Pro Landscaper September 2016

Concept to Delivery

September 2016

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

STEVE SWATTON

SWATTON LANDSCAPE

Celebrate with us!

5TH ANNIVERSARY

SPECIAL INSIDE LOCAL AUTHORITY GROUNDS MAINTENANCE 7 PAGE IN-DEPTH REPORT

ART ATTACK HOW CITYSCAPES IS BRINGING TOGETHER ART AND LANDSCAPE Cover Sept final.indd 4

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WELCOME Concept to Delivery DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

September 2016

STEVE SWATTON

September 2016 | Volume 6, Issue 9

SWATTON LANDSC APE

Celebrate with us!

5TH ANNIVERSARY

SPECIAL

Welcome to September 2016

INSIDE LOC AUTHORITYAL GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

7 PAGE IN-DEPTH

REPORT

ART ATTACK

Welcome to the September issue of Pro Landscaper. PROUD PROUD PROUD. Not only have our GB athletes completely surpassed all expectations at the Olympics, proving investment and dedication pays dividends, but also because our ‘baby’ Pro Landscaper is celebrating its 5th birthday this month. In 2011 we began a journey that has completely changed our lives.

Pro Landscaper has established itself as the market-leading magazine, and FutureScape is without a doubt the UK’s leading landscaping event – all this has been achieved in less than five years.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our readers, visitors, industry associations and all our advertisers

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 EDITORIAL editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Editorial Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579 Managing Editor – Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 577 Features Editor – Nina Mason nina.mason@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 583 Editorial Reporter – Joe Betts joe.betts@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 573 Production Editor – Susie Duff susie.duff@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578 Subeditor – Charlotte Cook charlotte.cook@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

and exhibitors for their help in supporting and encouraging us over the years. We’re really looking forward to continuing our relationship with you all and making sure that we continue to provide the best magazine and event – we hope you all enjoy reading the 5th Anniversary supplement with this issue, and taking a trip down memory lane.

It’s been another month of getting out and about meeting industry people and the highlights in this issue include an interview with Steve Swatton of Swatton Landscape – winner of the first Best Construction Award at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show – in our Let’s Hear it From feature, and incoming Landscape Institute president Merrick Denton-Thompson, whom we met to find out about his plans for

ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 588 Sales Manager – Luke Chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 584 Sales Executive – Laura Harris laura.harris@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 580 Horticulture Careers – Amber Bernabe amber.bernabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 581 Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 589 MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Tel: 01903 777 570 Subscription enquiries emily.maltby@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

HOW CITYSCAPES IS BRINGING TOGETHER ART AND LANDSCAP E

Cover Sept final.indd

Plus

GARDEN BUILDING S DESIGNER PLANTS OUTDOOR HEATERS MANAGING MEADOW S AND MORE…

4

18/08/2016 14:40

the organisation over the next two years.

Following the recession, grounds maintenance companies still have an enviable task in delivering on their contracts, with local authorities continuing to want more for less. We commissioned a report to find out how they are dealing with these challenges, it’s an interesting read for anyone in that sector and the wider industry (page 35).

With FutureScape fast approaching, see pages 22-23 for the jam-packed seminar programme, don’t forgot to register for the event and book a place for any seminars that take your fancy early before it’s standing room only. Visit the website www.futurescapeevent.com to register for free entry and make your bookings.

Have a great September,

@jimeljays

Design – Kara Thomas, Fay Pritchard, Mandy Armstrong

@lisaeljays

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an affiliate member of BALI

Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd – Connecting Horticulture Pro Landscaper’s content is available for licensing overseas. Contact jamie.wilkinson@ eljays44.com

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

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

Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2016 subscription price is £95.00.

Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

Whilst every effort has been made to maintain the integrity of our advertisers, we accept no responsibility for any problem, complaints, or subsequent litigation arising from readers’ responses to advertisements in the magazine. We also wish to emphasise that views expressed by editorial contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Reproduction of any part of this magazine is strictly forbidden.

MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson Managing Editor Joe Wilkinson Cover image: ©Daniel Lewis

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Leader.indd 3

Pro Landscaper / September 2016

3

18/08/2016 16:17

CONTENTS

September 2016 INFORM

8

Agenda TV gardening shows – good or bad for the industry?

10

70

News A monthly roundup of industry news including the latest updates from efig, SGD, BALI, RHS, Parks Alliance and APL

13

Championing Green Spaces Pro Landscaper speaks to Chris Worman, parks and grounds manager for Rugby Borough Council, about his recent MBE award

18

29

Landscape Institute Merrick Denton-Thompson takes over as Landscape Institute President, speaking about his passion for green belt land redevelopment

21

5

September 2016 Supplement

FutureScape Registration is open for FutureScape 2016 – find the seminar programme here

ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Concept to Delivery

A

,

A

ebruary 2012

D

D A D

August 2012

D A

e r esi nin

it trees

Advice on which species to choose for your projects

N e

L UISA BELL

Portfolios

let’s Hear it from...

See how three companies implemented their projects

Aidan Lane of rosts Landscape Construction

Concept to Delivery

June 2013

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

Concept to Delivery

D A D

1

, A

epte ber 2012

D A

ew plant species versus traditional varieties

Published by

22/05/2013 15:29

April 2014

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

ARUN LANDSCAPES

20/06/2013 09:10

May 2014

FROSTS LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION

VECTORWORKS TIPS & TRICKS

GROWING LIVES

LIVING WALLS & GREEN ROOFS

PARTY FOR PERENNIAL

June 2014

March 2015

EDUCATING THE FUTURE:

ARE WE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

22/05/2014 10:47

March 2013

l

Andrew ilson, ilson Mc illiam Studio

nni ersar

Portfolios

The association celebrates years servin the trade

See how three companies implemented their projects

Concept to Delivery

Concept to Delivery

April 2013

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

May 2013

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

GREENHOUSES &

EFIG AWARDS

THE T HE

CONCRETE C ONCRETE RESURGENCE R ESURGENCE

OUR O UR NEW FAVOURITE MATERIAL

MINDING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Cover FIIINAL.indd 3

TURF MAINTENANCE

OUTDOOR TRENDS

21/04/2015 11:43

Concept to Delivery

March 2016

NEW

WILLERBY LANDSCAPES THE SGD AWARDS

WHAT WAS 2015’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

EMPLOYEE TO EMPLOYER

17/12/2015 11:38

ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSIVITY IN

PLAY SPACE DESIGN

Out & About

RHS CHELSEA BUILD UP & PRESS DAY

WOODLAND RETREAT

COVER.indd 11

LET’S HEAR IT FROM GARDEN DESIGNER

INSIDE...

MATTHEW CHILDS

SHOW GUIDE

2014

THE LANDSCAPE GROUP MERGES WITH ID VERDE

August 2015

4

OFFICE TOP OF PLANT OF THE THE YEAR TROPICS 2015

18/06/2015 09:19

Concept to Delivery

COVER.indd 20

of the Year”

21/10/2014 15:17

September 2015

22/07/2015 12:43

June 2016

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

19/02/2014 12:41

Concept to Delivery

THE LITTLE INTERVIEW

100 YEARS

Why our parks mustn’t be privatised

HEA

DLIN

E SPONS

OR

18/12/2014 09:08

Concept to Delivery

November 2015

ALL NEW EXCITING NEW FEATURES

LANDSCAPELIVE

IN PICTURES

TOMORROW’S TALENT REVEALED

ESTABLISHING TREES

CORPORATE EVENT PLANTING

WITH THIS ISSUE

M A I N TA I N

2015

FOUR STRIKING

COVER SELECTED.indd 1

BUILD

SHOW GUIDE

DESIGN FOR LIFE Refitting The Gherkin

ANN-MARIE POWELL

PORTFOLIOS 20/08/2015 12:17

July 2016

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

Wildlife friendly design

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

VECTORWORKS LANDMARK

TOP 10 TIPS

22/09/2015 09:42

COVER SELECTED 2.indd 1

22/10/2015 16:30

Concept to Delivery

Concept to Delivery

Seven-page special

THE WILD SIDE OF THE FENCE

DAVID DOMONEY Cover.indd 18

SHOW GUIDE 2015

DESIGN

A NEW APPROACH TO

PLAY DESIGN

COVER.indd 11

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

20/11/2014 16:01

VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER AUSTRALIAN FIRE PITS THE PUBLIC GOOD

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

special

TRANQUIL RETREAT 2014 BALI AWARD WINNING PROJECT

Grand and Principal Award Winners

finalist

October 2015

JUSTIN PAXMAN

2015

10 PAGE

GRACE LANDSCAPES

2014 BALI AWARDS

2014

“Business Magazine of the Year”

FINALIST

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

SHOW GUIDE

PLAY DESIGN

January 2015

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

How to master NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

GRUBBY GARDENERS

HELEN ELKS-SMITH December cover.indd 11

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SCOTHORT

Concept to Delivery

May 2016

MATTHEW KEIGHTLEY

A BALI Award winning townhouse garden

HOW TO DRIVE

FOR TED 2014 PPA Independent Publisher Awards SHORTLIS “Business Magazine

Concept to Delivery

ART OF GLASS THE GREAT TERRARIUM REVIVAL

IAN SMITH AND DEBBIE ROBERTS

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

INSTANT IMPACT

FUTURESCAPE 2014

FROSTS LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION

IS THERE ANY VALUE IN USING SUBCONTRACTORS?

SHORE LANDSCAPES

A CLEAN SLATE

ON 50 YEARS IN LANDSCAPING

FABULOUS

PORTFOLIOS

COVER 2.indd 8

December 2014

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

DECK THE HALLS

HARD LANDSCAPING

Cover Oct h.indd 7

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

TOYOTA PROACE A BUYER’S GUIDE

LAND DESIGN PARTNERSHIP

22/01/2014 12:45 Cover March 14.indd 11

Concept to Delivery

COMPLEMENTING

18/09/2014 12:02

Concept to Delivery

FOUR SUPERB

PORTFOLIOS

ACRES WILD

21/05/2015 12:28

April 2016

APL AWARDS

Cover FEBRUARY FINAL.indd 1

SALES AND PRODUCTIVITY

LANDMARK 2015

SINGAPORE STYLE

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

EXCLUSIVE

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

August 2016

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

PEOPLE POWER PARKS INNOVATION IN MANCHESTER Heavenly

MARCUS WATSON

OUTDOOR SHOWERS

OF GROUND CONTROL

PHOTOGRAPHY

ADVICE

ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO CELEBRATE

AL FRESCO LIVING

CAPABILITY BROWN?

COUNTRY LIVING

BEST NEW PRODUCTS

FROM SCULPTURES TO PLANTERS

ARALIA GARDEN DESIGN

Cover final.indd 3

November 2014

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

PLENTIFUL PLANTING

INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIOS

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

AGENDA

WITH GREENLINE PLANTS

USING BIM effectively

explained

The Outdoor Room

VECTORWORKS

SMALL SCALE

Cover Oct h.indd 1

March 2014

RIDE-ON MOWERS LATEST KIT

NURSERY FACTFILE

CHAINSAW FEATURES

LIVE

ARE YOU GOING?

BETTER BY

BRAMBLEDOWN LANDSCAPE SERVICES

July 2015

PRODUCTS

SAFETY EQUIPMENT BRUSHCUTTERS WOODCARE PLANTERS

BARE ROOT

ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR SPECIFIERS

DAVID DODD

20/12/2013 15:54

Concept to Delivery

OR NOT TO CLIP

IS THE GARDEN BRIDGE GOOD FOR OUR INDUSTRY?

PARTY P ARTY FOR PERENNIAL PERENNIAL

HOW H OW TO COPE WITH DIFFICULT SITES DIFFICULT

NORTHUMBRIAN N ORTHUMBRIAN LANDSCAPING

October 2014

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

20/08/2014 14:49

Concept to Delivery

LIGHTING LEVEL CHANGES

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

TO CLIP...

19/04/2013 15:37

Concept to Delivery

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

RICHARD MIERS

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

Cover January 2.indd 5

RHS Chelsea Flower Show A taste of some of the show gardens at the centenary event

Portfolios See how three companies design and implement their projects

Cover 2.indd 4

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

THE 37TH BALI NATIONAL LANDSCAPE AWARDS

FOUR MORE INSPIRATIONAL PORTFOLIOS

Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer

FRANK CURRY

COVER FINAL 2.indd 1

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

JOHN WYER

PRO LANDSCAPER SPECIAL GARDEN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPE TRAINING

19/03/2013 13:08

February 2014

ANDREW FISHER TOMLIN

SIMPLICITY

LANDSCAPES

June 2015

LIFE/STYLE

Let’s Hear it From...

Adam Frost, of Adam Frost Landscapes

Book review A look at the latest books on offer

Concept to Delivery

Three original AWARD-WINNING

PORTFOLIOS

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

20/11/2013 15:39

A unique garden in a beautiful woodland setting

Portfolios An in-depth overview of three fantastic project profiles

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

landscaping tools

2013

ANNUAL UPDATE

Let’s Hear it From...

Andy Corcoran, Managing Director of Glendale Managed Services Ltd

Cover.indd 1

NEW

Concept to Delivery

BELDERBOS

16/07/2014 14:25

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

STEPPING OUT

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

19/02/2013 16:28

January 2014

BATTERY POWERED

A snapshot of the event

TEMPERATURE OF THE MARKET

Tranquil Earth

PAVING THE WAY

A multi-level garden incorporating textured planting

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

Concept to Delivery

NURSERY SECTION

FUTURESCAPE

CHARLOTTE ROWE GARDEN DESIGN

URBAN UPDATE

Cover December.indd 2

THINKING OF TAKING ON AN

APPRENTICE?

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

NO N O ACCESS

AN A N ENLIGHTENED PATH

September 2014

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

THE RESULTS

OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEY

Competition Fantastic chance to win a Toro heavy-duty lawnmower

SALTEX

ROBERT CHARLES LANDSCAPES

SPIRA-LIGHT

COVER FINAL.indd 1

HINTS & TIPS

Stand apart from your competitors

RUSSELL MALTON

February 2016

AIR BORNE

DISPLAYING TILLANDSIAS

MITIE M ITIE LANDSCAPES

BALI B ALI AWARDS

PATRICIA FOX

SURFACING

IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

May 2015

VECTORWORKS

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

LOOK OUT FOR

19/03/2015 15:53

Concept to Delivery

TIM T IM HOWELL OF

August 2014

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

RESIN BOUND

ANN-MARIE POWELL

19/06/2014 10:40

Concept to Delivery

2015

GARDEN BUILDINGS

DESIGN, D ESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN AND

McQue Gardens

SCENTED SECLUSION

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

Cover.indd 2

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

An urban and contemporary London garden

22/10/2013 17:08

Concept to Delivery

RHS

SHOW GUIDE

COVER CHOSEN.indd 1

ADVICE ON

Cover October final.indd 4

WITH THIS ISSUE

CHELSEA

FLOWER SHOW

ARE A RE YOU UNDERVALUING

Contents September.indd 4

ROOF GARDENS

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

INSIDE OUT OUTSIDE IN

22/01/2013 17:14

December 2013

THE LITTLE INTERVIEW

THE HIVE

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

EXPERT ADVICE ON

HITACHI BATTERY POWERED TOOLS

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

JIM FOGARTY

JULY CHOSEN.indd 3

April 2015

LIGHTING WATER FEATURES

GOLDEN PATH

12/02/2015 16:05

JJanuary anuary 2016

YOUR Y OUR SERVICES?

Pro Landscaper / September 2016

let’s Hear it from...

See how three companies implemented their projects

Concept to Delivery

MATT O’CONNER

THREE PEAKS EXTREME TEAM SPECIAL

IN DEPTH FUTURESCAPE SHOW GUIDE INSIDE

18/09/2013 15:38

Concept to Delivery

LIFE/STYLE

Concept to Delivery

THE DARK ART OF

APL A PL AWARDS 2015

POWER P OWER TOOLS

BEST B EST PRACTICE

Cover final.indd 19

Cover.indd 11

O

Portfolios

Bi opportunities to install for landscape contractors

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

A sustainable landscape scheme by Grant Associates

An exuberant 1950s inspired show garden

21/01/2016 09:28

Cover final 3.indd 1

CHARACTER BUILDING

18/02/2016 16:31

THE BEST NEW PRODUCTS PRODUCT S

WORK, REST & PLAY

PL.indd 6

17/03/2016 14:49

COVER ideas MAY.indd 12

NOEL KINGSBURY

CAN CONIFERS MAKE A COMEBACK?

GOING EAST

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

What’s cooking?

RHS MALVERN

Feel the heat

FABULOUS FIRE PITS

SIX HOT OUTDOOR OVENS

NET WORTH

HOW TO BUILD A GREAT WEBSITE

SGD’S PAPER LANDSCAPES

HOW THE WEST WAS WON

With this issue

LONDON SUPPLEMENT

Front Garden special

FRONT ROW

2011 - 2016

RHS FLOWER SHOW CARDIFF 2016

APPLETONS

ATELIER DYJG

THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY FRIENDS FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT

Steve Swatton from Swatton Landscape

4

Inspirational SOUTHERN GARDENS

The Landscape Institute

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

EXCLUSIVE

GETTING G ETTING TO GRIPS WITH WITH ORNAMENTAL GRASSES GRASSES

David Dodd on whether sponsoring an RHS show garden is worth the investment

July 2014

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

AWARDS PROJECTS

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

PHIL MULLIGAN

Cover June.indd 1

CHRIS DEAKIN & JASON LOCK

NOEL N OEL KINGSBURY K INGSBURY

BLADES B LADES OF GLORY OF

Should You Sponsor?

steP Nge

O

reen roofs

Landscape and arden desi ner o Thompson

Green Roofs A look at the future of green roofing

Portfolios See how three companies design and implement their projects

Cover.indd 2

SLOPING GARDEN DESIGN

LISS/CSCS

TIME IS RUNNING OUT

OUTDOOR CREATIONS

MID CENTURY MODERN

Cover October final.indd 1

CUBE 1994 GARDEN DESIGN

22/01/2015 12:45

Let’s Hear it From COVER STORY

16/08/2013 09:43

Concept to Delivery

THREE APL

NEW PRODUCT UPDATE

17/04/2014 13:44

Concept to Delivery

GINKGO G INKGO GARDENS

44

une

C A D CA

let’s Hear it from...

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

BARE ROOT TREES WHY YOU SHOULD BUY

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

THE RISE OF THE HUMBLE MINI

PUTTING IN PLACE A

SOIL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

WORLDSKILLS

SGD S GD AWARDS

21/12/2012 10:06

November 2013

JAMES ALEXANDERSINCLAIR

EXCAVATORS

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

Outdoor Options

DESIGNERS D ESIGNERS & CONTRACTORS C ONTRACTORS

Let’s Hear it From...

Mike Cafferky, Operations Director of P Casey (Land Reclamation) Ltd

FutureScape Review Photos and feedback from the event of 2012

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

Cover SeptemberFINAL.indd 7

AT THE RHS

BRIAN HERBERT

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

February 2013

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

Director General of the RHS

of Indoor Garden Design

18/07/2013 16:28

Concept to Delivery

Concept C oncept to Delivery

Changes in town centres to reduce antisocial behaviour should be applied to our parks, says Phil Jones

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

Connecting all the levels at a steep sloping site in uildford

A

IN r

lans and sketches for so e of the inspirational gardens set to feature at this year’s event

Discover how three companies have desi ned and implemented their projects

SUE BIGGS

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO TRAIN

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

ADVICE

Cover May.indd 1

October 2013

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

INSTALLING WATER FEATURES

Cover AUGUST.indd 6

Portfolios See how three companies design and implement their projects

Cover.indd 1

Concept to Delivery

September 2013

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

IAN DRUMMOND

OUT & ABOUT

THE

February 2015

KEN WHITE

STREETSCAPE

Let’s Hear it From...

Richard Gardiner, Managing Director of Norris & Gardiner Ltd

Concept to Delivery

August 2013

OF PLANTING

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, D ESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN AND

View From The Top

ay 2012

C

t e

Portfolios

Concept to Delivery

Quality natural local materials were used to create a stunning tranquil space

Popular plants available at the UK’s finest nurseries

Concept to Delivery

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

DAN FLYNN of gardenlink

Transformation of a tired garden with wooden structures and herbaceous planting

PRESENTATION & PHOTOGRAPHY

19/03/2014 14:33

Concept to Delivery

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

tin

LEDs are iven a lowin report as more and more desi ners specify them

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

NEW WAVE

Plantsman’s Plot

Portfolios

See how three companies implemented their projects

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

DUE SOUTH

THE GARDENS THE PEOPLE THE PRODUCTS

Modernity juxtaposed with original Georgian style

January 2013

An impressive entrance to a grand manor house

LITTLE INTERVIEW IS BACK

HAMBROOKS

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

How to increase sales in your business

li

&A with Dan Riddleston, Director of yer Contracts

Mana in Bowles &

Concept to Delivery

FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW SUPPLEMENT

WIN A HAYTER HARRIER 56 PRO MOWER THE

PEAT-FREE DEBATE

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

SELL THE STORY

let’s Hear it from...

Business intelligence intelligence

Water Gems (Alba) Ltd

DAN D AN CURRAN OOFF

43

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

Classic rema e for la eside arden with focal swimmin pool and terrace

eNt

t

Published by

INSPIRED GARDEN DESIGN

July 2013

Cover.indd 4

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

JANINE PATTISON & DENISE WRIGHT

Cover April final.indd 1

CHARLOTTE ROWE

Pro Landscaper takes an in-depth look at the market for local authority grounds maintenance work

April 2012

D A

A D CA O O

st

Arti cial grass its uality and popularity are growing

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

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

let’s Hear it from...

Giles Burley, Chief Executive, G Burley & Sons

Concept to Delivery

STONE ON SHOW

Machinery Feature Three pages of the latest kit available

Concept to Delivery

Portfolio

WAY OUT WEST

sIttINg Pretty

ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

SLOPE MOWERS

NIGEL ABBEY DESIGN CONSULTANTS & THE GARDEN BUILDERS

A bright and safe sensory garden for nursery and reception children

Business intelligence intelligence

Esse Landscapes

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

SENSORY ADVENTURE Out & About at Chelsea Pictures from this year’s fantastic centenary show

Let’s Hear it From...

Matthew Wilson, Managing Director of Clifton Nurseries

Cover 3.indd 3

THE NEW MODERN

Market Report: COVER STORY Grounds Maintenance

Concept to Delivery

D , A D A

Let’s ear it from oel arrer, Director of arrer u ley Associates

ee how four co panies have designed and i ple ented their pro ects

A O O A D CA

YE

October 2012

DAVID STEVENS

Cover final choice.indd 4

35

arch 2012

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

aking the elegance of an indoor replace outside lights up the i agination

tunning facelift for terrace of lu ury west ondon apart ent

Portfolio

O

he award winning designer and television presenter’s stunning rooftop retreats and creations for the Chelsea lower how

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

How you can apply for this year’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation

Why the spirit of the Victorian parks movement is alive and well in Birmingham

D

ARUN LANDSCAPES

30 Under 30

Back to the Future

A

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An nglish garden’ is given a distinctly circular the e

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LANDSCAPING SOLUTIONS

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JAMES BASSON

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BRISTOL’S UNIQUE PARKS STRATEGY

PAUL DOWNER

NIGEL L PHILIPS

Oak View Landscapes

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47 Drawing Conclusions Designers use different production methods, but Andrew Wilson believes they should all be adaptable

48 Bargain Buster

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INSPIRE

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Luxury gardens on the Sandbanks peninsula by Janine Pattison Studios

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Stop Your Whinging Pete Jones laments those who complain about their association but don’t get involved themselves

52 Work Together A local community’s desires for their own green spaces should never be forgotten, says Lesley Malone

Drift Away A domestic garden in the Chiltern Hills by The Garden Company, using blocks and drifts for layers of interest

Buying cheap is tempting but can be too good to be true, says Angus Lindsay

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Island Life

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In Pursuit of Landscaping Excellence The monumental soft landscaping scheme at the Ethiad Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club

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White is Alright Aura Landscapes used Italian ceramic outdoor tiles to give a modern look and finish to a domestic property www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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CONTENTS

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Meadow Myths Andy McIndoe suggests how best to sow and maintain meadows

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Top Sellers The bestselling plants for Hortus Loci for the show garden season, straight from Jamie Butterworth

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Readyhedge Pro Landscaper pays a visit to Readyhedge following its expansion

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Change in the Wind Highlighting one of the seminars to be presented by Shenagh Hume and Jackie Herald at the Palmstead Soft Landscape Workshop

EDUCATE

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Hot Date Robert Webber gives the case for fixed outdoor heating

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Water Works The first in a new series on handling water in gardens from Sean Butler

100 United We Stand, Divided We Fall

41 NURTURE

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Inside Cityscapes

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Pro Landscaper explores the new social enterprise Cityscapes, its founders Adolfo Harrison and Darryl Moore and the projects it has already completed around London

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A roundup of news from the UK’s growing sector

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In The Shade

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Decorative Aggregates A collection of the best decorative aggregates available on the market

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Garden Buildings

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Summer houses, glass houses, pergolas and more options in garden buildings

Fabulous Ficus Ornamental figs shouldn’t be ignored, says Ian Drummond

Being Realistic Noel Kingsbury on being a Roundup advocate

103 What I’m Reading Darren Hawkes talks through his favourite landscaping literature

104 Kubota A look into the Kubota dealer service excellence programme

106 Latest Kit Excavators, blowers

108 Three Peaks Catching up with the riders for their final preparations for the Perennial challenge

110 Trading With Bradstone

114 Little Interview Quick-fire questions to the industry Pro Landscaper / September 2016

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Designer Plants Jade Goto describes the planting scheme for the RHS Best in Show-winning Austerity Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live

Anji Connell on the practical and stylish options available in sun sails

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Nurture News

All fronts must work together for recruitment initiatives to succeed, says Jody Lidgard

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INFORM

SPOTLIGHT ON

CONTRIBUTORS

Pete Jones

Noel Kingsbury

Robert Webber

Head of Fleet, The Landscape Group

Business development manager, The Land Design Partnership Ltd

Garden designer and writer

Founder, Scenic Lighting

This month, Angus Lindsay talks us through why bargains can be too good to be true and why it can be worth spending more money in the short term to spend less in the long run, on page 48. Currently the head of fleet at The Landscape Group, Angus has also worked as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen and as machinery manager for Glendale.

