Landscape News Winter 2021

Landscape News Winter 2021

The official journal of the British Association of Landscape Industries

24

National Landscape Awards triumphant return to London

28

How can you mitigate the shortage of materials?

30

Plant health legislation: What’s in store for 2022 and beyond

48

Promoting career opportunities to the next generation with GoLandscape

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CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME

Chairman’s Welcome DEAR MEMBERS

A

s I currently sit and write this on a slightly foggy late October morning, today sees the first day of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. In fact, it would be impossible to not be aware that COP26 has started as it is across every news feed, and quite rightly so.

Globally, unpredictable changes in weather are escalating and unfortunately too often are having a devastating impact on millions of people’s lives as a result of damage to their homes and livelihoods. The good news however is that while the impacts of climate change can be shattering, we can pull together to make a meaningful difference. As an industry we have an important role to play in helping the government meet its ambitious targets and commitments, that include: • Planting trees on 30,000 hectares of land per year by 2025 • Planting 44,000 large trees in towns and cities as the Urban Tree Challenge Fund reopens • Making £6 million available as part of Trees Call to Action Fund The new trees will play a crucial role in the fight against climate change, supporting the UK’s journey to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Planting the right trees in the right place will be both a boost to our environment and our economy.

This is a momentous opportunity for Association members to continue to show their support. Growing and planting trees to meet these ambitious targets will not be without its challenges as the government will require our nurseries to scale up production,

which will not happen overnight. It feels like there has never been a more important time for trees and tree planting and for our Industry to continue to make a meaningful impact in the battle against climate change.

Another key area where the industry is making a significant impact is in the shift towards demanding plastic-free tree shelters and more sustainable options. This is pushing manufacturers and suppliers to work harder and faster to meet these needs.

Accredited Supplier Green-tech are now offering a fully bio-degradable tree shelter and a range of non-plastic tree shelters, including an eco-range of cardboard tree shelters, along with plastic-free weed mats to compliment the range.

A number of Association members are taking great strides in this area; read about Hy-tex’s carbon negative tree guards, Cultura Group’s tree installation project in Central London and Suregreen’s biodegradable tree shelters later on in this issue, to name just a few.

National Landscape Awards

As this issue of Landscape News arrives on your doorstep we will have recently enjoyed the 2021 National Landscape Awards ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London. It is heartening for us to have had the opportunity to come together once again in-person to celebrate the finest examples of landscaping excellence as showcased by our incredible Association members. Find out who was unveiled as the Principal, Special and Grand Award winners at Europe’s largest landscaping ceremony on page 24.

New members (2 August - 18 November 2021) Accredited Contractor South Thames • OCS Group UK • P J Chaffin T/A Chaffin Works • Utopia Landscapes

North Thames • Foran Construction • Home Park Gardens & Landscaping • Michael’s Landscapes • Taming Mother Nature • The Organic Garden Co. Scotland • JDS Gardening

North West • Acorn Landscape Services (Cheshire)

South West • BG/JSM Gardening Services • Silver Tree Services (STS)

Yorkshire North East • D & H Webster Landscaping International • RSK ADAS

Accredited Supplier

North Thames • London Rock Supplies South Thames • Blockade Services

Midlands • Braemar Arboriculture

Yorkshire North East • Husqvarna UK East Anglia • Heathland Group

I must also pay tribute to the generous sponsors of the National Landscape Awards who have remained steadfast in their support.

On behalf of the whole of the Association we thank you for your commitment - our awards ceremony would not be possible without you.

As the year draws to a close, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a fantastic Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Finally, I would like to personally congratulate all of the new members listed on this page. I look forward to meeting you at an Association or Industry event soon. The British Association of Landscape Industries is a fantastic organisation to be part of and I would encourage you to get involved with your regional events and maximise the variety of benefits available to you.

Best wishes,

Richard Kay National Chairman

North West • G K Wilson Garden and Landscaping Consultancy

South West • Bulou Rejieli Soronakadavu

• Beijing Sunshine Landscape Co. • Chengdu Yijing Horticulture Liability Co. • Desert Landscape Co. (L.L.C) • Sichuan Provincial Architectural Design & Research Institute • Shuishi

North Thames • Angela Iallonardi

International

International • Straightcurve

Associate Designer South Thames • Legge, Victoria South West • Johnson, Tom

Associate Contractor

South Thames • Green City Landscapes South West • Eden Project

Midlands • Nathan Panesar-Grix

Training Provider South Thames • Plumpton College

Student

South Thames • Stephanie Dyer

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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EDITOR’S WELCOME

Editor’s Welcome

ROUNDING OFF AN UNFORGETTABLE YEAR

I

t’s almost hard to believe that after such a long and challenging 2020, this year has whizzed by in the blink of an eye. Naturally 2021 hasn’t been without its obstacles with the landscape industry experiencing exceptional demand and the shortage of materials and skilled labour continuing to put pressure on businesses - read more about these two topics on pages 28 and 48. But, there has been a lot to celebrate.

The return to physical events, regional networking opportunities and of course the triumphant homecoming of the National Landscape Awards to JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London, following a virtual ceremony last December, are just a few worth noting. Demand for landscaping services remains high, supported by the encouraging results from the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group (OHRG) report predicting significant economic growth for the industry by 2030. We delve into the findings of the report and what it means for our industry on page 32.

openly explore how to ensure that the industry becomes more inclusive as it continues to grow. Our recent ‘Access All Areas – Inclusion and Diversity’ panel discussion is covered on page 10, and you can learn more about the great work of GoLandscape and its team of ambassadors on page 48.

Editor: Olivia McCullough

E: olivia.mccullough@bali.org.uk T: +44(0)24 7669 8656 M: 07800 573351 Sales: Diane McCulloch E: diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk T: +44(0)24 7518 5614

Finally, it was fantastic to round off the year with an unforgettable annual Awards ceremony in London. Coming together to celebrate the best of the best that the industry has to offer was both a joy and privilege. A huge congratulations goes to all the winners – see who was unveiled as the Principal, Special and much-coveted Grand Award winners on page 24.

With that, all that remains is for me to wish you all a healthy and happy 2022 and thank you for making me feel such a welcome part of your Association in my first few months.

Registered address: British Association of Landscape Industries Landscape House Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2LG Designed by: bdci.co.uk Print and mailing: warwickprinting.co.uk Copy Deadline (Spring 2022): Friday 4 March 2022 Front cover: Image c/o Graduate Gardeners, Private Garden, Cheltenham.

Best wishes.

Olivia McCullough

We have continued to encourage new talent into the industry, and to

Contents

6 Chief Executive’s Report

8 Association News 14 Member News

24 National Landscape Awards

6

8

14

28 Business Support 30 Technical

46 Member Benefit Spotlight 48 Training

24

28

50 Events

30

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

46

48

50

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Go to aco.co.uk/garden-and-landscape

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

It’s good to be back

I

n a year where we have been able to come back together to celebrate the sheer excellence of the landscape industry, we have had yet another fantastic event with close to 1,000 members and guests attending the 45th National Landscape Awards.

And what a fantastic event it was indeed. It was such a pleasure to see the winners of the prestigious National Landscape Awards celebrating in style at JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel with the rest of their peers, clients and guests, and it’s an honour to be able to provide the platform to showcase our members’ outstanding achievements.

In a year that seems to have been phenomenally busy for the vast majority of Association members despite what has been going on in terms of lockdowns, the effects of Brexit and the materials shortages, it is a wonderful sight to see that members continue to uphold the professional standards expected of them and go on to exceed as proudly showcased via the National Landscape Awards.

The entries into the Awards this year, once again, demonstrate the importance of using skilled professionals to undertake work whether it be in a small domestic garden or on large ground maintenance contracts.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

I would like to express our very sincere gratitude to our Chair of the Judging Panel, John Melmoe, and to his panel of industry experts for their professional commitment to the task of selecting this year’s award winners.

They undertake an enormous amount of work on our behalf to maintain the reputation and integrity of the Awards. Each year, the benchmark of excellence is raised, and I am delighted to say that 2021 has been no exception. Every entry is given their fullest attention to ensure the winners are those Association members most befitting of an award. I would like to congratulate every member who entered this year and acknowledge the achievements of those who have ultimately been successful.

The Judges and the awards process have been very capably coordinated and project managed by Emily Feeney, Events Project Manager from Landscape House. Once again, without the commitment shown from Emily, with support from Operations Manager Kirsty Wood and the wider team, the whole awards process would not run so smoothly.

Membership Satisfaction Survey

Across November we gathered your feedback via our online annual Membership Satisfaction Survey, and a huge thanks goes to those of you

who took the time to complete it.

The survey provides members with the opportunity to share their views on our products and services and suggest improvements for the future.

I am extremely pleased with those items highlighted in green as these show an improvement upon last year or that we have exceeded our target of 75% Excellent or Good feedback.

91% of members stated that they were either very satisfied or satisfied with their Association membership which fantastic feedback and offers us a key metric to benchmark against moving forward.

A new addition to the survey this year was gathering our Net Promoter Score (NPS)– a customer loyalty and satisfaction measurement, determined by subtracting the percentage of customers who are detractors from the percentage who are promoters.

Our Net Promoter Score is +43 which is a big positive and will now be used as an important KPI for us to measure performance against. According to Survey Monkey’s global benchmark data, which accounts for the NPS of more than 150,000 organisations, the average score is +32 meaning that the Association’s score is 26% higher than this average.

Further key areas from this year’s survey results can be seen on page 35.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT BALI Services – rated good or excellent

Knowledge, advice offered and professionalism of staff

Communication of industry developments and legislation

Speed of response to enquiries/telephone calls

Promotional opportunities for your business

Administration and turnaround time of LISS/CSCS SmartCards

Industry representation at government level

89%

84%

88%

55%

76% 84%

90%

85%

88%

58%

74%

71%

BALI Products – rated good or excellent

2020/21 2021/22

91%

BALI Newsletter (e news)

81%

Who's Who Landscape Directory

80%

Landscape News

85%

BALI HR/H&S in association with Quest

80%

Technical Officer support

BALI Insure in association with Aston Lark

81%

BALI Jobs in association with Horticulture Careers

Dispute Resolution Service

BALI Awards - Entrant

ROLO Health, Safety and Environmental Training for Supervisors and Managers

We announced the launch of two new training courses at Supervisor and Manager level in July this year, to join the popular Register of Land-based Operations (ROLO) Operative level course. The new courses will enable our industry Supervisors and Managers to receive the appropriate level of health, safety and environmental training and apply for their LISS/ CSCS cards.

The Supervisor and Manager level courses have been developed by the Association to meet the training needs of the land-based sector.

They are fully supported and approved by CITB and Build UK as equivalent to the CITB SSSTS and SMSTS courses.

The Association plays an essential role in the safety and wellbeing of those that work in the landscape industry by raising industry standards through training. ROLO courses

71%

63%

72%

84%

Refresher courses will be available for those renewing from having taken the full Supervisors or Managers courses and for those looking to renew their CITB SSSTS or SMSTS courses for their Land-based sector position until the end of March 2022.

69%

Workshops/events/networking opportunities

BALI Accredited logo

certificate which is valid for five years, after which the appropriate refreshers course can be undertaken. These courses will also support Supervisors and Managers in applying for the appropriate LISS/CSCS cards.

2020/21 2021/22

70%

Over the years our provider network has been delivering ROLO training to the industry, we have seen standards across sites consistently improving. In response to the increasing call for higher level courses from businesses who are seeing how useful ROLO training is, we have developed these two brand new courses to continue our legacy of improving industry standards. Find out more at bali.org.uk/lisscscs

86%

79%

87%

88%

81%

80%

67%

50%

Regional AGMs

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Regional AGMs in the New Year and I hope that as many of you as possible will try to attend these valuable networking sessions.

Further details will be published shortly at bali.org.uk/events

80%

87%

address the specific safety and environmental challenges the sector faces, providing specific training and keeping candidates up to date with the latest knowledge and skills to work in the landscaping environment.

In the meantime, on behalf of the Landscape House team here at the British Association of Landscape Industries, may I wish you and your families a very happy festive season and your businesses a successful 2022. Your Association is here to support you next year and far beyond.

Since ROLO’s relaunch in 2012, the Association has seen over 39,000 Operatives go through ROLO training and 22,000 gain their LISS/CSCS cards.

