Pro Landscaper March 2013

Concept to Delivery

March 2013

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

e-scape landscape architects

A KENTISH GARDEN

A quintessential English country garden Let’s Hear it From...

John Wyer, Design and Marketing Director at Bowles & Wyer

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Competition Fantastic chance to win a Toro heavy-duty lawnmower

Love Your Garden David Dodd takes us behind the scenes of the ITV show

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March 2013 | Volume 3, Issue 3

REGULARS

PORTFOLIOS

4 News Shed Round up of news from the industry

10 Association News The SGD, APL and BALI report

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17 Business Tips

Elks-Smith Garden Design

Advice from our regular team of columnists, and more from our new contributors

33 Let’s Hear it From…

John Wyer, Design and Marketing Director at Bowles & Wyer

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46

e-scape landscape architects

Claudia de Yong Garden Design

51 Love Your Garden David Dodd takes us behind the scenes of the ITV show

57 Plantsman’s Plot

FEATURES

Popular plants and trees on the market

61 Competition Win a Toro® Heavy Duty Hi Vac Collector Mower

30 Motivation activation Tips for motivating a team, from OnSite’s Margaret McNeil

EDITORIAL editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234 077 Editorial Assistant – Rose Hales rose.hales@eljays44.com

55 Wildflower Turf or seed, and how to get the best results

ADVERTISING Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson Jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234 077 Sales Executive – Luke Chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234 077

EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL Mark Gregory Chairman of APL and Landform Consultants Sam Hassall LandPRO Ltd Russell Eales Lawn care expert Karl Harrison Decking expert Keith Sacre Tree expert

Sales Executive – Sophie Abbott sophie.abbott@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234 077

FUTURESCAPE CO-ORDINATOR Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234 077

GENERAL ENQUIRIES Tel: 01903 234 077

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234 077

75 Seasonal staff Information on employing seasonal staff

77 Trending Pro Landscaper takes a look at what’s different

80 Trading With Provender Nurseries

MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson

PRODUCTION Design: Kara Thomas

Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson

Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK

Office Manager Joe Wilkinson CIRCULATION Subscription enquiries: lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 234 077 Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2013 subscription price is £95.00. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd – Business Intelligence

Business intelligence

Eljays44 Ltd County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT Tel: 01903 234 077

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an affiliate member of BALI

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

March 2013

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19/02/2013 16:16

News Shed

The way forward...

Welcome to the March issue of Pro Landscaper, whether you are reading this in print, via our digital edition or watching/listening through our new interactive App version (free from the App Store).

This issue of Pro Landscaper is packed and every page is well worth a read but look out for the business section, which has been added to with an excellent piece about motivating staff, the advantages of buying British highlighted by Angus Lindsay, and the change in legislation which affects buying timber. We also see the first in a series of eight features by Janine Pattison covering the ever increasing important subject of sustainability. Plus of course much more; an excellent ‘Let’s Hear it From’ with John Wyer giving us an insight into one of the leading UK design and build companies.

We would like to say a big thank you to all those who have completed our readership survey, the information you have supplied us with will help to keep Pro Landscaper as a must-read. Also it was really interesting to hear which contractors, designers and suppliers you admire – many of whom have already been covered and more will follow throughout the year.

Finally, with the cutting season about to get well underway, don’t miss the chance to enter our fantastic competition to win a Toro® Heavy Duty Hi Vac Collector Mower worth £1200 on page 61.

Keep smiling and have a great month...

Jim and Lisa Wilkinson editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

RHS welcomes 400,000th member The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) welcomed its 400,000th member at RHS Garden Wisley, in February 2013, achieving its highest membership numbers ever. The lucky 400,000th member, Alice Muggeridge, signed up when she brought her daughter to see Butterflies in the Glasshouse, an annual event at Wisley. Colin Crosbie, the garden’s curator presented Alice with two free tickets to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013. Members of the RHS enjoy free access to four RHS Gardens with a family member, as well as benefiting from free days out at 140 partner gardens; priority booking and discounted tickets to the world-famous RHS flower shows, and a copy of the RHS monthly magazine, The Garden.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, said: “Reaching a membership milestone like this marks the continuing importance and relevance of the RHS.” www.rhs.org.uk

Garden Builders to build at Chelsea 2013 The Garden Builders have been appointed to build the See Ability Garden designed by Darren Hawkes and supported by Coutts at this years’ RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The theme of the garden is sight loss and specific sight conditions will be expressed

conceptually through its design and a range of different materials and planting. The garden’s message will be an overridingly positive one focusing on enriching life through the maximising of limited vision and other senses. www.gardenbuilders.co.uk

Garden Planters & Urns Giant Boxes, Troughs & Cylinders available

www.roundwood.com Tel: 01435 867 072 OAK & DECKING PRODUCTS | OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS | HOME & GARDEN FEATURES

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News Shed

Greenspace Solutions build charity garden for the Leeds teenage cancer trust Greenspace Solutions of Leeds was approached by the Teenage Cancer Unit at Leeds General Infirmary, to make the young people’s courtyard space into a garden. With no funds available and no designs set out, Greenspace were asked to create a garden that would require minimal maintenance and be bright and colourful all year round.

Greenspace contacted Regional Development Officer at BALI,

Diane McCulloch, to appeal to affiliate members for materials and supplies, and were met with a generous response. Artificial turf was kindly donated by Namgrass,

pots and planters by Green-tech, a selection of decorative aggregates by Long Rake Spar and plants and shrubs by Tim Grace at Knowl Park Nurseries. Labour was volunteered by Greenspace Solutions and new Yorkshire regional applicants Turf N’Earth.

The first phase of the garden installation was carried out in December, and has already received very positive feedback. www.greenspacesolutionsuk.com

Palmstead Nurseries Student Workshop 2013 150 higher level (NVQ3+) students from across the south east attended a busy workshop at Hadlow College organised by Palmstead Nurseries. Fergus Garret, Head Gardener at Great Dixter, advised students to work hard, observe and learn, and record what they see. He also gave them a mini masterclass in planting design principles. Sue Biggs, Director General of the RHS invited students to “dare to dream”. Whilst Leigh Morris, President of the Institute of Horticulture, said they should

have a career plan and join an industry body, but above all get involved and network. Tom Hart-Dyke creator of Lullingstone World Garden, told students to ‘just do it’. Nick Coslett, Palmstead’s Marketing and Sales Manager, was delighted with the day’s attendance and reaction from students and tutors.

It’s the industry’s chance to put something back because it is going to need every one of these people in the future. The day was

supported by a number of commercial companies with small exhibitions and special technical information seminars which gave students the latest updates on technology and products. www.palmstead.co.uk

NURSERY NEWS

Tendercare: Strong sourcing Flocking to the nursery like seagulls in from the stormy seas during the dull winter days have been designers looking for plants and seeking friendly banter with sales staff. Craig Church in particular is famed on twitter #craigshorts for his many years of wearing khaki shorts – since 1999!

Sourcing stock from over three hundred reputable growers around the globe is one of our strengths.

During the last two years over a thousand very mature specimen Japanese maples from Tamata Nurseries in New Zealand were shipped to Tendercare and the plants are now available – many of the varieties are new to the UK. The nursery has seen a real ‘make-over’ over the cold winter months and new stock is being lifted for containerised plant production.

The majority of the potted stock is grown in peat-free composts and our production methods are as organic as possible with the plants thriving on bio-organic feeds. We have also invested in new despatch vehicles and lifting machinery run on LPG or biodiesel to grow plants greener.

www.tendercare.co.uk

Hardwood Decking

Ipe • Balau • Oak • Garapa • Larch Components • Fastenings

www.roundwood.com Tel: 01435 867 072 OAK & DECKING PRODUCTS | OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS | HOME & GARDEN FEATURES

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News Shed

NEWS IN BRIEF Lindum Turf triumph

BALI members to build Show Garden at Harrogate Spring Flower Show

Lindum Turf won Best Shell Scheme Stand award at the awards ceremony at the Event Production Show 2013.

RHS Shows highlight new zones

For 2013 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (9-14 July) and RHS Flower Show Tatton Park (25-28 July) will feature Grow, Inspire and Escape zones.

Esra Parr wins garden design opportunity Esra Parr has won a design competition launched by Provender Nurseries to create a garden at Capel Manor College.

New showroom for London Stone

London Stone will be opening a new showroom at the beginning of April located at Coolings Garden Centre in Knockholt, Kent.

New read from Alan Sargent

The Landscaper’s Survival Manual (£35) by Alan Sargent is available now to purchase from www.alansargent.co.uk

Yorkshire & North East BALI members will be creating a garden for the Harrogate Spring Flower Show (25-28 April) at the Yorkshire Showground.The region have joined together to create ‘A Vision of Modern Serenity’; which will see a modern twist on a traditional concept. Stepping stones will lead to a water rill surrounding a central ‘floating’ paved seating area; there will

also be a pergola and the vertical planting of green walls. The project will be overseen by Regional Chairman Nigel Coultas, from Johnsons of Whixley Nurseries and project managed by Matthew and Belinda Belt of Greenbelt Landscapes with construction by Axholme Landscapes, Country Gardens (York), Greenspace Solutions and Sustain Landscapes. BALI affiliate members will be contributing supplies for the garden. During the show members will be promoting BALI and its membership and services available to the visitors. www.bali.org.uk

Lely launches new training guide Leading distributor Lely UK has launched its new Toro Turfcare Machinery Training Guide 2013, available to download from www.lelyliterature.co.uk. The booklet is packed full of industryleading training, from classic operator training sessions to specialist spray technician and chemical application courses, plus a dedicated cutting technology and after-cut appearance course.The ‘Train the Trainer’ course allows individuals to develop their instructional skills so they can run in-house operator training for colleagues, ideal for venues keen to

economise on the time and cost commitment of off-site training. Lely’s head of Toro training Neil Adams says: “We believe these courses offer a great mix of hands-on learning and expert guidance. Our ‘Train the Trainer’ scheme also shows our flexibility.” Lely’s training courses are held at St Neots in Cambridgeshire.

Grant Associates gain CEEQUAL Award Harton Quays Park, the £2.3 million waterfront park in South Shields designed by landscape architects Grant Associates for South Tyneside Council, has been awarded a specialist CEEQUAL Client & Design Award for excellence in sustainability. Scheduled for completion in May and part of a wider regeneration masterplan, the park will stretch along the River Tyne from South Shields ferry landing to The Customs House and feature a curved ribbon wall made up of 144 precast concrete panels. CEEQUAL is an evidence-based Sustainability Assessment and Awards Scheme for civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and the public realm.

Peter Chmiel, Director of Grant Associates, said “We are delighted to see Harton Quays Park receive this award. Grant Associates is committed to integrating imagination, design innovation and sustainability into the landscape and the park has been designed to offer a cultural focus and spaces for events and with an emphasis on promoting biodiversity”. www.grant-associates.uk.com

Oak Framed Buildings

Garages • Gazebos • Dining Areas Outbuildings • Smoking Shelters

www.roundwood.com Tel: 01435 867 072 OAK & DECKING PRODUCTS | OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS | HOME & GARDEN FEATURES

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Seats

Litter Bins

Bollards

Shelters

Studs

Cycle Stands

Signage

Tree Protection

Benches

The food’s t look nothing special bu es! at these new bench

Balustrades & Railings Stainless Steel Poles

Street Furniture.

It doesn’t have to be boring.

At Gatic, our involvement in urban development schemes has shown us that it is all too easy to spoil the appeal of the whole job by choosing mundane or inappropriate street furniture.

We thought it was time to change all this, so we gave our designers a free hand to create something more interesting.

Advertising Drums

Endless possibilities Soon, we were presented with so many interesting yet practical designs that we realised there were few creative limits and that, with our resources and facilities, we could manufacture almost anything. So, we decided to broaden our approach even more.

Bespoke design service

Sculptures

Now we can invite you to design your own street furniture.

If you can design it, we can make it. We prefer to work with only the best, corrosion resistant (316) stainless steel and rugged machined Iroko hardwood to withstand with the famous British weather but will consider other materials, if appropriate.

Our new BenchMark range

Bump Rails

If on the other hand, you’d rather leave the designing to others, you can choose from our Benchmark range. This stylish collection includes every conceivable street furniture requirement and is based on an attractive oval section.

To find out more or to discuss a project with one of our advisors, please visit www.gatic.com or call our StreetWise team on +44 (0)1304 203545

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Door Barriers

Kerbing

Internal Bollards

Cladding

Rosettes

Skirting

Corner Guards

Specialised Engineering. Special Advice.

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Work Smarter Not Harder!

Model Shown: TX525 Wide-Track Petrol Dingo with 22409 Bucket

In a business like yours, productivity is key.

This is where Toro can help.

Dingo Compact Utility Loaders are engineered to be extraordinarily tough. They are also flexible, versatile and highly manoeuvrable, so you always have the right tool for the job.

Check out the Toro Dingo range: Choice of tracked or wheeled power units.

Choice of over 35 versatile attachments including buckets, forks, augers, trenchers, stump grinders and more.

Take a look at revenue-generating Toro.

For more info see www.toro.co.uk/dingo or call 01279 723444 to arrange a demonstration

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06/03/2013 12:39

News Extra

View from the Top Recognising individuals, teams and companies with awards can, and should, be good for all of us, explains Phil Jones

As well as being open season for film and television awards, January and February in ISS is a time for giving out annual awards to those who have performed well in such diverse areas as leadership, health and safety management, financial results and so on.

I recently received an award on behalf of my business for showing strong corporate responsibility in a socially deprived area of the country, and I was absolutely thrilled to be on stage taking the applause for my team.

Doesn’t everyone enjoy being in that position?

Individual recognition This has made me wonder if giving awards to the few changes behaviour in the many, to the extent that it is worth doing.This presupposes that changing behaviour to encourage everyone to perform is the aim of awards.

Why then do we give awards to people, teams and companies? We do it at national and international level, at company and team level, but I enjoy it most when we recognise individual employees for outstanding performance.

How do we harness that good feeling to make our businesses or our industry better?

Or, is it mercenary to think of awards as something which need an outcome or purpose? My belief is that it is not the giving of awards that defines the effectiveness of the process, but the way in which they are given – if we seek to motivate our people.

Can an effective award presentation create greater feelings of loyalty and even improve productivity among a company’s employees?

Like any ‘event’, the power of harnessing people’s emotions can be the key to either exciting the one recipient or to motivating a lot more people present. Some would www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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say that when a company recognises and rewards employees for their dedication and performance, it generates goodwill toward the company and management.

I enjoy it the most when we recognise individual employees for outstanding performance This emotional connection to the organisation enhances employees’ work performance.

Visibly showing people that you value their work and effort, and doing so in front of peers, is a key element of retaining people.This is an invaluable opportunity to define, communicate and reinforce key aspects of outstanding performance.

Also, it gives management a textbook example to show employees how individual excellence affects the company overall.

Industry acknowledgment We should also not lose sight of the fact that we are creating an ideal opportunity for development of our brand by bestowing honours on our employees or members. For example, the annual BALI Awards have always delighted individuals and teams ‘on the day’, but have also created a long term benefit for brand development and marketing.

There have been many landscape industry awards documented over the past few months, split, as is usually the case(!), into the different areas of our industry. We have had construction, maintenance and design awards with each association recognising what is good in their day-to-day work.

Consider that if there is motivation for the many in seeing individuals receiving recognition for outstanding performance, so there just may be benefit in showing what this great industry can achieve together. The collective portrayal of outstanding success would be a very strong message and may even be a solution to the ever present challenge of showing a united front and building excitement in our collective ‘brand’.

After all, I am certain that when potential customers see an individual landscape company or design practice recognised for outstanding achievement for a particular project, this SHOULD be good for us all.

So, what starts out as an individual award becomes as huge as industry wide recognition, possibly on a massive scale. Driving real behavioural change may not be uppermost in our mind when we open that envelope, but it should not be discounted as a real opportunity for real change.

ABOUT PHIL JONES Phil Jones is Managing Director of ISS Facility Services Landscaping and is based at the company’s head office in Woking, Surrey. He gained an HND in landscape construction and moved into grounds maintenance early on in his career, further gaining an MBA. He has been with the company since 1987 and as well as running the landscaping business he also sits on the UK operational management board of ISS Facility Services. www.isslandscaping.co.uk

March 2013

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15/02/2013 09:55

Association News – APL

Landscapers get ready for the

APL Awards

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

The judges have met and the shortlist has been revealed so now it’s time to book your place at THE event in the APL calendar!

T

he APL Awards, sponsored

by Bradstone for the seventh year running, are a great chance to meet fellow landscapers and designers, see all the entries displayed and hear first-hand what made the judges decide on the winners. Examples of entries will also be included on a rolling slideshow during the day.

The day will include: ● The opportunity to look at the Awards entries ● Time to meet with fellow APL members ● The chance to network with sponsors ● A delicious three-course lunch ● Presentation of the prestigious APL Awards Come along and celebrate at the APL Awards and recognise the hard work and commitment of your staff, contractors and designers by bringing them too!

APL Chairman, Mark Gregory, will host the day’s proceedings, opening with a run through of the key APL activities which have taken place in the past year. Mark will also discuss the ins and outs of the judging process before introducing Adam Frost and Richard Barnhard to announce the Awards.

The Awards will be followed by an inspirational talk from Major Phil Ashby, a genuine hero. Phil volunteered with the United 10

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March 2013

Kensington Roof Gardens, the venue for the APL Awards 2013

They demonstrate the high quality of landscaping achieved by APL registered members and our commitment to professional workmanship New speakers announced for APL spring networking seminar Two more speakers have been confirmed for the APL spring networking seminar Ethical & Sustainable Landscaping which takes place on Wednesday 6 March 2013 at Classiflora, Essex. Experts speaking on these subjects include Angela Lambert from Q Lawns who will explain how a welldesigned living green roof or flower meadow can help support wildlife, along with a whole host of other benefits, and Gino Bracco, Sales Places at this Director of inspiring event Natural Paving Major cost just Products, who Phil Ashby £60 +VAT for APL are the leading members and suppliers of ethically associates. sourced natural stone The Awards products. For further details and to ceremony sold out last year – book, email events@the-hta.org.uk book your places online at www.aplawards.co.uk today!

APL show attendance Special offer! Book three To help grow consumer awareness or more places and pay just in 2013, APL will be exhibiting at the £55 +VAT per person! following shows and events: Nations as a Peace Keeper in Sierra Leone, when he found himself in the middle of an ambush during a violent civil war he had to make the decision to risk being killed trying to escape rather than be taken alive...

The APL Awards recognise and promote the best of British landscaping, and grow in prestige year on year. They demonstrate the high quality of landscaping achieved by APL registered members and our commitment to professional workmanship and customer satisfaction.

