News

Landscaper Magazine columnist scoops awards

Garden inspiration from Aura Landscapes

Landscaper Magazine columist Paula Warman and her business partner and husband Mike are celebrating success this season with their business Aura Landscapes.

At the BBC Gardener’s World spring event that was held in Beaulieu, Hampshire during the May Bank Holiday weekend, they took home a silver merit award for their ‘Over the Garden Gate’ creation. This was their first ever show garden, which was designed to inspire people to look over the gate and envisage what their gardens can behold.

The garden was designed with the mind of trying to blend natural earthy and manmade industrial materials together to create a tranquil relaxing space. Whilst still having an emphasis on wildlife and biodiversity. Using reclaimed materials where possible to lower the carbon footprint.

“We wanted to reflect a feel of wild woodland around the borders of the garden, with a central oasis water feature that represents the source of colour and vigour spreading and slowly taking control,” explains Paula.

“Its inspiration was from the ancient Chinese wood preserving technique Sho Sugi Ban. The charring of the wood brings out the texture and its natural beauty. Using old reclaimed timbers and metal it was a space to inspire using old items, reduce carbon footprint and create habitats for wildlife.”

The duo also stood on the winning podium for a second time in May at The Marshalls National Awards, which recognises the best in hard landscaping in the UK. Paula and her team took home the award for Best Use of Ethically Sourced Fairstone for a private project they'd worked on in the New Forest, Hampshire.

“We are extremely proud to have won our first Marshalls National award for what is a stunning project. It is fantastic to be recognised as a quality contractor in the UK and the whole Aura Landscapes team are proud of this achievement.” says Mike Warman.

The Marshalls Register of Accredited Landscape Contractors and Driveway Installers is a national network of independent professional installers. These installers are strictly vetted and monitored by Marshalls to assess that they are meeting high expectations and standards.

Recognition for Meadfleet’s bee friendly campaign

Bee on Willow herb on Meadfleet open space in Leeds

The UK’s leading open space management company, Meadfleet, is through to the finals of this year’s Business Green Leaders Awards. The awards celebrate and showcase the best examples from the UK’s green economy and features a range of inspiring projects, businesses and individuals to celebrate efforts for a more sustainable economy.

The winners will be announced on 22nd June, 2022 at a ceremony in London.

Meadfleet's bee friendly campaign is up for the top prize in the Nature-based project of the year category, recognising Meadfleet’s efforts to create additional habitats for bees and other pollinators.

Meadfleet are committed to providing a sustainable open space management option for developers and with the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain this will be more crucial than ever. Their Bee Friendly initiative is a perfect example of how they are already creating, enhancing and monitoring wildlife habitats on the open spaces they manage. Meadfleet work closely with Buglife, the UK’s leading insect charity to help ensure the success of their campaign. Meadfleet will be planting: • 30,000m2 of meadow to try and replace some of what has been lost in the UK (97% of all wildflower meadows since the 1930s) • 1km of new hedgerow including native shrub and tree species to provide nectar in spring, berries in autumn and natural habitats for birds and mammals • 70,000 new bulbs in a mix of species which provide nectar over many months

Additionally, Meadfleet are engaging their customers in the initiative via a range of communications, resources and giveaways including 1000’s of bee hotels and wildlife friendly seeds.

Says Paul Cassidy, Ecology and Conservation Manager at Meadfleet: “With thousands of acres of open space in our care we are focussed on maximising biodiverse habitat opportunities to support our nation’s wildlife. Our aim is to create a legacy of sustainable green spaces for our customers and future generations. We are delighted that our bee friendly project has been shortlisted in the Business Green Leaders Awards, recognising our efforts to significantly increase pollinator habitat and resources.”

Iconic Chelsea garden moves to home of Florence Nightingale

The award-winning Florence Nightingale Garden that featured at RHS Chelsea's autumn show in September 2021, has been rebuilt at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. The garden's final destination is fitting since Florence Nightingale established the first professional nursing school in the world at St Thomas' in 1860.

Opened on the 202nd anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the garden will provide a place of respite and recovery for patients and staff. The theme of the garden is ‘nurture through nature’ and reflects the life and character of Florence and some of her ideas about the importance of green spaces, light and air in hospital settings.

The garden was designed by Robert Myers and sponsored by the Burdett Trust for Nursing to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Florence, and to celebrate the importance of the nursing profession in the 21st century. It was awarded a silver medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in September 2021.