Both new courses are made up of two parts and have a blended learning approach that starts with an online e-learning course, before moving onto a tutor-led or online delivery led course. The courses take two days for the Supervisor course and three days for the Manager course. Learners will engage with activities and assessments in both aspects of the course to gain knowledge and prepare them for their final assessment.

Best wishes.

Wayne Grills Chief Executive

On successful completion and passing of all aspects of the course, learners will receive a ROLO Supervisor or Manager accredited

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Graduate Gardeners scoop Grand Award

T

he highlight of the National Landscape Awards Ceremony is the announcement of the winner of the much-coveted Grand Award.

This year the Grand Award was won

by Accredited Contractor Graduate Gardeners; their winning scheme coming from the Domestic Garden Construction over £250K category, sponsored by Europlants UK. The success didn’t end there, as Graduate Gardeners also received a Principal and Special award for Best Design and Build for the impressive Private Garden, Cheltenham.

Cotswold garden design specialists Graduate Gardeners are a multi awardwinning garden design, construction and landscaping company with nearly 50 years’ experience in creating exquisite contemporary and traditional gardens throughout Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties.

The Grand award-winning project was a challenging under-taking, the client’s grounds were on a steeply sloping site on Cleeve Hill. The brief for Graduate Gardeners was to maximise the view, provide better parking, enhance the entrance and create a more useable space within the garden.

This required the skilful implementation of a design comprising of a significant amount of groundworks to restructure the site.

Italianate styling was used to create a 8

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

truly beautiful private landscape for the owners to enjoy.

The Judges said, by far the most impressive structural element of this design was the traditional dry stone retaining wall. Over 600 tons of material was excavated with over 300 tons of walling stone used, each piece placed by hand to create a wall 1.5m deep at the base - 500mm below ground level and 600mm at the top, with the finished height an average of 1.8m. It was a testament to the skill of the landscaping team, not least because Cleeve Hill is notorious for movement; there would be no foundation for the wall, other than the stone beneath the ground.

The Judges said that it was only one element of a delightful in-house design that had transformed the space and created the most beautiful setting for the house. They commented that Graduate Gardeners had raised the bar, showing the heights its peers must reach to be in the running for the Grand Award.

This large house on the side of Cleeve Hill, with far reaching views across Cheltenham to the Welsh Hills was undergoing a total renovation when Graduate Gardeners were approached. Both upper and lower gardens were steeply sloping and there were a number of significant areas of construction, most notably, constructing the traditional dry stone

retaining wall. Due to the challenging environment, a structural engineer was brought in to ensure a secure wall would remain for years to come.

The in-house design included a beautiful contemporary Italianate courtyard and wildflower meadows above the retaining walls. Porcelain was used throughout for all the paved surfaces other than the steps. Finally, a sophisticated planting scheme completed the design.

The Judges concluded that Graduate Gardeners had combined brave and intuitive design with construction perfection. A well-oiled machine, the designer and build team have worked seamlessly together and in partnership with the client, to create a setting for this beautiful home that embraces and optimises the surrounding landscape and views.

Charles Price, Managing Director, Graduate Gardeners commented: “It has been 47 years in the making and we have come so close quite a few times.

To go the whole way and win the Grand Award is quite amazing. As Graduate Gardeners we have continually put in high-quality submissions, and have seen the Grand Award go to large, legacy, commercial projects. I am incredibly glad that the Grand Award has come home to the domestic market for the second time in a row.”

See all the winning schemes at baliawards.co.uk

The Trailfinders’ 50th Anniversary Garden Built by Stewart Landscape Construction

Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden Built by The Outdoor Room

Members triumph at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

G

ardens built by Association members once again dominated the awards at the 2021 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, picking up an astonishing eight medals and an array of Best Awards.

The Best Show Garden Award was bestowed on Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden, built by Accredited Contractor members The Outdoor Room. The Best Construction Award (Show Garden) went to The Trailfinders’ 50th Anniversary Garden, built by Accredited Contractor Stewart Landscape Construction. And The Bible Society: The Psalm 23 Garden built

by Accredited Contractor Landform Consultants won not one but two awards, picking up Best Sanctuary Garden and the Best Construction Award (Artisan/Sanctuary Garden).

Association Medal winners: People’s Choice Awards Best Show Garden - Yeo Valley Organic Garden Built by Landscape Associates

Best Sanctuary or Artisan Garden The Parsley Box Garden Built by Landform Consultants

Bible Society: The Psalm 23 Garden Built by Landform Consultants

Gold medals Show Gardens The Yeo Valley Organic Garden Built by Landscape Associates

Association wins five-star award at RHS Chelsea

Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden Built by The Outdoor Room

The Trailfinders’ 50th Anniversary Garden Built by Stewart Landscape Construction Sanctuary Gardens Bible Society: The Psalm 23 Garden Built by Landform Consultants Silver-gilt medals Sanctuary Gardens The Boodles Secret Garden Built by The Garden Builders

The Association’s trade stand was recognised with top honours - a five-star trade stand award at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the first in the Association’s history.

The trade stand was designed and created in partnership with a number of Association members and acted as an important base from which to raise awareness to the importance of using an Accredited landscape professional and how to find an Association member. We experienced a record number of enquiries from the public who were keen to learn more and take away further information over the course of the show.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Oakham Garden Services, Mobilane, SAiGE Longlife Decking, Lindum Turf, CED Stone Group, and Landscape Associates for their support with the stand – a true team effort.

Silver medals Show Gardens The Florence Nightingale Garden: A Celebration of Modern-Day Nursing Built by Bowles & Wyer Bodmin Jail: 60° East – A Garden Between Continents Built by Cube 1994 Sanctuary Gardens The Parsley Box Garden Built by Landform Consultants

Jo Todd and Anna Jackman, membership team, with Ben Parkinson and Chris Howkins, Oakham Garden Services

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Association hosts first Access All Areas: Inclusion and Diversity event

O

n 2 December 2021, The British Association of Landscape Industries hosted its first Inclusion and Diversity Panel discussion, ‘Landscaping – Access All Areas’. Board directors Adrian Wickham and Paul Downer facilitated conversation across the afternoon to explore the barriers that people within the landscaping industry, and those looking to enter it, face in relation to accessibility, attitudes, facilities and not being considered a suitable fit for a role.

They posed questions to a stellar line-up of panellists, in front of a selected live audience in London. In addition, the event was livestreamed with a BSL interpreter available online to assist those who are Deaf and use British Sign Language. A recording of the panel discussion is available to view at bali.org.uk The incredible panellist line-up was comprised of Manoj Malde, award-winning Garden Designer, TV Presenter, Public Speaker, Blogger and RHS Judge; Mark Lane, BBC Gardening Presenter and writer; Flo Headlam, Designer and Gardening Presenter; Ashley Edwards, Head Gardener at Horatio’s Garden; Dr Ekua McMorris, Artist and Curator for Sowing Roots; and Helen Waddington, Head of Casework at Perennial.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

The group openly explored and discussed how to ensure the industry becomes more inclusive during the coming years as horticulture and landscaping delivers projected growth to a value of over £41 billion by 2030, an increase from £28.8 billion in 2019, as predicted in the recent ‘Growing a Green Economy’ report, researched, and published by Oxford Economics and Foresight Factory ,on behalf of the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group).

Nigel Bowcock, Director at Acre Landscapes and Vice-Chair of the Board commented: “This was one of the best Association and Industry

events that I have seen - new, groundbreaking and very much needed.”

The Association is committed to driving positive change and to actively facilitate and encourage discussion on how businesses within the industry are currently run and where opportunities exist to improve.

We extend our thanks to members Glendale Managed Services, Green-tech and John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) for their generous support of this event, and to board directors Tessa Johnstone and Adrian Wickham, the key drivers behind the idea.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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01/11/2021 16:15

ASSOCIATION NEWS

REGIONAL COMMITTEES FINISH OFF THE YEAR IN STYLE

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fter a year that has been both challenging and record-breaking for our members, we were delighted to once again be reunited to enjoy a host of exciting regional events.

Behind the Scenes at RHS Chelsea

The South Thames committee came together to organise an incredible ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this year rescheduled from May to September. It was a small exclusive tour and offered new Association members from the South Thames region the opportunity to visit the show during its build phase and to see what goes into creating an awardwinning show garden. The group were given time to discuss the projects with the minds and hands that made them and took a closer look at the excellent products and materials involved in the schemes.

New member Stephanie Dyer commented: “I felt like I had won a golden ticket going behind the scenes at RHS Chelsea! The day was both informative and supportive, and a brilliant way to meet other members.”

Behind the Scenes at RHS Chelsea

Tree planting event heralded a great success

On Wednesday 29 September the Association Yorkshire and North East committee hosted a successful masterclass in choosing, moving and planting specimen trees at Nunbrook Farm, West Yorkshire.

The event - ‘Choose It. Move it. Plant it.’, sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries, in association with Gavin Jones, welcomed over sixty attendees and exhibitors to enjoy a day of learning and networking.

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‘Choose It. Move it. Plant it.’

The day began with an opportunity for suppliers and attendees to network before a tour took place of headline sponsors Van den Berk’s outdoor tree showroom. Tom Owen, Sales and Advice at Van den Berk Nurseries showcased their large specimen tree stock and outlined how air pots work in encouraging root growth and how to choose the appropriate trees for projects.

Tim O’Hare, Soil Scientist, led the subsequent session sharing his knowledge and experience in tree pit preparation, appropriate planting methods and the correct use and preparation of backfilling materials. Supported by Gavin Jones staff, they successfully demonstrated how to correctly prepare tree pits to receive trees and how to safely move, position and plant trees. Green-tech’s Product Specification Manager Richard Wexham then gave an overview and explanation of the tree anchor installation and irrigation installation.

Visit to National Trust property Dyrham Park

The South West region visited National Trust property Dyrham Park recently, with a private tour of the estate gardens and an exclusive look at Walmsley Shaw’s fascinating new project to restore the historic pathways.

Members also enjoyed lunch and networking with overwhelmingly positive feedback received from attendees.

As we look ahead to the New Year, many regions are busy planning workshops, training and events to get members together whilst providing the opportunity to upskill. To learn more about or to share your ideas then be sure to attend your local AGM in early 2022 and keep an eye on bali.org.uk/events

Several members of the Green-tech team attended, including Sales Director Richard Gill. He commented: “This was a brilliant event; really worthwhile and well organised. It was interesting and a great networking opportunity. It has been a long time since we were all face-to-face and the format worked really well. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and look forward to the next one.”

A huge thank you goes to all involved in organising the event and to our supportive sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees.

The day was a huge success and has inspired several other regions to offer similar masterclass events for their local members…watch this space!

The South West region visited National Trust property Dyrham Park

Mental Health First Aid training launched to support members

O

n 10 October, World Mental Health Day, the British Association of Landscape Industries launched a Mental Health initiative focusing on the oftenoverlooked importance of mental health support in the landscaping and horticulture sectors.

We have partnered with EDP Training to deliver a series of Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) courses and are asking every Association member to pledge to have at least one member of their team trained in Mental Health First Aid by 2023.

Trained Mental Health First Aiders will be able to recognise the early signs and symptoms of common workplace mental health illnesses and have the necessary skills to have a supportive, non-judgemental conversation with those who need it. They will have the knowledge and confidence to guide colleagues to the appropriate professional support if they require it as well as promoting greater awareness of mental health in the workplace to reduce stigma.

Bianca Jones, a qualified MHFA England Instructor and a member of the MHFA cooperate and communities’ team will deliver the bespoke Mental Health First Aid training for Association members.

The course will be delivered remotely over two days, with at least one course hosted per month, at a substantially subsidised cost to include course materials and certificate. A financial donation will be made by the Association on behalf of each participant to Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in landscaping and horticulture, and their families, when times get tough. Read more on page 44.

The first course took place 22 – 23 November to overwhelmingly positive feedback. Participant Karen McClure commented: “Well done to the Association for championing a very important subject, it certainly made me stop and think. After a frantic year in our industry, plus the impact of the pandemic exacerbating these issues - it was very ‘apt’ timing. Bianca was

both thorough and kind. The course has given us the skills to have a greater appreciation and non-judgemental views of those around us and better knowledge of how we can support both in our work and personal life.”

Participant Beata Stolowska added: ”The course was very intense and deep; very mind-opening. Thank you to the Association for this opportunity and for standing up for this cause.”

