Pro Landscaper March 2015

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

March 2015

PETE JONES WORLDSKILLS SGD AWARDS DESIGNERS & CONTRACTORS

NOEL KINGSBURY

BEST PRACTICE

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WELCOME

Concept to Delivery DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

March 2015

PETE JONES

March 2015 | Volume 5, Issue 3

WORLDSKILLS SGD AWARDS

Welcome to March 2015

DESIGNERS & CONTRACTORS

NOEL KINGSBURY

BEST PRACTICE

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Welcome to the March edition of Pro Landscaper.

Over the last month we have been busy visiting people and carrying out interviews for upcoming issues, which along with attending events and conferences is one of the most interesting parts of our work on the magazine. We can assure you that you won’t want to miss what we have in store over the next few months.

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 EDITORIAL editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Editor – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579 Editorial Assistant – Iszara Morgan iszara.morgan@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 574

We felt privileged to have been invited to the ISS Facility Services Landscaping National Management Conference in February, an annual event that brings together around 100 people at a management and supervisory level in what is now the largest grounds maintenance landscaping company in the UK. Spirits were high due to recently winning the contract to work with CarillionAmey on MOD sites throughout the UK, but the company wanted to ensure managers working on other contracts reassure their clients that they will be equally important in the months and years ahead. The day brought together staff from all over the country and the presentations from key members of the board were interspersed with workshops on how the company could improve its performance as well as staff and customer engagement.

A highlight of the day was a presentation

by Daniel Easthope, managing director of CarillionAmey who gave an overview of the

ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 588 Account Manager – Luke Chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 584 Sales Executive (FutureScape) – Ben Cumberland ben.cumberland@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 571

Equipment Editor – Jack Bacon jack.bacon@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 573

Horticulture Careers – Laura Harris laura.harris@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 580

Production Editor – Susie Duff susie.duff@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578

Accounts Assistant – Lisa Woollard accounts@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

Subeditor – Toby Wilsdon toby.wilsdon@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578 EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL Mark Gregory Chairman of APL and Landform Consultants Sam Hassall LandPRO Ltd Russell Eales Lawn care expert Karl Harrison Decking expert David Dodd The Outdoor Room

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 589 MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Tel: 01903 777 571 Subscription enquiries jessica.garrard@eljays44.com

CarillionAmey operation as well as an inspirational look into the ISS CarillionAmey journey. The highly enlightening day ended with the presentation of 12 employee awards across the company, with much healthy competition between north and south! See more in next month’s edition.

This month we are looking forward to the APL Awards, which will be another great example of the quality of work produced by members of our industry – not only does it showcase the best quality projects members are producing, but it is another fabulous networking event. We can’t stress how much benefit it is to network and urge readers to get out and meet like-minded people who are always willing to share information for the benefit of the industry as a whole. We hope to see you at an event soon!

@jimeljays

Design – Kara Thomas Amy Downes Alan Wares

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an affiliate member of BALI

Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd – Connecting Horticulture Pro Landscaper’s content is available for licensing overseas. Contact jamie.wilkinson@ eljays44.com

@lisaeljays

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

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

Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2015 subscription price is £95.00.

Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

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.

MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson

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CONTENTS

March 2015 7 News Shed Round up of the month’s industry news

12 News Extra - SGD Awards A rundown of all the winners from the prestigious SGD awards

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15 Association News Adventurer James Ketchell to speak on pushing limits at the APL Awards ceremony, SGD launches new suppliers’ directory, updates from BALI on lobbying, personal development events and designer days, efig announces the next stage of its awards, upcoming shows revealed by the RHS including the European Orchid Show and Conference

OPINION

19 View From The Top Recently elected chairman of BALI-NCF, Phil Jones explains why he believes a collective voice for the industry is in everyone’s interest

20 Make Attending Events Your Business Why aren’t more people attending association events, asks David Dodd

22 WorldSkills Competition: Where Does It

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

PETE JONES

Go From Here?

WORLDSKILLS

Jody Lidgard discusses how the WorldSkills competition can benefit the industry as a whole

25 A Different Kind Of Partnership With Chelsea creeping up on us, Andrew Wilson looks at the advantages of producing a show garden and how to create a constructive partnership with landscapers

26 The Landscape Institute Welcomes 25 New Chartered Members

Adam White declares the Landscape Institute’s inaugural graduation ceremony a resounding success, explaining it recognises the importance of gaining professional membership

29 Risky Business: Working On Highways And Byways

There are many health and safety implications to consider when working beside a road says Angus Lindsay

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March 2015

SGD AWARDS DESIGNERS & CONTRACTORS

NOEL KINGSBURY

BUSINESS TIPS

30 How To Survive & Thrive As A Garden Designer

The key to any garden designer’s success is creating a network of excellent contacts, explains Janine Pattison

32 Sales Lessons From An Athens Taxi Driver Sales mentor Steve Clarke looks at how inspiration for change can be found in the unlikeliest of places

BEST PRACTICE

TECHNICAL

WILD THING

35 Laid Unbound Cover final.indd 19

12/02/2015 16:05

Michael Heap, founder of CED Stone Group tells us the advantages of unbound paving and what changes to expect with the BS 7533 revision

INTERVIEW

37 Let’s Hear It From Business development manager at Land Design Partnership, Pete Jones

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CONTENTS NURSERY

CONTRIBUTORS

57 Nursery News News and information from around the country

59 Green Cement New nursery columnist Noel Kingsbury airs his views on the industry when it comes to innovative planting

Phil Jones MD of ISS Facility Services Landscaping David Dodd Landscaper and lecturer

61 Plantsman’s Plot

Jody Lidgard WorldSkills technical lead and landscaper

A selection of plants and trees available from nurseries across the UK

65 Nursery Factfile Andrew Wilson Garden designer and lecturer

Shropshire based Boningale Nurseries

PRODUCTS

Adam White Landscape architect

67 Enhancing The Workplace Germinal Seeds transforms corporate headquarters with wildflower meadow

Angus Lindsay Head of fleet at The Landscape Group

71 Landscaping On A Grand Scale Grass seed experts Barenbrug gives an insight into managing the Creamfields site

37 PORTFOLIO

41 Wild Thing By using local and imported stone Acres Wild blends an exposed multi-level site on Guernsey into its surroundings

44 Inside Out Cassandra Crouch garden design extends a young family’s living space into the garden, providing them with a fully functioning kitchen, lounge and play area

48 Full Circle Greenspace Garden Design transforms a tired space into a high interest, low maintenance garden through the use of curved lines, raised beds and a central patio

51 Pay It Forward With design input from the local community and artwork by Banksy, award winning landscape construction and grounds maintenance company, Ground Control transforms a rundown area in Folkestone

72 Inturf’s 30th Anniversary

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Inturf celebrates 30 years in business

75 Maintaining Composite Decking

Steve Clarke Sales mentor

Thomas Rathbone offers advice on maintaining composite decking

79 Artificial Grass The benefits of artificial grass within the education sector

ARE YOU GOING? MARCH 3-5 Ecobuild 2015, ExCel, London www.ecobuild.co.uk

81 Edging 82 Trading with EverEdge

13 APL Awards The Brewery, London www.aplawards.co.uk

EQUIPMENT

85 Equipment News 89 Arb Kit

92

92 General Latest Kit

94 The Little Interview Q&A with a selection of readers

96 Look Out For

APRIL 17 Efig Gala Awards Dinner, London www.efig.co.uk 17-19 RHS Flower Show, Cardiff www.rhs.org.uk

PEOPLE

Will Burberry from Gardenscapes

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Janine Pattison Garden designer

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22 BALI Designer Day, Landscape House, Kenilworth www.bali.org.uk

Pro Landscaper / March 2015

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NEWS

NEWS SHED Provender Nurseries recognising potential Provender Nurseries has again proved that it has a talent for choosing designers with a flair for excellent garden design.

Vanessa Hoch and Rachel Pocock of VaRa Garden Design won a competition run by Provender Nurseries in conjunction with Capel Manor College Enfield Campus in 2014, with their design ‘Foundations for Growth’.

The garden has now been selected by the RHS application panel for Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

2015 and it will be Vanessa and Rachel’s first show garden.

With the combined sponsorship and experience of Provender Nurseries and Capel Manor College, they will be in good hands. ‘Foundations for Growth’ is based on students’ journey through education and reflects their hard work and determination to succeed.

Students from Capel Manor College will work alongside Vanessa and Rachel to plant and construct the garden. www.provendernurseries.co.uk

£400k contract win for Durham’s Deerness Fencing and Landscaping Deerness Fencing and Landscaping has won a framework contract to provide grounds maintenance services at the University of Sunderland.

The contract, worth around £400,000 over four years, is for grass cutting, planting, pruning, weed control and other horticultural services across the university’s estate. The grounds include over 30 acres of lawns, flower beds, shrubbery and development plots and more than 600 trees.

Jim Bates, managing director of Deerness Fencing and Landscaping said: “We’re proud to have been awarded the University of Sunderland contract for another term.” www.deernessfl.co.uk

John O’Conner secures top spot for Fusion21’s regional grounds maintenance framework John O’Conner has secured primary ranked contractor status for the social enterprise Fusion21’s grounds maintenance framework for

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London and the south east.

In addition the company was awarded a grounds maintenance contract to manage Octavia Housing’s London estates.

The four year contract commenced in January, in line with the framework.

Managing director, Matthew O’Conner said: “We are delighted have achieved the first position for the Fusion21 Framework and look forward to working in partnership with them to deliver the Octavia Housing contract and future opportunities within the framework.” www.johnoconner.co.uk

NEWS IN BRIEF Glendale wins big Bolton housing contract

Glendale has claimed a three year contract to manage green spaces plus 14,500 trees for social housing charity, Bolton At Home. www.glendale-services.co.uk

Judging kicks off for efig’s Annual Awards efig members are awaiting the results of the annual awards, following the initial assessment by the judging panel. Results will be announced on 17 April. www.efig.co.uk

Tillers Turf recommends the HTA’s Certificate in Water Conservation Tillers Turf director Tim Fell has praised the HTA’s e-learning course in Water Conservation, launched in January. The company will pay for 100 of their customers to complete the course and earn the certificate. www.tillersturf.co.uk

Young people join ‘Green Teams’ scheme

Eight new recruits will be building an outdoor learning space for Panshanger Park Forest School – an initiative launched by Lafarge Tarmac and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust last month. www.groundwork.org.uk

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NEWS

Ground Control awarded three new contracts with Western Power Distribution

Increasing its maintenance territory across the east and west Midlands, Ground Control will be renewing its working relationship with Western Power Distribution (WPD), having been partners since 2012. Each contract was for a minimum five year period and is estimated to be worth in excess of £50m.

The company’s expansion across the Midlands will help to stabilise the workload for present staff and inevitably create extra jobs due to the demand for surveyors, project managers and utility arboriculture cutting teams.

Director of arboriculture, Peter Allen, was delighted with the contracts: “We have to thank those people behind the scenes who work extremely hard as well as those on the frontline who continue to provide the highest levels of customer service.” www.ground-control.co.uk

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Capel Manor College students enter the Young Gardener of the Year Awards 2015 The annual Young Gardener of the Year competition was launched in November 2014 and Capel Manor College’s garden design and landscaping students are now busy preparing to build their garden entry at the Ideal Home Show in March.

Lee Sanders, head of garden design at the college explained: “The Young Gardener of the Year awards offers students a great opportunity to showcase their work and talent.

Entry was offered to Level 3 garden design students at both Enfield and Regent’s Park and entrants had to

plan and design a garden on a 5.5m x 4m plot using clever planting and landscaping that is sustainable and promotes the re-use of rainwater.

From 15 entries, Rainey Waldorf’s

design entitled The Shower of Life, captured the requirements of the brief with some excellent features.

Three fellow garden design students and ten Level 3 landscaping students are now working with Rainey to bring her design to life.”

The competition is organised

by David Domoney in association with the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community.

Rainey is excited at the prospect of her design being on show: “I am delighted and honoured to be able to showcase my design at the Ideal Home Show and highlight the importance of rainwater recycling and harvesting.” www.capel.ac.uk

One man, two marathons in two weeks Nigel Bowcock, managing director of Acre Landscapes has announced that he is to run two marathons in two weeks, in aid of Perennial – The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society.

Nigel admits he loves a challenge and after entering for this year’s Brighton Marathon, was encouraged to apply for the London event too. He said: “It’s a challenge I couldn’t turn down, one running round the town I live in and the other running round a city I have helped landscape.” He explained how he will try to distract

himself from the inevitable pain while running in London: “I’m going to concentrate on the projects we have completed like Cutty Sark Garden, Greenwich Gardens, Tower Place, The Police Memorial, Thames Barrier Park, Isle of Dogs and St Paul’s Gardens.”

The reason Nigel has decided to raise money for Perennial is that he wants to give back to the industry that has helped him and others in the landscape industry over the years. He added: “I have joined the BALI board and completing this challenge for

Perennial is a great way of supporting others less fortunate.

I’m hoping to raise £5000.”

The Brighton Marathon is on Sunday 12 April, followed by the London Marathon on Sunday 26 April. Please support Nigel and Perennial via Just Giving at www.justgiving.com/NigelBowcock1

19/02/2015 13:05

Stone Group introduce a new range of ancillary, stone and paving products for 2015.

Granite & Basalt Edging Stones

Tiger Gneiss - Aggregate

Granite and Basalt Coping Stones

Emperor Porcelain Paving

Tiger Gneiss - Feature Stone

The ancillary products include the Slab Cutting Guide, which enables paving slabs of up to 1200mm to be cut safely, a new Aluminium Edging available in 150mm or 80mm high and the Terram Geotextile Fabric 50m2 “minipak”.

In addition to the existing “Imperial Granite” range, Granite Copings and Edgings are now available to increase the comprehensive range of natural stone products.

Another rather unusual product now available is Tiger Gneiss. A striking metamorphic stone which is available as a feature stone and in a variety of sizes as an aggregate.

And finally, the unique “Emperor” range of high strength Porcelain paving, specifically designed to be used both internally and externally.

Aluminium Edging

Slab Cutting Guide

Scotland 01324 841321 Ireland 02882 258457 Midlands 01773 769916 London West 01895 422411 London East 01708 867237

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AWARDS 2015 Friday 12 March, The Brewery, London

The judges have met, the shortlist has been announced – book your place at APL Awards 2015!

Book online today at www.aplawards.co.uk to avoid disappointment

Mike Leeming of Bradstone presenting the Supreme Winner Award to Mark Richardson of Stewart Landscape Construction

www.aplawards.co.uk P18 Green tech.indd 1

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NEWS

Greenfingers and Homebase announce new collaboration Greenfingers charity has announced a new partnership with Homebase, which will see the two organisations working on a number of joint initiatives. The first venture will involve students at the Homebase Garden Academy – mentored by award-winning garden designer Adam Frost – being invited to attend special workshops about the work Greenfingers does. These will include trips to hospice gardens and talks from garden designers, offering a valuable insight into the unique considerations of designing gardens at children’s hospices.

Deborah Skillicorn, Greenfingers charity director said: “We are thrilled to be announcing this new collaboration between Greenfingers and Homebase and are excited about the potential benefits the partnership will bring.” Amy Whidburn, head of corporate responsibility at Homebase said: “Greenfingers is a fantastic charity and we hope that over the next three years we can make a real difference by helping with its garden projects and by raising vital funds.” www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Makita world president visits Landform Consultants project in Kennington, south London Makita world president Shiro Hori recently paid Landform Consultant’s managing director Mark Gregory and staff a respectful visit to discuss tool performance.

On Friday 13 February, Landform Consultants welcomed eight Makita global representatives during their two day UK stay at the company’s Kennington site in South London.

The visit centred around the landscaper’s trial of Makita power tools and its success in using them to create Alan Titchmarsh’s garden entry at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

Coordinated by national sales manager Mark Earles, Makita’s representatives were intrigued to hear the review of how its array of power tools delivered in the feature garden’s build.

Hori and company enquired about the delivery of Makita’s wide range of tools, trialed by Landform Consultants’ at the Chelsea Flower Show, which included; drills, disc cutters, mitre saws and self-levelling lasers among others.

Makita’s European CEO, Tom Fukawa was also in attendance as the 110V range’s performance was examined.

Landform Consultants was the only contractor visited by the contingent and greatly appreciated the experience. Mark said: “It was a great honour for the Makita team to visit our personnel and talk with them about the products and services.” www.landformconsultants.co.uk

ISS wins UK’s largest ever grounds maintenance contract ISS Facility Services Landscaping has secured the largest grounds maintenance contract in the UK to date, providing essential infrastructure and housing services in support of the armed forces. The contract will be delivered in collaboration with CarillionAmey, who deliver solutions to the Ministry of Defence.

The contracts commenced in February and provide an array of grounds services including sports, airfield, arboricultural and snow clearance to more than 250 key sites such as Sandhurst, Britannia Naval College and RAF Lyneham. Five hundred staff will transfer from the incumbent contractors as they work with CarillionAmey to develop the quality and efficiencies of the Defence Estate across the UK.