“I can’t think of a better use of our garden design skills than in a healthcare setting, knowing that gardens and green spaces have a demonstrable, positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing. We designed the Chelsea show garden as a restorative space, honouring Florence Nightingale’s principles; we always hoped that it would be rebuilt in the real world,” says Robert.

While almost all of the Chelsea Garden’s key features remain, including the signature 60-foot pergola, some design details have been reconfigured to ensure the new layout is suitable for the hospital site. The garden has been rebuilt by landscape contractors Bowles & Wyer.

2022 industry awards announced for grounds care

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is inviting nominations to recognise the contribution of volunteers and professionals working across the grounds care industry. Winners will be announced at the association’s annual awards dinner at the Birmingham Vox Conference Centre on 2 November.

Marking a return following the outbreak of the pandemic, this year’s awards ceremony will recognise the outstanding performance of individuals and teams across the grounds care sector.

Nomination categories have been expanded this year to include: 1. Origin Amenity Solutions young grounds person of the year 2. Newcomer of the year 3. Kubota UK & Redexim volunteer sports grounds team/ individual of the year 4. Community sports grounds team/individual of the year 5. Bowls / croquet grounds team/individual of the year 6. Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year 7. Best environmental and sustainability impact 8. Professional cricket grounds team of the year 9. Infinicut professional tennis courts grounds team of the year 10. Professional horse racing grounds team of the year 11. Professional rugby football league grounds team of the year 12 Professional rugby football union grounds team of the year 13. AMS Robotics professional football grounds team of the year (A) 14. SGL professional football grounds team of the year (B) 15. University/college grounds team of the year 16. Independent school grounds team of the year 17. International impact award

Nominations must be submitted via an online form before 17.00 on Friday 29 July 2022. Or scan here to access the form:

“The association’s Industry Awards has long been a prestigious stage to recognise the achievements of those working in the grounds care sector at all levels. This year’s ceremony feels particularly special after an incredibly challenging few years. The event gives us the opportunity to come together, reflect on what has been achieved, and celebrate those who work tirelessly to make sport possible, says GMA CEO Geoff Webb.

Inspiration from LANDSCAPE 2022

A date for the diary – The LANDSCAPE 2022 show returns to the NEC Birmingham on the 28 and 29 September, 2022.

Come join thousands of other landscape professionals as they talk, meet, learn, educate, inform, share, debate and connect at LANDSCAPE 2022 in Hall 3 at the NEC - National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

It's a chance for landscape professionals to meet and connect in Hall 3 at the Midlands exhibition centre. There will be a brand-new seminar programme, taking a more environmental conscious approach, with topics to include sustainability in garden design, arboricultural biodiversity, how the landscape sector can play a part in nature’s recovery and issues with timber, plus educational seminars from how to speed sketch to boosting business with help from social media.

Alongside the seminar programme, LANDSCAPE will provide a platform for over 250 exhibitors to showcase their cutting-edge products, technology and solutions for the design, build and management of exterior and interior landscaping projects.

To register for free entry visit

www.landscapeshow.co.uk/register

Green-tech Specifier team grows

Talasey Group relocates to larger site in Scunthorpe as part of expansion plan

Green-tech has welcomed Emily Murray to their specification team.

Green-tech Specifier is the specification arm of leading landscape supplier Green-tech. The department focuses on technical specification and sourcing landscape solutions for landscape architects, contractors, and garden designers.

Emily brings with her a wealth of knowledge in the Arboriculture and Horticulture fields, having studied both areas to degree level at Askham Bryan College. She is the second student from Askham Bryan to join the team, following Georgia Gilbert who joined in 2019 and has since progressed to John Chambers Wildflower Key Account Manager.

Emily has been brought in to work with the specification team, looking at urban tree planting projects and ensuring that our product range remains at the leading edge of the tree planting arena.

As well as specialising in arboriculture, Emily, alongside Georgia, is leading the internal working group to better understand the Biodiversity Net Gain changes coming into effect. By understanding Biodiversity Net Gain habitat creation needs, Emily will advise on how Green-tech should be positioned and how the company can use its breadth of knowledge, products and services to assist landscape architects, designers and contractors in project planning and delivery.

Left to right: Emily Murray, Mark Wood, Georgia Gilbert

“I am delighted that Emily has joined the team. Her knowledge is proving invaluable, and she is already making an impact,” says Mark Wood, Business Development Director at Green-tech.

“She is in a role that will only keep expanding. The Specifier team provide technical advice and guidance for urban landscape projects from drawing right through to project specification. We work with clients from the tendering process through to onsite training and installation to ensure the most appropriate tree planting solutions are incorporated into a project. Emily’s experience and skillset is incredibly beneficial.”

