Pro Landscaper December 2023

DECEMBER 2O23

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

Elliot Sharples, Wright Landscapes

DEDICATED TO DESIGN

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Welcome

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t’s the day after FutureScape, and what an incredible two days it has been! There isn’t enough space here to cover everything that was discussed, announced and unveiled at FutureScape – it was our most successful show to date, with more to see, do and attend than ever.

Take The Kress Open, our first mini-golf tournament. We also announced the winners of the Pro Landscaper Project Awards and Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards (see them for yourself from page 12). This year’s Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30: The Next Generation winners collected their awards, and the Pro Landscaper Unsung Hero of the Year was unveiled (check out the shortlist from page 65).

Our Unsung Heroes awards partner, Landscapeplus, also took FutureScape as the opportunity to unveil its new branding – its first rebrand in its more than 20-year history.

There were product launches from our vast range of exhibitors too, across not just FutureScape but its two co-located shows – the Public Spaces Expo and the Outdoor Living & Wellness Expo.

On top of all this, visitors were able to take away insights, advice and inspiration from our four seminar theatres. From creating a show garden, designing more futureproofed landscapes, incorporating biodiversity net gain, implementing a succession plan and halting the commercial sector’s race to the bottom, there was a myriad of topics covered.

Hopefully, it’s given all our visitors plenty of ideas for how to approach the year ahead, now that 2023 is drawing to a close. Thank you to all those who supported us at FutureScape this year – partners, exhibitors, speakers and visitors – but also a huge thank you to everyone who has supported Pro Landscaper throughout the year, from our readers to our contributors to our interviewees. We have plenty more planned for 2024, so see you in the new year!

Nina

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

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an Accredited Supplier member of BALI

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

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

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Pro Landscaper | December 2023

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CONTENTS

BUSINESS

CONTENTS

9

Dedicated to Design The Yorkshire School of Garden Design is celebrating one year since opening its doors

December 2023

17

How can I upskill as a garden designer?

Graduating is just the start – there are a variety of ways to continue learning, explains Rosemary Coldstream

23

Let’s Hear It From...Elliot Sharples The project manager has kickstarted Wright Landscapes’ civil engineering department, gearing it up for growth

INSPIRE

FEATURES

29

56

Varied Views From a rooftop terrace to a minimalist courtyard to a wildflower meadow, DK Garden Design designed a host of spaces for a previous client’s new home

35

35 4

Pro Landscaper | December 2023

The Pitfalls of Tree Pit Soils Soil scientist Tim O’Hare advises on how to avoid common soil-related mistakes when planting trees

59

Bringing the Indoors Out A small back garden now complements the home interior thanks to Tom Howard Garden Design & Landscaping Ltd

Overcoming Obstacles This year, the industry has experienced a series of hurdles to overcome – and it’s collaboration that could be the solution to our woes

41

65

Retiring to Nature Redfields Landscaping created a diverse space for a retirement village in the affluent village of Cobham

Pro Landscaper Unsung Heroes Discover the Unsung Hero of the Year as well as the impressive shortlist who are integral to their company’s success

prolandscapermagazine.com

CONTENTS

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

DECEMBER 2O23

46

Creating Urban Oases Small city gardens can be challenging, but Matt Evans offers advice to make the most of these spaces

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

Elliot Sharples, Wright Landscapes

61

At the Touch of a Button CEO Jason Petsch explains how outdoor estate management company OUTCO is a “technology business at heart”

DEDICATED TO DESIGN

One year of The Yorkshire School of Garden Design

WINNER REVEALED

Pro Landscaper Unsung Hero of the Year

Turn a

CORNER

TOM HOWARD GARDEN DESIGN & LANDSCAPING LTD

83

PEOPLE

29

5 Minutes With... Susannah Walker The co-founder of Make Space for Girls on providing a voice for teenage girls and young women in public planning

61

77

Extinction or Expansion?

Artificial intelligence could have its uses in horticulture, but Lewis Normand remains slightly wary

80

Making Multidimensional Spaces Christopher Martin encourages a change in mindset away from streets dominated by traffic

82

Celebrating Sustainability Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards judge Martin Townsend felt inspired by this year’s entries

prolandscapermagazine.com

41 Pro Landscaper | December 2023

5

BUSINESS FOLKESTONE ACADEMY OPENS NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART HORTICULTURE CLASSROOM

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he classroom, which was opened by patron Tony Woods, will provide a space for environmental science and garden teaching for academy students and the wider community, in all weathers.

It is hoped that the classroom will help to form a template for the formal introduction of horticulture across the UK. Horticulture is part of the academy alternative education provision for year 10 and 11 students, with key stage 3 also having one lesson per week.

Students will study the role of plants in the ecosystem, the value of growing local and seasonal produce, and gain insights into the journey of food from farm to table.

ROUNDUP Industry Updates

SUSSEX TREE NURSERY BECOMES AN EOT

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tree nursery in Sussex has become 100% employee-owned following its sale to a newly created Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

English Woodlands supplies an assortment of tree and shrubs to a range of clients. The choice to become an EOT is prompted by a “want to safeguard the independence of English Woodlands for the future whilst acknowledging the success and expertise” of its team, says founder Michael Hardcastle.

Managing director, Simon Johnson and sales director, Jo Carter will continue to lead the business, while shareholders have sold their shares to the EOT, but remain ‘fully committed’ to the business.

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Pro Landscaper | December 2023

Hardcastle goes on to say: “We all feel this is a very positive step forward which recognises the commitment and capabilities of our staff who now become co-owners and share in the success of our special business.”

The nursery, which achieved Plant Healthy certification in 2022, comments saying they have seen a strong demand for trees, particularly native species following an uptake in popularity for tree planting projects.

English Woodlands noted that visitors, suppliers and customers will see no noticeable difference in operation throughout and after the transition. ewburrownursery.co.uk

“The positive impact of being able to enjoy nurturing plants and growing food has proven benefits to the mental and physical health of young people as well as building personal confidence and engagement in the school environment,” says Tony Woods, director of Garden Club London and Academy patron.

“This project will also help to promote opportunities in horticultural, environmental and landscaping careers to pupils to help provide the workforce required to implement green initiatives as well as future projects to combat climate change.” folkestoneacademy.com

CHAIRMAN OF HILLIER NURSERIES STEPS DOWN AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS

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he chairman of Hillier Nurseries, Robert Hillier has announced he will be stepping down from the role after more than 50 years. George Hillier will be taking over as chairman of the family-run business from 1 January 2024, while Robert remains at the company on a part-time basis as a board director.

“It has been a privilege to be at the forefront of this company for so long. I am extremely proud to be handing over to the next generation of the Hillier family,” says Robert Hillier.

“We are a business that has always looked to the future, so it is wonderful to see George take the reins and continue to build on the fantastic achievements of the last 160 years.”

George Hillier has worked in the company for over 20 years, beginning as a garden centre assistant, working his way up the chain. He has been managing the company’s recent property acquisitions and developments, expanding Hillier’s portfolio from 12 to 22 garden centres, as well as acquiring additional land for growth in the Hillier tree nurseries. George Hillier comments: “These are exciting times for Hillier...

We’re in a great position to look at what’s next for our business and continue the growth that my predecessors championed for decades.”

In Hillier’s almost 160 years, there have only been four chairmen. hillier.co.uk

prolandscapermagazine.com

BUSINESS CHELSEA 2024 TO FEATURE FIRST GARDEN “DESIGNED BY CHILDREN, FOR CHILDREN”

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arden designer Harry Holding has worked with pupils at a London primary school to create the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.

Through a series of eight workshops, two of which have already taken place, Holding has brought together a series of design ideas to create an unjudged garden that highlights how important it is for children to have access to nature.

Holding says it is a “real joy working with children, seeing how creative they are,” describing this garden as “the most joyous garden ever at Chelsea”. It will be built by Landscape Associates, which also

constructed Holding’s School Food Matters garden at last year’s show.

The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden was named by the pupils of Sullivan School in Fulham, where the garden will be relocated after the show. The idea for the garden arose after the RHS held its first children’s picnic last year, which the Duchess of Cambridge attended alongside 100 students.

RHS director general, Clare Matterson, says the garden “shows that gardening is for everybody and the RHS is absolutely committed to starting children as young as possible so that it can be there for their whole lives”.

She added that the garden would act as a “great case study” for showing how gardening can be translated into other subject areas of the curriculum, such as maths, art and science. It’s “not just for RHS Chelsea but to make a big statement about gardening in schools.” rhs.org.uk

Health Inequalities Across Bradford District’ project.

The project also won the Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing category. Göhler comments on the project, saying: “It is a true exemplar of how landscape can benefit people, place and nature with good community health research, policy making, design, and implementation, with close community liaisons and management of green spaces.

“I want to thank all the entrants that took part, as well as the judging panels and the many volunteers, and congratulate all the winners – the future of landscape is bright.”

The full list of winners can be found at: prolandscapermagazine.com/ winners-revealed-for-the-2023landscape-institute-awards/

WINNERS REVEALED FOR THE 2023 LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE AWARDS

T

he winners of this years’ Landscape Institute (LI) Awards have been announced after a ceremony in London last week. The ceremony, which celebrated 30 years of the Awards, was hosted by BBC climate editor, Justin Rowlatt.

The President’s Award presented by President-Elect of the LI, Carolin Göhler was awarded to Bradford Metropolitan District Council, for its ‘Challenging Public

IDVERDE APPOINTS NEW GROUP CEO

i

dverde has appointed a new chief executive officer (Group CEO). Luzius Wirth joined the Group in November last year as deputy group CEO with a primary focus on leading and developing high-performing operations across idverde’s country footprint.

prolandscapermagazine.com

Commenting on his position, Wirth says: “I see tremendous opportunity for this business.” His appointment will see the company “aim to be a pioneering force for nature-based solutions which meet the ever-changing challenges of the environment."

Online exclusives

Head to prolandscapermagazine.com

JOE’S BLOOMS: EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN Despite the significance of BNG on a national scale, many remain unclear on the legislation. prolandscapermagazine.com/ joes-blooms-empowering-people-toengage-with-biodiversity-net-gain

QUEER GARDENERS: CREATING A COMMUNITY While horticulture encourages diversity in its plants, it has arguably been slow to encourage the same for its people. prolandscapermagazine.com/queergardeners-creating-a-community

PROVENDER NURSERIES ON BEING PLANT HEALTHY Stuart Tickner of Plant Healthy-certified Provender Nurseries offers insight into how it navigates guidelines set out by the accreditation. prolandscapermagazine.com/plant-healthyan-exclusive-with-provender-nurseries

He continues on the subject: “We are relentlessly focused on using our market position and scale to provide our clients with world-class services and innovative solutions.”

Wirth has experience as a mechanical engineer with an MBA by training, spending his formative years at McKinsey and PWC in Europe. idverde.co.uk

Pro Landscaper | December 2023

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BUSINESS

PRO LANDSCAPER AWARD WINNERS REVEALED

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FUTURESCAPE 2023: BIGGEST AND BEST YET

he winners of both the Pro Landscaper Project Awards in association with Provender Nurseries, and the Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity in association with Kress were revealed at ceremonies held at FutureScape.

More than 60 projects were shortlisted across 10 categories for the Project Awards, with the Sky Entertaining project by Maïtanne Hunt taking home the title of Supreme Winner. While more than 40 projects across 12 categories were shortlisted for the Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards. The full list of winners can be found on our website. prolandscapermagazine.com

F

utureScape , in association with Caribbean Blinds, celebrated a great number of successes over its two day run at the London ExCeL on 21 – 22 November.

The show welcomed its highest volume of visitors and exhibitors in its 12-year run, with the successful inauguration of two co-located shows: the Outdoor Living and Wellness Expo, and Public Spaces Expo. There was a packed schedule of seminars taking place, from Biodiversity Net Gain and Plant Healthy to designing

public spaces and gardens. James Williams, FutureScape director, says: “We are thrilled to see the entire industry unite for learning and networking at the event.”

Next year, FutureScape is set to take place on 15 – 16 October. futurescapeevent.com

ROUNDUP LANDSCAPEPLUS UNVEILS FIRST REBRAND IN 20 YEARS AT FUTURESCAPE

THIS YEAR'S 30 UNDER 30 COLLECT THEIR AWARDS

L

T

andscapeplus has revealed its new branding at FutureScape 2023. It has undergone a three-year process to enhance its culture, vision and branding since celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2020.

The result is a new logo – which still uses the recognisable magenta for which Landscapeplus has become known for – as well as a new ‘Knowledge Centre’ within the website that helps to highlight the services Landscapeplus offers alongside its product range.

“We saw turning 20 as a milestone and an opportunity to take a step back and look at how far we’d come but also

how we wanted to move forward,” says director Sam Cox. Hundreds of our customers were reached out to with a survey to find out their view, which was really enlightening; the consultant who carried out the survey said that our net promoter score was 98, on a scale from –100 to 100, which was the highest score that she’d seen.”

This rebranding has come at a time where they are partnering with large, global, like-minded companies, adds Cox. landscapeplus.com

he 2023 winners of Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation, in association with Green-tech received their awards at at this year's FutureScape. The class of 2023 join 240 existing winners, many of which have gone on to receive numerous awards and accolades since joining the 30 Under 30 alumni.

“This acknowledgment reinforces the importance of our work and the potential for positive change in our industry,” says one winner, Daniel Johnson from landscape architect at WATG. The initiative aims to support the next generation in “building connections” and “creating opportunities to drive innovation and change,” says Nina Mason, head of content at Pro Landscaper. prolandscapermagazine.com

THE KRESS OPEN SWINGS INTO FUTURESCAPE 2023

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t this year’s FutureScape Kress brought golf enthusiast attendees the opportunity to test their skills at the Kress Outdoor Power Equipment Open, which took place over both days.

With high stakes, the nine-hole mini-golf course was taken on by a large variety of industry specialists who dared to prove

8

Pro Landscaper | December 2023

their putting power, but it was Andreij Porovic, CEO at P.E.S Technologies LTD, who came out on top, putting his way to victory and claiming the prize, a Kress Mission 1000 robot mower.

The Kress Mission 1000 has patented INTIVA navigation intelligent control for narrow sections and paths and Side Trim Technology. It also has a Recharging Brake System. Tony Macer,

national sales manager, says that “sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Kress.” kress.com

prolandscapermagazine.com

ated DedicTO DESIGN

BUSINESS

Alistair Baldwin, founder of AWB Associates, celebrates the first anniversary of The Yorkshire School of Garden Design and the journey since its opening

©Eva Nemeth

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WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN

prolandscapermagazine.com

his summer, the inaugural graduates of The Yorkshire School of Garden Design gathered together to showcase the work they’d achieved through their one-year garden design diploma. The exhibition took place at the school’s home – Grade I-listed building Harewood House. Witnessing this with pride was the school’s founder, Alistair Baldwin.

A designer himself, Baldwin boasts a degree in Landscape Architecture from Leeds Polytechnic.

Following completion of his own studies, Baldwin was unsure whether or not to pursue a career in design, so moved into teaching. “It was teaching that really connected me to the creative process, spending time talking to students, seeing their ideas develop and harnessing inspiration at every turn. I felt that the more you gave to your teaching the more you got out of it, and that was that – the springboard into professional practice.”

After 13 years of teaching, though, Baldwin felt like the time was right to go into private practice. He wanted to create a practice where he could bring designs from concept to creation and provide a platform for the creativity he had seen thrive in the classroom. “I loved the opportunity to have ideas and see them crafted. It is actually a rarity for our industry’s architects to see what they’ve drawn come to life and I wanted to break that trend.”

With a passion for design and, more specifically, landscape design, Baldwin was drawn to the physical aspect of being able to see what you have created

Pro Landscaper | December 2023

9

BUSINESS

come to life in colour and texture from a concept. So, he set up his own practice, AWB Associates, in Richmond, Yorkshire, in 2010.

It would be another 12 years before The Yorkshire School of Garden Design would launch in August 2022 to international praise.

Baldwin founded the school to teach budding designers of the future of design and how to work in the beautiful north of England terrain.

“When it came to the school, the idea spawned from two main streams. Following years of teaching, I had, and still have, an innate love of sharing knowledge. I wanted myself and my incredible tutors to be able to share their knowledge in the way they thought best, to write their own rule book, without the traditional constraints of established colleges.

“We felt that the best way to teach and share our passion for landscape design, was in smaller classes, creating a sense of community and a common investment in learning.”

Running his own practice and being principal tutor at The Yorkshire School of Garden Design, his day to day is extremely varied. “I split each day with work from both the practice and the school, crossing over between teaching and designing, keeping the mix constant. There is an inherent synergy between the two entities, which surprises and excites me every day.”

Baldwin exclaims about how he is very lucky to have an incredible team at both AWB Associates and the school. The team is continually growing, as they invite the best and brightest in the industry to be part of our journey, “so it is very important to me that we maintain a collaborative and friendly ethos, enabling continuous mutual learning.”

Born out of a passion to create a school based in the north of England, the school offers its flagship course, which is the professional diploma in garden design, as well as a programme of short courses, “covering everything from freehand sketching and SketchUp, to designing with plants and seasonal layering.”

The one-year diploma is held annually, with this year’s cohort having just begun the academic year. Over its first year, the school was focused on laying its foundations and growing the teaching team as well as nurturing each individual.

Baldwin says that he created the school in the Yorkshire image – keeping friendliness and openness at the forefront, offering the best knowledge and experience in the industry.

Specialising in the creation of public and private gardens, and landscapes that are timeless, memorable, and meaningful. AWB Associate’s work is underpinned by a respect for our built and landscape heritage, and much of what it does results in the illumination, appreciation and enjoyment of significant buildings and places.