Book the subsidised courses at a special member price of £150pp, reduced from £300 at bali.org.uk/mentalhealth

Bianca Jones - a qualified MHFA England instructor

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MEMBER NEWS

Hy-tex unveil new Eco-haven™ tree guards – the world’s first carbon negative fully biodegradable solution

A

ccredited Supplier Hy-Tex UK launched their Eco-Haven™ Tree Guards in autumn 2021 and are now showcasing the unique features and benefits this product will bring to the ever-evolving landscaping industry.

Eco-Haven™ represents an entirely new range of fully biodegradable but durable tree guards, shrub shelters and vine guards.

They incorporate a modular design that makes them simple to transport and are easy to install and re-use.

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK WITH THE CULTURA GROUP’S 25 CANNON STREET

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ifting and planting large trees is all in a day’s work at the Cultura Group, even when said trees are being ‘slung’ over a seven-storey building and lowered into an access and space restricted area on top of an underground car park sited in the middle of the City of London.

And 25 Cannon Street is just such a day’s work. In partnership with contractor J Coffey, Cultura is carrying out a sensitive revitalisation of the public gardens which overlook the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The works include new footpaths, new planting beds and the installation of seven large 2-3 tonne, 9 metre trees and is designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, specified for Magnolia Grandiflora, Pin Oak and Japanese Maples, which will create an established feel to this green space.

The challenge of installing the trees began with a long planning period, placing emphasis on the weight of the trees, the relatively small site footprint in Central London and the fact that there was an underground car park directly below with load bearing restrictions. Closing adjacent roads was not an option as this would have caused the heavy traffic use in this area

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to gridlock. Ultimately, this left Cultura with only one feasible location to site the mobile crane.

Working with specialist contractors, City Lifting, Cultura prepared the trees for lifting using slinging techniques designed to support the entire weight of the root ball without placing any stress onto the stem of the trees. Any load bearing on the trunk would cause permanent damage and subsequent failure of the tree.

Utilising a 60 metre boom length crane, the trees were lifted, ‘swung’ (with just 10 metres of clearance) and lowered carefully to their pit sites.

In collaboration with the landscape architect, the trees were positioned to ensure maximum visual impact and anchored into place using underground guying systems.

At approximately 50 minutes per tree to lift and plant, this element of the project was delivered quickly, professionally and with minimum disturbance to the surrounding users.

Learn more about Cultura by visiting www.culturagroup.co.uk

The development of the tree guard put particular emphasis on its environmental credentials. After many trials and obstacles, including Brexit and the pandemic, Hy-Tex UK created the world’s first fully biodegradable tree guard that is carbon negative. Carbon negative is the reduction of an entity’s carbon footprint to less than neutral, so that the entity has a net effect of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere rather than adding it.

Being made from a plant-based biopolymer, Eco-Haven™ is also a sustainable solution and made in the UK. Hy-Tex’s ongoing commitment to the environment is one of the company’s core focuses, and the Kent-based company has pledged to support a wide range of tree planting schemes across the United Kingdom as 2022 approaches. They aim to do this by providing their tree guards, along with their Ecotex 100 Tree Mats - a tear-off tree mat roll.

For more information on Hy-Tex (UK) visit hy-tex.co.uk

THE WILD FLOWER SPECIALIST ENDORSED BY ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

How low can you grow?

If you need enhanced biodiversity while managing height restrictions, our new Limited Edition Low Growing mix fits the bill.

This floral, highly scented blend provides a low level, attractive habitat for insects.

Visit website

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MEMBER NEWS

LAZYLAWN® LICENSEE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE ACROSS THE UK

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f you are an established landscape professional looking to expand and diversify in a profitable and professional manner, Accredited Supplier LazyLawn® - who describe themselves as the UK’s biggest artificial grass supplier and installer are seeking licensees to join their 30-strong licensee team across the UK. Opportunities are available particularly in the North and the South West, and licensees will quickly be able to tap into training and technical support, both to set up and ongoing as new products and skills develop. The LazyLawn® brand has powerful recognition and a positive professional reputation, winning a Which? Best Buy 2021 award.

Amanda Ford, LazyLawn® licensee since 2013 commented: “Having the

LazyLawn® brand, PR team, IT and technical support behind us was just what we needed and within 2 years, we were able to claim our first LazyLawn® Licensee of the Year crown.”

LazyLawn® is part of the Evergreens Group UK who have been pioneers in the supply and development of artificial grass into the landscaping industry for over 35 years. To take your first step towards profitable, professional and pioneering artificial grass installation, contact LazyLawn® Head Office to discuss available territories and setup requirements. Visit the LazyLawn® website at www.lazylawn.co.uk/ license-opportunities/ to find out more, call 0800 023 2343 or email info@lazylawn.co.uk

Clean your hard surfaces this winter with the TT Paving Solutions Range

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his winter, Accredited Supplier CED Stone Group have a fantastic new addition to the range of high-quality cleaning and maintenance products in stock; the TT Paving Solutions Range. Offering a complete cleaning system for all hard surfaces such as porcelain, stone, ceramics, cement and masonry products.

From Algae and Black Spot Remover to Universal Water Based Sealer, the products in the range can help remove, clean and seal. In addition, specialised Macchia and Ventosa machines are available to hire, designed to make cleaning your hard surfaces a simple task.

TT Paving Solutions can be used with or without the machines, however using the 16

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

Macchia and Ventosa provides a quicker application and faster results, designed as a complete cleaning system approach to ensure maximum desired results.

Visit cedstone.co.uk to find out more or book an onsite demo.

Ransomes focuses on value with new website and any less costs more campaign

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he world’s first mower manufacturer, Ransomes, is cutting a path to electricpowered commercial and municipal mowing under the Any Less Costs More campaign and its largest brand investment this century.

Ransomes’ new mission and vision are focused on providing short-term and long-term benefits to customers, consumers and the environment.

The digital investment, unabated by the pandemic, comes through a new web presence, which will provide an industry leading digital offering, whilst on the turf, the target of electric lithium powered commercial mowing has been firmly set for launch in 2022.

Ransomes Marketing Manager, Adam Underwood explains: “We want people to be confident when they are sat on a Ransomes mower that they are sitting on the benchmark for commercial and municipal mowing. It’s very important for people to understand the value of incredibly specialist machinery, and we certainly are that. So, the Any Less Costs More campaign is really about the lifetime value of our products and how it pays to invest in us. It’s worth investing in the 200 UK-based specialists on-site at our factory, it’s worth investing in UK manufacturing, and it’s worth investing in machinery that is compliant with clean and green power.

“Getting that message out is important, but listening is even more important. We spent the last year engaging with consumers, dealer customers and colleagues to understand what Ransomes means to them and what great will look like for the next five and ten years for the brand.”

Find out more at ransomesjacobsen.com

Visit website

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MEMBER NEWS

MARSHALLS HELP TO MAKE COOKRIDGE STREET PUBLIC REALM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL

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ccredited Supplier Marshalls Landscape Protection, part of hard landscaping manufacturer Marshalls Group, has designed, developed and produced a bespoke, accessible seating installation as part of a project to rejuvenate a public space in Cookridge Street, Leeds city centre.

The development, which began in October 2020 and concluded in April 2021, set out to transform Cookridge Street from a heavily trafficked road to a communal pedestrianised space.

The ambition of the project, as part of the Connecting Leeds scheme, was to increase public space within the city centre – with a particular emphasis on making the area more inclusive for those with accessibility issues.

Marshalls Landscape Protection was approached by John Sisk & Son, the contractors delivering the project, to build upon an original concept and develop it further. Additionally, Marshalls Landscape Protection was tasked with producing two bespoke retaining walls that incorporate integral seating within the design.

Marshalls Specification Development Manager, Dominic Renney, discussed the process: “In collaboration with all parties involved, we put together a design and function criteria for the bespoke retaining walls. With a great understanding of the brief, we created a concept that used Portuguese Carina granite and FSC®certified Iroko timber. Both materials are exceptionally hard-wearing and will serve the city for many years to come.”

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

Dominic continued: “Accessibility was a major component to the brief, so we designed the walls to be at a height that made it easier for wheelchair users to move between their chair and the seating.”

In addition to improving accessibility, introducing a new green space to the public realm was a key driver for the project. The areas within the retaining walls have been utilised for this purpose, with turf, trees and foliage being planted. Not only has this benefited the aesthetics of the city centre, it has also helped to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the project, an aim shared by all parties involved.

Having been completed for several months, the feedback from local businesses and members of the public has been overwhelmingly positive. Head of Projects and Programmes at Leeds City Council Jane Walne, said: “Because Cookridge Street is near to a library and museum, it was important for us to make a welcoming and accessible community space. We’re very happy with the seating produced by Marshalls, as it’s both visually appealing and functional – which is exactly what we wanted.”

For more details about Marshalls Landscape Protection please visit: marshalls.co.uk/commercial/ landscape-protection

Suregreen introduces Vigilis-Bio: The Future of Sustainable Forestry

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ver the last two years, with the aim to tackle one of the forestry industry’s plastic pollution challenges and support the UK’s afforestation efforts to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, Accredited Supplier Suregreen and its partner Biome Bioplastics have made significant investment in Research and Development to bring the new Vigilis-Bio range of biodegradable tree shelters to market. These shelters are now ready for large scale UK-wide field testing and initial commercial sales.

Extensive lab testing and accelerated weatherageing assessments have demonstrated that the novel solution, manufactured by Suregreen using Biome’s proprietary bioplastics material, performs as well as conventional tree shelters to guard and protect the first five years of a tree’s life. However, unlike their traditional counterparts, Vigilis-Bio tree shelters do not need to be collected for disposal at the end of their useful life. Instead, they slowly fragment into small pieces where the soil bacteria completely breaks them down in the span of two years, leaving behind only CO2, water and a few naturally occurring minerals.

Find out more at sure-green.com/vigilis-bio

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BALI LANDSCAPE REVIEW SPRING 2021

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MEMBER NEWS INTERVIEW

YGS Landscapes celebrates 40 years of membership

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s YGS Landscapes mark an incredible 40 years of Association membership, we spoke to their Managing Director Steve Warren-Brown, to find out more about what has changed over the course of time and what the future holds in store for the Accredited Contractor.

What was YGS Landscapes’ initial reason for joining the Association?

My father joined BALI as Yealm Gardening Services, now YGS Landscapes. Whilst working with him as a 16-year old, he impressed upon me the significance of BALI. After leaving Merrist Wood College 3 years later, I bought the company and even now can still recall the terror I felt when we were chosen randomly for vetting.

We passed easily, but I remember, as a 22 year old, being very stressed about the process and wanting to perform as highly as possible. As a very young and inexperienced designer, I placed huge emphasis on being successfully re-vetted, which then in turn, did come around and we sailed through. Personally, and on behalf of my company, I have always have been proud to be a BALI member.

You must have seen a lot of changes across both the industry and our Association over the last 40 years - what’s the biggest difference between then and now?

We don’t plant hydrangeas and pampas and hypericum anymore!

On a serious note, awareness – we used to spend hours explaining what landscaping was. People would ask if we did patios or pruning or fencing. As an industry, especially in Plymouth – in my peer group, I was a grasscutter.

There was no idea of the concept of what landscaping was about.

On a more general note, in the commercial sector, landscaping is far 20

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

more considered and recognised, but still there is some thinking that could be aligned between industries.

Lastly - health and safety has moved on, thankfully!

What is it that has kept you with the British Association of Landscape Industries for all these years?

My belief in their ideal. My standards that I’ve upheld throughout my practice have always aligned to the Association.

The vetting process reinforced belief in ideals and goals of the association from the off. YGS were the first and only member of BALI from the area for years. We absolutely recognise the significance of membership.

Can you tell us a little more about your community outreach? Why is it so important to you to give back to Plymouth?

Put simply, we want to make a difference to people. Everything that we have done up to this point and the standing we have made is to make a difference. YGS is a sponsoring company of Building Plymouth, a local initiative to get people into the construction industry.

We are heavily voluntarily involved in community projects, for example, Road to Mayflower, a series of citywide community-led projects to commemorate Mayflower400.

More recently, we volunteered to pull together an in-kind, fit-for-purpose garden for a terminally ill child in Plymouth, after the mother requested assistance. We will always lend a hand where we can.

If I can capitalise on my position in business and in the industry for greater good then that’s what I’m here for. I champion other issues such as mental health; and sit on the board for Young Devon which is a South West charity that helps young people.