Suppliers of landscaping solutions, the Talasey Group, has reacted to its recent period of strong and consistent sales growth with a move to larger premises – a four-acre site at St Vincent House, Normanby Road in Scunthorpe.

The new site can now accommodate the company’s increasing headcount and its plans to become a UK centre of excellence for the landscaping industry.

Originally located in Doncaster, Talasey has put its customers, suppliers and visitors first in terms of all the facilities that the new site has to offer. As well as workspace for its team, St Vincent House also has conference facilities – including a room that can seat more than 70 people, entertaining spaces and even nine en-suite rooms for visitors staying overnight. The site also comprises of around 1.5 acres of mature landscaped gardens that show case the company’s wide portfolio of products.

Speaking about the move, the company’s founder and CEO Mark Wall says: “We have very fond memories of the site in Doncaster because that’s where our business – which started as Natural Paving Products (UK) Ltd and evolved into Talasey Group – became established as a leading UK supplier of quality, ethically sourced natural stone landscaping products.

“The business has grown significantly, and we needed a site that could not only accommodate the next stage of our development but also be somewhere where we could realise wider ambitions – both for our business and for making a positive contribution to our industry.

“As part of our move to the new site, we had a vision that St Vincent House would be an amazing space that all of our customers can use for business meetings, training and development.”

Talasey Group was founded on being an ethical and responsible importer of materials and has a product range with five core brands: Natural Paving (natural stone landscaping materials), Vitripiazza (porcelain, paving and cladding), Pavetuf (installation and

maintenance products), Luxigraze (artificial grass and accessories) and Piranha (composite decking, fencing and cladding).

It also continues to play a key role in driving up standards, skills and knowledge in the landscaping industry with initiatives including the Talasey Training Academy (TTA).

Work is well underway to complete the new training facilities so that Talasey Group can resume running accredited landscaping courses for a wide range of industry professionals, including students, installers, designers, landscape architects and builders’ merchants. This is delivered through both classroom-based training and practical training.

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GRASS – a new forum for the grounds care industry

A new GRASS forum set up by a group of groundcare industry professionals will be launched at this years Sports and Grounds Expo (SAGE), which is taking place at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern on 6-7th July, 2022.

GRASS, which stands for Groundcare, Resources and Sustainability Suppliers, is the innovative idea of Mark Tomlinson, head of environmental and sustainability stadia projects at Bio-Circle, one of the leading companies paving the way in sustainable solutions for the industry.

The new networking and support forum is a free to join group, that supports all groundcare and other sporting industry sustainability projects, providing free advice and knowledge of sustainable pitch care.

Top grounds personnel, leading industry manufacturers and senior experts have come together to form a ‘go to group’ that allows grounds staff to begin their own sustainability projects with support and advice.

Through the expert sustainable and environmental forum, GRASS will provide the latest information available all under one roof, whether it’s technical pitchcare maintenance, recycling washdown, white line marking paint, recycling containers, battery powered equipment, seed or lighting, the information bank is endless.

Says Mark Tomlinson: “This is a first for the groundcare and sporting Industry, and a much-needed support forum group. By coming together and sharing knowledge GRASS can support groundcare personnel with their sustainability projects. We want to help and protect our environment and make a difference.”

SAGE focus on sustainability

This year, sustainability has become an even more prominent priority across all industries and SAGE is proud to be hosting the first sustainability summit in partnership with Bio-Circle at the July event.

It will be led by experts across the industry and will provide guidance and support on how sustainable solutions can be achieved by businesses across the sports and grounds maintenance industry. The panel and their colleagues will be on hand to deliver tailored options for those looking to adopt processes that are more environmentally friendly.

Visitors from educational institutions, local authorities and councils, contractors, construction managers and private estates are expected to attend this year, and SAGE is inviting all visitors to a networking event on the Wednesday evening from 4pm – 6pm, sponsored by Fleet Line Markers.

To register for SAGE 2022. Please visit:

www.sportsandgrounds.events.

If you would like to exhibit at SAGE 2022, there is still time to reserve your stand, by contacting

team@sportsandgrounds.co.uk

What’s on at SAGE 2022?