“We offer a full range of design services, from inception to design and completion, so are able to cater to a variety of clients’ needs.”

The biggest achievement for AWB Associates to date was its inauguration into House & Gardens’ Top 50 Garden Designers for 2023.

To have reached this point with the practice and to be amongst such established names has made Baldwin very proud, along with the creation of Sky Arts’s ‘The Art of the Garden’ programme, which featured Baldwin, coming in a close second.

At the school, they are devoting time to preparing students for the competitive market they will encounter when they graduate, especially if they are looking to function as a sole trader. Baldwin says they “help them identify their unique selling point and really harness their potential. What’s more, with the climate changing so dramatically, together with our students, we are exploring new methods of planting, working around the ever-changing seasons, and understanding the new timetable of growing.”

Baldwin and his team have also been unbelievably impressed with the quality of work produced by their Yorkshire School of Garden Design students over the past year. “The creativity and attention to detail has been astounding, and this is something we are very keen to harness moving forward. We have relished the opportunity to expand our course offering, honing our students’ talents and feeding incredible individuals into our industry.”

Baldwin says he is truly humbled by and proud of the quality of work produced by their students at the school, the effort put in and the quality of the output that has showcased their real commitment to the industry.

Looking towards the future, Baldwin has announced “we are exploring the opportunity to take our Diploma in Garden Design online from January 2025”. This is still in planning, but Baldwin is hoping this will enable more students from afar to be part of the school’s exciting journey.

It is very important to me that we maintain a collaborative and friendly ethos, enabling continuous mutual learning

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Pro Landscaper | December 2023

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ASK THE EXPERTS

How can I upskill as a garden designer?

Training doesn’t stop once you’re qualified, says Rosemary Coldstream, who shares ways to continue boosting your skills as a garden designer

C

platforms from Adobe to Vectorworks. The Society ongratulations! You are now of Garden Designers and British Association of a garden designer! You have got your Landscape Industries (BALI) often run workshops qualification after an intense period which anyone can attend. studying design and feel equipped to Conferences and trade shows such as take on the world. Well, I hate to break it FutureScape are great places to upskill. to you, but this is just the beginning.

From talks by industry leaders to As the old saying goes, ‘the more chatting to suppliers, you can I learn, the less I know’.

Your landscaper learn so much. Many suppliers To be a gardener is your most valuable recommend installation designer requires information – utilise it! a complicated skillset of resource. Ask questions Continued plant and design and horticultural and visit site during horticultural knowledge knowledge. And then the build and use this is vital – especially with there is construction knowledge in your changes to the climate and knowledge, technical construction increased biodiversity at the drawing/CAD skills, visual forefront – as well as reading presentation skills, plant drawings about plants, visit gardens and knowledge, business knowledge, nurseries. Organised tours and talks people management (clients and by people such as The Garden Masterclass contractors), planning rules and are enriching as well as informative. applications – the list goes on. Can you feel the Improving your business skills can be a plates spinning? challenge if you don’t come from that background.

Upskilling should be part of a garden Look outside the landscape world for help on this. designer’s business plan and it is easy to do as There are good small business organisations, or there is so much help out there in the friendly if you are a member of BALI there are excellent landscape world. There are formal and informal resources available for HR help. And tool up ways to do this. Some cost, but a lot are free. with a great bookkeeper and/or Your landscaper is your most valuable accountant who resource. Ask questions can offer advice. and visit site during the One thing I relish build and use this as a garden designer is knowledge in that the learning and your construction upskilling never stops. drawings. For I think we choose this technical drawing profession because we are and presentation curious about the natural skills there is world and want to improve a world of it, albeit garden by garden. online tutorials Keep learning and it will only on different make for better and more beautiful landscapes.

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ADVICE

The panel HOLLY YOUDE Chair of the APL, Holly Youde, is a director at Urban Landscape Design in the North West and The Landscape Academy, a purpose built training centre dedicated to landscaping in the UK.

JAKE CATLING Jake founded his domestic landscaping company, The Landscaping Consultants, aged just 24.

He is now a BALI board director and the BALI South Thames chairman, and has delivered various awardwinning gardens and outdoor spaces.

KEN WHITE Ken White, former chairman of the APL, leads the multi-award-winning Frosts Landscape Construction, which carries out large commercial and private estate projects across the UK.

ROSEMARY COLDSTREAM Rosemary has won numerous awards for her work, creating high-quality gardens for both domestic and commercial clients. She is a fully registered member of the SGD and sits on the board of directors at BALI.

SARAH EBERLE Chelsea’s most decorated designer boasts a collection of RHS medals and is a member of the LI, SGD and the Institute of Horticulture. Sarah strives to create as sustainable gardens as possible.

Pro Landscaper | December 2023

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PROMOTION

Take a sea t C rescent-shaped StrandAldwych, a busy thoroughfare in Central London, has become a serene avenue that people go out of their way to spend time in. Home to landmark locations such as Somerset House, The Courtauld Gallery, Television House, King’s College and the London School of Economics, the premiere location has historically left it riddled with pollution and traffic, limiting the time that pedestrians would spend there. In a collaboration with LDA Design, WSP and FM Conway, Westminster City Council has reinvigorated the area with a complete revamp that have turned it into a quiet oasis away from the bustle of the rest of London.

According to Cannon Ivers, lead landscape architect and director of LDA Design, a large driver of the project was the impact of removing all traffic from StrandAldwych and how to incorporate the historic presence of the buildings

RAILROAD SEATING

surrounding the space.

A considerable part of the project was spent trying to understand the immovable material present within the space, such as the stone walls and the existing trees, and to create spaces that not just worked around them but included a more modern reimagining as part of the tapestry of such a richly-historied street.

As a result, one of the primary objectives Furnitubes wanted to achieve was to blend in this seating with the stone walls, creating a seamless

The well-worked reimagining of the space has created a stunning destination

RAILROAD SEATING

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Pro Landscaper | December 2023

Furnitubes helped to transform StrandAldwych into a place for people rather than cars

combination of both the years gone by and the years to come, providing spaces for the inhabitants to spend outside and nurture future collaborations. Working as a team with LDA Design and WSP, Furnitubes modified its RailRoad seating design into an interchangeable model where parts could easily be swapped out as and when needed. The RailRoad seating solution uses powder coated, recycled steel, as well as golden FSC iroko timbers finished in teak to add a touch of natural beauty to the area itself. Additionally, Furnitubes leaned hard into adding greenery back into the location with its AKRI planters, improving both the air quality and the mood of pedestrians walking through. Seating was also designed to be inclusive, leaving spaces to accommodate wheelchair users and prams.

Jose Nogueron, the associate director of WSP, a future-focused public design consulting firm, says: “It has been an excellent experience working with Furnitubes, and we are pleased with the results in the new public space at The Strand. They have been extremely helpful in designing and manufacturing outdoor furniture solutions for

us, providing excellent ideas, and working in collaboration to achieve several solutions for public realm improvements in the Strand/Aldwych area.”

At the time of going to press, The Strand Aldwych scheme was shortlisted for the NLA and Landscape Institute Awards, both in November. This adds to the numerous awards the scheme has won this year already – showing that such big re-thinking of urban public space can serve as a blueprint for future schemes. We think seeing rehearsals from dance students as you stop to have an afternoon coffee in a secluded area shows how successful this scheme has been already.

AKRI PLANTERS

Visit The Strand, Aldwych today, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a location within Central London that is more welcoming, more accessible, and more pleasant to spend a warm, sunny day in. The Strand Aldwych area now fosters communal wellbeing in the heart of the city, and the well-worked reimagining of the space has created a stunning destination both for residents of London and tourists to enjoy. furnitubes.com

prolandscapermagazine.com

ADVICE

O

nce a contract (retainer) is signed, it can be tough to end a client relationship due to a difference of opinion, like having different environmental views. It is important to try and find common ground and communicate openly to resolve any conflicts. However, if the difference of opinion significantly impacts the working relationship or goes against your values, it might be worth discussing it with your client and exploring potential solutions.

Remember to approach the conversation with respect and professionalism.

Ultimately, maintaining a positive and harmonious working relationship is crucial.

While it is not ideal to ditch a client over a difference of opinion, sometimes conflicts can arise. Before terminating the retainer, you should first review the terms of the contract. After that, you must consider any legal obligations before taking any action.

Non-contentious According to the Solicitors Regulations Authority (SRA) when terminating a contract, you need to bear in mind that you need “good reason” for ending the contract. This can include “a breakdown in trust and confidence” with an awkward or obstructive client. It is always useful to have a brief conversation with the client first, in order to draw some boundaries and try to re-establish your relationship. The SRA also requires that you give reasonable notice to your client of the termination of the contract and what exactly constitutes “reasonable notice” will depend on the client's case.

Can you ditch a client over a

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION? It’s not quite as easy as that, say Ancia Hussain and Hamilton Li of Oracle Solicitors

been correctly served on the defendant,

important to prioritise finding common

despite the law firm that had acted for the

ground or compromise in order to maintain a positive working relationship. However, if the difference of opinion is causing major conflicts and hindering the project’s progress, it may be necessary to reassess the partnership.

defendant from the outset arguing that it had ceased to be the defendant’s address for service and that they have informed the other party

You must consider any legal obligations before taking any action

Contentious Once a solicitor is on the court record, he will continue to be on the court record and will be presumed to be acting until the matter is concluded unless a notice of change of solicitor is given or a court order is made removing the solicitor from the record1. Cases that are publicly funded will ultimately be determined by way of the legal aid certificate, either revoked or discharged.

In the case of Ashley2, the High Court reaffirmed that an application for judgment on the merits of the claim had

prolandscapermagazine.com

of the same. The court held that since the firm became their client’s address for service for the purposes of disputing jurisdiction, they

References Civil Procedure Rules 42.

2 A shley and another v Jimenez [2019] EWHC 1806.

3 Civil Procedure Rules 42.2(1)(c) 1

must do more than notifying the other side.

They ought to have made an application to the court for an

order declaring that they have ceased acting or provide a notice of change. On the other hand, a represented party may terminate a retainer at any time and for any reason3.

Parting ways with a client due to a difference of opinion after signing a contract it is not an ideal scenario. It is

OR ACLE SOLICITORS Oracle Solicitors is an award-winning law firm with a deep understanding of the landscape industry and expertise in employment, commercial, litigation, property and contract law. Oracle Solicitors, founded in 2002 has since grown to include offices in London, Belfast, Birmingham, Manchester, Frankfurt, and Addis Ababa – please visit: oraclesolicitors.co.uk

Pro Landscaper | December 2023

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ADVICE

I

think this year I’ve had more expert witness commissions and issues with block paving than ever before.

It’s a sad fact that many ‘chancers’ or ‘Covid-19 landscapers’ looking to make a quick buck in our industry are seeing block paving as the ideal opportunity.

Compared to other types of surfacing, block paving is quick and reasonably simple to install if you follow the guidelines set out by BS7533:101 and industry standards.

Around the

BLOCK Gareth Wilson advises the common pitfalls to avoid when it comes to block paving

Secondly, there’s an issue when perimeter border details aren’t cut to a radius; instead, they are installed with a bird beak or wedge-shaped gap which aesthetically look incredibly poor (see Figure 2).

The third most common issue is an inconsistent depth of the bedding layer, resulting in the surface course or block pavers sinking. Maintaining an even bedding layer is essential so as to achieve even compaction.

If you have 70mm of grano at one end and 20mm at the opposite end, chances are you will get settlement, hence an even bedding Now I’m not going to layer of 30mm to 40mm is ideal. state the obvious failures here, such as Number four is not using a rubber sub-base installation, as we all mat on your compaction plate know this is absolute key to when doing the final any paving installation. compactions. I often find The first and The first and most chipped or even broken most common common issue by far is block pavers due to rubber issue by far is edge edge restraints, or the mats not being used to restraints, or the lack of them. Block paved cushion and protect the driveways are dependent block pavers. lack of them on being tightly packed Finally, problems arise together and not allowed to where block pavers have been move laterally as they are laid cut into thin slivers less than unbound. Too many times I’ll see some a third of the size of a full block paver mortar haunching (see Figure 1) instead of (see Figure 3). Slivers such as these lack K-Kerbs laid on a concrete footing or pin kerb structural strength are weak and are bedded and haunched in concrete. therefore highly likely to crack and fail.

Figure 1: Mortar haunching

Figure 2: Wedge-shaped gaps

Figure 3: Paver slivers GARETH WILSON Leaving college at 17, Gareth has worked in the landscape industry since 1989. Progressing onto high-end projects, he has picked up seven RHS gold medals. He is a member of multiple professional bodies. He provides technical and product advice to large companies, mentors and trains contractors and garden designers in landscape construction and on show gardens logistics across the UK. Gareth also provides mediation services, he is a member of the BS7533:102 committee and is an industry awards judge. gkwilsonlandscaping.co.uk

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Pro Landscaper | December 2023

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BUSINESS

“HOPEFULLY, WE WILL TAKE ON BIGGER AND MORE CHALLENGING PROJECTS WHICH WILL BRING IN MORE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT SKILLSETS” Elliot Sharples joined Wright Landscapes earlier this year to kickstart a civil engineering department as the company begins to increase its presence WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN

E

stablished in 1992, Wright Landscapes has developed and evolved at an astonishing rate. With a team comprised of a range of in-house experts, the Cheshire-based company has a passion for creating quality spaces with total project management, from planning and design to construction and completion, aiming to provide guaranteed high standards at every stage. Investing in the future of the company and its potential, Wright Landscapes has expanded across the sector, now including its own civil engineering department, led by project manager, Elliot Sharples.

With quality and expertise being at the heart of the Wright Landscapes business model, adding the application of physical and scientific principles to the design, development, and maintenance of both the constructed and the naturally built environments, through the means of civil engineering, allows its clients to have specialist knowledge and input into their landscapes. It adds variation in the services Wright can offer and ensures that the landscape construction experience feels effortless from the client's perspective.

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BUSINESS

Building these new teams with experienced individuals such as Sharples, and continuing Wright’s training, updating, and reinvestment help to provide a stable and successful working environment.

Since joining Wright in February, Sharples spends the majority of his time on site, getting stuck in, and working alongside his team; the day-to-day of the role includes keeping on top of the paperwork, health and safety and general office duties, as well as liaising with clients to discuss the logistics of upcoming projects and aiming to futureproof his department.

Currently working with 37 members in his team, Sharples is passionate about maintaining a positive working environment – with health and safety at the forefront.

“We're looking at the business and how we can look after our staff, such as their mental health," he says.

Working in an industry very much governed by the economy, with the way mortgage rates are fluctuating especially, Sharples explains how it can be hard to look ahead and predict what is to come. But, collaborating with the management team at Wright Landscapes, Sharples is currently providing seminars and coffee mornings to boost the awareness and support for mental health.

Then there’s the physical side of wellbeing too, for which he is organising meetings with nutritionists and giving his staff access to the information they need to look after themselves.

“Working on site could be seen as potentially stressful, unhealthy, rushed and busy, so when you’re looking at the food that's available, how can we improve that?

We can improve the healthiness of their

As a business, Wright is looking at lots of different aspects to enhance the quality of life for the team, as a whole and as individuals.

“And equally, looking at it from a purely commercial perspective, the happier our employees are, the healthier our employees are, the more efficient we are as a business. So, less money is lost through having employees off sick.

Morality aside, purely from a commercial point of view it makes sense as well. So, it ticks all the boxes.”

Which bodes well for Sharples, whose team is now taking on four or five sizable projects annually in the civil engineering department alone. Each

one takes anywhere from a week to 18 months on site, and they’re based predominately across the northwest of England with a mix of commercial and domestic clients, and the occasional travel to London or surrounding areas for larger clientele.

A 70-week project that Sharples is currently working on is his biggest task to date. It is over £2.5m worth of work, landscaping a new housing development in Salford, with 104 new properties set to go onto the market.

Situated along the River Irwell in Salford, The Castle Irwell project forms part of a local

The happier our employees are, the healthier our employees are, the more efficient we are as a business

lifestyle, not only with diet but physical support for muscular and skeletal issues that are so common with manual handling and heavy lifting.”

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BUSINESS

regeneration scheme, designed and built with community and ecology in mind.

Made up of several gardens, wildflower meadows and children’s play areas, the in-house design team at Wright Landscapes was heavily involved in the project from conception.

Based on a flood plain, Sharples has been truly challenged throughout this project.

Requiring the installation of numerous water outlets to mitigate the 1-in-100-year flood risk, this project required both redesigning and engineering of the retaining structures. The team succeeded in re-using large volumes of material on-site, including soil and over 3,000m3 of stone.

“This is a large-scale project which has further phases in development, overall producing homes, gardens, and public spaces for over 500 families.”

Wright Landscapes' dedication and hard work shine through in their projects, earning them several prestigious awards, including the

BALI principal award for the Regeneration Scheme and the Nature Conservation & Biodiversity Enhancement categories in 2022, as well as being shortlisted for Pro Landscaper Business Awards' Industry Collaboration in 2023.

Born and raised in the North, for Sharples, “the biggest challenge has just been the difference between working down in London, compared to working back up in Manchester.

My career has been largely within London, so, although it is similar, there are a lot of different things to consider; different people to work with, different network of suppliers, clients, and executives to get your head around and different concepts too.” But, despite the flurry of changes, Wright Landscapes has been more than willing to share its knowledge, says Sharples.

Having graduated university with a Masters in Offshore and Town Planning, Sharples found himself within the construction industry working in utilities and moving onto rail before landing a role within groundworks, combining civil engineering with a mixture of hard and soft landscaping.

Sharples was then willing to take on the challenge of expanding his knowledge within the industry and aiming to provide a start to finish service with the help and training of Wright Landscapes.

