Landscape News Spring 2022

Landscape News Spring 2022

The official journal of the British Association of Landscape Industries

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The Association reveals four new Equity Ambassadors

24

The increasing importance of sustainable gardens

28

Seeing red?

Controversial changes to rebated fuel use

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Sowing the seeds for the next generation of landscapers

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CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME

Chairman’s Welcome DEAR MEMBERS

I

hope that this publication of Landscape News finds you and your family safe and well. As I write this, we are witnessing the shocking invasion of Ukraine by Russia. It is heartbreaking to watch this play out on our screens, and my heart goes out to all the people of Ukraine and any members who have staff and relatives affected.

Grosvenor House ceremony. A huge congratulations is extended to all of the winners and a special mention to Grand Award winners Graduate Gardeners for ‘Private Garden, Cheltenham’. A design and build project that has, yet again, shown an Association Accredited Contractor raising the bar and illustrating the level its peers must reach to be in the running for the ultimate accolade.

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

Could you be a 2022 Award winner?

I was delighted to be asked to be a judge for this year’s Pro Landscaper Business Awards for Association Accredited Supplier Eljays44. I have to say the quality of the entry submissions was outstanding and a credit to the industry. I am really looking forward to attending the Awards ceremony on 22 April 2022.

We are delighted to have embarked on the 2022 Awards’ cycle as the search commences for the next cohort of worthy winners. If you would like to submit an entry to the 2022 National Landscape Awards visit baliawards.co.uk for full details.

BALI Chalk Fund

National Landscape Awards

I was very proud to introduce Peter Jennins O.B.E to the stage to present the BALI Chalk Fund ‘Top Student of the year 2021’ to Charlotte White, at the most recent

It was not that long ago that we celebrated our very own National Landscape Award winners at the luxurious JW Marriott

Yorkshire & North East

South Thames

North Thames

South West

Midlands

North West

Chairman Jake Catling (The Landscaping Consultants)

Chairman William Innes-Taylor (Oak View Landscapes)

Chairman Paul Lynch (Elmtree Garden Contractors)

Chairman Ben Parkinson (Oakham Garden Services)

Chairman Paul Jackson (Ashlea)

Chairman Lee Bestall (Bestall & Co)

Vice Chair Grace Townsend (British Sugar TOPSOIL)

Glynne Mingaud (Urban Landscape Design)

Vice Chair Richard Gill (Green-tech)

Daniel Lewis Liam Pickering (Manchester City (First Light Football Club) Landscaping)

Bill Peebles

James Brash (Isola Garden Design)

Matthew Spedding (Easigrass)

Ricky Whiteman (Gavin Jones)

Gary Ewing (CED Stone)

Ryan Horseman (J. Palmer Landscapes)

Stuart Simpson (Ashlea)

Vice Chair Brian Herbert (Outdoor Options)

Vice Chair Darren Skidmore (Skidmores of Hertford)

Charles Blumlein (Location Landscapes)

Andy Spetch (British Sugar TOPSOIL)

Ed Belderbos (Belderbos Landscapes)

Colin Byrne (Dagenham Landscapes)

Martin Shaw (Walmsley Shaw)

Lisa Wilkinson (Eljays44)

David Sisley (Garden Designs & Landscapes)

Simon Oliver (St Johns Garden Centre)

Jim Wilkinson (Eljays44)

Liz Hughes (Provender Nurseries)

Vice Chair Tessa Johnstone (Johnstone Landscapes) Andrew Legg

David Fisher (David P. Fisher Turf & Landscape Contractor)

Neil Hodgkins Peter Killen (Peter Killen (PGE Landscaping) Landscape Designs)

David Houghton (Kings Landscapes)

Ian Chatters (IDC Greenscapes)

Simon Hedley (Boughton)

Kathie Coss

Richard Gardiner (BALI Vetting Officer)

Kim Campton (British Sugar TOPSOIL)

Chairman Ryan Love (SRUC Oatridge Campus)

Allan Thomson (Central Training Services)

Andrew Barker (Johnsons of Whixley)

Suzi Cross (Ecosulis)

Paul Cowell (PC Landscapes)

Scotland

Tom Owen (Van den Berk Nurseries)

Kevin Copping Richard Curle (Landscape Associates) (Buckland Landscapes)

Adam Stewart (Utopia Landscapes)

South Thames • Landscape Services T/A Commercial Services Trading

North Thames • Farm Lane Gardeners T/A Farm Lane Landscaping • Jake Smith Landscapes • Landmark Garden Design & Construction • Railscape • Refined Landscapes • The Secret Landscape Company

Scotland • Campbell Land Management

North West • Pennine Environmental Solutions Yorkshire & North East • Craven Forestry Wales • Emroch Landscapes

Accredited Supplier

South Thames • Artificial Grass London • Corker Outdoor

Regional Committees

The regional committees have some fantastic member events planned for the forthcoming season, and I would urge you to support and attend. To find out more, follow the program of events at bali.org/events.

If you would like to get involved with your local committee, please do get in touch with the Chair/Vice Chair directly or with Laura Doyle laura.doyle@bali.org.uk who can help to facilitate.

I would like to personally congratulate all of the new Association members listed below. 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 and maximise your range of available benefits.

Best wishes,

Richard Kay National Chairman

New members (19 November – 20 March) Accredited Contractor

National Landscape Awards ceremony. This accolade is awarded by the Trustees of the BALI Chalk Fund to the top student who has excelled in all areas of their studies and who has shown outstanding promise for their future landscape career nominated by Sparsholt College. Well done Charlotte, a great achievement.

North Thames • Landscape Solutions BV T/A Royal Grass Midlands • GeoGrow East Anglia • Bosta UK

South West • Waterscapes

Accredited Designer South Thames • Wilkinson, Rae (MSGD) (MBALI)

Associate Designer

North Thames • Wendy Curtis T/A Wendy Curtis MCI Ho

Associate Contractor Midlands • Groundskeeping

Student

Midlands • Cheryl Corns

Training Provider South Thames • VMT

North Thames • 1-2 Call Worksafe East Anglia • Lincolnshire Training Services

Associate Individual South Thames • Denise Quinlan T/A Insightful Images

DSO

North West • Atlas BFW Management

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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EDITOR’S WELCOME

Editor’s Welcome EXCITING TIMES AHEAD

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pring has most definitely sprung, and with the warmer weather also comes a sense of renewal and excitement for the future.

As our Chief Executive, Wayne Grills explains in his column on page 6, the board of directors and Association team have been busy planning the business’ three-year strategy. There are big developments in the pipeline and one key area is around our work in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Read our fascinating interview with Equity Ambassador Manoj Malde on page 38 as he speaks to Paul Foster, owner of Accredited Contractor Allium Gardeners about diversity in the industry and how to encourage people from all backgrounds into landscaping.

This issue is also packed with exciting announcements, thought-provoking features and invaluable input from many members from our Association community. A key topic in this edition of Landscape News is sustainability, and the collective advances being made in

this area. In our lead feature on page 24, we spoke to several members to find out how they were reducing their environmental impact and how increasing consumer awareness has impacted demand.

Editor: Olivia McCullough

E: olivia.mccullough@bali.org.uk T: +44(0)24 7669 8656 M: 07800 573351

Technical Officer, Owen Baker takes a closer look at the issue that’s on everyone’s mind – the changes to rebated fuel in the landscaping industry and what this means, in ‘Seeing red? The end of red diesel use by the industry’ on page 28. Education Officer, Stephen Ensell shines an important spotlight on the work that our careers’ initiative GoLandscape has been carrying out in primary schools, to raise awareness of landscaping as a potential future career choice on page 48.

We hope that you enjoy reading this Spring edition and if you have any topics that you would like to see covered, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sales: Diane McCulloch E: diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk T: +44(0)24 7518 5614 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 (Summer 2022): Monday 23 May 2022 Front cover: Photo credit: Nick Mege, The Garden Company

Best wishes.

Olivia McCullough

Contents 6 8

Chief Executive’s Report

Association News

16 Member News

24 Feature: Sustainability

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8

16

24

28

30

38

40

48

28 Business Support 30 Technical 38 Interview

40 Member Benefit Spotlight

48 Education 50 Events

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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Visit website

It’s good to get drainage experts and garden designers on the same page.

At last there’s a place where great landscaping and efficient rainwater management meet. The new ACO Garden Designers and Landscapers’ web page has all the help and support you need on channel drainage systems and sustainable water management – including a free eBook on sustainable design.

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

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

A Bright New Future!

A

little later than we would have liked due to the pandemic getting in the way of us physically coming together, the board have been busy resetting the Association strategy for the next three years - and there are some exciting times ahead.

We plan to launch the new strategy to members once completed and signed off by the board, but you can expect to see more sustainable, diverse, inclusive, and policy-led initiatives moving forward. The new strategy will form a communications framework that we can use to update board and members alike. Watch this space for more.

My thanks go out to your board and staff members that have given their time up freely to ensure that the Association remains on a forward moving and innovative path.

50th Anniversary Celebrations

That’s right, 2022/23 will be the year that we will be celebrating 50 years of supporting our members and we will reflect across the years to look at how the Association has evolved and celebrate your, and our achievements.

We look forward to sharing further detail soon on the exciting events and activities that we have planned.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

Plant Health Week

Once again, the Association will be supporting Plant Health Week which will take place 9-15 May 2022. This will be promoted throughout RHS Chelsea Flower Show with a Defra Garden focussed on the ‘Don’t Risk It’ campaign. The emphasis will be on educating the public not to risk bringing cuttings and seeds into the UK from overseas countries due to the biosecurity risk of bringing in pests and diseases.

46th National Landscape Awards 2022

Entries are now open for the 46th National Landscape Awards, read more on page 10. I wanted to personally thank our loyal sponsors who have already signed up for this year’s event, in particular Green-tech as our headline sponsor. I would like to encourage all Accredited members to enter a scheme. For our smaller landscape contractors, garden designers and supplier members it may seem daunting, but I welcome one and all to share your experiences, passion, determination, and drive with fellow landscaping colleagues at the largest industry awards in Europe. You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. Visit baliawards. co.uk for more information.

Collaborative Projects

We continually look to work with likeminded organisations in our industry and I wanted to make you aware of just some of the projects that we are currently working on:

Sector Survey Working alongside partners Landscape Institute, Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, Locri, Natural England, Natural Resource Wales, NatureScot, and the Northern Ireland Department for Communities, this pivotal project will produce a rich and informative evidence base, covering the landscape industry (and its neighbouring professions) across the UK, in both the public and private sectors.

Whether it’s understanding skills shortages, diversity issues, declining/ increasing areas of practice, the public sector workforce, or other market failures which hold back the landscape industry, we want to provide a knowledge base that will help us inform not only the Association’s forthcoming renewed corporate strategy, but crucially: a resource to support decision-making in the wider sector, and to make a case for renewed focus on landscape by national policymakers.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT Skills shortages across the sector, as well as changes in practice as a result of climate change, the housing crisis, Brexit, etc. demonstrated huge challenges, as well as opportunities to be seized for the next generation of landscape professionals.

In order to do this, we’ll need your help. Keep an eye out for the launch of the survey and help us spread the word.