19 and 20 February 2013 is the RHS Plant and Design Show, at RHS Horticultural Halls, London.

The stand this year will be made up of photos and designs from members and will include a living wall of plants – promoting the great work that APL members do! APL landscapers will be on the stand to talk to the public about landscaping and their projects.

We’re also exhibiting at The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Birmingham as part of the TrustMark pavilion on the 21-24 March 2013. This show will provide consumers with expert advice and inspiration when thinking about landscaping their own gardens.

APL members who would like the opportunity to appear on the stands at these shows to promote their business and talk to the public about landscaping and their projects can email apl@the-hta.org.uk or call 0118 930 3132 for more details.

Flower Show Tatton Park – 25-28 July 2013 Following discussions with the RHS, Bradstone will be sponsoring an APL constructed garden at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park this July. The garden will be designed

by Paul Hervey-Brookes, a multi-award winning garden designer. The garden will be built by the founder members of the APL North West cluster group, led by Simon Ford of Foxcroft Landscapes. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

15/02/2013 10:01

Association News – SGD

Gardens by design...

The NGS Yellow Book sets the spotlight on garden design

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his year, the National Gardens Scheme and the Society of Garden Designers have joined forces in an initiative to shine the spotlight on professionally designed gardens.

For the first time, in the now familiar NGS Yellow Book, gardens designed by members of Society of Garden Designers will be marked out with a special logo, allowing visitors to easily find gardens designed by a professional garden designer and to further understand the various levels of membership within the SGD. The NGS was set up as a charity 85 years ago and now over 3,700

London garden designed by Ana Sanchez-Martin MSGD

gardens a year are opened under the scheme to raise vital money for nursing and caring charities. Many of the gardens that open as part of the NGS are privately owned and rarely exposed to the public, so it’s a unique opportunity for garden lovers to visit some of the UK’s most spectacular gardens.

Many of the Society’s members, have opened their gardens for the scheme for many years. Members such as Pamela Johnson MSGD, who started with a desire to share her garden and be part of something good, but soon found that having fun and raising money for charity was a

It’s a unique opportunity for garden lovers to visit some of the UK’s most spectacular gardens

Rosemary Alexander FSGD’s own garden in Sussex

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winning formula. Pamela said: “I have opened our garden on and off for the past 20 years and found it both rewarding and stimulating. Each year we have returning visitors. A garden is always changing; showing it gives an added incentive to review, revise, and introduce new elements.”

Past SGD Chair, Charles Rutherfoord, who has opened his own garden in South London for several years and instigated the scheme with the NGS said: “This is the first year that the Society has worked with the NGS and the hope is that the initiative will gather momentum to become a significant part of the Scheme, all the while encouraging an exciting dialogue between designer and visitor. Of particular interest will be the members’ own gardens. It is in our own gardens that we experiment, learn, and develop.

The great strength of the scheme lies in the diversity of work that it encompasses. It is exciting that the gardens that are being opened by members of the Society of Garden Designers demonstrate that there are many ways to design a garden.”

Nearly 40 SGD members will be opening gardens as part of the initiative. Some of the highlights include: ● The walled garden at The Manor House, Ayot St. Lawrence, Hertfordshire designed by

Julie Toll FSGD, which is gentle in its quiet palette of yellow irises, and white allium planted in stone framed beds. ● In complete contrast is Ian Kitson FSGD’s remarkable, dynamic and fluid design for Follers Manor in Sussex that won three SGD Awards in 2012. ● In Oxfordshire, modern classicism is represented by Tom Stuart Smith MSGD’s fine walled garden at Broughton Grange, where terraced beds of perennial planting march down the hill to a great formal pool.

Tom also opens his own garden in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire and in both gardens the use of perennial planting predominates. ● While at the opposite end of the spectrum, Rosemary Coldstream MSGD’s front garden at St. Mary’s Walk, Hertfordshire is dominated by sculptural box, which is baroque in its vigour and boldness.

To find out more about SGD members taking part in the NGS 2013, please visit the SGD website www.sgd.org.uk The full list of gardens open as part of the NGS are published in the Yellow Book and listed online at www.ngs.org.uk March 2013

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15/02/2013 10:00

Association News – BALI

BALI briefing

1 Charlotte Murrell’s design for BALI’s stand at Chelsea 2013 2 2012 Grand Award winners P Casey (Land Reclamation) Ltd

Get your ducks in a row

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ntries are now OPEN for the 2013 BALI National Landscape Awards in association with Horticulture Week!

Full contractors have until Friday 24 May to submit their schemes, and the closing date for registered designers, overseas and affiliate members is Friday 2 August.

If you are considering putting in a scheme or two, make sure the quality of your submission reflects the quality of the scheme with professional photographs and a clear and informative narrative to support your entry. You need to give yourself the very best chance of success and get through the short-listing stage; then you’ll be at the mercy of our expert judges!

If you need any guidance on collating your submission, call Angela Donovan on 02476 690333.

Good luck!

Stand design for Chelsea Great news! BALI Associate Designer Charlotte Murrell’s stylish design for the BALI stand at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show has been accepted by the RHS, and BALI affiliate (supplier) members are kindly providing their products to 12

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March 2013

BALI contractors from the South East will be building the stand

2

create the stand – number FR39 in the FRESH area of the show. We are indebted to the following members for their support: CED Natural Stone, LandscapePlus (lighting), Provender Nurseries, Quercus Fencing, Scotscape (living walls) and SureSet (resin bound surfacing). BALI Board Director Terry Drew of Upcher & Co is supporting Charlotte as project manager and BALI contractors from the South East will be building the stand under Charlotte’s careful eye. BALI contractors and designers who would like a presence on the stand with a poster in the portfolio display should contact rebecca. wootton@bali.org.uk for details.

New membership category BALI is delighted to announce the introduction of a new membership category for Direct Service Organisations. BALI DSO membership is for businesses that are owned, controlled by, or directly associated with a local or public authority as a provider of its landscaping and grounds/

amenity maintenance services.

DSO members enjoy full BALI membership rights, including being able to enter the BALI Awards.

So if you meet the criteria for DSO membership and you have the perfect scheme for the BALI Awards, join BALI now so that you can get your entry in before the 24 May deadline.

3 David Winn of Lantra launching the online career framework tool at IOG SALTEX

And as many local authorities, utilities companies and house builders also require contractors to hold a LISS/CSCS card you will be saving yourself a great deal of money by ensuring you obtain your card before grandfather rights expire. Contact Jessica Consolaro on 02476 698652 for details.

And finally...

BALI members are working closely with Lantra to develop an online tool where companies can manage the skills, training and achievements of their workforce. Since the launch of the concept in the early stages of its development last autumn, progress has been swift and BALI members are coming forward to take part in a pilot project to work with this online facility. Once feedback has been evaluated and the glitches ironed out it will be promoted across the landbased industry.

31 October 2013 That’s the date when ‘grandfather rights’ for the Landbased Industries Skills Scheme (LISS/CSCS) close and after that, anyone who wants to obtain a LISS/CSCS skills card will have to achieve the minimum NVQ Level 2 qualification, regardless of whether they have many years of practical landscaping experience.

3 For details of any item The landscape industry’s mentioned in this month’s ROLO Health & Safety BALI briefing, contact the Landscape Awareness Course and the CSCS House team on 02476 690333.

Health & Safety Test are required If you are not a BALI member for all cards. A LISS/CSCS card is a but wish you were, visit pre-requisite for anyone working www.bali.org.uk and start your on a Highways scheme for an membership application today.

NHSS 18 accredited contractor.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

15/02/2013 10:03

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London Stone are pleased to formally announce two exciting new developments.

New London Stone Identity Over the winter we have been working hard behind the scenes to refresh our corporate identity and are proud to now officially launch, our new brand. Our new brand reflects our values of innovation and our commitment to constantly developing & improving our business to meet the needs of our customers.

New South East London Branch We are also proud to announce the opening of a second showroom at Coolings Garden Centre in Knockholt, Kent. The showroom will open its doors for business at the beginning of April and will give customers in Kent, East and South East London convenient access to a London stone showroom.

0844 225 1915 www.londonstone.com ADVERTS TEMPLATES.indd 63

15/02/2013 14:56

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www.stockscape.co.uk 18/02/2013 10:17

Business Tips 1 After: The low-nutrient soil formed the perfect base for the sustainable wildflower meadow we created from seed.

2 Before: Our design factored in keeping the 600 tons of excavated sub-soil on site. A substantial cost saving as well as much more sustainable..

Sustainable Landscaping Sustainability is a word that is being bandied about on a regular basis in relation to all aspects of our lives. Sustainable development, sustainable fishing, sustainable farming; it seems to be having an impact on all of us. In this series of articles I will explore what sustainability means to us as landscape professionals. From those who design gardens and landscapes, those who build them and those who maintain them. Not forgetting of course all those who support us with plants, materials, machinery and services. I will also explore ways to make existing gardens and landscapes more sustainable.

As long ago as 1987, sustainable landscaping was defined as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.

This definition reminds us that if resources are overused or misused, there will be fewer resources for future generations to draw on.

The idea behind creating and maintaining gardens and landscapes in a more sustainable way is to create spaces that are ecologically more stable and which require fewer inputs than conventional landscapes.The ultimate goal in the creation of a sustainable space is one that includes appropriate plant species, is aesthetically pleasing, is highly functional, requires low maintenance and is cost effective.

Sustainable landscaping is about preservation of limited and costly resources, trying to reduce waste, preventing air, water and soil pollution.

Implementing measures that include composting, recycling, reduced use of artificial fertilisers, avoiding or minimising the use of pest control chemicals, using the right plant in the right place, appropriate use of turf, rainwater harvesting for irrigation and reduced usage of drinkable water for watering plants and lawns. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Janine Pattison.indd 17

In the traditional model of creating gardens and landscapes, the designer works with the owner on the masterplan.The designer will decide on the site layout and will select the plants (often from a standard palette of their preferred plants).The design is then put out to tender, awarded by competitive bid and is then constructed to the designer’s specification. Often top soil is removed from site, few efforts are made to reuse or recycle any material on site and new top soil is imported as needed

Sustainable landscaping is about preservation of limited and costly resources The maintenance of the garden is often awarded by competitive bid to a contractor who has not been involved in the project thus far. Lawns are mown weekly, clippings and other garden waste are removed from site.The garden receives regular applications of fertiliser and pesticide.The irrigation system runs from drinking water and most of the shrubs need cutting several times a year. There may be an annual mulching with brought-in material.

A more sustainable system would have the owner, designer, contractor and maintenance professional involved at the design stage.The design should be appropriate to the surroundings with the plants and their layout decided by the designer and the maintenance professional. Plants should include natives and species adapted for the site conditions.

Prior to construction the landscaper should be consulted on the specification and choice of

Janine Pattison explores what sustainability means for landscape professionals, and why it cannot be compromised

materials.The contractor should provide guidance on lifespan and weathering of materials as well as installation techniques. Options to reuse materials, reduce wastage and protect on-site top soil should be explored.

If the maintenance professional has been involved from the beginning then issues like composting, shredding on-site debris for mulch, avoiding fertilisers and adopting IPM for pest control can be agreed.

Next month I will look at sustainable landscape design and how the designer, the client, contractor and maintenance professional can work together to achieve a sustainable result without compromising the quality of the design.

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

March 2013

17

15/02/2013 10:04

Business Tips

The costs of laying turf I mean – really! Why should it be necessary to analyse the cost of laying turf? It’s the second most common task in our industry (digging holes being the first). We all do it on virtually a daily basis. We all know exactly what it costs – don’t we? As I write this analysis, I am pretty certain of the futility of this exercise. I write it with the following preconceptions:

● I have to write it as it is a basic part of our trade ● I am pretty sure of the costs that will come out in the final lines ● I may have a few surprises in store that may affect future profitability on jobs

Scope Let’s start with these possible assumptions and variations: ● The ground to receive the turf may require decompaction ● It must be cultivated, graded and final levelled ● Any clearances have been already carried out (see previous issues for clearance spraying etc.)

● The distance from offload will impact ● The method of transport will impact ● The turf supplied, as per Q Lawns, is based on an ex yard price of £1.35 and a delivered average of £1.80 / m²

● The is no requirement to import or move topsoil to the area to receive the turf ● The soil may be clean or stony or even contaminated with rubble, other vegetation etc. ● The quality of the finished installation may vary ● Edging details may vary (straight or curved)

Decompaction On areas where turf has grown previously, rotavating is generally employed to break up light compaction. In larger areas a tractor drawn implement may be used. Where the ground is compacted a rotavator may fail to bite initially and may require either ripping or hand digging if the area is too small.

1

The following items are addressed in the tables below.

Readers can choose which option they wish to use and then build up prices for the planting operations.

These will be addressed in the cost issues as shown.

Notes on the following tables ● All items are shown at cost (readers should allow for profit) ● The labour rate used is £19.50 per hour ● Labour works a productive seven hour day NOTE: if a ripper and rotavator are used please add these two costs together.

DECOMPACTION COSTS in £ / m2

Machine

Cost £

Area decompacted per man hour in m2 200

300

400

500

750

1000

1500

Tractor ripper

15.00

0.17

0.12

0.09

0.07

0.05

0.03

0.02

Tractor rotavator

25.00

0.22

0.15

0.11

0.09

0.06

0.04

0.03

Hand drawn rotavator, two passes

3.60

0.12

0.08

10

Hand digging

2

20

30

40

1.95

0.98

0.65

0.49

FERTILISATION COSTS in £ / m2

March 2013

Sam Hasall.indd 18

100

0.23

An initial feed of potassium and phosphates will always benefit a new lawn area; a slow release application of nitrogen can follow once the lawn has established. Slow release fertilisation will be more expensive but give better results over a prolonged period.

18

50

0.39

Turf fertilisation based on hand spreading at 500m2/hr Material Material cost 20kg £ /m2

Type of fertiliser

per m2

Cost in £ per 100m2

General purpose at 35g/m2

20.00

0.035

0.074

7.40

Slow release at 35g/m

45.00

0.079

0.118

11.78

2

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/02/2013 09:56

Business Tips

3

FINE CULTIVATION

This is arguably the slowest part of the operation and where time is underestimated. Depending on the final quality you wish to achieve, and the quality, moisture, and stickiness of the soil, this can be done quite quickly as in general amenity areas or extremely finely with an almost luted finish to domestic or fine gardens. Both of the above may also

benefit at a later stage from a fine soil top dressing application. This operation involves levelling to sometimes very exact standards and to edges, eliminating depressions etc. You must decide for each job what the productivity of your team is. In my experience it is not unreasonable for a two man team to spend a whole day preparing 300m².

Final cultivation Area covered per man hour m2 Cost per m2 – £

4

20

30

50

75

100

125

200

0.98

0.65

0.39

0.26

0.20

0.16

010

TRANSPORTING TURF ON SITE

5

There will always be an element of labour and time needed to move the turf from the palettes to the laying point, whether by machine or by barrow.

These costs are shown below based on a barrow load with capacity of six rolls (6m² on average).

Barrowing turf Barrow capacity 6m2 Distance m

10

25

50

100

Time minutes

6

7

9

12

Price per m2

0.33

0.38

0.49

0.65

6

LAYING THE TURF

This is again probably the easiest part; as long as it’s all prepared it can be quickly laid.

What really impacts is the shape and cutting of the area, if there are a lot of curves in the area it requires more time. Generally smaller areas are far more time consuming if the area is irregular.

Turf laying per hour m2 £ per m2

5

10

15

20

25

3.90

1.95

1.30

0.98

0.78

All items shown at cost – allow for profit The analyses performed within this article are only examples – readers are therefore responsible for the accuracy of their final calculations

FINISHING

Once the laying and cutting is completed, a compacting exercise is carried out, again this is off boards. The turf is also irrigated whether by hand or by sprinkler – some time must be allowed. Removing cuttings, cleaning up etc, the cost implications are as follows.

Examples Rip by tractor, rotavate, rake to a high standard, grade fertilise, barrow 25m lay turf finish

£4.45

As above but hand rotavate

£5.10

As above but decompaction by hand

£5.95

Rotavate, rake to acceptable but lower standard than above, standard and grade fertilise, barrow 25m lay turf, irrigate only FINAL COMMENTS As I said at the start this is basic, yet I am a bit surprised at the costs for the higher quality installations. I did expect them to come out a bit higher.

Don’t forget to add your profit onto these figures.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Sam Hasall.indd 19

£3.81

ABOUT SAM HASSALL Sam Hassall is the UK’s only dedicated specialist landscape cost consultant.

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

March 2013

19

19/02/2013 09:56

Business Tips

The price of quality

Quality Craftsmanship Delivery

Pricing

Andrew Wilson explains how the obsession with competition and finding the lowest price is pushing out smaller firms and leaving many companies out of pocket

I have mixed feelings about competitive bids and pricing as it is often difficult to know exactly what the client is looking for, apart of course from the best price. As many of us would agree, this is not always the best measuring stick in the landscape and garden design professions.

For the landscaper, the drudgery of competitive tender preparation is not only a time consuming process but also an expensive one.

With tender packages typically taking two or three days to prepare (more with complex schemes) the discovery that the bid has been unsuccessful is a bitter and a costly moment indeed. As projects have thinned out over recent years, threats of undercutting, buying work, and under-pricing to win jobs have all been rife. As a result, we are losing skills and outfits that have proved dependable and capable, and have the client’s best interests at heart. Perhaps more importantly, the competitive process based purely on cost is shown to be a sham.

Personally I prefer to nominate landscapers, selecting the best team and skill combinations for the job in an open and transparent way.

Clients might worry about back-handers but shouldn’t – they are illegal in the SGD and distasteful in the extreme to any honest and self-respecting designer. It is the quality of work that should be the focus here rather than the most competitive (or lowest) price. There should be a clear sense that clients are paying compatible market rates, and for the necessary skills and craftsmanship. To a great extent the discussion should be about quality of execution and delivery, although admittedly these are

20

March 2013

Andrew Wilson.indd 20

difficult considerations to second guess with most clients.

This eagerness for the competitive approach is no longer directed solely at the landscaper.

Increasingly clients are not simply talking and meeting with several designers before making a decision, but also asking for work up-front – free

As a result, we are losing skills and outfits that have proved dependable and capable and have the client’s best interests at heart

sketch ideas, concepts and suggested approaches often incorporating outline costs and fees. The idea is that the client gets more information from which to make an informed choice but the losing designer is left paying the bill. Time spent on the development of a design scheme – even to sketch design level – costs money, as does the presentation of work to a sufficiently high standard.

The lack of provision by some prospective clients for even basic expenses shows disregard for the profession of garden or landscape design, as if design and the design process has no value.

For the smaller practices this approach effectively throws them out of the marketplace

as larger practices can afford to pick up work in this way as a “loss leader”. The resulting strangulation of younger and often more creative talent by this narrow-minded approach is little short of scandalous.