As a BALI NCF and BALI South Thames committee member, Pete Jones discusses how members of associations should consider what they can do for their organisation rather than complaining that they do not get enough in return for their membership fee, over on page 51. Pete creates award-winning landscape solutions as the business development manager at LDP Ltd.

With gylphosate still awaiting EU re-registration, Noel Kingsbury discusses why he is an advocate of Roundup and how the controversy surrounding it could be more political than environmental, on page 85.

Noel has been involved in the horticulture industry for over twenty years as a nurseryman, garden designer and writer.

Founder of Scenic Lighting Robert Webber uses his specialist knowledge of exterior lighting to delve into the topic of outdoor heating. It can help people make the most of their outside spaces and keep us outdoors for longer, but there are certain limitations and challenges that have to be faced. Find out more on page 96. Robert designs and installs garden lighting throughout the UK and internationally.

www.thelandscapegroup.co.uk

www.ldp.uk.com

www.noelkingsbury.com

www.sceniclighting.com

Angus Lindsay

Other contributors Phil Jones MD of ISS Facility Services Landscaping

Andrew Wilson Garden designer and lecturer

Jamie Butterworth Plant manager at Hortus Loci

Lesley Malone Freelance writer and photographer

Ian Drummond Creative director of Indoor Garden Design

Sean Butler Director of Cube 1994

David Dodd Landscaper and lecturer

Andy McIndoe Leading horticulturist

Jody Lidgard Owner of Bespoke Outdoor Spaces

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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AGENDA

TV GARDENING SHOWS – GOOD OR BAD FOR THE INDUSTRY?

With the latest series of Love Your Garden coming to a close, we are asking industry experts whether TV gardening shows are beneficial for the horticultural industry, or whether they promote unrealistic deadlines and budgets

Justin Paxman Managing director, Paxman Landscapes UK Ltd

TV gardening is often more potting shed, peonies and pruning than hard graft, material selection, function and purpose. Not since Ground Force has the hard slog of ground preparation, weather battles, variable soil and the combination of hard and soft landscaping materials gained much coverage – albeit they perpetuated the myth that this can be done in three days on a shoestring!

TV gardening shows may be great for plant inspiration featuring the wild, wonderful and obscure. What they don’t necessarily do is translate into practical, functional garden landscapes. And as ‘gardening’ is often portrayed as a hobby or weekend pastime, the concept of ‘landscaping’ is often muddied with the same image. The misconception remains that gardening = horticulture = landscaping.

Horticulture and landscaping are stand-alone professional vocations with separate skill sets, 8

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training proficiencies, machinery knowledge, planning, maintenance, ecology, design, health and safety and project management requirements. The distinction should be greatly reinforced – so who’s ready to pitch for the next Ground Force series?

Jack Dunckley Director, Jack Dunckley Design

TV gardening shows, without doubt, set trends.

They are a great platform for showcasing new designers, from which people can take inspiration, and highlight a wide range of new and exciting plants. We can tell what has been on Gardeners’ World the day after it airs as we get enquiries about it the next morning.

Gardening shows also highlight that anyone can get involved, whatever size garden, budget or experience. Anything that encourages people to get professional horticultural help or to just simply have a go themselves is a good thing. A lot of our clients want to understand their plants and are happy to invest time and money in their outdoor space.

Promoting biodiversity is essential. There has been a huge outcry for the agricultural industry to stop using neonicotinoids which are linked to bee deaths. Our world would literally collapse without pollinators and unless the gardening and wider media promote this, people just won’t understand the importance.

Ken White Managing director, Frosts Landscapes Construction Ltd What is the alternative – no gardening on TV? That simply cannot be good for the industry.

I grew up watching gardening programmes on TV, some even of my own free will, much the same as my children. We have a fantastic range of programmes from The Beechgrove Garden, Gardeners’ World and Love Your Garden (which we are proud to be have been involved with), through to programmes on Capability Brown and plant hunters. You can’t please all of the people all of the time however there are gardening programmes to suit most tastes and long may it continue.

Karl Harrison Projects director, Exterior Solutions LTD

I see only negatives from having TV landscaping shows in their current format. It’s not necessarily portrayed by the media as negative but with the costs being shown as unrealistic, no real construction detail and far too much emphasis on the horticultural side of garden construction I can see why the public don’t see the value.

Ask any estate agent: Should I spend £50k on extending my house or landscaping my garden? www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

Ask any property developer: Should they spend on interior décor or splash out on the garden? Or ask any client using an architect on a new build if they recommended a budget for the landscaping or encouraged to spend the money on the property. My experience shows none of them would give landscaping as the answer.

We need much more impact across the whole media spectrum about the importance of beautifully designed and professionally constructed gardens. Would you let a builder landscape your garden? Then why wouldn’t you let a landscaper build your house? If we can change these attitudes then I see the media following suit.

Barry Randall Head of operations, Leicestershire Garden Design Co

I’ve heard from a number of sources that there are several landscaping programmes being piloted at the moment. Is that a good or bad thing? I like it, a lot.

I remember when I first saw Ground Force on TV, when I was about 20 years old. Obviously at the time TV was a great window of opportunity to showcase products. At one point they even built a garden for Nelson Mandela, which blew my mind. Remember, at that time block paving had only just reached Leicestershire.

The thought of doing these transformations really opened my eyes to what was available www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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and started my obsession with landscape design.

We have a shortage of skills in our industry that is very apparent, so if the younger generation, school leavers and college students feast on this TV landscaping it surely opens up a whole new growth within our industry – that can only be a huge benefit to all of us as business owners.

Phil Tremayne APL national business manager

I have to be honest and say I am not an avid watcher of the gardening shows on TV. Some of this is down to time, but also as an industry member I find them a bit off-message. Ground Force in the Nineties sparked a nation’s interest in the garden and ignited a passion for makeovers and specimen plants, but it was misleading on timescales and prices. So while the wider industry benefited, in many ways it was detrimental to the landscaper. This has been addressed partially by Love Your Garden, but budgets could still be better explained and time taken is vague. The website however is a wealth of information and a great step forward.

On a different note, the continuing lack of landscape contractor acknowledgment during coverage of RHS shows is immensely frustrating.

In my opinion there is a clear opportunity for the viewer to understand the work that goes into these gardens and something the viewer would undoubtedly find of interest.

However in reality, anything on the TV that encourages people into their garden, or to think about their garden, cannot be a bad thing, can it?

Charlie Benton Owner, Benton Landscapes

They can be inspiring and amusing to watch, but being professionals in the landscape industry we can be very critical of the works we see on these programmes, shouting at the TV, ‘I wouldn’t do that’ or ‘what a waste of money’. One great thing about TV gardening shows, though, is that they get people out enjoying their gardens and making them their own. But I don’t think they show the real cost of what is involved in landscaping a garden; I never see a waste or machine hire cost.

People have phoned up after seeing a garden on ITV’s This Morning for £500 expecting to only pay that for a corner of their garden to be made over; you then have to explain that that is just the cost of the materials on site.

NEXT MONTH

WILL THE NATIONAL LIVING WAGE AFFECT BUSINESS? Have your say: editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Pro Landscaper / September 2016

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NEWS Diarmuid Gavin appointed by National Trust Award-winning garden designer Diarmuid Gavin has been appointed by the National Trust to create a vibrant and contemporary design for Gibside in Tyne and Wear, bringing innovation and a new focus to the historic landscape.

Mick Wilkes, general manager at Gibside, explained: “Diarmuid has been appointed after a formal tender process. His attention to detail and understanding of the historical context for the gardens and wider Gibside estate particularly impressed us. We look forward to working with him to create the next chapter in Gibside’s story. The design’s main focus will be the Walled Garden, with scope for further design interventions

throughout the pleasure grounds and wider estate.”

Gibside is one of England’s best surviving Georgian landscapes, having been pieced back together by the National Trust over the last 30 years. It has become one of the North East’s most visited sites, welcoming over 230,000 visitors a year.

Work on the design of the Walled Garden for Gibside began in July, and will involve further research by Diarmuid, return visits and regular meetings with the Gibside team. He will present his completed design by January 2017, with a view to starting work in early 2018. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Oobe joins Dr Nigel Dunnett in new project Landscape architect studio Oobe has announced a three year commission on behalf of Cranfield University in Bedfordshire which will see it pairing up with the horticulturist behind the London 2012 Olympic Park.

Twenty landscape architecture practices tendered for the role of delivering the landscape strategy.

Oobe, which is headquartered in Newcastle, has incorporated Dr Nigel Dunnett as part of its project team, who played a key role in the landscaping at the Olympic Park.

Oliver Smith, director of Oobe, commented: “Our innovative

Pro Landscaper to distribute from nurseries Pro Landscaper would like to announce new distribution partnerships with the following businesses: • Boningale • Coles Nurseries • EuroPlants • Green-Tech • Hortus Loci • Johnsons of Whixley • Knowl Park Nurseries • London Stone Showrooms • Palmstead • Provender • Wykeham.

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approach, complemented by the outstanding input from Dr Nigel Dunnett, proves that our collaboration with the very best in the industry is one that will serve us well as we seek to grow in the UK and further afield.

“We’re proud to be at the forefront of delivering ambitious, inclusive and eye-catching landscape proposals for the university which has conducted a lot of research into water management. For this reason, innovative use of SuDS is a given as the masterplan develops.” www.oobe.co.uk

Following a number of requests, Pro Landscaper will be providing purpose-designed display and distribution containers. Pro Landscaper will now reach an extra 300+ readers each month. This is part of our goal to bring together the industry, share the knowledge of our expert writers and promote the high quality of work taking place throughout the country.

If you would like to partner with Pro Landscaper, please contact Jamie Wilkinson on 01903 777 588 or jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/08/2016 14:54

INFORM

High satisfaction for Writtle postgraduates The latest industry students’ survey results have revealed that Writtle College has once again excelled in postgraduate satisfaction.

This year’s Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES), open to all postgraduate students across the country, shows that Writtle is leading the way in delivering first class teaching and student support.

Its key achievements include 94% of students saying that feedback on work was prompt, that there is sufficient contact time to support effective learning, and that confidence to be innovative or creative has been developed.

Importantly, Writtle achieved an overall positive review of 88%,

well ahead of the sector average which achieved 79%.

Speaking about the survey results, Dr Stephen Waite, principal and CEO of Writtle College, said: “As we continue our work towards offering our first Writtle University College degrees from 2017, it is very important to have such excellent feedback from our students about the quality of teaching at Writtle.”

The PTES, which is organised by the Higher Education Academy, is the only sector-wide survey that gives full insights from taught postgraduate students about their learning and teaching experience. www.writtle.ac.uk

Quadron idverde and Southwark Council to partner until 2030 Quadron idverde has been re-awarded Southwark Council’s borough-wide parks grounds maintenance service contract following a tendering exercise.

The contract encompasses the management of 97 sites, including 25 Green Flag accredited parks and green spaces, which is the second highest number held by a London borough and third highest by an English local authority.

The new seven year contract with a seven year extension option, which begins in October 2016, will see a number of innovations introduced, including the new post of community development and volunteer manager who will coordinate opportunities for structured volunteering sessions in Southwark’s parks.

Quadron idverde has also committed to employing five apprentices on the contract, who www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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will be recruited from the local area and study towards an NVQ Level 2 horticulture qualification.

Clive Ivil, Quadron idverde’s managing director, said: “We are delighted that our partnership with Southwark Council is set to continue following the re-award of this contract. We look forward to continuing our current high standards of maintenance while also providing greater partnership working opportunities with community groups.” www.quadronservices.co.uk

ISS wins Arun District Council contract

NEWS IN BRIEF TCL acquires Plantscape

ISS Facility Services Landscaping has been awarded Arun District Council’s ten year green space management contract by outlining a firm commitment to invest in key green spaces within Arun and create training opportunities for local people.

The contract, which will run from 1 January 2017 to 31 March 2027, will include upkeep of parks, cemeteries and outdoor recreation facilities along with repairs and maintenance to more than 70 play areas. It will also include the supply of plants for the many bedding displays throughout the district.

ISS, which has been working in partnership with Arun District Council for 23 years delivering grounds maintenance services, will make savings on the current contract value of around £370k per year.

As part of the new contract, ISS will offer three apprenticeships and a placement for a marketing graduate. Currently, 94% of its Arun workforce is from the local area.

ISS has also pledged to give 200 hours of free voluntary support to Arun’s community groups along with making a £2k grant funding pot available to them, and invest £875k in new equipment. www.isslandscaping.co.uk

Landscape and estate management provider TCL has acquired Plantscape, one of the country’s leading suppliers of floral displays. Managing director of Plantscape Mark Stone will remain with the business and continue to lead the process of developing further products and services. www.plantscapeuk.com

Marine licence granted for Garden Bridge

The marine licence for the Garden Bridge was granted by the Marine Management Organisation after an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consent decision was completed. This included public consultation on the proposed project and confirmed that potential impacts of the Garden Bridge project have been fully assessed. www.gardenbridge.london www.gov.uk

Prince of Wales announced as new royal patron of Kew

The Prince of Wales has become the Patron of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The announcement comes as the Royal Botanic Gardens celebrates the opening of the world’s longest herbaceous borders, the Great Broad Walk Borders. www.kew.org

Consultation begins to protect Sheffield from flooding

People are being invited to have their say on the next phase of an £83m investment programme to protect Sheffield from flooding, which could include the removal of trees from some of the city’s parks.

A number of options have been proposed by the council, including flood storage areas in open space such as parks and woodlands. www. e e .go .uk Pro Landscaper / September 2016 11

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INFORM

Royal Reesink completes acquisition of Lely Turfcare

HLF gives initial support for £4.8m grant to RHS Wisley

Royal Reesink has completed the acquisition of the turfcare activities of Lely Holding in the UK, Ireland and Denmark.

These activities mainly comprise of the distribution of Toro machines for the maintenance of golf courses and public green spaces and TYM compact tractors. These generated a revenue of some €60m (approx. £52m) in 2015, with around 125 employees, and this revenue has grown in the first half of 2016.

Gerrit van der Scheer, CEO of Netherlands-based Royal Reesink, commented: “This acquisition

The RHS has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), with the award of a First Round Pass for a grant of £4.8m towards its proposals to further enhance its flagship garden, RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey.

The project aims to further develop the historic garden as the home of horticulture, including restoring its Grade II listed laboratory to open it to the public for the first time, and the creation of a new Centre for Horticultural Science and Learning.

An initial £212k has been immediately awarded to help the gardening charity develop its plans and apply for the full grant. The RHS will now work towards submitting a round two application

adds the UK, Ireland and Denmark to our activities and strengthens our position in the market for machines for the maintenance of golf courses and of public green spaces. Going forward, the activities will continue under the name Reesink Turfcare.” www.royalreesink.com

Green Flag Award winners announced More than 1,600 parks and green spaces have achieved the Green Flag Award this year, as the scheme, managed by Keep Britain Tidy, celebrates its 20th anniversary.

In total, 1,686 parks, cemeteries, universities, shopping centres and community gardens have met the high standard needed to achieve the Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award, including, for the first time ever, an NHS hospital.

The Green Flag Awards are judged by more than 700 green space experts who assess

within two years, which if successful could lead to the award of the remaining £4.6m. The total project will cost £65m, and the RHS is working to raise £12.8m through fundraising initiatives.

Sue Biggs, RHS director general, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this initial support from the HLF. It is a strong endorsement of our plans to celebrate Wisley’s historical and horticultural significance, as well as making it a garden that is vibrant and relevant for the future.

Our ambitious programme of fundraising still continues apace but this is a significant and joyous step forward in seeing our plans come to fruition.” www.rhs.org.uk

ARE YOU GOING? sites against strict criteria from horticultural standards to cleanliness.

Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the award.” www.keepbritaintidy.org

SEPTEMBER 6-11 RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show www.rhs.org.uk

SEPTEMBER 21 Palmstead Soft Landscape Workshop www.palmstead.co.uk

13 Scotscape Living Wall Workshop www.scotscape.net

OCTOBER 19 Landscape Institute’s AGM www.landscapeinstitute.org

SPPS - World Class Ground Care • • • • •

Ultra low ground pressure 3m or 4m boom 80L or 120L tank Excellent manoeuvrability Clutch drive system

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INFORM

CHAMPIONING GREEN SPACES Chris Worman, parks and grounds manager for Rugby Borough Council, was recently awarded an MBE for his efforts to improve green spaces across the UK. Pro Landscaper met Chris in Rugby’s flagship Caldecott Park to discuss his achievement, his work as a Green Flag judge, and how to make the most of budget cuts Chris Worman MBE has been volunteering as a judge for The Green Flag Award since it was started in 1996. The scheme began with the intention of encouraging those managing green spaces across the country to adhere to a higher standard, as well as recognising those who were already achieving this.

The first round of judging took place a year after the Award was founded, with only seven parks receiving the prestigious badge. In 2015, this had increased to 1,400 parks, with the number of applicants increasing year on year, and the scheme is now being piloted in other countries including the United Arab Emirates, where Chris also acts as a judge.

Chris’s dedication to this particular cause is what led to him being nominated for, and achieving, an MBE as part of HM The Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list. Commenting on this achievement, Chris said: “I am absolutely thrilled, both from a personal perspective as it’s a great honour, but equally from Green Flag’s perspective as it’s a recognition of the importance of Green Flag and raising the quality of the nation’s parks.”

Chris, 48, started his career as an apprentice gardener for Leicester City Council at the age of sixteen, and throughout his ten years at the council he worked his way up to horticultural team leader before moving to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council as its parks and cemeteries officer.

In 2002, he took on a similar role for Rugby Borough Council as the assistant parks and cemeteries manager before being promoted five years later to his current role as parks and grounds manager.

Throughout his 32-year career, Chris has seen many changes within the industry, one of www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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these being budget cuts. The Heritage Lottery Fund stated in its 2014 State of UK Public Parks report that, since 2010, 86% of park managers had reported cuts to revenue budgets, a trend which they expected to continue for the next

IT’S ABOUT USING WHAT MONEY YOU DO HAVE WELL, AND KNOWING WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS FROM IT three years. However, Chris treats this as a challenge rather than a loss: “We have reduced the budget, but I don’t think the public will have noticed any of that so far. It’s about using what money you do have well and knowing what the community wants from it. For example, we do a lot of Britain in Bloom throughout the town; you get the odd comment about it being a waste of

money, but we get far more comments thanking us for doing it.”

Despite adapting to the budget cuts, Chris does suggest that there are multiple reasons to invest more funding in parks, including public health: “Parks cut obesity, and a 20-minute walk in a green space every day can halve the risk of diabetes and heart attacks, whereas being ill can cost the government a lot. If we can prevent people from getting ill in the first place, the costs aren’t there; by investing in green spaces, people will become fitter and healthier, therefore not putting extra strain on the NHS.” Chris is currently awaiting the results of RHS Britain in Bloom 2016, after Rugby won double-gold at the Heart of England in Bloom Awards last year, securing its place in the national final in the small city category.

The winners will be announced on Friday 14 October. We wish Rugby Borough Council the best of luck, as clearly any award would be well deserved.

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17/08/2016 14:43

ASSOCIATION

INFORM

NEWS

SGD bulletin Launching the SGD Autumn Conference Join us on Saturday 25 November 2016 for the SGD Autumn Conference – Out of the Shrubbery – at London’s Royal Geographical Society.

An exciting panel of speakers has been secured for the event including Arabella Lennox-Boyd MSGD, landscape designer Jennie Gay, plant expert Professor Nigel Dunnett,

broadcaster and plantsman Roger Phillips, and from Chile, landscape and architectural designer Juan Grimm.

Our experienced panel will demonstrate how shrubs are no longer the preserve of the supermarket car park but instead are being used in fresh and innovative ways in today’s garden and landscape schemes.

They will also be exploring the wide range of dramatic applications shrubs can lend themselves to and showing how the rare, exotic and old

tickets are available until Friday 14 October.

Visit the SGD website to find out more and to oo tickets online. www.sgd.org.uk

classics are being re-worked into planting plans.

This inspiring day will be chaired by Pamela Johnson MSGD. Tickets are on sale now. Discounted ‘early bird’

Landscape design by Juan Grimm

APL update

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experts at Myerscough College with a dedicated training facility.

The bootcamps provide an intensive opportunity to hone practical skills, whether this be levelling a site, paving, tim er or or plant identification For further guidance on entry requirements and funding please visit www.landscaper.org.uk or contact Penny Evans, APL Academy and careers manager on 07739 325408 or email penny.evans@hta.org.uk © TLG

Great year at RHS Shows This year our members have had a fantastic year representing the APL at RHS shows, taking home 11 golds, 10 silver-gilts and eight silver medals. This is an amazing achievement by all involved, and really shows the hard work and dedication that our members put into every garden that they build.

APL Apprenticeship Programme second intake fter such a successful first year, the APL Apprenticeship Programme is due to get underway with its second intake in October. Once again the APL, in partnership with Myerscough College and the Landscape Skills Academy, will challenge apprentices to put skills learnt into practice on the job when they return to their employer. The twoyear programme includes a total of se en fi e day long bootcamps delivered by industry and educational

TrustMark Escrow Do you want a guaranteed 100% payment for jobs you

complete scro o ers members the opportunity of a guaranteed 100% payment.

No more discounting to get the last part of your payment.

No more being forced to carry out expensive extra work, unspecified in the contract, just to recei e final payment Go to trustmarkescrow.org.uk Date for the Diary – APL Annual Review This year’s APL Annual Review takes place at FutureScape on Tuesday 15 November at 2.30pm. www.landscaper.org

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INFORM

Parks Alliance matters the Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award this year.

Love Parks The Parks Alliance was delighted to be involved in a number of the Love Parks events around the country recently. It is great news that 1,686 parks and green spaces have met the high standard needed to receive

Alexandra Park, Hastings © TLG

Get involved As mentioned last month, the Communities and Local Government select committee in the House of Commons has announced its inquiry into parks, with the Committee inviting submissions of written evidence on a range of issues by end of September.

It has also recently launched an online survey so please get involved and provide your views via its website, www.parliament.uk.

The Alliance will be gathering evidence and submitting it to the inquiry but it is crucial that

Canbury Gardens © Paul Todd

we all get involved and show the strength of our feeling.

State of Parks report The Alliance is also gearing up for the publication of the second State of UK Public Parks report from the HLF due this autumn.

The original report helped highlight the problems we all face and the new report will help us to continue to make the

case. Our expectation is that the report will bear out that the expected cuts in the previous report have been made, but the full impact of these is not yet wholly apparent. However, we are now at a tipping point and if no action is taken we could well revert to the no-go areas of the 1980s. www.theparksalliance.org Twitter: @ParksAllianceUK

BALI briefing RHS Young Landscape Contractor 2016 BALI was delighted to support the inaugural year of this long-awaited competition. The winner, whose garden ‘A Coastal Retreat’ won gold and the coveted Best Construction award, was York-based Ewan Sewell. Ewan is no stranger to success, having already won RHS gold medals at Malvern in 2013 and Chelsea in 2015. He was also part

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of Team UK in the 2013 WorldSkills competition. He set up his own company, Bespoke Homes & Gardens, on 1 January this year and can expect to become very busy as word of his achievements spreads.

Congratulations Ewan.

Super September It’s all go at BALI Landscape House as preparations for a month of industry events reaches its climax. The BALI-sponsored European Landscape Conference takes place at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, from 2-5

Ewan Sewell (left) wins Best Construction for ‘A Coastal Retreat’

September. The ELCA Trend Award 2016 will be presented to the winning BALI contractor at GaLaBau, which takes place in Nurnberg from 14-17 Septem er and ffiliate

member Palmstead Nurseries’ Soft Landscape Workshop takes place in Ashford, Kent, on Wednesday, 21 September.

For full details please visit www.bali.org.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/08/2016 11:08

INFORM

efig outline

In July we ran our fourth annual National Plants at Work Week campaign efig promotes this mainly on social media to spread the message about the positi e enefits of plants The message Everyone is well aware of the enefits of ha ing plants around, from their ability to refresh the air to our need to connect with nature. Add all the other attributes and there is no reason why every business doesn’t loo li e a refined jungle

What we did • e filled a lac ca ith plants and office e uipment to make a green, mobile office his as the focus of our press release that went out globally, was picked up by the media and potentially seen by 76 million plus people.

• We announced the winner of this year’s Favourite ffice lant, hipsalis, ia a press release, our website and social media.

• e filled our e site ith stories and images of the black cab, the Favourite ffice lant and a ard winning case studies.

• We produced four webinars a out the enefits of plants and put them on YouTube.

What members did Many members were very active during the week using more than social media.

Plant Designs, Urban Planters, Green Team Interiors and Ambius Oxford gave away thousands of plants. Some to clients and some to the general public. Many of the pleased recipients tweeted pictures of their new desk ‘chums’.

Urban Planters had special NPWW T-shirts produced for

its technicians and gave away plant-themed colouring pads and pencils, Bags of Life – a canvas bag containing a plant and ildflo er seeds reen Team Interiors created some whacky photos – a Guzmania powered bike and banishing one of their office team to a plant filled smallest room’ to work.

Plant Designs encouraged its team and those who were given plants to post a ‘greenie’ on social media.

The results We spread the message far and wide. We had more visitors to efig’s e site and social media was also buzzing. www.efig.co.uk

RHS report

Wisley Flower Show 2016 © Luke MacGregor

Wisley Flower Show This month garden enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the Wisley Flower Show, 6-11 September, at the spacious grounds of one of the nation’s favourite gardens. Returning with a

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Association News.indd 17

record 75 nurseries and garden trade stands, including 17 nurseries attending for the first time, this year the sho is not to be missed. Visitors will also be able to enter the ‘My Best Garden Dahlia’ competition, by bringing along a single stem by 11am on Saturday or Sunday (judging at noon; prizes awarded at 3pm). www.rhs.org.uk/wisley RHS Survey Plants for Pollinators Survey The Royal Horticultural Society and the University of Bristol are asking gardeners to take part in a new study to identify the most

Sandall Buddleja davidii ‘Purple Prince’

commonly planted pollinatorfriendly plants and assess how good UK gardens are for pollinators. The survey, open from July until September 2016, will give the UK’s 27 million gardeners the chance to help fill a significant gap in the knowledge that exists about the distribution of garden plants which provide nectar and pollen for pollinators. www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ RHSp4pSurvey

RHS Garden Rosemoor Art Exhibition From 2-18 September, RHS Garden Rosemoor will host an art exhibition of naturalistic pictures, prints and cards. Displaying works from around 75 of the South West’s most talented artists, visitors will have the chance to purchase the artworks as well as meet the artists. www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

Armeria maritima ‘In the Red’

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 17

18/08/2016 11:09

INFORM

MERRICK DENTONTHOMPSON

takes over as Landscape Institute President Pro Landscaper recently visited the Landscape Institute HQ for the first public interview with new Landscape Institute President Merrick Denton-Thompson.