Phil Jones, managing director of ISS Facility Services Landscaping said: “The contracts are an opportunity for us to further demonstrate our commitment to the armed forces community. Our main focus will be to ensure that we continue to deliver the right culture of continuous improvement, efficiencies and value for money to CarillionAmey and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.” www.isslandscaping.co.uk

Paul Hervey-Brookes to create Perennial garden for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park Garden designer Paul HerveyBrookes will be creating the large scale Perennial Legacy Garden at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in July 2015. Designed to reflect elements of a large English country estate, the garden will feature long herbaceous borders, a pavilion for relaxing and a separate walled

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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working garden with gardener’s bothy and nursery beds. The design demonstrates the important relationship that estate gardens have with their gardeners and the charity’s foundations, which lie firmly in the great country gardens and estates of Great Britain. Paul said: “I’m thrilled that my design

has been accepted. This will be my first garden at RHS Tatton Park and it’s an honour to be associated with Perennial for the show. Perennial does incredible work in helping horticulturists, and that has informed and guided my design.” www.paulherveybrookes.com

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2014

SGD AWARDS

Ian Smith MSGD and Cleve West MSGD have taken the two most prestigious awards at the Society of Garden Designers third annual awards ceremony, receiving the Grand Award and Judges’ Awards respectively in front of an audience of over 350 guests.

The accolades were presented at a ceremony in London where 19 awards were announced including recognition for community garden projects, international schemes, excellence in public and commercial outdoor space and a special lifetime achievement award for Beth Chatto.

Commenting on the SGD Awards, Philippa O’Brien MSGD, Chair of the SGD said: “One of the joys of superb garden design is that it loo s e ortless. These gardens are, however, the result of years of training and experience, immense skill and razor sharp attention to detail.

I am immensely proud that the SGD is the professional body representing such finely honed talents and we are able to recognise and celebrate these talents at The SGD Awards ceremony.”

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1 Garden by Charlotte Rowe MSGD 2 Ian Smith MSGD and Debbie Roberts MSGD of Acres Wild

3 The Finalists 4 Cleve West MSGD and Mark Straver – Hortus Loci

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5 Garden by Ian Smith MSGD of Acres Wild 6 Garden by Rebecca Smith 7 Horatio’s Garden by Cleve West MSGD www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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SGD AWARDS

8 Garden by Sue Townsend MSGD 9 Garden by Dan Pearson MSGD 10 Jiyoung Kim and Joanna Midwinter, joint winners of the student award

11 Garden by Rosemary Coldstream MSGD 12 Joanna Midwinter – The New Great Square 13 Jiyoung Kim – Deep Simplicity 14 Matthew Wilson, Helen Basson and Alex Denman

15 Snow Hill – Gavin McWilliam 8 9

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and Andrew Wilson FSGD

16 Garden by John Davies

International Award Debbie Roberts MSGD Student Award Joanna Midwinter Jiyoung Kim Public and Communal Space Cleve West MSGD People’s Choice Award Cleve West MSGD The Judges’ Award Cleve West MSGD Pocket Garden Award Rosemary Coldstream MSGD Small Residential Garden Award Sue Townsend MSGD Planting Design Award Sue Townsend MSGD Medium Residential Garden Charlotte Rowe MSGD Hardscape Charlotte Rowe MSGD Lighting Awards Charlotte Rowe MSGD Large Residential Garden Ian Smith MSGD The Grand Award Ian Smith MSGD Small Budget Garden Award Rebecca Smith Paper Landscapes Gavin McWilliam Andrew Wilson FSGD Future Designer Award John Davies Historic Garden Restoration Award Dan Pearson MSGD The joint award winners in the Designing for Community Space category went to Guy’s & St Thomas’ Courtyard Garden and the Tufnell Park School Infants Playground.

Visit the SGD Awards website for information on all the winning entries o fi ou w e u ge ou ew gg e . www.sgdawards.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Association

ASSOCIATION NEWS

NEWS

Adventurer James Ketchell to speak on pushing limits at APL Awards ceremony Serial adventurer, motivational speaker and Scouting ambassador, James Ketchell will deliver an inspirational talk after the APL Awards presentation on Friday 13 March at The Brewery, London, EC1Y 4SD. The annual awards ceremony, sponsored by Bradstone, will recognise the pioneering landscaping carried out by APL members.

APL update An extreme triathlete, 2014 saw James become the first and only person to have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, summitted Mount Everest and cycled 18,000 miles around the world. Seven years prior to this he was recovering from a serious motorcycle accident that left him with broken legs as well as a severely broken and dislocated ankle.

James will talk with candour and enthusiasm about his response to that challenge and the way he has undertaken physical tasks that most of us

SGD bulletin SGD Launches New Suppliers’ Directory Following requests from suppliers and SGD members to forge stronger links with

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each other, the Society of Garden Designers is launching a new online suppliers’ directory.

This unique opportunity will allow suppliers and related service providers to engage with the SGD’s professional garden designers, allowing participating suppliers and SGD members to view profiles and communicate directly with each other.

The directory will be an invaluable resource for garden

One of the APL winning gardens in 2014

by Teamlandscapers

can only imagine experiencing, in his words, “without doing anything special”.

Tickets are £95 but for APL members they are reduced to just £75. Book online now at www.aplawards.co.uk to be among the first to hear the winners announced.

This year sees the 20th Anniversary of the APL Awards.

To kick the celebrations off in style the awards are taking place at The Brewery on Friday 13 March. Starting at 10:30am, the event will be hosted by the well known garden designer,

designers looking for products and services suited to their needs and more than 100 suppliers to the garden design industry have already signed up to be part of this new service including David Harber, Sculpture by the Lakes and Harrod Horticultural.

Listing everything from plant nurseries and landscapers to colleges and surveyors, the directory will be a comprehensive service for the garden design industry.

The suppliers’ directory is part of the redesign of the SGD website, which is due to launch at the beginning of March. The new site will enable visitors to find out about the benefits of working with a professional garden designer and help them to find a registered SGD

James Alexander-Sinclair.

The venue is just a 10 minute walk from Moorgate underground station and will combine the best of the UK landscaping industry, a delicious three course lunch, and presentation of the APL Awards.

There will be an awards afterparty held at The Jugged Hare pub, located close to the venue. The event is sponsored by Bradstone, Anders Plus, British Sugar Topsoil, Classiflora, Easigrass, Platipus, Sovereign Turf Media Partners, Pro Landscaper and HTA News.

David Harber Sculpture – Dark Planet

member to suit their needs.

If you wish to join the SGD suppliers’ directory, please call the SGD Office directly on 01989 566 695 or email info@sgd.org.uk. www.sgd.org.uk

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 15

16/02/2015 11:32

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Assessment Day is planned for Tuesday, arch

BALI briefing BALI hit something of a milestone in February when it welcomed its 800th member, a fantastic start to 2015.

Lobbying This impressive industry representation adds tremendous weight to BALI’s vital lobbying activities. BALI’s chief operations officer, ayne Grills attended a recent meeting of the All arty arliamentary Group for Gardening and orticulture with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural ffairs, the t on i Truss Items on the agenda included the growing skills crisis in the industry, the impact of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive and government support for public parks.

Renewals BALI’s membership team at andscape ouse has been busy processing renewals.

Please be aware that in order to appear in the 2015/16 BALI ho s ho Directory, members must renew by Tuesday 31 arch ou can renew online today. If you can’t remember your password or need assistance, please contact Emily or Carly on 024 7669 0333.

BALI Designer Assessments BALI’s design director Janine Pattison has announced the new members of the BALI Registered Designer Assessment Panel. Joining her on the panel will be Dr Christine acer offman and Christine hatley The ne t Designer

efig outline Great news for efig members Pro Landscaper is expanding its coverage into other areas including interior landscaping.

Together we are asking members to get in touch

16

Pro Landscaper / March 2015

Association News TW2.indd 16

with s ara organ at ro Landscaper to share their news stories. The team at Pro Landscaper hopes that efig members will really help to highlight our industry and

Designer Day BALI invites all garden designers, including non-BALI members, to a day of personal development, debate and networ ing on ednesday pril at andscape ouse There will be presentations on Vectorworks design software (Tamsin Slatter), working with landscape contractors (Paul Cowell), marketing and promoting your business (Patricia Fox), and the designer’s show garden experience (Chris Deakin and Jason Lock). Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment either by visiting www.bali.org.uk or by contacting Emily or Carly on 024 7669 0333.

SGD Awards On the subject of designers, many congratulations to BALI egistered Designers Gavin c illiam and osemary Coldstream on their success at the SGD wards

nd finally, two further events for the diary. Back by popular demand, Coping with Slopes, Thursday 26 arch at the Draycote ater, venue courtesy of Severn Trent ater oo online via the BALI website or email jonathan.tame@bali.org.uk for more information.

BALI Affiliates Forum, Tuesday 21 April at andscape ouse rogramme is to be confirmed and information will be sent to BALI members shortly.

Coping with Slopes event, Draycote

the exceptional work that is happening within this market.

Of course, efig would be very happy to boast about the industry too! efig is confident that its members will support this initiative to give the industry a higher profile in the media lease contact s ara at iszara.morgan@eljays44.com. efig Awards efig members have submitted their entries for this year’s

ater

awards and judging is well underway. This year’s panel of independent judges – Nicola Bristow, a horticultural advisor with 30 years’ experience; Greg edwood, head of great glasshouses and horticultural training section at the Royal otanic Gardens, ew and Rob Stirling, a horticultural advisor with the S have either visited or are preparing to visit the sites of the entries.

The results of their visits will be announced at efig s

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

16/02/2015 11:32

ASSOCIATION NEWS

RHS report European Orchid Show and Conference From 9 – 12 April the RHS Horticultural Halls will be filled with spectacular orchid displays by some of the world s finest orchid growers, orchid societies and botanical gardens as London hosts the 17th European Orchid Show and Conference.

This year the show promises to be bigger and better as it brings together a record number of leading European orchid growers and international exhibitors competing against each other for horticultural recognition.

At the conference orchid enthusiasts will hear from speakers and exhibitors from 18 different countries. A full

Gala Awards Dinner which will be held on Friday 17 April in London at the America Square Conference Centre.

Members can expect a fun packed evening that will include both the formality

©RHS /Sarah Cuttle

lecture programme by some of the most eminent speakers in the orchid world will span the four days with talks covering orchid science, hardy orchids, general cultivation, breeding and exploration.

The show is a great opportunity to admire thousands of orchids and marvel at their unique shapes, colours and scents. Visitors

of the presentation with a DJ and cash-only bar. This year’s theme will be the Great Gatsby, giving attending members a chance to dress up twenties-style for the event.

Frosts Landscape Construction’s Gold Leaf 2014 winner, Network Rail Headquarters, Milton Keynes

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Association News TW2.indd 17

will be able to gain expert advice from leading nurserymen and RHS Experts and see a series of practical demonstrations.

Sixty exhibits from twelve countries will be exhibiting at the show alongside British favourites including, Suwada Nursery from Tokyo, Ecuagenera from Ecuador and eruflora from eru The event will be a celebration of the continued success and diversity of the orchid, a passion dating from the mid 19th century.

Pro Landscaper readers interested in attending the show or conference can find out more information and book tickets at www.rhs. org.uk/shows-events.

RHS Secret Garden Sunday On Sunday 1 March the S will host the first of this year’s RHS Secret Garden Sundays taking place at the RHS London Lindley Hall. The theme is fashion and gardening trends for

2015 and it will feature a floral runway dressed by Mig Kimpton, silk printing workshops by Cordwainers Grow, fashion and textile exhibitors and a programme of talks including an exclusive preview of TV botanist and RHS Ambassador, James Wong’s new book, RHS Grow For Flavour.

RHS Flower Show Cardiff The RHS Flower Show Cardiff is gearing up for another fantastic year as it returns to the city’s Bute Park from 17 – 19 April. The RHS and Cardiff Council have joined forces to bring together the best of Welsh gardening and the excitement of spring.

From keen gardeners and floral enthusiasts to families seeking a fun day out, the show has all-round appeal and has firmly established itself as a key date in the gardening events calendar.

Readers can pre-book their tickets at www.rhs.org.uk/ shows-events.

Working with FCH efig is wor ing with the lower Council of Holland this year to promote their Houseplants of the Month which are circulated via The Joy of Plants website.

This year’s selection promises to be colourful starting with the heart-warming Primula obconica efig will also cover their other campaigns including forthcoming trends.

(Photo right: courtesy of The Flower Council of Holland/The Joy of Plants)

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 17

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13/02/2015 09:40

OPINION

VIEW FROM THE TOP Newly elected chairman of BALI-NCF Phil Jones explains why he believes a collective voice for the industry is in everyone’s interest and of particular relevance in an election year

I am very pleased to have recently been elected chairman of BALI-NCF, the National Contractors Forum, representing the larger grounds maintenance companies. The forum was created a few years ago to bring together those involved in mainly public sector

an appreciation of the challenges our customers face to be able to understand their ultimate aims, which can be many and varied and not necessarily obvious.

One example I can give is particularly pertinent in this election year. Where local

contracts and who felt, at that time that they needed a collective voice.

There are two main reasons I believe the forum is now more relevant than ever. These are the need for collective representation and for the sharing of common challenges. The sharing of such challenges of course facilitates a collective voice to express our concerns.

This doesn’t necessarily need to be a forum in its present form. The current group has been fairly dormant for a while, apart from a couple of operative level training days aimed at the members’ employees.

Why do I support the existence of the NCF, which was taken under the wing of BALI in 2012? After all, as the managing director of ISS Landscaping, now the largest grounds maintenance provider in the UK, it would be straightforward to think I could do justice to any issue within the industry. However, I believe collective representation is the most effective way and there has never been a more important time to try to influence and educate within our sector. That is, to seek to influence the customer sectors we operate in and educate those in our organisations who need

elections also take place it is even more important that we align ourselves with our clients’ aims.

In this context I always pose the question “what is our ultimate aim in supporting our customer?” If that customer is a local authority I would suggest, somewhat controversially, that aim should be to ensure the local councillors and MPs gain re-election.

This may seem somewhat detached from cutting the grass in a public park. However, the more parks and leisure contracts that are well run, providing first class facilities for local users, the less the elected members will have their ear bent by the electorate!

‘Coping with Slopes’ a safety led training day organised by BALI NCF in October 2014

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

View From The Top TW.indd 19

To take this a step further, where we work in partnership with our clients, both local government officers and elected members, we are more likely to identify and align ourselves with their needs, making the partnership fruitful for both partners.

Back to the forum. I am sure standalone contractors are able to have some limited influence but to collectively voice their common experiences and raise awareness of an issue affecting the whole of the grounds maintenance sector could be very powerful and highly effective.

We need to choose our issues carefully and they need to be real challenges, the solution to which will bring real benefit to a significant number of stakeholders.

It may not be easy for some of the largest, longest established and most well respected businesses in the industry to learn to share what could be seen as sensitive information. Time has shown that the individuals involved in this forum and hopefully some who will feel inclined to join, are the best at innovation. For those who fit in this category, joining will be a small step which could benefit our industry and more importantly, the end users for years to come.

ABOUT PHIL JONES Phil Jones is managing director of ISS Facility Services Landscaping and is based at the company’s head office in Woking, Surrey. He gained an HND in landscape construction and moved into grounds maintenance early on in his career, further gaining an MBA. He has been with the company since 1987 and as well as running the landscaping business he also sits on the UK operational management board of ISS Facility Services.

Follow Phil Jones: @philjonesISS Follow ISS Landscaping: @ISSLandscaping

www.isslandscaping.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 19

12/02/2015 12:04

OPINION

Discussion of topical issues, networking with peers and greater collaboration between organisations can only help the industry, says David Dodd. So why aren’t more people attending association events?

On the 20 January 2015, I stood down as BALI South Thames Regional Chairman, having held the post for three years. I was asked the previous year if I’d stand to be elected on the national board, but I declined. Why? For the simple reason I don’t have the time. My companies are relatively small and require much input and I still have young children I want to spend time with. This is why I have nothing but admiration for people who take on the voluntary roles the landscape and garden design industry so desperately needs.

I’ve sat on many panels, committees and educational advisory boards over the years and it’s reassuring to know that the majority of the other people doing the same thing are there for the right reasons. They are genuinely dedicated to providing a service out of passion and commitment to improving how the industry works and showcases itself.

Regional events What I do find puzzling is the lack of engagement from the majority of members when it comes to regional and sometimes national events held by their associations. Since joining BALI, an average South Thames regional event would only achieve around 15 to 40 attendees. Whether it be a CPD style evening, a visit to a new landscaping project or a historical garden, this only accounts for approximately 10% of the region’s membership.

The amount of new products, contacts and up to date techniques and legislation I’ve learned about have been brilliant for developing my business, so why aren’t more people 20

Pro Landscaper / March 2015

David Dodd 2.indd 20

MAKE ATTENDING EVENTS YOUR

BUSINESS attending? The main reason I hear from members is that they are too busy with work.

My answer to that is why not make attending events a part of your work. Trust me, going to the right events will soon pay off.

I would love to see a greater collaboration between organisations when it comes to holding events. Surely it’s better to have everyone involved in landscaping discussing topics, learning and networking together, rather than having the same subjects being covered in smaller cluster groups, often with the same small number of ‘regulars’.