In a different scenario, planners are now asking for so much information up front in the design process that clients of all kinds are struggling. The increasingly detailed proposal required loads the design fee more heavily in the early stages of design, when clients have no guarantee that their schemes will be allowed.

We need to rethink the whole approach to design and its implementation. Clients who wish to follow a competitive route, whether at the design or at the costing stage should be asked to pay for that work or at least to pay a suitable proportion. Increasingly designers are opting out of these competitive bids meaning that the same restricted talent pool gets the work, with the same predictable results regurgitated. For contractors, they are seeing work walk out of the door when they have all the capabilities to complete it successfully.

What is the price of quality?

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

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/02/2013 08:48

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18/02/2013 10:24

Business Tips

Home grown The other morning I watched an interview with a couple who were trying to live on products produced only in the UK. Ironically, they were trawling the internet on a computer made in Japan (a minor technicality).This got me thinking about our industry and our place on the world stage as a manufacturer which seems especially relevant at this time of year when many of us are looking to replace equipment and/or set up new contracts.

Straight away we’re off to a bad start with power tools and pedestrian machines as the majority of these come from the continent and Japan; the UK has never been big in this area, with the only notable exception being Hayter.

Moving on to fine turf mowers and associated equipment, UK offerings improve slightly with the likes of Dennis, Sisis, Allett, Lloyds and Ransomes.

This is good news as we first invented the cylinder mower way back in 1827 and are still successfully exporting across the world. So, on

Many of our businesses may be foreign owned, but the manufacturing is still being done here to ride-on mowers where Ransomes, Hayter and Lloyds still lead the way with ride-on cylinder and trailed gang mowers built in the UK. It could easily be said that the market for this type of equipment is predominately in the UK, but there is a healthy export market for golf course products and commercial is starting to break in to new and existing markets.

Apart from the homeowner market with the likes of Countax, manufacturers of commercial ride-on rotary mowers are conspicuous by their absence, this being the domain of American and Japanese producers (that’ll be us Brits sticking with our traditional cylinders). On to tractors, where once we led the world with the production of Massey Ferguson, Ford, David Brown, Case and Leyland all having major www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Angus Lindsay.indd 23

Angus Lindsay reports on the UK’s position as a manufacturer of equipment and machinery used within the landscaping industry

manufacturing facilities in the UK. On top of this, there were the niche manufacturers such as County, Roadless, Muir Hill and Trantor. Today, New Holland still manufacture in Basildon and JCB in Staffordshire, exporting tractors and earthmovers all over the world, but all the other sites have been turned in to housing or retail parks.

There are a significant number of home grown manufacturers producing everything from side-arm flails to wood chippers where Bomford, McConnell, Spearhead and Twose lead the world in this field, not forgetting the likes of Greenmech, Timberwolf, Rytec, Tomlin, Major and Logic, whose ingenuity satisfies both home and international markets.

Unfortunately light commercial vehicle manufacturers have all but disappeared from our shores, with Ford announcing that production of the Transit will cease in favour of overseas production. It is, however, not all doom and gloom, whilst we may be driving vehicles built in Turkey, Spain or Lithuania, they may well be having their streets and airports swept by road sweepers built by Johnston or Scarab from the UK. We led the way by producing the world’s first mechanical road sweeper in the 1840s, beating the Americans by a couple of years.

Whilst home grown production may have taken a significant knock over the last 30 years, we should still be proud of our position in the world market. Many of our businesses may be foreign owned, but the manufacturing is

still being done here – look at the success of Jaguar and Land Rover.

Having briefly reviewed the equipment we operate, I have to admit that currently only 25 per cent of it is home grown, this being out of necessity and competitiveness rather than a nationalistic sense of pride. Much as I would like to change this, circumstances dictate otherwise; I have also checked my computer, it was made in China!

ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAY As an agriculturist, Angus spent several years working on arable farms in Scotland before joining VSO in Egypt, implementing a mechanisation programme, managing field operations for a commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen. During this time he

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

Contact: alindsay@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

March 2013

23

15/02/2013 10:06

Business Tips

When tasked with implementing a Quality Management System to meet the requirements of ISO9001, the biggest challenge is often knowing where to start! In this article Jodie Read shares the key steps involved in implementing ISO9001 and getting it assessed by a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited Certification Body.

One significant decision will be based around ‘who’ will implement the system. Do you intend to use internal staff? If so, do they have the necessary knowledge, skills and time to be able to complete the task? Perhaps there is a need to consider some additional training.

If there isn’t anyone internally who can, another option is to consider appointing a consultant with relevant industry experience.

It might even be possible to engage the consultant to carry out an Initial Baseline Review, which might help signpost internal staff to do the work; thereby providing the advantage of a professional technical insight to achieving ISO9001 whilst keeping consultancy fees to a minimum.

What?

Having decided who is going to do the work, the key steps include: ● Review the existing system. ● Introduce any necessary systems (such as control of nonconformity) that may be missing at the start. ● Write the procedures (some may already exist; if so, they can be incorporated into the system). ● Write the manual. ● Write the quality policy. ● Carry out a full round of internal audits.

(Note that as landscaping means the service is being delivered on a client’s premises, you should include site based audits, as well as those required at head office). ● Deliver awareness training so that staff within the business understand what you are striving to achieve, and the benefits it will bring. (A free quality awareness training

24

March 2013

Jodie Read.indd 24

How to implement ISO9001

prompt can be downloaded from www.penarth.co.uk/resources.html). ● Hold Management Review Meetings. ● Set and monitor progress towards improvement objectives.

Timescales An assessor will expect to see that you’ve built up records using your newly implemented system. A typical timescale for a small, simple organisation would be six months.

For businesses that are larger, perhaps with multiple office locations, it may be necessary to allow a longer timeframe to achieve certification.

Certification In order to gain recognition for your Quality Management System, you will want to be assessed by a UKAS accredited Certification Body. A full list of Certification Bodies able to offer such certification can be found on the UKAS website: www.ukas.com/about-accreditation/accreditedbodies/certification-body-schedules-QMS.asp.

When obtaining quotes, it is worth considering whether the Certification Body is able to assess other systems (such as NHSS18, ISO14001 or OHSAS18001) that you may require at some stage in the future. It is also worth checking that they have experience of assessing companies from within your area of expertise within the landscaping sector.

ABOUT JODIE READ Jodie Read is the Managing Director of Penarth Management Limited; a company which helps to make businesses better, greener and safer through the provision of specialist compliance consultancy and training for quality, environmental, health and safety management. She and her colleagues assist companies to implement and maintain management systems, such as

ISO9001, NHSS18, ISO14001 or OHSAS18001.

Jodie is also one of only a few approved ROLO trainers in the country. The company is an affiliate member of BALI and one of the first ever winners of the prestigious BALI Affiliate Award for Exceptional Service. If readers have any queries regarding continual improvement in business management systems, they are welcome to contact Jodie via e-mail: jodie@penarth.co.uk or by telephone on 029 2070 3328.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

15/02/2013 10:05

BSH 265x210_Catwalk - Pro Landscaper:Layout 1

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18/02/2013 11:03 11/02/2013 15:26

Business Tips

The battle against extreme weather for landscapers As drought and flooding become increasingly normal, the industry needs to begin to plan how landscapes can be designed to cope more effectively with this changing climate, Jacob Tompkins reports

Across the UK, everywhere is water-logged; there is flooding, ground conditions are saturated, rivers and streams are full, groundwater is at its highest possible level, and it never seems to stops raining. However, landscapers should also be thinking about drought.

Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir John Beddington, recently said that governments around the world have spectacularly failed to do anything about emissions and we now face at least 25 years of increasingly extreme weather. In 2012 we saw crippling drought turn into widespread flooding, but this was not freak weather, it was simply the new climate. We should expect a lot more floods and a lot more droughts, and unfortunately landscapers will be one of the professions that will bear the brunt of this.

Industry professionals must begin to plan how to produce landscapes that can cope with too much and too little water, year on year, for the foreseeable future.

This includes looking at different planting types, surfaces, and soils, and it includes looking at how water will move across the site, how it will drain and how it can be stored. Landscaping will increasingly be required to channel excess water away from buildings and functional areas, which may mean using storage modules under permeable car parking, or it may mean using swales and dips as perennial ponds. Likewise, clever landscaping will be required to conserve water and use it efficiently across sites; this www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Waterwise.indd 27

could include rainwater harvesting tanks, or additional use of mulches and soil conditioners to increase field capacity and water retention.

The design of planting on the site will become crucial, as shade becomes more important both to provide cooling for buildings, but also to reduce evapotranspiration. It will also require changes to maintenance; landscapes will have to be adaptable and versatile, this includes the choice of irrigation system for plants and the source of water for this irrigation. It will also require more communication with the client and the users of the space, with more explanation of how plants behave – a very simple example is convincing people that having a brown lawn during a drought isn’t a bad thing, and that it will come back stronger and greener when it rains!

Most landscapers already intuitively know about water, but the new climate (in terms of both politics and weather) means that this knowledge will have to be formalised, planned and articulated to the client, landscapers will effectively become water managers for the site. This will mean another layer of complexity, but will also lead to more long-term maintenance contracts. It should mean that landscaping will be factored in at the start of a build or refurbishment in terms of the design and functionality of a site; often this is already the case, but from now on it should be seen as crucial to how a building or site operates.

Finally, floods and droughts will have an impact on business operations too. Will suppliers be able to provide the plants that are needed, when they are needed? How will landscapers gain access to waterlogged sites?

Will there be water available to irrigate newly laid turf and plantings? What impact will new legislation have on the materials landscapers can use, and how they can be used – will all surfaces have to be permeable?

Importantly, a good knowledge of water may help businesses win or retain work. As clients’ concerns about water increase, they will further value professionals with clear proficiency in the area. The main point for the future is to think about water as it will become even more crucial to landscaping in the years to come.

ABOUT WATERWISE Waterwise is a UK NGO focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK and building the evidence base for large-scale water efficiency. Waterwise is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working closely with the water industry, governments and regulators, manufacturers and retailers. Waterwise is acknowledged by governments and regulators as the leading UK authority on water efficiency. www.waterwise.org.uk Jacob Tompkins is the Managing Director of Waterwise, the independent water efficiency organisation: jtompkins@waterwise.org.uk

March 2013

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15/02/2013 10:08

Timber Regulation including cellular wood panels, assembled flooring panels, shingles and shakes What is not covered in EUTR? I wouldn’t worry as to what is not covered as there are no caveats in place for any timber being used for landscapers.

How do these regulations affect me?

Neither the designer, architect, nor client have any responsibility to EUTR, as it only refers to the tradesperson or company providing the timber materials or services where these materials are being used.

Timber regulation Karl Harrison, explains what the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) is, and what this means to the landscaping fraternity The UK and Europe has suffered from the illegal import of timber from grey markets around the world; grey being the term for illegally felled timber. Many companies subscribe to and support the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Certification) and PEFC (programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) which are non-governmental bodies that promote sustainable forest management. They are vital in the recording and monitoring of legally abiding companies, importers and traders; but what about merchants – suppliers that are not part of schemes like this – and if you make your purchases with them, how do you know what you are buying and where it is from?

What is EUTR 2013?

The EU Timber Regulation EU NO 995/2010 comes into force on 3 March 2013. The regulation makes it an offence to place illegal timber, or timber products, on the EU market, and places obligations on those who first place such products on the market, as well as those trading further down the supply chain.

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What timber materials does EUTR cover? ● Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared ● Railway or tramway sleepers (cross-ties) of wood ● Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm ● Sheets for veneering (including those obtained by slicing laminated wood), for plywood or for other similar laminated wood and other wood, sawn lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded, spliced or end- jointed, of a thickness not exceeding 6mm ● Particle board, oriented strand board (OSB) and similar board (for example, waferboard) of wood or other ligneous materials, whether or not agglomerated with resins or other organic binding substances ● Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood ● Densified wood, in blocks, plates, strips or profile shapes ● Builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood,

Due diligence, what do I need to do?

(THE IMPORTANT BIT) Nothing is the simple answer, ‘due diligence’ is the term required to be used by operators, which are those that are responsible for importing into the EU in the first instance. As a landscaper, you are deemed to be a trader and therefore only required to keep a record of the following: If you are a trader, buying or selling timber or timber products in the EU, you have to be able to identify: (a) who you bought the timber or timber products from; and (b) where applicable, who you have sold the timber or timber products to.

This information shall be kept for at least five years and be provided for checks if requested.

“They’ll never find me; I am only a small landscape trader” Oh dear, please don’t get short sighted; yes you may be right, just how will they find you?

Well what if I suggest that your timber yard, national chain or local, get an audit (which they certainly will), and they get caught out with a small batch of timber and you bought some of this. The merchant will then provide a list of all the buyers that made a purchase of this timber.

ABOUT KARL HARRISON Karl Harrison runs Exterior Solutions Ltd based in Buckinghamshire, with his wife Lana. The company offers expert decking advice and is the sole UK distributor for high-end timber decking manufactured by Exterpark. www.exteriordecking.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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15/02/2013 10:09

Business Partnership

Multi service Servest seeks to work with the best in the business Servest may be a new name in the landscaping world but the multi service company has already made an impact in facilities management and is now looking to broaden its offer in grounds maintenance, landscaping, design and construction.

Backed by its South African parent but operating independently, Servest has expanded rapidly in the UK through both organic growth and acquisition. Turnover has grown from around £70m in 2010 to £200m currently, helped by the acquisition of Stag Security in 2012 and 7 Day Catering earlier this year. Servest now employs around 13,500 staff across the UK, providing a wide range of support services from cleaning to pest control, from security to catering.

Clients in the retail, leisure, public, commercial, transport and logistics sectors include household names such as Tesco, iconic sites including the Natural History Museum and prestigious organisations such as the University of Cambridge. The company is 73 per cent owned by Servest South Africa, the rest of the equity sits with the UK management team.

Servest currently provides grounds maintenance at three of its contract sites but is now planning to expand both geographically and in the range of services it provides. Landscaping is a natural addition to the portfolio for a company that wishes to offer the full range of support services but it just might be the South African connection that gives Servest an edge.

The South African parent company has considerable experience in landscaping, providing services to schools and colleges, hotels, office parks, industry and shopping centres. The company provides landscape and grounds maintenance services to the majority of South Africa’s universities, as well as many prominent public and government institutions www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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and facilities. These institutions all have high traffic environments, which require reliable maintenance of the highest standard.

Servest also maintains several of the football grounds used for the 2010 World Cup as well as many other sports facilities. The company has been awarded several industry accolades in South Africa from the Landscapers Institute, as well as the President’s Shield.

The climate in South Africa might be different but the skills and experience will be used to advantage in the UK. Working with the industry To demonstrate its commitment to the highest professional standards, Servest is now a Full Member of BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) and is looking to work with members in an alliance which should bring benefits to both parties and to clients.

Group Solutions Director Stuart Buswell explains that achieving Full Member status with BALI was a rigorous process that included inspection of sites as well as an examination of Servest’s processes, from health & safety to training and quality control.

“Forming a network alliance with BALI member firms will enable us to deliver a complete landscaping capability and give them access to larger contract opportunities. I look forward to talking with any BALI member firm that would like to work with us.”

Servest’s approach to the landscaping market has impressed Richard Gardiner and his firm,

Norris & Gardiner, is the first to join the Servest network. Richard, a former director and chairman of BALI, comments: “What struck me most when first coming into contact with Stuart and Servest was their commitment to doing things right, quick to see the advantages of working with BALI members as the UK’s leading landscape practitioners, with a determination to gain full BALI membership and develop effective relationships from the start.

“Being able to add a landscape offering to Servest’s range of services is an exciting opportunity for Norris & Gardiner, as a company we like to stick to what we do best but more and more clients want a single point of contact for a wide range of services from security to M&E maintenance, access control to landscape. That’s the strength of us working with Servest, the client gets what they want and each delivering company is a specialist in their field.”

“Working with Servest will give landscape contractors the opportunity to work on larger, longer contracts and for clients they might not otherwise be able to engage with,” comments Stuart Buswell. “We’re looking to build a network of partners across the country and we have a number of projects in the pipeline.”

For more information on Servest’s landscaping services or to discuss working with them, contact landscaping@servest.co.uk 0800 614 678

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19/02/2013 11:58

Training

Motivation activation Margaret McNeil, of OnSite Training UK, offers basic hints and tips for first time team leaders, this month she looks at how to motivate your team You’ve been promoted and have just got your first job as a team leader. You’re full of enthusiasm, excited about your new challenge and maybe have a few ideas about improving the team. Going to sleep the night before you start, you drift into a dream all about your new role. Unfortunately this swiftly turns in to a mini-nightmare: Bill is absent Ben is late Bob is in a mood Bella is unhappy Brian went to the wrong site Brendon has arrived in trainers Barry is upset Beatrice wants to leave for the dentist They are all shivering – the all-weather jackets haven’t arrived ● And we always have a tea break before we start, don’t we chaps? ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

You wake in a cold sweat but realise it was a nightmare and know you are fully prepared to deal with all the ‘issues’ that plagued you in the night.

Over the next few months, we will be providing some basic hints and tips for first time supervisors and team leaders. This time we’re looking at ‘Motivating Your Team’ – the theory and ideas for putting it into practice. Motivation starts with you.You’ll never have an enthusiastic team if you’re not keen yourself. This can be exhausting but over time your team will ‘catch it’, and if you demonstrate basic motivational skills you’ll be rewarded with a happier, more committed team.

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though, some workers don’t make the direct link between their job and their ability to keep themselves safe. It helps if people understand that there is a direct effect on their wellbeing if they do a bad job. ● We’ve all got to be here, so why don’t we try to enjoy it? ● If we’ve got to do this, why not do it right? ● How about doing it better?

Start with these principles and they will rub off.

Motivation starts with you. You’ll never have an enthusiastic team if you’re not keen yourself

You need to: ● Know the job and the team – knowledge is power. Have a look at their records and talk to the previous team leader (bearing in mind that he/she might have an axe to grind). Find out all you can about them. Examine the spec for the job, and do a ‘recce’. ● Be physically and mentally capable – don’t be late, tired, hung-over, or in a bad mood. ● The company has committed to you by placing you in the role, you represent the business so don’t moan in front of the team.

Keep quiet until you see a solution, or complain upwards. It’s your job to sort it out. ● Understand that you can have the respect and the friendship of your team, and be their supervisor.

Think about it: WHY are the team there?

The answer first and foremost is ‘to earn a living’. Understanding that all workers have to earn enough money to feed, clothe and house themselves/their family is important. Strangely

Secondly, we are happier and work better in a team; examine who is endangering team spirit.