We discuss his plans, his views and his passion for redeveloping green belt land

Is this your first involvement in the running of the Landscape Institute?

I used to be a student member on the council in the seventies. I was on the editorial board with Susan Jellicoe and I was on the editorial panel for the Landscape journal. I then became incredibly involved with my work and I’ve only just recently come back in to help. Initially I was on the policy committee but I was sucked into advisory council and ended up standing for President.

When did you officially take over as President?

1 July of this year.

Was the first thing to find a replacement for previous CEO Phil Mulligan?

He’d handed his notice in two or three months

18

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ago because he wanted to help us to fill a cavity.

It takes time to employ a chief executive. We’ve been lucky though as we have a very good head hunting agent who’s done us proud.

So if we were interviewing you in two years’ time at the end of your reign, what are the main things you would like to have achieved?

There are a number of things. We’re in a time of financial pressure and there’s a degree of uncertainty over Brexit. In times of austerity, I think we need to reposition our profession so that its relevance to tomorrow’s agenda is crystal clear. I see this as being an important time to reposition what we do in a way that is seen by society as a must-have, because essentially it is. Our wealth, our health and our wellbeing depend upon it. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

16/08/2016 16:09

INFORM

How do you know what your members want you to fight and champion?

The process we have is to set a vision and then test it. The last chief executive left us with a draft vision, I said to leave it as a draft and that will be torn apart by our advisory council. We have a board of trustees, we then have an advisory council who do all our market testing. They are the direct link with the membership because they are made up of all our branch representatives and each representative has direct contact with our members. There’s a golden thread between a member and the board. This vision has been looked at by the board, but I’ve insisted they don’t approve it.

I’ve said it will now be debated by an advisory council, they will do their own networking that will then be tested and crafted. Out of that will come a business plan.

Do you think you can get building developers, construction companies and local government to buy into that principle?

I definitely think that we can. Today’s agenda is all about resilience to climate change. There’s not a single bullet that will solve the problem.

I think the landscape profession can deliver more than any other profession for restructuring the lives of young people, right the way through to the elderly suffering from dementia.

How’s that?

You think of the challenge to produce a landscape where 80% of the national curriculum is not delivered through whiteboards or blackboards or books, but actually learnt through experience.

We need to connect children with natural systems. Children are dislocated more and more from the natural world. It’s horrifying that over 40% of children’s only experience outside is the school playground. The school yard is one of the most impoverished and sterile places anywhere in the public or private sector. We could transform that without too much change or too much investment.

Is your natural reaction that the members are interacting with the institute?

The profession is very busy. For some working in the public sector, they’ve been under www.prolandscapermagazine.com

P18LandscapeInstitute.indd 19

pressure due to austerity and there are those who will get involved and some that won’t for a number of possible reasons. If you’re asking if I would like to see more interaction, the answer is definitely yes. The way the profession has developed, you now have specialisms as you can’t do everything. We need to make sure as an organisation that we’re representing all areas because they’re all doing different tasks. I’m desperately keen to have more input.

Do you think they would want to?

It was in their manifesto. With Brexit there are two big things. One is making sure that the environmental legislation remains intact. Of course we need to change and modernise it, but the spirit of it is sound. It was British people who actually wrote them to begin with. For the first time in 50 years we are now able to have a vision for our countryside. Our countryside defines our nation. It is driving so much of our tourist industry.

WE NEED TO HAVE A MODERN VISION FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SHOULD BE LINKED TO THE NEEDS OF HUMANITY

One of your key themes is modernising the green belt policy. What’s this about?

Green belt is a piece of legislation that predates the new imperative for sustainable development, it has run its course and needs to be reviewed. The government hasn’t helped – they’ve said on the one hand that they are committed to green belt, but on the other they are consulting the world about brown field site development and starter homes on the land. Those are mixed messages.

What’s not understood is that it was at the individual strategic planning authority’s discretion as to whether they adopted green belt. We have got to modernise it – I believe that’s a landscape challenge. We have got to have development on a big scale, but we’ve got to revalue the green belt as a definitive project rather than drawing a line around it and saying you don’t develop this.

What are your thoughts on being separated from the public sector?

We are seen as a luxury. If you look at local government, what’s happened is that we have had to downsize. Rather than constructing a new authority around what the needs are for the future, they’ve taken their existing staff and thought they’ve got to downsize them. It’s been driven completely by cost and not about restructuring to meet future obligations. I did a survey in 2011 and I can prove that 50% of the landscape profession public sector have gone, and my suspicion is that it’s far higher than that.

We are weakened because we are fragmented.

What we need is a corporate commitment at the chief executive level to have head of profession.

Do you think the Institute is strong enough in its representation outwardly to government?

I think it’s a challenge we’ve got to meet and I think we can meet it. I think that there are a lot of problems around the language we use and how we market ourselves.

You said there were three things that you’re keen to push?

The public sector issue is one of those. In terms of real things that need to be changed, let’s talk about Brexit. We mustn’t let the politicians think or argue that the Brexit vote was about dismantling the environmental legislation that has come through Europe. That is not what the people voted for.

So what about health and wellbeing?

Parks are in decline because it’s not a statutory function of local government. I’d like to change that. I’d like to make it a statutory obligation and I would want to link it directly to a business plan relating to the health and wellbeing agenda. We all worry about obesity but actually mental health is the elephant in the room, and that’s a serious issue. Building cohesive communities around using the common space – the space where we feel safe because it’s close to us but not owned by anyone – to develop social cohesion is a priceless asset. We need to have a modern vision for green infrastructure that should be linked to the needs of humanity.

CONTACT Landscape Institute 107 Gray’s Inn Road London WC1X 8TZ 020 7685 2640 www.landscapeinstitute.org Pro Landscaper / September 2016 19

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18/08/2016 10:25

INFORM

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Pro Landscaper / September 2016 21

18/08/2016 12:51

FUTURESCAPE 2016

Seminar programme Room 1

10am

Back for a third year, The Passion is in the Plants brings a new panel of plant experts to the stage who will be taking questions from curator Jim Wilkinson and the audience.

11am The Love is in the Lighting, sponsored by LandscapePlus, is a brand new event for 2016.

12pm

2pm

3pm

LUNCH

The Beauty in the Build is back this year for more lively discussion on the state of the construction side of the industry.

FutureScape favourite The Detail is in the Design aims to throw a positive light on the garden design industry and provide expert knowledge which the audience can use in their own businesses.

4pm

22

Reviewing your own business practice

Pro Landscaper / September 2016

Futurescape pages.indd 22

Room 2

Room 3

Solario Room

Living walls

The future of arboriculture

Scotscape aims to give you a glimpse into their training workshop on how best to design, construct and maintain living walls.

Our live debate focuses on the future of arboriculture, where our panel of four industry experts will discuss where the sector is headed and the challenges it may face.

Designing difficult sites

Trailblazer apprenticeship scheme

Tips and tricks for working difficult sites.

Informing businesses of all sizes considering or already running apprenticeships of the recent government ‘green light’ to apply the trailblazer scheme to the arboriculture and forestry sector.

LUNCH

LUNCH

Paving

Have you got the right insurance for what you do?

Using the right stone for the right job.

Value engineering

Single Rope Technique

Tricks and tips to help you save money on the job.

Covering everything to do with Single Rope Technique, from its beginnings to a step-by-step guide on executing the technique.

Presenting your design to the client We discover the most innovative and effective ways to convey your design to the client.

Design clinic

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AGM Open to SGD members only. Please refer to the SGD website for more information.

Annual members’ review

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REGISTER NOW... www.futurescapeevent.com www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/08/2016 14:05

Esher Hall

m

c

Gold Cup Room

Green infrastructure

Sports Bar Interior Landscaping

Marketing in the digital world

Adam White of Davies White Ltd hosts a panel discussion on all areas surrounding green infrastructure.

Planning Apprenticeships

How to overcome obstacles in planning.

The beneďŹ ts of employing an apprentice within your grounds maintenance business.

e

The purpose of the Go Landscape seminar at FutureScape is to showcase to new students from horticultural and garden design colleges just what landscaping can do for them, and hopefully prove we are in one of the most fantastic and creative industries in the world.

Interior plant benefits

Managing our green spaces

LUNCH

LUNCH

Following on from the initial seminar at Kew Gardens, we discuss how best to maintain and protect our parks and open spaces.

Flooding How can we help prevent ooding in the future?

Prestigious events

The future of interior landscaping

The future...

Noel Farrer hosts a panel of four industry experts on the future of landscape architecture.

TS

SPECIAL EVEN

30 Under 30 5.30pm

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Futurescape pages.indd 23

View From The Top Debate 6.30pm

Dinner (invite only) 8pm

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 23

18/08/2016 14:04

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Essentially for trimming hedges, topiary, bushes and trees, this ladder is perfect for use when working on lawns or uneven ground. The 3rd leg is telescopic and depending on the task, you can work face-on with the 3rd leg planted into a hedge, or sideways with one side of the base parallel to the hedge giving the perfect work position. These ladders are safe and don’t wobble because of their 3 legs. They are stable due to the wide base.

Manufactured from welded aluminium alloy extrusions, this ladder is lightweight yet strong and has a Safe Working Load of 100kg (220lb).

This ladder will perform all of the same tasks as the standard Tripod ladder, but all 3 legs are adjustable making it the most universal Tripod ladder in our range. The rear 3rd leg is telescopic and adjustable in 150mm stages. The two front legs can be independently adjusted in 50mm steps with spring loaded locking pins.

This allows the ladder to be used on steps and stairs, and at virtually any angle on quite steep slopes, yet providing a stable, safe work position. Inaccessible places such as beside ditches become accessible. Manufactured from welded aluminium alloy extrusions, this ladder is lightweight yet strong and has a Safe Working Load of 100kg (220lb).

work. It retains all the features of the standard Tripod ladder, making it stable on uneven ground, providing easy access to many work situations both inside and outside the home. All the features of this Platform Tripod ladder make it particularly useful to those who are cautious Manufactured from welded aluminium alloy extrusions, this ladder is lightweight yet strong and has a Safe Working Load of 100kg (220lb)

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18/08/2016 11:04

2 WEEKS TO GO!

INFORM

30 UNDER 30 Just two weeks left to submit your application and be part of this year’s Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30: The Next Generation

WHY? Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation initiative was launched in 2015 to help young people working within the horticulture and landscape sectors gain recognition and celebrate their career achievements to date. The inaugural event was a huge success and we are already receiving a high level of interest with applications to be part of this year’s group. Members of the final group in 2015 commented that it was a fantastic accolade and has helped already in furthering their career within the industry.

WHO CAN APPLY? Firstly, you have to be 30 or under on 1 January 2016, and working in any capacity within the horticulture, garden design and landscape sector. You may work for a design & build company, within a nursery, be a garden designer, landscape architect, arborist, landscaper, grounds maintenance operative or product supplier – any of these would be a prime candidate for the 30 Under 30: The Next Generation, the more job variety of applicants, the better!

HOW DO I APPLY? You can be nominated by a manager, or simply put yourself forward, application is simple, just send an email to nina.mason@eljays44.com and she will reply with an attachment, which you can print, complete and email back. We will accept hand written or typed replies. We will require a few personal details, plus a short paragraph describing your current role. If you have been nominated by a manager, in a few words they will need to explain their reasons why they think you are an ideal applicant, and if you apply yourself we would need a short personal statement telling us what you feel you have accomplished in your role.

WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF I HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AS ONE OF THIS YEAR’S 30 UNDER 30?

APPLY

TODAY!

The final 30 will appear in the November issue of Pro Landscaper (published at the end of October 2016) and a ceremony for the group will be held at FutureScape event on Tuesday 15 November.

DEADLINE 9th SEPTEMBER www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Pro Landscaper / September 2016 25

18/08/2016 16:42

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INFORM

Let’s Hear it From

SWATTON LANDSCAPE Steve Swatton runs a successful landscaping business in Sussex.

Pro Landscaper invited him to its offices to talk about his journey through the landscape industry, his decision to keep the business small and the recent success of winning the inaugural Best Construction Award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Steve, how and when did you get into landscaping?

It took a while for me to arrive at a long-term career. I originally wanted to be an architectural technician following a similar route to my dad who was a structural engineer. After discovering a love for outdoor work with a spell in tree surgery in 1987, I worked at a landscape company for a year. I subsequently set up a partnership with a friend for a few years in Brighton and when I moved to Chichester 16 years ago I set up Swatton Landscape.

I’ve never really planned a long-term career path as such, but have tended to follow my instincts to find the right challenges. In all honesty I think I fell into landscaping, or maybe it found me. It’s the perfect combination of art and engineering and I’ve been fortunate to have had some fantastic opportunities where I’ve been able to use my strengths and establish our business.

At that time were you finding your own work or working with other designers?

It was a bit of both at that stage. We worked

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Let's Hear it From.indd 27

with local designers in those first few years and it was my introduction to garden design.

In 1998 we built Sarah Raven’s ‘The Primitive Garden’ at RHS Chelsea for The Telegraph. It was my first time at Chelsea and it was then that I met Christopher

I’VE NEVER REALLY PLANNED A LONG-TERM CAREER PATH AS SUCH, BUT HAVE TENDED TO FOLLOW MY INSTINCTS TO FIND THE RIGHT CHALLENGES Bradley-Hole, who later asked us to construct his Chelsea 2000 The Living Sculpture Garden, and soon after a project in Sussex.

From that point I started to approach other designers, such as Dan Pearson, whose work I admired. This led to a number of years where we were constantly working away during the week on projects right across the country.

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 27

18/08/2016 11:16

INFORM

How do you feel about soft landscaping?

We’re probably best known for our stonework and hard landscaping and I would say that’s where we specialise. That said, ultimately we create gardens, so the balance between material and plants is essential if the space is to work. Having such a variation in our work also keeps things fresh and allows us to see through projects from beginning to end, which is very satisfying.

(Previous page) RHS Chelsea, Cleve West 1 The Old Rectory, Christopher Bradley-Hole 2 Cotswold Garden, Dan Pearson 3 Pallant House Gallery, Christopher Bradley-Hole 28

Pro Landscaper / September 2016

Let's Hear it From.indd 28

Do you do RHS Chelsea every year?

No, it really has to be the right garden for our team. Chelsea can be very rewarding and without doubt it’s put our name out there and opened doors, but it’s also hugely demanding, so we have to go there for the right reasons.

This was my tenth Chelsea this year and we’ve had three Best in Show and eight gold medals. Looking back I believe we’ve always constructed the right garden for us as a team, which has allowed us to showcase our strengths and creative skill set.

I’ve been fortunate to build for some fantastic designers on Main Avenue over the years, including Sarah Raven in 1998, four gardens for Christopher (Bradley-Hole) from 2000 to 2005, Professor Masao Fukuhara in 2001, Jinny Blom in 2013 and three gardens for

EVERY PROJECT BRINGS SOMETHING NEW AND IT’S A COMBINATION OF THINGS THAT WILL MAKE IT MEMORABLE Cleve West from 2012 to 2016.

Some have been incredibly challenging because of the build and logistics, but I believe that’s brought out the best in me. In those few weeks running up to the show I always ask myself why I’m doing it again, however once we start the build on that first Wednesday in May the team spirit and excitement kicks in, and to be honest that can be quite addictive!

And this year you were presented with the first Best Construction Award? How does that feel?

I suppose in some ways it feels like payback for all I’ve done at Chelsea. We live and breathe these gardens from beginning to end, and so for our team having that recognised at Chelsea where the standard is so high is fantastic. At times I feel I can become too attached and critical at work, which is difficult when you see the shortcuts taken in the building industry, so being recognised for what you believe in is reassuring. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/08/2016 11:17

INFORM

Did you expect to win?

I knew about the award before I started the garden but honestly I forgot about it. I had wondered whether the judges would appreciate the degree of work involved in the garden we were doing this year. There were some difficult details to achieve with some of the stone elements, however the subtlety was part of that, so we were delighted that was recognised.

Do you have any plans to go back to RHS Chelsea next year?

Possibly.

What happens to your day job when you take the whole team off-site?

I start planning and working on a Chelsea garden at least a year before so I have time to plan it into our schedule for that year. When taking on new projects I make it clear to potential clients that we’ll be shut down over that period. I become completely immersed at Chelsea so I know there’ll be no time for dealing with other projects.

How does your relationship with designers and clients work?

Ultimately we should be a team working to achieve a common goal and the most satisfying and creative projects are those where a good open working relationship is formed between all parties. I always prefer to meet a client from the outset when looking at a new project to get a sense of how we’ll work together. I enjoy long term relationships with designers as you can build up an understanding of their detailing and construction preferences.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS TO RETAIN THAT QUALITY AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AND TO DO THIS I LIKE TO BE ON SITE AT LEAST 90% OF THE TIME Working as a small team with you in control, do you generally work on one project at a time?

We try to keep it like that as it keeps things focused, although we have to be flexible when there is a crossover as one project finishes and another starts.

Where do you sit with your competitors in terms of pricing?

To be honest, I’m not sure. We obviously win projects so I’m assuming we’re competitive.

I set out to price for as many eventualities as possible to avoid extras and our build methods and specifications can differ from others. I don’t price using a basic out-the-book m2 rate approach, but instead cost job specific. I spend a lot of time communicating this in my prices, 4 RHS Chelsea, Cleve West 5 RHS Chelsea, Christopher Bradley-Hole

What size is your team?

I currently have a team of four, but I draw on a number of trusted colleagues and specialists when we need to. I’m always looking for skilled people with the same outlook and skill set, but they’re difficult to find. Bringing people through has been the most successful way for me.

Having said that, I’ve never had aspirations to be one of the bigger companies, it’s just not for me. The most important thing to me is to retain that quality and attention to detail, and to do this I like to be on site at least 90% of the time. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Pro Landscaper / September 2016 29

18/08/2016 11:17

INFORM

HAVING SUCH A VARIATION IN OUR WORK ALSO KEEPS THINGS FRESH AND ALLOWS US TO SEE THROUGH PROJECTS FROM BEGINNING TO END, WHICH IS VERY SATISFYING but I think we lose out to others where the client is only interested in that first bottom line figure.

It’s frustrating losing the time spent on costing, although it usually means it’s not the type of project for us anyway.

Is the plan to continue as you are?

We have some exciting opportunities coming up and we have to expand our team, but retaining our identity is so important. I’ve been fortunate to work abroad on a couple of occasions and really enjoyed it so it would be great to explore that where possible. Mainly though, it’s continuing to find quality projects and working with great people.

Are there any designers you haven’t worked with yet but want to?

Piet Oudolf, Luciano Giubbilei and James Basson spring to mind.

Is there any particular type of job that you prefer?

A beautiful location, exciting design and great clients are always a good starting point, and if there are stone elements that usually catches my attention. But to be honest every project brings something new and it’s a combination of things that will make it memorable.

Do you ever get involved with the industry associations?

I tend to steer clear as I’m not convinced what it would add to our business. Networking isn’t really my thing and I’m not sure where I’d find the time to make it worthwhile.

30

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What are your thoughts about giving something back to the industry?

I did some talks a few years ago for student designers and dealt with the contractor designer relationship and construction detailing. I do think any kind of experience and advice is invaluable when you’re just starting out so I’m always happy to do that.

Do most of your projects come via tender or through recommendation?

I guess about 50/50, although for most we are known by the designer.

Do you offer any ongoing maintenance on the gardens you build?

We don’t have a maintenance side to our business as we prefer to concentrate on the construction side, although we regularly re-visit projects for additions or alterations if required.

What do you do outside of work? How do you relax?

It’s mainly working around the house and in our own garden. My wife and I have pretty much renovated our place by ourselves over a number of years while juggling family life.

My main passion outside of work is music.

I’ve been playing bass since I was 15 and spent my teens and twenties playing in bands.

I still write, record and occasionally gig and I wish I could get more time to do it as it’s a great creative outlet. Other than that, two teenage daughters and walking ‘Jake’ up at Goodwood keeps us pretty busy.

1 Chichester Harbour, Swatton Landscape 2 RHS Chelsea, Christopher Bradley-Hole 3 RHS Chelsea, Christopher Bradley-Hole 4 RHS Chelsea, Jinny Blom

CONTACT Swatton Landscape Home Farm House, Upper Norton, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 9EA 01243 605255 mail@swattonlandscape.com www.swattonlandscape.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/08/2016 11:19

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BACK to the FUTURE INFORM

Pro Landscaper discovers that the spirit of the Victorian parks movement is alive and well in the city of Birmingham

B

irmingham has a long and profound history when it comes to its parks and green spaces. As the UK’s unofficial ‘second city’ – and a major player in the Industrial Revolution – it was historically one of the country’s forerunners in relation to the initial growth of urban parks in the 19th century.

Located in the West Midlands, Birmingham is the largest British city outside of London, with its metropolitan area spread out over around 300 square miles. Its inhabitants number over three million people meanwhile, representing a huge level of diversity, particularly in terms of its communities’ ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Needless to say, its green spaces – which total just shy of 600 – play just as vital a role in the physical and psychological wellbeing of the people that live there as they did in the Victorian era. And, just like 150 years ago, they’re inherently linked to both the commercial and the political life of the city.

Return of the MAC Darren Share is one of the most respected local authority plant experts in the UK. He received an MBE for services to Birmingham in 2015, and has worked for 30 years-plus in the city, having started as an apprentice.

He is also head of parks for Birmingham City Council, the local authority responsible for looking after the city’s 10,000 acres of open space. We asked Darren to go into detail about the variety of parks and green spaces now available to the people of Birmingham.

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“We’ve got a huge mixture of different types of green spaces in and around the city,” he said.

“These range from the traditional Victorian parks, right up to modern day small squares. The interesting thing about Birmingham is that there

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT BIRMINGHAM IS THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT THE GREEN SPACES CAN EXIST WITHIN are so many different potential environments that the green spaces can exist within. Eastside, for instance – which is one of our newest parks – is predominantly in the industrial student quarter, with the park running alongside the railway line.”

The biggest park in the city centre itself, and the location for many of its larger public events, is Cannon Hill. Designed by TJ Gibson in the mid to late 19th century, its 80 acres of formal parkland offer local residents the chance to participate in a range of activities, including tennis and boating, as well as a number of different walks. It’s also home to the Midlands Arts Centre, otherwise known as the MAC. The largest open space is Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, several miles outside the city. Its

2,400 acres of ancient wood and heathland offer a different kind of ‘destination’. It also exemplifies the sheer scale and variety of the task confronting Birmingham City Council’s parks department.

Different styles We asked Darren about the logistics of imposing a consistent maintenance strategy across such a large, diverse area. Speaking of the crewing structure, he said: “We employ 300 people, which swells to around 360 taking into account seasonal workers at different times of the year.

“In terms of grounds maintenance itself, we have four park managers looking after two districts each. We’ve also got a number of officers who are responsible for over 750,000 park trees, plus all of our woodland areas.

“Regarding training, it’s a mixture. We’ve got the ability to do some localised modular initiatives ourselves, but generally we buy it in.”

He continues: “We previously outsourced the whole thing to a single contractor, but to be honest it wasn’t successful. We were getting complaints about them, so when the contract for the major parks and city centre areas came up for renewal, we bid for the work ourselves.

“In terms of the style of landscaping, we just do what’s appropriate to any given site according to the standard that we’ve set ourselves. We still do traditional flower beds in our parks and www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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sponsorship areas, as well as hanging baskets throughout the city. We grow all our own plants, and are in the process of building a new nursery.

“For the larger, wilder areas, such as Sutton Park, we do a lot of proper conservation work.

We’ve been carrying out maintenance with annual meadows, for instance, which is something that the public loves. We try new things as well. This will be the first year that we’ve planted-up one of our roundabouts with perennials.”

Public health and wellbeing The oldest open space in Birmingham is the eight hectare Adderley Park, which opened in 1856, and is situated in the east of the city. The land was originally donated by MP Charles Adderley, who maintained it himself up until 1864, after which the trust he set up failed and the council took over.

According to Darren, Adderley’s donation of the land exemplifies not only the impetus behind the original parks movement itself, but also the way Birmingham’s parks have grown from the 1800s all the way up to the present day.

After all, they continue to be driven by the ongoing development of the city’s business environment, situated within a local, service sector-dominated economy that generates around £120bn a year. The council’s parks strategy, meanwhile, is also positively ‘Victorian’ in its outlook – fundamentally linked as it is to concerns around public health and wellbeing.

Speaking of the original rise of Birmingham’s park culture, Darren says: “When Adderley was around, everything was changing. There was pressure on the corporation to take on additional assets, as well as to try and clean up the city to improve the wellbeing of its inhabitants.

“This was in relation to both local feeling, but also the 1848 public health act which was one of the first pieces of legislation of its kind. The Victorians knew just how important quality open spaces are for the health of the population, and many of our first parks were donated by very wealthy industrialists.”

He continues: “You can see parallels with that today, because the newer green spaces, of

1 Cannon Hill Park tea garden, Birmingham 2 Gymnast Mimi Cesar with local artist Willard Wigan and Darren Share at this year’s RHS Chelsea 3 Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham 4 & 5 Eastside, Birmingham

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which we’ve seen quite a lot over recent years, always spring up around the developments that happen within the city.

“I’ve already mentioned Eastside Park right next to Millennium Point, which went up at the turn of this century. We’ve also got two new parks coming into existence around Longbridge, which is the massive building and development project in the south west of the city. We always want good quality open space.”

Post-Brexit legislation With that in mind, and ignoring questions about the legislative landscape post-Brexit, we ask if the council’s parks strategy is able to take advantage of other agendas as well.