I see attending regional events as part of being a member of BALI and APL. I can’t see the point in just being a ‘badge wearer’. Don’t get me wrong, I have both organisations’ logos plastered all over my vans and website. Every member has earned the right to badge wear and it’s good for business.

It shows the public that you’ve achieved a proven level of professionalism over your non-member competitors, but you must be able to get more out of your membership than a badge? I pay a lot in association fees and it

seems logical to me to take advantage of events that are put on for my benefit.

Maybe it’s worth BALI and APL considering fewer regional events and hosting larger biannual or quarterly national events at bigger venues. Great examples of this are the SGD Spring and Autumn Conferences and the Palmstead Workshop in September. I worry that if regional events remain poorly attended, they’ll struggle to get top industry people willing to give up their time to speak.

A new resolution So here’s a challenge to everyone. Promise yourself you will attend at least one or two regional events this year. You never know, you might just learn something new, or dare I say it... enjoy yourself. To finish off, I’d like to thank everyone who gives up their time to sit on committees to arrange events for any of the professional industry organisations. It really wouldn’t be the same without you. AOB? I now declare this month’s column closed!

ABOUT DAVID DODD David Dodd has been in the landscape industry since the age of 17. After having studied and then taught at Merrist Wood College, he set up The Outdoor Room in 1995. In 2013, he went into business with Landscape Architect, Joe Perkins to form Longview Design Ltd. David has also lectured in design and construction for over 20 years.

www.theoutdoorroom.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

12/02/2015 09:59

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17/02/2015 10:54

OPINION

WORLDSKILLS COMPETITION WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE? We have discussed the nuts and bolts of WorldSkills and looked into what it entails for people taking part, so what’s the knock on effect ? How does it benefit individuals and businesses as a whole?

Jody Lidgard asks As a business you will have the benefit of an individual who has the guts and determination to go that extra mile in order to achieve a goal.

Being able to leave a relatively new member of the team on a specific task or site with the peace of mind that they have the personal toolkit to get on and work to plan/schedule is a massive benefit. Specific honed skills are key to what’s missing within people entering the market place today. I hear it and see it with my own eyes, ‘certificates in this’, ‘distinctions in that’....

I want somebody who can look me in the eye with confidence and tell me that they can put in a full week’s work competently and with confidence, and still come out smiling and full of enthusiasm. You don’t need to start to have been passionate about planting daffodil bulbs since the age of seven! You will see and feel the passion as you journey further into the industry; wanting a career that will be both fulfilling and rewarding is enough to get you started. I know we are lacking the skills coming into the industry and look wearily upon the next generation of craftspeople filtering through, but maybe we are looking in the wrong direction to start with.

We can only blame ourselves for the way in which these people are packaged and dealt 22

Pro Landscaper / March 2015

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with by the current education system.

We are ending up with horticulturists who have no real knowledge of dealing with soils, landscapers who have no real practical skills to apply, landscape architects who have little plant knowledge, and garden designers who design without any real knowledge of how it will work in the surrounding environment! And then we hear, “Well it’s the college or university’s responsibility to give the learner the knowledge, industry needs to step up to the plate and give the practical experience missing from the learner”. Sitting on

A CLEAR PATHWAY THROUGH AN ACADEMIC COLLEGE COURSE SHOULD RUN IN SYNC WITH CURRENT INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS an APL discussion panel recently, yet again I heard the cry “We are only allowed to deliver what is set out by the awarding bodies.”

I believe we have over complicated the whole system, I speak as a lecturer and company owner. A clear pathway through an academic college course should run in sync with current industry requirements and should be providing specialist routes into the work place, rather than a giving a wide arching but shallow overview of the wider industry.

Introducing industry and practicing individuals into colleges to deliver learning alongside and or as part of the curriculum is a powerful tool.

WorldSkills is a model that interfaces very nicely with a college or university course. Specialists are able to work alongside staff to deliver sessions that demonstrate and introduce industry standards, current working practices, and a realistic expectation of an individual entering the workplace.

Now I know colleagues have offered their time and services to establishments for free, that’s brilliant in the short term but realistically unsustainable for any period of time. I advocate a measured and structured approach that could be rolled out on a national level as part of a general reformation of how our sector is represented and education is packaged and delivered.

I’m confident that the way forward is not as bleak as everyone is predicting, we have the tools and systems in place, and with a little collaborative thinking between the various stakeholders (these being the education establishments, trade bodies, industry specialists and suppliers), we have the ability and opportunity to carve out a new pathway that is beneficial to all.

ABOUT JODY LIDGARD Jody Lidgard of Bespoke Outdoor Spaces has been in the landscaping industry for 20 years.

After studying at Otley/Writtle college he worked as a landscape contractor and taught landscape construction and horticulture at Askham Bryan and UCS Otley. Working abroad in various locations for leading designers, his ability to gain the best from the people he works alongside has led him to his ongoing involvement with WorldSkills competitions. info@jodylidgard.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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OPINION

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP 2013 With Chelsea just around the corner, Andrew Wilson looks at some of the spin-offs of producing a show garden and creating constructive partnerships with landscapers Gavin and I are quietly counting down the weeks to Chelsea and contemplating the finesse required to make these world class show gardens shine. It would be easy to panic (there is a little of that) but in truth the whole process is too enjoyable. We produced our first Cloudy Bay garden with Gardenlink, our second with The Outdoor Room and we are now working with Outdoor Options and a new sponsor for the Living Legacy garden.

At first glance you may be forgiven for thinking that we just don’t get on with our contractors, hence three in three years, but nothing could be further from the truth. We have enjoyed every minute of joint exploration on the projects and a good deal of banter to go with it and we are now working with these contractors in our various live schemes.

I’ve just returned from snowy Sussex where we were experimenting with water for the Chelsea garden, playing about with flow and sound, ripples and water depth, courtesy of Martin Kelley at Fairwater. Although I’ve done it before, it’s not every job that allows designers and contractors to explore the character of water in this way and to jointly agree on details and a way forward to produce the effects or qualities that we need. The session allowed www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Andrew Wilson TW.indd 25

2014 Brian Herbert, Gavin, Martin and me to explore options together and agree on details that we can now produce knowing that they will work.

We enjoyed much the same experience with David Dodd last year at Lovell Purbeck down in Dorset. David’s introduction allowed us to explore the different characteristics of their various limestones, dependent upon their bed or location, and we were able to float our ideas for the dry stone walls we wanted to create using paving offcuts and waste. It took a little persuading to encourage Lovell’s to rescue and use the waste but the end product was a

WHAT STRIKES ME IS THE SHEER ENTHUSIASM FOR THESE PROJECTS DEMONSTRATED BY THESE THREE TEAMS – EAGER TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND TO WORK WITH CREATIVE DESIGNERS winner. In this case it was our drawings that helped in the initial communications but understanding how the slabs are produced and how the waste material was gauged was invaluable in considering the fine detail for the walls, steps and rill.

In 2013 it was Dan Flynn’s turn to rise to the challenge of our rammed earth walls. These were not only a feat of engineering in themselves, but also had to be cantilevered in order to slide over the polished concrete deck we had designed. They then had to be put

together in only 10 days (the Fresh Gardens at Chelsea have a shorter build time). The walls were a triumph and still count as one of our favourite by-products of Chelsea. We are desperate to use them again but we are just waiting for the right client and the right location.

On reflection, what strikes me is the sheer enthusiasm for these projects demonstrated by these three teams eager to try something different and work with creative designers in order to make things happen. The pulling together of resources, contacts, suppliers and craftsmen in order to create something special is both rewarding and energising.

For the designer this is a thrill, stepping out from behind the computer and drawing board into a real world of tangible, transformed and finely tuned finishes. For me it’s what Chelsea is all about. There is the planting of course but more of that next time.

Short of judging (in which I was able to explore these qualities at close hand), there is simply nothing like this hands-on exploration to remind me why I wanted to be a designer and why designers need landscapers. Actually, it’s better than judging!

ABOUT ANDREW WILSON Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden designer and a director of Wilson McWilliam Studio. He is also a director of the London College of Garden Design, an author, writer and lecturer.

www.wmstudio.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 25

16/02/2015 12:07

OPINION

A resounding success, the inaugural Landscape Institute’s graduate ceremony recognised the importance of gaining professional membership, says Adam White The New Year celebrations continued into mid January for 25 graduate landscape architects, as they were formally presented with their Chartered Landscape Architect Certificates at the inaugural graduation ceremony held at the National Building Centre in London.

After completing four to five years at an accredited university and a minimum of two years’ practical experience, graduate landscape architects can apply to join the Landscape Institutes ‘Pathway to Chartership’, often referred to as the P2C. The Pathway leads to becoming a Chartered Landscape Architect, based on active learning, mentoring and finally an oral examination. Successful candidates can add the title CMLI after their names.

Recent graduate Nicola Wright found the Pathway to Chartership syllabus useful for getting her up to speed with the level of knowledge required in the workplace. The syllabus explained and clarified everyday professional terminology and bolstered her knowledge of other areas of practice. “At first it was daunting, but I learnt a vast amount of information that I didn’t think would apply to my job. I’ve learnt a lot more about areas that are now specialisms,” she said.

The formal presentation was followed by keynote speeches from several established members of the Landscape Institute, including Noel Farrer FLI PLI, who highlighted the important

REACHING CHARTERED STATUS IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN ANY PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT’S CAREER

26

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©Nick Harrison

THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE WELCOMES

25 NEW CHARTERED MEMBERS role the Landscape Institute now has on the political stage.

I chatted with new CMLIs Ciara Price, Georgina Harvey and Ambika Chouhan after the ceremony. Ciara said she enjoyed the informality of the evening and the embracing welcome all the new CMLI’s receive. She added, “It was a very engaging evening and the speakers provided an enthusiastic insight into the workings of the Landscape Institute and opportunities available to us as newly chartered members.”

Georgina was glad she made the journey from Bristol: “It felt very positive to have my Pathway journey celebrated as it marked the end of many years of formal study. It also made me feel more connected to the Landscape Institute by learning about its activities and how much it depends on volunteering.”

Ambika is aware of the responsibility ‘CMLI’ brings, but is also comfortable in the knowledge that she has a vast fraternity to look back upon.

“The ultimate goal is not just to be a fellow but a good fellow – in fact, a jolly good fellow.”

Merrick Denton-Thompson FLI OBE is a real hero of mine, he was the man who gave me the confidence to set up my own practice, lobby central government for more investment in public play spaces and challenge skeptics around risk and nature as part of the every day play experience. I was therefore delighted to see he was one of the keynote speakers. He said: “You are entering the most senior and active parts of the landscape profession at an exciting time. We are working at the interface between people and natural systems, a unique position,

YOU ARE ENTERING THE MOST SENIOR AND ACTIVE PARTS OF THE LANDSCAPE PROFESSION AT AN EXCITING TIME at a time when society is beginning to realise the importance of the symbiotic relationship between the two.”

A familiar face was Ian Hingley, one of the Pathway to Chartership examiners. He echoed the thoughts of many when he said, “I think this event is a great way to mark a significant milestone and should become an annual event.”

The evening was a resounding success and it was a real privilege to have a front row seat and see the Landscape Institute recognise the importance of gaining professional membership.

The only thing left for the new CMLIs to do is think about how they might support the Landscape Institute through volunteering and, of course, order their new ‘CMLI’ business cards!

ABOUT ADAM WHITE FLI Adam White FLI is Director at Davies White Ltd, multi award-winning Chartered Landscape Architects in Kingston upon Thames. He is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute and an RHS Gold Medal and BBC People’s Choice Award winning Chartered Landscape Architect. In 2012 Adam became the youngest landscape architect to be made a Fellow of the Landscape Institute. He was awarded the title for ‘changing the way UK play spaces are designed’.

Twitter: @davies_white www.davieswhite.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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TG0223 Pro Landscaper CS T4240 ad.indd 1 77. Woodscape.indd 1

13/02/2015 11:26

16/02/2015 10:16

OPINION

Angus Lindsay examines some of the considerations necessary when working on or beside the road, and the Health and Safety implications It’s safe to say that we all get involved in some sort of street works operations, whether it’s verge reinstatement, grass cutting, tree maintenance or construction. Guidance has always been available in the famous red book, ‘A Code of Practice for Street and Road Works’, but were you aware that this has now become an Approved Code of Practice?

“Not relevant to me,” I hear you cry, “we don’t dig up the road.” Well that may be so, but if what you do means you could block the carriageway or have staff working next to a busy high speed road then these changes do apply.

While this document is very much aimed at those working on the highway, there are now moves afoot to bring operations such as litter picking, waste collection, grass cutting and general grounds maintenance operations under the same type of control. This is not such a big issue within 30mph zones but as the speed limits increase then the way you operate has to change. This primarily involves increasing the visibility of your operatives, the vehicles they drive and warning other road users of what’s going on. All common sense, really.

So where do you start? Simple. With a robust and sensible risk assessment, the basis of which should be to identify what you are doing and how you can reduce the risk.

RISKY BUSINESS WORKING ON HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS

Coupled with training your staff, these are the basics you need to have in place. Increasing the visibility of your vehicles with flashing lights and chevrons is all well and good but do they really need to be parked in the road while your staff prepare a flowerbed? Can they not be parked round the corner away from the main carriageway?

Review the PPE you use and don’t forget that this is a last line of defence. You want to make your staff visible but still able to do the job so take a practical approach. Hi-visibility clothing is great, but remember it gets dirty and in hot weather it can be uncomfortable, so look at the task to be done and consider alternatives. Protective footwear, sight, hearing and hand protection all go without saying but also consider head protection. A hard hat may seem over the top on lower speed roads but where higher speeds are involved it can give some protection against flying debris. Hard hats won’t protect against a runaway truck but I refer you back to the risk assessment and the need for your teams to be there in the first place.

Like any work on our roads, signage is key to warning other road users that there is something happening and they need to be aware – I’m sure I’m not alone in having driven round a bend on a country road only to be faced by a slow moving tractor flailing a hedge.

There is no quick fix risk assessment that covers all requirements. You need to look at your individual operation and decide how best to approach it, but a word of warning, always go back to basics and don’t assume common sense prevails. The HSE recently issued a fine of more than £20,000 to a local authority because

Do you give enough warning of this operation to other road users?

its risk assessment detailed the task to be done and the equipment required, but did not cover the basics of crossing the road from one side to the other. You have been warned!

ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAY As an agriculturist, Angus spent several years working on arable farms in Scotland before joining VSO in Egypt, implementing a mechanisation programme, managing field operations for a commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen. During this time he also spent a year at Silsoe, gaining an MSc in agricultural engineering and mechanisation management.

Returning to the UK he joined Glendale as machinery manager in 1994 – going on to become company engineer – before joining The Landscape Group in 2009 as group head of assets and fleet. Contact

Over the top for grass cutting – but is it? Make sure you risk assess the hazards

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Angus Lindsay TW.indd 29

alindsay@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 29

12/02/2015 14:26

BUSINESS TIPS

FINDING

GOOD PEOPLE TO WORK WITH Establishing a network of excellent contacts is key to any garden designer’s success, says Janine Pattison. Source the right specialists and both you and your clients will reap the rewards No business operates in isolation, and while finding good clients is always important it is also vital to find good people to work with.

Establishing a network of good, reliable people around you is critical to building your success as a garden designer. Not only do you need excellent employees, but you need to develop a ‘little black book’ of ‘go to’ people.

You need to find a good land surveyor to survey projects that you don’t have time to do or that are too large or complex for you. You need a good structural engineer to turn to for advice and calculations when it comes to ground stability or retaining walls. They can check your design over and flag up any structural issues that you might have missed. They have excellent skills and we have come to rely on our contact regularly.

Your network of landscapers are vital and those relationships need to be looked after.

Many clients will request two or three quotes for a project and you need to be able to recommend a number of contractors to quote.

Often you will have a preferred contractor in mind anyway, and sometimes it is a bit like being a matchmaker to get the right team in place.

Price will always be important but it is often not the most important factor.

A good arborist will be able to assess the 30

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HOW TO

SURVIVE & THRIVE AS A GARDEN DESIGNER

condition of trees on a site and make recommendations for what tree works would be appropriate. They can prepare applications to the Local Planning Authority to gain permission to carry out these works. You will also definitely need a good tree surgeon.

OUR CLIENTS COME TO RELY ON US TO KNOW WHO THE BEST PERSON IS FOR ANY PARTICULAR JOB REQUIRED ON THE PROJECT

We have electricians, carpenters, builders, pond specialists, swimming pool contractors, and even an asbestos removal specialist on hand. These experts get a lot of work through us and so are very willing to offer free advice whenever we need it.

We find that our clients come to rely on us to know who the best person is for any particular job required on the project. Some

clients may be new to the area and very concerned about finding good contacts. You can earn a lot of brownie points by having that information to hand.

Finding good contractors can be a struggle. Ask around for recommendations and arrange to go and see some recent work.

Speak to a recent client of theirs if you can.

Contractors who are members of BALI and/or The APL will have passed a rigorous assessment and will have had their work inspected as well as checks done on their equipment, paperwork and insurances. Both professional bodies have mediation and dispute resolution services to help if things go wrong. Other professions and trades have governing bodies too, and membership of one is always a good start when assessing their suitability to join your ‘stable’ of contacts.