Who complains all the time? Who puts others down? Finding out what motivates this person will affect the whole team. With a little humour it might be possible to just say “Bert! Isn’t it hard work being miserable?!” Maybe Bert was treated badly by the last supervisor or was passed over for promotion.You might be able to do something about it.

Encourage your team to eat together so that they get to know each other a bit. A quick get together at the beginning or end of the day can also help.

ABOUT MARGARET MCNEIL Margaret McNeil is from OnSite Training UK. Whilst lecturing at a horticultural college, she spotted an opportunity to offer flexible learning to horticulturalists and started OnSite Training UK with Roger Clarke.

Since then over 1,000 landscapers have qualified through them. Their Lamport Gardening Academy launched on 2 February 2013. www.onsitetraininguk.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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15/02/2013 10:10

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18/02/2013 15:31

Let’s Hear it From...

LET’S HEAR IT FROM...

John Wyer John Wyer has worked within the industry for over 25 years and is a widely respected designer whose schemes have won many awards.

This month he tells Pro Landscaper about his journey up the industry ladder and of the success Bowles & Wyer have achieved since forming in 1992...

So how did it all start for you John?

How did you get into horticulture?

Going back many years, I was interested in architecture and town planning, and one of the A-levels I did was the history of architecture. Landscape architecture was suggested to me as a career so I took a look at it and it really appealed. Up until then, I had only helped my parents in the garden – a little piece set aside (where nothing else would grow!). I got on the course at Manchester, but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and back in 1978, there were very few landscape architecture courses but there were four that were really good, Cheltenham Art College, Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University), Leeds Polytechnic and University of Sheffield. There was a lot of competition and luckily I got a place starting the following year. In the meantime I worked, firstly at a nursery, then contracting on site. When I was working at the nursery I completely caught the plant bug and used to collect cuttings in my Tupperware lunchbox whilst everyone else was eating, snoozing or

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Let's hear it from.indd 33

wouldn’t survive – not only in terms of plants but in terms of layout and how things went together.

I got a real practical understanding which would, in the future, serve as a basis for design.

Were you interested in art?

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reading the paper! I grew 2 them all on the kitchen windowsill, and then all the other windowsills! I got to know a lot about plants in a very short space of time. I worked on site in some pretty deprived parts of London – we were doing a lot of work on the regeneration around the east end of London and the Docklands. So I really began to get a grounding on which things worked, what would and what

Yes I did art A-level and really enjoyed it. I still draw and sketch and in fact, it is something that I attach a great deal of importance to. Most of our designs start on the drawing board with a big fat black felt pen. I sketch in meetings with clients and I think drawing is very, very important. There is no doubt that Photoshop and Sketch-Up and other 3D tools can bring a scheme to life, but I think it is very vital to draw and to communicate visually with clients.

The five year landscape architecture course was a three year degree, a year out in practice and a year doing a post graduate course. Actually I hated it, I just don’t like education. I really enjoyed what I was learning, but hated being in that situation. I suppose I’m quite a rebellious kind of person naturally; I don’t like doing what I am told which is probably why I run my own business!

I remember one of my tutors sitting me down, and telling me to get my act together and do some work, in order to get a pass!

March 2013

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22/02/2013 09:06

Let’s Hear it From...

4 3

I get involved directly in all client contact and that is because I am passionate about design, about what we do and I like dealing with people And once you got your pass?

The moment I got out in the real world I started working, it just all took off. I worked very hard, long hours and I really enjoyed it. I could suddenly see what the point of it was – it was all real.

What about your year out in practice?

I worked at Lancaster City Council, and in those days, local authorities had architects and landscape architects in a fair sized department. I was working under two landscape architects who were quite experienced but they were job sharing and I was an assistant to them. However, within a few months of being there, they both left, so I was there for six months basically on my own. I was completely thrown in at the deep end, I had never done anything like it before and it was the most exhilarating experience I have ever had. I was

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involved in all sorts of projects, which otherwise I would never have got involved in.

Did they want you to stay on?

No, it was a set year out placement and I had to go back to college the next year. After college the recession hit (in the early eighties), so I went back to contracting, working for the contractor I had been with during the holidays.

Was that domestic?

There was some domestic work but most of it was commercial. Whilst I was working as a foreman, I met Chris Bowles from Clifton Nurseries. He had been there less than a year when he met me on site and told me they were looking for another designer.

He recommended me for an interview with the design director, Vic Shanley, who was an extraordinary guy and a very early member of the Society of Garden Designers.

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

19/02/2013 09:21

8

Let’s Hear it From...

Was he a mentor to you?

In design terms he certainly was. I learnt a lot from him. He was one of those people who inspired you and drove you mad in equal measure. I worked under Vic initially for two and a half years and then I took a year out and cycled to China as I was a very keen cyclist at the time.

Do you still enjoy cycling?

group of companies, I suspect many clients just see it as Bowles and Wyer. I guess the divisions are artificial to an extent, although I have much less to do with the build only side (Bowles & Wyer Contracts Ltd) in order to avoid conflicts of interest.

What is your turnover?

It’s been pretty steady for the last three years at around £3 million. This year it will be higher than that, next year it will probably be closer to £5-6 million.

How many staff members do you have across the three companies?

There are 26 directly employed staff, but we also

Yes. I cycle every weekend. In the winter, I still use the same bike I used when cycling to China with my wife Vicky (we weren’t married at the time). I came back after a year away completely reinvigorated and in fact, Clifton wrote to me whilst I was in Tibet and asked when I was coming back because they wanted me back there. I re-joined and eventually got promoted to running the design department when Victor retired. It had got to a fair size by then; lots of people in the industry went through Clifton at that time. I left in 1992 to start my own business and Chris (Bowles) joined me a year later.

have a number of sub-contractors who work with us on a regular basis. I would say, at any one time, we have between 30-50 people working for us.

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Did you just think it was time to move on and take the risk to start your own business?

I didn’t really see it as a risk, I wouldn’t say I was naïve, but foolishly optimistic!

Did you have contracts lined up?

Yes two – one small and one medium sized.

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9

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Was your idea then to go purely down the design route?

No, it was always going to be design and build.

I was interested in design and build because although I am a designer to the centre, I think because I started in contracting even before I went to college, I found it very difficult in my mind to separate the two processes and I still do now.

It’s an artificial separation. Capability Brown worked on a design and build basis.

How is the business structured now?

There are three businesses. The design practice and design & build companies which are owned by Chris Bowles and I jointly, and then there is a build only company which Chris, myself, Dan Riddleston and Matt Maynard own between us.

Do they all trade separately?

Yes they do, but projects do get passed between the companies. Although strictly speaking it is a

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Let's hear it from.indd 35

1 (Page 33) A garden in Le Cap d’Antibes, France (photo by Stuart Wallace)

6 A garden in St John’s Wood, London (photo by John Wyer)

2 (Page 33) Detail: South Andrus, Spokane, WA, USA (photo by Denise Cummings)

7 South Andrus, Spokane, WA, USA. (photo by Denise Cummings)

3 Pavilion Apartments, St John’s Wood, London (photo by John Wyer)

8 Maces Farm, Gloucestershire (photo by Steve Wooster)

4 Maces Farm, Gloucestershire. (photo by Steve Wooster)

9 Holford Road, London NW3. (photo by Steve Wooster)

5 Holford Road, London NW3. (photo by Steve Wooster)

10 The Collection, St John’s Wood, London (photo by Steve Wooster)

March 2013

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19/02/2013 09:22

Let’s Hear it From...

What do you do about International projects? How do you source products and where do you look for work?

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What’s the reason for that increase?

Larger country gardens and estates – we have been seeing a lot of growth in this market, particularly from foreign buyers.

In terms of where you sit with pricing, are you at the top end?

We are competitive. Although having said that, it’s not uncommon that our design fees are higher than those of our competition, and we still get the job. This is something that has been very interesting since the recession started, it was clear that the market was going to become more competitive. We resolved very early on in the recession not to compete on price but to compete on quality; quality of service, design and what we could supply. I get involved directly in all client contact and that is because I am passionate about design, and about what we do and I like dealing with people. That is my strength. It is very rare that we get into a tussle on fees.

demonstration of that and I was really glad that the judges recognised that I had completely adapted my design process to meet the local conditions; not only in terms of plant material, but the whole way that we approached the project. The client is very important too; they don’t usually have a clear design brief, some will give you a list or show pictures, others will tell you their ideas. You have to take all of those things and come up with a coherent brief. Clients’ design ideas are also partly driven by budget, although they won’t usually admit that.

You have to understand the environment and the client, and then look at what is available

Is there a Bowles & Wyer style? Can I look at a garden and say that is John’s design?

If you ask me, I would say no, but if you ask anybody outside Bowles & Wyer, they will say of course you can recognise a Bowles & Wyer garden!

What’s the giveaway?

I say it’s not about style, it’s all about space, and I always talk about it as a triangle between the client, the site and the designer. If clients can do it without the designer’s input, they wouldn’t go to a designer; they want what you bring to a project. The designer input is very important but the site is equally very important. The project that I won the SGD International Award for, was a big

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When do you qualify a lead?

When do you start talking price?

You know straight away whether it is likely.

It becomes clear fairly early on; we sometimes take on projects that don’t entirely make commercial sense because we like the client, much to Chris’s dismay! We have a base level as a starting point which is around £50,000.

We don’t really have an upper limit; we are looking at one contract running over two years starting soon which is £5 million. The bulk of our work is in the £50,000 - £500,000 price bracket.

Although we have won two international awards (The SGD International Award was shared with Dan Pearson), international work doesn’t feature hugely in our business plan; however we will take on projects when they come up and interest us.

Other designers deliberately target international work and a lot of people will say that they couldn’t have survived without this work over the last five years. I would rather do projects in the UK where I can use locally sourced materials and work with our existing staff. We recently quoted for a big job in Moscow so if they interest us, we will go for them but it is not something we target directly. When it comes to sourcing products abroad, you have to be flexible. I had some ideas about a project we did in Spokane (USA), but first I had to completely immerse myself in the landscape. I spent time walking around the site, photographing it and then went trekking in the local mountains looking at the flora and fauna.

I also visited all the local nurseries and stone suppliers. It was only after going through that process that the design really started to crystallise.

You have to understand the environment and the client, and then look at what is available.

What are your interests outside of work?

Growing food and cooking. I cook for the whole family every day and I like to think I’m a very good cook – I have a very large, unwieldy collection of cookery books dating back 35 years! The other thing I am fairly passionate about – mainly through Vicky – is the Triangle Community Garden in our local area, and through this I have become interested in is permaculture. Of course, I still love the cycling as well and try to get out as much as possible on my bike.

1 Maces Farm, Gloucestershire (photo by Steve Wooster)

CONTACT Bowles & Wyer Unit 5 Williams Court Tunnel Way, Pitstone Nr. Leighton Buzzard LU7 9GJ Tel: +44(0)1296 662 439 Web: www.bowleswyer.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

15/02/2013 09:36

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Portfolio

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Bands of prairie planting give structure to the garden and the late season grass and herbaceous perennial mix looks great well into the autumn, this is low maintenance and easy to maintain once established requiring only a single cut in early spring

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Meadow

Meadow

Front garden becomes more functional by improving vehicular turning space.

Small specimen trees provide a focal point.

The path altered to correct levels, widened and framed by easycare low-growing shrub planting

House

Meadow Lawn

Green oak posts for a hammock

A dry stone wall seat to catch the evening light and give great views into the heathland.

A firepit will take the chill from cooler evenings

Existing hedge removed and replaced, post and rail fence open to heathland. The layers of planting within the garden will continue to provide screening to the occasional passer by

1 An arch over the gate to be planted with roses and clematis.

Paving slabs are inset into the gravel for easier walking and to change the atmosphere from drive to garden

Kitchen courtyard garden with space for a bench, with a central space for sculpture

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ABOUT ELKS-SMITH GARDEN DESIGN Helen is an award winning garden designer with a flair for spatial design, based in the New Forest.

Helen focuses on residential projects, creating places of beauty and relaxation.

Helen is interested in how we respond to the landscape around us and how this makes us feel, this interest underpins our approach to the design work that we undertake. All gardens need to support as well as enhance the lifestyle of those using it and be sensitive to the location.

www.elks-smith.co.uk

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elen was invited to create a family garden for this beautiful country cottage in the New Forest that was sensitive to its rural setting in the National Park. The front garden needed to be designed in sympathy with the style of the property, the parking area could be improved visually and functionally with planting used to soften the outline of the house at the front and side. The clients required parking for three cars. The rear garden needed to create an easy atmosphere for quiet family life and relaxing weekends in the country. The views from within the house needed to be improved. The rear garden backs onto open heathland with a far view of mixed woodland. The area is quiet and

The delight, as a designer, was being allowed to open up this wonderful view... peaceful with horses, deer and cattle roaming.

This view was mostly obscured by high leylandii hedging and the cottage was cut off from its surroundings.

The delight, as a designer, was being allowed to open up this wonderful view for the clients to enjoy. Most clients wish for total privacy and want fencing to go up around all borders of

their property, a designer will then try and find views beyond these barriers and plant with height to reconnect. By being able to open up a property to a wider landscape, you allow your property to exist within it and then you create private spaces within the garden for the clients to relax.

Our clients wanted somewhere to relax and dine outside and enjoy at different times of the day so the rear was divided into areas so that the garden blended seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. The garden was designed to become progressively wilder as you journey through and further away from the house. It also needed to include a hammock for perfect relaxation, a firepit area for evening enjoyment and a wood store close to the house.

DRAINAGE MANAGEMENT The underlying ground condition on site is a solid slab of almost white clay with about a foot of fine peaty silt on top. The property sits below the surrounding soil level and is cut into the clay slab. The house had been developed recently but the finished levels at the front and side of the house were above the damp proof course. The house unsurprisingly had damp issues and the area around the house was prone to flooding which was made worse by the recent high levels of rainfall. Consequently resolving the issues of drainage have been key, and a large component of the overall budget. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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1 Plan of the garden.

2 Night shot of kitchen garden looking towards the rose arch gate.

3 The house and garden before work took place.

4 Portland Stone, Jordans Whitbed Paving Path.

5 Portland Paving, Bowers Roach inset into Purbeck Gravel.

6The meadow planting at the end of the garden.

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REFERENCES Designer Helen Elks Smith Helen Elks Smith 42 Stibbs Way, Bransgore, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 8HG Tel: 01425 674 999 Email: enquiries@ elks-smith.co.uk Web: www.elks-smith.co. uk Main contractor Richard Chivers 71 Lincoln Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH12 2HT Tel: 07412 569 595 Email: richardchivers1@ sky.com Dry stone waller Neil J Read 42 Days Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2JR Tel: 01929 421 203 Email: neil@forgottenart. co.uk Web: www.forgottenart. co.uk

Drainage M J Abbott Ltd Bratch Lane, Dinton, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 5EB Tel: 01722 716 361 Email: enquiries@ mjabbott.co.uk Web: www.mjabbott. co.uk Irrigation Waterscape Solutions Gullivers Cottage, 41 Sandford, Ringwood, BH24 3BS Tel: 01425 482 906 Email: john@ waterscapesolutions.co.uk Web: www. waterscapesolutions.co.uk Portland Stone Albion Stone Plc Robert Denholm House, Bletchingley Road, Nutfield, Surrey RH1 4HW Tel: 01737 771 772 Email: enquiries@ albionstone.com Web: www.albionstone.com

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Purbeck Stone Landers Quarry Kingston Road, Langton Matravers, Dorset BH19 3JP Tel: 01929 439 205 Web: www.purbeckstone. co.uk Stock fencing Jacksons Fencing Stowting Common, Ashford, Kent TN25 6BN Tel: 01233 750 393 Email: sales@jacksonsfencing.co.uk Web: www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk Rose arch Stuart Garden Architecture Burrow Hill Farm, Wiveliscombe, Somerset TA4 2RN Tel: 01984 667 458 Email: sales@ stuartgarden.com Web: www.stuartgarden. com

Iroko fencing Garden Trellis Company 355A Old Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 3RH Tel: 01255 688 361 Email: info@gardentrellis. co.uk Web: www.gardentrellis. co.uk Sculpture The Garden Gallery Rachel Bebb (Artist: Jude Tucker) Rookery Lane, Broughton, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20 8AZ Tel: 01794 301 144 Email: rachelbebb@aol.com Web: www.gardengallery. uk.com Planting Chichester Trees & Shrubs Ltd Pylewell Park Nursery, East End, Lymington, Hants. SO41 5SL Tel: 01590 626 302 Web: www.ctsplants.com

Trees Barcham Trees Plc Eye Hill Drove, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 5XF Tel: 01353 720 748 Email: sales@ barchamtrees.co.uk Web: www.barcham. co.uk Trees and hedging Landford Trees Landford Lodge, Landford, Salisbury, Wilts. SP5 2EH Tel: 01794 390 808 Email: trees@ landfordtrees.co.uk Web: www.landfordtrees. co.uk Meadow Wildflower Turf Ashe Warren Farm, Overton, Basingstoke, Hants. RG25 3AW Tel: 01256 771 222 Email: wildflower@ wildflowerturf.co.uk Web: www.wildflowerturf. co.uk

Lawn Hewlett Turf & Landscapes Ltd The Bays, Shaftesbury Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 4BL Tel: 01722 742 727 Email: info@gardentrellis. co.uk Web: www.hewlett-turf. co.uk Front garden fencing Quercus UK Ltd The Laurels, Queen St, Keinton Mandeville, Somerset TA11 6EG Tel: 01458 223 378 Email: sales@ quercusfencing.co.uk Web: www. quercusfencing.co.uk Wire trellis S3i Ltd Hudson's Yard, Doncaster Road, Bawtry, DN10 6NX Tel: 01302 714 513 Email: info@s3i.co.uk Web: www.s3i.co.uk

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A KENTISH GARDEN

Project timeline Survey, analysis, design and planning approval

August 2010 to January 2011

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Detailed design and speciďŹ cation to contract

January to spring 2011

Demolition of concrete and asbestos farm buildings, and concrete farmyard, old greenhouse and kitchen garden. Erection of new glasshouse, construction of new oak frame barn, renewable energy infrastructure, drainage and electrics

Development of rose, kitchen, grasses and herb gardens.

Complete courtyard and main entrance

Phase 1, summer 2011

Phase 2, spring 2012

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e-scape landscape architects The brief from the owners of a beautiful barn conversion was to create a quintessential English country garden to blend their property in with its rural surroundings

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n a beautiful rural setting adjoining established gardens and a farmhouse sat two large Tyler asbestos and concrete frame barns inside a concrete farmyard with adjoining hard court tennis, conifer hedging and tired vegetable growing areas. Parking was limited and chaotic, and the area looked unsightly.