Embodied Carbon Project One of the wider industry actions is to look at the sector’s role in reducing the embodied carbon of built places, explore policy solutions, and equip the profession to measure their own impact and lead on changing practice across the built environment.

There is now a wider group across the industry looking at working together on this, in particular, we want to explore embodied carbon/sequestration potential for hard and soft landscape materials, the landscape professional’s role in materials specification, and the suppliers/client’s market more generally.

The ‘Embodied Carbon’ emissions of an asset are the total GHG emissions and removals associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole life cycle of an asset. Whole Life Carbon is fast becoming the preferred term as it captures both operational and embodied over the entire life cycle of an asset including its disposal.

This therefore will be important for landscape professionals who will be looking to measure the carbon of specified materials throughout their entire life including their potential reuse or disposal.

Rebated Fuels regulation changes We are leading on a lobbying piece regarding the Rebated Fuels issue and a number of industry bodies are seeking to join forces on this work which will ensure a more unified voice.

Entries to the 2022 National Landscape Awards are now open! Pictured - 2021 Principal Award winner Landscape Associates, Modern Family Garden.

the Finance Bill 2021 and subsequent secondary legislation to restrict the entitlement to rebated fuel and biofuels except for qualifying purposes.

Our aim

As a priority, we are asking the Government to reconsider by adding landscape construction and maintenance to its definition of horticulture, thus granting our industry access to rebated fuels.

Alternatively, if this isn’t possible will the government grant the landscaping industry a phased exemption from the incoming expansion to rebated fuel to allow more time for our industry to work with large vehicle manufacturers and continue to transition to more sustainable fuels.

Please read more on this on page 28.

Best wishes.

Wayne Grills Chief Executive

At the 2020 Budget, the Government proposed to remove the entitlement to use rebated fuel from most sectors from April 2022. The measures introduce legislative changes through

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Skinny Jean Gardener Lee Connelly and Education Officer, Stephen Ensell

GoLandscape and The School Gardening Success Plan launch #GoSchoolSuccess campaign

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oLandscape, The British Association of Landscape Industries’ careers initiative and The School Gardening Success Plan have come together to form the #GoSchoolSuccess campaign. The campaign aims to bring horticulture and gardening education to primary schools all over the UK and promote horticulture and landscaping as a career to a younger generation, early on in their gardening adventure.

Over the past decade Lee Connelly, known for his work on CBBC Blue Peter and his Skinny Jean Gardener Podcast, has worked on many children’s gardening campaigns. These have been successful in promoting gardening in the moment but lacked follow-up support for the schools or teachers to continue the good work. From researching and travelling the country in 2020, getting 10,000 children gardening in one week, Lee realised what was missing for schools to successfully garden, and so The School Gardening Success Plan was brought together.

As well as teaching children how to Grow Your Own and care for wildlife, Lee believes it is important to show children from primary school age that horticulture and landscaping can be a possible future career. As a result, The School Gardening Success Plan, GoLandscape and the companies that support it came together to form #GoSchoolSuccess.

The School Gardening Success Plan provides a complete solution. Along

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

with garden tools, it also includes a raised bed, seeds, weekly video tutorials, all aimed at giving a seamless package to get every child in class working, learning, and growing. Best of all it provides the teachers with 24/7 online support, meaning no matter what or when, teachers can ask questions to the School Gardening Success Plan team to help with full gardening success.

How members can get involved

We want to encourage Association members to support one of their local schools – you can support more if you wish and provide a School Gardening Success Plan to get a class gardening adventure started, and highlight the career opportunities in the landscape and horticulture industry.

GoLandscape have already invested in plans around the UK that are having incredible results, that have meant that over 250 primary school children have started growing their own food and looking after wildlife, when many thought the garden was closed for business over the winter.

Founder, Lee Connelly says, “This is the most important time to get this into education so that once the subject of future careers comes up in secondary school, children already have knowledge of what is available and an interest in gardening. I’m very excited about working with GoLandscape to get the plan around the country and be part of a changing movement of children’s gardening.”

“GoLandscape is really pleased to be supporting this campaign with Lee, it provides a great opportunity to ‘sow the seeds early’ for these children to be aware of the world of work and careers in the landscape industry.

The children involved in The School Gardening Success Plan may very well be the next generation of landscapers and professional gardeners.” Stephen Ensell – Education Officer (British Association of Landscape Industries).

It is The School Gardening Success Plans mission to have at least one plan in every primary school by 2025, which will give over 30,000 primary schools and 1 million children a start to gardening and opportunity to learn about careers in horticulture.

To be part of #GoSchoolSuccess and support a School Gardening Success Plan you can find out more here skinnyjeangardener.co.uk/ goschoolsuccess

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

BALI Chalk Fund gets fresh new look

T

he British Association of Landscape Industries’ own charity, the BALI Chalk Fund has undergone a fresh new look.

3 The Chalk Fund, and its Chalk Fund Champions – aiming to close the industry skills gap, have gone through a re-brand to bring the identity in line with the Association’s fresher look, launched last year.

Entries open for 2022 National Landscape Awards!

A

ccredited members can now enter the 2022 National Landscape Awards, the largest of their kind anywhere in Europe.

The National Landscape Awards, kindly supported by Headline sponsor Green-tech, provide the industry with a platform to showcase their business and celebrate their achievements both within and outside of the industry. With 33 categories to choose from, ranging from Domestic Garden Construction, Hard Landscaping Construction, Regeneration Scheme, Supplier Exceptional Service and International to name just a few, there are categories representative of every Association member type to demonstrate the best of the best that the landscape industry has to offer.

Award categories are organised according to the size and value of the scheme or turnover of the business. All entries are reviewed by a member of the expert Judging Panel, led by Chair John Melmoe, with all Award winners announced in September. Winning members then go on to compete to win a Principal Award for each of the Award categories, and for the highly coveted 10

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

overall Grand Award at the ceremony later this year. In addition, Special Awards will be presented to the standout projects submitted.

The National Landscape Awards will once again be held at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane in London on 2 December 2022. Tickets will go on sale later this year for this muchanticipated annual celebration.

Top Tips for a successful submission

Our Judging Panel have provided their top tips for a successful submission, including ways in which you can create excellent early impressions to maximise your chances of winning a National Landscape Award. Find these, and watch our Awards workshop webinar on demand at baliawards.co.uk

Emily Feeney, Events Project Manager

Established in 1975 in memory of founder member Geoffrey Chalk, the BALI Chalk Fund provides funding for skills development across the landscape industry.

Trustees comprise of past and current Association members (including several past chairs) whose role it is to identify industry needs that meet the Fund’s criteria for support and develop innovative ways to deliver appropriate solutions.

To date, the BALI Chalk Fund has facilitated the development of industry training materials, awarded travel scholarships to enable young landscapers to learn from their counterparts overseas, provided training prizes for the winners of the national finals of the WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening competition and supported land-based colleges by providing trophies for outstanding achievement to students on landscape-related courses. The Fund is currently helping to support the development of an industry student enrichment programme.

To view more details of what’s included visit balichalkfund.org.uk/become-a-champion or contact Trustee Richard Gardiner richard.gardiner@bali.org.uk

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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11/02/2022 11:44

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Association appoints four Equity Ambassadors

Manoj Malde

O

Mark Lane

ur Association is fully committed to Equity – the quality of being fair and impartial, and we demonstrated our dedication with the launch of the ‘Access All Areas’ Inclusion and Diversity Panel discussion in December 2021.

It is our strong belief that everyone involved in horticulture, landscaping and design should be judged only on their professionalism and quality of work. Improving access into the industry should be embraced by all, helping address the widening skill shortage faced right now. it is important that people from all backgrounds feel welcome and that they can truly be a part of our incredible industry. No one should ever be excluded on the grounds of race, age, gender, orientation, disability or religion.

For these reasons four Equity Ambassadors have been appointed by the Association to change perceptions of who the future work force will be and to build on the important steps already taken.

We are delighted to announce that the four Equity Ambassadors are Manoj Malde, Mark Lane, Flo Headlam and Ashley Edwards. All four were panellists at the ground-breaking Access All Areas event held in London at the end of last year.

The panel discussion held at the Royal Society of Arts and hosted by board directors Adrian Wickham and Paul Downer, was the first of its kind.

A mind-opening discussion exploring barriers faced by those considered not to be a part of the mainstream. In a bid to create wider acceptance and more employment opportunities, the Association recognises these voices need to be heard and we all need to act now.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

Flo Headlam

About our ambassadors

Manoj Malde is an award-winning garden designer, TV presenter, public speaker and RHS judge. Malde’s background is in fashion design and his trademark love of colour in his work - he credits to his Indian ancestry.

Since studying garden design he’s been able to combine his passions, creating unique and stunning spaces.

Manoj said, “Our environment is a humanitarian cause. I’m keen to help the energy, passion, and creativity within the younger generations to be driven in a positive direction.”

Read more about Manoj Malde in our exclusive interview on page 38.

Mark Lane is the first recognised UK garden designer and TV gardening presenter in a wheelchair. Lane was involved in a car accident in 2001 which changed his life. Now he is the one making changes, especially people’s attitudes towards disability, opening up opportunities to work in an outdoors capacity. Mark said, “I see gardens from a different perspective, and I hope that

Ashley Edwards I inspire more disabled people to get into horticulture, landscaping and design and form a lively, enthusiastic, creative and diverse industry.”

Flo Headlam is a horticulturist, designer and gardening presenter.

She was the first black presenter on BBC’s Gardeners World and was in the prestigious BBC Woman’s Hour Power List 2020. Flo said, “I love being in gardens, witnessing their continuous evolving nature and their meditation on life. There is always growth in a garden, nature, and one’s own self.”

Ashley Edwards is head gardener at Horatio’s Garden in London. As the landscaping industry continues to thrive Ashley offered his own insight on how improvements could be made.

Ashley said, “I garden with patients with spinal injury, showing them what they CAN achieve... I work to inspire people through horticulture and help them focus on what they CAN do rather than what they cannot.”

Find out more at bali.org.uk

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08/02/2022 22:56

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Mark Gregory shared his reflections on the RHS Hilltop project

Visit to Provender Nurseries

A new beginning for regional events

W

ith the easing of restrictions, 2022 has brought with it new and exciting opportunities for our members to meet once again in person and enjoy workshops, networking and view outstanding projects up close.

Each regional committee and their wider members have been working hard to turn their ideas into educational webinars and engaging events, and a huge and sincere thanks goes out to all involved.

Provender Nurseries host importing and plant health event

At the beginning of March Provender Nurseries played perfect hosts to a fascinating live panel discussion from a stellar line-up of industry experts on importing and plant health. The panel was comprised of Tracy Wilson MBE, Import Specialist at APHA, Owen Baker, Technical Officer British Association of Landscape Industries, Chris Cunningham of APHA, Richard McKenna, Managing Director of Provender Nurseries and Stuart Tickner, Nursery Production & Biosecurity Manager of Provender Nurseries.

An exclusive behind the scenes tour of Wimbledon

Members in the South Thames region were in for a treat with an exclusive tour of the grounds and museum with their esteemed Head Gardener, Martyn Falconer. Attendee Denise Quinlan commented: “Such a great event, with added warm sunshine too!”