You will also find that as your practice grows you will need a good bookkeeper, accountant and lawyer. Good advice is very important early on as it can have a big impact on how much of your profit you get to keep and how much goes to the taxman.

ABOUT JANINE PATTISON Janine Pattison MSGD is a multi award-winning garden designer and horticulturalist who trained with English Heritage at Eltham Palace in London and at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester. A registered member of the Society of Garden Designers, the

British Association of Landscape Industries and the Garden Media Guild, Janine is also a highly qualified RHS horticulturalist. www.janinepattison.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

12/02/2015 10:10

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13/02/2015 10:16

BUSINESS TIPS

SALES LESSONS FROM AN

ATHENS TAXI DRIVER It’s no good resting on your laurels waiting for things to get better if you’re not prepared to make any changes, says Steve Clarke. And inspiration for that change can come from the unlikeliest of places...

Recently I was booked to deliver the keynote talk at a big sales and marketing conference in Athens, Greece. The event organiser kindly had a chauffeur collect me at the airport.

As we chatted during the journey I was reminded by my driver what a desperate time many Greeks are experiencing; massive unemployment, pitifully low minimum wages for those lucky enough to have a job. Tough times for Greeks... and a tough gig for a business growth speaker, too!

I was all geared up to share hints, tips and strategies to boost sales and profits. But how could I do this without belittling their massive challenges? Arriving a day early I decided to take in the sights of Athens, learn about its rich history and seek fresh inspiration for my keynote.

I took a couple of taxis, visiting the spectacular ancient buildings around the city. It was great to enjoy the sights.

But again,

each driver was full of doom and gloom. Then, fortunately, I hailed a taxi driven by George.

He welcomed me with a smile. I asked if he could take me to the Acropolis. As he drove we engaged in conversation. “Tough right now, isn’t it?” I asked, having been conditioned with negativity since arriving in town. “For sure, it’s tough, but what’s easier to change – the state of the economy, or our attitude towards it?” he said. Wow! That’s the kind of stuff I tell people all the time – I loved George’s attitude. Then he

WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH SELL DIFFERENTLY, SELL TO SOMEONE DIFFERENT OR SELL SOMETHING DIFFERENT continued: “How long are you here, if you’re tight on time you might be better to visit this place or that... and come back to the Acropolis just after lunch when it’s at its best,” he said.

Sorry, I can’t remember the names of the places he mentioned, because I was more focused on the fact that he was focused on my needs and was potentially “up selling”, or “up serving” me better than anyone else I’d met.

He explained there are buses and trains, or I could take taxis from place to place. He’d quickly become my trusted advisor. “Could you take me George?” I asked. Surprise, surprise, yes he could and for €40 he’d turn the meter off and stick with me all morning. He turned a €4 taxi ride into €60 including a tip.

How are you “up-serving” your clients?

George drove to the coast and we chatted over a coffee. He explained how he helped his wife get a job in nursing after a chance conversation with a doctor, another customer in his cab. Chance? No. After a conversation he

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engaged in and listened carefully to. Then took action – he called the doctor as requested once his wife was qualified. Not once, but several times, until he reached him.

How persistent are you at following up?

When we reached the Acropolis, I asked him to join me. He shared yet more wisdom: “Look at the structure of the building,” he said. “There are many columns supporting the roof. Not one, but many. That’s how we need to be in business and in society, many levels of support.” Thanks to George, my talk was coming together!

He finally pointed out another lesson for us all in a busy market square. Vendors had stalls crammed with all manner of nicknacks, much the same stuff on every stall, all they could compete on was price. Then we turned into a quieter road and George pointed into a shop window. This shop sells olive oil, but not the low end to every household. They sell only high end, beautifully packaged olive oil to clients all over the world who want the best. “What crisis?” they’d say.

When times are tough, sell differently, sell to someone different or sell something different.

Don’t just keep doing the same as everyone else and hoping for better results. Think of how many ways each of George’s stories applies to your business. I changed my entire talk, delivered the same messages, but through a new hero.

ABOUT STEVE CLARKE An exceptional sales mentor and sought after motivational business speaker who draws upon his own first hand experiences. He built his last UK business to £30m in annual sales in just eight years, sold out and retired at 45. Now he helps businesses around the world generate more leads, more sales and more profits, and with less blood sweat and tears. www.eurekasales.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

12/02/2015 10:28

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34. Rated people.indd 1

19/02/2015 13:39

LATEST PRODUCTS

Founder of CED Stone Group Michael Heap lays out the advantages of unbound paving and some of the changes to expect with the revision of BS 7533

A bit of history Unlike some countries, we have rather forgotten the merits of laying setts unbound. Historically, all ‘cobbled’ streets were as such and remained in working order for many years. A great number of these still exist under the tarmac and although structurally sound, were covered because they were no longer considered sufficiently skid resistant. Only occasionally did they fail because the design could not stand up to heavy traffic.

Traditional streets utilised setts six inches deep with narrow joints and kerbs restraining the edges.

Roads carried light traffic in comparison with today and this gradually compacted the whole street. As traffic became heavier, compaction continued so the street was able to carry very heavy traffic indeed. With detritus filling the joints, virtually no moisture was able to enter the structure.

Learning lessons The big difference with new ‘cobbled’ streets is that loading will be very heavy from day one. Our new street must have a very heavily compacted foundation and the thickness of setts may need to be greater than the historic six inches. One also needs to manage the ingress of water through the joints. If the underlying structure is unbound, it may be sufficiently permeable to allow moisture to pass into the ground below. If it is not permeable, the bedding aggregate will need to be exceptionally free-draining so the moisture can flow laterally until

Unbound Porphyry Setts - The Groves, Chester

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CED 2.indd 35

LAID UNBOUND The Gangway, Cromer - constructed late 19th century. Image courtesy of “Chris Young, North Norfolk District Council”

it can drain away, though a free-draining bedding aggregate is beneficial in all cases.

New design The revision of BS 7533 will address the laying pattern of setts. By far the most competent is the segmental arch, which should be laid with the top of the arch facing oncoming traffic because braking forces are higher than acceleration forces.

Next are setts laid across the street in stretcher bond at 45° to the traffic and then setts laid perpendicular to the traffic. Setts laid in a grid or longitudinally are not at all successful.

Everything has to be geared to creating an excellent interlock between the setts. The base of the setts should be rough, cropped if possible. If sawn the depths should be varied by +/-10mm.

Any long straight joint is a plane of weakness and it is essential that the sides of the setts are cropped not sawn as the irregular surface is needed to provide the key with the jointing aggregate. The sides should be close to vertical.

Below the bedding layer the degree of compaction required is directly related to the traffic category. In Germany it is routine to compact these layers far more than we do in the UK. Thus they can use setts unbound for the very heaviest traffic, indeed for traffic levels that are too high for bound structures. In the heaviest traffic, the thickness of the setts will be around 160/180mm and they will not be wider than they are deep. The setts must also be securely restrained at the edges by kerbs or walls.

The above principles apply whether in the street or a private drive although the weight of traffic there is far less and the frequency is much lower. In most private drives 60/80mm cubes in segmental arches will suffice or cubes or rectangular setts of 100mm deep laid in stretcher bond. Still required are a well compacted base, a tough, permeable igneous bedding aggregate –

either a particularly well-graded 6-0mm or a 6-2mm. The joints should be as tight as possible and filled with the largest aggregate that will fit. If the base is concrete or asphalt, specialist advice should be sought. If it is unbound then a top quality evenly graded MOT Type 1 produced from igneous stone is advised. The whole drive should be compacted using a vibrating plate compactor of at least 200kg with a neoprene sole plate of at least 0.25m2 with a minimum of two passes.

Big enemies of unbound setts are suction sweepers or jet-washers, both of which will remove the jointing material. Use of a joint topping material will help to avoid such damage. This provides no significant structural strength but tends to stay securely in the top of the joint, protecting the strength-giving aggregate below.

The present revision of BS 7533 will provide guidance for private drives and gardens as well as for heavier traffic situations. In the meantime BS 7533 parts ten and seven, guidance for design and construction respectively and BS EN 1342 for setts are the relevant standards.

Advantages Unbound paving comes with significant advantages. There is no mortar to stain the setts, nothing to crack if the ground moves and no need for expansion joints. It is cheap and easy to install and repair and as no cement is involved, it also has a significantly lower carbon footprint.

ABOUT MICHAEL HEAP Michael Heap is the founder and owner of CED Stone Group and has been advising on design and facilitating the supply and use of natural stone for over 35 years. He is currently chairman of CED Stone Group and is on the committee for the new BS 7533. He has been at the forefront of the use of stone in the public arena since CED’s conception.

www.ced.ltd.uk

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 35

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16/02/2015 09:04

INTERVIEW

Let’s Hear it From

PETE JONES This month, Pro Landscaper met up with Pete Jones, business development manager of Land Design Partnership, a landscape business based in Kent covering the south east of England.

The company offers the full range of services from design and domestic build to commercial projects and maintenance

P

ete Jones’ career in horticulture came as a direct result of his forces upbringing, he says. “As a child, my father was in the army and I was at a school here in the UK where much of the downtime was spent outdoors, which I loved. Half way through my A levels I decided I really wanted to nurture my passion for working outdoors and enrolled at Houghall College in Durham.

I took a first diploma during which I did a six week work placement at a nursery and then a national diploma in horticulture, which allowed me to work for myself for a year doing maintenance. This cemented my love for the job, and I applied for a job in Essex as a landscape supervisor at Acer Landscapes. I moved down to Chelmsford in 1997 on my own and found somewhere to live while embarking on a new career.”

Leaving his hometown and moving 250 or so miles at such a tender age was a momentous life event. “It was a huge learning curve, having to not only start working in a new town with people I didn’t know, but also managing a home and bills.

I stuck with it and worked up the levels to become sales and estimating manager.”

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LetsHearitFrom.indd 37

Acer Landscapes was primarily carrying out commercial projects for large developers at the time. It had been trying to get into domestic but most of its work came from commercial projects, with around 15% being maintenance work. “After seven years or so I got a call from a director at LDP asking me to go and talk to them about working there.

They had had a recommendation from a supplier to get in touch with me and I was taken on as business development manager in 2005, the role I still hold today.”

Being head hunted for a job is an affirming event for anyone and for Pete it was no different. “It was the first time that had ever happened to me and it felt great!”

As business development manager Pete spends much of his time generating sales, pricing and preparing tenders, “A hugely time consuming thing,” he says. Pete shares this role with Rob Simmonds, the managing director, with each taking different clients and covering different geographical areas.

1

Ingress Park, Greenhithe

2

Westwood Drive, Canterbury

3

Marchants Barn, Hildenborough Pro Landscaper / March 2015 37

12/02/2015 13:52

INTERVIEW

PROPERTY DEVELOPERS AND DOMESTIC CLIENTS NEED TO REALISE THAT CREATING A BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE SPACE IS GOING TO ADD AS MUCH VALUE AS THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE INTERIOR The running of the office and the company’s design service are the responsibility of landscape architect Christina Odell. The company is serviced by five teams of three landscapers, who are working on around six projects between them at any one time.

Projects are a mixture of large and small construction jobs – both domestic and commercial. The company has built good relationships with developers and invests a lot of time in creating and maintaining spaces on new build landscaping projects. Consequently, it is planning to enlarge the maintenance team in 2015 to two full-time crews.

The employment contract status of workers is a live issue in the landscaping industry and in the wider economy, as discussed at FutureScape last year. “All our guys are employed full-time although we do come up against competitors whose staff seem to be self-employed. We keep the teams busy throughout the winter, this year that’s not been too difficult due to the good weather, but in the past we have had to think about things more carefully to keep them busy.

“Looking at what we’ve got to turn around in the next 12 months, we need to try and get more skilled staff in. The thing is there isn’t that much interest in available positions, but we’ve now taken the decision to take on less skilled staff and train them up the way we like things done. We tend to like to keep the teams small 38

Pro Landscaper / March 2015

LetsHearitFrom.indd 38

to make sure everyone’s working to full capacity – we find the more people you have on site, the less gets done!”

Also high on the agenda in forums such as the View From the Top debate at FutureScape is the question of how to get the next generation interested in the industry. “I did like the comments on the View From the Top debate about educating school children, going into schools and talking to them. Certainly as a company we like to get involved with local schools and have had children helping with bulb planting and interacting with the landscape, so they can see what they do is making a difference. We need to generate that interest early on.”

In terms of paying better salaries to incentivise people, Pete hopes that increasing margins may make a difference with the proviso that “people coming into this industry have got to have a passion for it, otherwise at the first sign of a bad winter day they’re not going to want to work outside for £6.50 when they can earn the same or more working at McDonald’s. It’s a difficult industry to sell.”

As with many landscape businesses the company builds projects for designers and landscape architects and has worked with the likes of Anthony Paul, Sam Martin at Exterior Architecture and Jo Thompson. Pete recently priced a domestic project designed by Acres Wild. “They design some stunning landscapes.

I would love to be able to get to grips with building one for them in the future.” On the other hand, while Pete realises the value of show gardens in marketing terms and says he would consider getting involved in Chelsea if the right funding was in place, the company has no plans to move into this arena in the near future.

This leads us to the question of margins and whether the upturn in the industry is pushing up the prices. “Margins are on their way up. Our first quarter of this financial year has certainly been strong, which is pleasing, especially as we’re during the winter period.”

MANY COMPANIES CONCENTRATE TOO MUCH ON KEEPING THE PRICE DOWN AND NOT ENOUGH ON SELLING THE VALUE OF THEIR WORK, THIS JUST DRIVES DOWN THE OVERALL VALUE OF THE INDUSTRY Landscapers have had to price jobs keenly over the past few years but Pete feels things are now back to where they should be. “I know that’s business, but it has been a big problem,” he says.

“I don’t think we help ourselves half the time when trying to win work. Many companies concentrate too much on keeping www.prolandscapermagazine.com

12/02/2015 13:53

INTERVIEW

the price down and not enough on selling the value of their work, and this just drives down the overall value of the industry. We all sit on groups and committees saying we shouldn’t do this, but the reality is that when put in the position between winning or losing a job – it happens.”

Pete believes that outsiders’ perception is that the landscaping industry is the poor relation of the construction industry, mainly because the garden or outside space is the last thing that’s done on site and usually the only budget available is what’s left over from the build. “As a sector we need to get out there and promote the value of landscaping; the industry associations should have it high on their agenda. Property developers and domestic clients need to realise that creating a beautiful outside space is going to add as much value as the finishing touches on the interior and make sure there is a sizeable budget to add the wow factor outside as well as indoors.”

We turn our attention to vehicles and equipment. Purchasing is usually made with 0% finance deals which can prove very cost effective. “We generally stick to the same brands and suppliers for machinery and vehicles,” Pete says. The company fits trackers to its vans not only to keep an eye on teams’ usage but also because it helps calculate the most efficient ways of covering maintenance rounds.

Commercial hard and soft landscaping makes up the bulk of Land Design Partnership’s work (55-60%) with 15% pure grounds maintenance and the remainder being private domestic work. As regards suppliers, we ask Pete which companies he uses for plants. “Palmstead is local and very handy, but with prices and products changing we use a range of nurseries such as Boningale and trees from Folia or Deepdale.

We’ve also used Europlants a fair bit. We rely on good service, good products and if these conditions are met we stick to the same suppliers.”

As Pete is an outdoors person, we weren’t surprised to learn that his interests outside of work lie mainly with sport. “I’m a Liverpool season ticket holder so often travel to www.prolandscapermagazine.com

LetsHearitFrom.indd 39

WE HAVE NOW TAKEN THE DECISION TO TAKE ON LESS SKILLED STAFF AND TRAIN THEM UP THE WAY WE LIKE THINGS DONE watch games with the family. I also do triathlons and last year took part in the Ironman Triathlon in Zurich consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride amongst some pretty tough hills and then a marathon, which I completed in 11 hours 28 minutes. I made sure I trained and prepared myself well so it wasn’t actually too bad.”

On this note, we extend our congratulations to him for his amazing achievement and leave thinking we’d better do a bit more exercise!

ABOUT LAND DESIGN PARTNERSHIP Land Design Partnership has excelled in both the commercial and private markets for over 25 years.

Operating across the entire south east, they not only offer construction alone but also a bespo e design and build service. They take great pride in their exceptional standard of workmanship, service delivery and customer relationships. Regardless of scale, they deliver a professional landscape solution on time, every time.

Tel: 01622 820522 Email: pete@ldp.uk.com Web: www.ldp.uk.com Twitter: @LandDesignPete 1

The Oaks, East Grinstead

2

The Link House, Wimbledon

3

Woodland Place, Kings Hill

4

The Jetty House

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 39

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34. Rated people.indd 1

13/02/2015 10:23

PORTFOLIO

WILD THING ACRES WILD Acres Wild used local and imported stone to blend this exposed, multi-level site on Guernsey into its landscape and provide shelter from the elements

A

cres Wild has designed a number of gardens on Guernsey but none perhaps quite as successfully or as atmospherically as the garden at Le Haut. The company was called in at an early stage as this traditional granite farmhouse, located among an intimate network of high banked lanes, was being extended and refurbished. This enabled them to address level issues relating to the house and garaging early on, making efficient use of machinery on site and informing the design of the exterior spaces and how they related to the interior.