Living and working across London at the time, Sharples was looking for an excuse to move closer to home, so when approached

by Wright, its outstanding reputation was proven when Sharples met with the managing director Lee Webster.“Lee was a very personable guy and we got on really well from day one. He kind of mapped out where he felt the company was going to go, and it was a bit of a no brainer from that point.”

Since landing himself this role with Wright Landscapes, Sharples has been given the freedom to build the civil engineering side of the company, from the ground up. “With this

Pickmere Nursery, nestled among the leafy forests of Knutsford, Cheshire, is our brandnew, purpose-built facility which is the beating heart of our comprehensive business model

1 Wright Landscapes' Pickmere Nursery facility 2 In-house machinery and equipment 3 Variety of plants at Pickmere Nursery

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BUSINESS

being kind of a new arm off of an already established business, it is a fantastic opportunity to mould it to suit the business and also to futureproof, working with the people that are already established, while still bringing in new kind of ideas into the role.” There are big opportunities on the horizon too, such as the A1278 works or Stockport bus station.“That's going to be exciting, because it's going to be open to the public realm and it's something a bit different to what we've done previously.”

With a sporting and recreational centre also in the pipeline, Wright Landscapes is aiming to gain a breadth of experience and knowledge to be able to span across all areas of the industry.

“It's been a fantastic opportunity, because I have been able to recruit from the ground up and change processes to suit the work that

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Pro Landscaper | December 2023

we're doing. There is an appetite to grow this arm of the business and opportunities to take on different sides, different clients, etc.”

Moving forward, the team at Wright Landscapes aims to double down on the commercial value of their work, maintaining and expanding on their reputation. It recently opened a new nursery with the hope to raise awareness of its facilities, such as design studio, show gardens and planting techniques – raising the standard of landscaping.

“Pickmere Nursery, nestled among the leafy forests of Knutsford, Cheshire, is our brand-new, purpose-built facility which is the beating heart of our comprehensive business model,” adds Lexi Harrison, account manager.

The innovative new premises includes a state-of-the-art design and materials studio, with office space and meeting areas, in addition to the in-house nursery, providing a welcoming space for clients and stakeholders alike to visit and engage in their designs. It’s home to more than 75,000 plants,

including a wide range of species from herbaceous perennials to mature trees and topiaries. You can "stop and smell the roses – experiencing your garden’s plants first-hand before they ever arrive on site.”

Having built a lasting reputation already, “the future will be whatever it needs to be, to make it suitable. Hopefully, we will take on bigger and more challenging projects which will bring in more people with different skillsets.”

And with the help of Sharples, Wright Landscapes can continue to evolve its practice and capabilities to provide an impressive, comprehensive service for clients across all landscapes. This commitment is showcased in the new headquarters, the support for staff, and strategic funding for expanding branches. It is not only growing its hard and soft landscaping services, but will undoubtedly continue to flourish in its civil engineering department too.

There is an appetite to grow this arm of the business and opportunities to take on different sides, different clients

4 Wright Landscapes' head office 5 Show garden displays

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Our sites in Twickenham & Woking are not enough, we have bought a three story building in Egham to house all our staff that don’t always have muddy boots on! Our new headquarters in Surrey reflects out continued dedication to growth and innovation. As turnover approaches £20 million we need somewhere where our office based staff can be together under one roof. Director Steve Evans states “Though a significant investment, we believe that having all officebased staff in one location will enhance out teams productivity and ultimately benefit our customers” This is not an overnight success story, though Kingston have been plying their trade in London & the home county for more than 30 years - in that time we have built a reputation on a solid foundation of professionalism, quality work and reliability. We have great pride in the work we do and as a consequence, we have had many customers who have been using us on a regular basis for 20 plus years.

We are proud to be fully accredited by BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) and the APL (Association of Professional Landscapers) Our ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications demonstrates our unwavering commitment to excellence & customer satisfaction.

With our own nursery & landscape supply businesses we truly are wonderfully placed to continue our growth.

Discover Kingston Landscape Group for all of your landscaping necessities in London and the South East.

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PORTFOLIO

Varied

VIEWS DK GARDEN DESIGN CHESHIRE EAST

PROJECT DETAILS

I

n the midst of undertaking the Hà Giang Loop in Vietnam, garden designer David Keegan received an email from two former clients asking him to design their 1.7-acre garden for their new house that was being built. He’d already made an impression on them after designing their previous front garden and driveway for a somewhat more modest property. By contrast, their new outdoor space includes a rooftop garden, wildflower meadow and orchard, driveway, front courtyard, formal lawn, stumpery and the rear garden.

“They wanted something that was different, something that was out of the ordinary,” says Keegan, who was brought on board at the same time as architects to ensure there was fluidity between the indoor and outdoor space. For instance, the architects had initially added a wall that would block the view through the glass front entry of the steps to the field that Keegan was transforming into a bespoke water feature that would be lit up at night. He suggested to the clients that they move the wall and open up the view instead, which they did.

Vice versa, Keegan had planned to use a pleached hedge to enclose the front courtyard and soften the view of the parking spaces; but

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Project value Undisclosed Build time 2 years Size of project 1.7 acres

once the build had started, there were concerns that these would close down too many of the views. So, a solution was to use low level walls in a cladding that would mirror that on the front of the house.

High life The roof garden was one of the first parts of the outdoor space to be completed. This would be their “main outdoor recreational space,” so this is where Keegan focused most of his attention, incorporating a stainless steel outdoor kitchen and louvered pergola to make it more weatherproof as well as providing shade for year-round use.

There is also a pizza oven and an outdoor fire.

The property is adjacent to a National Trust walkway, so screening also needed to be incorporated for privacy. Initially, Corten steel was considered for screening and a canopy, but it was agreed that the load bearings and weight would be too heavy for a roof garden. So, Keegan reached out to Europlanters to find a solution, which it did. Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) was used to create more than 13m of screening and several large planters and inset seats with hidden

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PORTFOLIO storage – all hand finished to look like Corten but far more lightweight. Planters were filled with a variety of herbs to use in the outdoor kitchen, as well as Amelanchier for screening and lavenders, Stachy and Achillea. Pots from Atelier Vierkant were planted with variegated Cordylines, with base planting being mixed sedums for contrast.

Creating contrasts A staircase – also made to look like Corten steel and made bespoke by Steelscapes – leads down from the roof to the rear garden.

The design for this could focus more on aesthetics than function, so Keegan created a Japanese-style minimalist space, adjacent to the water feature. The clients were again concerned about blocking views, but some form of structure was needed in the space, so a simplified steel structure manufactured

by Steel Landscaping – which had also supplied the edging – was installed that has the look of Corten steel.

Rather than using a traditional lawn for the front and back areas of the house, Keegan suggested a chamomile lawn instead, ideal for the sandy loam soil on the site, that would provide a completely different texture and would require far less maintenance in the right conditions. Chamaemelum nobile ‘Treneague’ was used, alongside trees such as Acer griseum (paperbark maple), Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’ (a Japanese maple), Rhododendron yakushimanum ‘Hydon Dawn’ and Fargesia 'Red Panda' (umbrella bamboo) to create a Japanese look.

Garden360 UK – which Keegan now uses on most of his projects – built all the ground floor outdoor space (Butler Landscapes

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constructed the roof garden), and it now maintains this Cheshire East garden too.

Whilst the Japanese-style garden and the lawn were fairly formal, beyond this is the wildflower meadow and orchard, with a double oak seat sitting within the space.

“It was interesting to create a contrast that would complement the house but have its own defined aesthetic to set it apart whilst creating a complementary connection between these areas and the broader landscape,” says Keegan.

Naturalistic nuances With properties of this size, they can be surrounded by what is deemed agricultural land, preventing them from being turned into what would be considered a domestic garden, explains Keegan. So, he suggested planting an orchard in this space, which now comprises of more than 18 fruit and nut trees, from walnuts to apples, pears, plums, cherries, elderberries, mulberries and sea buckthorn.

Specific wildflower seed mixes were created

by John Chambers Wildflower Seed, whilst mixed native hedging has been planted along the boundary to the driveway.

Well-established pleached hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) marks the courtyard boundary, beyond which features a chamomile lawn and planting beds of Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' for screening interspersed with echinacea, lavenders, rosemary, salvia, dwarf pines and artemisia.

On the driveway itself and for the front courtyard, around 200t of self-binding aggregate were used, with reclaimed cobble detail to avoid it being a swathe of grey. The

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PORTFOLIO

bespoke slate front doorstep was cut to size and supplied by Burlington Stone, whilst boulders in the front and back gardens were discovered during the excavation of the site and relocated as part of the new design.

An unexpected addition to the garden was the ‘earthquake stumpery’. Struggling trees in a lawn area to the side of the house needed to be removed and so were cut down, but Keegan tries to reuse materials or use reclaimed materials as much as possible. He’d previously been impressed by the stumpery at Highgrove Garden, so placed these tree stumps in the orchard with plans

prolandscapermagazine.com

1 Roof garden pergola seating area 2 View across rear Japanese-inspired garden 3 Roof garden with canopied kitchen area 4 Ferns in the earthquake stumpery 5 Stepped water feature 6 The Garden360 UK team 7 Wildflower meadow orchard screened with formal Yew hedge

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to turn them upside down and create a stumpery. Covid then caused delays to the project, as the development of the garden was tied into the rebuilding of the existing house, so the stumps stayed in this area for close to two years. By that time, nature had reclaimed them somewhat and they were sitting rather skew-whiff. Keegan felt that this was an interesting look and decided to create an ‘earthquake garden’, planting different types of ferns at the base as well as Soleirolia soleirolii (Baby's tears), which can be seen from the roof garden.

“Most roof gardens are in cities so you're looking out onto a cityscape; these clients have something rare where they have a roof garden that actually looks out onto countryside,” says Keegan. And what a view; with a naturalistic meadow and orchard, a minimalist garden, an enclosed courtyard and an unusual stumpery all part of this remarkable outdoor space.

ABOUT David Keegan is an international, national and regional award-winning garden and landscape designer. His design philosophy centres on a naturalistic planting style. David’s garden design projects are located around the UK, in Manchester, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and the north-west of England. dkgardendesign.co.uk 8 Wildflower meadow bursting with colour 9 Courtyard garden with feature boulder

REFERENCES Landscape contractor Garden360 UK mygarden360.com Landscape contractor (roof garden) Butler Landscapes butler-landscapes.co.uk Planters, screens, raised plants, inset seats (roof garden) Europlanters europlanters.com Planters (roof garden) Atelier Vierkant ateliervierkant.com Pergola (roof garden) Caribbean Blinds cbsolarshading.co.uk

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Decking (roof garden) Millboard millboard.co.uk Stair construction (roof garden) Steelscapes steelscapes.co.uk Steel structure and edging Steel Landscaping steellandscapingco.co.uk Porcelain paving London Stone londonstone.co.uk Chairs and coffee table Nardi nardioutdoor.com/en

Front door step Burlington Stone burlingtonstone.co.uk

Fencing contractor Firth Fencing

Planters Skyline Design UK sky-linedesign.co.uk

Soil Tarmac tarmac.com

Hunza Lighting Peter Reid Lighting peterreidlighting.co.uk

Turf Lindum Turf turf.co.uk

Aggregates Travis Perkins travisperkins.co.uk

Plants and trees, chamomile lawns Bespoke Garden Elements UK

Self-binding gravel Breedon Group breedon-special-aggregates.co.uk Outdoor kitchen My Outdoor Kitchen myoutdoorkitchen.co.uk

Wildflower seeds John Chambers Wildflower Seed johnchambers wildflowers.co.uk

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Garden Design by Tom Simpson Gardens

Plant Containers • Water Bowls

www.urbisdesign.co.uk

beautifully weathered at New Street, Birmingham

PORTFOLIO

F

PROJECT DETAILS

or their tiny back garden space entered directly from the kitchen, the client wanted a natural continuation of the house and style of their interior, creating a space that is not only welcoming but flows with the seasons. With the garden always in view, they also wanted to enhance the space and create an illusion to make it seem bigger, completed with ferns native to their homes of New Zealand and Australia – not to mention the must have BBQ and all-important storage, the clients being keen cyclists.

Project value £28k Build time 3 weeks Size of project 15.5m2

Bringing the

INDOORS OUT TOM HOWARD GARDEN DESIGN & LANDSCAPING LTD TAYBRIDGE ROAD

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PORTFOLIO The ground level needed to run flush to the newly installed bifold doors so, when open, the garden became an extension of the kitchen. As such, a seating area that could be used for sitting back and relaxing was essential but had to double up as seating for dining if the dining table was bought outside. The client wanted to use materials that were sympathetic to those used internally and have a bit of a 'wow’ factor.

The rear boundary was an eyesore and needed to be high in order to screen the school fencing behind. Being a very small garden, the back boundary was very close to the house therefore the brief was to come up with an interesting, visually appealing backdrop that would look great all year.

With all access to the rear garden going through the house, it was very much a blank canvas with some poorly laid Astro turf on concrete and a narrow run of porcelain tiles.

The left boundary had lateral feather edge fencing and a tatty section of rendered wall, whilst the rear boundary was a high section of painted feather edge fencing, and the right boundary had a London stock brick wall with a trellis above.

For Tom Howard Garden Design & Landscaping, this was a much smaller project than it usually works on, but small spaces can throw up just as many challenges, especially when planning how to fit everything in without it becoming cramped or cluttered. However, Howard believed that the company would have the ability to fulfil the brief and then some.

The interior of the client’s house featured very stylish greys, coppers, brass, Scandi and sea grass; therefore, Howard chose to mostly

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PORTFOLIO

use a black palette for the lateral trellising and raised beds to firstly complement the interior tones but to also help make the space feel larger. Black tends to make boundaries recede and eyes are drawn to the planting in front, he says opting for a Farrow and Ball Exterior Eggshell, and masonry in Pitch Black picked up on some of the black bricks in the stock brick wall.

The paving was key, so limestone clowts were chosen, produced, and supplied by Artorius Faber. Howard used a smooth clowt that has beautiful colour variations and veining which, again, picked up on some of the browns and greys used internally. This was laid in a Herringbone style which reflects the parquet wood flooring in the hallway, also using grout in the pavers rather than brush in sand.

By grouting the clowts, the floor helped make the garden feel much more like an outdoor room and extension of the house.

A thick 40mm Meranti hardwood was used in thick planks for the cantilever bench, left untreated so that it will silver over time and complement the grey of the paving and tones of the garden. The lights used were black and, for the paving lights, brass was used again to have continuity from the interior. A slab of marble was then chosen 1 Seating corner with cantilever Meranti bench 2 Evergreen planting – Trachelospermum, Libertia, Buxus, Sesleria 3 Ferns underplanting the bench 4 BBQ and bike storage 5 Trachelospermum jasminoides 6 Meranti bench 7 Limestone clowts 8 More evergreen planting – tactical variety 9 Collingwood light fittings

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PORTFOLIO

REFERENCES Timber Elmwood Fencing elmwoodfencing.co.uk Building materials Jewson jewson.co.uk BBQ The BBQ Shop thebbqshop.co.uk Marble Prestige Marble prestigemarble.co.uk Lighting A Place in the Garden aplaceinthegarden.co.uk Collingwood collingwoodlighting.com Electrics Enovatech Solutions Paint Farrow and Ball farrow-ball.com Plants Creepers Nursery creepersnursery.co.uk North Hill Nursery northhillnurseries.co.uk

for the BBQ to sit on; although not much of it is visible, it creates a contrasting frame with the surrounding black and complements the pavers.

Other than working in such a small space it was a fairly smooth-running project, says Howard.

Access was an issue and all the hallway and kitchen needed to be protected throughout the project. It was logistically difficult to move tools and materials around and having to break out 150mm of concrete for the entire floor area.

In a small garden Howard had to work to the nearest millimetre rather than inch. With such a tight space everything needed to be very accurately measured, in particular the BBQ area to ensure there was enough clearance to open the lid. The pavers were also all slightly different sizes which made laying them a very labourintensive experience for the Howard team.

Space for planting was somewhat limited, but

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Howard believes the team manged to pack a punch with the selection of plants used – mainly with the evergreens but also with white flowering Jasmine becoming the geometric backdrop to the whole garden and the diagonals playing on the pattern of paving.

What was once just concrete and completely nonpermeable now has a quarter of the garden being permeable and dedicated to planting. Not only did Howard succeed in making the space feel so much larger than before but it is now a very functional outdoor room which, just as asked, has now become an extension of the kitchen. The materials have all worked seamlessly together and have produced the refined ‘wow’ factor that was wanted.

10 Seating area layered with evergreen planting Photographs ©Tom Howard Garden Design & Landscaping Ltd

Paving Artorius Faber artoriusfaber.com

ABOUT Tom Howard Garden Design offers a full design service. It creates beautiful, functional, and timeless outside spaces, including design, build, planting and, if required, aftercare.

From traditional country to modern urban gardens, its designs will match all lifestyles and aspirations, whatever they may be. tomhowardgardens.co.uk

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PORTFOLIO

PROJECT DETAILS

Project value £234k Build time 6 months Size of project 3 acres

Retiring to

NATURE REDFIELDS LANDSCAPING AUDLEY FAIRMILE RETIREMENT VILLAGE, COBHAM

T

hree acres of grounds wrapping around 74 apartments provided the perfect space for a stunning high-end landscape design at Audley Fairmile. The space now boasts a vast variety of shrubs and mature trees, to complement the retirement village, which is situated in the beautiful, affluent Cobham.

The development was by Audley Villages, and the Redfields Landscaping team was brought on board by main contractor Graham to install the landscape. The client’s aspirations for Audley Fairmile were to create visually striking green spaces for the residents to enjoy, and Redfields’ commercial and operations teams enjoyed the collaborative approach with the project team to provide successful

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solutions when faced with site specific and budget constraints.