A year on at RHS Hilltop – with Mark Gregory

Nearly a year on from the opening of RHS Hilltop, Mark Gregory, Managing Director of Landform Consultants shared his 14

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

An exclusive tour of Wimbledon

personal insight into this incredible project with never-before-seen drone footage.

Members enjoyed a look back at the design and build process, the challenges overcome, the techniques used and relished the opportunity to network while enjoying a sumptuous three-course meal.

Our full commitment to improving Mental Health awareness

Our mental health initiative has flourished since launching at the end of 2021 and has already allowed many members to upskill their team to become accredited mental health first aiders, demonstrating the commitment to have at least one Mental Health First Aider in their teams by 2023.

The last two years have reinforced for us that as an industry our skilled workers are vital and looking after their mental health along with their physical health is imperative.

As an Association we are passionate about supporting solutions for poor mental health and empowering employers to professionally support their teams in difficult times. We are thrilled that we are industry leaders on this initiative and can offer the Mental Health First Aid course to members at a 50% discount, in order to reach as many people as possible.

Bianca Jones from EDP Training has been delivering the courses online for the Association over the last few months, with fantastic feedback: ‘’I loved the course. Bianca is super knowledgeable and is happy to answer any questions big or small. I think more people should be educated on mental health first aid, it’s equally as important as physical first aid.

The course was split into sessions and the break times were just right. It’s left me wanting to continue learning more and I am keen to put my new skills to the test.’’

‘’I have learnt so much over the last couple of days, things that I was totally unaware of. I will take these things with me in order to help friends, family and colleagues in the best way possible.’’

‘’A really wonderful but hard-hitting course.

Bianca was just superb and was professional but nurtured us through a difficult course too.

Really good content and it has encouraged to go further with how I use the skills learned.’’

With courses taking place monthly throughout 2022, we urge you to #takethepledge and make your working environment a safer and stronger place for all going forward.

Visit bali.org.uk/events for future events, webinars and workshops that matter to you and your business.

BALI_Awards baliawards

OPEN FOR ENTRIES Contractor / Group / Designer Categories Early Bird Discount Deadline: 4 May 2022 Final Deadline: 1 June 2022

Supplier Exceptional Service / Employer Excellence / International Categories Early Bird Discount Deadline: 1 June 2022 Final Deadline: 6 July 2022 The National Landscape Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday 2 December 2022 JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London Visit website

Visit baliawards.co.uk for entry criteria and to start your entry For general enquiries contact Emily Feeney Telephone: +44(0)24 7518 5613 or Email: emily.feeney@bali.org.uk HEADLINE SPONSOR

For sponsorship opportunities contact Diane McCulloch Telephone: +44(0)24 7518 5614 Email: diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk

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MEMBER NEWS

DELIVERING FIRE-CLASSIFIED ARTIFICIAL GREEN ROOF PLAY AREA

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ccredited Supplier Evergreens partner with Elite Landscapes to deliver fire-classified artificial green roof play area.

Part of wider Hammersmith regeneration plans, the Sovereign Court development consists of four residential apartment buildings, private podium landscapes and townhouse gardens. One of the finishing flourishes of this impressive landscaping scheme was a soft play area for resident families in one of the courtyard gardens, supplied and installed by EverRoof®, part of Accredited Supplier Evergreens® UK Group, in close collaboration with Accredited Contractor Elite Landscapes.

The private landscaped courtyards are at the very heart of the residential complex.

The landscape, designed by Randle Siddeley for developer St George and client Berkeley Group, has been expertly constructed by the team at Elite Landscapes as part of the £1.5 million hard and soft landscaping scheme.

One podium landscape features the artificial green roof system from EverRoof®.

The EverRoof® EVR 3 System was chosen for its uniquely classified fire-tested and wind-tested system, ideal for communal residential roof areas. The softness of the award-winning Wonder Yarn 36mm grass lent itself perfectly to the 75 square metre play area, meeting the building regulations and fire safety specifications. In an area that

was originally wet pour rubber, making the change to artificial grass has created not only a more attractive, open and recreational space but one that is hard-wearing, drains well and needs little to no maintenance.

Contending with difficult site access, the 3-strong EverRoof® install team worked closely with Elite, making best use of a hoist and spider crane for deliveries which were then handballed across the podium to the soft play area. Successfully negotiating the undulating installation over the unusual soft mound terrain, the final results are impressive in professional delivery, quality and durability.

Find out more at evergreensukgroup.com

Debbie Carroll (MBALI) launches designer focused handbook

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ebbie Caroll (MBALI) and Mark Rendell have released a designer focused handbook titled ‘A Designer handbook for creating actively used care setting gardens’ as part of author’s ‘Why don’t we go into the garden?’ series based on their extensive research project into this deceptively simple question.

It evolved from a concern around care setting gardens that became unused, even when they met the latest design guidance, and following Debbie being asked to redesign three dementia care gardens that had also fallen out of use. Their key finding from this study* identified the pivotal role of ‘Care Culture’ (the way a setting does things there; its practices, values and attitudes) showing that those homes practicing personfocused, advanced, care practices were naturally more active outside, regardless of the condition of the garden.

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The handbook sets out a new way for care settings and garden designers to work together that they call ‘Relationship-Centred Design’. This approach requires any support to match the current care culture of the setting with designers coming alongside a setting’s culture change journey to more advanced care practices.

Illustrated by many thought-provoking real-life stories, and an easy-to-follow diagnostic tool, the handbook clearly shows the human factor impacting on engagement levels outside. This helps designers to understand the role of Care Culture and how to identify the current level of their Care client from the first call and site visit so this can inform the most appropriate support.

The aim throughout is to support care settings, and more importantly their residents, particularly those living with dementia, to be able to engage meaningfully outside as and when they choose.

For more information contact Debbie Carroll debbie@stepchange-design.co.uk or visit stepchange-design.co.uk *Reference: Carroll D & Rendell M, “Why don’t we go into the garden?” Journal of Dementia Care, Vol 23 No.2, March/April 2015, pp16–18, Vol 27 No.5, September/October 2019, pp18–19.

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MEMBER NEWS

Springbridge launch ‘Plant a tree with us in 2022’campaign

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n an effort to help minimise the effects of climate change, and very much inspired by the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, Accredited Supplier Springbridge has come together with Bartlett to make a difference and launch the ‘Plant a tree with us in 2022’ campaign.

Springbridge gave away around 100 free saplings with every order as part of a drive to encourage people to plant more trees in 2022.

excess or waste materials from delivery sites. Their customers can buy directly from Springbridge because of their reliable ability to deliver high quality yet competitively priced products in whatever volumes they require.

Springbridge has built up an impressive portfolio of clients from building, landscaping, developing and civil engineering industries, as well as local authorities. They are also focussed on the importance of, and the provision of environmentally friendly services whereby they clear way unwanted,

Visit springbridge.co.uk

The family run firm founded 25 years ago by Bob and Julia Hawkins, who both still work in the business alongside son Tom, supply quality Topsoils and related products such as Barks & Mulches, Composts, Decorative Aggregates, Sand, Shingle and Turf to both retail and trade.

Topsoil being the flagship product is made on site using only the finest constituents adhering to British standards.

enters a product flow it should be preserved for the longest time through a circular approach, with a goal of minimum harm to the environment based on a lifecycle perspective.

Vestre intends to increase circular production.

250 OF VESTRE’S PRODUCTS CERTIFIED WITH THE NORDIC SWAN ECOLABEL

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ne of Accredited Supplier Vestre’s key ambitions is to be known as the world’s most sustainable furniture manufacturer. To support this, in 2020, the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all catalogue products enabled them to make more informed choices on which materials to use, where to source them, and how to process them. As a result, more than 250 of Vestre’s products are now certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, which is a type 1 Ecolabel (ISO 14040) covering Life Cycle Assessment.

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Springbridge has served the grounds of Kensington Palace, Blenheim Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Regents Park and Hyde Park. More recently, they were honoured to be involved in the renovations at the stately Hampton Court Palace gardens. Both the Rose Garden and the Wilderness at the historic royal palace in London have been improved with Springbridge Premium Cultivated Turf and Fine Loam Topsoil. The new year winter gardening and small landscaping repairs and alterations at Hampton Court Palace are currently underway and once complete, Springbridge turf will become the beautiful lawns, framed by the multicoloured flowers of the Rose Garden.

An EPD clearly shows what a product is made of and how it impacts the environment through its entire lifecycle – from raw (or recycled) materials, to production, use and reuse. As part of this research, Vestre aims to utilise a higher degree of recycled materials and are currently working on influencing material providers to opt for solutions with a lower total impact to the environment.

Companies across the globe have been ravaging the earth for centuries now, and it’s time to pay the price. Material extraction from the earth is a net negative and, as such, the judicious handling of these precious materials is of the utmost importance. Once a material

Vestre intends to increase circular production and, by impressing upon customers a whole life view of ownership, the need for extraction of resources will be reduced. End of life plans are being developed to ensure full circularity and Vestre is creating guidelines for how customers should dispose of materials as a first step. The opening of The Plus this spring, with a fully dedicated production line for refurbishment, will hasten these plans. In future, a buyback scheme will be implemented to give further incentives for circular disposal, and Vestre is also experimenting with rental-models to discourage products becoming obsolete.

Through Vestre’s Vision Zero, they will only make products that have the potential of eternal life. They will achieve this through reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing.

Repairability and reusability starts from the design phase and all products will be designed to be easily dismantled and parts replaced; Vestre offers spare parts to all furniture ever manufactured. And now, the possibility of complete restoration at their factory is also an option, whether a product is showing its age, or change of use is desired after years of use.

Find out more at vestre.com

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BALI LANDSCAPE REVIEW SPRING 2021

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MEMBER NEWS vehicle, allowing site managers to identify areas where improvements could be made.

Tackling the cost of theft In 2020, the cost of theft and vandalism to the UK construction industry was at least £800million. That cost is predicted to rise in 2022 as a direct impact of increasing fuel and material prices. ABAX telematics can offer live positional updates every 60 seconds, 24/7, with customisable geofences and usage reports also to hand, allowing construction sites complete visibility of assets.

ABAX technology tackles rising construction costs

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ight margins are due to get even tighter for many in the industry with the predicted rise in material costs following soaring prices in 2021 and the introduction of new legislation such as the reform of red diesel usage. But smart use of technology can help to make much needed financial savings.

“It’s understandable that many businesses may be feeling ill-prepared or concerned about the rising threats surrounding increasing fuel prices – particularly after the challenges thrown at us all through 2020 and 2021. But there are ways that control can be taken back and savings made, thanks to technology,” explained Kevin Bull, Commercial Director at Accredited Supplier ABAX UK.

The evidence that telematics works in theft scenarios is demonstrable, as Kevin explained: “we’ve had customers recover stolen vehicles that have travelled over 150 miles, all thanks to ABAX GPS tracking.”

Telematics- vehicle and asset tracking technology is simple to install, and effective immediately. Small GPS tracking devices can be installed in vehicles, on machinery and on tools to monitor their usage, track emissions and plot their whereabouts – with all machine data available via one system with solutions such as the ABAX Smart Connect.