The brief, largely dictated by the exposure and steep level changes across the site, was to

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Portfolio 1 Acres Wild TW.indd 41

create a garden of sheltered spaces for outdoor family living and nestle the garden into its surrounding agricultural landscape. The garden is therefore inward looking to preserve shelter, creating internal vistas but with glimpsed external views where the opportunity existed to provide links with the surroundings.

The client requested that the garden be clean and contemporary to reflect the interior of the house, but feel relaxed and comfortable to reflect the natural qualities of the site. A new

swimming pool and summerhouse needed to be incorporated, along with a kinetic sculpture created by a family member.

The design evolved from the offset arrangement of the house and its extension, which inspired a similar response in the plan Pro Landscaper / March 2015 41

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PORTFOLIO

and elevations for the garden. The staggered ground pattern responds to the scale and proportions of the house and is reflected in the level changes. The carefully detailed granite retaining walls unite the house and garden into a cohesive whole and nestle the garden into its setting. These walls, together with banks of lush, textured planting provide shelter and contain a series of linked spaces for a variety of activities – generous dining and entertaining, cosy sitting and reading and intimate swimming and sunbathing. All the spaces are linked by weathered stone paths and broad, elegant steps to create an air of permanence and generosity.

The hard landscape materials, consisting mainly of reclaimed Yorkstone surfacing and

Post and rail fence

granite stone walling (salvaged from the site), are robust and simple to reflect the rugged nature of the island. Worn and riven Yorkstone is laid in a traditional pattern nearer to the house, with plants allowed to self-seed in some open joints (Erigeron, the little Mexican Daisy is seen self-seeded in walls all over Guernsey). This is contrasted with sawn Yorkstone laid in a regular pattern around the swimming pool, to impart a comfortable, practical and subtly contemporary flavour to this area of the garden. Island-sourced self-binding gravel is used to surface a sheltered courtyard, which furnished with a single plane tree and a simple bistro table evokes a strong sense of place and brings to mind the island’s proximity to France.

Line of existing wall

DESIGN PLAN

Hedge on bank

Curved bench

Woodland path

Willow

Focal point

Focal point

Swimming pool Bench

Boulder seats

Wildlife pond

Sitting terrace

Willow Oak

Guest Parking

Parking

Access to road

Ramp Mower shed

Retaining wall and bank

Potager

Front lawn

Shelter trees

Courtyard

Le Haut

Pot

Oak

Wildflower meadow

Games room

Dining terrace

Hedge

Summerhouse

Mown grass path

Swing seat

Tree seat Holly

Deck

Willow

Hedge on bank

Chestnut

Stone steps

Stream

Additional Holm Oaks screen glasshouses

os Bambo

Gate

Oak

Existing Holm Oaks Access to field

The planting, while English in character, has a windswept and coastal flavour with a touch of French elegance. Staples such as lavender, astrantia, nepeta, roses, salvia, erigeron and geraniums were mixed with ornamental grasses and more exotic plants such as Agapanthus, Zantedeschia and Echiums to offer a hint of Brittany (where the client holidays each summer) creating a lush and heady, holiday atmosphere.

The garden evolved directly from the natural qualities of the site and the personality of the client. Acres Wild met with the client and construction team regularly during the project, the installation went smoothly and three years on the garden continues to delight. It has just picked up the SGD 2014 International Award.

Ashes

Hedge extension to screen social club

Existing Holm Oaks on bank Hedge on bank

Existing Holm Oak hedge

Alder Oak

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Portfolio 1 Acres Wild TW.indd 42

WINNER

Arch through wall Traditional greenhouse Soft fruit Random stone path Location of existing garage

INTERNATIONAL AWARD

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ABOUT ACRES WILD Debbie Roberts studied landscape architecture before starting Acres Wild with Ian Smith in 1988.

Acres Wild specialises in the design and masterplanning of larger country gardens. The practice philosophy is to sensitively respond to client needs and integrate the garden into its surroundings with plants and materials appropriate to the character and location of the site. This approach has resulted in numerous design awards and media interest.

PROJECT DETAILS

www.acreswild.co.uk

Project value Undisclosed, in excess of £250K Build time 2009 masterplan – 2012 completion of planting on site Size of project 8100m2 (two acres)

REFERENCES Designer

Reclaimed Yorkstone

Roses

Debbie Roberts Acres Wild Ltd

Stone UK Limited

David Austin Roses Ltd,

1 Helm Cottages, Nuthurst, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 6RG Tel (01403) 891 084 Email enquiries@acreswild.co.uk Website www.acreswild.co.uk

Green Lane West, Garstang, Lancashire PR3 1NJ Tel 01995 600 551 Email info@stoneuk.com Web www.stoneuk.com

Bowling Green Lane, Albrighton, Wolverhampton WV7 3HB Tel 01902 376 300 Email retail@davidaustinroses.com Web www.davidaustinroses.co.uk

Garden construction

Granite for walls

Emorsgate Seeds

KTM Ltd

Recycled from various demolished outbuildings on site

Web www.hunza.co.nz

Limes Farm, Tilney All Saints, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE34 4RT Tel 01553 829 028 Email enquiries@emorsgateseeds.com Web www.wildseed.co.uk

Wildflower seed

1 The sitting terrace nestles into the architecture of the garden 2 The arch through an existing boundary wall defines the front garden

La Porte Au Mur, Mount Durand, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1EA Tel 01481 715 764

Light fittings Hunza

3 Sawn Yorkstone paving around the pool

Swimming pool

Plants

Timber bench

4 Sketch of the swimming pool garden

Gillingham Pools Ltd

Guernsey Gardens

Datum Ltd

Portinfer Coast Road, Vale, Guernsey GY6 8LG Tel 01481 255 026 Website www.gillinghampools.co.uk

La Ramée, Guernsey GY1 2TW Tel 01481 700 035 Email admin@guernseygardens.com Web www.guernseygardens.com

Unit 4, Bromley House, Bulwer Avenue, St Sampsons, Guernsey GY2 4LQ Tel 01481 243 503

5 The farmhouse before refurbishment 6 The existing holly tree during construction 7 Split granite paths in the front garden 8 The cedar bench reflects the staggered lines of the buildings www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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INSIDE OUT CASSANDRA CROUCH GARDEN DESIGN This project allowed the client’s young family to extend their living space into the garden, with a fully functional kitchen, lounge and play area

T

he garden sits to the rear of a converted barn in Great Amwell, Hertfordshire. A contemporary glass and timber extension was planned for the property and the clients, a young growing family, wanted to create a garden that would reflect the modern interior and become an extension of the home that could be enjoyed all year round.

ABOUT CASSANDRA CROUCH GARDEN DESIGN Cassandra Crouch Garden Design is an innovative garden design practice working for clients in London, the home counties and across the UK. Cassandra qualified in garden design from renowned horticultural college Capel Manor. Work is characterised by a strong use of geometry that lends a contemporary underlying structure to the garden. Plants with a naturalistic feel create a soft contrast to the clean lines in our designs.

www.cassandracrouch.co.uk

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Portfolio 2 Cassandra Crouch TW.indd 44

The site The only existing elements in the garden were a small shaded stone terrace, a large shed and a cluster of trees planted by the clients to provide some instant screening. A laurel hedge had also been planted but felt out of place with the natural setting. The ground sloped up awkwardly from the house, breaking to a wide expanse of lawn providing very little interest.

There were some neighbouring properties that required screening. A nature reserve behind

the garden provided a wonderful backdrop of mature shrubs and trees. As the site was large and open, providing some screening for privacy and putting things on a human scale were important considerations.

The brief was to produce a contemporary garden design with a grown-up feel that was still relaxed and family friendly. Key requirements were having space for socialising, an area for cooking, a play area for the children and a good sized vegetable garden.

Design elements The design uses strong geometry, following the horizontal lines of the barn. The space was divided into a series of outdoor ‘rooms’ using hardwood decking, sawn sandstone, quartz aggregate and meadow turf to create spaces for dining, relaxing and family play. A smooth rendered retaining wall was planned to level the slope, allowing a flat lawn to be created at the heart of the garden. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

As the family enjoyed cooking and dining outdoors as often as possible, a bespoke exterior kitchen was designed incorporating gas and charcoal barbecues, a fridge, sink and bespoke storage. An adjoining sofa area centred around a wood burning firepit provides space for drinks and informal gatherings. A more formal dining terrace placed to catch the evening light is covered by a simple green oak pergola with steel tension wires.

In the children’s area the clients were keen not to have a space full of plastic toys.

A natural meadow was designed and placed at the back of the garden to provide a link to the neighbouring nature reserve. A swing was constructed using green oak to tie in with the overhead structures constructed in other areas of the garden. An orchard of

apples, plums and cherries was planted that would grow with the children. Meadow

1 View across the main terrace and extension.

Perennials and grasses soften the linear design 2 Pools of light are created using miniature downlights on the green oak arches 3 Bespoke exterior kitchen and lounge area 4 The children’s swing within the meadow uses green oak to connect with the main design 5 Relaxed sofa seating surrounds the firepit 6 Stipa tenuissima, Sedum ‘Matrona’, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ and Monarda ‘Beauty of Cobham’ provide late summer interest 7 View across the garden to the dining terrace and green oak pergola 8 Sawn sandstone steps lead from the firepit area up to the main lawn Photographs © Cassandra Crouch; Lyndon Douglas

SHORTLISTED

PROJECT DETAILS Build time 5 months (In conjunction with extension construction) Size of project 1,370m2

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Portfolio 2 Cassandra Crouch TW.indd 45

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PORTFOLIO

turf was used to provide an instant effect with paths mown through to create a formal grid pattern.

Planting A planting plan using a mix of herbaceous perennials and grasses with a natural feel was used to soften the straight lines of the design and connect the garden with its rural setting. A tall Carpinus betulus hedge was planted around the perimeter of the garden to provide privacy and create a natural buffer to the wild space beyond. As well as relocating some of the existing trees in the garden additional specimens were selected including Malus ‘Evereste’ and Prunus serrula to provide height and seasonal interest.

Other elements A lighting design and irrigation system were also created for the garden.

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PORTFOLIO

1 The contemporary glass extension is softened by mounds of perennials

5 The garden before construction provided a blank canvas for the design

2 Green oak arches lead to the meadow

6 During construction, looking towards the main terrace and water feature

3 The exterior kitchen with integrated gas and charcoal barbecues also houses a fridge 4 Focal point lighting highlights the water feature and containers on the main terrace

7 The firepit lounge area during construction 8 Main terrace steps prior to stone cladding Photographs Š Cassandra Crouch; Lyndon Douglas

REFERENCES Designer

Irrigation

Herbaceous

Cassandra Crouch Garden Design

Life Irrigation

Orchard Dene Nurseries

68 Leybourne Road, London E11 3BT Tel 07702 019 227 Email design@cassandracrouch.co.uk Web www.cassandracrouch.co.uk

17 Gables Avenue, Borehamwood, Herts WD6 4SP Tel 020 8905 1892 Email Info@lifeirrigation.co.uk Web www.lifeirrigation.co.uk

Lower Assendon, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 6AL Tel 01491 575 075 Email enquiries@orcharddene.co.uk Web www.orcharddene.co.uk

Contractor

Trees

Famella Building Contractors

Deepdale Trees Ltd

Glebe Nursery

Fire Magic

Unit 72, Hillgrove Business Park, Nazeing Road, Nazeing, Essex EN9 2HB Tel 01992 893 068 Email info@famella.co.uk Web www.famella.co.uk

Tithe Farm, Hatley Road, Potton, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DX Tel 01767 262 636 Email mail@deepdale-trees.co.uk Web www.deepdale-trees.co.uk

Forty Hill, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 9EU Tel 020 8364 3150 Email andriamead@aol.com Web www.glebenursery.co.uk

Unit 15, Orchard Place Business Centre, Seven Mile Lane, Borough Green, Kent TN15 8QU Tel 01732 884 030 Email info@fire-magic.co.uk Web www.fire-magic.co.uk

Lighting

Majestic Trees

Palmstead Nurseries Limited

Meadow turf

Lighting For Gardens

Chequers Meadow, Chequers Hill, Flamstead, St Albans, Herts AL3 8ET Tel 01582 843 881 Email info@majestictrees.co.uk Web www.majestictrees.co.uk

Harville Road, Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5EU Tel 01233 813 340 Email sales@palmstead.co.uk Web www.palmstead.co.uk

Wildflower Turf

Sawn sandstone and Pearly Quartz Pebbles CED stone

728 London Road, Grays, Essex, RM20 3LU Email sales@ced.ltd.uk Web www.ced.ltd.uk Barbecues

Shrubs and herbaceous 7-8 Amor Way, Letchworth Garden City, Herts SG6 1UG Tel 01462 486 777 Email sales@lightingforgardens.com Web www.lightingforgardens.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Portfolio 2 Cassandra Crouch TW.indd 47

Ashe Warren Farm, Basingstoke, Hants, RG25 3AW Tel 01256 771 222 Email wildflower@wildflowerturf.co.uk Web www.wildflowerturf.co.uk

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 47

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PORTFOLIO

Greenspace Garden Design A tired and mundane plot was transformed by Greenspace Garden Design into a high interest, low maintenance garden, with the addition of curved lines, raised beds and a central patio

T

he owner had lived in her house for some years and felt the garden was looking tired. The brief was basically to ‘rip it up and start again,’ with a desire to inject some new interest, make a fresh start and take the garden as a whole space, replacing the existing features including the patio. At the client’s request, the garden needed to include some raised beds with low stone walls, a small manageable lawn, some paths and also a place for her stone bench to feature.

Some minor privacy issues needed consideration and a low maintenance approach was a priority as the owner worked long hours and did not have much time to garden.

The design philosophy This garden offered a pleasant and interesting space to work with. Being west facing, predominantly flat and backed by some mature trees, the garden presented a surprisingly light, uncluttered, versatile space with lots of potential.

FULL CIRCLE Xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxx xxx xx xxxxx xx xxxx x xxxxxxxx x xxx xxx xxxxxx xxx xxxxxxx

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SHORTLISTED

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PORTFOLIO

ABOUT GREENSPACE GARDEN DESIGN

The first challenge was to mitigate the fact that the garden was quite square. Introducing curves into the design seemed a natural solution to this. The design grew outwards from the circular patio, which not only forms a centrepiece to the garden but also provides a radius from which paving, the lawn and the planting beds are designed with concentric circles subtly spreading out to the boundaries.

The edged lawn compliments the circular patio and incorporates two migrating circles to

Sue Sleeper obtained her Horticultural and Garden Design qualifications from Capel Manor College in Enfield. She has a wealth of planting knowledge and knows the right plant for the right place. Her approach comes from the heart, she spends time absorbing the space and its surroundings, drawing on her creativity to bring out the best in clients’ gardens. She prides herself on developing good working relationships and her designs help to personalise her clients’ homes and provide beautiful outdoor spaces they can use and enjoy.

enhance the curved theme. The lawn boundaries include raised beds with curved stone walls to be softened by the planting.

www.greenspacegardendesign.co.uk

Planning the pergolas To bring some interest into the garden above eye level and to offset the height of the trees beyond the back boundary, the new design includes two pergolas. The first is in the form of the pergola path – the pergola provides some privacy from the neighbour’s house while sitting

1 View of pergola path and circular patio 2 A view from the back of the garden 3 An aerial overview of the completed garden 4 Looking through the pergola 5 A close-up view of the new patio showing new doors in the background

a ol rg h Pe nc Be

Raised beds Wal l

Lawn

Gravel path

Shed

PROJECT DETAILS

Pergola path

Circular patio Block paving

Project value Under £20k Build time – concept to completion 10 months Size of project 160m2

DESIGN PLAN www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Portfolio 3 Sue Sleeper 2.indd 49

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 49

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PORTFOLIO

on the new patio and the path creates interest and intrigue as you travel through the garden. The second pergola houses the stone bench in a quiet corner of the garden facing into the morning sun.

1 Artistic impression of the finished, planted garden.

Paths and paving Gravel paths ease access to the garden and the central patio provides a hard standing on which a table and chairs can be used. The use of gravel softens the hard landscaping and yet remains low maintenance.

The inclusion of the red block paving adds another interest to the landscaping with the red colour tones complimenting the bricks of the house, and the curved laying pattern adding softness to the hard landscaping. These red pavesetts also link the whole scheme together as they are used to edge the patio, lawn and paths throughout the garden. The garage provides a wonderful south facing brick wall on which to grow plants and has provided a backdrop to a feature flowerbed near the patio. The shed has been shifted back out of sight with some paving at its door for easy access.

A bright future The overall design provides a whole new way of viewing, making use of and meandering through the garden. The new patio adds interest, providing a central, sunny and private seating area and the paths pull the garden together, giving ease of movement through all of the design features. The design brings plenty of dynamism to the garden with the potential to plant easy to care for plants in the new flowerbeds, softening the landscaped lines and adding further colour. The client loved her finished garden so much that she actually installed new french doors to her living room so she could overlook her garden as much as possible. To date, the planting has not been fully implemented, but is a work in progress for the owner. Once all plants and trees are included over the coming seasons, the garden will provide further privacy, textural interest, height gradation and year-round colour.

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2 Close up of the patio with garden furniture.