“It is,” says Darren. “That’s one of the key things we’ve been able to do in recent years. Much of it is centred around public health, which clearly takes in pollution, as well as the heating-up of certain areas of the city because of the broader effects of global warming. Those two things are at their worst in parts where there are no green spaces, so we’ve been able to use that as justification to carry on a certain level of planting and maintenance. That then has a knock-on effect Darren Share

Sarah Royal

WHY INSTALL A HIGH-COST VENTILATION SYSTEM IN BUILDINGS IN THE CITY CENTRE WHEN YOU CAN EASE THE PROBLEM SIMPLY BY PLANTING SOME TREES?

which lays out the key principles of the use of open space, such as ‘productivity’, ‘usefulness’ and so on. The original strategy was good, but only people who were concerned with parks tended to be interested in it. This one ensures that everyone’s literally reading from the same page.”

of saving money in other areas as well. For instance, why install a high-cost ventilation system in buildings in the city centre when you can ease the problem simply by planting some trees?”

He continues: “Another area which we’ve been able to argue for the importance of parks is people’s fitness. There’s a scheme called Be Active, which was initially very successful in getting people to leisure centres. That plateaued – possibly because people got tired of going to the gym – so we introduced something called Active Parks. Open air Zumba, Tai Chi and so on are now available throughout the city, and we also offer free taster sessions in sports you probably wouldn’t usually do, like canoeing.

“We had a parks strategy that we redeveloped as something called our Green Living Spaces Plan,

16,000 hours Birmingham City Council’s park strategy is clearly focused on finding pragmatic ways to get the most out of its green spaces. The people of Birmingham have an extremely important role to play themselves, however – as demonstrated by the 130-odd community groups spread throughout the city. This involvement could involve litter-picking, the upkeep of the sites or even political lobbying.

The groups, which according to Darren contributed over 16,000 hours of work last year, are linked via the Birmingham Open Spaces Forum. We asked coordinator Sarah Royal why she thinks parks are so important, and why so many people want to be involved in their upkeep.

“Parks are essential to the city because they

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improve quality of life,” she says. “They help people become happier, increase life expectancy and provide community hubs for events, activities and social gatherings.”

“Likewise volunteers are important because of their local knowledge. Councils are unable to do as much as they would like to, particularly in the current economic climate, and people giving their time is really the only way a site can continue to be protected and enhanced.”

Every year since 2010, Birmingham City Council has brought a floral exhibit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, to raise the profile of the city and its horticulture. This year, the emphasis was very much on physical activity and Active Parks, with inspiration for the design coming from the work of Birmingham ‘needle’ artist Willard Wigan. Needless to say, it won a gold medal – the council’s fifth in five years. For us, there could be no more deserved, and fitting, tribute to the work of Darren and his team.

1 Kingsbury Water Park, Sutton Coldfield 2 Birmingham council display wins gold at Chelsea www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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MARKET REPORT:

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE FOR THE LOCAL AUTHORITY SECTOR As the summer months come to an end, so do many contracts for the grounds maintenance industry. But for those involved in local authority work, the work is likely to be ongoing. Pro Landscaper examines the market for local authority grounds maintenance work in reference to the issues surrounding staffing, the challenges of remaining competitive, and the sustainability of local authority work in the future

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1,282,000

APPROXIMATELY GROUNDS MAINTENANCE WORKERS IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE YEAR OF 2014

and more people are competing for ever tighter margins, and there comes a point where we’re happy being super competitive, but we’re not going to pay for the privilege of working with others.” Businesses have indicated that although profit is present in the sector, the increasingly competitive landscape often times provides too great of a challenge.

Current business Grounds maintenance is a varied sector, with work available in private, domestic and local authority domains respectively. John O’ Connor reports that approximately 55% of its contract portfolio is situated in local authority work, whereas Glendale reports higher figures of 75%.

The Landscape Group reports profits from local authority work in the region of £3m. Over the past two years, the landscape design company Idverde has acquisitioned both The Landscape Group (TLG) and Quadron, meaning its combined contract work involves over 60 local authorities. Sarah Hughes-Clarke, business development director at TLG, said: “Some of the contracts are extremely large, around £5m per annum, and some are smaller, and worth £100,000 per annum. But the smaller ones are becoming increasingly important now as a lot of unitary districts and boroughs are devolving work to parish councils.”

Though potential profits from select local authorities is high, the availability of grounds maintenance work is a controversial topic. John O’Conner reports that: “Our average contract, with extension, is five years.

Taking into account extensions, additional works and requests from our local authority clients, business has remained the same.” However, Ground Control debates this claim, stating that the saturation of the workforce has increased the difficulty of securing tenders, leading to the availability of work declining. Ground Control’s managing director Dr Marcus Watson said: “I think the reason our work has lessened is due to the ever competitive landscape, which means we’ve lost a few contracts in competition. More

Staffing Research suggest that there were approximately 1,282,000 grounds maintenance workers in employment in the year of 2014. Although this accounts for both the skilled and unskilled workers, it shows that the industry is popular. There is a consistent push to recruit the top of the crop for grounds maintenance work, namely due to the independent nature of the work, alongside the heavy reliance on quality of delivery.

Dr Marcus Watson explains that people are central to the business: “People are our most important asset at Ground Control, we are a service industry, a service business. We’re always striving to attract, retain and develop the best people in the industry.”

The appreciation of skilled staff was echoed by TLG, but it detailed the difficulty which lies in finding suitably skilled individuals. Sarah Hughes-Clarke clarified: “Getting good skilled staff in certain parts of the UK is difficult, particularly where living costs are high. It’s not just the front line staff, getting managers into the sector is always difficult. What we’ve tended to do is try and attract great people from other sectors and grow our own talent in graduate trainee, management development and accelerated leadership programmes.

SUCCESSFUL GROUNDS MAINTENANCE NEEDS TO:

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ATTRACT, RETAIN & DEVELOP GOOD STAFF

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SIMPLIFY THE TENDER PROCESS

IMPLEMENT UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGY

REMAIN COMPETITIVE

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THERE ARE FEWER YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING THE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE AND HORTICULTURE PROFESSION, IN PARTICULAR DUE TO A GENERAL PERCEPTION OF IT BEING A LOW SKILLED JOB

So we’ve got a lot to offer people now, there’s a really good career path in Idverde, so we’re hoping that’ll become even more attractive, perhaps to people who might be leaving the local authority sector for example.”

In order to tackle the staffing issue, Glendale feels that businesses should begin targeting younger individuals. Joanna Hill, sales and marketing assistant at Glendale, explains: “There are fewer young people entering the grounds maintenance and horticulture profession, in particular due to a general perception of it being a low skilled job. Glendale has historically had a very good recruitment and retention record and we recently became members of The 5% Club, committing to having five per cent of our total workforce as apprentices, sponsored students or graduates within the next five years. Becoming members of this programme gives us the opportunity to target this area directly, continuing our campaign to change perceptions of the industry amongst young people and provide them with career opportunities.”

MD of ISS Facilities Services Landscaping Phil Jones says: “The effect of the National Living Wage on ISS Facility Services Landscaping will be quite minimal. It is ISS’s strategy to focus on the development of its people and to put in place the mechanisms to ensure we are achieving the highest levels of employee engagement. Our priority is to employ the right people at the right wage and to offer them the right development prospects.”

If attempting to retain skilled staff wasn’t challenge enough in itself, businesses have also had to accommodate an increase in staff wages across the board. Overall, feedback has been wholly positive regarding the

increase. Businesses that were approached by Pro Landscaper have expressed support for the movement in an effort to look after their staff.

Businesses hope that by providing greater financial incentive, they’ll indirectly influence staff’s productivity and overall profitability.

However, the increase in the National Minimum Wage has the potential to affect the availability of local authority work. Glendale explains: “Labour is our single largest cost and, consequently, a big cost to local authorities who are already under pressure to reduce their budgets. The National Living Wage arrives at the end of a period that has already seen an average 20-25% reduction in budgets for our local authority clients. Service providers have already offered efficiency savings to assist our clients with this, and therefore the government’s plan for employers to fund the National Living Wage through increased productivity could prove to be quite challenging.”

Glendale explains that though a portion of the impact can be mitigated through the employment of apprentices and younger staff in the short term, they will likely have to increase prices if they are to retain experienced members of staff in the long term. This action directly contradicts the witnessed tightening of local authority budgets, meaning that if the minimum wage continues to increase, it could see larger businesses favouring the employment of younger, and therefore cheaper, labour.

Costs As is the case in all profitable industries, costs are consistently at the forefront of the grounds maintenance industry, and there is certainly plenty

SOME OF THE CONTRACTS ARE EXTREMELY LARGE, AROUND

£5,000,000 £100,000

PER ANNUM, AND SOME ARE

SMALLER, AND WORTH

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IT’S ABOUT ACHIEVING BALANCE, A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF DETAIL IN ORDER TO GIVE CONTRACTORS AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITY THE CONFIDENCE TO PRICE AND ACCEPT RISK

to be accounted for. TLG explains that the key to a successful business is the control of costs in all sectors, so it follows that the tight budgets of the local authority sector should provide no more of a challenge than any other sector.

Sarah Hughes-Clarke says: “Clearly the budgets are tight, but we have to control costs every day anyway. It comes down to quality management, and making sure that you’re deploying staff and machinery efficiently. I wouldn’t say the local authority sector is any harder in that respect.”

“It would be very beneficial for the industry if local authority park and green space management was afforded a similar level of support as farming and agriculture,” says Glendale. “This could be done if subsidies were made available for the use of red diesel, and more local authorities adopted an initiative to share cost and risk.”

However, even with additional support, grounds maintenance work will continue to be subject to the substantial cost of tendering. Typically, tendering processes associated with the local authority are highly competitive as the contracts supply greatly sought after security. Glendale, John O’Conner and Idverde recognise that their dedicated, in-house tendering teams efficiently secure impressive tenders by focusing on select tenders, which improves their overall success rate.

Despite the continued appeal of local authority contracts, both Glendale and Ground Control feel that the costs of tendering can be reduced through a reconsideration of the processes involved with securing a tender.

Glendale says: “An effective way of reducing the costs of tendering would be to standardise Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs) for tender

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submissions.” Ground Control takes this one step further, believing that the entire process of tendering for local authorities could be made substantially quicker and cost efficient. Marcus Watson clarifies: “At the end of the day, in our industry we’re grass cutters. It’s not a particularly difficult service to visualise, and I think that to some extent that could be balanced despite local authorities’ necessity of having to have complicated procurement processes. Simplifying the process of tendering would reduce the costs. For example, the tender process itself, by having tender timescales shortened, you’re actually forced not to spend any more money than is required. It’s about achieving balance, a sufficient amount of detail in order to give contractors and the local authority the confidence to price and accept risk.”

Evidently, changes to the tender process are palpable, yet the ever tightening budgets of the local authority mean the likelihood of this reassessment is uncertain.

Communication As with any industry, changes are inevitable. Grounds maintenance work for the local authorities is certain to change in the future, and businesses hope it will be in a manner that best benefits them. TLG says: “In local authorities we’d like to see a greater openness to work with the private sector, we’re all in this together, and we encourage authorities who don’t engage with the private sector just to re-evaluate it and look into considering it.”

LABOUR IS OUR SINGLE LARGEST COST AND, CONSEQUENTLY, A BIG COST TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHO ARE ALREADY UNDER PRESSURE TO REDUCE THEIR BUDGETS. THE NATIONAL LIVING WAGE ARRIVES AT THE END OF A PERIOD THAT HAS ALREADY SEEN AN AVERAGE

20-25% REDUCTION IN BUDGETS FOR OUR LOCAL AUTHORITY CLIENTS

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UNLESS A TANGIBLE LINK BETWEEN GREEN SPACE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IS REINFORCED, THERE WILL BE LITTLE APPETITE FOR INCREASED EXPENDITURE AND TAXPAYER INVESTMENT INTO PARKS AND GREEN SPACES.

Ground Control feels that in addition to dealing with external contractors positively, communication between the local authority and those who win the contract is also in need of readjustment. Marcus Watson says: “I think some local authorities are excellent at wanting partners, and not wanting to deliver specialist or ancillary activities themselves. However, sometimes I think our role as experts can be undermined. I’d like local authorities to use specialist providers without being too restrictive in their requirements.”

Communication is not the only issue local authorities face, as tightening budgets and conflicting priorities in the overall sector may prevent further funding for grounds maintenance. Glendale fears that the lack of public support for the industry will result in a move down the priority list. Joanna Hill says: “Unless a tangible link between green space and public health and welfare is reinforced, there will be little appetite for increased expenditure and taxpayer investment into parks and green spaces.”

According to many businesses, if the sector is to grow in popularity and funding then the status of the industry is essential.

“I think you guys [Pro Landscaper] have a peripheral role in making sure communication across the industry is good. I think you have that responsibility, through your readership and events, to make sure that people know about the hot topics,” says Ground Control’s Marcus Watson.

Development Alongside improved public relations, in order for the sector to remain fresh and interesting, continual growth and development is essential. With new

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products and technologies consistently on the rise, Glendale recognises the importance of technological advancement, reporting: “A positive long-term change will be the inevitable increase in the use of technology, including the use of automation, augmented reality and wearable technology. These innovations present huge potential benefits in terms of employee safety and welfare, efficiency gains and accuracy of service information. We feel adopting these technologies would free up staffing resources from undertaking repetitive tasks in order to focus on valueadded, customer-focused activities that are more rewarding for our employees and benefit the green spaces that they look after.”

John O’Conner also acknowledges the importance of technological development, and has explored the ways in which it could be best utilised.

“Technology will be another game changer. Potential technology developments may include the use of un-manned remote controlled equipment and telematics to monitor the growth rate of grass and plant health. Can we imagine a grounds maintenance future where a drone flies out from the depot to survey and photograph the area? It then sends a remote message to a driverless vehicle which is loaded up with the right equipment and robots to cut the grass? Certainly something to think about.”

However, it is not just technology that the industry needs to develop.

John O’ Conner believes there are several improvements to be made in the grounds maintenance industry overall, with many suggestions geared towards altering the workforce balance. It says: “A greater representation of under-represented groups is required, including women and disabled people

▲ CAN WE IMAGINE A GROUNDS MAINTENANCE FUTURE WHERE A DRONE FLIES OUT FROM THE DEPOT TO SURVEY AND PHOTOGRAPH THE AREA?

IT THEN SENDS A REMOTE MESSAGE TO A DRIVERLESS VEHICLE WHICH IS LOADED UP WITH THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND ROBOTS TO CUT THE GRASS?

CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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BUSINESSES BOTH SMALL AND LARGE ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO RESEARCH EXPLICITLY THE CONTRACTS THEY ARE APPLYING TO TENDER FOR, AS THIS COULD HELP BALANCE OUT THE COMPETITION

in the workforce and a collaborative effort by the industry to understand what barriers exist at the operational, professional and managerial levels.

Retention, innovation and motivation benefits could be achieved through a more diverse workforce,” says John O’Conner’s business development manager Jillian Lillicoe. Overall, it has been indicated that the industry has come a long way in terms of efficiency and appeal, but businesses have identified that there is significant room for improvement in terms of the industry’s modernity.

Becoming more competitive: Phil Jones believes this is down to staffing. “It is about having the right governance and processes in place around sales, to make sure we are pricing contracts in a sustainable way using ‘good’ and verifiable data around operational tasks. It is also about forging open and transparent relationships with clients, to work in an open way to ensure that value is being added in a way that is both sustainable and meets the clients’ needs. In fact, it is less about competition, and more about adding value.”

As the market for local authority work increasingly saturates, it is more important than ever that companies continue to better both themselves, and the services they offer. For Ground Control, TLG and Glendale, in addition to building upon their current reputation, they have also begun applying for tenders in an increasingly selective manner. Glendale explains: “We’d like to see changes to the way tenders are evaluated and awarded.

Local authorities need to be constantly reviewing their service and ensuring

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that contracts are evaluated and awarded in order to best suit the budget and the overall service level expected by the public. All too often we see contracts awarded based on promises of substantial savings and increased quality standards only for that arrangement to fail. This has a lasting negative impact on the sector and those involved.”

Businesses reported that local authorities need to improve their knowledge of the sector. Once local authorities fully understand the services offered and the sites that need to be maintained in a clear, defined, quantifiable way, they will be better able to choose a suitable contractor. This would allow improvements to be built into any new contracting arrangement, whilst also enhancing pre- and post-award dialogue. This would consequently allow for both parties to agree the interpretation of the contract specification, meaning that they could both identify any clear discrepancies, with an open approach to resolving them.

Businesses both small and large are also encouraged to research explicitly the contracts they are applying to tender for, as this could help balance out the competition. Ground Control says: “We’re certainly going to be discerning when it comes to which clients we tender for. If clients are only interested in lowest price, the likelihood is we won’t be interested because it drives a certain kind of behaviour and outlook which isn’t particularly positive.”

TLG believes that in order to be competitive, it must be sure to continue employing the best people. Sarah Hughes-Clarke says: “If you have the best people, the best managers, and you invest in training and apprenticeship schemes for the people who deliver the service, it makes

SKILLS AND INTELLECT CUSTOMER FOCUS NEW IDEAS www.prolandscapermagazine.com www.

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OUR STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD IS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RELIABLE, VALUEFOR-MONEY SERVICES FOR OUR CLIENTS THAT ADHERE TO INDUSTRY-RECOGNISED STANDARDS FOR QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

you more competitive. Really it’s all about skills and intellect, so we want Idverde to be the company that the best people in the sector want to work for, so we have the brightest people. It’s about being customer focused, and coming up with new ideas.”

This contrasts to the priorities of John O’ Connor, who believes that to be the most competitive, it must be the most geographically dispersed.

Jillian Lillicoe explains: “Our plan for remaining competitive is to diversify our client base, find value-adding work which is non-seasonal, and ensure we have a large enough geographical footprint in the areas in which we operate so that we achieve economies of scale and productivity gains and to continue to grow organically, consolidating our reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality grounds maintenance services. We also utilise technology such as vehicle tracking, work-based apps and our in-house green space management software to manage productivity.”

However, Glendale insists that the most effective way of growing in competitiveness is by continuing to strive to deliver quality work. “We are already very competitive in the local authority sector with a good success rate and a good level of trust among our clients. Our strategy moving forward is to continue to provide reliable, value-for-money services for our clients that adhere to industry-recognised standards for quality and environmental management. We will continue to make efficiency gains through innovation and seek collaborative relationships with our clients that provide the flexibility to re-engineer services in order to achieve savings that can be shared with our clients.”

Who’s responsible for driving the industry forward?

“We are responsible, those of us who work in the sector, those of us who use the parks and care about them, we are all responsible for driving the industry forward,” reports TLG. Ground Control’s Dr Marcus Watson highlights the importance of bettering cooperation, and businesses knowledge, as it can carry a greater consequence than might be appreciated. He says, “It’s kind of a sideshow, but on the 23 June 2016 there was a meeting to decide whether glycoside was still going to be lawful to use in Europe. Without positive approval, glycoside was going to be banned. Fortunately, we have an 18-month extension, but we nearly lost one of our most effective low-toxicity herbicides because we were sleepwalking on not agreeing about this.”

Overall, the report found that although the profit available for local authority work was unlikely to expand in the short term, it is perceived to be businesses’ responsibility to raise awareness of the importance of the work they do. Focus should be placed on maintaining quality, improving public awareness, and reconsidering the processes of the industry.

Going forward, TLG’s Sarah Hughes-Clarke believes that the prime focus of local authority work should be sustaining the current profit available from the sector. She clarifies, “It’s not about increasing profit, it’s about sustaining profit, trying to keep the profit where it is, and growing the volume of work. Although the individual value of contracts might have gone down, there are lots of innovative ways to save taxpayers’ money and there are some new councils outsourcing for the first time.”

IT’S NOT ABOUT INCREASING PROFIT, IT’S ABOUT SUSTAINING PROFIT, TRYING TO KEEP THE PROFIT WHERE IT IS, AND GROWING THE VOLUME OF WORK. ALTHOUGH THE INDIVIDUAL VALUE OF CONTRACTS MIGHT HAVE GONE DOWN, THERE ARE

LOTS OF INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SAVE TAXPAYERS’ MONEY AND THERE ARE SOME NEW COUNCILS OUTSOURCING FOR THE FIRST TIME

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VIEW FROM THE TOP PHIL JONES

HEAR MORE FROM

PHIL JONES AT DESIGN

Proposed changes to town centres at night are aiming to reduce antisocial behaviour – Phil Jones says this should be applied to our parks and green spaces I recently spent an interesting evening at the House of Commons for the launch of a campaign to bring life to Britain’s high streets at night time. Their report is entitled ‘Building a Vibrant Night Time Economy’. Over the past few years a number of high streets in towns and large cities across Britain have succumbed to antisocial behaviour and violence, driven by alcohol abuse.

This is not an area I can profess to knowing much about, but it did make me think. During the evening the point was made that it cannot be just alcohol that is to blame; there are numerous occasions in our lives when alcohol can be enjoyed and when it also enhances an experience.

Why then, must it be the cause of so much extreme behaviour, particularly at night in our towns?

The authors of this latest initiative advocate that improvement of the towns themselves, the fabric as well as the facilities, the lighting as well as the environment will improve this antisocial behaviour. This is driven by the theory that if people can enjoy their surroundings and have something other to do, then behaviour will improve and our towns will be better places to be in at night. Many things, supposedly, will stem from this - the

better the environment created, the more people there will be who want to spend time in the town, thus boosting the local economy. It’s a circle of consequence.

BETTER LIGHTING, MORE EVENTS, AND BETTER STAFFING WOULD ALL ADDRESS THE ISSUES What has this got to do with anything in the landscaping world?

Thinking through what I see as sound commonsense, these theories can be applied to parks and open spaces. How many parks these days have become no-go areas, particularly during the hours of darkness?

In parks, just as with town centres, we see benches occupied by groups of people drinking alcohol, which have become unpleasant to pass, for fear of abuse or worse. It’s not a pleasant experience walking through some of our parks because of this.

How many parks these days are still locked at night? Quite a few, for no other reason that I can see, other than habit. They’ve always been locked, but does that mean we should carry on doing so? The alternative view is that locking them deters antisocial behaviour.

Sometimes I think the lack of solutions to some of the problems that local authorities encounter are simply down to that authority doing what they’ve always done.

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In the same way that 15 NOV 2016 the solution to antisocial behaviour in town centres is seen as improving the environment and giving people somewhere comfortable to be, maybe the same should be applied to parks.

Better lighting, more events, better staffing, gates that are left open later into the evening would all address the issues above and improve the environment. It would all require extra investment for a more dedicated resource. However, it would also generate more interest, more presence and, just as with town centres, a stronger local economy.

Recently the Communities and Local Government Committee launched an inquiry into parks (#myparkmatters), to seek ideas and feedback from parks users across the UK. This is a huge step forward, to be consulted on the use of parks, and a sign that the government is beginning to listen to those who have been championing the benefits of parks for some years now.

If we care about parks and open spaces, I suggest now is a great time to tell the government why such facilities are important to us and what benefits they bring to our health and lives in general.

ABOUT PHIL JONES Phil Jones is managing director of ISS Facility Services Landscaping and is based at the company’s head office in Wo in urrey. e ained an in landscape construction and moved into rounds maintenance early on in his career urther ainin an . e has been ith the company since and as ell as runnin the landscapin business he sits on the UK operational management board of ISS Facility ervices and is chairman o . ollo hil ones @philjonesISS ollo andscapin @ISSLandscaping

www.isslandscaping.co.uk

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INFORM

SHOULD YOU SPONSOR?

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DAVID DODD AT

DAVID DODD Is there value in sponsoring a show garden?

David Dodd runs through the reasoning behind his recent decision to take the leap This year, I did something I never thought I would do: sponsor a garden at an RHS show.

So what was it that made me change my mind to stump up the cash for our conceptual garden, Inner Demons, at Hampton Court, designed by Amanda Miller?

As a brief background, Amanda has worked for The Outdoor Room for two years and as well as being a brilliant landscaper and plants person, she also studied garden design at Merrist Wood.

Anyway, it all started about six months ago when Amanda came into the office with the concept and told me the RHS give £5K each for the conceptual gardens. I looked at her plans and told her she’d need an additional £20-25K. She looked a bit disheartened, but when I read the

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concept and the meaning behind it, how could I refuse? It was very deep and dark, incredibly moving, whilst at the same time emitting something of beauty.

IF YOU’VE BEEN APPROACHED TO DO A BUILD/ SPONSORSHIP VENTURE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WATERTIGHT CONTRACT I worried for the next week or so that I was going soft and my heart was ruling my head (although that isn’t always a bad thing in this business) but I needed some sort of strategy to make it work. Firstly, how can it be built most cost effectively whilst maintaining a high standard? If you go too cheap, it will look cheap and that’s going to cost you medals and turn the discerning public away – people who could be your next client.

Essentially, we borrowed the rocks from our local quarry, Historic Horsham Stone, who were more than happy to get involved. The plants were over budget, but they have already been sold and at a profit.

Secondly, it’s always very important for me to have the profile of The Outdoor Room maintained, but it was also a good opportunity to see the bar getting raised for Longview, especially now it’s employing Amanda (part-time) as one of its designers.

Therefore it was a no-brainer having Longview co-sponsor the garden.

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We always love working with old and new designers, but having control over the project made things very easy, especially when it came to making budget decisions. Amanda had complete control over the design and planting, but as ever, she was great at taking advice and support from her own colleagues. Again, it was lovely to see some of the newer staff develop skills in leaps and bounds whilst building the garden. This is all added value to my business.

From a social aspect, we managed to get the mental health charity Mind on board, who received huge amounts of publicity from the garden. I know myself just how easy it can be to slip into depression, and the work they do is incredible.

Overall my advice would be, if you’ve been approached at all by a designer to do a build/ sponsorship venture with them, make sure you have a watertight contract to ensure you’re getting the right sort of return for your time and money.

One example of this is to make it part of the contract that all subsequent work from the show is given to you for first refusal. Alternatively, if you fancy exhibiting your own ‘in-house’ design and build garden, make sure you market the hell out of it. Scream and shout about it on social media, invite old and new clients to the show and make sure you’ve got everything you need within budget as costs can soon start to spiral.