I have lived in the city all my life and I am committed to giving back to Plymouth. It’s a beautiful city, underrated, with huge potential.

Historically the city has undersold itself but these times are very exciting and there’s lots to come.

Your micro forest scheme working with schools and colleges, as well as corporate sponsors, sounded fascinating. Can you talk a little about what the goals of that project are?

The first goal is a wish to plant a micro forest in or for every school in Plymouth. YGS are proposing to plant 406,000 trees – one for every child in Devon (correct at the time of the pandemic).

Coined by Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist, the microforest presents an opportunity: it’s a new and innovative way of planting. YGS are coupling the planting of microforests with an educational pack/story books to build a primary school module. Adding a story to the planting will give it more emphasis and attract more interest.

Crucially, if people are talking about planting trees in schools, it can only be a good thing.

YGS are currently trying to grow within the industry - can you tell us a little more?

Our growth strategy is to double the size of our company in the next three years. We want to create as many opportunities as possible in the group.

The philosophy is that the bigger the company grows, the more people we’re harvesting with good environmental intentions. Anybody working in the industry arguably has the right views on the planet, wants to make a greener difference and thus a greener future.

And frankly, that is okay by us!

Find out more at ygslandscapes.co.uk

Garden Irrigation –

An essential form of insurance

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ccredited Suppliers Origin Amenity Solutions highlight the importance of landscape and garden irrigation and why it shouldn’t be overlooked. After you have spent thousands of pounds plus all your time laying lawns and planting gardens, isn’t it important to ensure everything grows to its optimum even during the driest conditions; how many expensive plants and trees have you lost because the homeowner hasn’t watered them properly?

Over the summer months, when the plants have the opportunity to grow at their fastest to fill the gaps in the gardens, the limiting factor to growth can be water. The installation of a simple automatic irrigation system can ensure you never have to rely on the homeowner to water the garden again.

This isn’t as expensive or complicated as you might think.

Landscape irrigation

Landscape irrigation incorporates pop-up sprinklers in the lawns, and dripline or drippers in the gardens.

Deep-water irrigation can be installed for your bigger trees & shrubs; all of these areas can then be fully automated. This means the systems will turn on automatically

A rain sensor is a simple device that you can mount discretely at the top of a fence.

in the middle of the night when the plants can recover from a hot dry day. It’s also when the homeowners are normally asleep so the irrigation system isn’t annoying the kids wanting to kick a football around on the lawn. Each area of the lawn & garden can be provided with different amounts & frequency of irrigation to reflect their individual requirements to ensure you’re not overwatering some gardens. Shaded gardens can be given different amounts of water from gardens in full sunlight.

Rain Bird rain sensor

Irrigation controller

A simple Rain Bird Irrigation controller need not be expensive and allows everything to happen without human intervention. You can control the irrigation system from your phone app.

If rain has fallen, the system will not turn on.

If you would like to add irrigation to your landscape & garden designs or would like to learn how to install irrigation systems, please contact us.

We conduct training courses to show you how to design irrigation systems for your gardens & how to install them. This could be another string to your bow and will help ensure your next landscape project will be insured against dry weather conditions for years to come.

Learn more at: originamenity.com or contact sales. irrigation@originamenity.com

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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MEMBER NEWS

Green-tech helps to green up a solar powered Park & Ride facility

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ccredited Supplier Green-tech has contributed to the UK’s first fully solar powered Park & Ride facility in West Yorkshire. Designed by landscape architect Mott Macdonald in partnership with main contractor BAM Nuttall, the brand new Stourton Park & Ride heralds in a new era of clean, green public transport.

Served by a fleet of fully electric buses that run into the city centre every ten minutes and forming part of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme, the Park & Ride will help towards a net-zero carbon economy for the city by lowering carbon emissions, improving air quality, and reducing congestion.

A photovoltaic solar canopy covers a third of the site, which powers the terminal building, street lighting and vehicle charging points, and feeds excess electricity back into the local grid. The site provides 1,200 parking spaces along with 26 fast electric vehicle charging ports and 4 rapid chargers.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

Over 11,000 trees have been planted in and around the park & ride site with an impressive 54:1 replacement ratio. The main central area includes raised Corten steel planters, shrubs, hedges, specimen and evergreen trees to provide year-round coverage.

Green-tech has an established working relationship with both Mott MacDonald and BAM Nuttall, and supplied all the stakes and crossbars, canes, tree belting and blocks to support the trees in the central area. All Green-tech square-sawn softwood and machine round stakes are FSC Certified and available from stock.

To protect the new perimeter planting from browsing animals and the elements Green-tech supplied 6,000 recyclable tree and shrub shelters, 450 square meters of 100% re-cycled jute Ecomatt mulch matting, as well as 275,000 litres of ornamental bark for the planters and beds.

The Ecomatt allows air and water to pass through the layers whilst suppressing weed

growth and acting as valuable insulation around the root area.

To ensure the best chance of successful establishment, 200,000 litres of soil improver was supplied to help optimise the structure and fertility of the soil, as well as over 300 sets of irrigation pipes with Aria inlets and Mona reservoir tanks. On the more exposed trees, Green-tech DropMan anchor systems were used, holding the tree stable without the risk of soil contamination from sleepers or kerb stones.

Finally, 1,000 square meters of impermeable gtRootBarrier® 325 was used where there was a need to deter roots from spreading too far.

Find out more at green-tech.co.uk

Are you prepared for the planting season?

Green-tech is the largest supplier of tree planting materials in the UK and we’re here to help.

• Over 25 years’ forestry industry experience • Largest official distributor of Tubex shelters • Millions of tree shelters and guards in stock and ready for dispatch • Extensive range of biodegradable tree planting products

We also offer: • Fast turnaround from order to delivery • A large choice of shelters, guards, spirals, stakes, canes and sundries • Flexible delivery options including next day, timed and remote deliveries and moffett offload • Competitive pricing • Excellent customer care

Pre-order your 2022 catalogue today

Secure your order today – call Green-tech on 01423 332100 or email sales@green-tech.co.uk

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NATIONAL AWARDS 2021

National Landscape Award winners honoured at London ceremony

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mid the grand setting of the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, winners of the National Landscape Awards were once again showered in glory. After a necessary move to a virtual event last year, the eagerly anticipated physical return of the largest landscaping awards in Europe, generously supported by headline sponsor Green-tech, was a roaring success.

We welcomed close to 1,000 guests, joining us to celebrate the best of the best from within our industry in luxurious style as we bestowed 29 Principal Awards, four Special Awards and the much-coveted Grand Award.

BBC Radio Five Live’s Colin Murray played a perfect host, telling his stories about his aspirations as a young man to pursue a career in landscaping prior to being lured into the world of journalism.

Graduate Gardeners win Grand Award

The big prize of the night, the Grand Award, sponsored by headline sponsor Green-tech, was won by Graduate Gardeners for Private Garden, Cheltenham. It was selected as the overall winner from the Domestic Garden Construction over £250K category, sponsored by Europlants UK. You can read the full story and find out more about this amazing scheme on page 8.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

Graduate Gardeners had an incredible afternoon, also receiving a Principal and Special award for Best Design and Build for the same submission and won another Principal Award for a Private Garden, Battledown, Cheltenham in the Domestic Garden Construction between £60K and £100K category, sponsored by Johnsons of Whixley.

Four special awards presented In total we bestowed four Special Awards at the ceremony, including Graduate Gardeners’ Best Design & Build, sponsored by Springbridge Direct.

Best First Time Entrant, sponsored

by Makita UK, went to Bespoke Stone Walling for their work at a Private Residence in Gloucestershire. Their submission was from the Domestic Garden Construction between £100K and £250K category, sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries.

The original walled kitchen garden of this large private estate had been derelict for many years. Working to a plan drafted by the current Head Gardener, and liaising closely with English Heritage, the contractor began by repairing the garden’s rear wall, ready for construction of a large greenhouse. In advance of constructing the raised beds using block work and dry-stone cladding, complex irrigation and rainwater harvesting systems were installed that

would utilise run-off from the new greenhouse and paths. The timeless look of this extensive project has been achieved by the expert selection and use of reclaimed materials and stone recovered from the estate. This saved time and money and avoided potential delays in material supply resulting from the pandemic. During lockdowns, the contractor was able to work entirely independently and safely, completing the project to the client’s total satisfaction.

The Judges’ feedback was that the contractor responsible for this outstanding project is an artisan and craftsman in the truest sense of those words. This scheme is a direct reflection of his passion for and dedication to realising the vision of the client to the absolute best of their professional ability and doing so in testing times. It is an exemplar of professionalism of which all Association members should strive to achieve.

Best Use of Technology, sponsored

by Overtec, went to a project in the Regeneration Scheme, Under £500K category. Carrier Landscapes won the award for the work they did at Kelham Hall, Nesfield Parterre de Broderie. There have only ever been two parterre restorations at Kelham Hall, one back in the 1950s and this second one by Carrier Landscapes.

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The parterre comprises mirror image compartments set off a central line with a clear central section. Using laser technology the contractor removed a maximum 75mm of soil to level the site. The parterre design was formed in steel, initially bent to shape in the factory. When this proved to be unsuccessful, the contractor worked with a steel fabricator to design a system to bend the steel on site to precise CAD measurements. The steel was then tap welded and carefully positioned. The shapes were then filled with gravel in some sections and soil in others, ready for bedding plants.

The final Special Award went to Bluestone Landscapes, who won Best Newcomer to BALI, sponsored

by CED Stone Group, for their work at Lincoln Square. This fantastic project also took home a Principal Award in its category, Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations/Residential Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping under £250K, sponsored by Bourne Amenity.

The client brief for this private penthouse apartment on the eighth floor of a new development in Lincoln’s Inn, London, was to create an oasis in the sky. The triple aspect outside spaces with glass facades enjoy stunning views of the City of London skyline and St Paul’s Cathedral and the challenge was to maintain these views whilst providing privacy. Space was created using carefully selected

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trees, shrubs, and planting in custom designed and constructed interconnecting planters, which form organic, flowing borders around the perimeter. A special lightweight soil serviced with a bespoke irrigation system ensures the planters look at their best despite the challenging climatic conditions present in this exposed environment. A breathtaking lighting scheme creates an unexpected ambience on the London skyline. The challenging logistics that accompany any high-level roof garden project in Central London were experienced here, but the results speak for themselves.

The Judges said that this was an outstanding piece of roof garden landscaping where the contractor has demonstrated design, construction and planting flair. Whilst the views from the penthouse apartment are stunning they take nothing from the beauty of this space and the quality of its realisation. This is an excellent scheme that promises great things from a new Association member.

29 Principal Awards bestowed on members

In the category Domestic Garden Construction Under £30K, sponsored by Hedges Direct, the Principal Award went to Vu Garden Design & Landscaping for their work at a Private Residence in Sittingbourne. The Principal Award in

the Domestic Garden Construction between £30K and £60K category, sponsored by Ecoscape UK, went to Danscape Gardens for their work at Concrete & Cooking.

The next category was Domestic Garden Construction Between £100K – £250K. It was sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries, with the Principal Award won by Landscape Associates for their Modern Family Garden.

Gavin Jones won the Principal Award for the company’s work at Teesside Park. They were presented with the award in the category of Soft Landscaping Construction (nondomestic) – Over £500K, sponsored

by Landscape Institute.

SAiGE Longlife Decking sponsored the category Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Under £500K, where NAO Landscapes won a Principal Award for The Metro Building.

H Sivyer Transport sponsored the Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Over £500K category. Gavin Jones won a second Principal Award, this time for their scheme, The Glebe.

The project received a special commendation from the judging panel. They said every aspect of this hard landscaping scheme was absolutely faultless with every corner of the site reflecting landscaping and project management excellence.

LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021

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BALI AWARDS REVIEW (cont.)

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What was particularly impressive and worthy of special commendation was that, despite the extensive threeyear duration of the contract, there was absolutely no sign whatsoever of contract fatigue or a slippage in standards by the contractor. This was a truly amazing achievement.

In the category Community Schools and Development, sponsored by MCM, the Principal award went to Wright Landscapes for the RHS Community and Learning Garden.

The contractor delivered the hard and soft landscaping for the Community Grow Garden, carrying out initial ground preparation, earthworks, excavation, and installation of a complex drainage system to counter poor natural drainage on the site.

