Forward planning

Association of Professional Landscapers general manager, Phil Tremayne, speaks with Greg Rhodes offering advice on navigating a business through tough times, while keeping track with ever changing industry regulations

Later this year, landscapers working with paving are expected to face fresh guidance on how to comply with their trade standard regulations BS7533. This series of standards covers the design, installation and repair of modular paving including flags/slabs and block pavers to kerbs, channels and permeable paving. Confusing even to the most experienced hardscaper, these revisions are essentially to make the information easier to follow.

Part 101 of the standard will focus on design of mainly commercial schemes and part 102 focuses on the implementation and laying of paving. And with sustainability continuing to be a “buzz” word into 2023, the correct use of BS7533 will ensure that the design life of schemes is met and that only the correct amount of material is used within the project.

"Importantly, '102' will link with building greater sustainability into landscaping projects,” says Phil Tremayne.

Currently out for consultation among both larger and smaller landscapers, the revision will bid to give contractors greater sway on meeting the standard by building its measures into their quotations.

“The aim is to raise the professionalism of the industry,” says Phil who, with support from APL vice chair David Strows, instigated the APL’s codes of practice. The codes have been developed in line with current BS standards and freely available to the whole industry. David sits on a sub group with BS and is supporting the creation of the new 102.

Raising APL member awareness of these latests measures is part and parcel of the APL's drive to help deliver more quantifiable quality to particularly domestic projects.

Pesticides and herbicides

Other advice coming from Phil and his colleagues at APL relates to the use of pesticides. His advice for landscapers this year will ring familiar to many, with the accent on toughening up rules of client engagement.

Phil warns of “talking ourselves into recession”, although recent data suggest the UK has already sunk into negative growth. Costing jobs remains tricky, he continues relating back to hardscaping.

“Although some stone companies swallowed rises, pricing for projects is still difficult, given the volatile nature of prices for materials"

In addition, the price of moving from 'grey to green' for some clients may be too harsh in tough times. The APL has run zoom webinars on sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) and soakaways with Steintec, manufacturers of paving mortars, to raise awareness, while Phil advises landscapers to work closely with specialist designers.

“They are switched on to biodiversity and can design elements into projects for landscapers to build in,” he explains.

"Nearly all landscapers hold the capability to design gardens but schemes can become formulaic if always produced in house. Designers can introduce fresh thinking and ideas so collaboration is the way forward, rather than an 'us and them' approach.”

PRIORITIES FOR LANDSCAPERS IN 2023:

• Know your costs, especially if you are a smaller contractor

• Hold your price, resist discounting

“Given the new Plant Protection Products regulations brought in last June, we are urging landscapers to think carefully about their usage of pesticides and herbicides and to make them aware of the fines they face if not registered to buy, store and apply plant protection products.”

It’s helping the move to fostering a more robust environmental/sustainability policy is the APL's annual assessment of its members' compliance. “We want to be seen as a supportive organisation,” Phil states.

Cost of Living

Energy (currently uncapped rates at time of writing) will remain key priorities for those working in commercial settings across the sector but for smaller landscaping contractors, such as APL members, which may have offices in their homes, capped rates “are not that big a deal,” says Phil.

However, storm clouds are gathering. The Covid lockdowns created a landscaping boom, which inflated growth, Phil explains. “Under the cost of living crisis, the domestic market faces significant shrinkage at the lower end, which could severely affect smaller landscapers. Inquiry rates are already starting to slow, members report.”

But while legislation covers install of SUDS on new builds, retrofits fall outside the measure, Phil states, adding: "Few if any checks are undertaken by planning authorities or inspectorates unfortunately."

Educating clients

Educating the public is a key priority for landscapers. “Artificial grass are cursed words [in sustainability]. Whilst the specification of a landscape design is ultimately for the client, we encourage our members to share as much information and ideas as they can with their clients on sustainable options for their project,” says Phil.

The APL is among the founder members of the crossindustry Sustainable Landscape Forum, a professional network for garden landscapers and designers to share knowledge, ideas and experience on sustainability with each other. For the last three years sustainability has been a part of the judging criteria of the APL Awards.

Those wanting to further their green credentials could join a local sustainable landscape forum. “Some members are passionate about the subject,” Phil suggests, but there’s still massive scope for growing the movement.

Going electric

Appetite for electric vehicles remains low, Phil says, with “no huge demand to switch from traditional fuels”, although decisions may vary from site to site as fleet managers ponder a move to small electric vans.

It's a different matter with hand tools such as stone cutters, strimmers and blowers though. “Battery technology is so good now, with some makers such as Makita only supplying battery tools. Switching over is easier as the power source is in the van.”

Phil concludes by pinpointing arguably the greatest challenge to the landscaping sector moving forward –staffing. “The sector remains under-resourced with few signs of improvement,” he states, “particularly skilled staff.”

Industry bodies British Association Landscape Industries, Horticultural Trades Association and APL are exploring ways to “engage with landscaping”, while corporates such as Marshalls run training academies. The APL has introduced block release for apprentices taking their Level 2 City & Guilds at Myerscough for example.

“We aim for nine apprentices a year but usually only get six,” says Phil. “The APL also has two committee members who run landscape academies – Mark Youde of The Landscape Academy and Rupert Keys of Task, with support from APL standards are also training the future,” he adds.

His message for 2023 then is to think career building for staff in a mission to stimulate quality and upskilling in what is a challenging environment.

Sustainable drainage systems to become mandatory

All new developments in England will be required to make sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) a mandatory requirement by 2024 Defra confirmed recently. It comes as UK weather and climate records are being set more frequently and a projected increase in the urban population is anticipated between now and 2030.

A growing population, climate change and urbanisation are all expected to add to the existing pressures of the country’s ‘constrained traditional sewers’, which has a knock-on effect for local surface and sewer flooding.

Leading landscape architecture and engineering design studio Land Studio welcomed the news. Lisa Sawyer, Director of Civil Engineering at the Chester based studio says:

“We believe that all developments need good drainage systems in place in order for them to function effectively and to be futureproof in terms of climate change.

“Putting the right water control structures and strategies in place, often using the existing ground profile, allows water to be slowed down and held back in a natural way.”

Writing in the review, the Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, says: “Such green infrastructure can provide a sustainable way to drain land, protect against surface water and sewer flooding, reduce storm overflow discharges, harvest water at the same time as enhancing local biodiversity and amenity.

“We must increase the use of these alternative solutions to improve drainage, particularly in urban areas where systems must cope with both runoff and wastewater.” https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainable-drainage-systems-review ƒ

The review recommends implementation subject to final decisions on scope, threshold and process once a full regulatory impact assessment has been completed. The assessment will look at different options and the expected costs and benefits.

Defra will carry out a consultation in 2023 to collect views.

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