No time to be idle One area offering potential savings with the use of tracking technology is idling. According to CAT, construction equipment idle time can be as much as 40-50% of total operation time – it’s unavoidable but many find that it can be reduced, and with rising fuel costs a reduction can equate to significant savings. Telematics technology can highlight idling time per

Productivity savings shouldn’t be forgotten “Although theft will be one of the biggest avoidable costs when it comes to construction vehicles and tools – there’s a hidden cost in time wasted searching for misplaced assets.

Our research shows construction workers lose 38 hours annually looking for their tools – that’s a significant productivity loss that telematics can help overcome,” said Kevin.

Telematics used for tool tracking allows workers to quickly and effectively locate what they’re searching for – a time saving but also tackling an easily avoided frustration for workers.

If you’re looking for your fleet to make financial and productivity savings, then ABAX could be the solution for you. Visit ABAX.com or call 01733 698888.

HY-TEX (UK) CONTINUE TO CHAMPION SUSTAINABILITY WITH EXTENSIVE RANGE

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ccredited Supplier Hy-Tex (UK)’s core focus is to protect the environment, which is reflected in the extensive product range offered to their valued customers. This key objective is vital to their continued success and has been a fundamental factor since their establishment in 1991.

and this open weave mesh is consistently ranked among the best general surface erosion control performers, as well as offering the most economical solution.

A popular product in their range is Soil Saver™, a biodegradable jute erosion control mesh, which is used to protect bare slopes that are vulnerable to surface erosion by rain, flowing water and wind and promote vegetation restoration. Soil Saver™ is made purely from natural fibres derived from sustainable crops that biodegrade over time

Alongside Hy-Tex’s Soil Saver and CoirMesh™, they have also broadened their biodegradable range significantly in recent years. They are proud to offer Ecotex MulchMat™, which is a biodegradable weed control membrane made purely from organic material, this is also available in Tree Mat spats.

Elements such as sustainability, a products’ environmental credentials, and a consistent desire to stay one step ahead of the curve have all combined to create the pinnacle platform for Hy-Tex (UK)’s evolution in the biodegradable range of products they now supply.

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Another product in Hy-Tex’s array of biodegradable solutions is the CoirMesh™ range of tough and durable woven coconut fibre meshes which work effectively on sites where erosion forces are harsh, or plants are slow to develop. There are 3 primary grades of CoirMesh™ which can help for when holding down turf and heather brashings, general erosion control of banks and slopes and when erosion control is required alongside rivers, streams, swales, and run-off ditches. ™

Before

After To champion sustainability further, Hy-Tex recently launched their brand-new Eco-Haven™ Tree Guards, the world’s first fully biodegradable tree guard that is carbon negative.

For more information on Hy-Tex (UK)’s product range, head to hy-tex.co.uk

JOHN CHAMBERS WILDFLOWER SEED SUPPLIED TO BISHOP’S WALTHAM IN BLOOM

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ishop’s Waltham in Bloom is a registered charity run by a small group of Trustees, supported by a team of volunteers, who all share a passion and responsibility for planting and maintaining all the flower beds, tubs and hanging baskets in Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire.

Since 2016 this work has been extended to incorporate two main wildflower areas. A 65m2 roundabout and a 180m2 patch of open ground beside a road junction that leads from the main road through the village. Both areas have now been sown with 500g of John Chambers Wildflower Seed Follers Manor Annual seed mix. This is a special mix of wild and cultivated annual species, originally mixed for the awardwinning gardens at the stunning Follers Manor in Sussex.

John Chambers Wildflower Seed has a 35-year history of supplying native British produced wildflower seed and mixes to rural and urban projects across the UK. Seed is sourced from growers that are long established and stringent in their collection processes; it is cleaned by hand, a labour-intensive process that will only achieve the highest quality standards. The team

of specially trained seed cleaners only dispatch the best seed that ensures optimum growth and success no matter the climate or soil quality.

Having developed many bedding and shrub beds around the village, the Trustees felt that wildflower areas would add more colour and enjoyment for local residents while supporting biodiversity and a wider range of pollinators. Therefore, the wildflower project at Bishop’s Waltham was initiated with the larger open area and followed up with the roundabout.

The group received sponsorship from the Waltham Society and BW Gardening Club, in addition to a grant from Winchester City Council to fund this initiative.

Susan Bircher, one of the Trustees comments, “We initially experimented with different seed mixes and some plug plants, and found the annual based mixes gave much more impact and colour. We did use some perennial mixes to try and reduce the yearly workload as we are only a small group, but that created a problem for us with species like wild carrot taking over and dominating the annuals in both areas.

“Because of our initial experience we wanted to move back to a mix which gave us real impact for the enjoyment of local residents over a reasonable length of time. When researching options, I saw the John Chambers Follers Manor Wildflower mix and we decided the mix of indigenous wildflowers for wildlife plus the ‘extras’ of Nigella, California poppies and Coreopsis would give us the ‘best of both worlds’, and the photos on your website and the Follers Manor website looked very much what we hoped to achieve.

“And it did. Very successfully. Lots of colour and variety, and we had a lot of very positive feedback from the residents, which was lovely.”

For further information on this specific wildflower mix visit johnchamberswildflowers.co.uk

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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MEMBER NEWS

Photo credit: Willerby Landscapes

Photo credit: Gillespies

INTRODUCING WATERSCAPES

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stablished in 2002, Accredited Supplier Waterscapes is one of the UK’s leading specialists in the field of water features and irrigation for corporate, private and municipal projects throughout the UK. With its design, fabrication, installation and maintenance expertise, the company undertakes projects within business parks, commercial developments including roof gardens, private homes and sporting venues. Waterscapes works closely with all sectors of the industry from developers to landscape architects and contractors, facilities managers, specialist irrigation product suppliers and the end client.

With a proven track record of endless creative vision and meticulous attention to detail, Waterscapes has gained an enviable reputation of quality, delivering projects across the UK. The business places an importance on the quality of

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its workmanship and the equipment it uses. As such, the company ensures it only uses high quality components from pumps to filters, sprinklers to fountain nozzles; each product must be made to the highest standards.

Carrying all relevant insurances and major accreditations, such as that of SafeContractor for a uniformly high standard of health and safety across its business, Waterscapes is also accredited with gold membership of Constructionline, NICEIC approved contractor status and is a registered holder of Builders’ Profile & SMAS Worksafe accreditations. Their teams can ensure every project is seamless and installed to the highest possible standards.

High profile projects undertaken by Waterscapes include the old BBC TV Centre redevelopment, Broadwalk Kew Gardens, Canary Wharf

Crossrail, Fenchurch Street – Sky Garden, East India Docks, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Tidemill Square, Greenwich and many more.

Waterscapes take an innovative approach to design, which is at the core of the business. They can offer customers the most efficient and sustainable approach to installations, applying an understanding of emerging technologies, environmental considerations and the impact of socio-economic conditions.

For more information on Waterscapes visit waterscapes.co.uk

Johnsons plants help Baby Rainbow Memorial Garden bloom

short life with lots of colours. If a rainbow ever comes out, we tell our children that Rory is here with us and in our hearts, and we think that is true for every family who has lost a baby.

“Rainbows have continued to play a significant part in our own grieving process, and that is why they have such a profound meaning in this project.”

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00-year-old commercial nursery Johnsons of Whixley have donated a number of plants to help create a Baby Memorial Garden in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

The Baby Memorial Garden was thought of by parents Andrew and Donna Clifford who tragically lost their baby son, Rory when he was just nine days old in 2019 from sudden infant death syndrome.

The garden is located in Scunthorpe’s Central Park and will be planted with as much colour as possible to celebrate Rory’s life.

Plants donated to the project have included shrubs, trees, hedging, herbaceous and bulbs.

The rainbow garden will provide a space for parents and families to remember, reflect and commemorate Rory’s and other children’s lives that have been lost before, during or after pregnancy in a beautiful, quiet but colourful space.

Rory’s father Andrew Clifford said: “Rainbows have been incredibly significant to us since Rory’s passing. It rained for many days after he died and we included lots of rainbows at his funeral because we wanted to celebrate his

Ground Control supports creation of 2,022 acres of Commonwealth Forest

Integral to both initiatives is Accredited Contractor Ground Control, partnered with Severn Trent to prepare each Commonwealth Forest and Tiny Forest site for planting.

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he first of around 6,500 trees have been planted in Wombourne as part of Severn Trent’s initiative to create 2022 acres of Commonwealth Forest across the Midlands. The 10 acres of new habitat is located at Severn Trent’s pumping station in the village.

As Birmingham 2022’s Official Nature & Carbon Neutral Supporter, Severn Trent is delivering a series of initiatives to leave a social and environmental legacy following the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

This work includes the creation of 2,022 acres of Commonwealth Forests, as well as 72 tennis-court-sized ‘Tiny Forests’ which are being created across the West Midlands.

The carbon neutral company offers a wide range of services that include landscape construction, woodland creation, and grounds maintenance amongst others, and volunteers from the business joined the local community and volunteers from Severn Trent in planting trees at The Bratch.

Liv Garfield, CEO of Severn Trent, said: “With Ground Control’s strong commitment to sustainability, they’re an ideal partner to work with for this fantastic project that will play a huge part in Birmingham 2022 delivering a carbon neutral legacy for generations to come.

Johnsons are just one of the 16 supporters of the Memorial Garden with Hedges Direct, Silica Lodge Garden Centre, SC4, EC Surfacing Ltd, Direct Plants, North Lindsey College, North Lincolnshire Council, Trees Direct, Decorative aggregates and Axholme Turf & Topsoil all offering support and donations.

Discussing the donation, Johnsons of Whixley’s Marketing Manager, Eleanor Richardson added: “We look forward to seeing the garden come together in the following months ahead and hope the garden can provide an area where Rory’s parents and other families can reflect and remember the lives of babies tragically taken from us too soon.”

If you would like to donate, volunteer or fundraise for the memorial garden visit babyrainbowmemorialgardens.co.uk nurserymen.co.uk

planting initiative. At Ground Control, we have set ourselves an ambitious target to plant one million trees by 2025. It’s initiatives like this that give me confidence we’ll reach our target sooner rather than later.”

Central to Birmingham 2022’s aim to make these the most sustainable Games yet, is the ambition to create a carbon neutral legacy.

Focusing on a reduction first approach, the final carbon footprint will be balanced out by carbon offsets, including the Commonwealth Forest across the Midlands.

Over time, as the trees mature, they will remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and in doing so will offset a large part of Birmingham 2022’s projected carbon footprint. This process will be validated and verified by the UK Woodland Carbon Code – the best practice standard for UK woodland creation projects in the UK. Visit ground-control.co.uk for more.

“These new green spaces feature native UK grown broadleaf species and will live on long past the games for future generations to enjoy as a space where biodiversity and nature can thrive and flourish.”