3-4 Photographs showing the garden previously.

REFERENCES Designer

Edging and block paving

Sue Sleeper Greenspace Garden Design

Pavestone UK Ltd

Tel 07713 744 322 Email info@gsgardendesign.co.uk Web www.greenspacegardendesign.co.uk Landscaper Martin Wilson The Garden Landscape Co

Westington Quarry, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6EG Tel 01386 848650 Email enquiries@pavestone.co.uk Web www.pavestone.co.uk

Watford, Hertfordshire Tel 07793 822829

Pergolas

Stone wall & Circular patio

Using 100x100mm treated timber posts and 50x150mm beams

Marshalls

Bespoke construction by landscaper

Marshalls Mono Ltd, Landscape House, Premier Way, Lowfields Business Park, Elland HX5 9HT Tel 01422 312000 Web www.marshalls.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PORTFOLIO

PAY IT FORWARD GROUND CONTROL Design input from the local community and an artwork by Banksy transformed a dilapidated area of Folkestone

PROJECT DETAILS Project value ÂŁ1.35m Build time 7-8 months Size of project 7,000m2

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F

olkestone’s Triennial Festival this year a power station and a public orchard. The space had an exciting addition; the opening has changed shape as well as use, but the ceremony for Payers Park, a £1.35m recent developments should make it more development recently completed by user-friendly as well as cementing the Ground Control. The steep valley side was architecture and format of the area. created to form a series of open-ended invitations The design process was driven by a number for people to inhabit and appropriate the of temporary events held by local people. structures in time for the festival. The site has Community groups held activities including a since gained extensive use, not least because it silent disco and open air museum to show how was decorated by secretive artist Banksy in his the space could be used, and find out which first UK visit for groups would choose almost four years.

Payers Park as the venue The site had for their hobbies. The been unused for design now allows a decades, which is number of activities to why The Roger De take place without Haan Charitable interrupting each other.

Trust, Kent County Council and The works Shepway District Although the plans did Council arranged to take into account the update the area and area’s topography, offer a contribution 1,720tonnes of soil to the arts festival were removed from the through provision of site to make it more ‘Art Buff’, a piece by Banksy, painted on a a new public space. accessible and userwall in the park. It was the first piece of his The 30-week friendly. A hazard warning work in the UK since 2010 design and build membrane was installed on included piling works, in-situ concrete walls and the steep slopes, which were the biggest structures, structural steel, 278 works, new challenge during the building work. The external lighting, resurfacing and soft landscaping extensive concrete works and sandstone blocks to provide the community with a beautiful new are supported with 268 piles, which took three park and play area in the heart of Folkestone. weeks to install. Boundaries were articulated to give the park definition while the views and open The design process spaces tie in with the ‘Look Out’ initiative, which Payers Park has had a range of different uses in encourages people to take care, be mindful and the past including workshops, slaughterhouses, make space for the unknown.

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ABOUT GROUND CONTROL Ground Control is an award-winning landscape construction and grounds maintenance company with branches throughout the UK. It works with a range of public and private clients, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Halfords, Thames Water, Royal Mail and the NHS to provide attractive, safe outdoor spaces for everyone to use.

www.ground-control.co.uk

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PORTFOLIO

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Portfolio 4 Payers Park 2.indd 53

1 A suspended bench is set slightly apart from the pedestrian area to give people a sense of privacy

4 Opening ceremony at Payers Park

2 Upper and lower sections are tied together to enhance the space

6 The boardwalk is probably the most widely used part of the site

3 Ladders and a climbing area offer a different way to move between the levels safely

7 New herbs and grass verges were added to break up the space

5 Trees were retained along edges and boundaries to give definition

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 53

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PORTFOLIO

An upper boardwalk made of sandstone was built into the steep gradient offering a new pedestrian link to the High Street, offering safe and well-lit access to shops and cafes. Some of the areas were created for children to play safely, while others are defined as walkways and lookouts. Payers Park Road has also been realigned as part of the development.

Practical completion was finished with just hours to spare on the day of the opening ceremony, but using the right people ensured that the project ran smoothly and on time.

The CEO of The Creative Foundation stated that he looks forward to future collaborations.

After the work was completed, Payers Park was visited by Banksy, who painted an image called ‘Art Buff’ on a wall in the park. It was the first piece of Banksy’s work in the UK since 2010 but has since been removed and sold in Miami as the building’s owners were struggling to maintain the piece. Proceeds from the sale will go to a cancer charity set up by a resident.

1 Before the build, the area was inaccessible for some users 2 A slide and climbing area blends effortlessly into the landscape 3 Natural stone installation during the build

REFERENCES Landscape architect

Zumtobel Lighting Ltd

Ketley Brick Company Ltd

Plants/trees (soft landscaping)

Muf Architecture/Art

Chiltern Park, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire SL9 9FG Tel 01388 420 042 Email LightcentreUK@zumtobelgroup.com Web www.zumtobel.com/gb-en

Pensnett, Brierley Hill West Midlands DY5 4TH Tel 01384 783 61 Email sales@ketley-brick.co.uk Web www.ketley-brick.co.uk

Johnsons of Whixley

72-74 Mare Street, London E8 4RT Tel 020 8985 3038 Email studio@muf.co.uk Web www.muf.co.uk Landscape contractor

Gilsthwaite Lane, Kirk Hammerton, North Yorkshire YO26 8AQ Tel 01423 330 234 Web www.nurserymen.co.uk

Decking

Ground Control

Valmont Stainton

Eco deck (Vannplastic Limited)

Grass seed/turf

1st Floor, Kingfisher House, Radford Way, Billericay, Essex CM12 0EQ Tel 01277 650 697 Email info@ground-control.co.uk Web www.ground-control.co.uk

Teesside Industrial Estate, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 9LT Tel 01642 766 242 Email stainton@valmont.com Web www.stainton-metal.co.uk

Unit 13, Adenbury Way Wrexham Industrial Estate Wrexham LL13 9UZ Tel 01978 667 840 Email enquiries@ecodek.co.uk Web www.ecodek.co.uk

Q Lawns

Urbis Schréder

Bespoke railings

Chineham, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 8GG Tel 01256 354 446 Email sales@urbis-schreder.com Web www.urbislighting.com/gbu-en

G.N.S. Metalworks

Soil Ovendens

Aylesham, Nr Canterbury, Kent CT3 3EP Tel 01304 842 100 Email enquiries@ovendens.com Web www.ovendens.com

Surfacing (CEDEC)

Corkway Drove, Hockwold, Thetford, Norfolk IP26 4JR Tel 01842 828 266 Email sales@qlawns.co.uk Web www.qlawns.co.uk

Westdale, Salisbury Road, Sherfield English, Hampshire SO51 6DL Tel 01794 522 196 Email Nathan@gnsmetalworks.co.uk Web www.crossfiresystems.co.uk

CED Ltd

Lighting iGuzzini illuminazione UK LTD

Astolat Business Park, Astolat Way, Guildford GU3 1NE Tel 01483 468 000 Email info@iguzzini.co.uk Web www.iguzzini.co.uk

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728 London Road, West Thurrock, Grays, Essex RM20 3LU Tel 01708 867 237 Email sales@ced.ltd.uk Web www.ced.ltd.uk/footpath-gravels/ CEDEC

Mulch Green-tech Ltd

Sweethills Park, Nun Monkton York, YO26 8ET Tel 01423 332 100 Email sales@green-tech.co.uk Web www.green-tech.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

12/02/2015 11:48

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13/02/2015 11:56

NURSERY

NURSERY NEWS Coles Nurseries gains

Kelways’ duo of Grand Pavilion exhibits gains momentum Kelways Plants is preparing its greatest ever exhibits for the Chelsea Flower Show.

Its wonderful crosses between tree and herbaceous peonies have lustrous green foliage, a neat bushy habit and large blooms in an extraordinary range of colours.

They will be displayed in the style of a Japanese peony garden with paper parasols placed above the

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plants, protecting them from both the midday sun and the snow.

Kelways’ first ever exhibit of tree ferns, representing Australasia in the Floral Continents area, will be staged amongst a grove of slender eucalyptus trees towering to 6m. www.kelways.co.uk

Coles Nurseries has gained CPD accreditation for its course ‘An Awareness of the National Plant Specification’.

The course gives participants an overview of criteria used in plant specification in order to save time when tendering and ordering plants by setting clear, defined parameters for suppliers.

Van den Berk launches second edition book for anniversary Van den Berk Nurseries is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2015. To start their anniversary year Van den Berk have launched a second edition of the book ‘Van den Berk On Trees’. Following the success of the first edition in 2002, the new edition has been completely revised and updated.

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The book has an easy to

read guide in the front and back making it a simple task for readers to find the trees they are after.

Symbols have been updated with an extensive search system and the new edition has 383 new species, plus detailed descriptions and photos of more than 1,100 species and cultivars. There are also more than 1,700 photos by photographers from several different countries.

There is an introduction by Tony Kirkham, head of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the book is available in Dutch, English, German and French. Van den Berk On Trees is available to order from: www.vdberk.com

Participants will gain

confidence in accurately planning planting densities, estimating handling, transport and storage costs and selecting appropriate stock. Coles is offering the training to CPD registered practices across the UK. For organisations that are not CPD registered, full day training sessions are also available.

Accredited to NVQ level two, the training is ideal for anyone involved in plant ordering, handling or installation at all levels.

Contact Coles for further information or to book your place. 0116 241 2115 info@colesnurseries.co.uk

NURSERY NOTES

March is the mad month but not just for hares. It’s a headlong rush to plant trees and shrubs as the dormant season comes to a close.

Spring is on the doorstep and everyone is wanting to enjoy green space. While day length is increasing, landscapers are stretched to complete their work at this seasonal peak.

At Palmstead we are busy servicing customers. Sales in March are double the usual monthly rate so it is all hands on deck and staff leave is banned. Our maintenance team has completed bed improvements for irrigation, drainage and shelter from the wind and new beds are ready to receive freshly potted plants, many more of them in the five litre size this year.

The potting team is pushing out more than 10,000 pots a day. They will be ready for sale from midsummer onward but only when fully

rooted around their pots. We want our plants to succeed and have published new tree planting guidelines available from our website to reflect the best practice and the new British Standard BS8545. www.palmstead.co.uk Pro Landscaper / March 2015 57

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A roundabout in Berlin – why can’t we have more plantings like this?

GREEN CEMENT Noel Kingsbury says the horticulture industry has plenty to answer for when it comes to a lack of innovative planting

‘Green cement’. The jibe is often directed at plantings installed by the landscape industry, particularly by the more garden conscious public, or those who work in horticulture. It does seem as if so many projects continue to use a limited range of plants, many evergreen, which show little change from one time of year to another.

The British public are perhaps a hard-toplease market. Most of us have our own gardens, and so are particularly attuned to the ‘soft’ element of any new development that happens in our neighbourhood. There is also an unrealistic expectation of the landscape industry, an assumption that it has more to do with growing and managing plants than it in fact does.

Nevertheless, we do come back time and time again to that limited and, shall we say, ‘seasonally predictable’ range of plants. Pin a landscape professional to the wall and grill them, and they will often blame the client. Clients, they will say, want predictability, and they want low maintenance. For those in the profession who have an interest in plants or horticulture beyond the workaday this can be frustrating. Proposals for a richer diversity of plants, or which are a bit beyond the usual, or are at all innovative, are met by a conservatism and caution which clings to the known and reliable and is unwilling to take risks. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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There is a third side to this story. The horticulture industry. Which, of course, sells what it knows it can sell. But which also knows surprisingly little about the long-term performance of what it sells. Plants are propagated, or as is increasingly the case, cuttings are bought in from another supplier, and grown on. Trucks laden with neat little plants in two or three litre pots in their thousands go out. How many people in the nursery industry can say with any degree of certainty what they will be like in five years, 10 years, let alone 20 years?

THERE IS ALSO AN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION OF THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY, AN ASSUMPTION THAT IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH GROWING AND MANAGING PLANTS THAN IT IN FACT DOES In Britain, we have the Royal Horticultural Society, whose main concern is the education of the private gardener who grows pretty well what the landscape industry uses (plus a whole lot more). Are they any help on long-term plant performance? Not really. They have, over the years, supported the publication of the best plant reference books. The kind of tomes which sit on the shelves of many landscape professionals. Very good at telling you how to grow a plant well, what conditions it needs, and where it is likely to survive. But no good at those questions which are so important for the landscape industry (and the more long-sighted private gardener or community

gardening activist): how long will it live? How wide does it spread? How likely is it to sucker or seed?

Will it survive and recover from cutting to the ground? What is its reaction to damage?

There is no doubt that the opportunities for expanding the range of plants used by the industry is growing. Herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses are increasingly being seen in the more high-end projects. In many cases there are problems with the long-term performance of some of the species used: short lifespans, excessive seeding, aggressive spread. But which ones? In what circumstances?

My point is that the horticulture industry (and its guardians in the RHS) have been rubbish at gathering, interpreting and disseminating data about long-term plant performance. It’s not that difficult. It just needs a bit of long-term thinking and commitment. Without this kind of data, clients are always going to insist upon, and the landscape industry use, the safe and predictable.

Even if it is a bit dreary.

ABOUT NOEL KINGSBURY Noel Kingsbury has been involved in the horticulture industry since the mid eighties, as a nurseryman, garden designer and writer, with features appearing in The Garden, The Daily Telegraph and Gardens Illustrated. He has played a major role in introducing the British gardening public and the horticulture profession to naturalistic planting with a series of books since the mid nineties, four of which he has written with Dutch designer Piet Oudolf. He teaches and lectures widely on planting design, with a particular interest in running workshops on long-term plant performance. He lives and gardens in the Welsh Borders.

www.noelkingsbury.com

Pro Landscaper / March 2015 59

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PLANTSMAN’S PLOT A round-up of trees and plants available at some of the country’s best nurseries To appear in Plantsman’s Plot, please send your plant of the month, details and image to editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk

March brings with it the owering of Magnolia stellata which is a cracking plant. rom delightfully tactile hairy pointed buds open the most pure white star shaped owers in huge numbers on bare stems. dd to that the delicious scent and you are guaranteed that this magnolia will have you captivated from the start. Slow growing and forming a bush that is usually wider than it is tall Magnolia stellate rarely gets above 2.5 m in height. lanted as a solo plant in spring it will give a breathta ing display of pure decadence. www.provendernurseries.co.uk

The Skimmia ‘Kew Green’ is a popular evergreen shrub with fragrant owers on male and female forms, usually growing to about 1m. S immia japonica includes varieties such as the red owered Rubella GM. ll li e a part shaded site and given too much sun they can go yellow. The S immia confusa types have the largest white ower clusters, are slightly more compact and much better in full sun. S immias do not li e sitting in wet soil or being planted too deep. www.palmstead.co.uk

The Cedrus atlantica Glauca ‘Blue Cedar’ is probably the most dramatic and stri ing of all blue conifers. winner of both the irst Class Certificate in 1 2 and the ward of Garden Merit in 2002, it is both uic growing and sparsely furnished when young but thic ens out with time. This is another superb subject for specimen and par land planting, where its form can be best appreciated. ts silvery blue foliage is very attractive but if it su ers stress during the establishment phase after planting, it can lose its leaves. This is alarming for an evergreen plant but it is fairly tough and usually re ushes the following spring. t thrives on most soils but doesn’t appreciate waterlogged ground. www.barchampro.co.uk

marines are hybrids between maryllis and erine, originally . belladonna and . bowdenii, giving Amarine x tubergenii. In structure the owers resemble those of erine, but the maryllis in uence is shown by broader petals, dar er colours and the heads of owers being more or less hemispherical rather than spherical. Li e both parents they are hardy in the , but they do best in warm, sunny places or grown in large pots indoors. www.kevockgarden.co.uk

Prunus ‘Shirotae’ (Mount Fuji cherry) is one of the first apanese cherries to ower in spring. t usually blooms in mid pril when it is covered with da ling white, semi double honey scented blossoms. t is a small up to m but strong growing variety with a gently weeping form when young. s the tree matures it develops almost hori ontal branches, giving it the classic apanese outline with a at spreading crown. The bright green leaves are distinctively fringed and turn yellow orange in autumn. Will grow best in a fertile, free draining soil. www.deepdale-trees.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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NURSERY ce are fantastic autumnal plants, but also look wonderful in spring. As the new leaves unfurl they often reveal beautiful, striking colours, the clarity of which fades as the season wears on and the foliage matures. The bar of many ce cultivars is also attractively coloured with unusual textures or patterns. The overall shape of the smaller cer varieties lends a apanese accent to any garden and can provide a useful focal point in a small plot.

Acers need some shelter from cold winds or excess sunshine, so position them carefully when planting out. Agrumi has a wide selection of Acer cultivars in di erent si es. www.agrumi.co.uk

A recent introduction, Uncinia u e e is a bright and colourful sedge grass and is a real eye opener! Being evergreen, it gives ďŹ ery year round colour. It has a compact, mounding habit with arching narrow leaves. Purple-red foliage is striped in shades of pink and red. Height and spread 30cm.

Plant in full sun or part shade in a moist, but well drained soil.