I’m giving it a year to monitor enquiries from RHS Hampton Court and see what sort of return I make on my investment.

Would I do it again? Ask me in a year’s time!

ABOUT DAVID DODD David Dodd has been in the landscape industry since the age of 17. Having studied and then taught at Merrist Wood College, he set up The Outdoor Room in 1995. In 2013, he went into business with landscape architect Joe Perkins to form Longview Design Ltd. David has also lectured in design and construction for over 20 years.

www.theoutdoorroom.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

16/08/2016 16:04

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DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

INFORM

ANDREW WILSON Andrew Wilson comments on the different production methods of detailed design ideas, and why designers need to be adaptable when things go wrong All students assume somewhat blithely that all their ideas are perfectly workable, and ask: what could possibly go wrong with a good idea? Well, give me about 30 years and I’ll come close.

I chatted to Adam Frost and James Basson whilst we were building our respective gardens in Singapore, a discussion instigated by James, who admired our production drawings and the level of support we give to our designs and landscapers. James uses looser visuals supported by Vectorworks detailing. Adam has evolved his approach into CAD as he has moved away from design and build.

Gavin and I start with hand drawing, move into CAD, and often back into hand rendering or sometimes Sketchup. Our detailed construction drawings are millimetre accurate and support our

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builds either as an initial package or as an evolving production line as detail is required. Our planting plans are still hand drawn but accurate in terms of species quantities, placement and planting densities, allowing a clear delivery on site without too much need for change.

AS DESIGNERS WE HAVE TO EVOLVE OUR THINKING WHILST NOT LOSING THE MAIN MESSAGE AND ATMOSPHERE OF THE DESIGN It is the concept of change and flexibility however that is so fascinating – something that proved quite a challenge in Singapore this July.

The detailed drawings we issue are all highly considered and represent a great deal of design thinking as well as a major time commitment – something that many clients still don’t fully understand. However, both Gavin and I would be the first to accept that they are not set in stone. As designers we have to remain flexible and sometimes rethink our ideas.

The Garden of Silence was a huge concept to deliver in Singapore and with an 11 day build, this was always going to be a challenging and punishing time frame. We created the design, selected the planting and detailed the structure with the help of Webb Yates Structural Engineers and sent all drawings to Singapore for prefabrication.

When we arrived only one section of

the outer wall was fabricated with a further eight to be produced. The structural drawings had been modified without reference to us, the cladding materials a different grade and the outer render a home made affair rather than the Pandomo we had specified. What should have been up and ready for a final skim after two days actually took six days of our time with rendering still going on up to day nine of the build.

The outer wall was also drilled for our Morse code messages of noise and disturbance. A total of 163 holes had to be in place on five different levels, allowing visitors to peep into the garden. They had been carefully detailed to avoid the main structural supports but as the fabrication was no longer to our drawings, this information had to be redrawn and reconsidered several times with far too many late nights as a result. Some holes had to be left as marks on the surface when the steel got in the way.

To save time we reduced the complexity of the planting, without losing its beauty and presence. We changed lighting details to reduce fabrication time and altered the angle of the Morse code drilling. At this stage there was no point in wishing the contractor had abided by the drawings; as designers we have to evolve our thinking whilst not losing the main message and atmosphere of the design.

Although sacrifices and changes had to be made, we feel that the garden retained its drama, character and integrity. The response on social media was overwhelming, as was the feedback in Singapore. Our judges gave us a Silver for lack of visibility for visitors, which was disappointing, but hey – onwards and upwards.

ABOUT ANDREW WILSON Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden designer and a director of Wilson McWilliam Studio. He is also a director of the London College of Garden Design, an author, writer and lecturer.

www.wmstudio.co.uk

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16/08/2016 14:06

INFORM

BARGAIN BUSTER

ANGUS LINDSAY Buying cheap is tempting, and bargain sales even more so. Deals can be too good to be true, and you get what you pay for, warns Angus Lindsay You hear it all the time: “You paid how much for it? I can get that £40 cheaper from Larry’s Landscaping World down the road”. We all like to think we can get the best deals and outdo our competitors, but can we? And what are we getting for our money? Sometimes it’s not just the price you pay where the true value lies.

The other one I hear is: “Have you tried the new ride-ons from Ripsnorter Mowers? They’re really good and give you three for the price of two and a five year warranty”. They may well be cheap and perform well when they’re new, but are they legal, how long will they last, can you get parts for them, and does that warranty really exist?

Whether it’s an edging iron or a dumper truck, the old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ applies, and offers that are too good to be true, usually are. It’s easy to buy cheap, but to get the right balance between costs, quality and support takes a bit of effort. Constant benchmarking is a must as the deal you did last year soon becomes obsolete with new technology and suppliers.

So after much haggling you shake hands on a new compact tractor, it arrives and you set to work. Everything’s great, but make sure that you read the handbook to understand the T&Cs and

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what you need to do to comply with the manufacturer’s warranty. There is no point in blaming the manufacturer for an engine failure after 230 hours if you missed the first 50 hour service.

Cars and trucks now do a lot of the thinking for you and have an orange light to let you know when they need to be serviced; these are not readily available in our industry but we do have a simple hour clock which tells you all you need to know, so pay attention to it.

It’s also worth considering what your buy is

THE OLD ADAGE OF ‘YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR’ APPLIES, AND OFFERS THAT ARE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, USUALLY ARE going to do in the future, especially with tractors, excavators, ATVs and the like, so try where you can to futureproof them. For instance, there’s no point buying a bargain basement compact tractor if in 12 months you want to fit a loader or mid-deck and it isn’t compatible – better to spend a bit more to get the flexibility.

You should also consider extended warranty or service packages, especially on high value items such as larger tractors and earthmovers. In the long term this extra investment could save you a lot of aggravation and expense when you least need it – believe me, I have experienced what can happen when it goes wrong. Main

dealer servicing may seem costly after all, and please excuse my cynicism, they have some very expensive showrooms to maintain, but their technicians should be highly trained and be able to keep your machinery in peak operating condition.

Nowadays it’s not enough just to drop the oil, change the filters and run around with a grease gun. On larger machines engine management systems are becoming more finely tuned to reduce emissions, and transmissions more complicated. It could just be a simple adjustment to keep linkages working smoothly, which a trained technician will attend to and you wouldn’t know any different. However, to rely on someone who doesn’t have the correct training or experience could prove costly. The bottom line is: you get what you pay for, and make sure you pay for it at the right time and not at the height of the season when the pressure is on. Remember equipment is an investment so invest in it.

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

He gained an MSc in agricultural engineering and mechanisation management at Silsoe, joining Glendale as machinery manager in 1994 and then in 2009, The Landscape Group as group head of assets and fleet.

Contact: alindsay@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INFORM

STOP YOUR WHINGING

HEAR MORE FROM

PETE JONES AT

PETE JONES

Rather than asking why your association isn’t doing more, get involved and maybe you can make that difference you’ve been moaning about, says Pete Jones Too many people in the landscape industry make the comment that they pay their association membership fee and then get nothing in return. They constantly ask what their association does for the money they pay every year and it seems they perceive it to be nothing.

It’s interesting to hear this from industry people, whether they be members of the SGD, BALI, APL or a combination of them all.

To those people, I would urge them to think about what they do for their industry/trade association rather than what they feel they are owed following the payment of the annual subscription.

THOSE WHO SERVE SUPREME CAUSES MUST NOT CONSIDER WHAT THEY CAN GET BUT WHAT THEY CAN GIVE Churchill, 11 August 1950 I am not sure quite what they are expecting from their annual fee. It seems most expect all their business problems to be solved overnight, more sales, more profit, more skilled staff available… the list goes on.

They spend their time carping on about the lack of perceived action from their association to solve their latest operational juncture.

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many people happy to bemoan the work done by associations, I suspect due to their ignorance of the actual progress being made and as a result of their incredibly insular existence.

As an industry we have many deep-seated ongoing struggles across all sectors.

The only way that we can possibly hope to make even the smallest amount of progress is to find a more collaborative way to tackle specific topics that we are all faced with.

The National Contractors’ Forum partnering with BALI in 2012 and giving rise to the BALI NCF, in turn creating far stronger lobbying and promotional possibilities with the two forces combined, is a classic example.

I was pleased to see the efforts being made by the SGD with the launch of its Tech Exchange events, offering practical and technical advice to members. Equally, the efforts of BALI to introduce GoLandscape, an initiative engaging with young people to promote landscaping as a real career choice.

These are both initiatives that are set to tackle key issues within the industry.

These have been brought to life by association members who identified a need and then have done something about it. They provide a great chance to improve our industry for those currently employed within it and for the future generations that may choose landscaping. We have to continue to improve things to ensure that we provide an appealing trade that people will adopt as their skilled

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profession. We have a duty to continually raise and improve our industry profile at every opportunity.

To those who pay solely for the use of a logo to make your business more appealing and who see it simply as a chance to improve sales and then moan due to a perceived lack of action by their trade association, how about you do something? Do anything.

Just get involved.

Don’t pay for your membership and expect things to be done for you. Pay your fees and then get involved with like-minded people, who are probably already progressing on a crusade dealing with the very subjects you lament about, progress that you are no doubt blissfully unaware of.

Look at paying your fees as the opportunity to have your say and for you to be involved in changing the industry. Look at it as the chance to get together with other industry professionals with the same concerns as yourselves, and actively make the difference.

ABOUT PETE JONES After 20 years in the landscape industry working across many sectors, Pete Jones is now creating and maintaining award-winning landscape solutions with LDP Ltd. He is a BALI NCF and BALI South Thames committee member investin time and effort to improve our industry wherever possible.

Twitter: @LandDesignPete

www.ldp.uk.com

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INFORM

WORK TOGETHER LESLEY MALONE

Parks and public green spaces form valuable central points for local communities – but the actual desires those communities have for their parks often slip under the radar, says Lesley Malone I saw a notice by the entrance to my local park the other day, announcing, slightly ominously, ‘Your park is changing’. Reading on, I learnt that the car park, children’s play area and some other facilities were to be relocated. I wanted to know more – the park is important to me – but could I find any details of these changes and the impact they might have? I could not. Nothing on the council website, or on the websites of any of the consultants whose logos appeared on the notice.

The only opportunity to see the plans was a little exhibition in the play area one afternoon; unfortunately the drawings were displayed at an illegible scale, and the solitary member of the design team on hand to answer questions was swamped. So I didn’t get to speak to her and I still know nothing.

‘Your park is changing’. I’m itching to take a marker pen to the sign and add, ‘Whether you like it or not’. This is not the right tone for a consultation. It prohibits dialogue and shuts out local input and ideas. It has ‘decision made’ stamped across it. Why should park users bother to find out more or respond, when it’s clear they can have no influence? In a survey of thirteen public realm projects in London, not a single one

had involved any meaningful community engagement1. What little contact the researchers found was described as ‘minimal and tokenistic’: tick box exercises, in other words. This isn’t consulting local communities – it’s insulting them. Is it any wonder that people become disengaged and cynical?

‘YOUR PARK IS CHANGING.’ I’M ITCHING TO TAKE A MARKER PEN TO THE SIGN AND ADD, ‘WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT’ There are designers who feel that the ordinary people who will be the end users lack the knowledge to be worthy participants in the design process. Their tastes are too conservative, they don’t understand design, their vision is narrow and parochial. Another school of thought aims to generate support for a project from the start to reduce the likelihood of planning objections and delays. Again, no scope for community input – just sell the idea to the locals early so they don’t complain later.

I’m writing a book for landscape designers about consultation and engagement on public realm projects, and I’m researching how people are consulted in other fields – especially usability testing in product design, and user experience

(UX) research for online and technological products and services. The art and science of designing for maximum user happiness has evolved to a highly advanced degree in these areas and the landscape sector could learn a lot.

New products are subjected to lengthy and rigorous processes of focus groups, market research, prototyping, testing, refining designs, more testing and more refining until all possible improvements have been made. Then, and only then, is the product launched.

Such serious attention is paid to user satisfaction with something as ephemeral as a website or app, yet a design for a public space, with the long term capacity to enrich or blight the lives of countless people and surrounding environs, can be implemented without any contact with the people who will use it. Is it conceivable to move closer to the UX model of refining and re-testing designs until both designers and end users are completely happy?

1. M Carmona and F Wunderlich (2012) Capital spaces ABOUT LESLEY MALONE Lesley Malone is a freelance writer, editor and photographer, with a focus on public space and regeneration. She is online at lesleymalone.com and tweets at @tangentials

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       

 

 

Advert template PRO LAND SEPT.indd 34

17/08/2016 15:03

JANINE PATTISON STUDIOS

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A luxury residential project on the Sandbanks peninsula

DRIFT AWAY

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THE GARDEN COMPANY Building a contemporary garden in the Chiltern Hills

IN PURSUIT OF LANDSCAPING EXCELLENCE

64

CITY FOOTBALL ACADEMY Soft landscaping at the Ethiad Stadium

WHITE IS ALRIGHT AURA LANDSCAPES

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A modern finish achieved with Italian ceramic outdoor tiles

INSPIRE

ISLAND LIFE

PLUS...

CITYSCAPES (P70) ANJI CONNELL (P72) AGGREGATES (P74) GARDEN BUILDINGS (P77)

72 INSPIREcoverSept.indd 55

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SLEEPERS - CHILDREN’S PLAY EQUIPMENT - ROUND FENCING - BESPOKE PLAY TIMBER A E Evans, Lightwood Green, Overton-on-Dee, Wrexham LL13 0HU 01978 710445 F 01978 710304 E sales@aeevans.co.uk

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Advert template PRO LAND SEPT.indd 35

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PORTFOLIO

ISLAND LIFE JANINE PATTISON STUDIOS Building dream gardens on the Sandbanks peninsula

PROJECT DETAILS Project value £175,000 Build time 14 months Size of project Approx 1,500m2

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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A

local developer of luxury properties approached Janine Pattison Studios (JPS) to help with a project on the stunning Sandbanks peninsula. JPS had worked with this client several times before, and one of the previous projects had won a BALI Design Excellence Award, which helped greatly with the sale of the property.

The brief Moondance is a uniquely designed apartment block consisting of three luxury apartments designed by David James Architects for Towncourt Homes. Each apartment has stunning panoramic views of Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island, and the design embraces all available natural light while maximising views across the water. The design brief was to create a distinctive residential living experience within an apartment block. Internally the apartments were to feel like individual bespoke houses while the external fabric of the building was specifically designed to represent a large house rather a traditional apartment block.

The design Extensive use of glazing embraces the stunning location bringing the exterior in, with the expanse

ABOUT JANINE PATTISON Janine Pattison MSGD MBALI is a multi awardwinning landscape designer and horticulturalist who trained with English Heritage at Eltham Palace in London and at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester. She is the design director for BALI and writes regularly for national magazines and newspapers, and is proving to be a popular speaker at horticultural events across the UK. www.janinepattison.com

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of sea becoming part of the living experience.

Terraces facilitate the outdoor experience and oversized sliding glass doors open to provide flow between the interior and exterior spaces.

area comes alive at night with an LED lighting scheme turning on automatically at dusk.

The build The front entrance and driveway to this ÂŁ12m development needed to be impressive and look good all year round, with minimal maintenance. Ancient olive trees provide height and character to the driveway and were underplanted with a carefully selected range of shrubs, grasses and perennials. A mulch of Scottish glacier boulders and pebbles provided texture and interest, and the whole

2 The entrance beds feature low maintenance evergreen planting and pebble mulch

1 A sophisticated LED lighting scheme designed

by JPS creates wonderful mood lighting

3 Views over Poole Harbour from the garden 4 Laser-cut stainless steel with LED lighting 5 The driveway is permeable to comply with SUDs regulations 6 28 7m-tall Cupressus sempervirens were planted to create screening 7 Frameless glass was specified for the decking by the water’s edge to avoid blocking the view 8 Our client drove the project forwards with relentless energy and tight deadlines www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

REFERENCES Design (including lighting and planting design) Janine Pattison Studios

www.janinepattison.com Soft landscaping

JPS Soft Landscaping Team

www.janinepattison.com Hard landscaping (external paving, walling and fencing) Glossbrook

www.glossbrook.co.uk Drivesett Argent Priora Permeable Block Paving Marshalls

www.marshalls.co.uk Light fittings Collingwood

www.collingwoodlighting.com Decking Timbertech decking

BEFORE/DURING

www.timbertech.com Scottish glacial pebbles and boulders Miles Stone

www.miles-stone.co.uk MB Wilkes

www.mbwilkes.com Plants/trees Urban Trees

www.urbantrees.com/en/ Plants For Trade

www.plantsfortrade.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

DRIFT AWAY THE GARDEN COMPANY

Blocks and drifts create layers of interest in this garden in the Chiltern Hills

T

he Garden Company was appointed on a design and build basis to create a contemporary garden that was sympathetic to the style of this house in a farmland setting on the top of the Chiltern Hills, in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The brief The clients were a professional couple looking for a haven in which to relax, somewhere they could take time out from their busy schedules.

Although the house was a new build, it was built in the style of a traditional barn but with a modern interior. It enjoyed far reaching views over the surrounding countryside, and although this was an outstanding feature, it meant the areas immediately surrounding the house felt very exposed.

The solution was to design a series of paths and terraces that were surrounded by planting to create more intimate spaces.

Planting Structural plants, including yew hedges and hornbeam trees, were used to define the space and give a vertical element. These also served to screen views from a neighbouring property. Swathes of herbaceous plants and grasses helped to connect with the surrounding countryside. Many of the plants were selected to attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects, and the planting will change significantly with the seasons to 60

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reflect the surrounding landscape. With this in mind, and to add interest in spring time, large quantities of bulbs were also planted.

As keen cooks, the clients loved growing their own produce, and two kitchen garden areas were incorporated. The smaller area nearer the house – within easy access of the kitchen for growing herbs and more delicate vegetables – was given green oak raised borders and a brick path.

A further larger vegetable garden for more serious quantities of vegetables, fruit bushes and raspberry cane, was surrounded by a hornbeam hedge and has more simple gravel paths and softwood raised beds.

A large lawn defines the formal area of the garden before giving way to a line of Malus Everest trees demarking the start of the orchard and meadow area. The orchard was carefully selected from traditional varieties of mainly East Anglian cultivars of fruit trees.

The orchard includes desert and cooking apples, pears and cherry trees.

1 View along silver grey granite path 2 View to bespoke seat and sculpture 3 Green oak planters in kitchen garden 4 Gate through to kitchen garden 5 View from edge of meadow

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PORTFOLIO

WINNER Domestic garden construction between £60k-£100k

PROJECT DETAILS Project value Approx £70k Build time January 2014 to June 2014 Size of project 5,000m2

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PORTFOLIO

The meadow A significant feature of the scheme is a large meadow area that includes the orchard and additional meadow shrubs and trees such as guelder roses, hazelnut and field maples. The existing meadow area was just thick grass with very few wildflowers. The area was sprayed with glyphosate and cultivated, before low nutrient spoil from the works near the house was spread over the area. We then waited for the first bloom of dormant seeds to germinate (largely docks), sprayed the area again before lightly cultivating (so as not to bring too many new dormant seeds to the surface) for the final time.

The meadow was sown with native seeds that would naturally be found growing in the calcareous soil of the Chilterns. The meadow was not allowed to flower for the first year then cut twice in the second year. As part of the ongoing maintenance, it is periodically spot sprayed for unwanted plants.

Unless these careful preparation and maintenance regimes are followed, meadows can often be rather disappointing. When they are successful, however, they are extremely rewarding.

ABOUT THE GARDEN COMPANY

Challenges The paucity of topsoil and drainage in the more intensively landscaped areas was a significant challenge. All borders had to be dug out, the soil replaced and a drainage system added to lead the water to the meadow area. It’s remarkable to see the images of the spoil piles in the winter of 2014 and compare them to the beautiful meadow you see today. Drainage and ‘looking after’ the existing soil can often be an overlooked aspect of a scheme, but one that is essential to later success.

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James Scott, managing director and principal designer, is a Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers and serves on the SGD Council.

The Garden Company specialises in high quality domestic and commercial design, construction and maintenance. As well as undertaking design and build projects, the company also constructs gardens for other designers. The company has won 22 BALI National Awards over the years. www.thegardenco.co.uk

1 Mown path through meadow 2 View over lounger terrace 3 Finished terrace and planting 4 Meadow before 5 View back to house during construction 6 During construction 7 Terrace being laid 8 View back to the house from meadow terrace

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PORTFOLIO

REFERENCES Design and build The Garden Company Ltd

Chipperfield Garden Centre, Tower Hill, Chipperfield, Hertfordshire WD4 9LH Tel 01442 832666 www.thegardenco.co.uk Stone CED Stone Group

www.ced.ltd.uk

Plants and trees Rochfords

www.rochfords.net Orchard Dene

www.orcharddene.co.uk Wildflower seed John Chambers (now Greentech)

www.johnchamberswildflowers.co.uk Oak Ternex

www.ternex.co.uk Furniture Keith Gilby Joinery

www.gilbys.co.uk Metal work

T Brown & Sons Ltd

Tel 01923 213874 Drainage Duraplas

www.jdpipes.co.uk Topsoil Country supplies

www.countrysupplies.uk.com Sculpture

BEFORE/DURING www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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T Brown & Sons Ltd

Tel 01923 213874

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PORTFOLIO

PROJECT DETAILS Project value Approx. £200m Build time Two years Size of project 32ha

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PORTFOLIO

IN PURSUIT OF LANDSCAPING EXCELLENCE THE CITY FOOTBALL ACADEMY One of the largest football academies in the world with a major soft landscaping scheme

M

anchester City Football Club’s decision to build one of the largest academies in the world created the opportunity to implement a soft landscaping scheme on a mammoth scale.

The project included a connecting bridge from the Etihad Stadium to the new training facility. Twelve pitches were installed for youth development, including five new Desso pitches with 40,000km of artificial turf fibres. Desso also installed 30,000m2 of reinforced natural grass and 33,000m2 of artificial turf.

One of the legacies of the scheme was the adjacent development of the Connell Sixth Form College and the Beswick Community Hub on 16 acres of land donated by the club.

Danny Lewis, Manchester City’s dedicated landscape manager, has been with the Club since 2010. He has been involved with the scheme throughout the build period, and is now embarking on a five-year programme of enhanced maintenance to develop the site into a centre of landscaping excellence.

The soft landscaping design had to overcome the challenging ground conditions presented on an 80 acre industrial brownfield site.

A decision was made to advance procure the significant quantity of semi-mature trees and perimeter hedging. This decision proved a huge

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success and guaranteed that all of the stock was available to meet the demanding construction programme. The decision to air pot the trees meant that the usual seasonal constraint was removed, and the trees could be planted throughout the year as areas became available. This flexibility proved to be invaluable on a scheme of this scale.

The planting stock in the advance procurement tender included the following: • 800 Pinus sylvestris/nigra austriaca 5-6m high • 12 Pinus nigra austriaca 12m high • 2,000m Taxus baccata preformed hedging 2m high and supplied in 1m widths • 500m of Fagus sylvatica preformed hedging 1.8m high and supplied in 1m widths The large tree and hedging supply package required a new air pot nursery to allow for the volume of trees to be grown in a dedicated location, within 20 miles of the site. This also allowed the client and landscape architect to monitor the trees on a regular basis, which was a condition of the vesting process.

The supply was extended to include a further 1,000 trees, 30 large additional 12m Pines to strengthen boundary security, and

1 Semi-mature trees and shrubs to entrance 2 7,000 capacity Academy Stadium

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PORTFOLIO

50,000 5L shrubs. Perimeter security was of major importance on this high profile site.

BAM was awarded the construction package, and the planting stock supplier was novated to BAM to fulfil its contractual requirements on the scheme.

The soft landscaping sub-contract package was awarded to a north west company. This large package was completed on programme.

BAM directly employed a soil specialist to take charge of quality control and reporting procedures on the major importation of subsoil and topsoil. This was a key area and crucial to the success of the landscaping works. An extensive automatic irrigation system was installed under a separate package.

The site has now been handed over and a new contractor has been appointed to carry out a five-year enhanced maintenance scheme.

Manchester City Football Club is proud of the standards that have been achieved, it now looks to take the landscaping to an even higher level with a dedicated and professional approach to maintenance.

3 Etihad Avenue tree planting 4 Perimeter Taxus baccata hedging 5 Pinus nigra austriaca

REFERENCES Client Manchetser City Football Club

www.mancity.com

Landscape architect Planit IE

www.planit-ie.com Main contractor BAM

www.bam.co.uk Soft landscaping sub contractor Ashlea Landscaping Ltd

www.ashlea-landscaping.co.uk Planting stock supplier Specimen Trees

www.specimentrees.net Soil specialist Soil Horizons Ltd

www.soilhorizons.co.uk Enhanced maintenance contractor The Landscape Group

www.thelandscapegroup.co.uk Photography and article production Synergy 3 Ltd

www.synergy3ltd.com

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ABOUT DANNY LEWIS Danny Lewis is the Landscape Manager for Manchester City Football Club. He is extremely passionate about his work, and aims to achieve a nationally recognised centre of landscaping excellence. www.mancity.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

PROJECT DETAILS Project value £20k Build time Four weeks Size of project 70m2

WHITE IS ALRIGHT AURA LANDSCAPES Using Italian ceramic outdoor tiles to give a modern look and finish

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

T

he client required a patio created using a low maintenance product because the surrounding environment was promoting algae growth on their existing terrace. They preferred to keep the shape of the old patio but wanted a modern look that incorporated the pond and linked to a winding path to the side entrance of the garden.

Design and build The garden was designed by Aura Landscapes’ in-house designer and focused on the client getting the best use of the space whilst keeping some elements of the existing patio.

Working to the client’s brief of using a low maintenance product, a variety of sawn sandstone products were looked at before a ceramic outdoor slab was found whilst attending FutureScape. After discussing with the client the benefits of using ceramic over sandstone, samples of the products were sourced in the colour palette the client required and an order was placed.

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Materials The product chosen was Ceramiche Caesar White Quartz with step kits. As an Italian imported stone, the order had to be placed 16 weeks before it was due to be laid.

Challenges The main challenge was the product. Although a fantastic item, the lead time meant any delays in delivery affected the completion date. Also, the nature of the product and its relatively new entry to the UK at the time meant research was required on which grouting compound would work best, as well as the right blade to cut the tiles to ensure no damage and a precise cut.

