing some huge savings," says Lee. "If we had chosen the fossil-fuel route we believe the energy costs would be in excess of £200K per year,” Lee explains.

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EDUCATE

THE 90-ACRE SITE HAS A STOCK HOLDING OF UP TO 65,000M 3 MEANING THAT 98% OF ITS PRODUCT LINE IS IN STOCK AT ANY ONE TIME The ethos at Arbor Forest Products, and indeed Trex, is not only providing its customers with a high-quality product, and efficient level of service. Accordingly, its 'warehouse on wheels' is a multi-product distribution service that allows customers to select a mix of small quantities of products for delivery on the same vehicle. This form of customer-managed stock inventory greatly benefits the environment.

"Placing an order that includes several product groups reduces delivery vehicle movements as well as forklift movements. It enables our customers to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their businesses.”

Further examples of exceptional customer service, is evident at the company-owned 180,000m3 treatment plant. More than seven million pieces of timber are treated here each year. The plant observes a stringent environmental policy to meet British Standards and now treats all C24-treated timber to Hazard Class Level 3, meaning every piece is suitable for external use above ground.

Arbor Forest Products also adheres to the Responsible Purchasing Policy and was the first in the UK to obtain a full chain of custody certification for both FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification).

In addition, the company has made a declaration of official support for WWF’s UK Forest Campaign which pledges to purchase timber and timber products from sustainable products, support the EU as it addresses EU Timber Regulations, and support the call for the UK government and the EU to complete the transition to market in sustainable timber and timber products.

The company’s environmental responsibility is mirrored in its trade partnerships with high-quality softwood suppliers in Europe,

including Holmen, one of Sweden’s largest forest owners. Holmen itself is a climate-smart business with at least two trees planted for every tree harvested. It also works to phase out fossil fuels, focusing instead on its own renewable electricity.

Arbor Forest Products intends to invest £9 million more into the business over the next few years, with aims to purchase a further 38 acres adjacent to the current site, as one of its goals is to expand its impressive sawmill.

No doubt environmental sensitivity and a high standard of customer service will continue to be at the forefront of the company's continued growth and success.

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23/05/2019 15:03

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TA L K I N G TIMBER P R O L A N D S C A P E R S P E A K S TO F R A S E R H A L L , M A N AG I N G D I R E C T O R O F M & M T I M B E R A B O U T I TS R A N G E O F F E N C I N G P R O D U C TS A N D A N I N STA L L AT I O N AT G O O D W O O D M OTO R C I R C U I T

M

&M Timber manufactures a complete range of fencing products, including Agricised, Prestige, SolarGuard and RailGuard fencing. The range has been developed for a diverse range of applications, including agricultural timbers, equestrian and smallholder fencing as well as commercial and utility fencing choices.

A recent installation of fencing timbers at Goodwood Motor Circuit enabled M&M Timber to utilise its state-of-the-art CNC router machine to create precision-machined timber components for new spectator viewing platforms at the world’s most prestigious classic automotive circuit, in conjunction with leading fencing contractor Knight Fencing.

Goodwood Motor Circuit – home to three major global sporting events: the Festival of Speed, the Qatar Goodwood Festival and the Goodwood Revival – was officially opened in September 1948, when Freddie March, the 9th Duke Of Richmond and renowned amateur racer, tore around the track in a Bristol 400 M&M Timber has supplied more than 4,000 linear metres of timber to Goodwood, which, if lined up end to end, would span the total length of the circuit itself! The majority of timber is carefully selected from certified well-managed forests and other controlled

sources. Every process from responsible purchasing (EUTR), debarking, machine rounding, profiling and manufacturing is handled with precision and attention to detail.

Timber for the scalloped fencing used for the viewing platforms at Goodwood was sourced from specifically selected pine. Once processed through the sawmill, the timbers were dried to 30% moisture in one of the company’s three state of the art drying kilns.

As timber is a natural material, comprising cells of sugar and fibre, softwoods such as pine can be susceptible to rot and decay organisms as well as insect attack. M&M Timber uses Tanalith wood preservative for long-term protection against these sorts of attack, particularly for those timbers in contact with the ground.

This wood preservative incorporates Lonza’s unique and award-winning BARamine application technologies, and is forced deep into the vulnerable sapwood cells of the

©Knight Fencing LTD

softwood timbers under a proven high-pressure treatment process – a process that delivers a deeper and more consistent penetration of the preservative into the timber.

The state of art Kimla CNC router machine, based at the M&M Timber Worcestershire sawmill, takes machining of timbers to the next level and delivers consistently high-quality bespoke options for the company’s clients.