Initially, Redfields started the landscaping one block at a time, as the site was tight for space. It became clear that the team needed to concentrate on the areas to the back of the apartments until the frontage became clearer.

The team installed all the understorey planting which was a mix of very large specimen shrubs consisting of Photinias, Taxus, Prunus and Ilex. Once the planting was finished, it covered the area in PAS100 compost and then turfed once all of this had been completed.

There was a huge amount of bamboo and brambles around the boundary of the site which needed to be removed before Redfields could install the understorey mix, and they worked alongside the

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PORTFOLIO groundworkers to get this done in a cost effective and timely manner.

Redfields says it was fortunate to have very detailed plans from the landscape architect, showing quantities and where exactly the shrubs were to be planted.

Audley Fairmile was completed with over 6,500 shrubs planted, 42 very large mature trees, 6,000m2 of turf and 205 linear metre instant hedging. As well as climbers such as Lonicera japonica 'Hall's Prolific' and Clematis 'Tibetan Mix', and boundary planting including Photinia fraseri 'Red Robin', and Prunus laurocerasus 'Rotundifolia'.

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The green spaces will evolve beautifully throughout the seasons, and residents can enjoy the landscape within this new retirement village for years to come. Redfields was instrumental in achieving planting that would be manageable to maintain for Audley Fairmile’s grounds maintenance team.

To boost the sustainability of the project, PAS100 compost was used, as well as a very large number of herbaceous shrubs, fertiliser and ameliorants on turfed areas, planted areas and tree pits. As is standard for all its projects, Redfields will also recycle all of its pots

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PORTFOLIO

and pallets whilst working alongside its suppliers.

Redfields thankfully encountered few problems during the course of the project. Working alongside its suppliers, it sourced the very large trees almost a year in advance of starting the project, including Acer campestre 'Streetwise', Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' and Sorbus aucuparia 'Sheerwater Seedling’.

Having to change one element of the instant hedging, which was agreed with ease with the landscape architect, it had a very tight time frame to complete the works but having a very experienced team on site for the duration helped with liaising with the office and site team to ensure a smooth project completion.

“Redfields Landscaping helped to design and deliver a stunning scheme for the retirement village at Audley Fairmile,” says a spokesperson for Audley Villages.

“The three acres of grounds that wrap around the 74 apartments ensure the owners have great access and beautiful views to the outside with some wonderful

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PORTFOLIO

REFERENCES DURING PLANTING

Main contractor Graham graham.co.uk Trees and shrubs Greenwood Plants greenwoodplants.co.uk

features and well-designed spaces, including visually striking yet manageable borders and beds. The gardens and grounds are as important to the clients and owners as their high-quality interiors.”

Allowing a community to retire to nature, Redfields have successfully completed this six-month-long project, perfectly commemorated and captured via a series of drone images to truly capture the immense scale of landscaping completed.

Turf Sovereign Turf sovereignturf.co.uk Instant hedging Readyhedge readyhedgeltd.com

ABOUT Redfields Landscaping and Design has built a reputation over 35 years for professional soft and hard landscaping within the housebuilding and commercial sectors, operating across the South, Southeast, Homes Counties and Kent. It is renowned for responsiveness, reliability, and high-quality workmanship, reinforced with accreditations.

Its highly experienced and skilled landscapers transform designs into impressive landscapes delivering aesthetic with top quality plant-stock and materials. redfieldslandscaping.co.uk

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Strulch was developed at Leeds University by Dr Geoff Whiteley. It is made from wheat straw, is an earthy brown colour has a neutral pH and lasts on the surface for up to two years.

Strulch stops weeds germinating by blocking light, retains moisture in the soil and the added minerals and texture deters slugs and snails.

13.5kg bags of Strulch are available on pallets of 12, 25, 40 and 48 bags.

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TRENDS

Creating

Urban Oases Matt Evans discusses the challenges that small urban gardens pose and ways to work with them

©The Garden Room Living & Landscape Studio Ltd.

Take away the fact that most gardens have some level of overlooking, and flip the aforementioned traits on their head.

They become cosy, secluded, intimate and immersive. I find small gardens to be an exciting design opportunity and a chance to get creative rather than a challenge. Here’s a brief rundown of how I’d go about tackling a small urban garden from the initial site survey to conceptualising a design.

Getting the job done First things first, let's talk site access in urban environments which can often be one of our biggest headaches. Even the best design needs to be installable, so there’s an element of

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feasibility checking as one of the first items on your initial site visit to ensure ideas that are developed are physically achievable. Muck away going through the house isn’t ideal, but may be the only way to clear the site.

Getting machinery onto site could be impossible via side access, so can it be craned over or do you need to get creative? Site access across busy pavements can be (depending on the size of site) a health and safety consideration and parking time limits and permit restrictions can often mean your team will struggle to park locally or have to down tools and move vans and kit halfway through the day. All of the above are a logistical headache that need to be costed in the project and passed onto your client.

hardscape elements and lighting (which I’ll elaborate on shortly) are great ways to soften boundaries and draw your eye away from neighbours’ windows and washing lines or features you’d rather not pay attention to. Work with borrowed views, a beautiful tree in a neighbour’s garden or a material utilised over the fence line that adds something can be repeated within your scheme will seat the design into the context of the wider area.

If you’ve the space to do so, create separate zones within a smaller garden; it’s a nice way of making them feel larger. Break the sight line from the house to the rear boundary as it encourages you to want to explore which also makes the space

I find small gardens to be an exciting design opportunity and a chance to get creative rather than a challenge

Break the boundary Lots of gardens, particularly in city environments, have beautiful old walls and features of interest. Maximise these; work with them rather than against them – they might just add something. A boring fence can be painted black, giving the impression that it disappears, particularly once planting has established in front of it. Contrast a brick wall with a sharp polished concrete step and a self-binding aggregate. Create a materials mix that works within the context of the site.

Introducing height to the space with appropriate tree planting, structural

©The Garden Room Living & Landscape Studio Ltd.

I

n 2022, 84.4% of us in the UK were recorded as living in an urban area.

From inner city out to the suburbs, our gardens are oases in that hectic environment that most of us exist in day to day.

Small urban gardens are so often written off as a scrubby patch of grass, a washing line and an old table and chairs; overlooked on all sides, boxed in, cooped up, enclosed.

SMALL COURTYARD DESIGN BY THE GARDEN ROOM LIVING AND LANDSCAPE STUDIO LTD.

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TRENDS feel larger, forcing movement around the garden. If you can get larger plants onto site then opt to plant big from the get go.

This will make the site feel established immediately and create balance and a more harmonious feel in relation to surrounding buildings and structures.

with bringing in additional soil and materials, particularly if access is difficult, so do consider this before getting too carried away with your concept design.

Distraction techniques Creating barriers to surrounding sounds and borrowed views are some of the best ways to help you escape from what’s around you.

Think about feature walls, specialist tree planting or more obvious solutions like running water to a focal point feature and how you then light that at night.

Lighting is the most important way to extend a living space into the garden.

A balanced lighting plan with appropriate fixtures and fittings can transform the usage of a small space into an evening retreat, or winter hideout in some cases enabling you to double the usage of the garden.

I always tend to specify warm white lighting and keep it simple, avoiding straight lines at all cost, and the dreaded feeling of having too much light in one space – create the atmosphere, the hideaway, the hangout. With most of us spending more and more time at home, not only living but working too, there’s never been a more important time to encourage transforming smaller spaces into useable beautiful gardens. As an industry, I think this is an opportunity we should all be excited about.

STANDOUT PRODUCTS FOR

Urban Dwellers

No soil – no problem As I’ve already alluded to, urban plots can hide a multitude of sins – years of old builders’ waste, poor soil and terrible drainage spring to mind. So, it sometimes pays to build up levels and used raised planters to assist with getting over the issue. This also helps with breaking up boundary heights and softening boundaries and creates an immersive experience within the garden. Conversely, it could be a logistical nightmare

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©The Garden Room Living & Landscape Studio Ltd.

Create separate zones within a smaller garden; it’s a nice way of making them feel larger

Lack of space is an opportunity to get creative Try to do away with a lawn.

Lawns are great for child’s play, but sometimes the magic of a tipi tucked away in tree ferns, or a den accessed via a tunnel through can be just as much if not more fun. A small urban garden is probably not the best place for grass; subsoil and drainage will mean it’s unlikely to ever look like Wimbledon Centre Court, and in a small space they take up valuable room for more interesting and considered features.

If at all possible, continue the floor covering, at least in part in the garden.

A polished concrete or micro cement is one of my favourite materials to work out into a space from inside. Make it practical; creative storage solutions are often top of the list, so design in units with sedum roofs or benches with hinged tops. If there is a shed, hide it.

You don’t want it to be the focal point for the space; try to save that for a specimen tree, a seat, a bench or a fireplace. Try to balance functionality with form – a beautiful space that ticks all the boxes day to day, which is not easy but is part of the challenge. Keep planting plans simple with repeated themes throughout the space to add continuity. This will further assist in creating cohesion around the garden.

MATT EVANS Matt Evans is the managing director and design lead at The Garden Room Living and Landscape Studio, based in Poole, Dorset. The Garden Room is a young, creative design studio founded by partners in life and design, Matt and his wife Elle Evans.

Located just a stone’s throw from the shores of Poole Harbour and the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, they operate across Dorset, London and the south of England offering garden design, project management and planting as well as specialist aftercare. thegardenroomstudio.com

Garden House Design Cubic Outdoor Living Cupboards Great storage, even on a small footprint. Flexible interior partitioning, variety of sizes, colours and finishes, as well as weatherproof and designed with ventilation.

Price: From £5k (excl. VAT) gardenhousedesign.co.uk

Hudson Lighting Downward Tree Spot Dark skies friendly lighting.

Place it within the tree at a high position illuminating downwards.

Perfect for bringing to life lower planting and pathways.

Price: £142.80 (incl. VAT) hudsonlighting.co.uk

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PERGOLA

PRODUCTS

W

hilst a gazebo will provide full coverage from the sun, a pergola has a slatted roof, creating shaded areas without losing natural light. Made from various materials, pergolas have advanced from the standard wooden lattice. An aluminium pergola with a louvered roof, for example, provides a flexible, adaptable, all-weather outdoor living space that can adapt to the changing climatic conditions to provide the perfect ambient conditions on the terrace beneath, for 365 days a year.

Managing director of Caribbean Blinds UK Ltd, Stuart Dantzic, agrees that with the installation of a pergola, the weather no longer needs to play a factor in the use of the outdoor space.“No more cancelled barbecues or moving a gathering inside because the weather has taken an inclement turn. And now with rotating louvers, there really are no disadvantages”.

The framework provided by Caribbean Blinds is constructed from extruded aluminium which requires little maintenance, and with the roof louvers that rotate through 150° on the Outdoor Living Pod™, users are able to play with light and shade. They lock together to become water, wind, and snow tight, with water evacuation through a concealed guttering system.

According to Dantzic, open roof structures such as traditional pergolas through to fixed roofs such as a gazebo can’t match this flexibility from a durability and longevity point of view. They have to be continuously maintained whether that’s treating the wood or replacing it, in the case of cheaper

Pergolas have become a popular alternative to adding a gazebo to a domestic garden

The possibilities available with pergolas are seemingly endless

gazebos, and the fabric is not fit for year-round use – “it is simply summer shade, and even then, the UV causes the fabric fibres to fade as they are usually constructed from a surface dyed polyester which coincidentally also warps and stretches,” says Dantzic.

With a variety of freestanding or wall-mounted pergolas available, Reilly Gray, co-founder of Suns Lifestyle is in complete agreement, adding that pergolas are an excellent and stylish alternative to awnings and blinds for bi-fold extensions. “Especially with a removable middle leg for a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, as well as moderating the temperature during summer when bi-fold extensions can really heat up!”

SUNS LIFESTYLE - MARANZA LOUVERED PERGOLA

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paradise CARIBBEAN BLINDS - OUTDOOR LIVING POD

Pergolas are still considered a temporary structure and therefore don’t usually require planning permission; however you will often find louvered as well and electric retractable options on the market so you can choose the style you prefer, and Gray is certain that “you

SUNS LIFESTYLE

can’t beat the quality or value for money when it comes to a seasonal shelter.”

Gray points out that in a post-covid world, the emphasis on enjoying time outdoors with family and friends is even more valuable; “the desire to create stylish outdoor spaces that enhance your wellbeing is going nowhere.”

Providing furniture collections which offer durable, considered designs created to keep clients comfortable outdoors all year round, Suns Lifestyle recommends its signature product – the aluminium louvered pergola.

Its Maranza Louvered Pergola quickly became its bestselling model. Best suited as a freestanding structure it’s been seen used to transform a variety of spaces from an outdoor cinema to a hot tub shelter.

The possibilities available with pergolas are seemingly endless.

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T

he Autumn months have provided us with a spectacle of colors, scents, forms and textures that have been hidden until now. The end buds have been sealed and the trees are now ready for your projects. Our fields are stocked with specimen trees, solitaire shrubs and conifers.

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PROMOTION

What makes a

MAJESTIC TREE?

I

t’s the midst of the tree planting season and Steve McCurdy has just returned from two weeks of tree tagging on the continent before jetting off for another week on the same mission. His dedication to finding the right trees to import is just one of the ways in which his nursery, Majestic Trees, ensures quality products for each client. It starts with selecting stock, and McCurdy is careful not to buy trees that are planted too deep, but availability can sometimes make this more difficult.

THE MAJESTIC TEAM INSPECT AND TRIM THE ROOTBALL DOWN TO THE ROOT FLARE BEFORE POTTING, AS OVER 50% OF TREES ARE PLANTED TOO DEEP DURING PRODUCTION

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“More than 50% of trees are in the ground too deep during production. When it’s a bareroot tree, it’s easier to catch; but with rootball trees, there’s a serious problem.

So, once a tree has arrived at the nursery, we strip down the rootball to the root flare to avoid collar rot.”

Majestic Trees places them in Air-Pots – recycled plastic containers with air holes – and has done since the nursery was first founded more than 20 years ago. “The root system is so much superior, and the failure rate is so low. It might be easier to carry bagged trees, unless they’re too heavy; but you have to take off the bag. With an Air-Pot, you peel off the pot to be reused, wrap the mass of fibrous roots for shipping, then drop it into the ground.”

A combination of caring for its products and its team makes Majestic Trees stand out amongst the crowd WORDS: NINA MASON

THE NEW EOT MANAGEMENT TEAM

Then it’s important to put time into pruning, says McCurdy. This helps to avoid weak unions and develop the tree to create an impressive structure. “We put a lot of time and effort into the development and continuous growth of the tree; it’s not about selling it as quick as possible.”

Take Horse Tail (Equisetum arvense),

We put a lot of time and effort into the development and continuous growth of the tree; it’s not about selling it as quick as possible

an invasive weed that McCurdy says is “prolific” across parts of the continent at the moment. “We tell nurseries that we won’t buy trees with Horse Tail, and we will not sell a tree with it in the rootball. If you get that in your garden, you can’t get rid of it. So, if we discover it, we will spray it off and then wait for two years before releasing it for sale.”

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PROMOTION It might not come as a surprise, then, that Majestic Trees was one of the first Plant Healthy certified nurseries and that McCurdy was involved in the planning process behind the biosecurity scheme. The nursery has also refused to buy olive trees since Xylella fastidiosa outbreaks on the continent a few years ago. “Biosecurity is more important to us than profits,” says McCurdy.

Once a tree arrives on site, aftercare services are available, led by Eliot Barden.

The aftercare, apprenticeship and training manager has been with Majestic Trees for the last five years. Within that time, Barden has been crowned UK Young Grower of the Year, followed by AIPH International Young Grower of the Year. “His pest and disease knowledge is absolutely incredible.”

WE WILL HARD PRUNE MANY OF THE TREES WE BUY ON ARRIVAL, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT DELIVERING A STRONG CROWN STRUCTURE IS CRITICAL TO CUSTOMER LONG TERM SATISFACTION

Barden is one of the existing management team members who will become directors now that McCurdy and his wife Janet have sold 75% of Majestic Trees to the team via an Employee Ownership Trust. He will be joined by sales manager Sarah Shynn, planting and logistics manager Fern Snowling, nursery manager Carlos Guinand, HR & finance manager Helen Morgan and pruning & stock control manager Maria Bengtsson.

For McCurdy, selling to an EOT rather than to a nursery might have meant less financial reward for him personally, but it was far more important to him that the employees who had

HAVING A COMPLETE SOLID ROOT SYSTEM ENSURES THE TREES NOT ONLY THRIVE, BUT THAT THE ROOT SYSTEM IS DELIVERED INTACT, AND SIMPLIFIES THE HANDLING OF LARGE TREES

helped to build Majestic Trees and ensure its success were rewarded and recognised.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for all the staff,” says Helen Morgan.“There are so many opportunities in the long term.

We have a five-year plan to buy out Steve and Janet at an agreed rate, which is considerably less than they could have got on the open market, so it’s extremely generous. At the end of the five-year period, we’re looking to continue at the same level of success, and we’ll be able to pay out further dividends to staff – that will be the long-term benefit.”

This is on top of a profit-sharing scheme that Majestic Trees has run since nearly the beginning; McCurdy gives 25% of the profit to employees minus unnecessary waste, spread equally among staff regardless of position.

“We’ve always tried to look after our staff and we’ve put in quite a significant amount of benefits, even before we became an EOT,” says Morgan. "Being an EOT is just

Being an EOT is just another stage which allows us to continue in the same vein as we always have but gives staff even greater opportunities

MAJESTIC NOT ONLY OFFERS THE FINEST LOW EMISSIONS DELIVERY FLEET, BUT ARE ALSO WELL EQUIPPED TO OFFLOAD AND HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO DELIVER EACH AND EVERY TIME

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another stage which allows us to continue in the same vein as we always have but gives staff even greater opportunities.”