Jason Knights, Managing Director of Ground Control said: “We are proud to be working with Severn Trent and local volunteers on such a poignant tree

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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Designed by James Scott MBALI and built by The Garden Company

FEATURE

The increasing importance of sustainable gardens

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s awareness of the ways in which we can all reduce our environmental impact grows, so too does the realisation that everyone can truly make a difference. The combined actions of the estimated 30 million gardeners in the UK today could create change to combat some of our most pressing issues, including climate change, diminishing biodiversity, and social challenges.

Landscape News editor Olivia McCullough has been speaking to Association members to find out how they are working to make a positive difference and to explore the perceived shift in customer demand for more sustainable gardens.

Changing relationships with outdoor spaces

There is little doubt that the COVID pandemic triggered a reassessment

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

by the public of its relationship with outdoor spaces. According to a recent ONS survey, the pandemic forced people to interact with familiar surroundings in new ways: ‘While bedrooms have become offices, gardens – and the areas within walking distance of home – have become wildlife-watching spots and gyms.

Nature has been a source of solace for many as lockdown rules have heightened our appreciation for local parks and green spaces.’

COP26 and recent flooding events have served to increase awareness of climate change and its impact on society and so we all have to make sustainability a key priority. But is this awareness reflected in a tangible shift in customer demand for gardens that have a lower environmental impact?

James Scott, MD and Principal Designer of Hertfordshire-based contractor The Garden Company,

says it’s too early to call: “Enquiries we have received over the last year or so have followed one of two paths.

Some clients long for a beautiful haven where they can immerse themselves in nature, relax with friends and family, and, often, share the space with wildlife. And these clients will often show an awareness, interest and desire for sustainability to be a key part of the design and build process.

“In contrast, other clients decide to extend the look and feel of their stylish homes into a ‘boutique hotel’ experience in their garden. This is where it falls to the designer and contractor to work with the client to consider making choices that are more sustainable as well as being functional and aesthetically-pleasing.”

A firm advocate of what he calls the ‘sustainable garden aesthetic’ is Ben West, Director of London-based Landscaping Solutions: “In December

Image c/o ACO credit Tom Cronin

2020 we learned that ‘The Urban Retreat’, a garden designed by Jilayne Rikards MBALI and built by us, had picked up four National Landscape Awards. The most satisfying of these for me was the award for Best Use of Recycled and Reclaimed Materials.

The recognition this garden received subsequently from the Association and the wider public offers hope for the sustainable aesthetic - gardens that weather well in the British climate, blend in with their surroundings, accommodate and encourage interaction with wildlife and that their creation doesn’t damage the environment.”

What part can you play in shaping a sustainable future?

As part of its Planet-friendly Gardening campaign, the RHS has highlighted four key ways to make a difference in the garden, reducing our carbon footprint and encouraging biodiversity: • Look after the soil • Manage water • Plant for the environment • Prevent pollution The landscape industry – designers and landscape architects, contractors and product and service suppliers – have an important part to play in the drive for sustainable gardens.

Designers and landscape contractors are key influencers who have that all-important first contact with the

client, encouraging them to have a good balance between hard and soft landscaping, taking advantage of local resources, encouraging biodiversity with pollinator planting, wildflower meadows, ponds, and replacing fencing with green boundaries.

Selling the concept of an environmentally sustainable garden to a client requires conviction and knowledge of the art of the possible; as James Scott explained: “A garden can become a piece of performing art when it attracts birds, bees and butterflies.”

And that’s where product and service suppliers come in. Tapping in to their knowledge, expertise and on-going research and development is essential and the resources available in person through their representatives and sales teams, and online via websites, instructional videos and downloads, are designed to inform and educate garden designers and contractors, giving them the tools to communicate sustainable choices to their clients.

The importance of topsoil selection

Andy Spetch, National Manager of British Sugar TOPSOIL, and Soil Scientist Tim O’Hare have been informing and educating the industry on topsoil selection, storage and handling for many years. Familiar faces

on panels at industry events, they have worked together to develop TOPSOIL’s range of sustainable products: “All TOPSOIL products are derived from the fenland soils brought in on the beets to British Sugar factories in East Anglia” Andy explained. “I knew we had a valuable resource that would otherwise be wasted once it had been washed from the beet so I approached Tim O’Hare to design a quality topsoil using this material.” That was some 25 years ago and, over the years, TOPSOIL’s range of sustainable soils and topdressings has grown to meet an increasingly buoyant market for sustainable products.

Key to TOPSOIL’s reputational success is that they make all their technical documents, independent trials reports, current testing and analysis data, soil health and fertility microbiology, and carbon audit monitoring data freely available to download from their website. This gives specifiers and contractors all the evidence they need to reassure their clients that the topsoil they want to use is right for the job and fully sustainable. Additionally, TOPSOIL has designed a garden care guide for homeowners, which designers and contractors can download from the TOPSOIL Academy tab on the website and give to their clients once a garden scheme is complete.

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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FEATURE (cont.)

GravelGuard: Sustainable products are increasingly important to clients

Requests for assistance with designing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are increasing

Water management filtering through to customers

Water management, biodiversity and ecology conservation are dominant topics with designers and landscapers and this appears to be filtering through to homeowners and developers. Oliver Collins, Product Marketing Manager, Home & Garden, at ACO Water Management has seen a marked increase in requests for assistance with designing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) that can collect rainwater for use as an asset rather than being treated as an issue and ACO is encouraging landscape designers and architects to ensure sustainable solutions are the top priority when delivering future projects: “We have launched a new guide for sustainable design, which offers guidance on legislative updates and outlines the opportunities to integrate SuDS into new garden projects.”

He continued: “Interestingly, we’ve also seen an increase in enquiries around our sustainable credentials as a business. In turn, this is driving how we source our raw materials and how we manufacture our products. For example, we’ve recently launched the GravelGuard Grey Eco option to our range, which helps stabilise gravel and is made from 100% recycled polypropylene.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

“Beyond domestic solutions we’ve also seen an increased interest in our sustainable drainage solutions and wildlife range for commercial and public applications, as the discussion around climate change and biodiversity net gain (BNG) ramps up.”

Planting to reflect the changing climate

Creating planting schemes that actively seek to encourage biodiversity are the domain of the garden designer and contractor. But delivering a diverse palette of tree, shrub and plant species that are environmentally beneficial, aesthetically pleasing, and pest and disease resistant, is the work of our growers and nurseries.

Liz Hughes, Marketing Manager of Kent-based wholesale nursery Provender Nurseries, has definitely noticed an increased demand for plants that both help the environment and reflect our changing climatic conditions: “Unsurprisingly there is more of a demand for bee- and wildlifefriendly plants and wildflower mixes, and for plants that will withstand the increasingly frequent extreme climate events we are experiencing, such as extreme summer temperatures and winter storms and flooding. Since the pandemic we’ve also seen an increase in demand for plants for community gardens.”

Provender take their environmental responsibilities very seriously, introducing their company’s Prevent, Reuse and Recycle policy, growing most of their own stock in peat-free compost and launching their own peat-free multi-purpose compost, Rosedale.

Customers do occasionally question the carbon footprint of larger specimen trees: “Large trees and specimen stock come from all over Europe. To grow sustainably in the UK the original material would come from Europe anyway and grow here at a much slower rate, which results in a much more expensive product.

There may be the interest in buying sustainably but, if a designer’s client demands a big tree, environmental principles tend to go out of the window when it comes down to the price.” And Liz is not the only one questioning the sense of specifying large tree stock.

Mike Glover, Managing Director of Barcham Trees, has strong views on the subject: “There are serious environmental consequences to specifiers demanding supersized trees. As they can only be transported by lorry from Europe in low numbers, their role as an important environmental asset is hugely compromised. Hopefully specifiers will start to understand the environmental consequences of their choices and the practice will diminish.”

Designed by James Scott MBALI and built by The Garden Company

Barcham Trees are phasing out production of larger trees at their Ely nursery. Research commissioned

by Barchams and carried out by Treeconomics in Exeter looked hard at data gathered by internationally recognised measuring systems such as i-Tree to create a carbon rating system that calculates tree species’ benefits to society through its carbon capture potential and cumulative storage capacity throughout its anticipated lifespan.

All Barcham Trees stock is scored and ranked so that customers can select the best environmental option to suit the space.

On average, Barcham have grown their trees for about seven years before they are available for sale. The environmental cost of production in terms of carbon used for transport, tractor fuel, water abstraction etc. is taken into account and break even in terms of carbon storage is achieved by the time the trees reach about two years old. By the time they are sold they are already making a positive environmental contribution.

The use of Glyphosate – a contentious issue

Preventing pollution, by avoiding the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, reducing waste, removing plastic, and using alternatives to fossil fuels, is a challenge faced by our

industry and its clients. Effective weed control without the use of glyphosate is yet to be achieved. As the debate on its environmental impact continues its licence for use in the UK has been extended until 2025, whilst trials of alternative technologies are throwing up some interesting comparisons.

It would appear that alternative means of weed control, taking into account their environmental impact in terms of energy, water use and relative efficiency, are not as attractive as at first appeared.

Round-up, distributed in the UK

by ICL, is currently in short supply as global demand for the product increases and the manufacturer, Bayer, struggles to secure the raw materials. Accredited Contractors working in the grounds maintenance sector are monitoring the situation carefully and amending their spraying schedules to preserve stocks until regular supply returns. Some are also using mechanical means, with battery packs, to limit environmental impact.

Use of glyphosate will undoubtedly continue to be contentious but, at present, no perfect alternative environmental solution to weed control in a commercial marketplace has yet to be developed.

The significant climate emergency and biodiversity crisis that is facing all of us gives the landscape industry

Planting schemes encouraging biodiversity are on the rise. Image c/o James Scott, The Garden Company

an opportunity to create positive consequences through its garden designs, material choices and planting schemes. As James Scott at The Garden Company put it very succinctly: “Gardens and grounds that are designed, built and nurtured with sustainability at the forefront of our minds can, and should, be a big part of the solution to the environmental challenges facing us now, and in the future.”

With thanks to the following Association members for their contributions to this article:

James Scott MBALI MSGD, MD & Principal Designer, The Garden Company thegardenco.co.uk Ben West, Director, Landscaping Solutions landscapingsolutionsltd.co.uk Andy Spetch, National TOPSOIL Manager, British Sugar TOPSOIL bstopsoil.co.uk Tim O’Hare, Principal Consultant, Tim O’Hare Associates toha.co.uk

Oliver Collins, Product Marketing Manager, Home & Garden, at ACO Water Management aco.co.uk Liz Hughes, Marketing Manager, Provender Nurseries provendernurseries.co.uk Mike Glover, Managing Director, Barcham Trees barcham.co.uk Barry Browne, ICL icl-sf.com

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BUSINESS SUPPORT

Seeing red? The end of red diesel use by the industry is in sight

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ssociation Technical Officer, Owen Baker takes a closer look at the issue that’s on everyone’s mind – the proposed changes to rebated fuel in the landscaping industry and what this means.

During the 2020 Budget the Government announced it was considering removing the entitlement to use rebated fuel from most sectors - including landscape maintenance and mowing machines, from April 2022 onwards. The proposed removal was put in place to incentivise the development and adoption of greener alternatives, and a consultation was accordingly put in place from July 2020 to October 2020.