The timbers used for the Goodwood viewing platform were scalloped to give a bespoke and aesthetically pleasing barrier from which members of the public can view the motor circuit action.

M&M Timber offers fencing timbers in a variety of choices; full rounds, half round posts and rails, scalloped posts and rails along with retention options such as Unilog Pro and DuraSleeper.

Investment in fencing needs to deliver long-lasting results which is precisely what is delivered with the pressure treated timber product range supported with a 15-year service life warranty.

ABOUT M&M TIMBER As part of Forest Garden Group Ltd, M&M Timber manufactures machine-rounded timber products for the agricultural, utility, commercial, landscaping, landowner and play market sectors.

The company makes and finishes its diverse range of quality products at its Worcestershire sawmill, sourcing sustainable raw materials and using the best modern preservatives.

www.mmtimber.co.uk

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

23/05/2019 17:02

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PRODUCT

DNA

1 Extensive choice of natural stone With 11 types of high quality natural limestone and sandstone, Kebur Trade Packs offer a wide choice of styles suited to traditional and contemporary garden designs alike.

This year, the range includes three new additions: Tumbled Sagar Black sandstone, Antique Yellow limestone and Kota Blue limestone.

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This is stronger than many alternatives on the market and makes for much easier installation.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS • Natural sandstone and limestone patio packs • Mix of 900x600, 600x600, 600x300 and 300x300mm slabs to cover 15.3m2 • Calibrated to 22mm and 25mm • A choice of finishes from handcut and riven Silver Grey sandstone, to sawn and tumbled Tandur Grey limestone

Kebur Trade Pro account holders benefit from 15% off retail prices on Natural Stone Trade Packs.

With trade prices from £15.23/m2 (excluding VAT), these patio packs are outstanding value for a quality product.

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3 Flexible value packs The convenient mixed size trade packs cover 15.3m2, with many natural stones also available in individual sizes for flexibility. Also, Kebur Trade Pro customers can buy split packs, paying only for what they need.

pre-seal To take the hassle out of sealing on-site, we offer a convenient pre-sealing service using breathable impregnating sealers from Dry-Treat.

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6 Next day delivery Order by 12pm and receive the next day if you are a Kebur Trade Pro customer (subject to stock and capacity.)

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To give your project that finishing touch, choose from a selection of edging, walling, circles and setts that are designed to match and complement your Natural Stone Trade Pack beautifully.

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 103

23/05/2019 09:04

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HI-TECH TURF HT IBIZA

LEEDS CASTLE, KENT C H I L D R E N ’ S P L AY A R E A I N C O N J U N C T I O N W I T H C R E AT I V E A DV E N T U R O U S P L AC E S With an average of 578,000 visitors a year, the new playground at Leeds Castle required a hard-wearing artificial grass but also a realistic look. HT Ibiza was chosen for this project as its 28mm pile and strong yarn are ideally suited to this type of commercial installation.

Knights’ Stronghold Playground opened in April 2019.

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TRULAWN PRESTIGE W O R M S L E Y E S TAT E , B U C K I N G H A M S H I R E G A R S I N GTO N O P E R A S E T D E S I G N Garsington Opera chose Trulawn Prestige grass for the set design of its summer season production of The Magic Flute. Trulawn Prestige has a long 37mm pile and a dense, high-quality appearance. The product is budget friendly, and a good choice for this type of setting, where its use may be temporary, and where it will look effective up close as well as from a distance.

Price: £22.99 (excl VAT) per sq m www.hitechturf.co.uk

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23/05/2019 14:28

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INSIDE

G R E E N B LU E U R BA N

MEET THE

TEAM DEAN BOWIE CEO

A LO O K AT G R E E N B L U E U R B A N ’ S O R I G I N S , G R O W T H A N D I TS I N N OVAT I V E T E A M

I

n 1975, at the age of seven, Dean Bowie and his family were fortunate enough to move to a tree-lined suburb in Hastings, East Sussex. His early recollection of the trees included walking to school through noisy, rustling autumn leaves and later running back cheerfully, kicking them up again.

Later on in life, Dean undertook tertiary education at Plumpton Agriculture College and became employed in the landscape industry, discovering the joys of tree planting and care. However, a problem with tree failure was becoming apparent to Dean.

Statistically, 50% of the trees planted in urban areas were not reaching 10 years old.

There was insufficient irrigation, and during a particularly dry summer, a simple device named the RootRain Metro was invented to enable efficiency in tree watering. But, there were many more issues for Dean to tackle, including root heave and soil compaction. To take on this challenge, he founded the company Greenleaf in 1992.