HIGHLY COMMENDED HARD LANDSCAPING CATEGORY

1 Curved patio area overlooking the large lawn 2 Curved path leading from patio to side gate 3 The muted tile colour complements the house 4 A second curved patio set in mature planting 5 Perfectly cut tiles frame the existing pond 6 The beautiful ceramic tiles tie in the patio area, pond and existing flower beds 7 The tile cladding of the wooden pillars adds interest

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PORTFOLIO

ABOUT AURA LANDSCAPES Aura Landscapes was formed by husband and wife team Mike and Paula Warman in 2010. Based in Hampshire, Aura Landscapes is a multi-award winning company that specialises in bespo e hand dra n arden desi n and oers ull landscaping construction to both domestic and commercial clients. The company has just launched a sister company ura rti cial rass that specialises in arti cial rass installation. www.auralandscapes.co.uk

REFERENCES Design and build

BAL tile grout

Aura Landscapes

Tileflair Southampton

Unit 4C, Chalcroft Business Park, Burnetts Lane, Southampton SO30 2PA 02380 434231 mike@auralandscapes.co.uk www.auralandscapes.co.uk

www.tileflair.co.uk/southampton Cutting equipment Bosch www.bosch.co.uk

Stone paving Ceramiche Caesar

www.caesar.it

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INSPIRE

INSIDE CITYSCAPES Adolfo Harrison and Darryl Moore spoke to Pro Landscaper about founding social enterprise Cityscapes, what it aims to achieve, and the captivating array of projects it has already created across London

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projects, from councils to business improvement districts and art sponsorship. Each project is funded differently, and although it’s a not-for-profit organisation, we do get paid for creating the projects to maintain the running of Cityscapes.”

© Darryl Moore

C

ityscapes was founded in 2012 with the intention of not only landscaping disused spaces in London, but also with the concept of merging landscaping and art in the public realm.

Cityscapes director Darryl Moore explains: “We were interested in what could be done to bring together the arts and the landscape. During the recession, there wasn’t a lot of construction going on so there were empty spaces that could potentially be used in different ways. We started investigating them and approaching people, and this coalesced into Cityscapes.”

This desire to redesign the urban environment sprang from a frustration at what Darryl and co-director Adolfo Harrison viewed as a standstill in the landscaping industry, what Darryl describes as ‘a kind of complacency’, saying that the industry ‘wasn’t pushing things creatively enough’.

Cityscapes is also concerned with tackling social issues such as urban density and climate change, as well as exploring how designing spaces in more creative ways can be beneficial to people. Not an easy task, with the added challenge of gaining permission for use of public spaces to tackle these issues, along with the funding to start the projects in the first place.

Darryl says: “We receive a variety of funding for

The big ideas The first project to receive the necessary backing was the Pommery EyeGarden, situated for 24 hours in a capsule of the London Eye as part of Cityscapes Garden Design Festival, partnered by South Bank and Bankside Cultural Quarter. Designed by Andy Sturgeon and built

by Landform Consultants, the temporary garden installation was one of three projects Cityscapes completed in its first year. “We usually work on quite a few projects simultaneously and these progress at different rates,” Darryl explains.

“Depending on who we’re working with, we’ll set up a meeting to discuss what we both do and whether there’s a potential crossover. If there is, we’ll work on an idea and if people like it then it will get developed to the next stage.”

This is how The Majesty came to be created, a garden situated for five months in a tunnel below Waterloo station called The Vaults. “We spoke to The Old Vic Tunnels and were told that there were these tunnels that hadn’t been www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INSPIRE

opened to the public yet,” Darryl said. “When we saw them, we could see why; they were damp, dark and gloomy, so we said, great. We wanted a challenge and to show that we could use any kind of space to create a garden.”

Adolfo says: “It started logically, getting together with the theatre and seeing how our worlds could meet, then with Alison Condie and Tony Heywood who are horticultural installation artists. The disused tunnel was incredible by itself, with luminous fungus, the sound of the trains going over and the dripping water, and the smell – all of this started to feed into the brief.”

1

The Majesty, designed

by Alison Condie and Tony Heywood

2

Cityscape founders Adolfo Harrison (L) and Darryl Moore

3

Gibbons Rent, designed

by Sarah Eberle and Andrew Burns

4

Cityscapes launch at the London Eye – Pommery Eyegarden, designed by Andy Sturgeon.

5

The Paperworks, designed by Anoushka Feiler

6,7 As Above, So Below, designed by Daniel Lobb

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WHAT WE DO IS BRING LANDSCAPE INTO THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE. THE MORE THAT PEOPLE SEE, UNDERSTAND AND ENJOY THAT, THE MORE THEY’RE GOING TO WANT MORE THINGS LIKE IT Art appreciation This is where Adolfo and Darryl’s backgrounds in the arts come in. Both have qualifications in garden design and together have a design practice separate to Cityscapes, Moore Harrison Land Design. Alongside this, Adolfo has a Masters in Fine Art, and Darryl is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, with a wealth of experience in music including sound engineering. For The Majesty, both wanted to incorporate this in a unique way.

“For the noise,” says Adolfo, “Darryl recorded the band playing to the Queen when she was visiting Tony and Alison’s garden, Glamourlands: A Techno-Folly, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012, and refashioned it to mix with the sound of the trains going over to give an aural experience.”

Darryl says that video also plays a role in their installations: “Photos don’t do justice to the kind of things that we do, as gardens are multi-sensory experiences. Video is the natural way to put across what the garden is about.”

One of the most important things initially is getting designers and contractors on board. “I guess contractors have to take a leap of faith to work with us,” says Darryl. “You might put in a lot of effort and not get anything back. For the industry, it’s realising that what we do is bring landscape into the public discourse. The more that people see, understand and enjoy that, the more they’re going to want more things like it, and it’s going to benefit the industry.”

Young blood Along with contractors, Cityscapes has also worked with well-known designers including Sarah Eberle and Joe Swift. Adolfo and Darryl are now looking at getting new younger designers involved, as Darryl tells us: “There’s a whole lot of talent out there but not a lot of opportunity for them to express it. Many people have worked with us because they like what we do, so for us it’s about looking at ways of finding projects for them and encouraging the next generation.”

The next big installation for Cityscapes will be a floating greenhouse on the Thames, in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy. “It will be focusing on new ways to grow horticulture and sustainable technologies as well as providing a community space that reflects on how the river is important in the city,” says Darryl.

Future vision So what’s the long term plan? “To ramp up what we’re doing. The model was that it could be done anywhere, so once it’s established itself the idea is to try to do things in other places besides London. Out of London, it becomes a bit harder, but we have been speaking with other cities.

We’re totally open to it.”

CONTACT Cityscapes, SHED Studio 2, 8 Lee St, London E8 4DY 07712 583 246 @cityscapesUK info@cityscapes.org.uk www.cityscapes.org.uk

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INSPIRE

Practical and stylish, sun sails are an aesthetically pleasing way to protect against harmful UV rays and guard from rain all year round, says Anji Connell Sun shades, shade sails or tensioned sails are dynamic fabric structures that protect us from the elements while adding an architectural edge and colour to the landscape.

Sun sails are not a new thing by any means.

Modern shade sails became popular in the early Nineties with the invention of shade cloth, a breathable knitted fabric. It’s the inherent ‘stretch’ of this fabric that allows it to take on a three-dimensional shape.

They’re ideal for all residential and commercial projects that need shaded areas, whether it’s for their cooling effect or sun protection. They are extremely versatile and

Dock shade sails

work effectively in many situations, especially when fitted over pools protecting children from UV rays. They are perfect for decks, gardens, terraces and landscaped sitting out areas; for anywhere that you need shade this is the most stylish, cost effective and functional way to achieve it.

Sunsquare

Shade sails are tensioned to a high degree to prevent flapping and movement in the wind.

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Sails by Ingenua

IN THE SHADE beams, posts and buildings or a customised framework, they shade exactly where you need shelter – and they look very cool. Shapewise anything goes; triangular, square, diamond or polygonal. The only limit is your imagination.

Benefits • You can enjoy spending time outdoors at any time of year.

• You can use them to update an area, giving it an elegant and modern aesthetic.

• They are inexpensive in comparison to permanent fixed shade structures such as gazebos, pergolas and garden rooms.

As well as giving shade, they are cooling, they protect furniture from fading in the sun, and most importantly the fabric can block 95% of the sun’s harmful rays, and as the material is porous, they are water resistant.

Before you set sail Make sure you go to a reputable supplier / manufacturer that can testify to the durability, the tear and tensile strength and the amount of UV radiation the material transmits.

You might think that the more expensive the material, the better the UV blocking would be, but this is not always the case. Do have them professionally fitted as if the material is overstretched due to incorrect installation, its UV protection can be reduced. However, they will flap and bang around in the wind just like a sail on a boat if they are not taut enough.

The quality and stitching of the fabric and fittings, and how well they are installed, are all important considerations to ensure the life of your sails. The fittings should be marine grade 316 stainless steel.

Aftercare Sails can be hosed down in situ or removed and scrubbed down with a mild detergent.

Shoreline awnings

Don’t leave sails up in snow as the increased weight will be problematic, unless they’re engineered for permanent use in such weather conditions. If not they should be taken down during bad weather and in extreme winds. In domestic applications, it’s recommended to install them with a quick release ‘snap hook’ at each corner so the sail shade can be quickly taken down in high wind conditions or during the winter season.

Sail shades are available ready made or bespoke and are an increasingly popular choice.

Happy sailing!

ABOUT ANJI CONNELL Internationally recognised interior architect and landscape designer Anji Connell is a detail-obsessed Inchbald graduate, and has been collaborating with artisans and craftsmen to create bespoke and unique interiors for a discerning clientele since 1986. Anji is a stylist, feature writer and lover of all things art and design.

www.anjiconnellinteriordesign.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Black Lava pebbles Perfect for a touch of drama with smooth and regular shapes oning ith popular paving such as black basalt, at cm diameter they also make a bold contrast with hard paving, adding a creative element to any design his is part of ondon Stone’s ne range of decorati e aggregates Price: £12 exc VAT for 20kg WWW.LONDONSTONE.CO.UK

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Highland cobbles The Highland cobbles capture the essence of holidays at the seaside and bring a touch of warmth to any garden ith a lend of greys, creams, yello s and ro ns aila le in arious si es, try mi ing these to add depth and personality to flo er eds, ater features or to simply complement a patio Price: £6.99 for large bag, £192.49 for bulk bag WWW.BOWLANDSTONE.COM

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INSPIRE

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Black Ice Forming part of the Platinum Products collection, Black Ice is a decorative chipping with a contrasting monochrome colour mix that complements urban designs and the charcoal/grey paving currently prevalent in landscaping projects.

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DEKORGRIP

Tree pit system Decorative resin bound aggregate is a hard wearing, attractive, porous tree pit surface.

Loose stones can be a nuisance in pedestrian environments; with the DekorGrip tree pit system, the stone is bound together using a high strength resin which prevents the gravel migrating beyond the tree pit. The nature of the resin bond results in a highly porous tree-friendly surface.

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Tree Pit TradePack This convenient self-install option contains 10mm natural aggregate, resin, mixing and installation instructions, a 40L bucket and paddle whisk attachment. The Tree Pit TradePack delivers a virtually maintenance free, permeable, protective surround for your tree. Available in chestnut, sterling, barley beach or Norwegian pearl.

Price: from £725 exc VAT WWW.SURESET.CO.UK

MARSHALLS

Atlantic cobbles The Atlantic cobbles are a versatile yet modern garden accessory which make a contemporary addition to any garden border. The neutral tone and smooth finish highlight the naturally occurring colour variations and make an eye-catching feature in any setting. Available in a variety of sizes, the Atlantic range of cobbles has something to suit any size or style garden.

Price: £276 for bulk bag WWW.MARSHALLS.CO.UK

BURLINGTON AGGREGATES LTD

Blue and green decorative and construction aggregates Burlington’s blue and green aggregates are a pure British slate which was formed deep within the Cumbrian Fells some 420m years ago. The pure Lakeland water, natural weathering and mineral processes have slowly transformed the stone over millions of years, lending it unique technical properties. The aggregates can be supplied loose or in bulk bags.

Price: from £31.20 WWW.BURLINGTONAGGREGATES.CO.UK

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GB0886 Pro Landscaper September 16 F/P_GB0886 Pro Landscaper September 16 F/P 11/08/2016 12:50 Page 1

THERE IS ALWAYS A PLACE FOR A

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Pro Landscaper / September 2016 77

17/08/2016 12:02

Mature trees transform landscape projects...

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17/08/2016 15:17

JADE GOTO

82

The planting scheme for the Austerity Garden, Best in Show at BBC Gardeners’ World Live

BEING REALISTIC NOEL KINGSBURY

85

Noel Kingsbury on being a Roundup advocate in the face of glyphosate controversy

MEADOW MYTHS

87

ANDY MCINDOE How and when best to sow and manage meadows

TOP SELLERS JAMIE BUTTERWORTH

89

Jamie Butterworth runs down Hortus Loci’s bestsellers for the year

84

PLUS...

NURTURE NEWS (P81) IAN DRUMMOND (P84) READYHEDGE (P91) PALMSTEAD (P93)

91 NURTUREcoverSept.indd 79

NURTURE

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18/08/2016 11:13

NURTURE

NURTURE NEWS Management Johnsons of Whixley brings furniture training scheme at store to life Wyevale Nurseries

Boningale expands national sales team

Two recent graduates have started their two-year management trainee scheme at Wyevale Nurseries.

Twenty-three-year-old Chris King and 22-year-old Kyle Ross, both from Hereford, will be working on the in-house programme which covers all areas of the business.

Adam Dunnett, sales and marketing director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “We were looking for management trainees with a positive ‘can do’ attitude and who enjoyed being challenged to come up with solutions. Chris and Kyle had all of these attributes and we’re delighted to welcome them to the programme.

“Over the two years Chris and Kyle will work in the container, trees and transplants production divisions, supply chain operations which includes both garden centre

In order to facilitate the company’s growth and expansion plans, Boningale Nurseries has added two new members to its sales team.

Lucy Bravington has worked in the landscape industry for the last nine years, starting out as a designer and specialising more recently in hard landscaping materials as part of her sales manager role at Hardscape Products Ltd. At Boningale, Lucy will be responsible for managing existing customers and developing new business opportunities in the south of the country.

Andrew Dunkley, who brings a wealth of horticultural experience and knowledge to the company, has joined Boningale from the HTA and will manage Boningale’s customer’s accounts in the north as well as new business.

Frank Sandford, sales director at Boningale Nurseries, said the appointment of Andrew and Lucy is a first for the company as they will both be working remotely in their respective regions. www.boningale.co.uk

National plant nursery business Johnsons of Whixley has been selected to supply 12,000 plants to a living wall scheme for a national furniture store.

Barker & Stonehouse commissioned Brambledown Landscape Services to refurbish the living wall at its store on Teesside Retail Park in Stockton and enhance its green credentials.

The revamped living wall is a focal point visible to all visitors to the retail park and is just one of

the ways the store has gone ‘green’, with other green credentials including a living roof with self-maintaining vegetation.

Nick Rogers, contracts manager at Brambledown, said: “For this planting scheme we mainly used varieties of Heuchera.

The scheme is punctuated with Euonymus ‘Silver Queen’, Carex buchananii, Sedum ‘Yellow Cushion’, and Asplenium scolopendrium for extra interest.” www.nurserymen.co.uk

Winners of Provender Nurseries Redesign competition announced and amenity dispatch, goods handling and transport and will also spend time in the Wyevale Nurseries’ head office departments.”

The company’s previous trainees and apprentices who have successfully completed their programmes have all to date been offered permanent employment with Wyevale Nurseries. www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Two winners have been announced for the Provender Nurseries Redesign competition 2016, in conjunction with Capel Manor College, Enfield campus.

Designs by Soofia Bandy and Gillian Rea were selected after judging took place in March following a visit to Provender Nurseries. Each student presented their design, talking through it in detail and justifying their plant

choices, which had to be selected from the nursery’s website.

This year, the brief was to design a garden for a couple who wanted a contemporary feel with an emphasis on the colour red.

This brief was given to students on the Garden Design Advanced Diploma, and the winning designs were awarded a cash prize of £250

by Provender Nurseries. www.provendernurseries.co.uk

SEND US YOUR

NURTURE NEWS! editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

01903 777 570

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 81

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NURTURE

Designer PLANTS Brighton-based garden designer Jade Goto describes the planting scheme for the Austerity Garden designed by herself and Armando Raish, which was awarded Best in Show by the RHS at BBC Gardeners’ World Live

Reflecting the unsteady economic climate of 2013, the concept behind this urban courtyard was high design on a low budget.

Rather than disguising the materials, their raw and industrial qualities had to be celebrated.

With clients’ budgets becoming more restricted, being innovative and creative with affordable materials was becoming a regular part of our design process. Mexican yards were a background influence in the aesthetics and plant palette of this project, as we had seen innovative uses of discarded materials there which were imaginatively constructed to create beautiful gardens.

With this being a strong aesthetic influence on both the material and plant choice within the garden, we looked to use large structural 82

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Designer plants.indd 82

plants that were native to or naturalised in Mexico but that could also be grown in the UK. The horticultural theme that united the overall plant palette, with the exception of the living wall, was that the plants are adaptable to become drought resistant.

Although the larger plants were not inexpensive in terms of austerity, the use of key structural plants meant that, rather than dense planting numbers, fewer plants were used.

The main challenge we had in planting was navigating the spikes on the agave when lifting them to their final position.

Plant list

• Agave americana • Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ • Aloe spinosissima • Linear strips of succulent planting • Vertical sedum strips incorporated into the timber wall • Living wall (Treebox Easiwall system with drip irrigation system)

Suppliers

• Aloe and agave - Architectural Plants • Succulents - Lovania Nurseries • Sedum - Lindum Turf

ABOUT JADE GOTO Jade Goto is an award-winning garden designer who trained as a landscape architect.

She came to the profession through a love of design, architecture and horticulture, which feeds into her designs to create inventive and inspiring landscapes.

www.jadegoto.com

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16/08/2016 15:29

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18/08/2016 11:15

NURTURE

HEAR MORE FROM IAN DRUMMOND AT

DESIGN

Ornamental figs shouldn’t be overlooked – these plants have enough versatility and resilience to suit many different interiors, says Ian Drummond

I

was chatting to a friend about this column and mentioned that I was planning to write about fig trees.

“Fantastic idea!” she said, and went on to enthuse about large scale foliage, holidays in the Mediterranean and that there’s nothing better than freshly-picked figs, warm from the sun, consumed with cheese, walnuts and a little honey. “Actually, I meant ornamental figs, like the weeping fig,” at which point, her interest dwindled.

But this reaction is unfair and I stand firm, because while the ornamental version might not have quite the bountiful majesty of its fruitbearing sister, there is still much to shout about.

Let’s talk versatility for one thing. Want a standard plant? Done! Bonsai? Watch this space. Climbing? Trailing? We are (literally) all over it. The ornamental fig has it all.

With their combination of good looks and overall resilience to a degree of drought and low or harsh light, they have been a perennial favourite since Victorian times and come in an array of shapes and sizes, full of creative possibility: Larger trees: Ficus benjamina (weeping fig) is probably the most easily identifiable and best known of 84

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BUILD

M A I N TA I N

www.futurescapeevent.com

FABULOUS FICUS Ian Drummond

these plants. Perfect if you want to fill up a space with something large scale, green and glossy that isn’t going to fade unhappily away in full or filtered light.

Originally from India, Northern Australia and Southeast Asia, in its natural habitat it can reach up to 12m in height in both full sun and heavily shaded forest. It’s highly adaptable; in the sun it will develop a thick canopy of leaves, while in shade it will grow open with fewer leaves and thin, weeping branches. Moisture and humidity is important to this plant – in the dry season it survives by shedding all its leaves, so beware!

Bushy types: Ficus deltoidea (mistletoe fig) has narrow, glossy dark green leaves – ideal where you have limited space and need a tough little trooper standing firm and strong.

Creeping or trailing: 15 NOV 2016 Ficus pumila with beautiful, delicate, dark green crinkled leaves edged with white. It’s ideal for softening the edges of hard landscaping and containers as it will climb or trail to order.

This versatile plant can also be trained on a hoop to create a topiary effect. Whatever your design, just ensure there’s high humidity for this one, along with even shade and moist compost.

Bonsai: One of the most popular choices because ficus is ideally suited to the bonsai treatment. Of the many choices available, Ficus microcarpa, or the Ginseng Ficus, not only looks great but is particularly easy to please. This type of tree can even survive without direct sunlight, although of course will be happier and healthier with it. It’s similarly easy-going regarding water – once or twice a week is great, but if for any reason this doesn’t happen, it won’t suddenly shrivel up and die, which is reassuring. If you see yellow leaves appearing, give it a little more water and for ultimate health and happiness, a daily mist of water produces the best results. Easy!

ABOUT IAN DRUMMOND Ian Drummond is the creative director of Indoor Garden Design, Europe’s leading interior landscape design company. Based in Highgate, north London, IGD has been bringing nature into offices for over 40 years.

www.indoorgardendesign.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/08/2016 11:00

NURTURE

Glyphosate is still in the process of EU re-registration. Noel Kingsbury gives his two cents on the topic, and why he is still a Roundup advocate

R

oundup. Incredibly useful stuff.

You’ve got to plant an area up, but how do you get rid of the existing vegetation, specifically all the persistent perennial weeds like couch, ryegrass and bindweed? Or establish a native wildflower meadow mix on a site dominated by pasture grass, deal with Japanese knotweed or fight a persistent weed problem which is threatening to overwhelm existing, perhaps otherwise very successful, planting? Roundup is usually the answer.

For years – since 1974 in fact – Roundup has been an essential part of the toolkit for the landscape and horticulture industries, and increasingly for nature conservation workers too. Now, in the European Union at least, it appears threatened. It needs to be reregistered by EU rules, a process required for all agrochemicals designed to ensure that all

GIVEN THAT ITS SAFETY RECORD HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REMARKABLY GOOD OVER 42 YEARS ON THE MARKET, WHY IS RE-REGISTERING SO POLITICALLY FRAUGHT? materials used are regularly reviewed for safety and environmental impact. Re-registration appears to be constantly delayed. You think Brexit might affect this? Think again – this issue is probably not very high on the agenda for re-negotiation.

For us in the garden and landscape industry there are two main questions here.

One is the safety of this very widely used chemical, specifically glyphosate, its active

BEING REALISTIC Noel Kingsbury

ingredient. The other is, given that its safety record has actually been remarkably good over 42 years on the market, why is re-registering so politically fraught?

It is always difficult for those of us outside a narrow scientific circle to really assess whether a chemical is safe or not. Scientific and medical research uses jargon which can be impenetrable and rarely gives clear answers. Such research is often passed on to us by journalists, who rarely have any better understanding of science jargon than we do, and often have little interest in doing

so. There is a further problem, which is a political muddying of the waters. Environmental campaign groups have long had it in for all agrochemicals, and their well-funded press departments are all too quick to fling out press releases on the latest research findings giving their own point of view.

Journalists overwhelmingly react to these, rather than research on their own – they are written in plain English, and inevitably take up no more than one side of A4.

Every now and again, I try to take a look at what the scientists are saying, and I have a chat with a colleague who is a plant sciences professor and does work for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. What I see and hear is not, to be honest, hugely worrying. You can check it out for yourself on Wikipedia, which gives a good dispassionate summary with lots of references. I personally use Roundup, mostly on nursery plots, for which I find it incredibly useful.

Roundup’s being in the dock is largely political, an example of how the landscape industry is getting blowback from other, bigger controversies.

Many environmentalists are against Roundup because it was invented by Monsanto, an American multinational. It is very hard to have a sensible conversation about this company with many people, largely because of the genetically modified crops issue. Has there been a single negative impact on human health because of GM crops?

No. So, why the almost-hysterical opposition?

The sheer irrationality of much of the debate has seeped into and poisoned sensible discussion of so much else. Of course we need to discuss how and when we use agrochemicals in the managed landscape, and to continually review it – but we need to look at the evidence and take it from there.

Left: A wildflower meadow sown from a seed mix.

Removing existing vegetation first is essential, for which Roundup has been the usual solution

ABOUT NOEL KINGSBURY Noel Kingsbury has been involved in the horticulture industry since the mid Eighties as a nurseryman, garden designer and writer, with features appearing in The Garden, The Daily Telegraph and Gardens Illustrated. He has played a major role in introducing the British gardening public and the horticulture profession to naturalistic planting with a series of books since the mid Nineties, four of which he has written with Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.

www.noelkingsbury.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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NURTURE

Early autumn may seem an odd time to write about meadows, but this is a key time in the management of an established wildflower meadow and an ideal time to sow a new one, says Andy McIndoe

M

eadows have received much attention since the creation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. They may be a wonderful way to bring the countryside into created landscapes, but they should never be promoted as an easy, low maintenance option.

Meadows need just as much management as any other planting. Growing conditions are every bit as important as they are in the choice of any other plant material.

A meadow can be a wonderful way to attract a wide range of wildlife, especially pollinating insects. It can be an effective way to add interest to large areas of grass where beds of shrubs and perennials would be inappropriate. A meadow is a changing landscape; the best seasons will always be late spring and early summer, unless later blooming prairie flowers can be incorporated.

A meadow is not just a matter of letting the grass grow and hoping it will emerge as a tapestry of flowers next season. Native meadows are at their best on poor, well-drained soil. This results in fine grasses that persist regardless of weather. They leave space for broad-leaved flowering plants to seed and establish. On fertile, moist soil grass remains thick and lush: the result is no space for flowers and grass that collapses in heavy rain.

The secret to success is management.

Grass is cut in late summer and all mowings are removed. Some claim it is important to cut the grass and leave it on the meadow for flower seeds to fall to the ground before raking it off – if weather is warm and dry this is fine, but if rain persists regrowth of grass can make later gathering difficult. In reality most wildflower

MEADOW MYTHS Andy McIndoe

Meadow flowers are mostly perennial flowering plants. The seed responds well to stratification so autumn is the ideal time to sow. Colourful subjects such as poppies, cornflowers and corn marigolds are annual cornfield flowers which grow, set seed and die. The seed germinates when soil is disturbed, so they die out after a season in a meadow. If these subjects are required they need to be sown annually on newly cultivated soil: the result is a pictorial meadow which has a flowering season of a couple of months in early summer. On rich, fertile soils including clay, neither the true

seeds have fallen by late summer and it is better to get on with the job when weather allows.