The client's specifications included: the removal of the existing concrete barns, farmyard, entrance and tennis court, and replacing these with a new building; improving access by reorganising external spaces with parking and a courtyard; creating a new kitchen garden and other garden areas, linked to existing gardens and paddocks; add lighting throughout the garden; and converting oil reliant buildings and the swimming pool to new renewable energy sources.

GETTING UNDERWAY It was decided to demolish the buildings, clear the site, and start from scratch. Following a prolonged planning process (the site was in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, green belt, and conservation area) approval was gained to demolish and replace the old barns with a traditional two storey oak frame and Kent peg barn, incorporating a gym, meeting rooms, www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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storage and garage. Surrounding this, the area was divided into seven new spaces: ● Main courtyard and revised vehicle entrance gate. ● Mediterranean style culinary herb garden. ● Formal rose garden with central armillary sphere enclosed by box, yew and clipped hornbeam. ● Naturalistic grasses and herbaceous garden, with a rose arbor. ● Formal kitchen garden with raised oak beds and large glasshouse, including triple soft fruit cage. ● New chicken run with fruit trees. ● Soft fruit espaliers including peaches grown against warm walls, and lemons and oranges in large moveable pots.

The ‘kitchen garden’ was defined from the other areas by an ogee arched Clematis walkway lined by olive trees in pots and under-planted with Catmint (Nepeta ‘Walkers Low’). Cruck framed oak arches fitted with LED down-lights on sensors lead the way to the new glasshouse.

Breedon gravel surfacing creates an informal working feel to the food production areas with more formal areas defined in Indian sandstone and contrasting Belgian clay pavers. The main

courtyard is highlighted with resin-bonded gravel which contrasts with the traditional oak weatherboarding and clay peg tile of the barn.

Parking areas are defined in the strong colours of the clay pavers.

The ‘rose garden’ is generously planted in shades of deep reds, pinks and whites dominated by varieties Darcey Bussell, Munstead Wood, Anne Boleyn, England’s Rose,The Alnwick Rose and Maid Marion, with four Mary Rose standards and various climbers completing the picture.

ABOUT E-SCAPE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

e-scape landscape architects e-scape landscape architects is run by Chartered landscape architect John Simmons who specialises in major private garden design schemes within the south-east of England. A LI registered practice, they offer a friendly, efficient, experienced and creative design service in conjunction with a team of excellent contractors producing original bespoke landscapes. They aim to create harmonious gardens, tranquil spaces with practical solutions, personally designed with architectural flair and an eye for the bigger picture.

www.escapelandscapearchitects.com

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It is enclosed by a braced oak pergola with clipped pleached hornbeams carefully framing the views across the surrounding Kentish landscape.

A series of pathways and vistas link the new oak barn to the old gardens and a covered walkway aligns the centre piece of the rose garden (the armillary sphere) to a specimen ‘Wedding cake’ tree – the graceful Cornus controversa planted to mark a family event which was the project deadline. Other features include containers of Fascicularia bicolour around the courtyard (evergreen, spikey, architectural plants that will thrive through very low winter temperatures and need no watering in the heat of the summer – perfect). Less hardy, large Astelia ‘Silver spear’ need pampered protection and are taken into the greenhouse for the winter.These contrast with a billowing green ‘box cloud’ feature creating a focal point against a previously blank brick wall. A new curved brick wall encloses the other end of the new courtyard providing a frame for espaliered fruits and climbers.

The informal ‘grasses garden’ provides a counterpoint to the rigid formality of the other areas.This is dominated by Allium and tulip bulbs in the spring before the early flowering maroon Cirsum start the season rolling, followed by blues of Catmint, Orange Erysinum, deep pink Lychnis and later deep purple Salvias, mixed with blue and white Agapanthus. Miscanthus, Pennisetum, tall drifts of Verbenas, and feathery Stipas bring late summer and autumn flowering interest before the Hellebores show in the winter.Year round structure is provided by the trusty Hebe ‘New Zealand Gold’ and ubiquitous Buxus balls and box hedging.Taxus hedging compartments separate the spaces but allow views through and beyond, encouraging the eye to be lead through from garden to garden.

The ‘kitchen garden’ and fruit areas are cultivated, dynamic and productive; after which the visitor arrives at the ‘herb garden’ – heavy in scent with its gnarled old specimen olive centrepiece.

A short avenue of younger container-grown olives, heavy in flower and fruit, line the route during the warmer months before they get wrapped up for winter in the large glasshouse. Repeat clumps of species provide form and colour to tie the gardens together, whilst strong architectural structure permeates the garden spaces.

One of the most important elements of the scheme was air source heat installation, which provides the majority of warmth to the buildings supported by solar panels that 44

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have taken advantage of government energy subsidies. These all contribute to a large reduction in oil consumption for the main complex. An existing swimming pool is also warmed by an array of discreetly placed south facing solar panels.

Further works included creation of a new large graded turf lawn, a multi-bin composting centre and the entire garden surrounded by 600mm depth rabbit proof fencing. A subtle lighting design completes the scheme.

WORTHWHILE HINTS As experienced landscape architects and designers, we have found a few key requirements help to produce a successful outcome to any private garden project: ● A clear strong design from the outset agreed with the client. ● Clear and constant communication is vital. ● An excellent main contractor – enjoy a really good working relationship with them and the subcontractors used on the project.

A high standard of workmanship throughout the scheme was demanded and everyone responded superbly.

● Choose with care and not just on price.

Quality and experience is paramount. ● Keep your eye on the ball – this was a multifaceted scheme that took two years from inception to completion. Co-ordination of the various phases and elements as well as multiple contractors ensured constant attention was a critical factor.

We also had on this scheme: ● Great clients who trusted our thoughts on design and materials throughout, knew about gardens, were always positive and enthusiastic, didn’t cut corners on quality, and were easy to work for but committed to a high standard of delivery. The programme was tight even in poor weather and was achieved within budget. The contractors enjoyed working for them too. ● Good back-up. Once the scheme was in place a team of two knowledgeable gardeners look after the finished hard and soft landscaped areas to a high standard.

The scheme has only been planted for less than one growing season but already looks established and thriving. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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1 Panoramic view of the rose garden, armillary sphere and timber framing.

2 The rose garden and surroundings in summer.

3 The raised beds of the new kitchen garden, with the barn behind.

4 A view of the previous kitchen garden before work took place.

5 Preparation for the rose garden and barn base in the background.

6 Work begins on constructing paving for the rose garden.

7 Looking through the herb garden.

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8 Masterplan for the garden, buildings and surrounding area.

references Landscape Architect e-scape landscape architects coldharbour Lane, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent Tn11 9JX Tel: 01732 838 108 Email: landscapearchitects@ btinternet.com Web: www. escapelandscapearchitects. com Indian sandstone and Granite setts Rock Unique Ltd Tel: 01959 565 608 Email: stone@ rock-unique.com Web: www.rock-unique. com Belgian clay Pavers Vande Moortel Belgium Tel: +32 (0)55 33 55 66 Email: info@ vandemoortel.be Web: www.vandemoortel. be Gravel

Breedon Aggregates Tel: 01332 694 010 Email: sales.england@ breedonaggregates.com Web: www. breedonaggregates.com

natural Gravel Sturgeon’s Surfacing Tel: 01892 822 223 Email: sales@sturgeons. co.uk Web: www.sturgeons. co.uk Oak timber frames and oak barn construction Scott Timber Tel: 01732 864 729 Email: info@scottimber. co.uk Web: www.scottimber. co.uk

Tiles Marley Eternit Tiles Tel: 01283 722 588 Email: info@marleyeternit. co.uk Web: www.marleyeternit. co.uk Oak windows/bi-fold doors

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Marc Harvey Joinery Hever, Kent Tel: 07783 363 220

Knotty oak flooring Naos Floors Tel: 01732 770 222 Web: www.naosfloors.com Armillary sphere Border Sundials Tel: 01873 840 297 Web: www. bordersundials.co.uk Automated gates Oakleigh Gates Tel: 01293 403 867 Web: www.oakleighgates. co.uk

fruit cages, gazebos and ogee archways Harrod Horticultural Tel: 0845 218 5301 Web: www. harrodhorticultural.com electrical, solar energy, and garden lighting Taylor Electrical & Solar coulsden, surrey Tel: 07824 861 343 Light fittings Collingwood Lighting Tel: 01604 495 151 Web: www. collingwoodlighting.com

Iroko gates Chase Fencing Tel: 01892 870 882 Web: www.chasefencing. co.uk

Weather Vane Dorset Weather Vanes Tel: 01258 453 374 Web: www.weathervanesdirect.co.uk

steel rose arbor Stonebank Tel: 01285 720 737 Web: www.stonebankironcraft.co.uk

Glasshouse Hartley Botanic Tel: 01457 819 155 Web: www.hartleybotanic.co.uk

Plant suppliers: David Austin Roses Tel: 01902 376 360 Web: www. davidaustinroses.com Evergreen Exterior Services Tel: 020 8770 9200 Web: www.evergreenext. co.uk Premier Plants Tel: 01245 422 525 Web: www. premierplantsuk.com Selected Plants Nursery Tel: 01732 810 284 Web: www.selectedplants. co.uk Planet Plants Tel: 01732 884 589 Web: www.planet-plants. co.uk

Terracotta pots and containers Evergreen Pots & Soil Tel: 0208 773 8322 Web: www. evergreenpotsandsoil.com Principal contractors: Langdale Landscapes Ltd Hever, Kent Tel: 01732 700 199 Web: www. langdalelandscapes.co.uk Scott Timber Hever, Kent Tel: 01732 864 729 Web: www.scottimber. co.uk Steve Gallagher Carpentry & Building Tel: 07810 887 731 Tonbridge, Kent

Coblands Nurseries Tel: 01732 770 999 Web: www.coblands.co.uk

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LEVELS OF CALM Claudia de Yong Garden Design The owners' love of Koi carp led to the creation of a stunning three tier pond in the quiet corner of a large garden

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his was a very challenging project with the prime objective being to construct three ponds for the client’s Koi carp in a neglected paved area of a large garden, within a Grade II listed property and with the paved area measuring 5m by 3.5m. Stone steps leading up from the basement provided access to the area; there was also an upper access, which was via the drawing room French windows, which led onto an ornate metal bridge with three steps down to a short Yorkstone path leading to the paved area. The paved area was almost two metres above the basement level, and over five metres from the rear of the house. Between the house and paving, and on each side of the stone steps were several small very overgrown planting areas terraced to accommodate the difference in the levels. Low-level brick retaining walls provided the terracing; however, in order to construct the lower ponds, all of the brick walls were demolished and the foundations broken out. New onepiece Yorkstone steps over 2m long were to be constructed; there were 10 steps in total as well as new Yorkstone paving throughout.

INTRICATE INSTALLATION The two smaller ponds, one each side of the stone steps would be 850mm lower than the main pond with internal dimensions of 3.5m long by 2.25m wide by 1.5m deep for the main pond, with the two smaller ones approximately 1.5m by 1m by 750mm deep. All three ponds were to be constructed out of reinforced concrete, (the client feared there may be settlement of the ground which the reinforced concrete method would cope with better) to accommodate the client’s preferred method of construction; we made over 46

20 wooden shutters from plywood and 100mm by 47mm timber. Due to the difference in levels it was necessary to make wooden chutes to be able to place the concrete; all concrete was mixed on site. Part of the filtration system and the pumps were to be situated beyond the rear wall of the main pond and to be below ground. This filtration pit was to have a system of removable hardwood decking panels to allow access for maintenance.

To accommodate the large vortex filter and pumps the internal dimensions of the filter pit were 3.25m long by 1.25m wide by 1m deep.

This was constructed using dense concrete blocks built on a reinforced raft foundation, which was thickened to 450mm around the edges. The rear

All access to the garden was through the house wall of the main pond became the front wall of the filter chamber. Reinforcing mesh was placed behind the concrete blocks and the void filled with concrete; all the ponds were also fibre glassed.

Lighting was to be installed in all the ponds, two waterspouts in the smaller ponds and a large fish head water spout was installed in the larger pond.

RESTRICTED ACCESS Access to the rear garden was through the house, but was convoluted – being through the front door, across the hall, through the drawing room, out via French doors, along the narrow metal bridge (which was just wide enough for a wheelbarrow), down the metal steps, along the path and down two stone steps to the paved area. The

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Facts & figures

FINER DINING Claudia de Yong Garden Design A tame but natural-style garden with a showcase eating area was what the client ordered at this Wimbledon semi. www.pro-landscaper.co.uk

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● 55m4 / 120 tonnes of hand-dug excavation ● 18m4 / 40 tonnes of broken brick and concrete foundations. ● 12m4 / 26 tonnes of concrete mixed on site with a 110V electric mixer. ● 21 tonnes / 840 bags containing 25kg each of ballast. ● 5 tonnes / 200 bags containing 25kg each of cement. ● 4,500 reclaimed yellow stock bricks. ● 500 Class B engineering bricks. ● 10 bullnose Yorkstone steps 2.2m x 50mm. ● 15m² Yorkstone paving. ● 80 bags containing 25kg each of building sand. ● 100 bags containing 25kg each of sharp sand.

ABOUT CLAUDIA DE YONG

GARDEN DESIGN ABOUT CLAUDIA DE YONG Claudia de Claudia de Yong YongGarden GardenDesign Design launched launched in 2002 following the to design in 2002 following the request design garden forLily arequest show to garden fora show Dorset Water Dorset WaterShe Lilywent Company. wentfive onmore to Company. on toShe design for them design five more for them at Hampton Court gold and best at Hampton Court Flower Show winning Flower winning gold and best show in showShow (Tudor Rose).

Claudia hasinalso designed many (Tudor Rose).

Claudia has also many private gardens in London anddesigned the South of England for gardens London and the South of aprivate prestigious listin of clients.

Based in London and Sussex, England for a prestigious clients. Based in she specialises in water list andofromantic landscapes.

Plants London Sussex, she specialises water andnurseries. are handand selected and sourced frominspecialist romantic landscapes.

Plantswho are hand selectedwithin their She has an in-house team are experts fromher specialist nurseries. fiand eldsourced at bringing creations to life.She has an in-house team who are experts within their field at ➧ bringing her creations to life.

February 2012 | Volume 2 | Issue 2 www.claudiadeyong.com

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More images at: www.prolandscapermagazine.com

total distance from the work site to the skip was in the region of 50m. It was another one metre down to the two lower ponds. The access prevented the use of a micro digger, which meant that the entire excavation work was undertaken by hand-digging. The method of construction was to cast the base slab of each pond, fix the reinforcing mesh and set the inner and outer shutters and cast the walls. Pipe openings were formed through the 150mm thick concrete walls.

Sufficient excavated material was kept to be used as backfill around the ponds. We were not permitted to use any other part of the garden for storage or a works area to either fabricate the shutters or mix the concrete. The lower ponds were constructed first. The existing stone steps and brick walls were then broken out and removed to the skip, the new wall was to be built using reclaimed bricks. Drainpipes were then installed under the area of steps to allow connections to the overflow pipe and drain gully set in the filter pit concrete slab. The brick walls and brick risers were then rebuilt. The excavation of the main pond required the use of a conveyor system to remove spoil from the excavation, discharging directly into wheelbarrows. The project was completed by the installation of a bespoke fish head fountain, commissioned by the owner.

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REFERENCES Main Contractor Claudia de Yong Designs Claudia de Yong, The Garden Office, The Little Cottage, Coates, Fittleworth, West Sussex RH20 1ES Tel: 07881 622 825 Email: Claudia.deyong@ virgin.net Web: www.claudiadeyong. com

Designer/Architect Claudia de Yong and Michael Toon The Garden Office, The Little Cottage, Coates, Fittleworth, West Sussex RH20 1ES Tel: 07881 622 825 Email: Claudia.deyong@ virgin.net Web: www.claudiadeyong. com

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York Stone Paving Powell Jones Ferringham Lane, Ferring, Worthing, West Sussex BN12 5NU Tel: 01903 249 693 Email: sales@powelljones. co.uk Web: www.powelljones. co.uk Stone Steps English City Stone 74 Fernlea Road, London SW12 9RW Tel: 0208 673 8785 Email: info@ englishcitystone.co.uk Web: www. englishcitystone.co.uk Reclaimed stock bricks Windsor Reclamation Old Station Yard, Station Road, Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0NU

Tel: 01628 527 469 Email: gavin@ windsorreclamation.com Web: www.reclaimedbrick.co.uk

Filtration and Pumps Aquatic Design Centre 109 Great Portland Street, London W1W 6QG Tel: 0207 580 6764 Web: www.aquaticdesign. co.uk

Arbour Fenland Ironworks Unit 18A, Highlode Industrial Estate, Ramsey, Cambs.

PE26 2RB Tel: 01487 814 049 Email: info@ fenlandironworks.co.uk Web: www. seriousgardener.co.uk

Building Materials Lawsons Tyttenhanger Farm, Coursers Road, Colney Heath, Hertfordshire AL4 0PG Tel: 0207 619 6470 Email: info@lawsons.co.uk Web: www.lawsons.co.uk Fish Head Fountain Quaystone 6c, Albion Villas, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1RP Tel: 07904 109 817 Email: ben@quaystone.co.uk Web: www.quaystone.co.uk

Trellis Garden Trellis Company 355A Old Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 3RH Tel: 01255 688 361 Email: info@gardentrellis. co.uk Web: www.gardentrellis. co.uk

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1 Shuttering is built for the lower pond.

2 The excavated ground.

3 The pipework for pump system is installed.

4 Finished fountain.

5 Constructing the largest of the three ponds.

6 Final aerial view of the three ponds. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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18/02/2013 11:46

ARTIFICIAL GRASS Spring 2013

NEWS

Easigrass Sponsor Easigrass, Design Tendercare and Community Award Crown Pavilions form ground-breaking partnership

2013 has seen the formation of a prestigious partnership which has combined the market leaders of both the Artificial Grass, Exclusive Garden Building and Plant Nursery markets.

Collectively Easigrass, Crown Pavilions and Tendercare have an array of Royal Horticultural Society Awards with easigrass receiving a Gold Medal at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

Summer is just around the corner and we can start looking forward to outside living. To celebrate the start of the spring season, Crown Pavilions, Easigrass and Tendercare have announced they are going to launch The Easter Garden Show to demonstrate and showcase all the joy and pleasure that garden living can bring . The event will run over two days on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th of March for retail and then an exclusive trade day on Friday 22nd.

It will give both the retail and trade customer the opportunity to view

each product showcased in a unique setting with industry experts present.

The event will be held at the Award Winning Plant Nursery Tendercare in Uxbridge, Middlesex. Tendercare has been established since 1989 and is Britain’s leading horticultural resource centre with a portfolio of over 100,000 mature and specimen trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.

The Trade Day on Friday 22nd of March is open to Landscapers, Garden Designers, Landscape Architects and any other key individuals with a direct interest in the specialist products on show.