History In 2013, Greenleaf became GreenBlue Urban, reflecting the increased importance of incorporating green infrastructure with stormwater management. With more than 27 years of continuous innovation, GreenBlue Urban’s product range includes three generations of soil cell, (the first in the industry) and has since been enhanced with the GreenBlue Urban ArborSystem®.

It is the complete urban tree pit suite, addressing all the principle causes for premature tree loss. Working alongside landscape architects, urban designers, local authorities, contractors and arborists, their

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technical experts simplify the planning and installation process, enabling successful tree pit design. Landscape professionals can combine SuDS, root management, structural soil components, aeration, irrigation, as well as choosing an appropriate above ground surface grille and vertical guard in a single package.

Today, home is Northpoint, near Bodiam in East Sussex. The custom-built factory houses more than 30 GreenBlue Urban employees, and onsite manufacturing and distribution allows GreenBlue to hold stock and meet customers’ needs with exceptional lead times.

Key accounts benefit from negotiated purchase rates.

GreenBlue Urban is committed to providing a high level of quality service at all times, within the design and provision of products for urban tree planting.

With training resources, support and encouragement for the team to realise their full potential, giving individuals the responsibility and accountability for the quality management system.

With offices in North America and Canada, GreenBlue is pleased to announce the launch of its new London showroom, located in the design hub of Clerkenwell. Specifiers are just a step away to incorporate Green Infrastructure into awardwinning schemes such as Selfridges in London, Crossrail in Canary Wharf and Lansdowne Park in Ottawa.

R OY B O W I E M A N AG I N G D I R E C TO R

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12 issues Additional supplements Weekly newsletter

09/05/2019 12:14 23/05/2019 14:42

P EO P L E

OUT & ABOUT RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

P109

I N S I D E P E O P L E T H I S M O N T H PA G E 1 0 9 O U T & A B O U T, PA G E 1 1 2 3 0 U N D E R 3 0 : C H R I S C H I P P E N D A L E , PA G E 1 1 5 R I D E G O L A N D S C A P E , PA G E 1 1 6 L O V E H O R T I C U LT U R E : M AT T H E W P O T TA G E , PA G E 1 1 9 H AV E Y O U R S AY: N I N A B A X T E R , PA G E 1 2 2 L I T T L E I N T E R V I E W S

People Cover.indd 107

23/05/2019 17:17

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For further information, or to enter the Pro Landscaper small project BIG IMPACT Awards, contact Laura Harris on 01903 777570 or laura.harris@eljays44.com

23/05/2019 22/05/2019 14:44 12:28

PEOPLE

OUT & ABOUT

FEATURE GARDENS

©RHS/Neil Hepworth

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2019

W I T H A R OYA L I N VO LV E M E N T IN THE RHS CHELSEA F L OW E R S H OW , T H I S Y E A R ’ S E V E N T WA S E V E N M O R E H OT LY A N T I C I PAT E D THAN USUAL. HRH THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE CO-DESIGNED THE RHS B AC K TO N AT U R E G A R D E N WITH LANDSCAPE A R C H I T EC TS DAV I E S WHITE, AND THE GARDEN D I D N OT D I S A P P O I N T. B U T I T WA S N ’ T T H E O N LY G A R D E N TO I N S P I R E AW E A M O N G ST V I S I TO R S . TA K E A LO O K AT A L L T H E G O L D M E DA L W I N N I N G G A R D E N S F R O M T H I S Y E A R ’ S S H OW…

THE RHS BACK TO NATURE GARDEN Designer HRH The Duchess of Cambridge with Andrée Davies and Adam White Contractor The Outdoor Room

UNJUDGED

THE RHS BRIDGEWATER GARDEN Designer Tom Stuart-Smith Contractor Crocus

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Out and About Chelsea.indd 109

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 109

23/05/2019 10:37

THE HIGH MAINTENANCE GARDEN FOR MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE ASSOCIATION

PEOPLE

©RHS/Tim Sandall

Designer Sue Hayward Contractor Soar Valley Services

©RHS/Tim Sandall

FAMILY MONSTERS GARDEN Designer Alistair Bayford Contractor idverde

ARTISAN GARDENS GREEN SWITCH Designer Kazuyuki Ishihara Contractor Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Laboratory

Best Artisan Garden

©RHS/Tim Sandall

G O L D M E DA L THE M&G GARDEN

THE RESILIENCE GARDEN Designer Sarah Eberle Contractor Crocus

Best Construction Award

Designer Andy Sturgeon Contractor Crocus

(Show Garden)

Best Show Garden

©RHS/Neil Hepworth

©RHS/Neil Hepworth

SHOW GARDENS

THE MORGAN STANLEY GARDEN Designer Chris Beardshaw Contractor Chris Beardshaw Ltd