Under the proposed reforms to rebated fuel use, agriculture, horticulture, fish farming and forestry sectors would retain the entitlement to use red diesel postApril 2022. However, construction, landscape construction, and most maintenance activities associated with commercial landscaping were explicitly excluded from using rebated fuel under the proposal.

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Informal discussions with stakeholders confirmed the proposal was universally unpopular; Association members were concerned by the lack of alternative ‘green’ equipment available on market, the cost of transitioning to white diesel, the increased risk of theft and, most importantly, the potential for a detrimental impact on the environment as contractors and/or clients sought to reduce fuel use to meet budgets.

The Association urged the government to reconsider their proposal and highlighted the potential financial impact this decision would have on the industry, whilst offering little benefit to the environment. Solutions suggested to HMRC included allowing a temporary stay of execution of five years, as well as including landscaping activities within the horticulture sector.

What do the changes mean for the industry?

HM Revenue and Customs chose to proceed with their initial proposal and, in March 2021, confirmed the entitlement to use red diesel will be removed from most landscaping activities and construction from 1 April 2022. The greatest loss is likely to be

felt by industry members who currently use red diesel in mowing machines for commercial grounds maintenance, although contractors reliant on construction equipment will also suffer.

Internal calculations by the Association suggest, collectively, members will spend an additional £6 million on fuel because of the rule changes.

There are limited scenarios when rebated fuel may be used by Association members as part of their work beyond April 2022. One of these is when activities are performed within the HMRC definition of ‘horticulture’.

HMRC regard horticulture as the cultivation and management of gardens, including flowerbeds, trees, shrubberies [sic] and ornamental lawns in public parks. HMRC have confirmed this definition of garden extends to communal gardens in areas of social housing but is distinct from the maintenance of grassy recreational areas such as playing fields or grassed areas used for walking, picnics, and general recreation.

HMRC also allow rebated fuel to be used by agricultural vehicles for

specific tasks including cutting verges and hedges bordering a road, clearing snow, gritting, and assisting any clear-up following flooding. The HMRC definition of ‘agricultural vehicles’ includes tractors, but the tasks do not go beyond those outlined; for any other use the vehicle tank must be drained, and white diesel used instead.

This limits the flexibility of equipment using red diesel.

In addition to landscape maintenance and landscape construction, Association members undertake tasks including winter maintenance, street cleansing, amenity tree works and fencing for a diverse range of clients.

The reforms to rebated fuel use will also affect these activities; many will lose their entitlement to red diesel.

The Association advises checking the HMRC or contacting us directly with enquiries relating to these uses.

Suggested action

The Association predicts most landscape contractors will be affected by the reforms and advises members to review the guidance issued by HMRC and watch on-demand our webinar.

From 1 April 2022 stakeholders must not put rebated fuel into the tank of a vehicle, vessel, machine, or appliance that is not permitted to use it.

Stakeholders are however permitted to use rebated fuel in a vehicle or machine after 1 April 2022, if the fuel was legally put into the vehicle or machine before 1 April 2022.

If, after 1 April 2022, HMRC find traces of fuel markers in the fuel supply of a vehicle or machine which is not allowed to use it, stakeholders may be asked to provide evidence to show that any rebated fuel was put in before the rules changed and is still being used up.

Members who cannot use red diesel from 1 April 2022 should also plan to use stocks of fuel held in storage tanks by April. If supplies of red diesel are required between now and April 2022, HMRC advise stakeholders use the amount expected to be used by the deadline. Stakeholders are not expected to flush out rebated fuel from storage tanks.

Find out more and watch the webinar online at bali.org.uk

Stakeholders should be able to show they have been refilling with the correct fuel since the rules changed by keeping invoices or receipts showing they have purchased diesel or biofuels which have had full duty paid.

Stakeholders who use a vehicle or machine for both allowed and nonallowed purposes after the rules change must keep records which demonstrate they have flushed the tank, or the fuel being used has had full duty paid.

Owen Baker Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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TECHNICAL

Peaty Blinders: The debate surrounding industry use of peat

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W

idespread scrutiny of plastic consumption has gathered pace in a relatively short period of time and challenged the landscape and horticulture industries to respond with solutions. At the very least, manufacturers have released products made either from alternative materials entirely or increased their use of recycled materials. Similarly, a whole new supply chain has emerged to aid the collection of waste plastics and to ensure reuse.

Sadly, despite awareness and action from stakeholders, all the efforts made and announced so far to cut plastic waste, by governments and companies, will only reduce the overall volume of plastic in oceans by approximately 7% by 2040.

An industry challenge

Use of peat is arguably a subject closer to the heart of the landscape and horticulture industry than plastic, and concern over the damage peat extraction causes to the environment has been widely reported since the 1970s. Can the industry take ownership of this challenge and implement changes which result in meaningful change any faster than with plastic?

In 2011 UK government set voluntary targets on peat use, aiming for a peat-free amateur sector by 2020 and peat-free professional sector by 2030.

In response to the voluntary targets, manufacturers and retailers developed industry-led initiatives which resulted in notable progress; between 2011 and 2019 there was a 25% decrease in the volume of peat sold. Unfortunately, the volume of peat sold rose by 9% in 2020 due to unprecedented demand for products containing peat, driven by a renewed interest in gardening during lockdown.

In light of the failure to meet the voluntary deadlines, at the end of 2021 Defra launched a consultation and invited feedback from stakeholders on a proposal to ban the retail sale of peat and peat containing products in

horticulture in England and Wales by 2024, and by 2028 in the professional horticulture sector. This would apply to domestic and imported peat.

As part of the consultation, Defra advised that they may also consider other measures:

• Introducing point of sale measures for bagged growing media (a pointof-sale charge for the purchase of any growing media bag containing peat; and mandatory labelling and point of sale material containing detail of the environmental reasons for eschewing products containing peat)

• Mandatory reporting of the volume of peat sold for all sellers of peat and peat containing products

A united view?

Readers of industry publications, or users of Twitter during the past six months, will have noted a stark contrast in opinion amongst stakeholders in relation to peat extraction and consumption. The various industries that manufacturer, supply, specify or consume peat are not united in their approach to future peat use.

Peat has been adopted by the horticulture industry for reasons of low cost and high performance; any deviation from peat is likely to incur penalties in one of these areas, which the industry – and therefore its consumers - must adapt to.

Rather like the ongoing dilemma with plastic alternatives, identifying, manufacturing, and supplying an alternative to peat is not simple for manufacturers. One of the most pressing concerns for manufacturers of growing media is where to source the two million cubic metres of alternative material required to satisfy future demand. While alternatives are available to meet the current demand for peat alternatives, manufacturers are unlikely to upscale supplies of product without access to additional raw materials.

Many manufacturers and suppliers have called on the government to support this deficit by reclassifying waste categories and by-products

from other industries to aid re-use by manufacturers of growing media.

There is unlikely to be a perfect replacement for peat; scrutiny of some of the current best alternatives (coir, green compost, wood fibre and bark) reveals aspects of their sources, supply chain or associated processing methods that have an environmental or social impact. Ill thought-out solutions have the potential to cause greater environmental damage or have social consequences elsewhere, which means sourcing and development of alternative constituent materials is key.

As those who have already used alternatives to peat-based compost will testify; peat-based and peatfree composts are entirely different products and cannot be compared.

The expectations of consumers must therefore be managed to ensure that they use replacement products with realistic criteria.

Ideally, the industry will settle on a pragmatic compromise which balances environmental impact with the social effects of sourcing and manufacturing. Given the polarised views expressed by industry stakeholders during the last few months and concerns highlighted by manufacturers in relation to sourcing replacement materials, the solution has the potential to be as elusive as the plastic issue.

Owen Baker Technical Officer (Policy & Research)

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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TECHNICAL ‘Buddha’s Garden’ - Rosemary Coldstream MBALI Photo by Richard Bloom.

MEET THE DESIGNER ASSESSMENT PANEL

A

ll Association Accredited members have been vetted to ensure the highest standards of workmanship, skill and health & safety practices, and offer the finest expertise that the landscaping industry has to offer.

We are immensely proud that together we have been upholding the highest possible standards for 50 years.

Becoming a member is a rigorous process, overseen by industry experts. In this issue of Landscape News we take a closer look at what it takes to become a Designer member and get to know the six leading professionals making up the Designer Assessment Panel.

What does the process of becoming a Designer member entail?

To become an Accredited Designer (MBALI) there are a set number of requirements which need to be met.

This will come as no surprise to anyone who is in a position to apply; after all, the aim of becoming an Accredited member is to enjoy the many benefits and stamp of quality that this brings.

There’s a certain expectation which needs to be fulfilled to become a member and rightly so!

Each business assessed needs to show knowledge and skills for the work required of them. Professionalism, coupled with creativity makes for an exciting outcome for contractor and client alike.

Part of the assessment is to submit three individual projects which differ as much as possible. If a business is already a registered member of the Society of Garden Designers or the Landscape Institute, only two projects need to be put forward.

Further pieces of design work can be offered for consideration, and all work presented must be the applicant’s own work.

External vetting then takes place, and that’s where our expert panel comes in.

Upon approval of vetting, an invoice for membership fees will be issued and once your membership is active you can start to reap the rewards and maximise a range of carefully selected benefits.

Make the most of your membership

Member benefits include access to discounted Vectorworks software with BALI Blueprint, expert support through technical and practical training sessions, website help,

access to HR, health and safety, legal and tax services and relevant insurance advice too.

For you and your business, being part of the membership means instant access to a vast support network. There are more than 900 Accredited members, a number consistently on the rise. Working alongside your peers can be inspirational; you’ll discover ways to improve your skillset and in-turn, your experience could be hugely helpful to someone else.

Being an Accredited Designer means being a part of something bigger than your own business.

It also makes a difference to any potential clients. It’s that extra confidence; a gold standard, seal of approval, the Designer Assessment Panel can provide.

Membership gives your future customers reassurance for the success of their project. If you have passed the panel’s strict vetting procedure, it’s a valid endorsement you can provide a service, on time and within budget.

More details on the process and the joining fees can be found at bali.org.uk.

(continued on page 34) 32

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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TECHNICAL

MEET THE DESIGNER ASSESSMENT PANEL (cont. from page 32)

James Scott

Elaine Rutherford

Matt Nokes

Rosemary Coldstream

Chris Eves

Paul Bentley

Introducing the Designer Assessment Panel James Scott MBALI MSGD. James feels in his design work, he’s seeking to recreate that sense of adventure and joy he felt as a boy, spending time outdoors. Following studies at Merrist Wood College and a spell working in North London, James founded The Garden Company in 1991, a multiple award-winning design-and-build business based in Hertfordshire. The company’s ethos is to create bespoke, handcrafted spaces that people love.

James and his team create places of enduring value through expert design and landscaping. James designs with ‘buildability’ in mind, ensuring that clients’ dreams translate into a practical reality. As well as building to their own designs, they also provide landscaping services to other designers.

Rosemary Coldstream MBALI MSGD is a multi-award-winning garden designer. Her dynamic design practice transforms a wide range of residential and commercial spaces, from rooftop gardens and city courtyards to large country estates. Rosemary brings a personalised, client-focused approach to her practice, combining this with flair, imagination and experience to create gardens of personality and distinction.