Majestic Trees' staff retention is part of what makes it profitable in the first place, says McCurdy.“It’s critical to our success.” As is hiring the right people and encouraging staff progression.“As we move into our director roles, when we’ll be working more on the business than in the business, we need to look at who our successors are.

We have always promoted from within where we can,” adds Maria Bengtsson, who won Best Staff Member at the 2023 Grower of the Year Awards.

Majestic Trees topped the Inspirational Business category too, and was Highly Commended for the Peat Free Grower of the Year. Team leader Ellen Underwood has been heading up peat-free trials at the nursery and is now looking to expand the number of trees that are grown peat free in the coming months.

McCurdy says sustainability has always been central to the business; it harvests rainwater and has solar PV panels on the barn and solar and air source pumps to heat its offices and staff housing.

So, what makes a majestic tree? It’s undoubtedly the efforts of those who work at – and each who now own part of – Majestic Trees, who all ensure that its trees are the best quality possible, a mission to which each and every employee contributes. majestictrees.co.uk

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PRODUCTS From Straightcurve UK Ltd, raised garden beds provide a modular steel solution that allows bespoke outcomes to be swiftly achieved without the need for welding or offsite fabrication, so saving a lot of design or installation headaches for designers and landscapers. The quality finish includes discreet and stronger joins with safer, rolled tops.

The complete proprietary bracing solution also means any raised garden beds, retaining or stepped projects are accommodated. The lockdown foot system also removes any need to bury the panels, so less steel is used for the same retaining outcome. Straightcurve suggests that with curved edge lines, it’s good to be open to slight adjustments to your sight lines.

It recommends setting up the edge first but making sure that the curves are where they Raised garden beds Raised garden beds are look best on-site before locking in the line. available in 240, 400 and 560mm heights and with three styles to select from according to your project needs. All arrive flat packed and use Straightcurve’s unique join systems requiring basic tools to assemble in situ. The finish is Weathering Steel (aka Corten). straightcurve.com

©Nigel Gomme, Cityscapers

STRAIGHTCURVE UK LTD

EDGING CLOSER TO SOLUTIONS

Elevate your projects with top-tier edging solutions

THE TRADITIONAL COMPANY The Traditional Company provides Legacy Edging, offering a dynamic range of steel edging in thicknesses including three, five, six, and 10mm and available in depths ranging from 100300mm as standard.

They are supplied in either three or six-metre lengths depending on product choice.

Legacy Edging There is greater Legacy Edging is an attractive, interest in Legacy practical, and hardwearing Edging because solution for landscaping needs. of the strength It is ideal for lawns, flower beds, driveways and pathways providing and flexibility it a versatile solution that is built to provides, although last. Manufactured to offer a range Corten steel is still of products in varying heights and very popular too. width. Predominantly we sell The Legacy 3 in mild steel and Corten, but provides the galvanising is an option along with greatest flexibility powder coating allowing us to and can easily form match the edging to your needs. radius curves and thetraditionalco.co.uk is ideally suited to paths and borders.

Legacy 5 and 6 give good driveway support and are ideal where heavier traffic may be encountered.

Tighter radius curves can be supplied preformed with a seamless front face unlike its competitors.

For an easier installation process, you will require good trench preparation to help form sweeping curves join several lengths together. This can also be used to template the ground if creating new beds; but if in doubt, call the Traditional Company for support.

CORE Landscape Products is keen to promote its CORE EDGE, currently the best-selling lawn edging on Amazon, and an incredibly popular product amongst many of the UK’s independent landscaping merchants. It is the perfect, easy-install edging for lawn borders, providing a crisp clean edge – with the ability to form bold straight runs, smooth sweeping curves, as well as intricate shapes and designs. CORE EDGE is popular thanks to its simple ‘easy-install’ nature, and its clever ‘dual-locking’ tabs. The dual lock mechanism on CORE EDGE provides a rigid connection between sections which results in a strong and seamless edge.

With plenty of colour options available, the cost-effective solution comes in packs containing five 1075mm strips of edging and providing a full five metres of coverage once connected. If installing in a lawn, CORE recommends that you first mark out the area using spray or rope, and then cut your ‘line’ using a half-moon shovel. This will make it much easier to install. Secondly, connect multiple lengths together and bend the dual locking tabs round – and install as one long length to speed up the installation process altogether.

CORE LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS

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CORE EDGE CORE EDGE is British made, easy to install, smart in style and durable in nature. CORE EDGE flexible steel edging is an innovative solution designed for lawns, borders, patios, pathways, and driveways. corelp.co.uk

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PRODUCTS

AWARENESS

As the British Standard for topsoil evolves, the trends of requirements and management mirror the reinforced quality checks

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ithin the wider industry of erosion resulting from de-forestation and extreme landscaping, soil has been climate events, and their overuse by intensive supposedly mis-managed for agriculture, are causing the world’s soil reserves to decades. This has been by deplete at an alarming rate.” The UK Government various means, such as the over reliance on recognised this and in 2009, published its chemical fertilisers and pesticides, excessive “safeguarding our soils strategy” for England, cultivation, a lack of organic incorporation, and and “subsequently there have been a plethora high erosion risk. Soil compaction is the biggest of policies designed to mitigate the loss of our long-term problem, according to soil scientist soils and to help restore them.”

Tim O’Hare. It prevents soils from delivering As the British Standard (BS3882:2015) is many of their important functions. trying to introduce measures to include better Working as a soil consultant to the soil management within the next landscape industry, O’Hare believes update, Gudgin continues to say that the term 'soil health' is that this is “not only essential a useful way to sum up its to indicate that it is fit for importance but also its purpose but also to current poor condition. ensure it is safe and “Soil health, also free from physical and referred to as soil chemical contaminants.” quality, is defined as the Jason Lock, business continued capacity of development manager soil to function as a living for Boughton Loam, Tim O’Hare, ecosystem that sustains believes that soil health is principal consultant, plants, animals, and humans. “a complicated subject, as Tim O'Hare Associates The key to achieving a healthy there are so many things that soil is to ensure that it can deliver can affect it.” He is encouraging the its numerous functions to their optimum.” recycling of resources and, since there will Eco Sustainable Solutions takes immense always be a need for new soils on site, it is pride in providing topsoil which adheres to important to try and reuse soils as much as British Standards, ensuring it is nutrient-rich, possible. Lock says: “We need to pay a lot more well-structured, and complete with organic attention to what’s beneath our feet and treat it content and beneficial microbes. with a lot more respect.”

Sales manager Connor Scott says the supplier Biodiversity manager at Rolawn, Terry regularly sees and hears about several issues with Smithson, adds that, “in England and Wales, soil health from its clients.“Maintaining healthy more than two million hectares of soil are at soil in a domestic garden is crucial for robust risk of erosion and four million hectares at plant growth and environmental sustainability. risk of compaction.” With people becoming Healthy soils enhance a landscape’s ability to increasingly concerned about the climate and withstand environmental stressors, such as biodiversity crisis as well as the urgency droughts and heavy rainfall, so are less prone needed to deal with these issues, at Rolawn, to degradation. A good soil maintenance routine consumer trends highlight the move towards and remembering to include soil checks, using higher environmental standards reflected biodegradable organic matter such as green waste within their spending habits. compost, will help improve soil structure, water Suppliers are in unison with views towards retention, and provide nutrients for plants.” soil management, and it looks as though their At British Sugar TOPSOIL, national manager voices might have been heard, if an update to Natalie Gudgin points out that,“globally, soil British Standards is anything to go by.

The key to achieving a healthy soil is to ensure that it can deliver its numerous functions to their optimum

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Rolawn

Rolawn Compost Soil Improver is an effective way to enhance and revitalise topsoil. A natural, peat-free, highly fertile soil conditioner made from composted organic matter. rolawn.co.uk

Eco Sustainable Solutions Ltd

SuperSoil Pro Topsoil is a nutrientrich topsoil blended with its Eco Mix soil improver. The organic matter content helps with moisture retention and improves soil structure, creating a perfect a high-quality allrounder or for turfing and seeding. thisiseco.co.uk

British Sugar TOPSOIL

Landscape20 is a fully analysed sandy loam TOPSOIL. It is ideal for general landscaping projects such as seeding, turfing and planting. Designed by soil scientists to deliver a balanced growing medium for landscaping projects. bstopsoil.co.uk

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FEATURE

'SIX INCHES OF SOIL' FILM

THE TOP SIX INCHES OF SOIL

Digging into the maintenance of topsoil, the ways in which it can transform how we produce food and how we can heal the soil to benefit our health

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an – despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many accomplishments – owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains,” said US radio broadcaster Paul Harvey in 1978.

As the climate is changing and the industry is searching for answers and alternatives, research into soil is seemingly expanding, with an aim to educate the industry and raise awareness for the negative impact we are having on our earth as well as the positive impact the earth could have on us.

Award-winning filmmaker and founder of documentary film production company, Dragon Light Films, Colin Ramsay is producing a feature film about agroecology, connecting people with soil, where their food comes from and how it is produced.

He aims to give farmers the confidence and practical knowledge to adapt their

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WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN techniques to support nature friendly farming opportunity to get stuck in and film outside on as well as allowing consumers to understand the farmlands wherever possible. It was touted the context within their food supply, to as “the inspiring story of British farmers change the general perspective on standing up against the industrial food agroecologically produced crops. system and transforming the way Six Inches of Soil came they produce food – to heal about several years back the soil, benefit our health when producer Claire and provide for local Mackenzie and Ramsay communities.” had been working For Ramsay, this on a short film for was a whole new Kenton County territory.“I didn't Council concerning really know anything regenerative about regenerative Colin Ramsay, award-winning agriculture in agriculture, so had to filmmaker and founder, Cambridgeshire which do a lot of research.

Dragon Light Film quickly developed into Going on these farms and a wider story. Following up speaking to people, seeing with farmers across the nation and what's possible, and the passion discovering their journeys, the film was they have for the subjects. The passion they officially shot in the winter of 2020. Faced with have for soil was really inspirational, and the additional challenges of the pandemic and actually quite life changing for me. With so lockdown restrictions, the team took every much pressure on food and farming to be

We really need to treat it as a precious resource, not just the dirt that most people think it is

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FEATURE

more sustainable, areas of the industry such as horticulture and landscaping also play a huge part into the success of maintaining our growth. We have to really question our supply chain. Where does this come from?

How is it made? Is it ethical? I think if we can all start doing that, then we can make the change needed.”

Most of the biology and magic of growing plants, whether that be for food or aesthetic, happens in the ground. “We really need to treat it as a precious resource, not just the dirt that most people think it is.” This isn’t just a British thing; it’s a global phenomenon that’s becoming increasingly apparent since we've degraded a lot of our soils and not looked after them, says Ramsay. “We need to turn the ship around, before it’s too late, so that's where the idea came from.” Looking through the lens of sustainability, Six Inches of Soil highlights an ecologically minded perspective, looking to future generations and the support that our industry so desperately needs.

Geo-environmental engineer and geologist at Soil Check and GOWN Engineers, James Pitcher has worked in the contaminated land industry for years and has noticed that the likelihood of a vigorous check for contamination at properties older than 30 years is negligible. The cost of these

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assessments is excessive, so Pitcher wanted to are doing it the same with their soil. bridge the gap between expensive consultancy There is virgin material used for topsoil and the risk of not knowing. manufacture (such as quarried sand) He founded the company mixed with composted Soil Check, which provides organics (green waste) easy-to-use, mail order soil or previously peat.” testing kits, designed to There is also provide information topsoil made from on the contamination recycled material status of a garden or – “this is where allotment soil and my interest the soils fertility, if lies mainly, in desired. Similarly, educating James Pitcher, GOWN Engineers customers geo-environmental engineer works with more regarding this. This and geologist at Soil Check rigorous regulations and recycled material is and GOWN Engineers guidance for planning rarely tested and can be conditions and other made from skip waste or road factors, usually on sites scrapings. It is called ‘topsoil’, but it known to be contaminated. would not be the number one constituent “Working with contaminated to grow your vegetables in, shall we say.” land has taught me a lot, According to Pitcher, the regulation of specifically about soil and more the market can be slim, but it is becoming importantly soil re-use and soil increasingly important to understand manufacturing. There is where these materials are coming from. a big question that For the health of production and wellbeing, most people do not especially if you are growing food in it, you understand and that need to know it. “It is a finite resource and is – what is topsoil?” producing more of it can be done but so Pitcher explained much of it is thrown away.” that there is the British From farmers' fields to domestic Standard (BS3882) of natural family gardens, topsoil health is key to topsoil from the erosion of rocks maintaining a successful growth. Recycling and the introduction of organic material but and reproducing a consistent level of there is also a grey area of manufactured soil, healthy soil will then be the key to securing “which is a tricky area as not all manufacturers a biosecure future for our planet.

It is a finite resource and producing more of it can be done but so much of it is thrown away

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FEATURE

The pitfalls of

TREE PIT SOILS Tim O’Hare has advised on the soil design and specification of tree planting systems for over 25 years. In that time, he has also investigated numerous failed planting schemes and has noticed a re-occurring theme of problems relating to inhospitable rooting environments within tree pits. He explains the soil-related causes for many of these tree failures and offers some solutions to an all-too-common problem Why do so many trees that leave the nursery in a healthy state end up failing in the first few years after planting?

Common causes Poor soil conditions within the tree planting pit will prevent basic root function. This in turn leads to a lack of water uptake and a rapid decline of the tree when it comes into the growing season. The most common factor responsible for this is the development of anaerobic conditions within the pit. Far lesser problems, certainly during the tree’s establishment period, are low fertility, lack of water, the wrong pH or ground contamination. If anaerobism can be avoided, the tree has a fighting chance of survival.

FROM HEALTHY NURSERY TREES....

Anaerobism Anaerobism is the term attributed to a ‘low oxygen’ environment.

In soils this is an immediate and major problem that can cause plant failure. Without oxygen, plant roots simply cannot take up water (or plant nutrients within the water), which induces a ‘drought condition’, even though there may be ample water in the soil.

... TO DEAD PLANTED TREES

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There are three main causes for inducing anaerobic soil conditions: • Lack of drainage • Soil compaction • Topsoil that is placed too deep

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FEATURE

aeration and drainage. The outcome is an anaerobic soil with no water holding capacity.

FLOODED TREE PIT

Inadequate drainage of surplus water out of the tree pit will result in stagnant, anaerobic conditions.

This is a major cause of failures in new tree planting

Lack of drainage Inadequate drainage of surplus water out of the tree pit will result in stagnant, anaerobic conditions. This is a major cause of failures in new tree planting.

Incoming water to a tree pit (i.e. rainfall or irrigation water) is oxygenated, and in fact water is one of the main carriers of oxygen through the soil. If the drainage potential of the tree pit backfill soil and surrounding soil is sufficient to allow that water to permeate through it without impedance, then the water is beneficial.

The problem arises when the water stops ‘moving’ through the soil. In tree pits, this can be due to a lack of soil structure in the backfill soil (see compaction below), or an impervious layer in the base of the pit that causes the pit to act as a ‘sump’ for surface draining waters. Essentially, the inputs of water into the pit exceed the outputs, so there is a net accumulation of water. The oxygen within this water is readily used by the tree roots and by soil microbes, and, if it remains in the pit, it becomes anaerobic (stagnant water).

Soil compaction A normal, uncompacted soil is made up of 50% soil particles (by volume), which are aggregated into soil ‘peds’ or ‘structures’.

The remaining 50% consists of voids known as ‘pore spaces’. It is this network of

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Excessive topsoil depths The depth to which topsoil should be placed in a tree pit is probably the most common mistake when planting larger trees. There is a perception that ‘the more topsoil the better’, when in reality this can have catastrophic results.

In a natural soil environment, for example a woodland or grassland meadow, topsoil depths rarely extend below 300mm. So, why is topsoil routinely placed to a depth of one metre in new tree pits?

Subsoil should be placed in the lower portion of tree pits. It does not become anaerobic at depth because it does not have a microbe population, and therefore has a low Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).

pores that store and transmit air and water through the soil and maintain an ‘aerated environment’. All but the most sandy soils (or urban tree rootzones) need soil 1m deep tree pit. Amerliorate structure to with tree planting function properly. compost Topsoil Soil compaction, for example 1000mm from mishandling the soil or Site subsoil excessive trafficking, results in the destruction of these structures and pores spaces, and INCORRECT TREE PIT DETAIL:TOPSOIL TOO DEEP the loss of a vital network for

TREE ROOTBALL

AERATED TOPSOIL

ANAEROBIC TOPSOIL

ANAEROBIC TOPSOIL IN TREE PIT

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Some solutions It is worth treating the tree pit as the ‘transitional zone’ between the ‘tree nursery soil’ and the ‘real world’. It is the rooting environment that needs to minimise transplant stress and promote healthy root growth to optimise tree establishment.

Various degrees of design intervention may be required to achieve this, depending on the nature of the site (greenfield/brownfield), the existing soils, the topography, the hydrology and the other environmental factors such as exposure to wind, sun scorch, etc. Regardless of the level of design input, it is useful to stick to some basic principles for an aerated soil and healthy rooting environment. Keep tree pit design as simple as possible and minimise the amount of disturbance to the soil.

Soil types Any soil that can maintain its ability to drain and aerate after soil spreading and tree planting has the potential for re-use.

However, in many landscape projects where there are time constraints and inclement weather to factor in, sandy soils provide the greatest flexibility. They remain ‘non-plastic’ at higher moisture contents, and they are less prone to compaction and structural degradation. Heavier clay-based soils can be used provided they are reasonably dry and in a friable, ‘non-plastic’ state when handled.