THE WELCOME TO YORKSHIRE GARDEN

Designer Mark Gregory Contractor Landform Consultants Ltd

110 Pro Landscaper / June 2019

Out and About Chelsea.indd 110

©RHS/Neil Hepworth

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

23/05/2019 10:40

PEOPLE

KAMPO NO NIWA Designer Kazuto Kashiwakura and Miki Sato Contractor Tatsuya Shirai, Otis Landscape Associates, Harrison Landscapes, Kawai & Co Ltd

ALL OTHER MEDAL WINNERS SILVER-GILT MEDALS

SPACE TO GROW THE CAMFED GARDEN: GIVING GIRLS IN AFRICA A SPACE TO GROW Designer Jilayne Rickards Contractor Conway Landscapes

©RHS/Sarah Cuttle

WINNERS

Best Construction Award (Artisan/Space to Grow)

Best Space to Grow Garden FACEBOOK: BEYOND THE SCREEN Designer Joe Perkins Contractor The Outdoor Room

THE MONTESSORI CENTENARY CHILDREN’S GARDEN Designer Jody Lidgard Contractor Bespoke Outdoor Spaces

VIKING CRUISES: THE ART OF VIKING GARDEN Designer Paul Hervey-Brookes Contractor Big Fish Landscapes

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Out and About Chelsea.indd 111

Space to Grow Gardens • The Roots in Finland Kyrö Garden Designer Taina Suonio Contractor Conquest Creative Spaces • The Silent Pool Gin Garden Designer David Neale Contractor Neale Richards Garden Design Artisan Gardens iles Stone: The Kingston •M Maurward Garden Designer Michelle Brown Contractor Adapt Landscapes • Walkers' Forgotten Quarry Garden Designer Graham Bodle Contractor Walkers Nurseries

SILVER MEDALS

©RHS/Sarah Cuttle

©RHS/Sarah Cuttle

Show Gardens •T he Wedgwood Garden Designer Jo Thompson Contractor Jody Lidgard • The Dubai Majlis Garden Designer Thomas Hoblyn Contractor Landform Consultants Ltd • Warner’s Distillery Garden Designer Helen Elks-Smith Contractor Bowles & Wyer • The Greenfingers Charity Garden Designer Kate Gould Contractor Kate Gould Gardens

Show Gardens •T he Trailfinders ‘Undiscovered Latin America’ Garden Designer Jonathan Snow Contractor Stewart Landscape Construction • I KEA and Tom Dixon: Gardening Will Save the World Designer Tom Dixon Contractor Bespoke Outdoor Spaces Space to Grow Gardens • The Manchester Garden Designer Exterior Architecture Contractor Bespoke Outdoor Spaces • The Harmonious Garden of Life Designer Laurélie de Salle Contractor Bespoke Outdoor Spaces Artisan Gardens • The Donkey Sanctuary: Donkey Matters Designer Christina Williams and Annie Prebensen Contractor Frogheath Landscapes

BRONZE MEDALS Show Gardens • The Savills and David Harber Garden Designer Andrew Duff Contractor Gardenlink

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 111

23/05/2019 10:41

PEOPLE

KENNEDY PARK KEW CHILDREN'S GARDEN

KEW CHILDREN'S GARDEN

PRIOR DERAM PARK

3 0 U N D E R 3 0 U P DAT E

CLEARWATER COURTYARD

CHRIS CHIPPENDALE I N 2 0 1 6 , C H R I S C H I P P E N DA L E B EC A M E O N E O F P R O L A N D S C A P E R ’ S 3 0 U N D E R 3 0.

A S H I S D E S I G N A N D B U I L D P R OJ EC T AT R OYA L B OTA N I C G A R D E N S , K E W O P E N S , W E C ATC H U P TO L E A R N A B O U T T H E G A R D E N A N D H OW 3 0 U N D E R 3 0 H A S A F F EC T E D H I S C A R E E R .

T

he Children’s Garden at Kew opened on Saturday 18 May, and for Ground Control’s Chris Chippendale it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. “It was amazing, it’s something I’m particularly proud of.

Though at times it was challenging, seeing it all finished is well worth it. It’s very unique, hopefully it will be a landmark scheme,” Chris says.

Chris was the landscape architect on the project, working closely with the construction team as well as Kew’s project team to bring the scheme to life. The garden explores it's main theme: "What do plants need to grow?". Split into different sections, including earth, sun, water and air gardens, this explorative space enables children to fully interact with nature whilst hopefully learning along the way.

Kew Gardens didn’t want to create a playground but rather a play garden, which was a fresh experience for Chris: “It was really different to other projects where the focus is very much on play elements. This project was about integrating play elements with the environment". Kew was in the same mindset as

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Chris Chippendale 30 Under 30.indd 112

the whole team, in that whatever was right for the project is what should be done. Whilst some other projects may be hung up on constraints, this didn’t have those limitations.