Looks great in containers or front of the border. www.howgreennursery.co.uk

uu c o e e ke w e ee has wonderful cinnamon-red bark and large bunches of pretty bell shaped owers through autumn. The new growth in spring is a lovely emerald green with bright red tinges to the edges. The young tree can grow 60cm per year but this slows down and it ultimately grows to no more than 7.5m. It is a tough tree that can be planted almost anywhere except severe frost pockets. It performs best in full sun in any well drained soil. www.architecturalplants.com

w

ee o e c ou o o g o e o ce e e o ce w e ge e ge o go e o

If only Wordsworth had seen the splendour of a o e ge in full spring bloom, how di erent his poem might have been. Forsythia makes a quick growing reliable hedge with the added interest of a blaze of colour in the early spring followed by delicate green leaves. It also has a subtle but lovely autumn colour. www.readyhedge.com

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u u kwoo has many qualities that make it an essential element of any garden scheme. A very hardy evergreen with a dense slow-growing habit, the small dark shiny-green leaves respond well to pruning. It makes an ideal hedge or a trimmed specimen. If left it can reach up to 3m in height so it is ideal as a screening plant. It comes into its own in late March and early April when highly scented white owers appear in clusters. Blue-black round fruits follow after owering. This is one versatile plant for all designs. www.colesnurseries.co.uk

o u o u o o is a low growing evergreen shrub with rich dark green leaves, clusters of bright yellow owers and blac berries. Leathery leaves ma e it resistant to environmental challenges including wind, cold and pests. It is commonly used in commercial schemes due to its low maintenance. www.knowlpark.co.uk

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From our 40-acre container site in Shropshire we produce and contract grow a huge variety of plants, shrubs and trees supplemented with specialised stock from our trusted network of UK and European based suppliers. Boningale is delighted to be a QuickHedge partner and proud to be part of the BALI family.

CLIENTS We work with clients large and small across the breadth of the country. Typical clients are the larger landscape companies who work with main contractors on large complex projects.

“It was a pleasure to work on a highly prestigious project (Eastside City Park) and deliver the impressive soft landscape scheme designed by Applied Landscape Design using such high quality plant material from Boningale. We have a good working relationship with Boningale Nurseries, which led to the award of this contract grow order to the nursery. Successful periodic inspections were carried out at the nursery during the growing on stages followed by excellent coordination and delivery to site in line with our schedule and programme.”

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WILDFLOWER MEADOWS

NURSERY

ENHANCING THE WORKPLACE Last year employees and visitors to SAS Institute on the Wittington Estate in Marlow were able to enjoy the vibrant colours of a new wildflower meadow, the estate’s latest landscape feature Wittington House near Marlow is the UK headquarters of business analytics software company, SAS. This large company believes that satisfied employees create satisfied customers. As such, the house and grounds at Wittington have been transformed, with several long-lost landscapes and features restored to create an environment that is enjoyable to work in.

The 45 hectare grounds of the Wittington Estate with riverside frontage, a rose garden, seasonal flower beds, fine lawns, an arboretum and cricket and football pitches are all tended to by a team of seven grounds staff who maintain them to the highest standards so they can be enjoyed year round.

Tom Bailey, the estate’s craft gardener has worked as part of the ground staff team at Coworth Park in Ascot, where he introduced a four hectare wildflower meadow. “I was keen to

Sandy Pentecost (left) of Germinal Seeds devised a bespoke mixture of seeds to enable Tom Bailey to create the wildflower meadow he envisaged

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Germinal Seeds 2.indd 67

replicate the wildflower meadow at SAS to improve the aesthetics of what appeared to be a rather plain looking piece of natural meadow next to the public footpath.”

With the agreement of head gardener Simon Willems, Tom initiated plans to sow a half-hectare area with wildflowers and in 2013 cut back the existing grass sward and over seeded the 150m strip. This was an experiment to see if the wildflowers would establish without the need to spray and remove the existing grass. It wasn’t a great success as the wildflowers failed to establish properly due to the thickness of the grass sward, so in 2014 the meadow was sprayed off before being rotovated and reseeded with a mixture of cultivated and cornfield annuals, meadow flowers and traditional hay meadow grasses.

Sandy Pentecost of Germinal advised the team about using the right varieties to develop a bespoke seed mixture which would give the longest possible period of flowers in bloom, and was able to supply a bespoke mixture of poppies, cornflowers, purple tansy and cosmos.

The seed mixture, which contained 100% RHS ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ was sown across the half-hectare meadow using a hand operated fertiliser spreader before being raked with a tine cultivator. The seed established well with the purple tansy, Californian poppies and cornflowers in full bloom by June, followed in July by a blossom of cosmos that lasted well into September. There were numerous positive comments throughout the summer from members of staff and the public who enjoyed the new display. Following last summer’s

During June the meadow was blossoming with Californian poppies, cornflowers, purple tansy, corn marigold and corn chamomile

success, Tom prepared for 2015 by cutting down any remaining plants in the autumn and roughed the ground with a scarifier to bury any perennial flower seeds. The whole area now be sprayed before being reseeded at the beginning of April.

There are plans to extend the wildflower meadow to provide an even bigger area for people to enjoy with a path through the middle and benches so that staff have a dedicated picnic area to use.

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Pro Landscaper / March 2015 67

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Barenbrug Barflora Meadow and Barcolour offer a perfect balance of perennial and annual seed mi es, flowering from June to October and offering an ever changing rainbow of colour arenbrug s wildflower mi es not only create a highly attractive and sustainable landscape, they use only ritish wildflowers, providing the best habitat for local flora and fauna The prestigious ortonhall golf course pictured relies on arenbrug s wildflower mi es for great results with e ceptional germination rates WWW.BARENBRUG.CO.UK Successful wildflower establishment is dependent on uic and robust seedling growth Wildflower Earth by il e f provides an accurate seed rate, blended with an e tensively tested growing medium This gives e ceptional levels of wildflower seed germination and establishment t provides low ris , guaranteed results delivering attractive, bio diverse wildflower establishment n addition ildflower Earth re uires considerably less investment in ground preparation, saving time and machinery costs The results are considerably better than conventional methods of seeding wildflowers WWW.WILDFLOWERTURF.CO.UK

fter successful trials on its anor odge site in Sheffield, i t ial ea s has introduced Pollinator Lawn, a special new perennial meadow mi t is a ewel li e, low growing meadow that contains more than species and will happily tolerate light pedestrian use Designed to be maintained at between and cm in height, it is a long flowering mi but is especially rich in spring pollen and nectar supply WWW.PICTORIALMEADOWS.CO.UK Cornfield Annuals mi from John a e s il e ee is fast growing and loo s stunning blowing gently in the summer bree e t comprises corn buttercup, white campion, corncoc le, cornflower, corn chamomile, field forget me not, corn marigold, scentless chamomile, pheasants eye and common poppy arch pril is an ideal time to sow with results seen from ay June n early showing of white chamomile dotted with blue cornflower gives way to bright yellow corn marigolds with more blue flashes of cornflower later in the season WWW.JOHNCHAMBERSWILDFLOWERS.CO.UK

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LANDSCAPING ON A

GRAND SCALE On August bank holiday every year, 70,000 people descend upon Daresbury Estate in Cheshire for Creamfields – the legendary electronic music festival. For three days, 400 acres of picturesque rolling fields become a heaving dance floor as revellers party from dusk till dawn, stomping from stage to sound system and to and from packed campsites. Landscape contractor for Daresbury Estate, Ed Dawson is responsible for making sure the landscape looks perfect and is robust enough to withstand such enormous footfall. He renovates and repairs the ground and maintains the grass throughout the year in preparation for each event.

Ed explained that the large crowds of people jumping up and down on the grass for three days presents a challenge but it’s the four week setting up and tearing down period that really takes its toll on the turf. With large vehicles such as telescopic handlers, cranes and HGVs constantly in transit the estimated damage stands at around 30%. To make the event cost effective, quick solutions need to be found so that the grass is re-established and can withstand the damage each year.

Each year Ed and his team work with Barenbrug, one of the largest grass seed producers in the UK, to create an area they hope will withstand damage during the event, but no two years are the same so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. “We have to treat grass like an arable crop. You can’t make plans for next year or take for granted what you had prior to the

weekend until you’ve seen the weather the event experiences. If the weekend is dry, compaction can be simple. As a general rule, if it’s wet, if the ground is still level or a field is wearing thin, it can be direct-drilled and aerated. If it’s uneven and badly rutted or completely bare or compacted, we rip it up and start again.”

Put to the ultimate test Ed has worked with Barenbrug’s technical experts since 2012 after catastrophic storms flooded the grounds, halting the festival mid-weekend. Visitors were sent home and the ground was wrecked.

There were foot-deep ruts over 40% of the 400 acre grounds. Barenbrug’s James Ingles visited the site immediately and provided in-depth advice and ideas for improving the land so they could hold the event again the following year.

The organisers took the decision to install a large drainage scheme and make other improvements. The work was completed in spring 2013, meaning Ed had less than four months to complete the reseeding and ensure full green cover by August.

Tasked with renovating a site the size of 230 football pitches, Ed chose Barenbrug BAR 50 SOS, for rapid germination in very cool soil temperatures (down to 3.5ºC). By August the site was ready with dense, quality turf that looked good and had a thick base ready to withstand heavy wear.

Grass seed experts Barenbrug and landscape contractor Ed Dawson explain why managing the Creamfields site isn’t your average lawn party

Dual purpose site To make sure the site is festival ready come the bank holiday, as much of the seeding as possible takes place in autumn so it has the maximum time to establish. A big part of this is allowing sheep to graze through to March. This has the important function of consolidating the ground to give grass a good start while keeping it trimmed down and tidy.

The Creamfields site needs to perform much like a sports ground. It’s got to withstand heavy traffic, renovate quickly and often in extreme conditions. For this reason Ed sows at the much higher rate of 24 plus per acre, as opposed to the 12 to 14 agriculture per acre. This gives the grass a denser base and if the grass hasn’t quite had a chance to tiller out, he finds the extra seed gives it a stronger start to its growth. The turf then has a greater chance of more plants surviving and developing a decent root system.

ABOUT BARENBRUG Barenbrug is one of the UK’s leading grass seed producers, distributing over 4,000 tonnes of grass seed each year throu h an efficient net or in both amenity and ora e mar ets.

www.barenbrug.co.uk

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LATEST PRODUCTS

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ANNIVERSARY

WITH ALEX AND STEPHEN EDWARDS Steve and Alex Edwards

Initially known for its all-weather grass mixtures, Inturf went on to change the face of the turfing industry with several specialist multipurpose turfs – low maintenance, drought-resistant, heavy-duty – unlike anything produced before. Over time, the innovative nature of its turf required the adaptation of traditional equipment, culminating in the revolutionary Big Roll turf harvesting system and turf tiles, game changers in the installation and maintenance of large-scale projects. In January 2003 Derek passed the reins to his twin sons Stephen and Alex as joint managing directors.

Today Inturf’s clients include sports venues like Carnoustie and Celtic Manor, stately homes, airstrips and even film sets – not to mention thousands of gardens up and down the country.

Pro Landscaper caught up with Alex Edwards to gain some insight into Inturf’s success.

HISTORY How did your father, Derek Edwards, discover that Pocklington in Yorkshire provided the best top-quality soil before he based the business there?

He was in the turf growing business before Inturf, and Yorkshire’s stone-free soils in big flat fields are perfect. The quality soil types are not exclusive to the Vale of York, though – we also grow turf in Lincolnshire.

What has been your greatest challenge in transforming the business over the last 30 years?

Integrating old and new; technology, staff ethos and health and safety procedures. The climatic 72

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Inturf is a nationwide turf supplier celebrating its 30th anniversary and transformation from domestic to commercial installer. Derek Edwards, an innovator of turf grass systems, founded Inturf in Pocklington, Yorkshire, in 1985. Eventually the nursery base branched out into Scotland, Suffolk and the Midlands, and today the company is a national distributor, supplying turf for the likes of Carnoustie, Wisley and Troon. conditions always prove challenging. Labour is going to be our next hurdle.

Since becoming joint managing directors, how have you helped develop the business?

We’ve opened up different markets like specialist custom grown turf, national and commercial retailers and the bulk bag business.

We introduced automatic harvesting and are constantly looking to improve our turf mixtures.

PRODUCTS What are your cheapest and most expensive turf types?

Our cheapest and bestselling turf is Inturf Classic at £1.50m2 plus VAT. The most expensive is Fibre Reinforced Turf at £7.50m2 plus VAT. There is also our bespoke range, for which prices vary. In total, we have six grades, plus custom grown turf.

Is there a minimum spend on your online products?

We prefer to support our loyal partners and stockists who sell our products online. They decide how to price our turf with a little advice from us! In this respect it varies, some customers see negative sales and others positive results – it depends how they market themselves.

How does your pricing vary from low to high end domestic products?

Our prices have always been fair and stable. The comparison from best value to the most expensive would be five times different.

Are you able to offer a customised turf product that’s tailored to the needs of domestic landscapers, and if so how would the process work?

Years of experience tell us what landscapers need and which turf type works best for them.

We offer a wide range of different turf material, but would custom grow something should the requirement be there. In the past we have tailor made turf for horse racing, rugby, cricket, golf, football and commercial landscapes.

How long do orders typically take to deliver?

We pride ourselves on quality and service and will bend over backwards to get an order delivered asap, usually within 24 hours.

Almost two decades after the release of Millennium Turf, is it still the most flexible and in demand turf for domestic landscapers?

This mixture was launched to celebrate the new millennium, however it’s not a grade we grow much of now. The original mix contained no fewer than 10 cultivators and was designed to www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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LATEST PRODUCTS

In which regional areas do you currently occupy contracts with local authorities?

Most of the UK. Has your Big Roll harvesting system helped to generate business for large-scale projects?

Big Roll is a vital service for our customers and has definitely helped us with sales. Inturf introduced Big Roll back in the early nineties and revolutionised the way we all laid turf.

Does Inturf provide a customer failure guarantee if there is a fault with the turf or it does not fulfil its function?

It’s difficult to offer guarantees with a natural living material, but we do have a ‘no quibble’ attitude if something goes wrong. So far in 30 years, we have had very few complaints.

FUTURE PLANS cope with many different applications. It can still be custom grown, of course.

MARKET/CLIENTS What percentage of your sales are made directly to landscapers?

More than 50%.

What range of products do you supply to garden landscapers?

Turf, top soil, bark, soil conditioners and advice too, if required.

proven track record selling products in those specific markets so, we do get various enquiries. Our balance of trade is varied but we have provided turf at some famous sporting venues including Wimbledon and Wembley.

Is there a gap in the market to offer an all-weather compound turf for domestic consumers?

We have a natural reinforced solution for domestic use already called Fibre Reinforced Turf, pioneered by us 20 years ago and still being specified today. However we have no plans for anything artificial.

How has the value of your B2B landscaping contracts changed since you first started?

This might sound hard to believe, but not that much. We still get asked the same questions and apart from some technological and small scientific changes, not a lot.

What is your geographical sales breakdown for the south east of England?

The south east is where the majority of our sales go, ranging from retailers and golf courses to private gardens in central London.

You say you have already increased your commercial market segment for 2015. How have you managed to do this?

We are always trying to secure commercial business and have extremely good connections in that field, not to mention a high profile and

Who are your longest established landscaping clients to date?

There are literally hundreds of good, loyal customers and I wouldn’t like to put anyone ahead of the rest. Suffice to say, some have been with us for 30 years.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Do you have any plans to investigate the soil quality in the north and south west of England with a view to opening another nursery?

We used to have turf production nurseries in Cambridgeshire, Scotland and Paris but wouldn’t rule out a return to the south east if the opportunity presented itself, we do need to expand.

Are you looking to add more commercial stockists to your clientele in addition to Homebase and Buildbase?

We have already increased this market segment for 2015 with The Range and Bradford’s stocking our products and yes, we are always looking to build on sales.

ABOUT INTURF Inturf has an unrivalled reputation for technical prowess in the production, distribution, and installation of turf systems.

Inturf, The Chestnuts, Wilberfoss, York, YO41 5NT Tel: 01759 321 000 Web: www.inturf.com

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SAiGE Longlife Decking Ltd are suppliers of environmentally sourced composite decking. Low maintenance, splinter free and anti-slip are just some of its key features.

Longlife Decking

Please contact a member of the SAiGE Team for more information.

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the finest decking for beautiful projects Exterior Decking supply the finest decking materials to commercial and domestic projects across the UK and Europe IPE AND KURUPAY UK STOCK NOW AVAILABLE NEXT DAY DELIVERY FOR LONDON AND SURROUNDING AREAS +44 (0) 1494 711800 office@exteriordecking.co.uk www.exteriordecking.co.uk

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Exterior Solutions Ltd Unit 8, Penn Street Works Penn Street, Amersham HP7 0PX

18/02/2015 14:52

MAINTENANCE

Composite decking makes an easy to maintain alternative to traditional timber products. This is not the same as being maintenance free. Thomas Rathbone explains why The moment I started writing this article I knew people would be screaming, ‘Composite decking is maintenance free!’ So let me clarify. As with timber, composite decking products vary in quality but they all have one thing in common.

At some point they will need maintenance.