Silty soils are generally not suitable for backfilling tree pits as they have weak structural strength and suffer from ‘selfcompaction’ even when handled carefully.

Soil depths Quite simply, do not put topsoil too deep.

A topsoil depth of 300mm is usually ample, and certainly 400mm should be the maximum and only provided the soil type will allow it. This applies to planting beds

TREE PIT AT THE OLYMPIC PARK – TREE ROOTBALL SITS ON SUBSOIL AND WILL BE SURROUNDED BY TOPSOIL. OVER 4000 TREES WERE SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED AT THE PARK USING THIS APPROACH

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as well as tree pits. The rootball should sit on subsoil, and with bigger rootballs, the subsoil will also sit around the lower portion of the rootball.

Small rootballs For trees with a smaller rootball (up to 300-400mm deep) that are being planted into ‘in-situ’, undisturbed ground, it is far better to minimise the size and dimensions of the tree pit to limit the destruction of the soil’s structure. The tree pit should be as shallow as possible, and usually only requires excavation to the depth at which the rootball will sit. If machine dug, it is useful to decompact the soil in the base of the pit where the excavator bucket often causes smearing and compaction.

After placing the rootball, the pit can be backfilled with the excavated topsoil, ensuring that any soil ameliorants (e.g. green compost) have been evenly mixed with the backfill topsoil.

Tree pit.

Ameliorate topsoil with tree planting compost 300mm

Min. 300mm

Topsoil Tree pit subsoil (site or imported) Break up base of pit

TREE PIT DETAIL FOR LARGE ROOTBALLS

Drainage options may include mounding the pit slightly to help shed water away from the upper rootball, incorporating a mini soakaway in the base of the pit, or connecting the pit to a positive, and hopefully sustainable, drainage outfall (a last resort).

Soil investigation, combined with a review of the landscape proposals, is essential to determine which drainage option(s) is most applicable to each tree pit. Very often more than one option can be applied to a landscape scheme to suit the variable size and location of trees.

Shallow tree pit.

Ameliorate with tri planting compost 300mm

Topsoil Site subsoil Break up base of pit

TREE PIT DETAIL FOR SMALL ROOTBALLS IN 'IN-SITU' SOIL

Larger rootballs For larger trees, there is a need to excavate a deeper pit to accommodate the rootball.

This requires excavation into the subsoil.

It is often better to use a higher sand content subsoil or even a quarried sand, to sit the rootball on, and to surround its lower portion. Sands and sandy subsoils will support the weight of the rootball better, and thereby prevent later settlement. A coarser sand with a narrow particle size distribution should maintain adequate porosity even when consolidated by the rootball. Roots happily grow into a sand as it is full of oxygen and water.

Tree pit drainage considerations To prevent anaerobism caused by stagnant water, the principle of any tree pit design is to ensure that inputs of water are equal to or less than the outputs.

TIM O’HARE Tim is the principal consultant of Tim O’Hare Associates, the UK’s leading soil and landscape science practice. He has been a professional soil scientist for over 25 years, working predominantly in the commercial landscape, construction and sports agronomy sectors, and covering anything from domestic garden projects to major construction developments. He also advises government departments, national institutions and agencies through the preparation of standards, strategies and codes of practice on soil management and specification. In 2019 Tim was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by The Kew Guild (Association of Alumni of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew) for his “outstanding contribution to the environment”. toha.co.uk

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Overcoming

OBSTACLES A

Having wanted to dive into business from s the old adage goes, a problem the age of 15, fellow panellist Richard Kay shared is a problem halved. and his wife Rachel were approached with When riding the waves of the opportunity to start Green-tech in 1994, business, there will forever be where they spent 27 years developing the a series of trials and tribulations that appear, company into one of the UK’s largest more often than not at the worst possible suppliers to the landscaping market. They opportunities. The trick, if a recent event handed over the reins two years ago, selling held by George Davies Turf is anything to Green-tech to Origin Enterprises PLC, and go by, is coming together to find solutions. now Kay is keen to offer his advice and The supplier teamed up with the expertise wherever he can.

British Association of Landscape “At Green-tech, we hit quite Industries’ Midlands regional a few bumps along the way, committee to bring but I think what’s key is together members of the Try and see getting the right staff.” community from across every obstacle as an When hiring new the country to explore opportunity to learn members of the team, the details, differing to grow, to change, to the process is like opinions and of marmite, explains Kay. course the necessary adapt to new things You spend two or three solutions to overcome George Davies, hours on the interview potential problems and director of George process, and even if you collaborate as an industry.

Davies Turf offer the position, some may A panel formed of some of stay for years, loving every the industry’s leading business second, whilst others might stay just owners were asked how they overcame a matter of weeks, unable to find their feet. the biggest obstacle in their business journeys “If you get the wrong person, it can be – and the response was unanimous. a business killer.”

“If you can try and see every obstacle as “It’s important to continue trying to keep an opportunity to learn to grow, to change, to your staff engaged, keep them motivated,” adapt to new things, see the basic value and adds Ben Parkinson, director at Oakham be part of it, then we can work together, share Garden Services and the chair of the the load, and change these problems, into Midlands regional committee. It’s not always something much more manageable,” says about the money, he says, but actually has George Davies, director of a lot to do with creating a company culture George Davies Turf. and an environment with key values to live by.

FEATURE As 2023 comes to a close, we question what have been some of the biggest challenges and whether collaboration is the key to overcoming them WORDS: ASHLEIGH BROWN Parkinson is eager to get the industry talking about business struggles, challenges, staff problems, retention, personal development and HR – “all the things that most people don't talk about enough and tapping into that emotional connection that most business owners have with their businesses”. This could help the difficult conversation topics to be much more relatable.

One struggle that continues to crop up is skills shortage. Despite demand for labour increasing as the industry grows and companies expand their reach, “the labour pool is shrinking,” says Kay. He suggests that there are a lot of young people out there who have no desire for working outside. On top of that, there’s seemingly a stronger desire for a better work-life balance, with weekend and evening work falling out of favour.

Therefore, the next generation of employees may not be found by traditional means, be they ex-forces, rehabilitating offenders, or even those resisting retirement.

There’s a huge potential for labourers outside of school leavers, says Kay: "People leave our forces, massively well trained with a great transferable skill set.”

It could be these people who could benefit from a new opportunity and one in an industry renowned for its ability to provide escapism in the outdoors. “Not everyone in prison is a criminal; give them a chance and they’ll prove themselves to you,” adds Davies.

Parkinson says that the ways in which roles are advertised can have a significant

THE BALI MIDLANDS REGIONAL EVENT, ‘RIDING THE WAVES OF BUSINESS’ AT GEORGE DAVIES TURF HEADQUARTERS IN OLNEY

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FEATURE

impact on the type of people who apply and retain those employees for the role. When advertising to attract is communication, agree the a younger generation, it’s important to offer panellists. Involve the staff, the potential for a career progression – “for value their opinions and instance, we don't have any labourers within ensure that they feel heard. our business because I find that it's quite “At Oakham, we have limited; advertising for trained landscapers constant interaction instantly attracts a completely different with all of our lads,” says calibre of person”. And when it does come Parkinson. "We will go to down to hiring the right person, you need site; we will make sure a strong recruitment process. “We employ that they're happy in what mainly on personality over skill set.” they're doing. If they're At Oakham Garden Services, Parkinson not, what can we change? believes that “with the right personality, you We’re always asking, what do you like can teach them anything. If they're willing to about the business? Alternately, what don't learn and you know that they adhere to your you like about the business?” company values, they’re going to be the best “It’s all about just asking those questions person for the job”. Alongside this, Parkinson and put yourself in their shoes and just appreciates the value of feedback from his being present and listening,” says Davies. existing team.

“Appreciation is probably one of the biggest “They could appear to be words that we all want.” Davies the nicest person ever and wants to make sure that his have a vast skill set. But staff feel appreciated for When you're without the feedback their hard work and a boss, you're also a bit from our guys to see all their efforts if they could work by noticing the of a parent, especially with them or not, little things and for younger members of you may never taking the time the team. They do look hire the right to comment to you for guidance person for on them. your team.”

The mental and support For Davies, wellbeing of staff Ben Parkinson, director, “a CV isn't worth is also becoming Oakham Garden Services the paper it’s written key for employers and chair of the Midlands regional committee on”. So, George Davies to care for.

Turf takes an alternative Kay took the opportunity approach, asking for applicants to provide his staff with to leave voicemails with an explanation a welcoming space, a selection of teas and as to why they should be employed by the coffees, and the chance to start talking company. Davies is then able to take the together. Daily conversations proved to voice messages, listen to them, hear how establish an open and trusting environment they sound on the phone and try to work out so that topics such as mental health are less if they sound like a good fit, based on both daunting. “Covid especially messed with a lot their answer and their mannerisms. Once of people’s heads, forcing us all to take a look hired, the best way to ensure staff happiness at the bigger picture and be supportive of it.”

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Kay recommends that everyone dig deeper into discovering the root cause of their struggles. “Is it work? Or is it private? How can we actually help them get back on track?

How can we be sympathetic?”

As a mental health first aider within his business, Parkinson takes pride in being able to mentor a small selection of his staff who suffer from anxiety and lack of confidence. “When you're a boss, you're also a bit of a parent, especially for younger members of the team.

They do look to you for guidance and support.

And I think it's a good way of guiding them through life as well as their career.”

Being employee-focused and asking the right questions to make sure that you are bringing in the right people and providing them with the right balance of work and support can make a huge difference. And by sharing the results with others in the industry, it can have an even wider impact.

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FEATURE

Outco has put technology at the core of its external service offering WORDS: NINA MASON

O

utco is a “technology business at heart”. That’s how CEO Jason Petsch sees the outdoor estate management company. It uses technology to make people’s lives easier, he says, but also to “add value, whilst fundamentally still carrying out a basic service.”

Grounds maintenance companies are not naturally technology businesses, he adds.“These are operational businesses with a complex logistical problem of getting somebody to site to do a task, in a sometimes-hostile environment, and getting them home safely. So, the industry has grown up around an operation basis, not necessarily a technological one; but we need to adopt a technological approach to start adding value and multi-tasking.”

Technology has, after all, been part of internal space management for years – from monitoring energy efficiency to occupancy.

There was an opportunity, as far as Petsch was concerned, to extend this to the external environment too.

He founded what was then known as Gritit in 2004, offering winter services. He somewhat “stumbled” into the industry by accident, having an arguably unusual background in both the military and marketing.

He saw how winter gritting was being carried out and wanted to advance it, to switch from “filled in forms slid under the office door” to something less likely to be misplaced.

“When we brought technology into the equation, we moved away from triplicates and carbon paper being slid under the door to the ability to add significant value to our customers, validating the service that had

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At the

TOUCH OF A BUTTON

been provided and to set the legal precedent [to defend us against slip and trip claims].”

Suitable technology was hard to come by, though. “There were complex CRM (customer relationship management) systems that cost millions of pounds for big multinationals or ERP (enterprise resource planning) details that cost millions of pounds to implement; there was nothing for the smaller business on how to capture everything. And then there’s the complexities of winter gritting and grounds maintenance.”

So, Outco developed its own technology, creating the award-winning Nimbus system back in 2008, which it continues to programme, and which recently led to Outco being shortlisted for the Property Tech Company of the Year award at the UK Business Tech Awards. Clients then have access to Nimbus

through the Pulse app, which was shortlisted in its own right for App of the Year.

The system focuses on the “unchanging asset”, or the property, says Petsch.“That's the asset we should all be focused on, so we put our system – essentially a library – around this fundamental asset. So, when a contact change or service change is needed, or an order or invoice, it comes back to the individual property and is stored in that library. When our team gets to site and registers, the protocol for that individual property will be brought up rather than any contact or person, so we can have numerous people gathering information on that individual property.”

This was “groundbreaking”. An algorithm processes millions of decisions per second and picks up anomalies.“It takes away human error and reports the exceptions,” such as when an accident might have taken place. If a driver is stopped unexpectedly, it notifies the team to check on them. It can show when an operative was on site and that they took the necessary precautions to make a site safe, with an empirical record that can be referenced.

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FEATURE

Live information can also be shared with customers, allowing them to be “partners”.

It changes the dynamic, says Petsch.

Outco now manages more than 7,500 sites across the UK for clients such as BP, Savills and the NHS. It rebranded from Gritit two years ago to better encapsulate its full range of outdoor services, which had gone beyond winter gritting.

“A name and the badge that people wear on their chest has a personality and that personality is the accumulative effect of all the people and the services. Gritit was a strong brand, and we’d spent nearly 20 years building it, but the reason for the rebrand is that we see an opportunity in the outdoor FM environment to do something more and add value with a focus on technology and people.

“Technology runs the business and runs the operations and tells everyone what they should be doing, to allow us to add value. That's the value that technology adds; technology is not the value add.”

There had been a disjointed service offering on the contractor’s side of a degradation of expertise on the client’s side, says Petsch. The value has been “squeezed out” of grounds maintenance and costs have been cut, impacting the minimum wage of operatives.“That has to change...Part of our vision for the rebrand is we think we can add value in the outside space and bring back the

perception that there is value being added by moving from a reactive to a proactive service.

We’ve taken the technology from Gritit and asked ourselves how we utilise that for different services.”

Petsch admits that the technology it developed for winter services is possibly “overengineered” for the grounds maintenance space – “it’s like bringing a sledgehammer to crack a nut,” as Petsch puts it.“Our technology was designed for high volume, low value, frequent, timesensitive transactions. So, thousands of jobs per hour, all within a very specific time window. Grounds maintenance is less time sensitive...but when you change the lens and look at what our customers want, then they want convenience and to be able to push a button. They want to know empirically that a job is complete, however large or small.”

Global management consultancy McKinsey & Co reported that the covid-19 pandemic pushed consumers to move forward ‘a decade in days’ in terms of digital adoption, meaning

Technology runs the business and runs the operations and tells everyone what they should be doing, to allow us to add value. That's the value that technology adds; technology is not the value add

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Grounds maintenance

they now expect everything at the push of a button, and this has played a significant role in business-to-business expectations too, says Petsch.

“One of the big user interface changes we’ve made to our systems in the last five years is mainly for that. So, if somebody wants to order, buy, acquire, contact us, all they have to do is go onto our app or our portal and push a button and they have a live feed of the status. They can watch it change from amber to green when somebody is on site, then the photos are logged before and after, and the invoice is sent – much the same as you would expect for a home delivery of an item.”

Using technology and having teams that can multitask on site also boosts revenue and therefore Outco can pay above minimum wage, with an incentive scheme based on performance.

“It’s about being proactive on site.”

Don’t adopt technology just for the sake of technology though, warns Petsch: “It has got to make your life easier and have an impact on how you can improve safety, welfare, performance, financials, etc.”

There’s no substitute for personal experience either. Along with having everything at the push of a button, clients also want someone to be at the end of the phone and to have a personal experience, which Petsch says is a focus for Outco, to ensure it maintains its personable relationships with clients. After all, what good is the best technology if there are no clients to use it?

Winter gritting

Snow clearance prolandscapermagazine.com

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UNSUNG HEROES

WELCOME H

idden behind the frontline of every successful business are stars that keep companies and the industry going. They are so critical, and you often hear them referred to as the “glue” that holds everything together.

Our Unsung Heroes Awards were launched earlier this year to recognise these individuals who often slip under the radar.

We invited readers to nominate who they believe deserved to be recognised and were unsurprisingly inundated with hundreds of nominations from office administrators to marketing to operatives on the ground to small business owners. There were some amazing stories of dedication and examples of how critical the entrants were in underpinning the successes of the businesses they worked for.

These nominees were shortlisted to the Top 15, who are featured in this brochure, and you can read about why they were nominated.

A massive well done to all of them; being nominated and making this shortlist is a great

achievement and really demonstrates just how valuable they are to their businesses.

We gave our audience the opportunity to make the final decision on who deserved to be the crowned Pro Landscaper’s Unsung Hero, and with over 1,000 votes cast, we can now reveal who that is.

A big thank you to Landscapeplus for supporting this initiative and helping us recognise those within this brochure who are, I suppose, no longer “unsung heroes”.

DAVID GRIFFITHS, DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex, BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 www.eljays44.com

A NOTE FROM OUR PARTNER

“T

he Landscapeplus team is proud to be partnering the very first Pro Landscaper Unsung Heroes Awards that will shine a light on so many amazing individuals who work tirelessly to make our industry a pleasure to be a part of. As a company, we are passionate about developing the industry and the Unsung Heroes Awards is the perfect match alongside our training days and design support.”

Sam Cox, Landscapeplus

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UNSUNG HEROES

UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR

Frankie Patman, marketing manager, Maylim

W

inning the Grand Award at the National Landscape Awards in 2017 catapulted Maylim into the spotlight. It had been quietly expanding for two decades, undertaking major commercial landscaping projects; but it was this win that cemented its reputation within the industry, and it has since become an exemplar to many.

Whilst there’s no denying that it was the skill of the hard landscaping on One Tower Bridge that made it an award winner, it’s Frankie Patman who ensured Maylim reached that point. Her award entry was written so well, in fact, that the British Association of Landscape Industries asked her to help it create a toolkit for aiding future entrants.

One nominator says Patman has been “central to the success of Maylim”. So, it might come as a surprise to some that Patman was previously working in television. It was only after having been “mis-sold” a new job, quitting after two days, that Patman ended up at Maylim through a recruitment company. She started as an administrator, before taking on marketing and events, going on to establish Maylim as one of the most recognised brands within the built environment.