Large bespoke oak sleeper raised beds at different heights were constructed in a honeycomb design, and topsoil spread to all planting areas.

Responsibility for each raised bed has been passed to a community group in the area.

Sponsored by AHS, the Regeneration Scheme Under £500K Principal Award was won by P1 Solutions for their work at The Palace of Holyrood House Physic Garden. P. Casey (Land Reclamation) won the Principal Award for their work at Worsley Delph in the category of Regeneration Scheme - Over £500K, sponsored by ICL Specialty Fertilisers.

Worsley Delph is a site of historical and international importance for

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

its role in the world’s first Industrial Revolution. It is the start of 46 miles of tunnels that lead to a network of underground mines, and the start of the Bridgewater Canal, which was constructed in 1761 to take coal from the mines into Manchester and beyond. Over the years the area had fallen into disrepair. The works included the removal of 5,000m³ of silt from the Delph basin and waterways; construction of a new three-tiered, cantilevered viewing platform; restoration of Worsley Road bridge; installation of seating and interpretation features; enhanced pedestrian accessibility from Worsley Village, including resurfacing of paths; seating areas, signage, a new pedestrian refuge on Worsley Road and much more besides.

Reesink UK sponsored the category Grounds Maintenance – Free Public Access, where the Principal winner was Tony Benger Landscaping for their work on Gunwharf Quays.

Nurture Landscapes won the Principal Award for the category Grounds Maintenance – Limited Public Access, sponsored by Toro UK for their work at Milton Park, Oxfordshire.

The category Grounds Maintenance – Private, was won by The CGM Group (East Anglia). It won the Principal Award sponsored by HL Services for the project at Eddington Development, Cambridge.

Easigrass sponsored the category Accredited Contractor and Accredited

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Designer Joint Submission, where the Principal Award was won by Adam White MBALI and Gerald Davies for the improvements made to Gosford Forest Nature Play Trial.

Located in Northern Ireland, Gosford Forest Nature Play Trail is a 3km woodland trail, constructed using naturally sustainable materials such as wood and rope. It is made up of five unique, age-related, play experiences in separate areas along the trail. The designer worked closely with the local community on the Play Trail’s design and use of materials so that it would blend sensitively into the environment.

The Interior Landscape – Installation Only category gave its Principal Award to The Plantman for The Botanica, Ditton Park. The Judges said this was a stunning scheme, with excellent plant selection and installation.

Nurture Landscapes won the Principal Award in the category Interior Landscape – Maintenance for the UK Trade Desk project.

Goddards Landscape Contractors won the Principal Award for Canada Gardens, Wembley Park (E03). Vestre were the sponsors of the category, Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations – Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping – Under £500K.

The category, Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations – Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping – Over £500K was sponsored by Green-tree Topsoil. The Principal Award went to

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Geo Green Solutions for their scheme, Leeds Skelton Lake Motorway Services, Living Green Roof.

The Leeds Skelton Lake site was to provide a new services within the Leeds City region. The living roof was specified in accordance with the planning document’s landscape mitigation and green space strategy. This detailed the establishment of a wildflower meadow living roof to integrate the development within its surroundings and to contribute to the biodiversity/ecological value of the area.

The facilities building includes a mix of sedum turfs and wildflower turfs, whilst the hotel building green roof is solely wildflower turf.

The Principal Award in Living Wall Installation (Exterior Only), went to YGS Landscapes for the Sherford Living Wall. idverde won the Principal Award for Wildlife Ways in the Ground Control sponsored Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Enhancement category.

The Design Excellence – Overall Scheme under £50K category, was won by Andy Kirman MBALI. The project was the Contemporary Courtyard Garden and the sponsor of the category was Talasey.

The category, Design Excellence – Overall Scheme Between £50K – £100K, was sponsored by Landform Consultants.

The Principal Award was bestowed upon Rosemary Coldstream MBALI for Buddha’s Garden.

The judges thought having the vision and artistic talent to create a design is one thing, backing that vision up with

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detailed plans and drawings that provide the contractor with everything they need to realise that vision is quite another. The designer’s technical expertise and ability to create outstanding plans and drawings is also to be fully applauded and recognised in this scheme; this was exemplary work.

The Design Excellence – Overall Scheme Over £100K category, sponsored by Polypipe Civils and Green Urbanisation, saw the Principal Award given to Gavin McWilliam MBALI for the West London Garden.

The International – International Members Only category was sponsored

by Ransomes Jacobsen and hotly contested. The Principal Award was won by DDON Planning and Design Inc. for the Nanchang Jinmao Residential Show Flats.

The category Supplier Exceptional Service, sponsored by idverde, had its Principal Award won by ICL Specialty Fertilisers.

In the employer section, the category Employer Excellence – Turnover under £2.5M gave its Principal Award to Garden Club London.

Finally, the Employer Excellence Turnover over £2.5M category sponsored

by Fresh Horticultural Careers awarded the Principal to Ground Control.

Photo captions 1. Grand Award winners, Graduate Gardeners ecstatic about receiving the Grand Award for Private Garden, Cheltenham 2. Robert Field, Lifetime membership recipient 3. BBC Radio Five Live’s Colin Murray 4. Carrier Landscapes, winners of Best Use of Technology 5. Bespoke Stone Walling, winners of Best First Time Entrant 6. Bluestone Landscapes, winners of Best Newcomer to BALI 7. Guests entering the Great Room at JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel for the 2021 Awards 8. Rosemary Coldstream with sponsor Mark Gregory, Landform Consultants 9. Richard Gill, Sales Director of Headline Sponsor, Green-tech 10. Nurture Landscapes, winners of the Principal Award in the Interior Landscape Maintenance category 11. Employer Excellence – Turnover over £2.5M winner Ground Control 12. Gavin McWilliam MBALI going up to receive his award for Design Excellence in the over £100K category 13. The Association team from Landscape House

A copy of the Award Winners brochure, containing all the winners on the day, is included with this edition of Landscape News. If you would like a digital copy, please contact emily.feeney@bali.org.uk. Entries for the 46th National Landscape Awards 2022 will open in late February, early March 2022. We look forward to receiving your entries and celebrating with you all again next year.

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

27

BUSINESS SUPPORT

Shortage of materials set to continue into 2022

A

djustment to working practices enabled the landscape and construction industries to avoid the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which witnessed many other industries temporarily close. However, one of the indirect consequences of the pandemic has been a shortage of construction materials leading to disrupted landscape and construction projects - a wider trend predicted to continue for the foreseeable future. The Association’s Technical Officer Owen Baker takes a closer look at the challenges and what we may expect to see in 2022 and beyond.

Shortage of materials in the landscape industry is not a new concept. During the spring of 2021 the Association reported on a shortage of trees and shrubs in the industry, following numerous reports from members.

There was no single reason for this shortage. When questioned, suppliers cited several reasons ranging from the pandemic to historic factors including the recession in 2008 and the perennial issue of staff shortages.

As with plants and plant materials, the reasons for shortages and delays were various:

28

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

Shortage of supply

Construction materials sourced from Europe and the rest of the world have been in short supply due to closures of factories - forced to shut down during the height of the pandemic.

More recent COVID-19 outbreaks in Asian countries have reduced the speed of recovery across several industries, including construction materials and components.

Unprecedented demand for products

Domestic demand for construction materials has been unprecedented from within all categories of the construction industry, but particularly domestic repair, maintenance, and improvement since the beginning of the pandemic until summer 2021.

Whilst demand from domestic projects has declined slightly more recently, commercial construction and housebuilding remains high, with strong projections based on the anticipated pipeline of work for the rest of 2021 and into 2022.

Global demand for construction products is also at an all-time-high which means there is significant competition amongst countries for the same item, particularly where single

countries are relied on globally for specific products.

Global logistics

Logistical issues continue to be the most common and pressing concern across the global supply chain. Whilst 2021 has seen record numbers of shipping containers ordered to satisfy demand, there remains a significant shortage. Fewer cargo ships operated during the pandemic, resulting in fewer empty containers being returned.

In addition, there was an increase to the number of empty containers being stranded in countries subject to restrictions, however this issue looks set to improve in early 2022.

Unfortunately, the cost of available containers has increased significantly; the cost of importing shipping containers from China to the UK has risen by up to 800%.

UK container ports such as Felixstowe have struggled to process the backlog of goods being brought into the UK, with congestion reported for several months. Importers have either deposited cargo at European ports and transported stock to the UK by road, which has added to delivery times, or been subject to charges caused by congestion at the ports.

Shortage of drivers in the UK

As demonstrated during the public’s panic-buying of fuel in autumn 2021, a shortage of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers has impacted each sector. For many, this factor is seen as the main contributor to delayed deliveries in all construction product areas in the UK. Whilst the government have responded with initiatives such as driver training, it remains to be seen whether these are sufficient to resolve the shortfall of drivers.

Cost increases

Unfortunately, the shortage of materials has also driven up costs. Earlier this year the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) reported the average material costs across the construction sector were 23.5% higher in August 2021 than in August 2020.

This statistic does not tell the true extent of the price increases for some materials. The cost of imported sawn or planed wood for example was 74% higher in August 2021 than in 2020, with steel suffering similar fluctuations in price.

A 15% price increase has been suggested during the next five years

The future of construction material availability – and cost

The landscape industry should expect continued shortages of materials throughout 2022 and members may wish to consider the following measures:

Construction industry commentators have predicted inflated material prices is likely to persist Commentators have also suggested shortages of construction materials will remain throughout 2022.

This forecast reflects those within the landscape industry, who warned of similar challenges around the availability of plants and plant materials earlier this year. Suppliers within the landscape industry suggest specifiers and contractors placed orders for materials and products earlier than in previous years, and to allow for longer lead times.

As demonstrated by the fuel availability issues in autumn 2021, even established supply chains that have traditionally offered extraordinary levels of flexibility (same day time slots, borderless transport routes) are easily disrupted by fluctuations in demand or supply.

• Speak to suppliers as early as possible, ask what their lead times are for materials you are likely to need.

Order materials early – subject to exposure to inflated prices • Explain the situation to your clients; manage their expectations in relation to product availability, cost and the possibility of delayed project start/ finish times

• Suggest alternative materials to clients • Exercise caution if pricing future projects or responding to tenders; the price of materials is likely to fluctuate for the foreseeable future For further technical advice and support visit bali.org.uk/ help-and-advice

Supply chain issues are regarded to be of greater significance than materials availability in 2022, which is endangering the wider construction industry’s recovery and with it the economic recovery of many nations worldwide.

Owen Baker Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

29

TECHNICAL

PLANT HEALTH LEGISLATION: 2022 AND BEYOND

T

he Association’s Technical Officer Owen Baker takes a closer look at plant health legislation and what it means for the industry.

Since the end of the Brexit transition period the United Kingdom has operated a full, external border as a sovereign nation. Whilst some elements of European Union plant health legislation were retained by the UK, it was also necessary for the UK to develop its own plant health strategy. Consequently, new rules and procedures were introduced in 2021 and will continue to evolve during 2022 and beyond, with the aim of affording a greater level of protection to the UK from pests and disease.

Whilst plant health policy and guidance has historically concerned only those involved in the importation and trade of plants and plant material, stakeholders including designers, specifiers, and contractors now also have a role to play in ensuring the supply chain is bio-secure and should familiarise themselves with the changes that have arisen since the end of the Brexit transition period.

Place of Destination’ (POD) scheme

Throughout 2021 a temporary ‘Place of Destination’ (POD) scheme has

30

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

permitted plants and plant material imported from European Union countries to undergo physical and identity checks by a Defra plant health inspector at a site or premises chosen by the importer. Sites ranging from plant nurseries to distribution centres have used this arrangement, which was implemented whilst a network of Border Control Posts (BCP) and Control Points (CP) were constructed, and inspectors recruited throughout Great Britain to operate these facilities.

Use of the Place of Destination scheme has been extended until 30th June 2022.

Border Control Posts and Control Points

Border Control Posts (BCP) and Control Points (CP) will replace the ‘Place of Destination’ scheme from 1 July 2022, and represent a significant change in the way plants and plant material entering Great Britain will be checked for pests and disease prior to entering the supply chain.

Positioned throughout England, Wales and Scotland, physical checks will be performed on selected consignments and goods at either a BCP or CP prior to reaching their intended destination.