Attention to detail in all aspects of the design ensure the gardens are built to perfection. Helping clients to realise their dreams gives Rosemary and her team immense pride and satisfaction.

Rosemary is a designer director on the board of BALI and regularly writes and lectures on garden design.

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Elaine Rutherford MBALI MSGD. Elaine got the bug in her first summer holiday job as assistant gardener in the grounds of a stately home in Wales. She went on to study Horticulture and Landscape Design at Writtle College and a Diploma in Management Studies. Her early career was spent in local government, writing contracts and managing the planting and maintenance of public parks and gardens. She created attractive green spaces using a limited selection of robust, vandal resistant plants with minimum maintenance requirements. For the last 20 years she has been creating for private domestic clients in Cheshire.

Chris Eves MBALI, MSGD is a garden designer working in the North East.

After completing his Fine Art degree he began a landscaping company. After gaining experience and horticultural qualifications he turned the business into Eves & Lewis Landscape Design, specialising in garden design. Chris works for both private and commercial clients, producing CAD plans and 3D models. The variety of landscape in the north-east provides inspiration for designs which utilise traditional materials in a modern way. Chris works with a site’s existing conditions to create sustainable gardens that encourage wildlife and enhance the local environment.

Matt Nokes MBALI. Matt is a chartered Landscape Architect and head of Ground Control’s consultancy practice; a multi-disciplinary team providing Landscape Architecture, Ecology, Arboriculturally Consultancy, and GIS & Mapping services throughout the UK. With over 20 years’ experience within the industry, Matt is a creative individual with a deep-rooted passion for the environment and great design. He leads teams to deliver services to the highest standards.

Matt is an award-winning designer, working across all industry sectors. He has a keen interest and specialism in commercial Design & Build.

Paul Bentley MBALI MSGD. Paul has close to 40 years’ experience in the landscape industry and is an expert in landscape design and construction. As well as exceptional workmanship and design skill, Paul is a highly experienced project manager and frequently coordinates specialist multi-disciplinary teams for both residential and commercial projects. Paul is committed to provide a first-class professional service to his clients. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and is head designer and director at The Landscape Gardener, based in the South West.

Find out more at bali.org.uk/members

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INTERVIEW

An industry we can all be proud of

Paul Foster meets Manoj Malde, Association Equity Ambassador

F

or nearly 350 years, Chelsea Physic Garden has occupied four acres of land on the edge of the River Thames in London. It has survived land-grabs, near financial collapse and narrowly missed the Great Fire of London and yet, despite such adversity, it has survived.

Not only have they survived, they are thriving with exciting plans for the future. They have just confirmed a new trainee recruit; a two-year position part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in conjunction with their Glasshouses Restoration Project.

They were able to advertise the role to people who might find it difficult to enter the horticultural industry by conventional means. They were overwhelmed with applications.

This is music to Paul Foster’s ears. Paul is a British Association of Landscapes Industries member and owner of Accredited Contractor Allium Gardeners based in Suffolk. He has come here to Chelsea Physic Garden to meet Manoj Malde, garden designer, television presenter, and the RHS’s first Indian judge and now one of four Association Equity Ambassadors, to ask him about his new role and what he hopes to achieve around diversity in the industry, and to consider the importance of such traineeships and how to give support where it is most needed.

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

They are happily sharing ideas and knowledge with each other and discussing their favourite plants and trees whilst standing in front of beautiful specimens of Bencomia moquiniana and Euphorbia atropurpurea in the Atlantic Islands glasshouse. Manoj sights Arbutus × andrachnoides as his tree of the moment - “I absolutely love it.” Manoj’s passion for plants and people shines through in equal measure and, as Paul proffers his current tree of choice, Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’, both find a simple connection through their love of plants.

Paul moves the conversation to the new role and asks Manoj what he hopes to achieve. “Being an Equity Ambassador gives me a wider platform to encourage young people to enter the industry. If I can be an example to a more diverse group of people to come into horticulture, and I am not just talking about people of colour I am talking about women, LGBTQ+ community, people who are less able bodied, people who are hard of hearing or deaf. If I can be somebody to encourage them – that is what I would like to do.”

Paul has long felt that although horticulture has given him a wonderful career, sometimes he has found people have not always immediately seen

him as the business owner because of his skin colour. “It can be as simple as a delivery driver walking past me to a colleague, expecting them to be the boss, not me. I come from a diverse background and, with more people like you, Manoj, being in the public eye and with people like me being able to recognise ourselves – it is going to go a long way to helping – it really is.”

Manoj recalls growing up in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. “I’ve experienced racism. I’ve experienced homophobia and bullying when I was at school. I could so easily have let that define me. I do not condone any of that contemptible behaviour. It has no place in our society. I have always been determined to fight against it with a positive approach. It’s worked for me but not everyone can find that emotional fight and, more importantly, shouldn’t need to. I hope we can make it a thing of the past, so they no longer have to. Skin colour and other less visible differences should not determine what people can achieve or the route to how they achieve.”

Paul feels that a change in attitudes is possible but has been a long time coming. “By giving more people an opportunity, they are only going to bring something more dynamic into the industry.” Paul uses the analogy of

Pictured L-R, Paul Foster and Manoj Malde

food: “Cooking has become so much more interesting by mixing more foods from around the world together – it just makes sense!”

Manoj adds: “We live in a multi-cultural country. In the UK we benefit from the fact that we have people living here from many distinct cultures and backgrounds.

Food is a great analogy! How many restaurants and cuisines do we have here? And we get to experience all of that, and we are richer for it. Why can we not be equally rich by encouraging members of other communities into our industry. I think those changes have started and I am excited by that”.

Paul talks about some work he has undertaken in local schools and Manoj enthuses; “so much more can be done to help show school age children that a career in horticulture is a possibility.”

With their shared love of plants is also a passion for colour in the garden and they explore that maybe heritage and life experiences play a part of their natural love of colour.

“When I am designing a planting plan, it’s like designing a print on a piece of silk. I look at colour as much as form and structure in the garden” Manoj enthuses. Paul agrees that colour in the garden is often abandoned for the desired ‘low-maintenance’ planting and concurs how much he enjoys

bringing colour to his work. “In my own business I tend to find a lot of people have opted for evergreen plants for all year colour and they can fear using vibrant colours. I gently encourage them to try a little harder” he laughs.

People matter to Manoj: “My Instagram is now getting so many people from diverse backgrounds who garden and want to ask me gardening questions. It is such a pleasure to chat to them and encourage them.

I think it is time that the industry acknowledges more of the amazing people we already have in the industry and help to raise their profiles because by doing that it will have an amazing and profound effect on encouraging people from other backgrounds to come and join a wonderful industry and it is a wonderful industry. It’s an industry where you don’t just become a number, you can make a difference.

Surely that is a legacy we can all be proud of, together?”

Photography: Scout Johnstone

With thanks to Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS Find out more: bali.org.uk manojmaldegardendesign.co.uk alliumgardeners.com

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

39

MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT

BALI INSURE POWERED BY ASTON LARK

A

s a member of the UK’s leading Trade Association for landscape professionals, you can access an extensive range of carefully selected benefits that can save you both time and money.

These include technical and business support such as HR and Health & Safety advice and marketing expertise; plus many more such as the opportunity to enter the National Landscape Awards, exclusive use of the accredited logo, entry in the annual Who’s Who directory and the opportunity to attend and host regional events and webinars.

In this issue we shine a spotlight on ‘BALI Insure’ – powered by industry-leading professionals Aston Lark, authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

What is BALI Insure?

BALI Insure is exclusively designed for Association members, offering

insurance and risk management services that recognise your commitment to the BALI code of conduct.

The facility is administered by one of the UK’s largest independent insurance brokers, Aston Lark, a business that shares similar values to ours and has the strength of relationship with a range of insurers necessary to help members secure insurance that provides the right balance of cover and price for their own individual needs.

Need help finding the best insurance premiums for your business?

BALI Insure can help you navigate insurance by providing no obligation reviews and advice, as well as risk management advice and services.

Members can use BALI Insure for advice on policies and finding

the right level of cover for a variety of situations, including material damage, public and employer’s liability, professional indemnity insurance, contract works including plant and machinery, motor fleet and much more.

Members can save on average

5-10%

on their insurance How to redeem the benefit

To get started, login to your member’s area at bali.org.uk and locate the BALI Insure page in your list of benefits.

Alternatively, let us arrange for them to give you a call by contacting us at contact@bali.org.uk.

Welcome to Tina Taylor

W

e hope that you will join us in warmly welcoming Tina Taylor, our new Senior Membership Officer to the team.

Tina has joined us with a wealth of experience gleaned from her time spent in the construction industry working in customer facing Business Development Management roles for a number of large contractors.

Tina has also gained knowledge of the Land-based industries when she

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worked some years ago as Business Development Manager for Lantra.

She is a keen musician and enjoys playing the cello in a locally based string orchestra, as well as gardening and walking.

“I am looking forward to bringing my varied experience to the Senior Membership Officer role and getting to know our members” commented Tina.

Contact Tina – tina.taylor@bali.org.uk

OPINION

PLASTICS: DYSTOPIAN TIBETAN PRAYER FLAGS OR WHITE GOLD?

A

ccredited Supplier IBRAN is a manufacturer of recycled plastic ground reinforcement and drainage materials for use in domestic and commercial groundworks and surfacing projects. Director Ted Bromley-Hall shares his view on the often-contentious view of plastic use.

Whatever the desired look is for your project, you probably would agree that how a material performs is just as important as its visual aesthetic.

The two don’t always go hand in hand, and I guarantee that the thought of using plastic to achieve the holy grail of beauty and functionality wouldn’t be the first thing to cross your mind.

Much maligned, in construction plastic has long been associated with the 70’s and 80’s white gold explosion and the cheap, poorly designed and poorly fitted windows, doors and conservatories. They even made a TV series about it! In other examples, we see discoloured, salt-washed water bottles and cutlery bulging out like a bakelite island; plastic bags strewn into the wind, found strapped to tree branches like dystopian Tibetan prayer flags.

Rightly, with so much plastic junk in our day to day lives painting a picture of it as tacky or environmentally destructive, there are calls to end its production completely. The most glaring and recent example - the banning of the (not-so-humble) plastic straw.

In an interview with the BBC, David Attenborough himself said we need to adjust the way we view and use plastic.

Just as it is its biggest drawback, plastic’s main virtue is its longevity.

For this reason alone, we have seen a huge increase in the use of plastic in construction and landscaping projects

of all shapes and sizes. Not just for home use but for large commercial and community projects. It is not just about the environmental benefits of using recyclable materials but the fact that it is just as reliable as any material traditionally used in building.

From driveways to bases for outdoor structures, patios and pathways, the use of plastic is proving its worth.

Aesthetically, plastic can be used discreetly alongside more natural materials to give the best of both the natural and engineered worlds. A lot of decking is now made using recycled plastic and wood pulp, through an extrusion process to produce the composite decking that’s in massive demand. Not only does a good quality composite deck perform well, it looks as excellent in 10-20 years as it does on day 1. The material can be worked well and can, depending on the exact composition, be re-recycled, closing the loop.