IT’S VERY UNIQUE, HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A LANDMARK SCHEME Chris works at Ground Control within the Professional Services team alongside five other landscape architects, and was working in this team when he became a 30 under 30 winner.

Since then, he has taken on more responsibility in the role, taking the lead on projects – including their biggest design and build project to date, the Children’s Garden – and taking on greater responsibilities through fee tendering and supporting the Professional Services team.

Previously, Chris was studying for his Masters in Landscape Architecture. He has

since completed this qualification and is now undertaking another diploma on management and leadership, which he hopes to use in the future when leading his own team.

Chris found becoming a 30 under 30 winner to be a very beneficial platform. “It’s really great for your confidence, to get that recognition and visibility is amazing – I’ve recommended it to a lot of my friends. We have some really good relationships with suppliers, and they recognise 30 under 30. Ground Control are also really proud to have employees which have won and they internally promote the award.”

Ground Control provides a unique offering as Chris is able to get involved in big projects and work closely with Ground Control’s construction team, as well as arborist consultants and ecologists, so Chris is able to draw on all this expertise to push himself further.

He says: “I'd like to continue to develop the design and build side and eventually lead a team delivering this one day. I enjoy the whole design stage but actually seeing a scheme come to life is the main thing for me.”

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

23/05/2019 11:56

SoilsCon 2019 Back by popular demand “I really enjoyed the day, the venue, the presentation lengths, the information pack, and have learnt more than I imagined.”

SoilsCon 2017 delegate

Thursday 26th September 2019 Henley-on-Thames

We don’t just grow trees, we raise them

Join us for the fourth annual landscape industry soils conference and hear from respected industry speakers including Tim O’Hare on the Soils Project Planning Cycle, Neville Fay on the Sustainable Soils Alliance and the current soil health crisis, and Sarah Morgan on why knowledge of soils and geology is fundamental to good garden design.

Soil Surgery open during networking periods Visit www.toha.co.uk for the full programme and to book online

Grown in Britain

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Horticulture CAREERS Register online now for free and take advantage of the following features:

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Follow your favourite companies. You can follow some of the biggest companies in the industry to be notified of the latest vacancies as they are uploaded.

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Please contact Liam Colclough to advertise your vacancy:

Email: liam.colclough@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 446076 Advert sizes 1.indd Hort Careers FP.indd444

23/05/2019 14:43 09:39

PEOPLE

15-20 SEPTEMBER 2019

R I D E AG A I N !

T

he team behind Ride GoLandscape have previously conquered the three highest peaks in the UK (Snowdon, Scafell Pike, and Ben Nevis) and completed the challenge of riding from Snowdon to Lands End. They’ve raised over £100k for a range of industry charities, and for their next challenge, the team has committed to raising money for the BALI Chalk Fund.

The riders will also be raising awareness of the great work being carried out by the BALI GoLandscape initiative.

BALI education officer Steve Ensell says: “This team has a great track record in raising huge sums of money and invaluable awareness for their chosen causes. We are delighted that the GoLandscape initiative is set to benefit this year so that we can build on the critical work we have started of encouraging more talent into the landscape industry.”

The team was inspired to support the BALI Chalk Fund having learned about the GoLandscape enrichment programme which it supports. The initiative helps landscape students prepare for the workplace with LISS/CSCS SmartCards and other skills certifications.

This year’s cycling challenge consists of a 600km, five-day road ride, starting at Myerscough College, near Preston, on 15 September and finishing at Capel Manor College in Enfield. They will be visiting other land-based colleges on their route so the team can talk to students and kickstart some masterclasses run by GoLandscape ambassadors. These aim to improve the student experience and to provide key information.

Seasoned rider and BALI national chairman, Matt O’Conner, was one of the first to sign up to this year’s challenge. He says: “BALI GoLandscape has gained real traction over the past 18 months, thanks in no small part to the support of the Chalk Fund. The trained ambassadors, of which there are now over 70, have attended many school and college events around the country, raising awareness of the many and varied careers this industry can provide.”

THE ROUTE

START MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE, NEAR PRESTON

FINISH

CAPEL MANOR COLLEGE, ENFIELD

D I STA N C E

600 km

If you are interested in taking part, there are still places available on the ride. The team is keen to see some fresh faces on this industry-focused fundraiser.

For more information and to register, visit www.pieevents.co.uk/events/ride-golandscape-15th-to-20th-september-2019 or email ridegolandscape@gmail.com.