Tickets for The Easter Garden Show are complimentary however to receive your trade ticket for Friday 22nd March you must call 01895544190 to register prior to the event.

The Society Of Garden Designers (SGD) is the home for anything associated with award winning garden design. In order to show support to the many garden designers that specify Easigrass within their designs each year Easigrass has announced that they will sponsor the Community Design Award at this year’s SGD 2013 Awards.

The Community Design Award is for any outdoor community space of any size within mainland UK. The space must be owned and designed for use by the community.

The scheme may or may not involve the community within the design process or construction.

The award ceremony will take place on the 24th January 2014 in London and will celebrate the greatest achievements of Garden Designers showcasing their ground breaking designs.

Keyscape Join National Partnership Programme Easigrass are delighted to announce that Keyscape Landscape Design and Construction, a multi award winning landscape design and build company based in Worcestershire, have joined the Easigrass National Partnership Programme. Keyscape will adopt the title Easigrass Worcestershire and will now offer the full range of market leading Easigrass products and services.

Owners Rupert and Ruth Keys have received a number of Royal Horticultural Society Awards at the Chelsea Flower Show, BBC Gardeners World Live, Malvern Spring Garden Show and Hampton Court Flower Show. They are members of the Horticultural Trades Association, Association of Professional Landscapers and Trustmark.

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The spaces may be temporary or permanent.

For more information on how you can benefit from joining the National Partnership Programme contact Matthew Spedding on matt@ easigrass.com

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15/2/13 11:40:13 18/02/2013 10:56

LOVE YOUR GARDEN The ‘Reality’ of TV Gardening 1

After the huge success last year of Love Your Garden, ITV have commissioned another series for 2013.

A large contributor to the programme’s success was The Outdoor Room which carried out both the design and construction of all the gardens. Below, the owner David Dodd explains how it all works...

How did I get involved with Love Your Garden?

Ever since getting into gardening after the great storms of 1987, I remember watching Gardeners World avidly, which although not very cool for a teenager, was still enough to inspire me to go to horticultural college. The Outdoor Room had been established for two years and it was in September 1997 I recall being excited at the prospect of a new prime time gardening programme going out on Friday evenings called Ground Force. After only one or two episodes I began to realise it was not only nonsense, but in fact, quite harmful to the professional landscape industry. There seemed to be this insistence that gardens could be built in two days, all for the princely sum of fifteen hundred quid! We had an office in a very large garden centre at the time and I used to dread going in on Saturday morning as I knew I’d be bombarded with enquiries from people who were expecting us to turn their www.prolandscapermagazine.com

David Dodd LYG.indd 51

Friday night entertainment into a two day, one and a half grand reality the following week!

So, here I am in the present, 15 years on from that first episode of Ground Force with a hatful of RHS Gold medals and BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) awards. I’m asked to pop up to London to see someone at Spun Gold TV. I had no idea what it was about, but I was in town anyway, so my curiosity got the better of me. It wasn’t just one person, but a whole panel, and I soon realised they were after some young, bronzed hunk of a landscaper to design and build the gardens for a new series of Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh. Well that was me out for a start (middle-aged and fat), so I went home and thought I’d never hear another word from them. However, the next morning they called and asked me to do all six episodes. They had obviously spotted hidden qualities I never knew I had... and still don’t!

2

3

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15/02/2013 09:50

Interview

5

4

The solution was to push the boundaries for what could be achieved in five days How did the process work?

My dilemma was, how do I produce a design for a garden which needs to be built in such a short time, that’s going to be interesting enough for primetime TV, without making it look like a rehash of Ground Force. A bigger issue for me was how the series would be received by my peers in the industry. Had I sold out to cheap and nasty reality TV makeovers? The Outdoor Room has always prided itself on being very high end, private design and construction.

The solution was to push the boundaries for what could be achieved in five days. From having done so many RHS show gardens, I know how good and hard working my staff are, as well as being able to work under pressure.

We were given the sites selected for the programme and had around two hours to do each survey which was just enough time to do a quick measure up and take a few spot heights. I then roughly sketched out what I wanted, bearing in mind what could be built in the time 7 allowed. All of this was then handed over to Joe and Rebecca in the Outdoor Room office to draw the plans up on Vectorworks.

Each garden took six of my staff five, fourteen hour long days to build. The first day was clearance. The second and third were construction, leaving enough unfinished for the 52

March 2013

David Dodd LYG.indd 52

presenters, who would turn up to the almost completed gardens on the penultimate day and do a POV (point of view) looking out on a garden that had been filmed three days earlier. We’d then finish off the construction on these final two days along with the planting. It sounds easy enough, but it actually gets quite stressful trying to do this alongside a full camera crew treading all over the place, as well as directors shouting ‘quiet please, everyone stop working’ every few minutes. In fairness, when we were up against it, the presenters really did get stuck in during the last few hours of the final day.

So has it been good for business?

Quite simply, no! However, this isn’t necessarily a problem as we’re not generally in the business of building quick make-over gardens for TV. Some people working in television will tell you anything you want to hear so long as it gets you to perform what they want to make a programme. We were told we’d all become stars and household names overnight. Luckily we just ignored this and got on 6 with the work as if it was any other paid contract.

Was it financially rewarding?

Yes. There was a budget, but it was a sensible one, so it turned out to be quite a lucrative contract.

The TV company were great and made sure we were well looked after.

6

Are there too many gardening programs on television these days?

Definitely not! I think television has fallen out of love with gardening for some years now, although there are signs it may come back.

Currently, the UK just seems obsessed with cooking and property reality TV. Do TV Garden Shows have a positive impact on the Landscape Industry?

I’d like to say yes, but sadly I still think television dumbs down the real skills of landscaping and implies anyone can do it. It also tends to overlook the importance of good design and, in my opinion, there’s too much emphasis put on the background ‘human’ story. However, it must be pointed out that the main purpose of garden makeover shows is for entertainment and they shouldn’t be taken too seriously. At the end of the day, if they inspire just a few people to get out and start gardening, that can only be a good thing.

1 Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, Sheffield.

2 Filming in Barking, East London.

3 Finished garden in Powys, Wales.

4 David with plan drawings.

5 The Outdoor Room Team with Alan in Oakley, Hampshire.

6 Construction in Sheffield.

7 A new hot tub and BBQ table in Norwich.

CONTACT

David Dodd The Outdoor Room High Seat, High Street, Billingshurst RH14 9PJ Tel: 01403 780354 Email: enquiries@theoutdoorroom.co.uk Web: www.theoutdoorroom.co.uk

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15/02/2013 09:51

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18/02/2013 11:51 20/02/2013 10:42

Green-tree British Standard Topsoil – now available from Kirkby, Merseyside The Green-tree team is pleased to announce the addition of a new satellite soil production site to its network of 16 sites across the UK. Located in Kirkby with excellent links to the M57, M58 and M62 motorway networks, the new soil production site will facilitate landscape and construction projects within the area with award winning British Standard topsoil.

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06/03/2013 12:47

Wildflower

On the wild side

Rose Hales offers advice on why to plant wildflower, choosing between seed and turf, and how to effectively prepare and maintain a wildflower meadow

The use of wildflower in residential gardens is becoming increasingly popular; the benefits of designing in wildflower are numerous, however small or large the area. As well as adding interest with an alternative level, texture and colour, wildflowers are used to encourage and support wildlife – in particular pollinating insects and butterflies – into the garden. Furthermore, wildflower meadows are relatively easy to plant, and even easier to maintain.

Once designer and client have agreed on an area of wildflower in the garden, there are two choices in terms of planting or installation – the more traditional approach of sewing wildflower seed, or the relatively newer method of using wildflower turf, which is bought, laid, and treated exactly like grass turf.

Wildflower Seed Planting wildflower from seed does involve carefully planning and preparation in order to ensure the seeds stand the best possible chance of growing. The best time to plant is March/April or September. Planting from seed allows the designer – and the client – to have more control over the species, variety and colour of the wildflowers. In order to achieve the best results you must:

● Prepare the soil ● Remove existing weeds or grass, including roots (if these are left the wildflower will have to compete with other plants and will take longer to establish) ● Dig or rotovate the soil, then firm and rake ● Don’t use fertiliser – it will encourage grasses to grow back more vigorously ● Allow four to six weeks for the soil to settle, remove any weeds that come up during this time ● When sowing, mix the seed with silver sand to make it easier to handle, and for even distribution ● Rake lightly and water thoroughly

Wildflower Turf Wildflower turf can offer a more dependable option, and is an easier route to achieving a stunning wildflower display. Most turf can be installed at any time of year – although it will actually flower at the same time as seed.

Depending on the producer, turf is readyprepared, therefore choosing particular flowers to personalise your meadow will not be possible. In order to achieve the best results you must: ● Prepare the soil in the same way as you would when planting seed

● Lay the turf, being careful to ensure all joins are butted up correctly to avoid weed growth ● Water thoroughly

Maintenance Once established, a wildflower meadow is incredibly easy to maintain. In the autumn – once the flowers have shed their seed – the plants must be cut back (using a lawnmower or strimmer), and the cuttings removed.

Choose a wildflower seed which suits the local environment; think about the type of soil, water and light conditions – seeds of British origin are always best.

There is also a consideration of whether a perennial or annual meadow is best for the client. Perennials thrive best in poor soils – where there is less competition, and annuals need a richer soil.

Both will thrive if the spot is sunny. Apart from when the seed or turf is establishing, the wildflower will not need to be watered unless it is very dry.

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06/03/2013 12:49

New wholesale catalogue available from Hortus Loci A year in the making, the inaugural wholesale catalogue now available from Hortus Loci.

Suppliers of quality plants to the landscape and design trade

This 250 page, highly descriptive plant list and price guide is the only plant catalogue you will need.

Half a century of horticultural experience has gone into the plant selection, each one chosen specifically for performance and reliability.

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Photo by Prof J Hitchmough

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18/02/2013 14:12

Plantsman’s Plot

Plantsman’s PLOT A round-up of trees and plants available at some of the country’s best nurseries To appear in Plantsman’s Plot, please send your plant of the month, details and image to editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Now’s the time to take a critical look at the structure of a garden before plants burst into leaf. Are there any dead spots that need something to give them winter interest or an evergreen focal point? Camellias, with their neat glossy foliage, are an excellent option. After a glorious display of flower in spring they fade gracefully into the background. Available in a range of sizes, they are well-behaved and require little maintenance. www.dingleydell.co.uk

A firm favourite at The Plantation Nursery in March is the beautiful Prunus pissardii ‘Nigra’, the purple-leaved plum. This mediumsized deciduous tree is much sought after for its numerous stunning pale pink flowers which emerge before the leaves. As well as its beautiful flowers, the attractive blackishpurple leaves and the fact that it thrives in pretty much any soil all contribute to it being one of those plants that every garden should have. A range of sizes and shapes is available including multi-stemmed bush, Half Standard and Full Standard. www.theplantationnursery.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Plantsmans Plot 2.indd 57

This is a multistem, roof-shaped ornamental apple tree called Malus ‘Evereste’. The blossom is fantastic in spring, and in the autumn small ornamental apples grow. An eye-catching specimen for private gardens. www.vdberk.com

Many spring flowering trees and shrubs can give spectacular displays of flowers.

One striking, but not particularly well known, genus with large attractive catkins is Stachyurus. Thornhayes Nursery offers the species S praecox and S salicifolius, which associates well in mixed plantings with spring bulbs. www.thornhayes-nursery.co.uk March 2013 57

15/02/2013 09:52

Plantsman’s Plot In the cold, damp or snowbound days of February through to March the fabulous deciduous tree Parrotia Persica (Persian Ironwood) bursts forth with small deep-red half inch clusters of flowers, helping to brighten up these darker months. It’s fully hardy down to -15°C, producing oval glossy rich green leaves throughout spring and summer ending with a terrific display of autumn colour with yellow, orange and purplereds. It prefers open sun to semi-shade in a fertile, moist and free draining soil. It grows to 8m high by 10m spread. www.nicholsons.gb.com

Prunus accolade is an early spring flowerer and we haven’t got to wait too many more weeks until we are rewarded with its glorious display. It is a cross between sargentii and subhirtella and inherits the best of both. www.barcham.co.uk

Chimonanthus praecox – a stunner of a plant with a knockout scent to revive the senses. Subtle and sweet in its scented approach, the sulphur yellow flowers with brown and purple markings in the centre are a sight and scent to behold on a dreary winters day.

Emerging before the leaves the flowers are papery in appearance and delicate in form. This dramatic winter flowering shrub can blend quite happily into the background for the rest of the year, but joyously heralds the arrival of spring with strongly scented flowers.

Known commonly as Wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox grows well in a sheltered spot – plant against a warm wall to enjoy the winter scent. www.provendernurseries.co.uk

For traditionalists a mixture of red and green is an uplifting combination – Prunus lusitanica is an adaptable evergreen which can be clipped into formal and geometric shapes to provide winter structure, contrasting well with smaller leaved box and holly. Introduced into the UK in 1648 from Maderia, the original specimen grew in the Oxford Botanical Garden until felled in 1826. Originally thought to be tender, it is very hardy despite its Spanish and Portuguese heritage.

Readily available are aged topiarised specimens of clipped spheres, columns, cones, mature standard trees with low and higher crowns – perfect for delicate screening. www.tendercare.co.uk 58

March 2013

Plantsmans Plot 2.indd 58

Need a lift from the cold and snow for your garden, then look out for the Witch Hazel – Hamamelis. This amazing winter shrub will delight and inspire through the worst a winter can throw at it; even deep snow will not dull this amazing flower.

The spider-like delicate flowers will add a splash of colour to any garden in the winter months. Each bloom opens to form a delicate cluster of colour, with a sweet and spicy scent. Flower colours of yellow, through orange, to red available – every garden should have one. Use as a tub shrub by a door or window to brighten a view or welcome you home. www.colesnurseries.co.uk

Chaenomeles x superba ‘Kinshiden’ is a fantastic new hybrid with über-cool semi-double, lime-green flowers that nestle amongst a thicket of thorny branches just as the new apple-green, serrated leaves start to break. Unique in colour and form, these enchanting late spring blooms look like miniature roses as they unfurl in the dark days of early spring. They demand a prominent position next to a path or entrance – ideally with their 2m-wide spreading branches untangled and set against a rich red brick. ‘Kinshiden’ also makes a superb free-standing shrub, or can be used to create an attractive and unusual hedge. The frost resistant flowers that appear from March until May are followed by fleshy, pear-shaped autumn fruits that can be turned into jams or jellies, or left to provide winter interest. www.hortusloci.co.uk

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15/02/2013 09:53

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06/03/2013 13:53

Competition

YOUR CHANCE TO

WIN View from the Top

A TORO® HEAVY DUTY HI VAC COLLECTOR MOWER WORTH £1199!

Recognising individuals, teams and companies with awards can, and should, be good for all of us, explains Phil Jones

The Heavy Duty 53cm Hi-Vac Collector (22189TE)

The 22189TE is manufactured with the

is the right machine for the professional who mainly

industry’s strongest deck made of 6mm

requires grass collection, but would like grass-

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the abuse of commercial mowing while

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bearings and long lasting semi-pneumatic rubber

fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential

a large, commercially reinforced, 75 litre grass bag

tyres. The mower also features a standard blade anti-

lawns around the world. In addition to the commercial

designed for easy emptying. Side- or rear-discharge

scalp cup which prevents turf damage when mowing

walk-behinds, Toro’s range includes zero-turn

kits are available as optional accessories. The mower

over an undulating surface. Other features include an

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is powered by a strong and reliable Kawasaki® 179cc

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comfort. Whether you are operating a mower, or

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running a business, Toro’s aim is to make your job easier and give you the best value for your money,

at 2.2, 4.8 or 6.1km/hr to suit the individual operator and the terrain. The Blade Brake Clutch (BBC) system

Toro have been an industry leader in turf care since

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1914 – nearly 100 years – so we understand the

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functional. This allows you to empty the grassbag

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For your chance to win one of these superb mowers simply answer the following question: In what year was The Toro Company founded?

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Toro competition.indd 61

March 2013

61

19/02/2013 10:25

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Iseki SXG and SZ330: Ransomes Jacobsen, the Ipswich-based manufacturer of turf maintenance equipment, is the UK distributor for Iseki compact and mid-range tractors and mowers. Iseki mowers are ideal for cutting and collecting, especially in wet conditions, and are more robust than many other brands on the market. They

Wright Sport RH 48” deck: The Wright Rapid Height Stander is fully equipped with a 20hp petrol engine and a 48inch deck, designed to reduce emissions whilst maintaining productivity and performance. This reliable and robust machine offers: • A low centre of gravity, which

X135R Lawn Tractor: New for 2013, the John Deere X135R rear-discharge, rear-collect lawn tractor is suitable for lawns up to 4000m² and features a V-twin

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March 2013

Latest Kit Mowers.indd 62

feature modern diesel engines and are all available with high or low tip collectors.

The SXG range (below left) is ideal for small and medium sized estates, country houses, higher end consumers and landscape contractors. A principal feature of the range is their ability to cut and collect in wet conditions, where the unique design of the rear axle allows the grass to pass into the collector without the requirement for a blower.

The SZ330 (above right) is the zero turn offering in the Iseki range.

It features a 23.5 kW (33hp) diesel engine and is available with a choice of cutting decks at 1.6m and 1.8m. The step-through operator platform, fully adjustable suspension seat and folding ROPS frame makes it one of the most comfortable and safest zero turns available.

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provides more stability and a safer ride while cutting grass.

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petrol engine, automatic transmission, 92cm (36in) rotary mower deck with mulching option, and 300 litre capacity removable grass hopper. Due to its compact size, the X135R can be easily manoeuvred along narrow paths

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Latest Kit

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Five new mowers join Makita’s grounds care range: Makita have five new mowers in their grounds care range, including a small and versatile electric mower which offers a host of features and is ideal for lawns of up to 500m². The new Makita ELM3711X (1) has a 1,300W, 240V motor and has a useful 37cm cutting width with 3-step wheel height adjustment to give cutting heights ranging from 20 to 55mm. This push type mower is light at 14.9kg, has narrow inboard wheels to facilitate easy close-to-wall mowing, and a clever design of quick-lock folding handle for easy transport and storage.

F80 Series Out-Front Mower: The F80 Series is Kubota’s most powerful out-front mower to date, featuring two models, the F2880 with a 28hp engine and the F3680 with a 36hp engine. Complete with Auto-Assist four-wheel drive, they are designed to offer maximum manoeuvrability whilst being able to tackle demanding commercial operations. The F3680 also now

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March 2013

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The new Makita petrol engine mowers all feature the latest version, clean exhaust emission, 4-stroke Briggs & Stratton engines which are powerful and environmentally friendly with low noise and low running costs.