A meadow is mown during autumn, winter and early spring. It is important to clear any leaves from surrounding trees as they fall, as they too can be a

MEADOWS NEED JUST AS MUCH MANAGEMENT AS ANY OTHER PLANTING boost to fertility. The meadow is then allowed to grow from mid-spring onwards. This regime prevents grass from rotting down and boosting soil fertility which results in lush grass and no flowers. Some advocate the introduction of yellow rattle, a semi-parasitic flowering plant, to reduce the vigour of lush grass and allow more wildflowers in. In some instances this seems to work, however the rattle does parasitise some flowering plants as well as the grasses, and it may end up being the dominant subject.

meadow or pictorial meadow are likely to be particularly successful. Here a prairie mix of perennial grasses and prairie flowers is perhaps a better solution.

If starting a meadow from scratch it is important to conquer the battle against perennial weeds before sowing; these will be impossible to eradicate selectively afterwards. On newly managed meadows grubbing of undesirables is really important in the early stages and whenever they invade layer. Docks, thistles and ragwort are subjects to look out for. Three or four thistles left to seed can result in hours of work the following season.

ABOUT ANDY MCINDOE Andy McIndoe is a practical horticulturist with more than 30 years’ experience in ornamental horticulture.

He has designed and advised on gardens of all sizes and has been responsible for 25 Gold Medal winning exhibits at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Twitter: @AndyMcIndoe

www.andymcindoe.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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NURTURE

Looking back on a year of plants, Jamie Butterworth runs down the top selling plants for Hortus Loci and what show garden designers have loved this season

A

ugust is typically the quietest month in the nursery trade – the show season is well and truly over, lifting season hasn’t quite begun, and most people have gone off on their holidays so the garden gets put on the back burner.

This gives us a great opportunity to sit back and review how the last 12 months have been, what plants have been a total triumph, which ones were a disaster, and make a decision on what plants we need to grow next year.

One of my favourite jobs when it comes to working in a nursery is the opportunity to choose new and exciting plants to add to our ever-growing core list. By doing this now, it means that we can start potting our new lines in October, allowing them to fully root before going dormant, resulting in a very strong plant as spring emerges. However, in order to do this we need to try and predict what designers will be wanting – our top sellers allow us to make a good guess.

It’s always fascinating to see what plants have become popular among landscapers and designers; it’s the best way to see what’s hot and not in the world of planting design.

Below are our four top selling plants from September 2015 to August 2016.

• Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’ A striking deep blue, this deciduous Agapanthus is a real favourite of ours here at the nursery. Typically flowers just in time for

Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’ www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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TOP SELLERS

Jamie Butterworth

Festuca amethystina • Orlaya grandiflora When it comes to white umbels, we grow thousands of several different plants from Ammi to Cenolophium, Bunium to Daucus. However, the most popular out of all of these, especially among designers creating show gardens, has to be the annual, Orlaya grandiflora. Its delicate crisp white flowers will continue for weeks on end, ideal for that roadside verge look that is becoming ever more popular.

RHS Hampton Court, and by RHS Tatton really comes into its own. It is proving to be a hardy, strong, upright plant, and a much stronger colour than the straight A. africanus hybrids.

Orlaya grandiflora

Hakonechloa macra • Hakchonechloa macra Our top selling plant of 2016, best planted in mass for maximum impact, this semi-evergreen grass looks best as its lush foliage is lifted in the wind. It’s a fond favourite among designers and landscapers alike, due to its versatility to work remarkably well in most conditions and planting schemes.

• Festuca amethystina Once again another super grass that looks great weaved amongst flowering perennials, tufts of fine foliage with coppery bronze seed heads that dance through surrounding planting.

Very easy to grow, and remarkably reliable against pests and diseases.

Judging by this list, we can confidently say that grasses are still very popular amongst designers, with prairie and naturalistic planting still the ‘in thing’ to be doing. As for the next 12 months, I don’t foresee this changing significantly, but I would be delighted to be proven wrong.

ABOUT JAMIE BUTTERWORTH Graduating from RHS Garden Wisley with a distinction in summer 2015, avid plantsman Jamie now works as joint show plant manager at Hortus Loci, growing the plants for major o er sho s such as helsea ampton ourt and atton. amie is a oun ort associate director and oun mbassador promotin horticulture to youn people across the . amie is also a ardenin broadcaster or adio ondon.

Email: jb@hortusloci.co.uk www.hortusloci.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 89

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NURTURE

SITE VISIT

READYHEDGE Following the recent expansion of Readyhedge’s site, Pro Landscaper’s Nina Mason visited managing director Simon Williamson to discuss the company’s success, its franchises abroad, and why there needs to be more cohesion between UK nurseries

With a wealth of negativity surrounding the UK’s separation from the European Union, as well as the use of glyphosate in member countries, it’s refreshing to meet Simon Williamson whose glass is always half full.

This could be due to the fact that Readyhedge does not require the use of glyphosate, or because Brexit will not have a huge impact on the company, but mostly, it seems to be down to the fact that Readyhedge makes a product unique to the UK – meaning its popularity is only on the up.

“Readyhedge is not a nursery, it’s a brand,” Simon tells me. “Our name is out there and we get specified on a lot of work. The positive result from what we produce is that it sets a higher standard for instant hedging within the industry.”

Simon also puts Readyhedge’s progress down to its simplicity: “We try to keep it simple for contractors as well as for us; we don’t want to complicate everything with vast ranges, heights and prices. That’s where we have a degree of success in the industry, in that it’s a proven product.”

Specialising in high quality instant hedging and screening, Worcestershire-based Readyhedge was founded 13 years ago on

the same site it resides on today, which has now expanded to a total of 17 acres.

“We were fortuitous in that the market seemed to be looking for something and we filled that gap. We now run out of the same products virtually every year.”

In this case, Readyhedge may turn to one of its franchises for stock: “We have franchises in Holland and Southern Ireland, and we’re looking to have one in France as well. It’s a loose term, though; it’s purely a sharing of the name and information from here, and we bulk purchase materials.”

Despite all of these franchises being within the EU, Simon still maintains a positive attitude about Brexit: “We end up buying a lot of its products, so there may be tariffs imposed on that, which will unfortunately get passed on to the client.

However, even if the market changes slightly,

I don’t envisage it hitting us particularly hard, though building may slow down.”

Simon also hopes that, following the referendum resulting in British voters deciding to leave the EU, UK nurseries will become more cohesive and specialise in products rather than selling huge ranges of plants: “I think the time for specialists has come back, when nurseries concentrate on one thing, which is what we do.

People are still producing a lot of unnecessary plants, and the industry could do with a bit of a shake-up. When everybody says that they can

produce it and sell it cheaper to gain the market, prices stay rock bottom.

“In Britain we’re naturally good growers – we have the perfect climate and acumen for knowing what’s needed in this country. I think that we need a little bit more cohesion, more working together.”

Maybe leaving the EU will be the boost that UK growers need, or maybe not, but what is certain is that Readyhedge will keep calm and carry on.

CONTACT Readyhedge Ltd Court Gate Nursery, Station Road, Eckington, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3BB READYHEDGE Tel: 01386 750585 Twitter: @Readyhedge

READYHEDGE

www.readyhedgeltd.com READYHEDGE

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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NURTURE

Ahead of Palmstead’s Soft Landscape Workshop in September, we highlight one of the seminar topics to be presented by garden designers Shenagh Hume and Jackie Herald: Are we becoming more allergic to our most beautiful and modern green spaces?

There is a growing feeling that horticultural reasons alone may not result in the right plant for the right place. Once human health is factored into the picture, plant selection for both public and private spaces is much more complex than meets the eye.

The prevalence of diagnosed hay fever has trebled over the last three decades. This has many social and economic implications; for instance, statistics show that some children underperform in exams as a direct result of pollen-induced hay fever. Is it possible to mitigate against over-exposure to pollens by better plant choice?

Garden designers Shenagh Hume and Jackie Herald believe that it’s important to focus on this, and want to encourage an approach to healthier planting design.

Following a career in medicine, treating people in the UK’s

CHANGE IN THE WIND largest allergy centre at Guy’s Hospital London, Shenagh Hume qualified as a garden designer.

She began to see the correlation between airborne pollen and allergies and called Jackie Herald, SGD award winning garden designer whose work has focused on creating healthy spaces for children’s learning and play.

The duo will use the platform of Palmstead Nurseries’ Soft Landscape Workshop on 21 September to talk about their work together and assemble a display of low pollen plants from the nursery as a live discussion point.

As an industry we should be excited by Hume and Herald’s work. It poses the question: Is it time we looked in our back yard to consider the unintended consequences of what plants are really doing for us?

THE BIRCH, ADORED BY MANY GARDEN DESIGNERS, IS ONE OF THE WORST POLLEN PRODUCERS

Photos 2-4, 6-7 ©Shenagh Hume

Jackie Herald says: “Allergy is a huge field.

There are many different types of allergy that can be stimulated in different ways via different materials but pollen is the key factor which is connected to health and air quality.”

The birch, adored by many garden designers, is one of the worst pollen producers.

Hume is worried about the proliferation of the wind pollinated birch tree in public realm design, as she explains: “The birch tree, frequently used in contemporary landscape design, may look stunning in large groups but the tree produces the most potent and troublesome pollen.” www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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The problem is exacerbated by acres of hard landscaping in urban spaces, where inadequate permeable surfaces leave the pollen to float freely with other particulates of everyday dust.

It is impossible to avoid all pollens, but it is possible to avoid mass planting those species which specialist health practitioners and palynologists know can provoke allergic responses.

Palmstead Nurseries has worked with Hume and Herald to produce a survey, ‘What Have Plants Ever Done For Us?’ The results will be shared ahead of Palmstead’s Soft Landscape Workshop. Register for the workshop online and take the survey at www.palmstead.co.uk 1 Jackie Herald and Shenagh Hume 2 Birch catkins yielding fine pollen 3 Birch is a predominant street tree 4 Mass planting of birch trees near City Hall, London 5 Barbican planting with birch 6 Low pollen planting in Mill Hill 7 Eryngium, attractive to bees and people with hay fever and asthma Pro Landscaper / September 2016 93

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ROBERT WEBBER

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The case for fixed outdoor heaters and how to balance power and cost

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Robert Webber gives the case for fixed outdoor heaters, keeping in mind the limitations that can arise when it comes to power and cost

One thing we all love in the summer is the longer, warmer evenings. At my house that normally consists of another glass of red wine, a game of Uno with the kids, or a walk down to the river with my dogs. For those two weeks of evening warmth, we live like kings.

During summer the use of fixed garden heaters is a great way to help us stay outside longer and make the most of our outside spaces to entertain or relax.

Some designers I work with tend to specify heaters to extend their clients’ enjoyment of the garden. It does bring a challenge to installers, as there are certain limitations on the amount of power that these products can produce.

Seventy five per cent of our lighting systems run on very low power; you can feed most lighting systems via a simple RCD fused spur off of the main house ring, or an external socket.

With heaters, it’s different.

Most electrical heaters that we fit are greater than 2.5kW, so to simply plug them in isn’t feasible. When a heater first starts up it pulls a lot more than its standard running power. As an installer, we need to make sure the circuit is capable of withstanding this sudden draw of power. The only real solution for heaters is to wire them directly back to their own circuit on the client’s mainboard – this can be a very tricky and costly exercise.

Take a minute to think where the mainboard is in the house; very often it will be in the centre, under the stairs. This can be a nightmare when 96

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HOT DATE

OUTDOOR HEATING heaters have been specified as part of the design. We will rise to any challenge within any design, but it would be a really good thing for the designer to check suitability before the seed has been sown to the client.

It’s virtually impossible for us to cost heaters from a drawing. We nearly always need to check on site, so when you’re specifying electrical heaters on a drawing, think about the overall budget. A £400 heater could easily end up costing ten times that to install, if you take into account the mains position, cable sizes, redecoration inside the house and so on.

Many designs we work on benefit hugely from the effects that fixed heaters bring. Take pergolas for instance; one designer I work with in London always specifies heaters for small areas, and installs external heating products under a pergola canopy. The client can then turn up the heat when the colder nights start.

DURING SUMMER THE USE OF FIXED GARDEN HEATERS IS A GREAT WAY TO HELP US STAY OUTSIDE LONGER

Most external heaters work like ‘presence’ heating. That is to say that if you’re within the beam of the heater then you’ll be nice and warm, but the moment you step outside that beam you

won’t feel the effects at all. When you design heater positions, its paramount to make sure that seated areas are covered, as well as the installation position of the heater.

Always think about the best way to control the heater. The last thing you want is a straight manual switch that could easily be left on, unnoticed. We always fit touch timers for all of our heater installations. These have internal ‘dip switch’ controls that can be set to stay on from ten minutes to four hours. In our opinion, two hours is really the most you would want it on for.

However, always position the touch switch so the client can easily extend the time if needed.

If your client wishes to have electrical heaters fixed, don’t get hot under the collar. Check the suitability of getting power out from the house first, or better still, consult an installer who is used to the influences of external installations. A great resource is Heat Outdoors, a UK company specialising in various forms of patio heaters from leading manufacturers (www.heat-outdoors.co.uk).

ABOUT ROBERT WEBBER

There are so many different types of fixed heaters on the market. We are always being asked about what size heater will produce the right amount of heat for a given area – unfortunately there is no real rule.

Robert Webber is the founder of Scenic Lighting, a specialist exterior lighting company based in Berkshire.

He designs and installs garden lighting throughout the UK and internationally. Robert can be contacted on rob@ sceniclighting.com or via his mobile on 07766 051 000.

www.sceniclighting.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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SEAN BUTLER AT

WATER WORKS Sean Butler kicks off a new series on dealing with water in gardens with an in-depth look at soak aways

Water can be either useful or a real issue when designing and building gardens. As landscapers, having the ability and confidence to deal with water when building gardens raises your skill levels and customer confidence in your knowledge, which avoids the need to bring in outside trades. This leads to an opportunity to charge for this service and make, dare I say it, a little profit!

In this article, we will look at how to deal with water when it’s an issue. This can be due to poor drainage, which then causes water retention on the surface areas of the garden, whether it be lawn, flower beds or even backing into patio areas. More often now we follow on from builders doing an extension (that’s if the clients do their homework and realise that builders expertise is in building houses rather than landscaping gardens).

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are drainage solutions that provide an alternative to the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers to nearby watercourses.

The new M25 extension has used this approach and has gone a long way to improving water run off by implementing hydrodynamic vortex separation. This approach can be scaled down to landscape gardens. Some planners insist that when building extensions, a mandatory dreaded soak away must be implemented in

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gardens. I say this because they can cause problems for the landscaper.

While I have no actual dislike for soak aways as the principle is a very good environmentally friendly practice, it’s the way in which they are implemented by builders which may cause you a problem. A poorly constructed soak away (and you will have come across this) will have been created by digging a hole 5m away from the house, and filling it with all the debris (breeze blocks, concrete, rubble) that is accumulated during the build.

What should you do as the landscaper?

Dig trial holes and do a percolation test.

A hole 300mm square should be excavated to a depth 300mm below the proposed invert level of the incoming pipe. Where deep drains are necessary, the hole should conform to this shape at the bottom, but may be enlarged above the 300mm level to enable safe excavation to be carried out. Where very deep excavations are necessary, you should seek specialist advice.

Fill the hole to the top of the 300mm square section and allow it to seep away overnight.

Next day, repeat this exercise and observe the time, in seconds, for the water to seep away from 75% full to 25% full level (that is a depth of 150mm). Divide this time by 150mm.

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15 NOV 2016

Formula to calculate the soil infiltration rate f= 10-3 2Vp The storage volume should then be calculated so that, over the duration of a storm, the storage volume is sufficient to contain the difference between the inflow volume and the outflow volume. The inflow volume is calculated from the rainfall depth and the area drained. The outflow volume (O) is calculated from the equation: O = as50 x f x D Where as50 is the area of the side of the storage volume when filled to 50% of its effective depth (for example (1m² /2) x 4 = 2m²) and (D) is the duration of the storm in minutes (eg 5 minutes).

Example: Drained area = 25m² Incoming water is 25m² area x 10mm of rainfall = 0.25m3 of water to be disposed of.

Outflow volume is: O = as50 x f x D therefore O = 2x 0.0002 x 5 and thus O = 0.002m³ Therefore required capacity is 0.25m³ - 0.002m³ = 0.248m³. Which means that a rubble filled soak away measuring 1m³ below the inlet pipe and with, say, 20% void, that is 0.2m³ storage capacity, will not be adequate and the soak away volume should be increased to 1.24m³ capacity.

I always ask clients if the builder has carried out the above and the answer is always ‘no’.

Once the right area has been found then a soak away can be properly constructed using soak away crates rather than the less effective builders’ rubble. If the percolation test fails then we can get around this by incorporating an ‘auto lift pump and sump’. More on this in the next issue.

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

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 99

18/08/2016 09:42

EDUCATE

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL Endless initiatives aimed at training and recruitment crop up in the industry – in order to make them successful, all fronts must work together, says Jody Lidgard It has been a while since I put pen to paper to discuss how things are going with training and mentoring at the Landscape Skills Academy.

With the year flying by at a pace and work seemingly pouring in from all directions, the industry is enjoying the moment, and rightly so.

What then of training and recruitment? No magic wands being waved here. As usual, a few hundred more initiatives are being launched, some of which are destined for the waste paper bin and others which will burn bright for a short time like fireworks in the night sky, wooing the masses for a short period before plummeting to earth spent and lifeless. Others may just be the slow burn we are looking for.

As you read this article we will have sailed past the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show and will be heading towards autumn. What has grabbed my attention is the opportunity for BALI and the APL to come together under the banner of the RHS in the launch of the Young Landscaper and Plants Person competition. Two years ago at Tatton Park, I was mentoring the WorldSkills 100 Pro Landscaper / September 2016

Jody Lidgard.indd 100

semi-final competition and I couldn’t help but notice the awards for Young Designer of the Year being dished out by Sue Biggs, director general of the RHS. I spoke to Sue regarding the untold story of the landscapers and plants people who make these gardens work. The idea of a stand-alone competition was hatched, and through various planning and meeting sessions we have now launched the

WE ARE ONTO SOMETHING WITH GREAT POTENTIAL – A NEUTRAL PROVING GROUND FOR THE INDUSTRY TO REJOICE IN first year of the RHS Young Landscape Contractor competition, with the winner announced as Ewan Sewell for 2016. Very well done to Ewan for all his hard work.

Here is the interesting part: you could say that the APL was slow off the mark here. The RHS was approached by BALI to support the new competition.

It’s a no-brainer, right? I contacted all parties from a Landscape Skills Academy stance; the RHS was very open and happy to explore the notion, but trade associations... time to confer, I guess. Little response from that direction.

Now I admit that, yes, I am an excitable character and a tad cynical in my outlook, but here is a massive opportunity to have real joined up writing. We all know that our two trade associations have their differences, and so they should – but this does not mean that when the time comes they cannot stand shoulder to shoulder on an issue that is actually bigger than either party lets on. I have no axe to grind, and by the time this article is out, we will all have seen the competition and waxed lyrical on how marvellous it was, with various parties claiming it was their idea. I have to say, I did not see these guys about when I floated the notion.

Let’s see, shall we? If by then united we stand, then we are onto something with great potential – a neutral proving ground for the industry to rejoice in. Or, alternatively it could be another piece of touchpaper about to be lit.

ABOUT JODY LIDGARD Jody Lidgard of Bespoke Outdoor Spaces has been in the landscaping industry for 20 years.

After studying at Otley/Writtle college he worked as a landscape contractor and taught landscape construction and horticulture at Askham Bryan and UCS Otley. His ability to gain the best from the people he works alongside has led him to his ongoing involvement with WorldSkills competitions. www.jodylidgard.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

16/08/2016 14:40

SANDOWN PARK RACECOURSE, ESHER, SURREY

TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

Special Events

A HOST OF NEW AND RETURNING EVENTS AND SEMINARS AT THIS YEAR S SHOW Go Landscape BALI will be presenting a seminar at FutureScape about Go Landscape, the new initiative that aims to combat the industry’s growing skills gap, inform young people and students of the incredible range of opportunities within landscaping and to show the valuable, skilled and vastly creative work that can be achieved in this sector.

Interior Landscaping FutureScape 2016 is our most diverse and exciting year yet, and is introducing in association with efig a list of seminar topics and live debate on the subject of interior landscaping.

FutureArch Our first ever seminar timetable focused solely on landscape architecture, presenting a range of seminars and a live debate in association with the Landscape Institute.

The Detail is in the Design Back for its fifth year, our ever popular Detail is in the Design will feature a lively expert panel providing their opinions and insight on the garden design industry, with the opportunity for audience members to have their say and pose questions to the panel in the Q&A session.

The Beauty is in the Build Our panel members from the top of the industry will be ready to advise and answer questions on best practice, the future and the current state of building within the landscaping industry.

The Passion is in the Plants With a panel of expert plant lovers, the Passion is in the Plants is returning for another insightful discussion on the hugely diverse subject of plants in the landscape industry, not to be missed!

The Love is in the Lighting FutureScape 2016 is introducing this brand new panel event the Love is in the Lighting, with leading experts within the industry providing valuable advice and information on the effect and best use of lighting in the sector.

For further information on any of our special events, please visit www.futurescapeevent.com or call 01903 777570

www.futurescapeevent.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com prolandscapermagazine

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18/08/2016 12:51

EDUCATE

KES

HAW DARREN

On receiving a request from Pro Landscaper to write this column, my first thought was how easy it would be as I am constantly reading gardening books – but trying to work out which one amongst the many has been a real dilemma. A bit like doing Desert Island Discs, choosing seven would be straightforward but to choose one that would be my sole keeper is almost impossible.

There are books on the coffee table in the lounge, books in the bathroom and books by the bed. The books in the office tend to be reference books, some of which rarely get looked at and others that are always beside my desk.

GRABBING IDEAS FROM OTHER DISCIPLINES IS THE MOST EXCITING PART OF BEING A DESIGNER

WHAT I’M READING Darren Hawkes, Darren Hawkes Landscapes

I READ SNIPPETS, GAINING INSIGHT INTO BETTER HORTICULTURAL PRACTICE AND TAKING INSPIRATION FROM A LIFE LIVED TO THE FULL AT HOME At home the two books on the coffee table both deal with sketching. Edward Hutchison’s brilliant Drawing for Landscape Architecture and Tim Richardson’s Landscape and Garden Design Sketchbooks. Both books exist as a means to encourage us to continue sketching in a world where CAD dominates. A 2B pencil and a blank sheet of paper can still communicate the designer’s first impulses and responses to a space better, as well as being a means of note taking on site. Both books have given me a renewed confidence in sharing my early sketches, and taking the time to draw on site.

IN THE BEDROOM In the bedroom are the old favourites, A Well Tempered Garden and In My Garden by Christopher Lloyd. I read snippets of these again and again and have done for years, gaining little bits of insight into better horticultural practice and most importantly taking inspiration from a life lived to the full. Christopher seemed to be both student and teacher, generous in passing on precious knowledge and fervently seeking new ideas from those people he met and worked with. In his letters with Beth Chatto I love the everyman we get to know. A gardener who loves music, poetry, food and drink, all of which fuels his passion for colour, form and texture within the garden. For me grabbing ideas from other disciplines is the most exciting part of being a designer.

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IN THE BATHROOM In the bathroom is the book that I’ve returned to most of all since my very first days of being a landscaper, although there are new revisions in the office. My first copy of The RHS Good Plant Guide still gets thumbed through while I’m in the bath. I’ve got an awful memory so holding on to a huge catalogue of plants in my mind has never been a strong point. This little guide is such a great way of reminding one of plants long forgotten or reconsidering something that seemed passé. I’d forgotten the wonderful Halimiocistus, a plant I’d used in one of my very first planting schemes back in the Nineties.

So if Kirsty Young, presenter of Desert Island Discs, were to ask which I would save from the waves, I think I’d have to choose Christopher.

Not because of the wealth of information, but because he makes me smile. What’s more important than that?

Edward Hutchison’s Drawing for Landscape Architecture

CONTACT Darren Hawkes Landscapes 20 Lostwithiel Street, Fowey, Cornwall PL23 1BE 07577 250839 www.darrenhawkeslandscapes.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 103

17/08/2016 11:33

EDUCATE

DEALING WITH KUBOTA

Lister Wilder

Kubota’s dealer service excellence programme is aimed at assisting and encouraging dealers to improve their customer service support, in order to help grow their business through the achievement of ‘complete customer satisfaction’ with the Kubota brand and product.

Kubota works closely with its dealers to offer regular training events, helping their teams acquire the skills and processes needed to reach the highest standard of service, maintenance and after sales support. Offering 24/7 contact and next day parts delivery, Kubota ensures the end user has the optimum service experience through its extensive dealer network.

Kubota’s service dealer awards are presented to dealers who sell products from all three Kubota UK divisions: Construction Equipment, Engines and Tractor and Groundcare. Kubota rates dealers on four main criteria: their service facilities, the results of customer satisfaction surveys, their participation in technical training and their response to service issues in the field.

Each dealer will be assessed against how the task is carried out and necessary weighting will be applied to certain activities such as facilities, specialist tooling and equipment, mandatory product update completion, training participation and customer service satisfaction scores against their ‘first time fix’ ratio. It is these areas that produce the critical metrics and key indicators that demonstrate the company’s technical competence and knowledge, demonstrating their ability to efficiently resolve problems in a professional manner.

As a result of the assessment, one of four standards, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Gold Plus are awarded at progressive staged levels of achievement against the programme’s targets.

Dealers are then encouraged to place their award on show in their service reception and publicise the award on their service vehicles, website and through local advertising to highlight their commitment to achieving the highest levels of customer service.

MAJOR OWEN warded old for its fifth consecutive year in Andy Jones, Major Owen’s managing director, commented he support u ota o ers e tends to sta training, leading to our old a ards he robustness of the parts supply chain infrastructure enables our customers to maintain high levels of productivity. The quality of these after-sales support capabilities translates to high levels of trust with our customer base, leading to strong repeat business for Major Owen and brand loyalty to Kubota.”