Visit www.golandscape.co.uk and balichalkfund.org.uk for more information on BALI Chalk Fund and GoLandscape.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PEOPLE

WHY I...

# LOV E H O RT I C U LT U R E Matthew Pottage C U R ATO R , R H S G A R D E N W I S L E Y

I

regularly have to pinch myself being the curator of RHS Garden Wisley. Founded on more than 100 years of gardening heritage at the RHS, it has to be one of the most enjoyable jobs in horticulture.

My work reminds me why this industry – the plants and the people – is so fabulous. It’s the green stuff that keeps me refreshed, inspired and motivated, and every year plants can perform slightly differently. My team uses plants differently in the many displays and planting schemes, and there are always new cultivars popping up to keep you hooked.

Plants are so powerful, and the Wisley garden landscape is like an ever-evolving picture of colour, texture, diversity and form. Hundreds of staff, students and volunteers have over the years shaped Wisley, adding to the garden’s particular character and charm – more than 1.1 million people visit each year.

Wisley offers something of interest for everyone – whether you wish to admire a tropical palm, or take a close-up look at the gooseberries – it’s all here and the experience is rather magical.

Add to this an amazing team of people, both at the RHS and the wider industry, and you are surrounded by a wealth of knowledge, expertise and support.

We never stop learning, and in an ever-changing climate and environment, there are always new challenges. I never cease to wonder at the generosity of people willing to freely give their time and knowledge. Because this sharing of information and experience is mutual, we are all able to help one another learn.

At Wisley there are more than 100 volunteers in the garden who donate a day of their week to help us with essential gardening tasks. Their enthusiasm and drive, even on the wettest of days, is inspiring, and demonstrates the power of gardening and how rewarding it can be.

I REGULARLY HAVE TO PINCH MYSELF BEING THE CURATOR OF RHS GARDEN WISLEY

T W E E T U S @ P R O L A N D S C A P E R U K A N D T E L L U S W H Y Y O U L O V E H O R T I C U LT U R E U S I N G T H E H A S H TA G # L O V E H O R T I C U LT U R E

116 Pro Landscaper / June 2019

Love Horticulture.indd 116

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23/05/2019 17:06

PEOPLE

H AV E YO U R S AY Nina Baxter NINA BAXTER GARDEN DESIGN

I

t’s 7.30pm and I’m sitting in a client’s kitchen for a design meeting. Apart from the odd screech from children and a cat trying to sit on the laptop, it’s going pretty well. And then it happens. The client asks: “The builders who did our extension would like to quote for the landscaping work, would you be happy to work with them?”

“No, absolutely not,” my weary brain wants me to shout. But I pause, try to compose my face into a considered smile and start my spiel: “I’d always advise using a skilled and experienced landscaper. I must be honest and tell you that I have had many bad experiences of builders undertaking landscaping work.”

“But you don’t know our guys, they’ve done an amazing job on the house,” says the client.

And I don’t doubt that, but that’s also the rub.

How do you tell new clients that their builders, who have built the house or extension of their dreams, really shouldn’t be doing their landscaping? They’ve bonded, shared the highs and lows over many months. They’re partners, comrades. They might even have shared a beer or two. And here I am, a jumpedup garden designer telling them their builder isn’t up to the job.

Somehow, we’re painted as being the unreasonable one, or wanting to secure ‘jobs for the landscaping boys’. The reality, though, is we can see what is looming before us, opening up like a road full of potholes, and we are simply trying to avoid the project derailing.

I’m sure we’ve all had our share of bad experiences with builders carrying out landscaping work – paving laid upside down, poor drainage leading to flooded kitchens, dirty footprints sealed into stone, and so on.

So why do builders feel equipped to take on a landscaping project without having the relevant experience or knowledge? Would a landscaper take on the build of a house? I don’t know any who would. Why do clients not see

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Have your say Nina Baxter.indd 119

the distinction between building a house and constructing a landscape? Often, we are called in by architects who have already designed the garden terrace. The first hurdle is to convince the client that the terrace plays a significant role in the overall scheme of the garden. After all, an architect wouldn’t hand over a room in the house for someone else to design. The

WHY DO BUILDERS FEEL EQUIPPED TO TAKE ON A LANDSCAPING PROJECT WITHOUT HAVING THE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE? distinction should be straightforward. As one landscaper I work with puts it: “If it’s inside they do it, if it’s outside, I do it.”

The next hurdle is often the building contractor will have included some sort of garden-related cost that affects the bill for the work on the house or extension. How is this to be unpicked? The builder will baulk at being asked to separate this cost and certainly won’t want to lose the money. So, the lines are already blurred between where the building contractor stops and the landscaper starts.