The main difference between the two sites is their geographic location; BCP are located at point of entry to England, Wales, and Scotland, whereas

CP serve as inland inspection facilities which are manned on-demand.

Consignments will be selected for inspection on a risk-based approach; the presence of genera that pose a higher biosecurity threat are more likely to be inspected. Defra and customs will communicate with declarants and hauliers whether goods need to stop for checks at either a BCP or CP. In the event of an inspection the contents of a consignment may either be partially or completely unloaded from a lorry at a BCP or CP and subject to inspection by Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) staff.

Whilst APHA plant health inspectors will work within BCP and CP, both facilities will be owned and managed by commercial operators. For this reason, whilst the cost of inspection has been declared by Defra, there has been no indication of the overall cost of using a BCP or CP facility by importers.

The operating hours of BCP vary according to site; some sites will only operate when a ferry arrives at port, for example twice per week, whereas other sites will operate on a 24hour basis. Opening hours for each individual Border Control Post will be decided by the operator, although the APHA will ensure sites are staffed according to stakeholder demands during hours of operation.

Any business may apply to become a Control Point, but they must meet customs authorisation requirements. This requirement is likely to limit applications to venues no smaller than distribution centres; individual nurseries or wholesalers are unlikely to meet customs authorisation requirements.

Movement of plants and plant passports

Once consignments have passed inspection, they are free to move to the ‘first place of arrival’; commonly either a plant nursery or wholesaler.

No plant passport is required for movement from either a BCP or CP to first place of arrival; the phytosanitary certificate issued in the EU by the exporter is sufficient.

Movement from first place of arrival to any other destination (for example, a client site) will require a plant passport, and it is at this stage contractors (who fall under the ‘Professional Operator’ category) play a role in ensuring plant biosecurity within Great Britain is protected.

Any business involved in planting, breeding, production, movement storage or processing must register as a Professional Operator with the appropriate competent authority – for example, Defra in England, SASA in Scotland or DAERA in Northern

Ireland. Professional Operators must record plant passports they receive from Authorised Operators (i.e. those who are permitted to issue plant passports, such as nurseries or wholesalers) together with details of the Authorised Operator (name and address) and record this information for three years.

From 1 January 2022 and 1 July 2022, a greater number of regulated plants and plant products will require pre-notification by importers, and to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. The Plant Health Portal website details which plants and plant products will be affected by these changes.

More information

Professional Operators may also be required to issue plant passports if they are either: a) Supplying plants or plant products to other professional operators – for example councils, housing association or any commercial customer who will be undertaking any planting or moving plants themselves. In this instance, plant passports should be attached to consignments destined for commercial client sites. Any operator who issues plant passports must also record who originally supplied them with the plants.

In addition to the Plant Health Portal, the Plant Health section of bali.org. uk contains detailed guidance on what action designers, specifiers, and contractors need to take, and outlines the wider changes to plant health legislation. bali.org.uk/help-and-advice/ plant-health

planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk

b) Transporting plants or plant material between premises more than 10 miles apart. To maintain traceability of plants and planting material, plant passports must be issued and attached to consignments transported a distance of more than 10 miles between sites owned by the same operator.

Owen Baker Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

31

TECHNICAL

ORNAMENTAL HORT INDUSTRY COULD BE WORTH £42BN BY 2030

A

new industry report, commissioned by the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group (OHRG), to establish the total size, breadth and contribution of the UK’s ornamental horticulture and landscaping sector, has revealed that the ornamental horticulture and landscaping industry is set to contribute nearly £42 billion to the UK and support over 760,000 jobs by 2030. Association Technical Officer Richard Gardiner delves deeper and explains what it may mean to you.

The OHRG report – what’s it all about?

The 2019 Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group (OHRG) report was a revelation to many, for the first time the horticultural industry had some firm figures on which to base its conversations with government; establishing the industry as a significant player in the UK economy with revenues of £24.2 billion, tax receipts of £5.4 billion (which is nearly double the cost of the UK’s entire agricultural subsidy programme) and employing some 568,000 people. Though not surprising to those that had ever considered the point, nearly half of the revenues, tax

receipts and employment, came from the “Landscape Services” sector. This sector of the horticulture industry was worth nearly that of garden goods, ornamental plants, retail, wholesale, Arboriculture, and tourism combined.

The news gets better for the industry.

Skip forward to the more recent 2021 report, which not only updates the actual figures to those available in 2018, but looks ahead to 2030 and the role the industry must play in the much talked about “green recovery” following the disruptions of Brexit and COVID-19.

It is cited that the industry has the potential to deliver revenues of £41.8 billion, with tax receipts of 8.7 billion, and could employ over 760,000 people by 2030.

Interestingly, the proportion of revenues swings even further towards the Landscape Services sector in both the 2019 figures and the forecast scenarios, exceeding 50% in both cases. This increased share of the market may reflect that this sector is likely to be less affected by automation in the coming decade, and that all the other sectors, generally rely on someone installing everything produced or supplied by most of the other sectors.

So, what’s in it for me?

There is no doubt that the series of reports commissioned by the OHRG are a fantastic asset. They give power to the elbow of senior industry leaders to challenge policy makers, they give the industry genuine credibility and should make you feel very proud to be part of such a significant, and increasingly important industry.

Gardens and green spaces are no longer just a “nice to have” but are critical to the success or otherwise of humanity… is that important enough for you?

In this latest report “Growing a Green Economy”, the team at Oxford Economics and Foresight Factory have identified eight determinants for growth, and depending on how effectively policy makers, training providers and industry work together, will determine to what extent, the many opportunities are realised over the coming decade.

If we look at these determinants, can we find simple ways that we can maximise the benefits to the environment, the nation’s economy and your own businesses? No matter how large or small your business, can you do something to make a difference?

The ornamental horticulture industry in numbers

2017

2019

Total GDP footprint of the UK’s ornamental horticulture industries, including its ‘multiplier impacts’ (Billions £)

High estimate 2030

24.2

28.8

41.7

UK tax revenues attributable to ornamental horticulture (Billions £)

Direct jobs supported by ornamental horticulture (000,)

Total jobs contribution of the industry (000,)

5.4

370.3

568

6.3

420

674.2

8.7

459.1

763.4

(continued on page 34) 32

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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TECHNICAL

ORNAMENTAL HORT INDUSTRY (cont. from page 32) The eight determinants of growth

1 The extent to which domestic gardens and green spaces increase or decrease as our housing stock develops

Opportunities and possible actions – It’s fair to say that this aspect is probably dependant on those at the top table, architects, planners, and house builders. But keep it in mind, if you do ever get the opportunity to influence how much green space is retained on developments.

2 The extent to which public and other functional and community green spaces expand or continue to contract in our cities, towns and villages

Opportunities and possible actions – Another for the top table in many respects, however if you are responsible for green space management, such as parish or town councils, you will find that officials at that level will have limited awareness of how important it is to retain or even expand green space, so it is an opportunity to educate and support.

3 The extent to which these green spaces are designed and maintained to optimise environmental, health, and social benefit to society

Opportunities and possible actions – This really is an opportunity to influence because every garden is important as a matrix for wildlife and to provide an opportunity for users of the space, large or small, to reconnect with nature thus improving wellbeing and awareness of the natural world.

If you have any design influence, try to include natural features, materials and concepts, and resist delivering the clinical outdoor spaces that has seen wildlife banished and are more likely to need a cleaner than a gardener to maintain them.

4 The extent to which businesses

can expand capacity and productivity in a sustainable manner to meet increasing demand for gardening, managed landscapes and naturebased solutions to climate change Opportunities and possible actions – Whilst this is likely to be largely about people, we cover that in the next determinant below, so here we will focus on productivity. The thing about technology is, that you just don’t know what is around the corner. It’s pretty unlikely that a robot will be replacing your skilled landscaper any time soon, but technology will become more 34

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

affordable over the next decade. For now, increased productivity is likely to come from upskilling and improved motivation of your workforce, and don’t just think money. Research suggests that once people have sufficient money to live (food and shelter), more money is only seventh on the list of things that are important to them. Top of the list is feeling valued and empowered. Look at your systems and structures, micro-management is likely your biggest limiter of productivity - train your people well and let them fly!

5 The extent to which the industry

can secure the labour – permanent as well as seasonal – needed meet anticipated growth in demand

Opportunities and possible actions - The most successful businesses are getting creative about how they attract and nurture talent, looking beyond the obvious ports of call and recruiting from other industries, investing in training both in-house and external.

Whilst some of the more traditional land-based learning institutions are struggling to deliver what industry needs, there are new, innovative organisations that might tailor a short course for your needs. Look at your own skilled people, can they mentor new people to develop their technical skills and knowledge?

In addition, we all have a responsibility to be positive ambassadors for the industry, none more so than when we are attracting talent to our businesses.

Do you speak about how lucky we are to be one of the few industries that can have a profound influence of the environment, something we know that younger people are interested in?

Some traditional career paths will not be able to offer that opportunity, so use it to your advantage.

6 The extent to which participation in gardening continues to grow and remains accessible to gardeners, fully inclusive of the UK’s diversity

Opportunities and possible actions – One of the few positives to come from the pandemic is the value people found in their gardens and open spaces - helping them connect with nature, manage stress and even understand more about the food system, with more people buying from local producers as a result. Use this in your pitches, don’t let this important factor be forgotten.

Diversity is very topical and something we should all be working hard to promote. There is overwhelming evidence that more diverse teams outperform less diverse teams, not just a little but significantly. So when you are looking to add people to your business, make sure you consider the make up of your team, not just race and gender, but background as well. Once in place, work to ensure all aspects of the team are heard and valued so that the team meets its full potential.

7 The extent to which scientific research and development is funded and leveraged to enable all of the above

Opportunities and possible actions – Research and Development always conjures up images of technicians in lab coats peering into microscopes, and to some extent this is true in our industry too. However, research and development can exist in the workplace - new techniques, updated methods and innovative equipment.

Talk to suppliers and manufacturers about ideas you have to improve their products, after all, you are their customer and the expert in the task.

8 The extent to which the UK’s biosecurity and plant health is maintained without stifling productivity or damaging the industry’s supply chain

Opportunities and possible actions – Without plants of some kind we are doomed as an industry and as a race. We are all familiar with the increasing number of diseases that threaten to remove species from our palette when we are creating landscapes, and if this trend continues, or even accelerates, how long will it be before we have a very limited and unsustainable palette indeed? We all need to play our part, introducing simple biosecurity measures to help us stop the spread of such diseases. Train staff in recognising diseases and what action to take, follow the government guidelines on plant handling, maintain high levels of cleanliness to reduce transportation of disease and buy plants only from trusted suppliers.

By Richard Gardiner Technical Officer (Quality Assurance)

Annual Membership * Satisfaction Survey 2021 Results You VALUE your membership

Top three products

Top three services

Rated good or excellent

Rated good or excellent

89%

90%

91%

#1

88%

88%

8.3 10

+43

88%

+29%

Opportunity to attend National Landscape Awards

Landscape News journal

Knowledge, advice and professionalism of staff

Speed of response to enquiries/ telephone calls

87%

85%

Who’s Who Directory

Communication of industry developments and legislation

We asked members to describe the Association in three words (the larger the word, the more regularly it appeared).

Quality

Helpful

Support

Supportive

Professional

Friendly

Committed

Relevant

Good

of members are either very satisfied or satisfied with their Association membership OUT OF

were likely to recommend the Association

thought the Landscape News quarterly journal was good or excellent

You asked us to: ■ Keep pushing to raise awareness of member benefits ■ Provide more information on legislation and new products ■ Support members with how to reduce their impact on the environment

is the Association’s Net Promoter Score (NPS)

is how much higher the Association’s NPS is compared to a global benchmark average

Awareness of benefits is HIGH with opportunity for improvement…

Top three benefits with highest awareness

95%

BALI Accredited logo

Supporting YOU going forward…

The primary reason for joining is for the use of the Accredited logo/stamp of quality

93%

Member’s area on BALI website

89%

Weekly e-newsletter

■ Host webinars and events on creating sustainable wildlife gardens

Benefits needing more promotion to raise awareness

35%

BALI Insure in association with Aston Lark

36%

National Connect members’ meetings

47%

BALI Digital support in association with Adtrak

■ Attract talent into the industry to help with skills shortages

“We love being part of the Association and would recommend it to any professional or company in the Landscaping sector” Harriet Keohane, Director, SAiGE Longlife Decking

bali.org.uk *74 responses, November 2021

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FEATURE

Photo credit: James Scott c/o The Garden Company

Reflections on the year gone by

2

021 has been an extraordinary and difficult year as we have continued to navigate the ever-changing market conditions and adapt to the ‘new normal’.