GEORGE BROWN warded five olds and one ilver for its si branches across edfordshire uc inghamshire sse and orthamptonshire in Kevin McConnell, service manager at George Brown said: “We’d like to thank Kubota for its support and all the sta at our depots for ta ing on the challenge, working hard to go the extra mile for customers and understanding the importance of the after sales service. Now that we’ve achieved Gold level we’ll be raising the bar and pushing for the next achievement.”

LISTER WILDER warded ron e for irencester three olds for shford evi es and c ham and old lus for eading in Neil Davis, service director at Lister Wilder Reading, commented his is the fifth time e’ e achie ed recognition by Kubota and each time we’ve been improving our service facilities. We’re delighted that the whole group embraced the challenge and gave it one hundred per cent. The partnership with Kubota is very important to us and we aim to even improve on our Gold Plus standard next year!”

KEITH MILLER

KUBOTA SERVICE & TRAINING MANAGER We’re dedicated to looking after our dealers across our extensive network, ensuring we provide them with all the training and support they need to succeed in the market. Our dealer excellence programme is designed to assist each dealer to strive for excellence, improving their service departments to help enhance customer perception, service support and customer satisfaction.

CONTACT

Major Owen

104 Pro Landscaper / September 2016

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Kubota UK 01844 268000 www.kubota.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

17/08/2016 12:39

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C

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Landscape IT’S INDOORS MEETS OUTDOORS

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U55-4 mini Power to match any machine on the market within its 5t weight category • Upgraded digging and lifting power • Max digging force: 42.3kgf • Top speed: 4.9km/h • Lift height: 5,665mm • Engine: Kubota V2607-DI • Length: 5,500mm • Weight: 5,400kg

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EXPERT VIEW: CHOOSING THE RIGHT EXCAVATOR

JUSTIN PAXMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR, PAXMAN LANDSCAPES

We choose based on manoeuvrability, weight, dig depth and ease of transportation.

We currently use a 1.7t U17 Kubota; we have plenty of experience with Kubota machinery and tractors so we know we’re in safe hands. On this model at this size we get the benefit of adjustable track frames. These can be lifted to greatly reduce the width of the excavator, which is an absolute must if

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we’re trying to access a site where space is limited. This is almost always a factor with rear gardens or outdoor space. The excavator’s overall weight is a huge consideration too; we have to be able to manoeuvre off and on transportation, as well as on the ground.

Its dig depth is also key – it’s got to do the job and be easily transported via ramps on a transit or on the back of a lorry.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/08/2016 11:13

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Airion 2 ore po erful, accurate and comforta le than the first generation irion a po er oise le el pa d attery life up to hours a air flo speed m s depending on no le eight g Price: £655 exc VAT

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EXPERT VIEW: GETTING THE BEST OF BLOWERS

GARY PRICE

DIRECTOR, LAWN ACE LTD/GP GARDEN DESIGN

A petrol leaf blower, whether it be handheld or ac pac , is an in alua le piece of it for any landscape gardener en if you use rooms you ill find a lo er ill mo e small de ris that s eeping misses or porta ility reasons, petrol machinery ill al ays e my first choice as running electrical ca les o er long distances isn’t practical in

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a professional en ironment f you don’t yet o n or use a petrol leaf lo er, ma e sure you ha e one efore the autumn arri es and don’t scrimp uy the est you can afford hey are orth e ery penny emem er to replace any old petrol if you eep your lo er stored for lengthy periods eaf lo ers tend to e easy to maintain a ne spar plug and air filter clean or

replacement the eginning of e ery year ill generally e enough to eep your season trou le free

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 107

17/08/2016 14:25

PEOPLE

FI AL prepaN rations

THE THREE PEAKERS

RIDE AGAIN It’s less than one month to go until the Three Peakers Ride Again challenge is underway, and the two teams are using this time to up their training as well as their fundraising efforts for the Perennial HortAid 2016 campaign. Pro Landscaper caught up with some of the riders to find out what final preparations they’re undertaking before the challenge begins on 18 September

Road bike riders

DAVID HOUGHTON KINGS LANDSCAPES

What are your final preparations?

It’s all down to losing weight and getting to the gym three times a week; I need to lose half a stone which is very hard as I love my food and drink at weekends.

The most important thing in your kit?

Zero electrolytes with my CamelBak. I will be drinking it all day until my teeth fall out – and drugs that help stop pain.

The toughest part of the challenge?

Adjusting to the fitness needed to complete it, which will take three days.

Then I can enjoy myself and smile.

The best part of the challenge?

Besides finishing? The most important thing to me is winning, whatever it is, so trying not to be last – and the banter.

KATJA GRIFFITHS

MARK GARTHWAITE

JOHN WYER

DESIGN BY KATJA

QUADRON SERVICES

BOWLES & WYER

What are your final preparations?

Training was going quite well until I broke my toe and tore a tendon, so I will be out of action for nearly three weeks.

The most important thing in your kit?

I will abuse being one of the only females riding by not carrying any tools as my gentlemen team members will have everything on them, so the most important part of my kit will probably be chamois cream.

The toughest part of the challenge?

Climbing the hills!

The best part of the challenge?

The camaraderie. Riding as one team is going to be an exceptional feeling and a true privilege.

What are your final preparations?

Plenty of cycling events in the lead-up to September. I’ve just returned from France with two training rides of over 50 miles. I also completed RideLondon in July and am taking part in the London Triathlon in a relay team in August. Then later in August I’ll be travelling to France again for an 85 mile sportive.

The most important thing in your kit?

Definitely my sunglasses, they keep the bugs out of my eyes!

The toughest part of the challenge?

Riding for six days on the bounce will definitely be the most challenging.

The best part of the challenge?

I like cycling up hills, so hopefully hills!

What are your final preparations?

Mine include a four day weekend in Italy, so it involves some serious cycling in the few days before we leave. I have to take my son to uni the day before we travel.

The most important thing in your kit?

Chamois cream? Earplugs? There was some serious snoring last time! Probably my mitts – these are essential if my hands are to arrive at Lands End intact.

The toughest part of the challenge?

The 6:30am alarm on the penultimate day.

The best part of the challenge?

The camaraderie on the road is great. I also like the quiet times when we are all cycling in unison, in silence (other than Paul Downer).

MATT O’CONNER

ROBERT CROWDER

PAUL DOWNER

JOHN O’CONNER

CROWDERS NURSERIES

OAK VIEW LANDSCAPES

What are your final preparations?

Trying to squeeze as much training in as possible. I know it will never be enough.

The most important thing in your kit?

Ear plugs for sleeping in the dorms and chamois cream for the day – to help protect the nether regions! Plus a good supply of humour will be needed.

The toughest part of the challenge?

Day one has around 1,800m of climbing – that’s going to be tough and the terrain looks rough and rugged. On the plus side the scenery will be spectacular.

The best part of the challenge?

We are all in this to raise funds for Perennial, so if we can hit our target during the week that will be awesome.

What are your final preparations?

Trying to find time to get out on my bike.

Training is so important but also very time consuming.

The most important thing in your kit?

Without doubt chamois cream. Being on a very small and hard saddle for seven to eight hours a day takes its toll.

The toughest part of the challenge?

The prevailing head winds. We are likely to be against a head wind all the way.

The best part of the challenge?

Definitely the camaraderie amongst us.

It’s what keeps us all going particularly when it gets tough, which it will. Also the banter in the evenings when the two teams meet up at the end of every day.

What are your final preparations?

Increasing the training regime; cycling twice a week and gym twice a week, hilly rides in Essex and Suffolk and spending more hours in the saddle.

The most important thing in your kit?

My gel drinks are great when the legs get heavy and you need a turbo boost!

The toughest part of the challenge?

Some of the hill climbs on the route are quite a high gradient, and living in North Essex I’m not blessed with many hills so they will be my biggest challenge.

The best part of the challenge?

Working as a team, laughing along the way and meeting up with the mountain bike team for banter over dinner.

August 20162016 108 Pro Landscaper / September

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18/08/2016 12:21

Mountain bike riders PEOPLE

RICHARD GARDINER NAG SOLUTIONS

What are your final preparations?

Just trying to get as many miles in as possible and finally get some weight off so I have less to carry up those hills.

The most important thing in your kit?

Chamois cream or as we call it ‘Botty Butter’.

The toughest part of the challenge?

From experience, it will be the second morning. Day one is a tough hilly ride but adrenaline and excitement will carry you through. An hour into day two we will be wondering why we agreed to this.

The best part of the challenge?

The banter and camaraderie; you find out lots about people’s characters during these events.

It is events such as this that raise the bar in terms of our fundraising and leave us in awe of the incredible people who work across the UK horticulture industry.

Perennial is fortunate enough to have the ongoing support of some truly inspirational people and companies, young and old, large and small, and we only hope that our enthusiasm for them can match the effort that they dedicate to our charity.

The Snowdon to Lands End challenge simply would not have

been possible without the support of event sponsors Bowles & Wyer, London Stone, Silverland Stone and Gardenlink. Additional support in kind from Oak View Landscapes, Skidmores and the Thurlow Nunn Vauxhall dealership has given the team a real boost and brought us closer to achieving the fabulous target of £50,000 – a life-changing sum of money that will help to improve the lives of horticulturists across the UK in the coming months.

Kate O’Shea, Development Manager at Perennial

BRIAN HERBERT

DARREN SKIDMORE

OUTDOOR OPTIONS

SKIDMORES OF HERTFORD

What are your final preparations?

Start to put in three to four rides a week, increase endurance, then taper off a bit a week before kick off.

The most important thing in your kit?

Chamois butter.

The toughest part of the challenge?

First day looks the toughest, 6,500ft of technical climbing.

The best part of the challenge?

Best part for me is reuniting this amazing team, a spirited tenacious bunch of loonies. Don’t tell them I’ve missed them all.

What are your final preparations?

Making sure the bike is in top order.

There’s quite a bit of kit that we’re going to need just in case like tubes, chains, derailleur hangers, lights, and also making sure we have the right clothing.

The most important thing in your kit?

Takeaway menu, followed by phone and painkillers.

The toughest part of the challenge?

After breaking my ribs I’m still battling with the training; it’s frightening how quickly this has come around again. For me, all of it will be tough.

The best part of the challenge?

Meeting up with everyone again, and all the downhill bits.

DAN FLYNN

PAUL COWELL

GARDENLINK LTD

PC LANDSCAPES

What are your final preparations?

Plenty of ice baths for recovering as it’s going to be painful.

The most important thing in your kit?

Sudocrem and a puncture repair kit.

The toughest part of the challenge?

Pushing Brian Herbert up the hills.

The best part of the challenge?

The teamwork and it being a great, fun way to raise awareness of a brilliant cause, as well as raising some money.

What are your final preparations?

Just aiming to get as much time in the saddle as possible without any injuries!

The most important thing in your kit?

Some food and chamois cream.

The toughest part of the challenge?

Getting up in the morning to cycle up another hill with a head wind!

The best part of the challenge?

The views through the national parks should be stunning.

Event sponsors

Donate now!

Text GRBS66 £5 to 70 070 justgiving.com/teams/three-peakers-ride-again

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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18/08/2016 12:21

PEOPLE

TRADING WITH BRADSTONE

Toby Stuart-Jervis, commercial director

How has it developed over the last 60 years?

Mainly through mechanisation, which has allowed us to manufacture products faster and in much larger quantities. It has also led to materials becoming a lot thinner; wet casting would have been 50-60mm thick, whereas now most of our domestic products are 40mm. We still market our products through distributors, but we also now supply garden centres as well as certain other retailers and a small degree of online sales.

How does Bradstone responsibly source these materials, as is stated on the website?

In terms of products that we import from abroad, we actually visit the factories and audit them.

We’re market leaders in terms of the requirements that we have for our suppliers, making sure that they are producing materials in an ethical way.

Do you supply UK wide?

Yes, we have customers in Cornwall right up to the very north of Scotland. We have some licensees abroad as well, people who we supply product moulds to and allow to use the Bradstone name.

How is the business marketed?

We do it in a number of ways, such as through the

Trading With Bradstone.indd 110

Derbyshire DE6 3ET Tel 01335 372 289 Twitter @bradstoneuk Facebook bradstoneuk Web www.bradstone.com

What products does the company supply?

Mostly paving and walling, edging and decorative stone. The main move in the last 20 years has been to not only supply the concrete products that we manufacture, but import Indian natural stone, Chinese granite and European porcelain products, so our range of materials has widened greatly.

Do you offer an installation service?

We don’t offer an installation service ourselves, but we do have a register of Bradstone Assured members. If landscapers apply to join this scheme, we will audit their work three or four times a year, help deliver leads to them and feature their companies on our website. This is something that is constantly advancing for us, and at the moment we are developing new apps to make the relationship between end user enquiries and Bradstone Assured members more interactive.

110 Pro Landscaper / September 2016

Address Hulland Ward, Ashbourne

Email bradstone.garden@aggregate.com

Bradstone, a domestic product range of Aggregate Industries, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Pro Landscaper spoke to commercial director Toby Stuart-Jervis

Can you tell us briefly about Bradstone?

It was founded 60 years ago at our factory in Wiltshire by a company called EH Bradley and Sons. It started making wet cast paving slabs, a manually intensive job.

CONTACT

Company name Bradstone

media, but we also have a lot of fixed displays in stockists, where we lay a patio with a range of materials as we think that the touch and feel effect is really important for our end users. We have a good brand and we market it well, but it’s a challenge to get public awareness. That’s why we push so hard with landscapers, because they are our best advocates out on the market.

Will there be anything new for Bradstone in the coming months?

We’re expanding our porcelain ranges, which have become a strong growth area for us over the last 12 months, and we’ve got some innovative new technologies that we are looking at as we are always searching for that game changer. We hope people will visit us at FutureScape in November to see our range.

How will Bradstone be celebrating its 60th anniversary?

We’ve just run a promotion to win one of two Isuzu Utah pick up trucks, which has been really successful. One truck has been awarded to Red Oak Landscapes in Bristol, and the second to Winslade Landscapes in Aldershot. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/08/2016 11:04

JOBS

For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

Call 01903 777 570 or email hortcareers@eljays44.com with your vacancy

STONE LAYER

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE POSITION

Our client is an award-winning landscape gardening and landscape company based in South West London, which focuses on high end landscape design and build, along with a garden maintenance section. They are seeking an experienced stone layer who is proficient in all aspects of stone laying to tight tolerances and mm accuracy, including construction of steps, large paved areas, ornate coping stones, etc. The candidate will be experienced in working with all types of stone including sandstone, limestone and granite and will understand the different laying methods used for each.

Various roles in the construction and maintenance of water gardens in the high end domestic and commercial markets. Based in Ashington, West Sussex, Fairwater Ltd has been specialising in water garden construction for over 25 years and is looking to expand its workforce. Duties would include general landscaping tasks, pipe fitting, maintenance, soft landscape and plant and machinery to name a few.

This varied role requires enthusiasm and commitment and would suit an experienced landscape professional, preferably with a full driving licence and a CSCS card.

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

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

EXPERIENCED LANDSCAPE SUPERVISOR

MAINTENANCE AND PLANTING ASSISTANT

Stone and Leaf Ltd requires an experienced landscape supervisor to oversee high end domestic projects in and around Essex and London. This is a hands-on role with responsibility for supervising a small team. Applicants must have a full current driving licence. Due to insurance restrictions we are unable to consider candidates under 25.

The successful applicant will be self-motivated, reliable, excellent at hard landscaping, able to manage and improve the skills of the team, be familiar with health and safety policies and have a basic plant knowledge.

GardensforLife is a high quality garden design and maintenance company based in Hatfield, Herts. We are looking for an enthusiastic, hard working maintenance and planting assistant to help our experienced team. Our work is of the highest quality and in prestigious gardens mostly that we have designed and built with our teams. This person must be a plant lover and willing to learn, with an easygoing nature and happy to be guided and work as part of a team. Ideally the person would be starting out in their career and ready to learn.

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

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

SOFT AND HARD LANDSCAPER

MAINTENANCE GARDENER

Our client is looking for a hard and soft landscaper to work on projects around Surrey and South West London areas. The candidate will be a team player with a full clean UK driving licence and be horticulturally qualified. Skills involved will include paving, brick work, water features, communicating with clients, strimming, weeding, pruning, turfing and more.

The role requires an excellent knowledge of plants, a sound understanding of horticulture and at least two years’ of working experience in garden maintenance. Your day to day tasks will vary depending on the time of year but will always include tasks such as soft landscaping, weeding, planting, pruning, watering, leaf blowing and spraying. Applicants will have a certification in pest and disease control and a minimum of a Level 2 degree, diploma or certificate directly related to horticulture.

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

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

FAIRWATER LTD Location: Ashington, South East

HORTICRUITMENT Location: London and the Home Counties

STONE AND LEAF Location: Basildon, Essex

ANDERSPLUS LTD Location: Surrey and the South West London

GARDENSFORLIFE Location: Hatfield, Hertfordshire

TENDERCARE NURSERIES LTD Location: Uxbridge

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PROJECTS MANAGER THE LANDSCAPE GROUP Location: Northern region

We have an exciting opportunity for a projects manager working within the Northern region. We would be looking for the successful candidate to take accountability of financial resources for all project activities, ensuring first class delivery of service, achievement of financial targets and driving the new business activity within the region. The role will involve carrying out full project mobilisation, health and safety accountability, client management and liaison with business development.

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

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£3’250 £3’750 £3’400 £1’950 £1’950 £2’000 £ POA £3’500 £2’500 COLOURED RUBBER CHIPPINGS IDEAL proof £2’200 FOR PLAY AREAS, LANDSCAPING, £1’250 EQUESTRIAN ARENAS AND CHICKEN RUNS 21/01/2015 12:17 £1’700 IDEAL FOR PLAY £2’500 CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS AREAS AND £ 21/01/2015 500 LANDSCAPING 12:17 01977 529570 info@ecochippings.co.uk KEYBENEFITS Autumn Bla Plum ck £1’200 e www.ecochippings.co.uk be AVAILABLE IN 8 VIBRANT, lu • Quality rubber chippings direct rry lB ee by appointment only LONG LASTING, WEATHER from the manufacturer t Collections S £ 750 • Highest grade rubber chippings RESISTANT COLOURS with unrivalled quality Ride-On Tractor Mowers Parma Fire Brick Red Jet Black Forest £ 750 • Polyurethane coated - seals in the Green AVAILABLE IN 20KG, 100KG, 250KG Violet colour and offers long lasting fade, £2’950 500KG, 750KG 1000KG BAGS 48” SD deck, 18hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 355 £1’500 John &Deere GT235, stainhrs and weather resistant qualities (will not rub off or wash off) £ 475 John Deere X320, 48” SD deck, 22hp petrol, 2WD, HST hrs up any garden and play £2’500 EcoHen Woodland– 195 • Brightens Slate Grey Uncoloured Brown area with a choice of rustic and DEPTH COVERAGE £ 300 £3’000 John Deere GX355D, SD deck, 16hp diesel, 2WD, HST – choice of 2 vibrant colours REQUIRED RATE48” PER M ofareas, recreational • Ideal for oplay £ 500 prhrs £5’500 John Deere X495, 20kg 48” SD deck, 24hp diesel, 2WD, HST – 1922 areas, equestrian arenas, chicken 50mm runs and landscaping £ 1’250 100mm John Deere X740, 40kg 54” SD deck, Low-Tip Collector – choice of• Helps 2 to absorb the impact from £6’250 150mm 60kg falls and tumbles - reducing the £1’500 £6’750 John Deere X748, 48” RD deck, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – 1380 hrs risk of injury Produces easily- compostable • Frost resistant £2’250 Etesia Bahia, • Provides excellent drainage Compact Tractors round effectiveness We provide collection service 32” RD deck & collector, 2WD 683022 • Long lasting, trouble free ground BioTech™ chips 01473 328272 www.schsupplies.co.uk and curb side delivery r design.

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Jacobsen G Plex, recently serviced & extra set scarifying units available T:deck 01759 321 · F: 01759 380 130 £5’500 www.psdgroundscare.co.uk EJohn ross.whitcombe@tamlyns.co.uk Deere 1445, various sizes and000 hours choice of 7 from £6’500 nsnursery.co.uk Hayter LT324, 6 blade units with 10” fixed heads – choice of 10 from: £6’500 £8’500 e:59x91mm_Layout alex@inturf.co.uk or1deck, stephen@inturf.co.uk 2 John Deere 1445 with Cab, 60” SD Serviced – 2126 hrs www.inturf.com £6’750 PROFESSIONAL www.tamlynsprofessional.co.uk WPlantoil nursery.co.uk 16/09/2011 15:56 Page 1 Hayter T424, 5 gang, 6 blade – 30” units – choice of 2 from: £9’000 £13’900 s John Deere 1545 c/w Ryetec 60” flail, 34hp, 4WD, HST – 900 hrs *Excludes£7’750 Vat nsnursery.co.uk Ransome Highway 3 – choice of 2 £ POA £9’000 Plantoil 59x91mm_Layout 1 16/09/2011 15:56 Page 1 Ransome Parkway 3, 30” 6 blade units – 1970 hrs £ POA s £9’750 PSD2700 - ELIET ProLandscaper Adverts 58x90.indd 2 13/03/2013 12:38

Scag 52” Mower, twin wheel kit, serviced 2 available Scag 52” Velocity Plus Mower, twin wheels 3 available Abei HC44 Scythe mower – 65” working width, 2WD, HST, 11hp Allett Buffalo 24” Cylinder Mower Allett Shaver 24” Cylinder Mower Allett Buckingham 20” Cylinder Mower Allett Tournament 20” Cylinder Mower Applied 414RS Greens Sweeper – 2WD, HST, only 125 hours Hustle Trimstar – 36” Rotary RD deck, 2WD, HST Timber Products Lloyds Paladin Cylinder Mower ent?

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PAUL RICHARDS Garden designer, Paul Richards Garden Design www.paulrichardsgardendesign.co.uk Most referred to gardening book Right Plant, Right Place

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Most used saying or cliché “What did I come in here for?”

Biggest life influence Joan Bakewell. I once saw her on TV saying: “If you have a passion in life you’ll probably work hard at it. If you work hard you’ll probably be good at it.

If you’re good at it you’ll probably make a living from it, and you’ll enjoy it.” Soon after I gave up my NHS job and retrained as a garden designer. Thanks Joan.

Top plant Gunnera manicata. I don’t get to use it very often, but used well it can be jaw-dropping.

Favourite tipple There are so many, but a really good G&T is hard to beat.

Lifelong fan of As a boy I was a season ticket holder at Shrewsbury Town, but as I grew up I realised football is rubbish!

KAREN O’KEEFFE Garden designer, Manchester Garden Design www.manchestergardendesign.co.uk

Prediction for 2016 gardening trends Black fences. I know they’re nothing new, but it’s a cheap way of giving a garden a whole new look, disguising a crappy fence and showing off plants brilliantly. What’s not to love?

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner I ought to say Joan Bakewell so I could thank her for the advice, but I think the conversation may be a little highbrow for me. I feel I should say people like Judi Dench, Michael Ball or Julie Walters, but if I’m honest I’ll take Jan Bentley, Phil Maguire and John Doyle.

Three people you won’t have heard of, but it’s a tried and tested dinner table which has given me many of my happiest moments.

114 Pro Landscaper / September 2016

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

Most referred to gardening book Garden Design

by John Brookes and The Complete Planting Design Course by Hilary Thomas and Steven Wooster.

Best garden in the UK Wallington Hall in Northumberland. It has everything – Capability Brown parkland and an enchanting walled garden!

Biggest life influence Gardening and the great outdoors. I’ve been a gardener since I was 12.

Top plant Euphorbia charachias ‘Wulfenii’. I try to put one in every garden.

Favourite tipple A glass of red wine, French Malbec is a favourite.

Most treasured gift My children.

Lifelong fan of I don’t support any one team but have always loved tennis.

Most used saying or cliché I’m always optimistic – “It’ll be fine!”

Prediction for 2016 gardening trends More and more people want a place where they can have a go at growing their own veg.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg from Brooklyn 99), Alan Titchmarsh and Van Morrison.

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PEOPLE

DEBBIE ROBERTS Garden designer, Acres Wild www.acreswild.co.uk Most referred to gardening book Residential Landscape Architecture – Design Process for the Private Residence by Booth and Hiss.

Gravetye – both beautiful in their own way.

goes into nearly every design as a ‘step hugger’.

Biggest life influence The Landscape Architecture degree course at Leeds Polytechnic (late Eighties) – it taught you how to look and how to see.

Favourite tipple English sparkling wine – I’m a huge supporter.

Best garden in the UK Stourhead or

Top plant Hebe rakaiensis –

Lifelong fan of The Archers (I don’t do sport!).

Most used saying or cliché “Top result.”

Prediction for 2016 gardening trends Foundation planting for when bi-fold doors become passé.

Most treasured gift My health.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Andrew. Graham. Dixon!

MICHAEL MCGARR

IAN DAY

Garden designer, MJM Landscape

Director at Earthstone Landscapes Ltd

www.mjmlandscape.co.uk Most referred to gardening book Gardens Are For People by Thomas Church.

Best garden in the UK Scampston Hall.

Biggest life influence Coffee!

Top plant Agave.

Favourite tipple Kirkby Lonsdale Stout.

Most treasured gift Grandfathers’s penknife.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Little Interview.indd 115

www.earthstonelandscapes.co.uk Most referred to gardening book RHS Encyclopedia of Gardening.

Lifelong fan of Wigan Latics.

Most used saying or cliché “Obviously.”

Prediction for 2016 gardening trends Hardy evergreen exotics replacing buxus.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Thomas Church, John Brookes and Andy Sturgeon.

Best garden in the UK Sissinghurst.

Biggest life influence My dad.

Top plant Viburnum ‘Charles Lamont’.

Favourite tipple IPA.

Most treasured gift My boys.

Lifelong fan of Arsenal.

Most used saying or cliché “Right – let’s turn this job around!”

Prediction for 2016 gardening trends Crazy paving.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Paul Weller, George Graham and Geoff Hamilton.

Pro Landscaper / September 2016 115

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