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pinned together and belt driven, giving a 100 inch wide cut with the precision of a 21 inch walk-behind mower. The flexing deck allows contour mowing without scalping and provides a uniform cut meaning larger, undulating areas can be cut in a shorter period, saving turf professionals valuable time and money.

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Tracmaster Flail Mower Attachment: Tracmaster’s professional Flail Mower Attachment makes light work of overgrown grass, weeds and brambles. Featuring heavy duty free-swinging blades, the flail mower will cut and mulch overgrown vegetation including brambles, bracken, overgrown grass and small saplings. The cutting height is easily adjusted from 2cm to 10cm and a wide open front ensures that material reaches the blades whilst a full width steel rear roller helps to avoid unnecessary scalping of the ground. There are two cutting widths available, 65cm and 85cm and the attachment can be fitted to BCS Two-Wheel Tractors, BCS Crusader Power Scythes, the BCS Commander and CAMON Rotavators.

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15/02/2013 10:19

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It thinks like you do

PRODUCTIVITY

In whatever trade, tendering accurately for contracts has always been a difficult job...

LiberRATE is the Estimating System of Choice for the UK landscape industry. It is no wonder that most of the award winning contractors use LiberRATE to secure and manage their Landscape and Garden contracts.

LiberRATE is about maximizing your estimating time and making a profit.

Ferris and Wright ride on mowers offer unbeatable zero turn manoeuvrability

FREE 90 DAY TRIAL

and an impressive combination of comfort, performance and convenience.

www.ipu.co.uk

Download from www.landpro.co.uk or call: Sam Hassall - 01252 795 030

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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT IPU GROUNDCARE ON 0121 511 0400 OR VISIT WWW.IPU.CO.UK

05/03/2013 10:06

No matter how small the job

The SE750 Trailer will take the weight of it With the SE750, a potential nightmare becomes nothing as you can now get the right gear to the task in hand.

Versatile, robust and fixed sided, the SE750 can be used to transport a wide range of materials and machinery starting with the lightest of lawn mowers!

For more details & info, call Jason Hardwick on:

07900 195065 or e-mail:

info@indespension.com

20 Stores Nationwide Trailers

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Towbars

Parts

Hire

Service

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06/03/2013 13:56

The Finest Decking for Beautiful Projects by

Exterior Decking supply the finest decking materials to commercial and domestic projects across the UK and Europe.

With the largest range of decking materials in the UK, Exterior is the first choice by Architects and Designers for specifying projects where their clients demand the best.

Exterpark Hardwood decking is available in 10 timber species, 3 thicknesses and is the only timber decking to have a patented invisible stainless fixing system providing a beautiful screw-less decking project.

TEAK • IPE • KEBONY • ELONDO • DOUSSIE KURUPAY • MERBAU • LAPACHO CUMARU • MASSARANDUBA

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Exterior Decking exclusively uses and recommends Owatrol decking oil

Exterior Solutions Ltd Unit 5b, Reed Industrial Estate Plantation Road, Amersham Buckinghamshire HP6 6HJ

+44 (0)1494 722204 office@exteriordecking.co.uk

www.exteriordecking.co.uk 19/02/2013 14:27

19/02/2013 14:31

Wood Aftercare

Finishing touches The questions most commonly asked when caring for decking are: what is the best way to finish and maintain it, and whose product should I use? There is a wide choice of products available of varying quality and whilst the brand leaders may be better known this does not necessarily make them the best product for the contractor. So what should you be looking for? Much depends on the type of wood – heat treated, pressure treated, exotic etc.; whether it’s new or weathered, and the desired finish.

Preserving and protecting The finish chosen, whether it’s oil or waterbased, should penetrate into the wood rather than create a film on the surface which will scuff and wear off quickly, leading to an unsightly looking deck. A penetrating finish will gradually fade and weather down as it is exposed to the elements and the sun’s UV rays. High quality oils will replace those lost by the wood in the weathering process and restore the natural look of the wood. They may also contain additional UV filters, which offer increased protection against the sun – the main cause for wood turning silver.

Water-based finishes tend to be coloured, varying from a very pale honey to a teak colour. Colour gives increased protection against UV rays, and maintains the wood’s natural appearance depending on the chosen colour and the type of wood it’s applied to.

The colour will not prevent the finish

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Thomas Rathbone offers useful advice on preserving and protecting wood using both water-based and oil-based finishes

penetrating the wood and can enhance the grain whether it’s been applied to a soft or hardwood.

With correct preparation a high quality water-based or oil finish can also be applied direct to new wood and will still penetrate the surface.

Finishes that penetrate the wood work with it rather than against it, allow the wood to breathe, and thus keep any movement as equal as possible between the top (exposed) and bottom (hidden) faces. This helps to reduce the likelihood of warping and cupping. Another benefit of a penetrating finish is that while the surface will lose colour over time through exposure to UV rays there is still product in the wood protecting it and maintenance is simply a matter of clean and top up to restore the look and finish.

Whether applying a water or oil-based finish my advice is to look for one that is applied wet-on-wet, that is to say that once the first application has gone into the wood you apply the next application and continue this process until the wood can accept no more product. This ensures maximum protection.

Semi-transparent and opaque finishes should also penetrate into the wood, whether this is through method of application or because they contain an ingredient that the subsequent colour coat can then bond to. A high quality semi or opaque stain will not only bond “in” and “on” the wood but will also offer good scuff and wear

resistance.The first application acts like a primer ensuring greater adhesion of any subsequent coats. Whilst any finish that is subject to heavy foot traffic will show signs of wear, a high quality finish will show these signs much later and when maintaining any worn areas can be quickly touched in, prior to applying an overall coat.

As for any finish, best performance is achieved when applied to a properly prepared surface. While a high quality finish will always give the better performance even on a poorly prepared surface, in order to get the best finish it is essential that the correct preparation is carried out but that is a subject for another time.

ABOUT THOMAS RATHBONE Thomas Rathbone, owner of Decking Décor which specialises in the cleaning, finishing and maintenance of decking and wood products, works closely with customers, both private and commercial, offering samples of finished products and on site surveys, as well as advice on how to restore and maintain decking. www.deckingdecor.co.uk

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Latest Products

COMPOSITE DECKING The Raaft Terrafina composite decking from Kinley Systems boasts superb contemporary design and outstanding performance in slip-resistance, durability and low maintenance.

Terrafina is a German engineered and tested wood-polymer composite that is easy to

install due to its unique fixing method which ensures that outstanding results can be achieved quickly and simply.

The high performance composite material is suitable for commercial and domestic applications – particularly areas such as apartment balconies

and roof terraces where on-going maintenance of traditional surfaces is inconvenient and undesirable.

Available in a range of deck-board styles and colours; comes with a 10 year guarantee.

WWW.RAAFT.CO.UK

Trex Transcend composite decking offers the ultimate in sustainability and performance.

Manufactured from recycled materials, Trex is guaranteed fade, stain, rot, split and mould resistant and will never require painting or staining. It is also long-life and low-maintenance, and is available in six stunning finishes. Sole Decking is a popular and effective way to create open, organic-feeling outdoor spaces. But wood has so many drawbacks as a material – it needs regular on-going maintenance, it gets slippery when wet and it’s prone to rotting, fading, and staining. Millboard is completely different; it has none of the problems of traditional timber or even conventional wood/plastic (WPC) decking. It is made from polyurethane resin, sustainable minerals and fibres – plus a resilient Lastane® coating for superior anti-slip properties. It’s highly resistant to light, moisture, stains, mould, algae and impacts. But it’s attractive too; with incredible realism capturing the natural beauty of timber and a wide range of colours and textures are available.

WWW.MILLBOARD.CO.UK

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SAiGE Longlife Decking Ltd is a trade supplier of environmentally sourced composite decking. The

Ecodek is a wood polymer composite, made from a mixture of recycled polymer and postindustrial wood flour; with FSC and PEFC certification obtained.

Vannplastic Ltd is a UK manufacturer and so are able to offer bespoke lengths between 1.5 and 6m at no extra cost. These solid 136 x 25mm boards come in a range of five colours.

importers of Trex Transcend in the UK, Arbor Forest Products will only supply the trade and is happy to work closely with landscapers to help develop sales. New for 2013 is Arbor Forest’s unique service, providing installers with a deck board curving service to help make your designs 100 per cent unique.

WWW.ARBORDECK.CO.UK

decking suits contemporary design, is easy to install with a hidden fixing system, and every board is consistent in size and shape. The unique design incorporates thicker walls and deeper grooves than comparative products, meaning increased

strength and water displacement for your deck. With no splintering, anti-slip properties and extremely low maintenance, your clients can relax on their deck and enjoy their garden. Available in charcoal, light grey, oak and redwood finishes.

WWW.SAIGEDECKING.COM

Other advantages of using Ecodek are: • No specialist tools are needed • Off-cut buy-back scheme offered • Less maintenance required – just the occasional jet wash • Ecodek does not splinter or rot, and it is a solid product and not hollow WWW.ECODEK.CO.UK

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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• The UKs leading manufacturer of quality alternative to hardwood decking • The UKs only wood-free composite that is totally non-slip • Beautiful stain resistant decking that is fade resistant and maintenance free • Tel 02476 439 943 for samples and a quote

Contact us for more information on our range or to request a trade sample pack.

www.hitechturf.co.uk | 01244 289 182 | info@hitechturf.co.uk

• Innovative, superior quality, wood-plastic composite decking, fencing and cladding • 100% recycled, maintenance free and resistant to mould and fungi • Environmentally friendly, hard wearing and weather resistant • Perfect for use in wet areas: spas, Jacuzzis, pools and gardens • For samples and a quote call 02476 439 943 ProLandscaper 2013 Feb.pdf 1 06/02/2013 11:55:55

18/02/2013 15:12

O an utd d o o als Dec r F o kin urn av g it ail Li ure ab gh le ts

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CM

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PROVIDERS OF PREMIUM, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOURCED, COMPOSITE DECKING

CMY

Finishes and colours

charcoal

oak

- Wide Groove - Narrow Groove - Smooth - Solid Board - Hollow Board

K

COMMERCIAL

GARDEN

MARINE

- Charcoal Grey - Redwood - Light Grey - Oak

light grey

redwood

10 Year Warranty

WWW.SAiGEDECKING.COM WWW.SAi WWW.SA iGEDECKING.COM SAiGE Longlife Decking Ltd | 01789 721 576 | info@saigedecking.com

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18/02/2013 15:15

AVOID GETTING

Safety Check!

IN A SPIN GRASSPROTECTA™

Plastic grass reinforcement mesh Applications Grass car parks Residential parking Pedestrian walkways Wheelchair-access routes Grass verges

Using normal petrol can cause fatique, nausea and dizziness.

BE SAFE – Aspen alkylate petrol lowers toxic emissions by 99%.

Benefits Loads up to 8 tonnes per axle Reduces rutting & protects roots Slip-resistant structure Invisible once grass has grown SuDS source control compliant

• Ready mixed • No benzene • No sulphur • No solvents • No olefins • No ethanol • Will not go off

Anglo American Oil Company Ltd 01929 555975 • aspen@aaoil.co.uk • www.aspenfuel.co.uk To find your nearest dealer: www.find-aspen.co.uk

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Fiberweb Geosynthetics Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 1621 874200 www.grass-reinforcement.com ™ indicates a trade mark of Fiberweb plc or a Fiberweb Group company, many of which are registered in a number of countries around the world.

A

BUSINESS

17/05/2012 17:44

Fencing Materials for Landscapers Direct to Site Deliveries - Helpful Expert Advice • 8 Branches across UK • UC4 Quality Fence Posts • Huge Stock of Sleepers & Decking • Full Product Guarantees

AVS Fencing Supplies 0800 288 8324 www.avsfencing.co.uk

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19/02/2013 11:30

Latest Products

SEED AND FERTILISER

Hortifeeds offer a range of convenient to use fertilisers to landscapers. There are granular products that aid the establishment and early growth of newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials. The products are available in convenient 5kg and 10kg buckets with carry handle, and in 20kg sacks. The range includes a number of analyses and longevities to cover most landscape needs. HortiGran Treeplanter (12-20-8) contains a high percentage of slowly available phosphate to encourage and support root development, plus enough nitrogen and potash to support early growth. HortiGran

The ‘Diamond Jubilee’ flower mixture from Boston Seeds was developed following high demand from landscapers and local authorities

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Following a most extensive programme of grass seed mixture evaluation, Rigby Taylor has added some exciting new additions to its range of wellestablished industry standards. For many decades Rigby Taylor has been collaborating

with leading grass seed breeding research and development programmes. The resulting cultivars and mixtures will in future all be available under the ‘R’ brand, providing the industry with a range of quality grass seed mixtures dedicated to specific applications. New for 2013 is R116, a mixture of perennial ryegrass, chewing fescue and

Beds and Borders (10-11-15) is suited to the needs of herbaceous and bedding plants. HortiGran Ericaceous (11-12-7) is a new formulation for this year developed to meet the needs of acid-loving plants. This specific

blend contains Crystal Green, magnesium ammonium phosphate with release over six to eight months. This is a recovered product from digested sewage.

It is a clean, odour free granule now produced in the UK at two large treatment plants.

As well as being an excellent fertiliser, Crystal Green reduces phosphate and nitrate release from sewage plants and reduces pipeline blockages. Rock phosphate is the only source of virgin phosphates and is finite and increasingly expensive so Crystal Green recovery is a really valuable alternative phosphate source.

WWW.HORTIFEEDS.CO.UK

for an economical alternative to bedding plants for landscaped areas. The mixture costs 36p/m² to sow, which gives a significant saving over traditional bedding plants. It features a blend of native and cultivated annual flower species to give a bright display of

red, white and blue flowers.

The Diamond Jubilee Mixture can be sown from March onwards and is designed to give quick establishment and a long flowering period into late September.

WWW.BOSTONSEEDS.COM

slender creeping red fescue; R15, which combines three types of perennial ryegrass and smooth stalked meadow grass, fast to establish and improves stability.

Finally R314 cool growth rye blend featuring tetraploid technology has been developed for cool temperature germination and growth.

WWW.RIGBYTAYLOR.COM

The premium lawn seed from Barenbrug is now available.

The new Green Velvet Lawn Seed range has been specially designed for landscapers looking to achieve the best possible results on lawns. A quality, simple range at sensible prices. Using all of our quality from the BAR Range this landscaper range is perfect for all applications, blending our quality grass seed into a simple, effective yet affordable range for landscapers.

• Specialist range • Quality mixtures • Seed for all occasions and uses • Sensible, competitive prices WWW.BARENBRUG.CO.UK

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Latest Products

SEED AND FERTILISER Exclusive to Green-tech, N-Mag Lite is a versatile fertiliser that can be used in most landscape and amenity

FlowerScapes have responded to customer demand for a perennial seed mix, for the situations when clearing the site each year and re-seeing is inappropriate, by introducing a new perennial product range. There are four new stunning perennial mixes, one of which is the Perennial Bee Mix. This mixture is a blend of annual and perennial flowers

situations. N-Mag Lite is widely used by contractors across the UK for new planting projects, where effective and quick plant

that provide nectar and pollen to honey bees.

The annual proportion gives a splash of colour in the first season.The flowers in the mix are proven favourites of honey bees in our garden and will provide forage all season long. It is ideal for honey beekeepers and others interested in bee health.

The mix can be used in

AberSustain from British Seed Houses is a self-sustaining grass seed mixture, perfect for open parkland areas, domestic lawns, road verges and for green

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establishment is necessary. It can be spread at any time during the growing season, but for maximum benefit applications should be made as growth commences in the spring. N-Mag Lite is a cost effective solution that is simple to apply, the granules release the nutrients at a steady rate and can easily be worked into the soil. Exclusive to Green-tech, N-Mag Lite is a stock item, ready for call off today.

WWW.GREEN-TECH.CO.UK

garden beds, borders, and other maintained areas.

WWW.FLOWERSCAPES.ORG.UK

Everris’ Landscaper Pro fertiliser range has been designed specifically for professional landscapers and horticulturalists.

Landscaper Pro features the latest technology in smaller packs and is intended to bridge the gap between professional sports turf fertilizers, such as Sierrablen, and garden centre ranges. Each bag contains high-quality controlled release or mineral fertilisers with varying longevity which provides long-term, healthy and sustainable growth to the grass while tackling some of the most common turf problems such as weed and moss infestation. For beds, borders and pot plants, there’s also Landscaper Pro ‘Flora’ featuring the company’s renowned Osmocote technology.

WWW.EVERRIS.CO.UK

roofs. The mixture is unique because all the varieties used are UK bred from the IBERS breeding programme – UK bred for UK conditions. All varieties are chosen to complement each other perfectly and create a mixture that is environmentally

and economically sustainable – perfect for the time in which we now live. Includes AberNile ‘Stay-Green’ ryegrass, low maintenance, drought resistant, and low nutrient tolerant.

WWW.BSHAMENITY.COM

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19/02/2013 09:02

occasions

Seed for all

Quality mixtures

Specialist range

Sensible prices

Lawn seed

Get your grass in top condition this spring.

Quality grass seed that performs.

The Green Velvet Lawn Seed range from Barenbrug has been specially designed for landscapers looking to achieve the best possible results on lawns.

A quality simple range at sensible prices.

CONTACT 01359 272000 FOR MORE INFORMATION Part of the family

Landscaping Insurance Services • Landscapers • Grounds Maintenance • Designers • Tree Surgeons • Fencers and Builders • No height restrictions • New business set ups ✔ Public/Employers Liability ✔ Tools/Plant Cover ✔ Professional Indemnity ✔ Personal Accident

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Mixtures for a wide range of amenity applications

www.eurograss.com

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You don’t have to go to these lengths to join the Green Evolution!

Euro Grass B.V., Heino Schaupp, Tel. 01366 388 223, heino.schaupp@eurograss.com

19/02/2013 12:14

06/03/2013 14:10

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v e c t o r s k e t c h

Vectorsketch offers a professional service generating plans and 3D visuals using Vectorworks. We provide a quick, skilled and cost-effective service to save you time and money.

MODERN LIGHTING SOLUTIONS

Lighting catalogue with style shots available on request t: 07814 174884 • e: info@vector-sketch.co.uk • www.vector-sketch.co.uk

0208 123 7914 • www.modernlightingsolutions.co.uk

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19/02/2013 12:53

Seasonal Staff

Seasonal staff It is the time of year when many companies will be recruiting seasonal staff so with this in mind, Pro Landscaper offers some tips and advice when going through this process...

The normal seasonal staff contract can be anything from March/April through to October.

Some contracts may be from a month-to-month basis, but it’s important to make this absolutely clear within your advert so that there are no misconceptions about the role being permanent.