The industry has experienced unprecedented demand, supply chain issues and the cost of materials have escalated. Finding skilled workers has continued to be a serious challenge.

Yet in the midst of these obstacles the landscape and horticulture industry has boomed. As you’ve just read on page 32, the recent ‘Growing a Green Economy’ report, researched and published by Oxford Economics and Foresight Factory, projected that the industry could be worth over £41 billion by 2030, an increase from £28.8 billion in 2019. As we head towards the start of a new year Olivia McCullough, Editor of Landscape News, spoke to Association members The Garden Company, Civic Trees, Perennial, Arbour Landscape Solutions and British Sugar TOPSOIL to reflect on the highs and lows of the past year; to see what was learned and what plans are in place for the future.

What has been your greatest challenge of the past year?

There hasn’t been one single challenge, more a series of significant challenges and hurdles as events have unrolled.

At first, we were still balancing various risks to the business, related to the pandemic and the furlough scheme was an enormous help with supporting our employees, some of whom had children being home-schooled and/or cases of COVID-19 to deal with. We needed to service our clients, continuing with the additional safety protocols we had put Photo: AELTC/Bob Martin in place in early 2020. Then as lockdown eased, we were faced with a huge surge

38

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

in demand combined with supply issues.

Of course, along the supply chain our contractors were dealing with similar problems themselves, so programming work and meeting deadlines has required a lot of flexibility and creative thinking!

James Scott MSGD MBALI, Managing Director, The Garden Company Our greatest challenge in the last year has been managing our clients’ expectations whilst dealing with forced staff rotation due to the pandemic. Fortunately, this has not stopped us maintaining the high standards expected of Civic Trees within the industry.

The industry as a whole has been under resourced with “new blood” for a number of years, and with further pressures this year caused by Brexit and the ongoing pandemic on the labour market, the recruitment of skilled and even unskilled staff has been particularly challenging.

Marc Greenaway, General Manager, Civic Trees a division of Glendale Countryside

Our vision is everyone working in horticulture, including landscapers, will know about the different ways in which Perennial can support people and feel confident that they can get in touch should they, or their families ever need additional support. I find it heartbreaking when people that could benefit from our support don’t know about us, so continuing to raise awareness has been our greatest challenge.

Kate Cooney, Corporate Development Manager, Perennial Ensuring our supply chains are robust with regards to availability, prices, consistent quality and ensuring that we

have a good selection of products in stock all year round.

Anna Roochove, Marketing, Arbour Landscape Solutions

Adapting the way we work and keeping in touch with our customers.

Andy Spetch, National Manager, British Sugar TOPSOIL

What was your highlight of 2021?

I have been very impressed and grateful for the hard work and loyalty of my team – the combination of a pandemic combined with unprecedented demand for our services has been extraordinary, and teamwork across the business and mutual support between individuals has been more important than ever. And it has paid off in many ways, not least financially, as we have just concluded one of our best financial years ever.

James Scott MSGD MBALI One of our highlights of 2021 has to be being selected by Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to install the trees in their latest enclosure at Regents Park. I am also proud that Civic Trees, despite the pressures that the pandemic and Brexit has caused, have managed to sustain organic growth.

Marc Greenaway

There have been so many highlights, it’s impossible for me to say. If I had to name one, I suppose professionally and personally, it is getting back out there and seeing people again in real life. We are part of such a sociable industry and although some of the virtual events and meetings have been brilliant, nothing replaces meeting in person.

Kate Cooney Being voted APL supplier of the year.

Anna Roochove

Delivering growth under very difficult

Photo credit: Clive Nichols c/o The Garden Company

Photo credit: Clive Nichols c/o The Garden Company

circumstances. And becoming competent in Microsoft Teams!

Andy Spetch

What does 2022 hold in store for you?

We are fortunate to be entering 2022 with a very strong order book for design work, a portion of which we anticipate converting into landscaping projects further into the year. It could be a very exciting and positive year for The Garden Company; however, I’m also concerned that the combination of an inflated market plus rising inflation could ‘burst the bubble’.

James Scott MSGD MBALI We aim to continue the upward trend we have set in 2021 and bring some exciting new talent to the industry through our in-house development and training schemes.

Marc Greenaway Continue to develop the Arbour brand, continued focus on the customer experience and what that means to us, develop further products and supply chains.

Anna Roochove We will continue to aim for further growth.

Andy Spetch

What trends are you seeing coming through from your clients?

Clients have become more engaged than ever with their gardens and outdoor spaces. It’s been heartwarming to see this interest develop following lockdown and the ‘enforced’

time that people have spent at home.

One trend is to aim for a sanctuary - a beautiful haven where people can immerse themselves in nature, relax with friends and family and bring biodiversity to their gardens. The other trend is to extend the interior design of the home into the garden, creating more of a ‘boutique hotel’ look and feel, often including outdoor kitchens, swimming pools and comfortable seating areas (depending on budget and space of course).

We are always keen to steer clients towards sustainable solutions, even though this is not a main driver for most of our clients at present.

James Scott MSGD MBALI

We are seeing an increase in clients requesting UK supplied trees as they are becoming more aware of the risks that can be associated with importing trees both financially and environmentally.

There is definitely a new consciousness going forward with regards to being more environmentally friendly.

Marc Greenaway We are all becoming more aware of our physical wellbeing and the huge impact it can have on you. Staying mobile is vital, especially for people working in horticulture with the physical nature of much of the work and increased possibility of injury. Livelihoods may depend on it, but physical wellbeing can also impact on other areas such as mental wellbeing and your money.

Our team can help you access the physiotherapy service provided through our Partner and leading community

services healthcare provider, Connect Health. By seeking treatment early, a condition will be easier to treat and likely to be able to be resolved.

Kate Cooney Natural stone is starting to come back into play more after a short break due to the mass emergence of porcelain.

Our sensational range of Egyptian Limestone is proving super popular, not to say all our other products aren’t.

Anna Roochove A greater value is being placed on customer service and quality, versus just price.

Andy Spetch

How would you summarise 2021 in three words?

Fast-paced – Tough - Demanding James Scott MSGD MBALI Challenging - Exciting - Resilience Marc Greenaway Better than 2020 Kate Cooney Here to help!

Anna Roochove

Strange - Challenging - Buoyant Andy Spetch

As we head towards 2022 one thing that we have learned for sure is that the future can be unpredictable.

However, with the resilience we have all displayed over the past 18 months we are well positioned to tackle whatever new hurdles may arise as we continue to head into a prosperous period for the industry.

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP EARLY AND SAVE 2%

T

he time to renew your membership for next year will shortly be upon us, and you’ll be able to save 2% off your annual membership fee by fully renewing by 14 February 2022.

2021 has been a challenging but successful year for many, and we want to continue to help you in 2022 by supporting and promoting your business and providing you with valuable membership benefits.

The team at the British Association of Landscape Industries are here to support you in maximising your range of member benefits including access to Quest, a service that provides you with legal advice and documentation to help save you time and money, and BALI Jobs that can help

Jo Todd Senior Membership Officer you save £100 when placing recruitment adverts with Horticulture Careers. Our online webinars and in-person events are the perfect way to develop your skills, meet other members and get behind-the-scenes at some incredible venues. Don’t forget you can access further expert technical information and support by accessing important documents and information at bali.org.uk or by contacting the Association’s Technical Officer Owen Baker.

Do you need help with your online presence? Are you struggling to keep up with the latest social media trends? Then BALI Digital in association with Adtrak, the one-stop shop for digital marketing, could save you both time and money. Make sure

that you have the right insurance in place to cover your business needs by taking advantage of a complimentary insurance review provided as part of BALI Insure, in association with Aston Lark. Save more money by enjoying a further 5-10% saving on insurance premiums.

Members will receive a renewal pack in the post from the week commencing 3 January 2022, which includes the renewal form to return and confirmation of fee due.

If you need help with your renewal, please contact Senior Membership Officer Jo Todd - jo.todd@bali.org.uk or Membership Officer Anna Jackman anna.jackman@bali.org.uk

Join the leading membership network for landscape professionals and access a range of exclusive benefits: • Save time and money with HR, Health & Safety and legal support

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Reap the rewards as an Association member • Promote your accreditation to your clients • Access expert technical support and advice • Regional events, training, networking and more!

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

Visit bali.org.uk

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THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THIS YEAR’S AWARDS Headline Sponsor

Sponsors

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Enquire now to secure sponsorship for 2022 For further details contact Diane McCulloch via telephone at +44(0)24 7518 5614 or via email at diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk baliawards.co.uk |

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For general enquiries, contact Emily Feeney via telephone at +44(0)24 7518 5613 or via email at emily.feeney@bali.org.uk baliawards

Plant a strong foundation to grow together We are supporting members to have a trained Mental Health First Aider in their teams by 2023

Upcoming MHFA courses 2022: • • • •

26 – 27 January 14 – 15 February 7 – 8 March 4 – 5 April

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REDUCED TO £150* usual price £300 *Plus VAT

Find out more and book online bali.org.uk/mentalhealth

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MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health support in the landscaping industry

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f the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of taking care of each other. Over this strange and difficult period, many people have struggled. From dealing with the virus itself to adapting to pandemic restrictions, working from home, or coping with uncertainty and insecurity around their jobs, nearly everyone has been negatively affected. The Association’s Marketing and Communications Officer Emily Magdij take a closer look at what the Association is doing so support its members.

Mental health is something that has been historically stigmatised, with the British public’s mantra of keeping a stiff upper lip despite turmoil. But while this can help us through some tough times, it can also have a profoundly damaging impact on us. Being able to talk to the people around us when we feel isolated can have an immediate uplifting effect.

The landscape and horticulture sector is a practical industry and one that really lends itself to supporting those who are experiencing challenging times.

With so much support for mental health awareness and very high-profile causes advocated by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Stephen Fry and Monty Don just to name a few, it highlights how prevalent mental health issues are in today’s world. More businesses and companies are beginning to take good mental health as seriously as they do physical health,

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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

and we want the British Association of Landscape Industries and its member businesses to be ahead of the curve.

• An average of 18 people are lost to suicide in the UK every day. 75% of whom are men, and 25% are women

It is expected that the high-profile advocates lending their voices and experience to mental health causes will soon help to make having a Mental Health First Aider in the workplace a legal requirement, whilst currently it is only a legal requirement to have a First Aider in the workplace for physical ailments. We want our members to get ahead of this movement and be amongst the first to embrace the change for their industry and safeguard our colleagues with years of invaluable skills and knowledge.

• 91 million working days are lost every year due to mental health issues, costing the UK economy £70-100 billion

Mental Health First Aid in the workplace

Our Association launched a new Mental Health initiative focusing on the importance of mental health support in landscaping and horticulture on World Mental Health Day earlier this year.

Their initiative asks members to consider the value of having a Mental Health First Aider in their team, and to commit to supporting mental health in the workplace.

Key facts about mental health in the workplace

• 1 in 4 people experience mental health issues every year

• Men between 40-49 years old are at the highest risk of experiencing mental health issues, with the risk to people aged 30+ also on the rise

• Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK

• Male site workers are three times more likely to die by suicide than the average male in the UK

• If our Association lost 18 people per day from our paying membership, then it would only take roughly 53 days to eliminate our entire database Recognising the importance of Mental Health support

Sometimes, the hardest step can be bridging the gap between someone’s personal and professional life and knowing what to say or ask to help support someone’s mental health.

This is so important as the facts and figures around mental health often portray a person who is experiencing a mental health issue as a negative. With proper support, we can turn these figures in to positive stories - everyone has value to add. Everyone. Mental Health First Aid England aims to help, offering courses that can certify an employee as a Mental Health First Aider, in a similar way to how a more typical First Aider might work.

As an industry, we recognise the need for regular First Aid training and the

Health and Social Care Secretary of State Sajid Javid stated at the recent Global Mental Health Summit 2021: “Our mission must be for mental health to be treated with the same urgency as physical health. After all, its effects can be just as harmful.” He went on to say that “In England, we’ve committed an extra 2.3 billion pounds per year to transform mental health services by 2023, expanding them to reach families, communities, workplaces and schools.”

person which will include course materials and certificate. A financial donation will be made by the Association on behalf of each participant to Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in landscaping and horticulture, and their families, when times get tough.