If the building contractor is appointed then

the final – and to my mind the most difficult – hurdle is that their confidence in how to actually create the landscape tends to dissolve as soon as the ink on their contract is dry. Not wanting to take final responsibility for anything that could go wrong, we are bombarded with queries and asked for a level of detail that can border on the ridiculous. I was once asked for a detailed drawing of three wires and vine eyes to go on a 6ft fence panel.

Then there is the constant barrage of unnecessary questions: What kind of soil do we use? How does that edging you specified fit together? As designers we are often fighting against a fait accompli and trying to wrestle back control of the landscape. So, what can we do to make our lives easier?

We could decide to stipulate that we will only work with APL or BALI registered contractors.

Although this may always be the ideal, it may also risk losing an important contract. We could offer an hourly rate only for project management contracts where a building contractor is taking on the landscaping, or we could try to build trust with our clients and gently steer them towards the path of righteousness. Whatever we try to do, my suspicion is that this issue is not going away and that we are always going to be fighting to make sure landscapers build our landscapes.

ABOUT NINA BAXTER Nina Baxter is an experienced garden designer and plantswoman who runs her own practice, Nina Baxter Garden Design Ltd. Trained at the English Gardening School and with almost 15 years of experience, Nina has also planted award-winning show gardens for designers such as Jo Thompson and Andy Sturgeon. www.ninabaxtergardendesign.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 119

23/05/2019 10:46

JOBS

For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk Call 01903 446 076 or email liam.colclough@eljays44.com with your vacancy

NURSERY SALES AND PLANTERIA MANAGER

LANDSCAPE SUPERVISOR TOTAL PROTECTION Location: Essex

Total Protection Ltd seeks a dynamic landscape supervisor to join its landscaping team. As an experienced and award-winning landscape contractor, operating in both commercial and domestic landscapes, the business is proud to work with some of the UK and Europe’s leading suppliers. Its extensive experience enables it to effectively deliver smaller projects focusing on value for money, right the way up to large commercial multi-phase projects. This role will ensure Total Protection consistently provides clients with the best possible services, by providing a simpler, more efficient route whatever the project.

TENDERCARE NURSERIES LTD Location: Middlesex

Tendercare Nurseries seeks a nursery sales and planteria manager to assist all customers in the purchase of products and services, and to convert enquiries into orders to achieve or surpass sales targets. Also, to maintain and oversee stocking of the retail sales area and supervise other staff. Good organisation and leadership skills are required, as well as a good understanding of customer interface, production skills, a clean driving licence and weekend availability.

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

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

CONTRACT MANAGER

CONTRACT MANAGER

A contract manager position has become available within idverde’s Northampton contract. idverde is the UK’s leading provider of integrated management and maintenance services for parks and green spaces. The services it provides include landscape design and construction, park management and consultancy, grounds maintenance, tree surgery and external cleansing.

The applicant will be an experienced contract manager with strong leadership skills, comfortable working in a multi-site environment and confident liaising with key internal and external stakeholders.

Our client is currently experiencing a period of sustained growth in commercial landscaping across the South East region. It is now seeking an experienced contract manager. This role will be a senior level position within the company and as such the successful candidate will be forward-thinking and creative, as well as friendly and approachable with a good level of interpersonal and customer service skills. The role will include management of contracts in excess of £1m so the successful candidate must have a proven track record in a similar role.

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

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

IDVERDE Location: Northamptonshire

QUANTITY SURVEYOR HORTICULTURE CAREERS Location: London

Horticulture CAREERS

HORTICULTURE CAREERS Location: Sussex

Horticulture CAREERS

Our client is currently enjoying a period of sustained growth in commercial landscaping across the South East region. It is now seeking an experienced quantity surveyor for estimating and financial management of contract works on various contracts.

The successful candidate must have a background and qualifications in quantity surveying, preferably in the commercial landscaping sector.

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

SPORTS & GROUND RESOURCE TECHNICIAN SANDBACH SHOOL Location: Cheshire

Sandbach School seeks a motivated sports and grounds resource technician to be an integral part of its high-achieving and progressive PE department.

The successful candidate will ensure that school sports facilities are prepared and maintained to a high standard so that fixtures and events, including a full programme of Saturday sport, run effectively. The technician role also includes taking responsibility for grounds and sports equipment and assisting the school site team in the upkeep of the school’s extensive grounds.

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

HARD LANDSCAPE FOREMAN

HL SERVICES

Garden Club London is an RHS Chelsea award-winning landscape design company based in Vauxhall.

It is looking for a skilled and organised landscape foreman who is passionate about working in the industry and in delivering high quality landscapes for their in-house design team, RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows, as well as the opportunity to lead builds for other top garden designers in the industry.