With the calls to end its production, it makes the most logical sense to also be tackling the plastic waste that already exists. It’s a great raw material which we use ourselves in all our products; skilfully designed, discreet and easy to use and environmentally friendly.

We could discuss in length the merits of recycling and using plastic, evangelically pushing the point even further but we’ve all had enough lectures in ethics and morality over the last few years. The bottom line is this - using materials made from recycled plastic is always cheaper and therefore, more profitable than virgin plastic.

We’ve been championing the use of recycled plastic since the business was set up. The functional, aesthetic, economical and ecological benefits are so obvious. On top of all of this, there is a growing awareness of plastic and that,

in our opinion, it’s clearly better to put it to good, long term use than see that very same plastic wrapped round trees, being eaten by or suffocating wildlife. I, for one, would sooner see the plastics in our dustbins ground up and turned into building materials, than in the blowholes of dolphins and whales.

So from the founding of the business to today, our core motivation has always been to actively contribute to the improvement of the environment.

And for that reason we are always on the hunt for new ways we can incorporate and repurpose waste materials for an enduring purpose. For example, our ground reinforcement grids have helped us make a massive dent in global plastic waste. In 2021 alone, we sold 1 million kgs worth!

That’s a lot of waste plastic locked up for good.

We all have flashes of inspiration and new ideas for new or existing products.

Why not talk to IBRAN about your own product ideas? Perhaps there’s a way we can work with you to help turn those ideas into reality, using recycled plastic.

Visit ibran.co.uk

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

41

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

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evels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are at an all-time high.

Whilst CO₂ is an essential element to the survival of plants and animals, too much CO₂ has a catastrophic impact on the environment. The continuous burning of fossil fuels by humans has resulted in a massive rise in greenhouse gases, creating an imbalance in the atmosphere.

In May 2021, CO₂ levels reached 419 parts per million – the highest average ever recorded. “As a manufacturer, we know we have a responsibility to be as sustainable as possible. Sustainability and environmental impact has always been a high priority for us and I am delighted to announce that we have introduced further environmental initiatives, all with the aim of reducing our environmental impact.” Mark Shorrock, Managing Director at Instarmac.

UltraScape pride themselves on their sustainability practices and all of their high performance subfloor preparation materials are produced at their worldclass manufacturing facilities in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

“Having as little impact on the environment as possible is behind every decision I make about the running of our production and warehouse facility. Over the last few years, I am proud to say that we have introduced further initiatives which include using variable speed drivers across the plant, consuming less electricity at start up, replacing lighting with LED bulbs and using Intelligent Wrapping Technology to select the best wrapping solution for each product, focusing on stability and efficiency.” Paul Evans, Works Director at Instarmac Group.

By adapting our manufacturing processes to utilise the most sustainable procedures possible, UltraScape are delighted to report that in 2020, their carbon footprint was

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

measured at 3303.53 tonnes per CO₂E – a 16% improvement compared to the previous year.

The environmental improvements to UltraScape’s manufacturing and office facilities do not end there. In February 2021, UltraScape invested over £420,000 to install 3,771sqm of solar panels at their Tamworth based premises. The power generated by the high specification solar panels will be converted into electricity for use at their site and is also predicted to save at least 36,000kw per month.

What’s more, research is also underway to install more solar panels across the wider Instarmac group infrastructure and properties.

UltraScape are helping their customers reduce their own carbon footprint with the introduction of environmentally friendly bedding mortars and jointing solutions.

UltraScape eco-bed and flowpoint eco both deliver the performance expected of BS 7533 compliant paving installation materials, but contain 20% recycled material – vastly reducing the use of virgin aggregates.

What’s more, UltraScape premjoint brush-in sand, is available in 15kg tubs made from 100% recycled material, which can also be recycled – a huge step forward for UltraScape and the landscaping industry as a whole.

UltraScape eco-bed, flowpoint eco and the other paving installation materials available from UltraScape are delivered to customers on their 35 strong, privately owned fleet which now includes two CNG lorries. The introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles will result in a reduction of CO₂ emissions by 115 tonnes per truck, per year.

UltraScape are fully committed to using fuel alternatives and aim to have 25% of their fleet running on CNG by the end of 2024, and 60% by the end of 2025.

Are pallets taking up space in your yard?

UltraScape can take them back! Their experienced Drivers can collect your unwanted pallets and return them to UltraScape to be recycled or reused. During 2020, UltraScape Drivers collected approximately 15,000 pallets. That’s 193 tonnes of wood which has saved around 1,900 trees.

Other initiatives successfully implemented at UltraScape include intelligent lighting, a grey water system and climate control. They have also proudly been zero waste to landfill since 2014 – this means that 100% of manufacturing waste is recycled and not sent to landfill.

All of UltraScape’s environmental practices have been acknowledged by ISO 14001 – an independent accreditation which UltraScape have been awarded for the last 15 years. The ISO standard allow UltraScape to reflect a good level of professionalism and demonstrates best practice. This accreditation is a great accomplishment for UltraScape as it shows their customers, the supply chain, and the flooring industry as a whole, their intent to continually improve all aspects of their business and how committed they are to providing sustainable solutions.

Find out more about UltraScape’s environmental commitments for the future by visiting Instarmac.co.uk to download a copy of their Environmental and Social Responsibility Report.

Choosing to make an impact

ZERO waste

to landfill

New

CNG

Over

lorries added to fleet

SUSTAINABLE manufacturing processes

3,700sqm of solar panels

installed

100%

recycled plastic bottles www.instarmac.co.uk

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EDUCATION

Sowing the seeds for the next generation of landscapers

W

hen is too early to start the conversation about careers with children? Probably never. Children imitate what they see around them in their play, especially in what they see mum, dad and grandparents doing. You may have already seen them role playing an aspect of what you do in landscaping with friends or toys, after all, we often see children playing at being doctors, police and in the fire service, but what about those children that are unaware of the landscape industry?

Landscape companies have always found it challenging to find new staff, and this became more difficult over

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

Who am I?

GoLandscape has successfully been working with and promoting the

landscape industry in secondary schools for the last few years. We have now turned our attention to include primary schools in our campaign. The purpose of school and education is to prepare young people for life and work, so learning should be linked to the real world. This can support motivation, hard work, teamwork and broaden aspirations, as well as beginning the process of appreciating the world of work. Whilst the children at primary school level are a very different audience and we have had to adapt the way in which we deliver the message, they are still a vital audience to engage to help support our skills gap further down the line.

Most teachers believe children should be learning about the world of work and different jobs in their first years of primary school.

• Nearly half (47%) believe this should start from age 5 and under.

• A further 21% believe this should start from age 5 – 7 in year 1 and 2.

Talking and demonstrating careers from this earlier an age can be integral to the overall understanding of the pupil’s self (‘who am I?’) and opportunity of awareness (‘what does the world of work look like?’).

“Ignoring the process of career development occurring in childhood is similar to a gardener disregarding the quality of the soil in which a garden will be planted”. (Niles, S. G., and Harris-Bowlsbey, J).

Launch of #GOSchoolSuccess in primary schools Therefore, we have now extended the GoLandscape campaign to primary schools as well. We have teamed up with Lee Connelly (aka, the Skinny Jean Gardener) to support his campaign to bring horticulture skills and knowledge through a dedicated package (#GOSchoolSuccess) that supplies primary school teachers with everything they need to deliver a range of horticulture themed lessons over a year. This includes a dedicated 12-month curriculum and all the lessons and materials they need to take them through the activities. GoLandscape has added to

the package a range of materials and activities designed to help teachers talk about the careers linked to the lessons and sow the seeds for a future generation to find a career in our exciting and rewarding industry.

We are asking Association members to support this initiative by sponsoring a package(s) in their local primary school(s). By sponsoring a package, it means that you are directly supporting a local school that maybe your own children, grandchildren or employee’s children attend, that will teach pupils horticulture skills as well as raising awareness of the careers in our industry. We would love to support getting #GOSchoolSuccess packages into every primary school by 2025, which will give over 30,000 primary schools and 1 million children a start to gardening and chance to learn about careers in horticulture. This could have the potential for a whole new generation to join our industry in the future! You will also be able to promote that you are a #GOSchoolSuccess ambassador with a badge on your website and social media. The more schools you sponsor, the bigger the rewards and recognition to promoting our industry and the careers available.

To sponsor a school class, please visit skinnyjeangardner.co.uk/ goschoolsuccess And we’re not stopping here. To support this we are also adding a new primary school’s section to our GoLandscape website that will have links to the #GOSchoolSuccess

We would love to support getting #GOSchoolSuccess packages into every

primary school by 2025

campaign and will also host a series of videos aimed at primary schools that explore our industry, as well as activities and information to support primary schools over the next few months. We are also adding to the ask of our GoLandscape ambassadors, to see if they would be willing to attend primary schools to promote the industry at events by running activities with the teachers and pupils.

If you are not an ambassador and would like to become one, please get in touch with Stephen Ensell stephen.ensell@bali.org.uk for more information. golandscape.co.uk

Written by Stephen Ensell Education Officer (GoLandscape)

LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

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EVENTS

A look at what’s to come

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

Correct at time of print. For the most up-to-date listings visit bali.org.uk/events 29 April 5 – 8 May 12 May 24 – 28 May 31 May 7 – 8 June 4 – 9 July 5 – 6 July 20 – 24 July

Business mileage tax rules webinar bali.org.uk/events RHS Malvern Spring Festival rhs.org.uk

ELCA CoF Professional excursion to The Hague and Floriade Expo elca.info RHS Chelsea Flower Show rhs.org.uk

Plant Passporting: Prepare with expert advice from APHA bali.org.uk Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/training

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival rhs.org.uk Mental Health First Aid course bali.org.uk/training

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park rhs.org.uk

Event in focus: Plant Passporting 31 May 2022

O

n 31 May, the Association is hosting a free webinar with Dan Munro, Technical Manager for Plant Passporting from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), to help prepare our members with everything they need to know, ahead of the additional plant import rules coming into force in July 2022.

If you deal with plants professionally you need to be registered with the UK plant health service. Some operators may also need to be authorised to issue plant passports. You may be aware following the introduction of new plant import rules both this year and last year, in July 2022 additional new rules will apply to specific items

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LANDSCAPE NEWS SPRING 2022

imported to Great Britain (GB) from the EU, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

Great Britain operates a UK Plant Passport system for internal movements of plants both within and between GB and the Crown Dependencies. Northern Ireland continues to use the EU Plant Passport system (in line with the Northern Ireland Protocol), and EU Plant Passports apply for movements of Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (QNIGs) from NI to GB. Phytosanitary certificates are required when moving goods from GB to NI. The plant passport system has two pillars: • Traceability • Assurance

Therefore, a UK plant passport is not just a traceability document but attests that the plants the passport is attached to meet GB Plant Health Standards.

Dan Munro, Technical Manager for Plant Passporting from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will be talking to us to impart his specialised knowledge on the changes that are coming, and what you need to know as an industry professional to be prepared. This webinar will also include a live Q&A for you to submit your questions.

Register online at bali.org.uk/events

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