“When I first started, they were focusing on growing the company with projects through their operations and building relationships rather than doing any promotion or shouting from the rooftops about the company,” says Patman, who offered to do this for Maylim –

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and continues to do so singlehandedly.

“Seven years later, we have a boardroom full of awards, which I like think is a little bit to do with me.” This is an understatement, of course.

“One of the best things for me is showing off the company’s achievements and individual achievements as well.

Some of the projects are award-winning, but there are also some projects that aren’t necessarily going to be able to be put forward for awards, so for me it’s vital to be able to celebrate the teams that are part of those smaller projects as well. At the end of the day, we’re all working towards the same goal.”

Staff wellbeing is firmly on Patman’s agenda, despite it not necessarily being part of her job description. Her approach is subtle, like organising a five-a-side football league for the site teams and subcontractors to encourage not just physical exercise but also a strong company culture, an opportunity for socialising and a safe space to chat. For office staff, she set up Maylim Moves, with weekly exercise classes on rotation for those who’d like to get involved.

Patman was also pivotal in mental health first aiders being introduced and in championing fundamental changes to Maylim’s maternity policy. She organises fundraising events for colleagues and is helping Maylim to develop a programme where it works with community groups and less advantaged children to inspire the next generation. “It’s about making positive change,” says Patman.

If her success to date is anything to go by, she could be instrumental in drawing new recruits to the sector, and raising the profile of Maylim has been key to these opportunities. As a nominator says: “She should be recognised for her unfailing dedication, passion, and achievements.”

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UNSUNG HEROES

2023 SHORTLIST Owen Baker Technical officer – policy and research, British Association of Landscape Industries

F

or Owen Baker, the role of technical officer at a landscaping trade association is seemingly the perfect fit.

After completing a Landscape Management course at university, he’d carried out a range of roles – from working at a landscape architecture practice to the soft estate team for the Highways Agency to consultancies – before going for an interview with the British Association of Landscape Industries. “I’m quite lucky in that I’m interested in understanding how things work and what they mean for the wider industry, and I get to do that at BALI, so it ticks all the boxes,” says Baker, who joined the association in 2017.

Since, he has “shown his passion for the industry through the work that he tirelessly

delivers” for members, says a nominator.

He was also integral during the pandemic, continually writing and updating guidance and never complaining about his workload.

“In the early days of Covid, we were getting calls from members all the time, and the guidance, in some cases, was changing one day to the next, so it was quite intense.”

Fortunately, having worked on site himself, Baker was able to interpret the guidance for the landscaping industry.

Baker has also been working with the membership and marketing teams to develop materials and opportunities for distance learning and works a lot with the BALI National Contractors Forum on areas such as health and safety. His role also involves lobbying to the government or feeding back on policy proposals – this is where he says BALI itself can sometimes be an unsung hero as it works behind the scenes to achieve the best outcome for the industry.

Taryn Baker Sales coordinator, Greenwood Plants

T

aryn Barker has been with Greenwood Plants for nearly 10 years and has become the “glue that holds the sales team together”. Regardless of the challenge, she is unfazed, being “an outstanding member of staff” who clients regularly praise for her speedy response to quotes, “unwavering client care and incredible efficiency” – “she is a star,” says one nominator.

Having come into the industry by chance, Baker remains as the sales coordinator for Greenwood Plants eight years later. “I love it.

It’s such an interesting industry, I feel myself continuously learning here, gaining more knowledge from colleagues and clients.” The combination of working among a really great team and having a range of clients that keep

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her on her toes too with all their weird and wonderful requests has been great, says Baker.

The biggest challenge Baker has come across so far was overcoming Brexit and the complications with customs delays. “It definitely added a strain to our trade with Holland, which is why we made the decision to open headquarters there too!”

Looking to the future of Greenwood, by the end of 2023, “we’re hoping to enhance our sustainability initiatives and be completely peat free”. Greenwood is also developing a recycling scheme where clients can return used crates, pallets, and pots back to Greenwood for 100% credit and is working on becoming water self-sufficient. “Not to mention the beehives, and our first harvest of honey!

There’s a lot going on, but that’s probably why I’m still here eight years later – because Greenwood is constantly evolving and striving to improve.”

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UNSUNG HEROES

Dave Bradbury Planning and logistics manager, George Davies Turf

F

or the last decade, Dave Bradbury has been going the extra mile at George Davies Turf. He joined the company back in 2013, with no prior experience in the industry, having previously been working for a bespoke furniture manufacturer which had been based out of units on a farm owned

by George Davies’ father. Bradbury had met Davies on a few occasions, but it was a chance conversation when the furniture company

Roy Candlin, Senior account manager, Ground Control

O

riginally founded in the 1970s, Ground Control was bought by its current owners the following decade and transformed from a small, quiet company to one of the largest green service providers in the UK, with a multi-million-pound turnover.

Roy Candlin joined 20 years ago and has witnessed, as well as been part of, its success.

“I think the growth of the company is really apparent with the different job roles and the promotions that I’ve had over the years, now working with over 1,200 direct reporting staff.”

As a senior account manager at Ground Control, Candlin has a group of area managers reporting to him who work specifically for its client, JLL. The biggest challenge Candlin spoke of was adapting to change as the company has evolved, such as adopting new technology and new systems.

His biggest achievement, however, is the reason behind his nomination – Ground

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was going out of business that led to Bradbury being offered a role at George Davies Turf.

Now, the company is on target to sell 1.4 million rolls a year, on top of other products it offers. “The business has scaled massively and the number of people in the business has quadrupled.”

As George Davies Turf has grown and developed, so has Bradbury’s role. He was the “frontline responder” for sales calls and processing orders when he first joined, and it was Davies who was undertaking all the planning and logistics. This changed after around three years; Bradbury covered the role whilst Davies went on holiday, and it’s stayed that way ever since, with more customers, more products and more sales to manage.

“It became very evident to me early on the requirement for relationships, and I always pride myself on being very gratuitous towards people.”

This sentiment was reflected by one person who nominated Bradbury for our Unsung Heroes: “His kindness and empathy shine through like nothing I’ve experienced before.”

Control’s SVN project for special educational needs, which Candlin has written and developed for more than seven years now.

It helps train children from special educational needs schools, putting them on a path to an apprenticeship, with a goal of seeing them qualified and able to join the world of work.

“Seven years on and I now have three students that I’m working with, one of which now has a full-time job and he’s been with me from the start. So, it’s taking him seven years to get to there, but I helped that to happen.”

Kate Cooney Corporate partnerships manager, Perennial

K

ate Cooney had spent more than 30 years in the recruitment industry and, when she came back from maternity leave, she started to recruit for horticultural charity Perennial. She’d heard of it before through her brother, who works in the landscaping industry.

He’d bought her a donation of a Christmas dinner for several retired gardeners, which was a campaign that Perennial was running at that time. So, when she started filling vacancies for the charity, it felt “like fate” and when a business-to-business role came up at Perennial, it approached Cooney herself to take the role.

One nominator says she has been “the face of Perennial within the landscape sector”, being a “passionate advocate” for the charity and “almost singlehandedly” raising the profile of Perennial within the sector, enabling it to help more people within landscaping. She refuses to be solely praised for this effort, though, adding that her colleague Phil Swainston has been just as instrumental. They have both been able to build relationships in the sector and make a difference.

“I can’t change the world, but I can at least contribute to helping make things better for people when they need it the most.” Cooney looks back on the first lockdown, when calls to Perennial were up 400%, as a time when the charity’s work really shone through. “I work closely with the services team and so I see on a daily basis the work that they do – why wouldn’t I want to promote that?”

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UNSUNG HEROES

Eddie Everest Landscaper, Frosts Landscape Construction

W Barrie Duesbury Nursery manager, Living Walls

B

arrie Duesbury set out to make horticulture more accessible. He joined the education system to help address the skills shortage and, using his own experience, tried to help remove barriers to entry.

Duesbury has been in horticulture since he was 15 years old, starting out as an apprentice with the local council before going to Holland for six months to work on a rose farm for experience through the National Farmers Union. After that, he decided to be self-employed, carrying out garden maintenance and landscaping. It was after this that he joined Kieron Beattie Landscapes, where he now works after a couple of years’ break from the company to go into teaching.

“I wanted to give other people the knowledge that I’d learned over the years and to teach people like me, who are dyslexic; I have a better understanding of what they’re going through.” So, prepandemic, Duesbury was a horticulture lecturer, teaching and supporting those of varying skill levels. He strived to introduce measures such as developing ‘talking’ plant labels to help make the industry more accessible for all. An NFC or QR code could be scanned by students for plant identification, and another QR code would offer the Latin name. “For anybody who’s dyslexic, it’s a fantastic tool.”

Duesbury now works as a nursery manager and continues to find opportunities to share his knowledge.

Those who nominated him said he is “incredibly selfless” and “deserves a medal”.

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hen he joined Frosts Landscape Construction in November 1980, Eddie Everest arrived on a cold dark morning as a fresh-faced 17-year-old. Now, 43 years later, Everest has said goodbye to his Frost family as he retires, having dedicated his life to his work.

Over the first few years, his plant and tree knowledge improved as the job went from seasonal maintenance to going into major landscape construction projects. He was promoted to foreman on small jobs and worked his way up to complicated planting scheme on more exciting jobs such as the Palm House at Alexandra Palace.

You can imagine the changes that Eddie has seen in the industry over that time. “The company has gone through some significant changes, moving to new premises with new management teams over the years. I was quite happy to take a step back from supervisory duties and pass on some of my horticultural knowledge to our younger employees. No

Sharon Frost Office manager, Tim O’Hare Associates

W

ith a background in business studies and having worked in different administration roles within various sectors, Sharon Frost applied for the new role of office administrator at Tim O’Hare Associates back in 2014. “Not only did it fit my skill set but it appealed personally as my husband was also already in the industry.”

matter the task, he carried it out “with a smile and a positive attitude. Our clients love Eddie; nothing is ever too much trouble for him. Eddie is a hero in our eyes and deserves recognition,” said one nominator.

“It’s a matter of great pride to have worked with Eddie,” says managing director, Ken White. “His dedication and professionalism towards the company, our clients and fellow team members is nothing short of exemplary.

Eddie is truly part of the fabric of Frosts Landscape Construction and what makes it a great company to work for. It has been a great honour to work alongside this remarkable individual.”

Tim O’Hare Associates is an independent soil science and landscape engineering consultancy that supports the commercial landscape, sports amenity, and construction industries. Founded in 2006, it offers services in soil survey, site investigation, and support.

With over 20 years’ experience in office and facilities management and finance, Frost says this seemed like the perfect role for her to use her skills and, as it was a newly created role, to develop within it. Every day presents a different challenge, says Frost, who makes the most of any given opportunity.

As well as overseeing all office and accounts administration and organising the popular SoilsCon event, which was last held in 2019 and is now due to take place next February, Frost manages the administration of the Soil Testing Services department.

From when a bag of soil arrives at the office to the invoice being sent to the client, Frost ensures that the process is compliant with the O’Hare way of working.

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UNSUNG HEROES

Fern Snowling Planting & logistics manager, Majestic Trees

F Louise Granger Office administrator, Harrowden Turf

“H

ow does any other business function without a Louise,” questions one nominator.

Louise Granger has become “invaluable” to Harrowden Turf, going above and beyond her role as office administrator to perform a myriad of tasks.

With a background in recruitment, Granger first met one of the owners of Harrowden Turf – Chantall Ridd-Jones – 17 years ago in an antenatal class. She then fell into childminding until seven years ago, when she was looking for a change. Fortunately, at the same time, Ridd-Jones and her husband Stuart were looking for someone to run their new head office. “And I haven’t looked back since,” says Granger, who helped to refurbish the converted barn into the headquarters.

The office has gone from a team of around four to having a new depot, a driver permanently based there, a customer service and an accounts team – “it’s massively different,” says Granger. “No one day has ever been the same.”

Her role encompasses everything from recruitment and supporting the board meetings to marketing and HR. Granger has even offered her garden for product development. “She will go out of her way to pick someone up, drop someone off or collect, post, print and collate almost anything. She is a valuable sounding board for personal and professional issues,” says one nominator.

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resh out of school, at the age of 16, Fern Snowling decided to work for a local company within walking distance – and she’s been at Majestic Trees ever since, and became an “unflappable” member of the team who is “extremely hard working” and “humble”, according to those who nominated her for Unsung Heroes.

She first joined as a receptionist but preferred to work outside, so was soon moved into the yard, starting off by helping to prepare a large order, and has since worked her way up to the role of planting and logistics manager.

“My creative mind is always allowed to be present; I have to think up ideas of how I’m going to make things work,” says Snowling, who is now the go-to guru for moving and handling trees in Airpots up to 5,000L and 13m tall, thriving on the problem-solving aspect of her role. The industry’s leading designers and landscapers ask for her to bring in their trees.

Ray Stephenson Landscape consultant, Talasey Group

“R

ay Stephenson is a lifesaver: both a literal one and a metaphorical one,” said one nominator. Whilst exhibiting at a show last year, he stopped to help a woman who looked unwell, and thanks to his quick intervention in seeking medical assistance, Stephenson helped to prevent a lifethreatening condition from becoming fatal. “I just like to help people; it goes a long way, and it can change a lot of things for a lot of people,”

Humbly, Snowling says it’s Majestic Trees’ managing director, Steve McCurdy, who deserves an Unsung Hero award for fighting Defra’s tree destruction notice. “I would never refer to myself as an unsung hero; I love my job, and if you have people at a company who love their job, most become integral to the company. Every day is different.”

And Snowling cherishes being entrusted with opportunities to be creative when handling large trees, to be “given that freedom”.

says Stephenson, who is also known for being a “hero” in what has become affectionately known as ‘Fight Club’ at Talasey Group. The network of installers and designers was set up

by Stephenson, and professional landscaping companies are invited to join the exclusive club based on the high quality of their projects.

Stephenson has plans to expand the network too, after first joining Talasey Group during the pandemic. He’s been in the landscaping industry since he left school, though, with experience in both domestic and commercial landscaping, working on prolific projects such as Disneyland Paris and GCHQ in Chelmsford.

He was then approached by Marshalls to be a regional assessor for its register of installers.

Now, at Talasey Group, he travels up and down the country to support its network members. He is also a Mental Health First Aider and uses his role as an opportunity to listen to colleagues and contractors who might be struggling and need someone to talk to. As a nominator puts it, “to the members of Fight Club, Ray is a hero who is always available to help them in their hour of need, whether that’s on the phone, on an online call or in person.”

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UNSUNG HEROES

Peter Thurman Consultant and Principal, The Thurman Consultancy

A

s a Kew-trained landscape and garden designer and a tree, environmental and horticultural consultant with over 30 years’ experience, Peter Thurman is “untiring” in his support of the industry and

Mal Vickers National green space manager, Remus

C

hanging the way Remus approaches estate management, Mal Vickers “has added a layer to our company that no-one else could,” bringing landscape and ecology to the forefront. He has introduced an estate management training academy for Remus’ property managers too, even saving up cereal boxes to make a SuDS model to use in one of the sessions. “Mal’s knowledge in his field is second to none, but above all else he will do anything he can to help colleagues and clients,” said one nominator.

As a child, Vickers worked at the local nursery which he really enjoyed, so when he went on to choosing a degree, it was clear to Vickers that he wanted something both academic and practical. He chose to study horticulture. “It was the perfect combination and being an industry-specific degree, I found a job easily as a gardener working my way through the industry until Remus approached me and I joined them in July 2021.”

Remus opened in 1990, managing over 70,000 properties and taking responsibility

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“a powerful advocate for the highest quality of training and professional practice,” says one nominator. He is a published author and teacher who is more than willing to share his experience and knowledge with others.

With the goal of enhancing the horticultural sector and those in it, Thurman’s examples of good practice across the complete width and depth of the horticultural sector are a “constant source of inspiration.” As a fellow of the Arboricultural Association and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he has chartered status in trees, forestry, horticulture and the environment; his commissions reach as far afield as Italy, Japan, Dubai, Hong Kong, Finland, Germany, France and Belgium.

Whilst teaching and examining at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the London College of Garden Design, his massive support for those up and coming within the industry, specifically those seeking to redress the awful impacts of climate change, is admirable, and students will always have Thurman in their corner.

for the management of communal facilities.

Vickers mentioned that there was a low level of understanding of horticulture and the environment, so he had the opportunity to start from scratch with the relevant training. “The company didn’t have anyone with a horticultural background, so when I was approached, it seemed like a great opportunity.”

Moving forward, Vickers plans to take on an ecologist to help build on his knowledge on biodiversity and sustainability, looking to update his understanding as well as streamline specification writing. “I hope to improve the information we provide to our customers and to our residents in order to just be more open and transparent.”

Richard Wagstaff Director, RJW Landscapes Ltd

R

ichard Wagstaff’s dedication to his staff is awe-inspiring. He treats them like family and, whilst trying to keep the business going during the pandemic, he’d often not take a wage and dip into his own savings to ensure employees were still paid when work was sparse.

He has an Employee Assistance Program to look after their health and wellbeing and provide confidential support where needed. “Richard goes above and beyond, often to the detriment of his personal life and finances.”

“I decided to set up on my own in 2004.

My brother came to work alongside me for several years and then five years ago in 2017, we made the decision to employ someone to work with us.”

Wagstaff is determined to look after his staff in the way he had been looked after by his employers. “I run an open-door policy; if there are any issues, I provide a shoulder for them to lean upon. I’m always here to talk and provide guidance, a little bit of extra time off if requested and some paid time off if it’s needed it as well.”

The biggest challenge had been the initial recruiting and finding the right staff to work alongside and to the same standard. “It’s all trial and error and although we’ve had a lot of staff come and go, the staff that we’ve got now, I wouldn’t want to lose a single one of them.”