In the hard landscape foreman role, you will be responsible for overseeing various landscape projects from residential gardens to urban roof-tops.

HL Services specialise in permanent and temporary recruitment solutions across the UK for the grounds maintenance and facilities management sectors.

Explore a wide range of vacancies in London and across the UK by searching HL Services on the Horticulture Careers homepage. The company is recruiting landscaping and grounds maintenance staff at all levels.

GARDEN CLUB LONDON Location: London

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

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

120 Pro Landscaper / June 2019

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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22/05/2019 09:57

PEOPLE

T H E L I T T L E I N T E RV I E W

PRO LANDSCAPER ASKS QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS TO GAIN A SMALL INSIGHT INTO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP OUR INDUSTRY. TO TAKE PART, EMAIL CONTENT@ EL JAYS44.COM

122 Pro Landscaper / June 2019

Little Interviews.indd 122

DA I SY PA RSO N S

MARK FANE

Senior landscape architect, Thomas Hoblyn Landscape and Garden Design

Director and co-founder, Crocus

www.thomashoblyn.com

www.crocus.co.uk

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

Ideally, I would be a detective solving mysteries for Scotland Yard.

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

Water engineer.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

Australia and their Blue Mountains.

What would you blow your budget on?

Plants – the best things in life to spend money on are food and plants.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Tim Smit.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Higher standards in the planning system for aesthetic and ecological landscape design in new developments.

Best piece of trivia you know?

The word ‘book’ comes from the German ‘buche’, meaning ‘beech’. The bark was used to make covers to bind books.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Gillian Anderson – I’d get to meet her!

What three things would you take to a desert island?

The Chronicles of Narnia, Vegemite and my Japanese pruning saw.

Your favourite joke?

Why do you never see elephants hiding in trees? Because they’re very good at it.

Karaoke song of choice?

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

Chile.

What would you blow your budget on?

A glasshouse.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Burle Marx.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

No more plastic pots.

Best piece of trivia you know?

In 1939, Hitler’s nephew wrote an article called ‘Why I Hate My Uncle’. He moved to the US, served in the US Navy and settled in Long Island.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Anthony Hopkins?

What three things would you take to a desert island?

A lurcher, a tool kit and lots of vegetable seeds.

Your favourite joke?

We used to have Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs. Now, we have no cash, no hope and no jobs – please don’t let Kevin Bacon die.

Karaoke song of choice?

The Windmills of Your Mind by Noel Harrison.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

23/05/2019 08:33

PEOPLE

TOBY PRITCHARD

ROB MCBRIDE

Director, Design by Katja Ltd

Associate director, Creative Roots Landscaping

AKA the ‘Tree Hunter’ Director, Treespect CIC

www.designbykatja.com

www.creativeroots.com

treespectblog.wordpress.com

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

Wildlife rehabilitator.

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

Failing musician.

If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing?

A footballer.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

Finland, I have wonderful childhood memories of picking wild blueberries in the forest there.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

Iceland, I love how dramatic it is.

Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most?

Romania, particularly Transylvania.

K ATJ A G R I F F I T H S

What would you blow your budget on?

Travelling all over the world to eat excellent seafood in a beautiful landscape.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

James Corner.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

We need to start taking climate change more seriously and implement steps throughout our industry.

What would you blow your budget on?

Big rocks and water features.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Phillip Johnson.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

A mutual understanding between hard and soft landscapers.

Best piece of trivia you know?

The board in “room and board” refers to the habit of placing a board over your legs for meals during the medieval period.

Best piece of trivia you know?

Trivia comes from latin. It means three streets and stems, and comes from Romans putting up signposts on crossings where three streets met.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Charlie Day.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Julianne Moore.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

The illustrated guide to raft building, a hand saw and an outboard motor.

What would you blow your budget on?

Belgian beer, Belgian chocolate and chips with mayo.

The one person in the industry you’d love to meet?

Christine Walkden, to say thank you for being a judge in my Great Trees of Sheffield 2017 contest!

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

NGO’s that respond quickly, honestly and critically.

Best piece of trivia you know?

Preston North End F.C. were the first team to win the league and the cup in the same year.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby on Coronation Street.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

Radio, notebook and drawing pens.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

Arabella (my dog) as well as fresh water and food for her.

Your favourite joke?

What cheese would you use to disguise a small horse? Mascarpone.

Your favourite joke?

Leeds United.

Karaoke song of choice?

It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls.

Karaoke song of choice Gold by Spandau Ballet.

Karaoke song of choice?

We Are The Champions by Queen.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Little Interviews.indd 123

Pro Landscaper / June 2019 123

23/05/2019 08:33

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22/05/2019 08:29