Wednesday 6th July

9.30 – 10.00: Open Session with Sampson Training director Martin Sampson, Lantra trainer and assessor along with his colleague Geraint Jenkins, (Lantra trainer and assessor). 10.30 – 11.00: Appropriate Selection of Training Courses for your Team 11.15 – 11.45: Adam Sedgewick presents, “Gathering data, for better turfgrass decisions”. 12.00 – 12.45: Calibration of a Handheld Applicator (Knapsack) and Boom sprayer

Scheduled Demos: 1.00 – 2.15

14.30 – 15.45: Sustainable Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit in partnership with Bio-Circle 16.00 – 18.00: Networking event in partnership with Sponsors Fleet Line Markers, bar and live music

Thursday 7th July Scheduled Demos: 9.30 – 11.00

11.15 – 11.40 Maintaining your marking equipment: Led by our sponsors Fleet Line Markers Ltd 12.00 – 13.00 Sustainability Summit Overview & Open Workshop in partnership with Bio-Circle

Scheduled Demos: 14.00 – 15.30pm

GreenMech updates dealer network

GreenMech has announced a series of updates across their UK dealer network. The changes will see an extension to the existing territories of Vincent Tractors and Burdens Group, together with the appointment of B&B Tractors to provide new cover to the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire and Hopkins Machinery, who join the network as a Service Support dealer for South Wales.

Effective immediately, longstanding GreenMech dealers for Cornwall Vincent Tractors and Plant will be taking on additional area to accommodate new and existing customers in Devon. Vincent Tractors and Plant supply technology and machinery solutions to customers across the agricultural, construction and groundcare industries, operating out of three depots across Devon and Cornwall – located in Fraddon, Holsworthy and Smithaleigh.

Also expanding their territory is the Burdens Group who, in addition Lincolnshire, will now be covering the counties of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. With a large fleet of equipment for both sale and rental, The Burdens Group have extensive experience with customers in various sectors including agriculture and professional groundcare. Their all-encompassing client-base has embraced the GreenMech range since they took on the franchise in 2016, and with a large after-sales and service division they are well placed to support new and existing customers.

In order to develop the sales and after sales support across Derbyshire and Staffordshire, GreenMech have appointed leading agricultural machinery suppliers B&B Tractors. With a range of brands in their portfolio including Fendt, Sany and Honda, the family-run outfit are well connected to a broad client base and will be supporting the GreenMech franchise from their branches in Tideswell and Fauld.

Finally, and completing the re-shuffle, is the appointment of Hopkins Machinery, who will be acting as a service support dealer for South Wales based out of their branch in Wentloog, Newport.

Says GreenMech sales director Martin Lucas: “Service is a critical part of the GreenMech offering, meaning we are always reviewing our distribution partners to ensure the very best support for our customers. We are confident that these changes will enhance our aftersales offering and extend our reach to new clients across these counties.”

Green tick for DLF Seeds

DLF Seeds have been recognised as one of the top 20 most ‘Climate Friendly Companies’ of 2021 in a recent list compiled by European Seed Magazine. Particular mention was given to DLF’s RadiMax facility in Denmark - the world’s largest open-field root screening facility - that is leading the way in the research and development of sustainable varieties to tackle one of the most pertinent climate threats, drought.

Years before the climate agenda hit the breeding companies, DLF took the bold move of assembling breeders and scientists from across the public and private sectors in the pursuit of advancing seed breeding to suit future climates. Through this consortium DLF built their RadiMax facility, which can test up to 600 plant lines simultaneously in four V-shaped pits, each equipped with a unique irrigation system designed to simulate specific conditions and, in turn, identify the deepest rooting varieties.

With more than five years of research now under their belts, DLF have been able to supply turf and amenity customers with varieties with verified deep rooting and drought stress tolerance. A deeper rooting plant is not only better placed to withstand extended periods without water, it delivers a stronger and more stable sward with lower reliance on inputs. This is because the significant root growth enables the grass to better utilise the water and nutrients naturally found in the soil profile, improving overall nutrient and Nitrogen efficiency.

Of specific interest to the amenity market is the notable developments with key Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass species which have led to the introduction of more sustainable and drought tolerant mixtures such as Johnsons Sports Seed J Fescue mix for golf. The unique combination of cultivars in this 100% fine fescue blend have been chosen specifically to provide high drought and salt tolerance, resistance to disease and a sward that requires lower inputs of water and fertilisers.

The trials at RadiMax also demonstrated how DLF’s 4turf® tetraploid perennial ryegrass roots faster and deeper when compared to traditional diploid ryegrass. Its rapid root growth and larger root mass makes for a more resilient plant, suited to a wide range of sports turf applications. 4turf® varieties are incorporated into a number of Johnsons mixtures, including the new Johnson’s J Premier 4Turf, combining 4turf® tetraploids with traditional perennial ryegrass to create the ultimate winter sport renovation mixture.