Similarly, Wagstaff spoke of how the biggest achievement is “being where we are today. It’s been a great journey and I look forward to continuing the adventure.”

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EXTINCTION It might be slightly terrifying, but artificial intelligence could have its uses in horticulture, says Lewis Normand

F

ull disclosure, I am not a fan of artificial intelligence (AI) in many applications. I come from a generation raised on Terminator movies, where the risk of AI human extinction was told to us in worrying detail. It can also benefit criminal and illicit pursuits too readily.

And along with asteroids hitting the planet, nuclear war and global pandemic, AI is considered by many scientists to be a likely potential for human extinction. We are, after-all, parasites on the planet and the greatest risk to plant and animal life as well as the reason for rising global temperatures and polluting the planet to a point where it could be largely uninhabitable within a human lifespan. Any AI worth its salt would see us as the problem and our removal from the planet as a solution to its woes.

Regardless of personal beliefs, AI is being rapidly woven into the fabric of life; and whilst it is being used to create deep fake imagery and video content that has been used to spread misinformation and create false narratives to global issues, it has also been used to achieve significant improvements to our lives. It has been used to analyse and test vaccine creation and model virus transmission to aid the development of strategies to protect people in the event of a new pandemic.

or expansion?

It is being used to test safety of transport and in the stress testing of construction techniques to make safe, resource efficient buildings and infrastructure. It can be effectively used to model human use and to test new ideas at a rate previously impossible – all good things and all of benefit to society. But I remain unconvinced of the ultimate direction we march cluelessly towards with little to no international agreement on the limits and securities we should impose on AI and its use.

With all that being said, if it’s going to exist anyway, then our industry should at least benefit from AI. Agriculture is already seeing benefits with modelling on local and national food production to aid planning and improvements in cultivation to achieve higher yields. Being advised on the best time to plant a new landscape in order to achieve the greatest success is of huge potential value. Similarly, modelling to determine human use of a public space over time can be used to aid the designing of paths, seating, open spaces and more in our parks and gardens to make not just accessible spaces,

If it’s going to exist anyway, then our industry should at least benefit from AI

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OPINION

but safer, better used and more useable spaces.

Plant production has always been a bit of a guessing game in terms of determining design trends and new aesthetics, but AI can access social media posts, written content and imagery to determine the current and future trends. As a grower, knowing what plants to produce to meet the market demands in six months to a years’ time is a huge boon.

As agriculture has found, integrated pest and disease management solutions using AI driven modelling should enable less chemical use and a lower failure rate in plant production all saving money and environmental impact.

I am intrigued – rather than excited – to see how expertise may become of less value in horticulture. Access to information on plant husbandry, gardening techniques and problem solving could move away from the hands of experts and into uniquely accessed collations of online content to create individual responses to specific issues – a hive mind expert, if you will.

This may well lead to more people engaging in horticulture, and barriers such as Latin names and technical jargon might become less of an issue. But it could also lead to a homogenised approach to much of what we do in horticulture, with outliers – like unusual or challenging plants, interesting cultivation techniques and innovative designs – becoming a thing of the past replaced by a prosaic monotony. Time will tell.

LEWIS NORMAND Lewis has worked in a wide variety of roles within horticulture over a 20-year career. He has lectured on garden design and horticulture, and designed gardens in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Since 2011, Lewis has focused on nursery sales, now working as sales manager at Bernhard’s Nurseries, and has helped to launch a number of new plants into the UK plant market. He is a specialist supplier to show gardens, supplying more than 100 gardens at major shows.

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OPINION

Created by the H

umans drive change in landscapes, leading places to fulfil strategies, meet human needs, make way for infrastructure, or become more desirable.

Whether through drastic change or minimal intervention, the fingerprints of human involvement are left on landscapes. At one end of the scale are unmanaged forests, while infrastructure projects or new towns sit at the opposite, clearing away, preserving only the most valuable remnants to live on.

While most landscape projects are planned and designed by multidisciplinary teams and undergo planning and approval processes, other places develop more organically. These places where gentle intervention creates change can be some of the most interesting.

A space which invites participation has the possibility of becoming lots of different things.

We have been involved in many types of community spaces, and each space has evolved with varying levels of leadership.

Regardless of qualifications or experience, each participant has an equal right and opportunity to influence the space; all ideas are valid.

The Royal Hill Community Garden in Greenwich, London, was established in 2016, from a patch of undeveloped land.

Adjacent residents initiated what soon became a well-loved garden, enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. No single person guided its layout. A designer’s masterplan would have

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Lighter touch landscapes can be built by local residents as much as professional designers, say Kerrie Mckinnon and Gabrielle Shay

COMMUNITY THE ROYAL HILL COMMUNITY GARDEN IN GREENWICH, LONDON

created a different place. But how could a designer create a space more suited to its users? The beauty of this landscape lay within its gentle evolution, formed by users, peppered with mini interventions from one-time visitors and guided by availability of time and resources. With no funding, the garden evolved entirely from the recycled and donated. Unwanted houseplants sat happily alongside vegetables and weeds.

Once a railway cutting that was later infilled, and nestled between the backs of houses, shops and a gallery, this land is no stranger to human intervention. But during its time as a community garden, it truly was a ‘lighter touch’ landscape; no diggers were used, no building materials were ordered. Anything unwanted was given the opportunity of a second life.

Unfortunately, having had previous support from the local councillor, the land was earmarked for construction. The garden was officially closed in 2019. Everything was swiftly removed, leaving the space much how it started; a flat vacant lot of compacted ground, encroached by wildflowers and grasses. Only the mural by artists Gala and Sapphire Hales remained as a fingerprint of what was before – a reminder of the

low-impact nature of the garden, but of the endurance of ideas.

During the garden’s three-year lifespan, its value didn’t come from financial investment or expert planning, but from the collective investment of time, ideas and enjoyment. Lasting memories of this place are valuable, much value can come from minimal intervention. Even a litter pick can change the perception of a space – all interventions matter. An end goal is not required, and no landscape is permanent anyway.

In the last year, a large building has been squeezed into this space, a care unit for adults with learning disabilities, giving new value to another community.

Its value didn’t come from financial investment or expert planning, but from the collective investment of time, ideas and enjoyment

STUDIO SUPERNATURAL Studio Supernatural is a landscape architecture practice based in London and Leeds. Kerrie Mckinnon is a chartered landscape architect with over 10 years’ experience, working on a wide range of projects in London and South England. She leads the public and some of the commercial projects within the studio from Leeds.

Gabrielle Shay is a landscape architect, with years of experience in taking domestic projects from concept to completion and leads both private and commercial projects in the studio from London. studio-supernatural.co.uk

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For full details on all jobs, please go to horticulturecareers.co.uk Call 01903 777 570 or email chloe.holbrow@eljays44.com

EXCAVATOR/TRACTOR OPERATOR – COUNTRYSIDE & LANDSCAPE MORTON : PATTISON Location: Hampshire and surrounding counties

Morton : Pattison is emerging as an industry leader in design and delivery of countryside and ecological works in the south of England. If you’re motivated to develop in a role where you can make a tangible difference with a growing organisation then Morton : Pattison wants to hear from you. The purpose of the role will be to assist with the practical delivery of countryside and ecology contracting work through operation, transport and maintenance of company-owned and hired-in plant and equipment, principally 360 excavators.

MARKET GARDENER – URB FARM WOLVERTON MK CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION Location: Buckinghamshire

The MK Christian Foundation is looking for a new member of its Urb Farm social enterprise team. The market gardener will be responsible for maintaining and developing the market garden to ensure there are crops to harvest and sell to the local community throughout the year. Along with helping to grow the customer base, the role will involve developing the Urb Farm site and supporting the bee keeping social enterprise also based at the Urb Farm. A key part of this role is training and supervising 16-19 year olds as part of Milton Keynes Christian foundation’s learning and work experience programme.

CONTRACT MANAGER – YORK (ESCRICK) GLENDALE Location: Yorkshire

Glendale has a great new opportunity for a contract manager for its GEM Yorkshire contract. And most importantly, you will be joining a company that can offer valuable career prospects and believes in investing in its people. The contract manager has overall responsibility for the delivery of high quality and efficient grounds maintenance services, amongst other key responsibilities.

Glendale is looking for a motivator and effective leader who can set a positive tone to achieve the objectives and desired outcomes, as determined by the company and the client requirements.

CONTRACT MANAGER – OAKHAM GLENDALE Location: Rutland

Glendale is one of the largest green space management service providers in the UK and specialises in tree care and management, grounds maintenance and landscaping. It is a green business with “green thinking” at the core of everything it does. Glendale has an exciting new contract commencing in Rutland and is looking for a contract manager to join its team.

The successful candidate will be a motivator and effective lead who demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills and is ambitious with a high level of commitment.

OPINION

Making

Inspired by the paper Building on Britain’s Roadbelt, Christopher Martin encourages a change in mindset

l a n o i s n e m i d i t mul spaces A PROPOSAL FOR BUILDING ON BRITAIN'S ROADBELT BY CREATE STREETS IN COLLABORATION WITH URBAN MOVEMENT

I

have said it before, but The idea of working to unlock mono-functional space in cities and give we have to start judging it a new lease of life as a space that works for more people and solves more ourselves – not on what problems is the theme of this article, and to extend this opportunity into built we might lose from form we need to talk about building on Britain’s roadbelt. This is the subject making changes to our streets and spaces now, but on of a new paper recently published by David Milner from Create Streets, what we are losing right now by not innovating and and with Christmas around the corner there’s no excuse not to changing, and what we’ll be losing in the future have read it. The paper looks at how we have, in my words, from being left behind. allowed transport to serve itself rather than Road building Cities themselves are at risk if we choose understanding and seeing transport as a tool to expand and road expansion not to innovate with our streets, if we get too better quality of life. If we change the way we see have been the default comfortable with the status quo, because transport – rather than let it consume us – we find answer in almost every cities need to be inherently social places. opportunities to increase the sociability of streets Cities are born out of our collective and cities, as well as create new places where people part of the UK for too willingness to coagulate together with a huge want to live. Road building and road expansion have long, mainly because we group of other people, and roll the dice on all been the default answer in almost every part of the have been asking the that this means, and the endless possibilities UK for too long, mainly because we've been asking the wrong questions and opportunity that exist within. Streets must wrong questions, and asking them of too small a group nurture this conviviality by connecting people to of professionals. one another and enabling them to be in a public This untapped energy that is currently sitting in our forum for more of their lives, as this increases opportunity streets, our roadbelt, throughout the UK should be the focus of for connection and new ideas. Some cities have always been laid out better city planning moving forwards to unlock sociable cities, better streets following this conviviality principle – Rome, Madrid and Paris and and places, and economic growth. their many piazzas spring to mind. Others have had to work hard at it and set aside more and more space for citizens to come together.

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN In the UK, and in London especially, for a (very) long time now this has been a matter of reclaiming space that has for too long been Christopher is an influential urban designer and planner working dominated by traffic, and making instead a place where people can all over the globe to help communities improve their public spaces; as well as supporting cities and governments to develop come together and be social – be human. The work we do at Urban strategy, change policies, and make great places possible. He is Movement has always been about this, unlocking spaces trapped co-founder and director of Urban Strategy at Urban Movement; a trustee of the UK in almost mono-functionality, instead designing them to be charity for everyday walking – Living Streets; past vice chair of the UK Urban Design multidimensional spaces that offer diverse and wide-reaching Group; and is a member of the United Nations Planning and Climate Action Group. benefits for people, place, and planet – making them convivial. urbanmovement.co.uk @ChrisCities

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SAVE THE DATE 15 - 16 October 2024 ExCeL London

futurescapeevent.com FutureScape.indd 1

20/11/2023 18:19

MEADOW VIEW WILDLIFE GARDEN BY HOLLANDGREEN LANDSCAPES – WINNER OF THE DOMESTIC DESIGN PROJECT CATEGORY

OPINION

Celebrating

SUSTAINABILITY Martin Townsend muses after judging the inaugural Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards

I

was fortunate this year to be invited to be a judge for the Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards.

We appreciated that each entrant has invested a significant amount of time, effort, and passion into something which they truly believe, with the role not coming without a certain level of stress to ensure that you have made the right decisions and understanding on what has indeed been achieved beyond the words presented to you.

You will have heard more of these fantastic achievements at the awards ceremony. Still, I wanted to take a moment to draw out some of the best practices from them all, as each project and product that takes the step to innovate and reduce their impact and to regenerate the landscape in which they occupy is playing a small but essential role in driving sustainability.

Today, where the need for sustainable practices is becoming increasingly apparent, the role of the landscaper and garden product designer plays an important function.

They have the unique ability to influence and transform outdoor spaces, making it vital that they are aware of their responsibility towards sustainability, going beyond just creating aesthetically pleasing and functional outdoor spaces to ones where sustainability is incorporated into the design from the very

beginning. They are creating environments that not only minimise environmental impact, but also take a role in regenerative action from an environmental perspective.

As we appreciate how our climate is changing, the decisions which need to be taken to create these environments become multilayered, from the use of native plants which are well adapted to the local climate to those that are more drought tolerant. Promoting biodiversity and reducing the need for excessive watering can play a significant role in conserving water resources and minimising the use of fertilisers and pesticides. But it doesn’t even need to stop here, with an opportunity to play a role in reducing carbon by using specific landscaping techniques to remove excess CO2 from the air and store it in trees, plants and soil – and, in the process, creating an even healthier, vibrant space.

Another aspect of sustainable landscaping is the incorporation of rainwater harvesting systems.

Landscapers can design gardens that capture and store rainwater, reducing the need for additional water. This not only helps conserve water but also reduces the strain on local water infrastructure. Additionally, incorporating permeable paving and using rain gardens can help absorb stormwater runoff, preventing erosion and reducing the risk of pollution in nearby water bodies.

The role of the landscaper and garden product designer plays an important function

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The role of garden product designers is equally important in promoting sustainability.

Planters, furniture, lighting and so on all play a significant role in enhancing the functionality and aesthetics of outdoor spaces. However, these products should be designed with sustainability in mind. Recycled or upcycled materials can be used in their creations; by repurposing materials like plastic, wood, or metal, designers can reduce the demand for new resources and minimise waste. Additionally, choosing materials that have a low carbon footprint and are easily recyclable at the end of their lifecycle can contribute to the overall sustainability of the designed space.

As you think about your next project or a new product, take a moment to consider if you could design it more sustainably, and when you have, take the next step and enter it into next year's award to raise the bar on the art of the possible even further.

MARTIN TOWNSEND In his career, Martin Townsend has worked as an environmental regulator, advised ministers, and worked with city mayors and businesses across the world of all sizes and sectors, ensuring sustainability comes alive and is an enabler of business success. He has also been a keynote speaker at many international conferences to ensure, as a global community, we accelerate the rate of change while reducing the impact we have.

He joined BSI in November 2019 and also sits on several advisory boards for public and private sector organisations to support them in their success. bsigroup.com

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LAST WORD

Five minutes with

SUSANNAH WALKER Co-founder of charity Make Space for Girls, Susannah Walker, campaigns for the creation of public spaces designed with teenage girls in mind

Images ©Isabel Fox/Harry Groom

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Having completed a degree in English Literature, and then a master's in design history, I went onto working in various museums before moving onto become a tv producer, also dabbling as an author over the years. I never intended to go into the charity sector, but the campaign was too important to let pass.

What is Make Space for Girls?

The inspiration for Make Space for Girls came from the book Invisible Women, written by Caroline Criado Perez. It investigates how so much is unconsciously designed for what she calls the ‘default male’. For example, how crash test dummies use male anatomy and don’t consider the differences between men and women, meaning that women are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in car accidents. It goes on to mention how parks and teenage areas such as skateparks or multi-use games areas are spaces dominated by boys and young men. There aren't any spaces designed specifically with girls in mind. It was that particular section of that book which made us think about the issue. I looked at my local area and we had a skate park, a BMX track and a fenced pitch – all dominated by boys. And then we realised that this was happening everywhere, and the discrimination wasn't being challenged.

And so, the charity was born.

How will this work help future generations?

At Make Space for Girls, we want to raise awareness of the issue as well as using research and campaigning to ensure that

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the voices of girls and young women are heard in the planning process, working on a range of projects which improve parks and other outdoor spaces in order to support opportunities for teenage girls and improve their mental and physical wellbeing and their access to public space. So many problematic situations and circumstances are normalised for teenage girls, some as significant as street harassment and catcalling, that are seen to many as the inevitable part of growing up as a young woman. It’s one of the biggest barriers stopping them going to places, out of embarrassment or fear, and so we want this to change and for there to be spaces in which they feel welcome and where they belong.

What goals do you have moving forward?

Currently, a lot of what we're doing is raising awareness, since we're a very small charity. If we're going to have a significant impact, we need to be able to provide the resources so that people can see the problem and feel able to make change themselves. Currently, we don’t have any landscape architecture background within the organisation, and this is something we are working towards. It’s incredibly interesting, being able to approach a designer with a brief that essentially is made up of the feelings and emotions of young women, and for these professionals to be able to design a response to that which displays a fully functioning space for young people to use together in harmony.

What changes would you like to see in five years’ time?

In five years’, time, it would be amazing to think that this charity could be being driven by young women under the age of 25 trying to achieve change. It is incredibly important that that process is driven by the people that the change is intended to benefit, so it is essential to be working with them.

There are three generations in mind with this campaign. You have the women who grew up without equality, with the experience to influence change.

You have the girls who are the voice of the change, offering their opinions and who you go to with your questions. And you have the children, who will grow up, experiencing this updated version of open space designed with them in mind. There is so much power to be gained from these voices.

CONTACT Make Space For Girls Email makespaceforgirls@gmail.com makespaceforgirls.co.uk

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