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HAVE YOUR SAY YOUR OPINIONS, YOUR VIEWPOINTS Is something rattling you? Why not air your views on current landscape topics via email to the editor at editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk
More participation needed Having attended many industry events through the years, I was concerned the same topics would be raised again at FutureScape’s View From The Top debate with no conclusion on how to resolve them! Unfortunately this is precisely what happened! Poor education and a lack of well trained staff was highlighted. Nick Coslet asked how many of the audience had spoken at their local school or asked their local college what their future training strategy was. Not many raised their hands. Many in the audience will remember attending colleges where they gained a balanced overview of many subjects so that they could specialise according to their interest or skill level. The reduction of students with this training has left a shortfall, resulting in a watering down of the syllabus and standards, affecting us all. We haven’t engaged enough to make a change but have consistently looked to somebody else to do it for us; which is clearly not going to happen! We have the skill level and the knowledge that colleges need. We are the ones designing new roof gardens, green walls, irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting systems, resolving
Invest in the future generations I attended FutureScape in November and my partner and I joined the View From The Top debate. The question was asked: “What is a small landscape budget?” to which one of the panelists answered £30,000. For my business it can be anything from £1,000. It was suggested that we don’t need programmes airing small garden makeovers but I feel they freshen up the garden world. I may not be as experienced as the panel, but if we can reach a greater audience with a value for 10
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technical issues etc. We are the ones responsible for biosecurity and good professional practice! Many of us are members of the numerous industry organisations, all of which play important roles but remain fragmented! We have to ask why, but whatever the issues, the real question is: “What are we going to do about it?” We need to engage and work with our organisations more, we need to attend AGMs to change constitutions and codes if they are at fault or need updating. We could use industry events like FutureScape to our advantage and change the future. Perhaps the debate needs to be a workshop, with a panel of industry CEOs, presidents and chairs. A professional facilitator could be appointed with a series of key topics established throughout the year in Pro Landscaper so the audience can fully participate and take action. We can work together, the Olympic park proved this. Perhaps at the next meeting we could create an action plan for us all to follow instead of just debating the issues. Paul Cowell PCLandscapes and former BALI Chairman
money garden, this can’t be a bad thing. To be a landscaper or a garden designer is a truly skilled job, we need to pass on our skills and invest time in young budding tradesmen and women. Fresh faces need to be brought into the gardening world, so why not involve people just starting out in the panel debates next time? Everyone can learn from each other and pass on what the budding landscaper didn’t know, or the experienced missed out on. Charlie Benton Benton Landscapes
Support your association I also attended the BALI AGM at Saltex but felt I went to a different meeting to the one Phil Jones attended. This will be the first year in many when subscription fees have risen in line with inflation and the accounts of the organisation are healthy with a structured plan in place. Membership is growing and with new staff the association is now far more effective at supporting members and promoting the industry.
I am proud to have been a member of BALI for close on 20 years. However, I would prefer to see associations working together more and even sharing resources. Think of the savings that could be achieved and channelled into moving our industry forward, promoting the industry and influencing policy makers. The BALI-NCF has struggled, though new leadership offers the chance of better progress. There are tentative steps in the right direction and even bolder ones when there is a common interest. However, in all my years organising and arranging diverse events, we only get about 25 per cent of the regional membership companies attending and the main absentees are the larger firms. Despite surveys and requests for topics, events etc the larger companies are happy to not get involved. I know getting involved with BALI has benefited my employer – you get out what you put in. Nick Coslett Palmstead Nurseries www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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