Temporary or seasonal staff should not be viewed as cheap labour – workers on low rates will not necessarily represent value for money and will jump ship at the first opportunity to earn more; also they are unlikely to give the job maximum effort if they feel their pay rate is too low. To make sure you get the right staff, start advertising up to two months before you need them to commence work, as you are likely to receive high volumes of applicants, which will require time to sift through.

Experience You may have the option of using an agency to help get the right staff – and if this is the case it will need a detailed briefing of the type of worker you need and what their duties will be, which can be anything from sweeping to digging holes, to carrying stone or just spreading mulch; accuracy is vital even down to things like whether they will be carrying materials through a client’s house and using ladders etc. Site details will help too, such as: is the site close to shops, can you cycle there, is there parking? Of course the successful candidates may be assigned to a mobile team so this should be made clear too.

Most people applying for seasonal work in the landscape industry will be expected to have a www.prolandscapermagazine.com prolandscapermagazine.com

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basic level of grounds maintenance and/or horticultural experience, and most companies have strong equal opportunities policies which allow for a workforce with a broad spectrum of age and experience. CRB checks may be carried out on staff who could be working around children. However, applicants with some qualifications such as those that hold the PA1/PA6 spraying licence and a full driving licence would of course have an advantage on those that don’t hold any qualifications.

Seasonal staff should be treated much the same way as the permanent workforce Use of equipment If the applicant is expected to use machinery, there may be some level of handling experience required. Necessary qualifications vary depending on what the job expectations are, but where there are specific requirements for the contract or project i.e. tractor driver, the necessary qualifications would be requested on the job specification.

Alongside crops and weeds, it’s possible that more invasive species could find their way

have an induction programme – the more informed they are, the more chance your seasonal staff have of developing their skills.

It may also be a good idea to pair them with an experienced member of staff who can introduce them to other members of the team, make sure they know where facilities are and who to ask if in doubt about anything. Let them know when breaks are and whether they are expected to leave site or not. Seasonal staff should be treated much the same way as the permanent workforce – and be provided with the same uniform and equipment required to do the job. Even if you only need this person for a short while you will get much more from them in this way and they will be happy to return to work for you if and when required.

Above all, give feedback if appropriate (and also to the agency if there is one involved) so that each worker’s strengths and weaknesses can be monitored.

Thanks to AndersPlus, The Landscape Group, Gavin Jones Ltd and Quadron Services for their help in putting together this article.

Settling in Once your worker arrives, it is important to make them feel welcome. Many large companies March 2013 75

19/02/2013 09:09

Jobs FACILITIES MANAGEMENT MANAGER THE LANDSCAPE GROUP Location: Shepton Mallet, Somerset

JOBS

We are looking for an experienced FM professional with a positive attitude to coordinate the day to day delivery of specific maintenance/facilities management activities.

Specific duties will be focussed around the provision of facility management services to the designated areas in accordance with Customer Agreements, Specifications and KPI’s.

For full details on all jobs, please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section. If you would like to apply, please send a covering letter and up to date CV to recruitment@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

Call 01903 234 077 or email jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com with your vacancy.

SKILLED GREENKEEPER FINE TURF

SOFT LANDSCAPER

QUADRON SERVICES

BOSWORTHS LANDSCAPING

Based at: Medway Grounds Maintenance, Rochester, Kent Salary: £18,000 per annum

Salary: £15k - 20k per annum

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled person with an excellent track record in maintaining the contract’s bowling greens, cricket tables, pitch & putts and other turfs to the highest standards.

We require a hard working individual with the necessary skills and experience to carry out soft landscaping to a high standard.This person should be capable of working alone, within a team or leading a small team and must have a valid driving licence.

Please send a comprehensive CV and an accompanying letter to highlight why you are the right person for this job to: hr.admin@quadronservices.co.uk. For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section.

Please contact Andrew Young at andrew@bosworthslandscaping.co.uk or telephone 01536 722635. For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section.

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE WORKING SUPERVISOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE OPERATIVE

CITY GARDENS PROJECTS SUPPORT OFFICER

We have exciting opportunities for experienced GM professionals to work on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Frosts Landscape Construction is a prestigious and well established company. We offer excellent salaries and genuine personal development potential.

Location: City of London Salary: £25,350 to £28,590 per annum

FROSTS LANDSCAPES

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section. To apply, please contact Lisa Houghton on 01908 286164 or email lhoughton@frostslandscapes.com for an application form.

HARD LANDSCAPER

BOSWORTHS LANDSCAPING Salary: £15k - 20k per annum We require a hard working individual with the necessary skills and experience to carry out hard landscaping to a high standard.This person should be capable of working alone, within a team or leading a small team and must have a valid driving licence.

CITY OF LONDON – LOCAL AUTHORITIES

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Project Support Officer to progress our exciting programme of conservation and horticultural projects, events and activities within the City.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section.

GENERAL MANAGER

THE LANDSCAPE GROUP Location: East Staffordshire – Burton Salary: Dependent on skills and competences, includes benefits package.

We require a General Manager to take responsibility for the East Staffordshire Borough Council, Cannock Chase District Council, Trent & Dove Housing and other clients in the Staffordshire area.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section. Please contact Andrew Young at andrew@bosworthslandscaping.co.uk or telephone 01536 722635

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section. If you would like to apply, please send a covering letter and up to date CV to recruitment@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

HEAD GARDENER

Grounds Maintenance Supervisor

Sissinghurst in Kent, a National Trust flagship site, is seeking a new head to take on this much-imitated - and oft-debated - English garden. Love it or loathe it, there’s no denying that Sissinghurst, in Kent, is one of England’s most influential gardens. Its lattice of “rooms”, striking borders and carefully constructed views have inspired imitators the world over. Now the job of looking after all this is up for grabs.

Grounds Maintenance Supervisor to organise teams, price up works, ensure service delivery across Peterborough. Must have good hort knowledge, pricing experience. Driving licence essential.

Please email CV to andrea@andersplus.com

NATIONAL TRUST, SISSINGHURST, KENT

For more information about the vacancy, visit www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section.

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PETERBOROUGH

To apply, please email CV to andrea@andersplus.com (with job reference: 17913) For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click the ‘Jobs’ section.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

15/02/2013 16:28

Trending

Pro Landscaper looks at what’s different this month 10 FLOWER INSPIRED WELLIES

SQUIRREL DESIGN TREE HOUSES These gorgeous luxury tree houses are the product of Squirrel Design – a unique family-fun design and construction company who are celebrating 10 years of specialising in bespoke outdoor structures.

The company aim to offer imaginative solutions to their customers’ needs, creating unique wooden structures in the form of tree houses, hideaways, and lodges for children and adults. www.squirreldesign.co.uk

GNOMES TO BE AUCTIONED FOR RHS CAMPAIGN FOR SCHOOL GARDENING The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is lifting the ban on gnomes at RHS Chelsea Flower Show for one year only, as part of the show’s centenary celebrations and to raise funds for the nationwide RHS Campaign for School Gardening.

Gnomes were banned from RHS Shows as they fall into the category of being ‘brightly coloured mythical creatures’, which is how the ban is implemented in RHS manuals. The RHS is inviting celebrities to paint and decorate gnomes to feature at the world famous gardening event, before auctioning the gnomes online to help more school kids to garden. www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-ChelseaFlower-Show/2013

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With spring approaching and the Chelsea Flower Show starting in May, it is time to get your gardening gear ready. The Welly Shop presents 10 gorgeous floral wellington boots and clogs. These are great for any gardening lover – and ideal for a unique gift for Mothers’ Day. Readers can use the code TRLVQ571 to receive a 10% discount valid until the end of April 2013. www.thewellyshop.com

FIRST FLOWERING AT KEW FOR ENDANGERED MONTSERRAT ORCHID Dust-like seeds of the critically endangered orchid Epidendrum montserratense, collected on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, have been germinated and cultivated in carefully controlled conditions at Kew to produce the first flowers of this species to be seen in the UK. Kew’s horticulturists and conservationists were thrilled when the Epidendrum montserratense plants showed the first signs of coming into flower, just four years after the seeds had gone into culture in the CBS. www.kew.org

ANDY STURGEON DESIGNS GIANT EGG FOR SECOND YEAR Following Andy Sturgeon’s successful contribution to last year’s record breaking The Big Egg Hunt, the leading garden and landscape designer has been invited to create another unique egg design for the charity event. Andy’s design The Wrong Way Round is a beautifully crafted 70cm tall egg covered in a textured bronze patina.

Designed for use as an outdoor sculpture, the egg will evolve and change colour – from silver to bronze and finally to green – as the patina is weathered by time. www.thebigegghunt.co.uk

THE PICCADILLY PEOPLE A group in Manchester are campaigning to improve Piccadilly Gardens by growing vertical gardens on the concrete wall. The group argues that Piccadilly Gardens are the most dramatic view of the city, and the most eye-catching aspect of the gardens unfortunately is the concrete wall that splits the space; the wall is 130m long and over 4m tall. The group proposes that a vertical garden would significantly improve its appearance, as well as offer other benefits such as cleaning the air and absorbing traffic noise.

For more information or to support the campaign: Facebook: Manchester Piccadilly Vertical Gardens Twitter: @McrPiccVerticalGrdns

19/02/2013 10:20

People

THE

LITTLE INTERVIEW Patricia Fox Aralia Garden Design www.aralia.org.uk In business terms, do you expect 2013 to be better than 2012?

We had a phenomenal year in 2012, but we are planning an even better 2013.

What’s your most important piece of machinery/equipment?

My PC, iPad and iPhone, I’d be utterly lost without them.

Name one thing unique about your business.

We’re a hybrid between a design team and a design & build team.

What do you think the trends/changes will be in 2013?

We’re doing a lot of work with roof gardens at present, and I think the greening up of urban spaces will speed up.

Tim Mackley Tim Mackley Garden Design www.timmackley.co.uk In business terms, do you expect 2013 to be better than 2012?

As long as the weather’s better than last year, I’m confident 2013 will be a better year.

What is your most important piece of machinery/equipment?

My drawing board, the starting point of all new designs.

A small insight into the world of other professionals from our wide and varied industry. If you’d like to appear in a future issue please email enquiries to editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk How do you find new clients?

Our website is a major vehicle, but the recent awards we have won appear to be drawing new clients in.

Describe yourself in three words Creative, tenacious and determined.

What are your unfulfilled ambitions?

I plan to sail across the Atlantic in the future.

Best book you’ve ever read?

The Magus sticks clearly in my mind – I also love The Time Travellers Wife.

What’s your favourite meal?

Christmas turkey dinner!

Your dream job?

I pretty much have it, designing high end gardens with budgets that allow us to do what we want creatively – but the icing on the cake would be my own TV show.

How important is social media as communication?

I’m on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. As more people engage with social media, so its importance as a marketing vehicle will increase further.

Describe yourself in three words.

Passionate, self-motivated, easy-going.

Your most inspirational garden?

I love Hidcote – each garden room has its own appeal.

Your dream job?

A very large garden with unlimited budget and an open-minded client. We can all dream.

Ian Smith

Acres Wild Landscape and Garden Design www.acreswild.co.uk In business terms, do you expect 2013 to be better than 2012?

We have managed to keep busy throughout the economic troubles, and I’m expecting 2013 will be better.

What is your most important piece of machinery/equipment?

Pencil and paper! If the computers go down you can still work with the simplest of tools.

What is the busiest time of year for you?

We are busy all year with new project work booked in on average five to six months in advance.

What do you think the trends/changes will be in 2013?

Low maintenance is a constant request and maybe this will result in simpler, bolder planting schemes.

How important is social media as a means of communication with clients?

At the moment not at all, but I’m going on a course to see what all the fuss is about!

How do you find new clients?

Recommendations mostly, although clients also see our website, and our gardens featured in magazines.

What are your unfulfilled career ambitions?

Finding time to visit more gardens and soak up inspiration.

Your most inspirational garden?

Nanzen-ji in Kyoto, Japan, and Stourhead in Wiltshire.

How is sustainability embedded within your business?

Starting from the initial brief I try to get clients to think about their garden in a more sustainable way.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I used to be a DJ.

Your dream job?

One where the clients’ aspirations are in sympathy with the site and we are trusted to produce the best solution.

How do you find new clients?

Usually by recommendation or website enquiries.

First album you ever bought?

The Police – Outlandos d’Amour.

First album you ever bought?

Queen – A Night at the Opera.

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www.prolandscapermagazine.com

15/02/2013 10:11

People

Jean-Sébastien Vecten KUHN Amenity Pro www.kuhn.co.uk What is your most important piece of machinery/equipment?

Our sprayers are the core part of our range, with unique characteristics.

Name one thing unique about your business.

You can use a KUHN machine whatever the season: ground work, fertilising, spraying, grass cutting and salt spreading.

What do you think the trends/changes will be in 2013?

Due to cost cuts and tight budgets, one machine needs to do more, with reduced maintenance costs.

How is sustainability embedded within your business?

Sustainability is at the forefront of our priorities, from the design of our machines to building factories.

Without it there is no future!

Suzanne Frost

How do you find new clients?

First and foremost our approved dealer network but trade shows, marketing and word of mouth are also great tools!

Describe yourself in three words.

Professional, driven, trustworthy.

Best book you’ve ever read?

White Fang – Jack London Your most inspirational garden?

Gardens of Versailles.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I am an iron-distance triathlete.

First album you ever bought?

Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing.

What is the busiest time of year for you?

Spring, when clients see their gardens bursting back into life and so they focus on them again.

What’s your favourite meal?

Thai green chicken curry and pad thai noodles.

What is your most important piece of machinery/equipment?

My instinct: to make sure the space I create is not only beautiful and practical but fits well into its surroundings.

How is sustainability embedded within your business?

I like to design kitchen gardens or add herbs and ‘goodlooking’ edible plants or cutting flowers to borders.

Name one thing unique about your business.

I have an extensive wealth of horticultural knowledge and practical experience which means the gardens I create are designed to last.

How important is social media as communication?

Depends on the client, many are not of the social media generation.

Your dream job?

I’m already doing it! My favourite clients are those who are able to give a clear brief and trust me to deliver what they want. Many create the garden alongside me and receive hands-on training on how to care for the plants.

GardenBlueprint suzie@thawfrost.com

How do you find new clients?

Often through existing contacts.

Your most inspirational garden?

My all-time favourite is Wollerton Old Hall Garden in Shropshire.

If you could be any Superhero – who would it be?

David Attenborough, because of his infectious enthusiasm and because I too, love nature.

DIARY MARCH 06 APL Networking Seminar: Classiflora, Essex www.landscaper.org.uk

26-27 RHS Great London Plant Fair: RHS Horticultural Halls, London www.rhs.org.uk

05–07 Ecobuild: ExCel, London www.ecobuild.co.uk APRIL 09–11 The Commercial 13 APL Awards: Roof Vehicle Show, Gardens, Kensington NEC Birmingham www.aplawards.co.uk www.cvshow.com

19-21 RHS Flower Show Cardiff, Bute Park, Cardiff www.rhs.org.uk 25-28 Harrogate Flower Show, Yorkshire Showground www.flowershow.org.uk

MAY 09–12 Malvern Spring Gardening Show, Three Counties Showground, Malvern WR13 6NW www.rhs.org.uk

21–25 Chelsea Flower 27 SGD Spring Conference Show, Royal Hospital, Imperial College, SW7 London SW3 4SR www.sgd.org.uk www.rhs.org.uk

YOUR EVENT If you have a diary event you wish to publicise, email details to: editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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15/02/2013 10:12

Trading with...

Trading with...

Provender Nurseries Tell us a bit about Provender; how and when it was set up and who are the people/staff involved?

Provender Nurseries started trading on 2 January 2013 and is formed from the merger of Wyevale East Nurseries and East Horticulture. The merger has resulted in a combined workforce of 30 staff on a 30 acre site. Our high quality staff will help drive the business forward, allowing us to offer more cohesive choice to our customers.

Who are your main client base and how do you reach them?

Our main clients are landscapers, garden designers and contractors alongside other horticultural professionals. We reach our customers via a range of options – post, email, website, advertising in trade magazines, Twitter, Facebook, belonging to trade organisations, attending cluster groups and events, and of course face-to-face contact can’t be beaten.

We also reach a large number of our existing and potential clients by exhibiting at trade shows.

What are your plans for marketing?

First of all we have to get the new combined business settled in and look after our existing customers, as it is very important to us that they see the importance and understand the logic behind creating Provender Nurseries.

After all, satisfying your existing clients is the best marketing tool any business can ask for; a large majority of our new customers are recommended by our existing customers.

We do have some 2 projects lined up; Provender Nurseries are the headline sponsor for the SGD Spring Conference on 27 April, and we will also be holding events here later this year. In July, Provender Nurseries in conjunction with the RHS, will be promoting and sponsoring ‘Four 80

March 2013

Trading with Provender.indd 80

Corners’ designed by Peter Reader – the winner of the Student Design & Build Award – at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. We are passionate about showcasing new talent in the industry and have been running the Student Design & Build Award for the past 3 years with great results.

How important is having an online presence?

With the new business we have launched a new website: www.provendernurseries.co.uk. There is still some work to be done but when is work on a website promoting your business ever finished?

Our new website is responsive and works on all mobile devices meaning you can look at our online stock-list while you are on-site. Within the first three weeks of the newly launched website there was a 16 per cent rise in traffic and usage coming purely from mobile devices.

for a project. Some designers and landscapers 1 make plant buying decisions based on price alone without actually seeing the plant they are buying, which isn’t ideal.

What is your company ethos?

To have the best staff offering the best knowledge, supplying the best plants at the best prices to the landscape industry as a whole.

Why customers should work with Provender…

If you have not experienced our plants, products, knowledge, and service, you don’t know what you’re missing.

How do you pre-empt what are going to be the most popular plants of the coming season?

3

When it comes to looking at the future, we put new batteries into our crystal ball – this approach has never failed to deliver the goods. Alternatively we may knock our heads together in the pub with the resulting ideas getting better and better as the night goes on.

What are your opening hours and are you open to visits from designers and landscapers to look at your stock?

Provender Nurseries is open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm, and Saturdays 8.00am to 12 noon.

The Provender Nurseries website is open 24/7 with registered customers able to place orders online at any time of day in the trade section.

We welcome visits from designers and landscapers, who are also welcome to bring along their own clients. We place a lot of value on actually seeing the plant that you are purchasing

4

1 Top of page: Pieris Flaming Silver and Pittosporum in the nursery.

2 Hamamelis with snow.

3 Provender tree field.

4 Provender Nurseries shop.

Provender Nurseries Ltd. The Landscape Centre, Leydenhatch Lane, Swanley, Kent BR8 7PS Tel: 01322 662315 and 01322 662130 Web: www.provendernurseries.co.uk Facebook: Provender Nurseries Twitter: @ProvenderTweets www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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