The British Association of Landscape Industries has partnered with Bianca Jones at EDP Training, a qualified MHFA England Instructor and a member of the MHFA cooperate and communities’ team to deliver bespoke Mental Health First Aid training for Association members.

“The course was a real eye-opener. It has highlighted how important this is and how much goes unrecognised due to heavy stigma attached to mental health issues. In a predominantly male industry, I feel it is beneficial for everyone to raise awareness and understanding, working to remove that stigma, and providing a first point of call to anyone in need. Bianca was a fantastic coach, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to take part.

Thank you!”

Association partners with EDP Training to deliver training

empowerment it can offer to alter a life changing situation into one with a more positive outcome. Mental First Aid training is the next and logical step in that training. Situations may not evolve at the speed of an on-site accident; but being able to identify a potential mental health situation and supporting that person back to health is enormously important for both the individual and the industry.

Trained Mental Health First Aiders will be able to recognise the early signs and symptoms of common workplace mental health illnesses and have the necessary skills to have a supportive, non-judgemental conversation with those who need it. They will have the knowledge and confidence to guide colleagues to the appropriate professional support if they require it as well as promoting greater awareness of mental health in the workplace to reduce stigma.

Bianca is passionate about adult learning and utilising accelerated learning techniques to aid training.

Bianca’s own lived experience of depression and anxiety helps her to deliver authentic training which she is passionate about, and it also highlights the importance of prevention, self-help, and empowering people to take control of their own wellbeing.

About the Mental Health First Aid course

The Mental Health First Aider course will be delivered remotely over two days, with at least one course hosted per month. Each course will welcome between 12 and 16 delegates at a subsidised cost of £150 plus VAT per

Emily Catling, from Accredited Contractor member The Landscaping Consultants shared the following feedback from a recent Mental Health First Aid course:

British Association of Landscape Industries Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented: “By taking a stance on supporting members within our industry with their mental health, we are demonstrating the importance to speak out and support our colleagues to safeguard them with invaluable training, skills and knowledge.”

To find out more and to book onto a course visit bali.org.uk/help-andadvice/mental-health-support

One in four people experience poor mental health every year, with men between 40-49 years old at the biggest risk of experiencing a mental health crisis – demographics enormously represented in our sector.

One in six workers will experience depression, anxiety or problems relating to stress over the course of their lifetimes. With mental health problems costing businesses £1,300 per employee every year, there are key business incentives to improve pastoral care.

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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MEMBER BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT

HG Landscapes

Vu Garden Design & Landscaping

E

ntry to the biggest landscaping awards in Europe, the National Landscape Awards, is exclusive to Association members and for many winning an award is the ultimate accolade. With the 2021 National Landscape Award winners recently being unveiled in full at the London ceremony, we spoke to some of the winners to find out what they thought of the entry process and what winning meant to them as part of their Association membership.

Jeremy Howarth-Graham, from Accredited Contractor HG Landscapes reflected on their winning entry ‘Castelnau’ in the Domestic Garden Construction between £30K-£60K category sponsored by Ecoscape UK.

£100K - £250K category sponsored

by Van Den Berk Nurseries but was also bestowed with the Special ‘Best First Time Entrant’ award for their Private Residence in Gloucestershire submission.

How did you find the entry process?

As a first-time entrant I found the process really straightforward. There was a lot of information on the website to help you understand what the judges are looking for in applicants and being able to fully complete the application online saved a lot of time and unnecessary printing.

What was your favourite part about your award-winning scheme?

We always love walking through the garden once finished to soak it all in.

Once completed, the garden takes on a character all of its own, so to see the result of all the details we’ve worked on coming together is so rewarding.

Nick Leitch from Accredited Contractors Bespoke Stone Walling not only won an award in the Domestic Garden Construction – Between

Filip Szczechowicz from Accredited Contractor Vu Garden Design & Landscaping, Principal Award winners in the Domestic Garden Construction – Under £30K sponsored by Hedges Direct gave

Do you plan to enter again in future?

Absolutely, we find it such a positive process and we greatly enjoy taking part. We are genuinely delighted to have won an award; it means so much!

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2021 National Landscape Award winners share their thoughts

What was your favourite part about your award-winning scheme?

The favourite part of our awardwinning scheme was how it all came together at the end and looked timeless. We were able to use mainly reclaimed materials from the estate and locally, which added to the timeless effect, and it fitted the clients brief perfectly – to make it look like it’s been there forever.

The use of reclaimed materials from the estate was also a huge help during the national lockdowns when suppliers were closed and also had a positive effect on our carbon footprint as a company.

How did you find the entry process?

We found the entry process really good this time. Having it online saves time and it was easy and user-friendly throughout.

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

Bespoke Stone Walling

Do you plan to enter again in future?

We have already started building a garden that we will be entering into next year’s awards!

us his insight into their Private Residence in Sittingbourne entry.

How did you find the entry process?

The process was entirely straightforward and clear to follow. In terms of the guidelines available to help create a successful submission, it really helped us reflect on the environmental impact of our scheme and how to improve sustainability in future projects.

What was your favourite part about your award-winning scheme?

Coming from a predominately construction background, tackling planting was the most challenging and at the same time, the most satisfying part of the project. The brief was to create a naturalistic, wildlife-friendly planting scheme. Seeing it all come to life while attracting pollinators and local birds was immensely gratifying.

Do you plan to enter again in future?

Absolutely, it is a great motivator to push ourselves further and to make sure we stay on top of our game. We are currently working on a very exciting project for South Downs National Park, Southern Water, the Environment Agency and Brighton & Hove City Council. It is Brighton’s first school rain garden and outdoor learning space, displaying what we can do with a space that embraces water. We are confident you’ll hear about this one at next year’s award ceremony!

A huge congratulations goes to all the 2021 Award winners. If you would like to take up this member benefit and enter the 2022 awards, head over to baliawards.co.uk to find out more.

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TRAINING

GoLandscape, promoting career opportunities to the next generation

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et’s start with some positive news. I am really pleased to say that the physical events side of GoLandscape is finally back up and running. That’s not to say that we haven’t been attending and supporting careers events, but often these have been in a virtual format.

We’re all probably very close to ‘Zoom burnout’ and feeling more ready for face-to-face meetings and events to take place, and I’m sure schools and colleges are no different.

Landscape companies have always found it challenging to find new staff, and this became more difficult over the pandemic with the number of projects on the rise. Encouraging fresh talent into the landscape industry has always been one of the key goals for GoLandscape.

As I have said before, we can only circulate existing employees within the industry for so long - we need to bring in new people to train and nurture through the ranks if we have any chance of addressing our skills shortage. We can do this by focusing

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on three major groups: the school and college leavers, and career changers.

The impact of the pandemic on careers advice

Building engagement with schools was one of the major struggles when GoLandscape was first established and launched, but year upon year, we have seen school engagement improve. The priority of engaging with schools has always been first and foremost to raise awareness of the industry and challenge the misconceptions that people have about it. This often starts with careers advisors and teachers, but also extends to parents - all of whom can impact the view that pupils have of our industry..

Over the last 18 months, pupils’ access, and opportunity to engage with careers advice has been difficult with the pandemic impacting access to work experience and advice from working professionals. Careers activities have often been removed or reduced on timetables to focus on core subjects and to keep pupils

absorbed while studying at home.

Schools reported that they had 33% less curriculum time for careers advice compared to before the pandemic. This coupled with many Careers Advisors being furloughed, or teachers with a career’s responsibility having to focus on keeping lessons going over lockdown, has meant many pupils have had no careers guidance at all. There has never been a bigger need than now, to highlight careers in the landscape industry.

Growing interest in landscaping careers

Colleges and training providers have been in a similar situation to schools in terms of careers advice access, having to run virtual lessons for courses and apprenticeships.

Feedback from colleges and training providers is that once they reopened fully, they have seen a marked increase in student interest and registrations on horticulture, landscaping, and design courses – positive news for the industry. It’s also interesting to see an even bigger

Written by Stephen Ensell Education Officer (GoLandscape) number of people joining part-time courses as they look to expand their career into the next chapter.

Maximising ‘The Great Resignation’

It has been well documented that a key impact of the pandemic has been ‘The Great Resignation’, with a steep rise in the number of people quitting their jobs, highest amongst midcareer employees.

Totaljobs conducted a survey of 5,364 and found that one in five people used their free time in lockdown to search and plan for a career in a new industry, and 22% of UK workers realised that their current role wasn’t for them. This is supported in our GoLandscape website statistics, with its most popular area being the career changers section for nearly 12 months straight over the period of the lockdown.

What this all means is that we have unprecedented opportunities to work in schools, colleges and with career changers to signpost them to the

incredible career options available in our industry. We know how great a career with us can be, and with many finally concluding that working outside can have exponentially positive environmental and wellbeing impacts, there has never been a more prime time to raise awareness to careers in landscaping. As stated

by Viren Swami, Professor of Social Psychology: “Beyond mental and physical health, being outdoors improves imagination and learning, and increases creativity and the feeling of fulfilment.”

Could you be a GoLandscape ambassador?

Our ambassador network has been reignited now that we have been able to physically re-engage with schools and career-changers alike to promote opportunities in our industry.

I would therefore like to use this opportunity to encourage any of you not already engaged as ambassadors, to come forward and offer support in attending careers events as part of the GoLandscape team.

As an ambassador we could ask you to attend traditional careers fair, where you host a stand, engage with young people (and not so young people) to provide information and insight about working in the industry.

Contributions of time may also see you delivering a presentation or workshop to a group to inspire and highlight the skills and roles available in the industry.

We are looking for a broad range of people to join us to showcase the breath of opportunities available in the landscaping industry. If you think you could help, or would like further information, please get in touch with me, stephen.ensell@bali.org.uk so that we can all work together to spread the message and inspire the next generation of landscape professionals. golandscape.co.uk

GO Landscape building real careers

LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021

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EVENTS

A look at what’s to come

Confirmed dates for industry shows and events January – April 2022.

Correct at time of print. For the most up-to-date listings visit bali.org.uk/events 11 January 12 January 26 - 27 January 14 – 15 February 1–3 March 7 – 8 March 9 March 4 – 5 April 21 – 24 April

National Digital Connect: Network and chat with members bali.org.uk/events

Availability of materials with John Newcomb, Construction Leadership Council bali.org.uk/events Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/events Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/events Futurebuild, ExCeL, London futurebuild.co.uk

Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/events

The Garden Press Event, Business Design Centre, London gardenpressevent.co.uk Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/events

Harrogate Spring Flower Show flowershow.org.uk

Your Regional Committee needs you!

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ave you heard about the Association’s Regional Committees and wondered what they are all about? Chair of the North Thames Committee, William Innes-Taylor explains how all members can make a meaningful difference in their area.

William Innes-Taylor, North Thames Chair

What are the Regional Committees?

The Regional Committees are a group of local industry professionals passionate about networking and getting the most out of their membership and professional community.

What do the Regional Committees do?

The committees are a great platform to influence the kind of events and meetings that happen in your region; enabling tailored support to best suit your needs. We work together to organise events, support each other where possible and share contacts.

Can any member join a Regional Committee?

There is an official process where you must be ‘voted in’ during the AGM to officially become a committee member. We take the process seriously, but all members are given a fair opportunity to join.

How much time do you need to contribute?

As with anything, when you commit to working on a committee there is always work to do, and you get out what you put in. The committees are working with industry leaders and professionals, so a good degree of work is needed but it’s really rewarding.

How do you go about joining a Committee?

In the first instance you would need to contact Regional Support Officer, Laura Doyle who will explain the role and arrange for a meeting via Teams

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with the current Regional Chairman.

There will then be a discussion with the wider committee and a vote.

What’s the best thing about the Regional Committees?

Being part of a good team, working with industry leaders and actively contributing to your region is extremely fulfilling and rewarding.

The networking is invaluable and the knowledge that is shared is extremely beneficial.

What would you say to a member thinking about joining a Committee?

Most certainly, it’s an extremely rewarding experience, you become part of team that really cares about the industry. It is extremely enjoyable and well worth doing.

Interested? Contact Regional Support Officer Laura Doyle, laura.doyle@bali.org.uk

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