In general composite decking is made up of wood fibres and plastic – PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene etc compressed and bonded together. It is the mix of the composite (ie ratio of wood fibre to plastic), the quality of pigment used to colour the board and the environment it is exposed to (vegetation, pollution and other contamination) that will determine how often cleaning and possibly staining will be required.

Stains While there are composite decks on the market that do not have any wood fibres or enclose the board in a protective sleeve, as with timber decks those that have neither will absorb a stain. The wood fibres that are exposed on the surface of the composite will capture a stain and hold it in the same way that a timber deck will. So if you spill red wine on the composite, it will stain it.

These same wood fibres can capture mould

MAINTAINING

COMPOSITE DECKING spores, creating spots on the deck. The colour may also fade and the exposed wood fibres turn grey, leading to a blotchy appearance.

Cleaning So just how do you go about cleaning them?

While the actual process of cleaning composite decks is usually quick and easy, unless the

A GOOD QUALITY FINISH FOR COMPOSITE SHOULD NOT ONLY RESTORE THE LOOK AND COLOUR OF THE DECK BUT SEAL IT, CREATING A WATERPROOF SURFACE composite has a protective sleeve or is of a “non-timber” construction, then water and detergent will have little effect. There are a range of cleaners on the market. Some need to be diluted, others can be used straight from the bottle. What is important is to carry out a test to ensure that it works.

A good cleaner should be quick and easy to use and simply require

you to scrub it onto the surface, allow it to work for up to 20 minutes and then rinse. Ensure that rinsing is done properly because some cleaners are made from powder or crystals and can leave a white substance on the surface. Remember to treat any mould that may be present using a 50/50 bleach water solution or other suitable product to kill the spores and prevent regrowth.

Finishes Depending on the quality of the composite cleaning may be all that is needed to restore the surface. There are instances, however, where the composite may be so well weathered that even after cleaning it looks washed out. In this case, use a finish specifically for composite surfaces. A good quality finish should not only restore the look and colour of the deck but seal it, creating a waterproof surface that will help to reduce and prevent any future staining.

A good quality finish should give between 12 months and two years before needing to be renewed. Ensure you use a finish that does not require any sanding so that when the time comes to do it again, it is a simple matter of cleaning the deck and topping up the finish.

ABOUT THOMAS RATHBONE

Compo-Clean (above) and CompoCare (right) are used to maintain and preserve composite decking All images courtesy of Owatrol: www.owatrol.com www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Thomas Rathbone, owner of Decking Décor which specialises in the cleaning, finishing and maintenance of decking and wood products, works closely with customers, both private and commercial, offering samples of finished products and on site surveys, as well as advice on how to restore and maintain decking.

www.deckingdecor.co.uk

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LATEST PRODUCTS

COMPOSITE DECKING Timco Wood’s new solid decking step corner is the ideal solution for decking steps and edges.

Made of fully FSC certified composite material, the decking step corner is a long lasting, hard wearing step edge that can be used to enhance a range of decking designs.

WWW.TIMCOWOOD.COM

© Arbour Design & Build

SAiGE Decking provides a light grey composite decking board in a choice of hollow or solid boards with a grooved finish or a smooth alternative side. Advantages include a non-slip surface, resistance to mould, 10-year full warranty and low maintenance requirements. It is easy to install with a hidden fixing system and every board is

consistent in size and shape. Competitive trade prices are available and delivery can be arranged within three to five days, with no minimum order quantity. Oak, charcoal and redwood colours are also available.

WWW.SAIGEDECKING.COM

Millboard Carbonised Charred is the newest concept in the Millboard decking range. It was developed using the concept of the Japanese art of burnt wood design and is perfect for any project, classic or contemporary.

The boards are made of a resin mineral composite manufactured here in the UK, are maintenance free and do not host algae growth. This allows them to maintain the highest anti-slip in the industry.

WWW.MILLBOARD.CO.UK

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Greensquares has introduced a new incentive scheme for trade and professional landscapers to celebrate the launch of Earthwood EasyClean Legacy – the latest high-end outdoor living solution from TimberTech maintenance-free composite decking. Stylish, elegant and high density, its hardwood and polymer boards reflect all of the colour grading and shading contained within natural hardwood boards but with none of the traditional fuss, giving a warranty against bending, cracking, splitting and fading.

WWW.TIMBERTECHUK.CO.UK Exterpark Tech composite decking is the fastest installed decking currently available in the UK. It is supplied as a complete kit including joists and the patented S-Clip. Simply sit your ‘tech track’ on to an existing substructure or direct onto pedestals, slide in the clips and your decking can be fitted up to four times faster than other products. It is supplied direct to the trade in the UK and available in four colours, earth, snow, anthracite and slate.

WWW.EXTERIORSOLUTIONSLTD.CO.UK Arbordeck, a complete decking systems manufacturer and sole UK distributor of innovative US Trex composite systems, has added Trex Contour to its range. Trex Contour offers value and durability and is backed by a 25-year domestic or 10-year commercial guarantee. Fade, stain, scratch, mould and mildew resistant and having inherent enhanced grip properties, Trex Contour is suited to a diverse range of applications. Each board features a unique high performance shell coating, protecting it from the elements on three sides, with the underside free to breathe to avoid surface separation.

WWW.ARBORDECK.CO.UK

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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The only limitation is your imagination Featured product: EVO Seat 1

Evolution is the new urban street furniture range developed by Woodscape, featuring Hardwood, Granite, and Stainless Steel. Combining contemporary aesthetics and strong, defined lines that make this range stand out in terms of form and function. Further bespoke and standard options are available.

Find out more at www.woodscape.co.uk

Call us on 01254 685185

The UK’s Premier Supplier of Artificial Grass LAY ON IT - PLAY ON IT - ALL YEAR ROUND Working in partnership with Landscapers, Landscape Architects, Designers and Contractors.

NEW Products for 2015!

Order now to get your free sample!

Quickgrass provide a premium artificial grass range that you can include and specify within your landscape designs.

Phone us on 01527 579841 for more details and request a sample pack to showcase to your clients.

• TRADE SUPPLY • NATIONAL DELIVERY • ROLLS CUT TO ORDER • TRADE DISCOUNT Choose the BEST . . .choose QUICKGRASS

01527 579841 www.quickgrass.co.uk

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LATEST PRODUCTS Trulawn has installed artificial grass into hundreds of schools across the UK. Artificial grass is great for enhancing children’s experience of the outdoors as well as adding fun features to a play space. It is mud free, easy to maintain, gentle on children’s skin and can be used all year round.

TruLawn’s grass tunnels help stimulate creative play and the Trulawn lifestyle colour range can be used to add colour into play spaces, inlaid into any design and withstand heavy footfall year after year.

WWW.TRULAWN.CO.UK

ARTIFICIAL GRASS

igel bbey esign

Blades Artificial Grass has over 10 years’ experience supplying the education and play sector. Artificial grass is increasingly popular in schools seeking a safe, clean and durable surface. Modern artificial grass is made with hard-wearing yarns and performance backing fabrics without compromising on realistic look and feel. A variety of colours enables schools to incorporate vibrant designs into their schemes, creating a fun outdoor learning space.

WWW.BLADESGRASS.CO.UK/SENSORY LazyLawn transformed 350m2 of playtime turf into a custom-made roadway using its unique CAD cutting technology to create white road markings and a zebra crossing at a school in Rutland. Pupils can now enjoy a mess free playtime while learning the importance of road safety.

The end result is a play area that complies with critical fall heights, is mud-free, low maintenance and provides a safe learning space for pupils.

LazyLawn has UK-wide installation teams and has installed its artificial turf for nurseries and schools around the country.

WWW.LAZYLAWN.CO.UK

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Namgrass has developed specific products for use in schools, playgrounds and public spaces. They are designed to be high uality and e tremely durable. There are many benefits to using artificial grass in a school setting. t can e tend e isting play areas and transform others into useable, safe, all weather playgrounds. amgrass’s artificial grass products are available in a variety of colours, te tures and pile heights. They also o er a range of shoc pad underlay systems that are conform to specific fall height regulations.

WWW.NAMGRASS.CO.UK

igel bbey esign 2015

Hi-Tech Turf’s HT Schools is great for use within a nursery, school or college setting. HT schools turf has a 10mm pile ma ing it easy to move around on and e tremely durable so it can withstand the high usage it would face in a school environment. The turf is ideal for play areas and multiuse pitches as it comes in a variety of colours and combinations to create bright, sensory areas especially popular for nursery and junior schools. vailable in green, red, yellow, white, blac and blue.

WWW.HITECHTURF.CO.UK

TigerTurf’s LIFE (Learning In Fun Environments) has been designed for the education sector with a variety of coloured markings for sports and games. LIFE meets the highest safety standards while providing an exciting environment for children.

The quality of the product and infill materials is key to ensuring the system fulfils safety requirements. LIFE is available in green, yellow, blue, rust, magenta, red and white and has a pile height of 18mm.

WWW.TIGERTURF.COM/UK/LANDSCAPE

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COREdrive

COREdrive Gravel stabilisation systems made from recycled plastic.

SUDS and DDA compliant.

Geotextile membrane heatwelded to underside of grid.

Request a Trade Pricelist & Samples Pack TODAY!

KEEP GRAVEL IN ITS PLACE

CORElawn

CORElawn A new range of artificial grass manufactured from premium European TenCate yarn.

Our most realistic feeling and looking grass yet.

Affordable luxury!

PERFECT LOOKING LAWN 365 DAYS A YEAR

COREdeck

COREdeck Wood polymer composite decking system made from recycled materials.

No rotting, no splitting, the all round low maintenance decking solution.

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Landscape COREProducts

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The ecologically friendly linear drainage Suds compliant and DIY drainage Dutch engineered No pipework necessary Special launch offer save 20% from ÂŁ49+P&P+VAT Unrivalled absorption and discharge capacity of 94%

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19/02/2015 11:03

LATEST PRODUCTS

EDGING EverEdge Atlas is a flexible steel edging product that has been designed to work with artificial grass installations.

It is made in the same style as the EverEdge Classic range of garden edging products, in strips of flexible steel from 1m long.

The big difference is that on the back of the edging strips there is a 20mm wide shelf which allows the artificial grass carpet to be laid right up to the edging and glued in place if required.

WWW.EVEREDGE.CO.UK

Rope Top Victorian Edging from Stonemarket has been specially treated to replicate a glazed clay look and is available in a choice of two traditional colours, midnight blue (below) and clay red. This edging product is designed to complement Stonemarket’s Millstone range of antique-look stone paving and can be used to coordinate with the entire Millstone range including radius paving features and stepping stones or to add the finishing touches to a range of Stonemarket paving. Victorian edging comes in 465x170mm units with optional matching corner posts at 45x280mm. With an attractive time-worn look, this edging product can give detail to any traditional garden patio or pathway.

WWW.STONEMARKET.CO.UK

Stabilising the edge of block paths and driveways with a timeconsuming concrete haunch can now be a thing of the past. Aco BorderGuard, available from Landscapeplus, is a clean, fast-fit paver haunching system designed for use with block paving, driveways and lawns. Made from lightweight, recycled polypropylene, it has a reinforced structure for greater strength and durability and each 1m unit can be simply cut to length and clipped together for easy on-site fabrication. Its flexible design allows you to create straight lines, 90° angles and curves, making it fast and clean to fit in every garden or driveway.

WWW.LANDSCAPEPLUS.COM

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Bradstone’s Smooth Natural Sandstone Roundtop Edging is new for 2015. A premium smooth sandstone edging with an elegant rounded top, it offers an attractive, quality solution for borders. Each edging stone is 450mm in length and comes in a choice of four stylish colours – modac, silver-grey, dune and rainbow. Smooth Natural Sandstone Roundtop Edging is designed to complement Bradstone’s existing range of smooth natural sandstone paving.

WWW.BRADSTONE.COM

Unilog Pro is ideal for earth retaining walls, palisading, border and pathway edging, ornate bridges, raised flower beds and playground amenity projects.

M&M Timber is a specialist market leading manufacturer of landscaping timbers and service life warranty options of 15 and 30 years are available.

Long lasting, quality products are treated in accordance with BS8417.

WWW.MMTIMBER.CO.UK

Rite-L-Edge by Green-tech is a heavy duty ‘L’ section edge restraint for hard landscape surfaces. It is suitable for use with a variety of materials including asphalt, loose or resin bounded gravel or block paving. Rite-Edge is manufactured from strong, lightweight aluminium that will not rust, crack or rot. Its versatility, strength, speed of installation and cost effectiveness make it a good choice of landscape edging.

WWW.GREEN-TECH.CO.UK

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PEOPLE

TRADING WITH EVEREDGE

Family-run business EverEdge provides a range of metal landscape edgings to gardeners, landscapers and designers throughout the UK and around the world from its base in Shropshire.

Pro Landscaper speaks to Operations Manager Peter Hughes to find out more

also directly specified by architects who have known the company for many years. Just to keep the company in the forefront of everybody’s mind we place adverts in magazines as well.

Tell us a bit about EverEdge; how and when it was set up and the structure.

EverEdge is a family owned business based in Shropshire and the West Midlands. It was set up in the mid-nineties to produce steel lawn edging products initially for the domestic market. In the 20 years since its inception, EverEdge has grown into an internationally recognised brand available in around 50 countries. Our ethos is all about high quality service with a high quality product.

Who are your main client base and how do you reach them?

Our client base is vast and encompasses the entire spectrum from the largest to the smallest private and public space. As well as retail sales, EverEdge is well known in the trade and is bought by architects, landscapers and contractors.

How do you market the business?

A huge proportion of retail EverEdge sales come from word of mouth. EverEdge products are

THE EVEREDGE ETHOS IS ALL ABOUT HIGH QUALITY SERVICE WITH A HIGH QUALITY PRODUCT How important is online business to you?

It’s 20% of all UK sales, so it’s very important and why we’ve just launched a brand new website.

Can you tell us more about the products?

EverEdge Classic is for edging around lawns and flowerbeds, while EverEdge ProEdge is for paths and driveways. Where a deeper edge is required, such as retaining a steep bank, we advise using EverEdge Titan. Then there are EverEdge Garden Rings, which are pre-formed circles for trees and shrubs, and the EverEdge EasyBed, which is a modular steel raised bed system for growing vegetables and flowers.

CONTACT Company name EverEdge Address PO Box 333, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 4WL Tel 01453 731717 Email enquiries@everedge.co.uk Twitter @everedge Facebook EverEdge Web www.everedge.co.uk

How easy is it to install the system? Are there any specialist fixings required?

It’s very simple to install. The Classic, ProEdge and Garden Ring ranges come with no special fixings and are hammered into the ground with a rubber mallet. The pieces then overlap and click together. The Titan range works in a similar way but is joined using coach bolts. The EasyBed is a modular design with fixing pins at each corner.

This allows any number of sections to be joined together to create different sizes and shapes.

Do you expect business turnover to increase, decrease or stay the same in 2015?

Increase. The turnover is growing organically as more people come to trust the brand. EverEdge continues to grow its overseas arm and has now supplied edging to nearly 50 countries.

EVEREDGE PRODUCTS ARE DIRECTLY SPECIFIED

BY ARCHITECTS WHO HAVE KNOWN THE COMPANY FOR MANY YEARS Have you anything new for 2015?

We have two new products. One is still in R&D and the other, called Atlas is designed specifically for use with artificial grass and was launched at the end of 2014.

Which exhibitions/events will EverEdge be attending in the next year and why?

Chelsea Flower Show is a must attend event.

Saltex, we’ve been going to for years and it always provides a good client base. We attended the FutureScape event at Sandown Park for the first time in 2014, which was a great success. We’re already looking forward to 2015.

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.co.uk

Your essential website for secondhand landscape kit

Jo Beau V460 Scarifier £1,100

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John Deere Rotary Mower £9,900

BLEC Power Box Rake £2,250

Jo Beau M300 Chipper £3,500

For more secondhand kit to improve the landscape, go to www.horticulturetrader.co.uk If you have kit or equipment for sale contact horttrader@eljays44.com

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Aspen alkylate petrol is specially designed for 2-stroke and 4-stroke handheld machinery Aspen better for machines • Ethanol free – does not absorb water • Ash free & solvent free • Aspen 2 is precisely pre-mixed with a fully synthetic 2-stroke oil (50:1) • no breakdowns from incorrect blends • Longer machine life/lower service costs • Storage stable up to 5 years

Aspen better for people • 99% cleaner emissions • Free of benzene, olefins and solvents • Reduces smog • Reduces acidification of waterways • Not classed as toxic • Reduces potential sick days and long term side-effects

Available through a quickly growing UK garden machinery dealer network – find your nearest dealer at www.aspenfuel.co.uk

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EQUIPMENT

EQUIPMENT NEWS

Welcome to the equipment pages of Pro Landscaper where we will be looking at new products and developments in the market.

If you have any stories, please email them to jack.bacon@eljays44.com or tweet me @ProLanKit

Makita marks 100th birthday with 100 power tools

John Deere marks 200,000th registered machine with CESAR approval New John Deere Gator utility vehicles can now be issued with the nationally approved CESAR security and registration system from Datatag ID as a factory fitted option.

CESAR provides each piece of equipment with a unique and permanent identity using state of the art Datatag security marking technology. This cannot be removed and is linked to a secure, 24/7 dedicated call centre.

Since 2007 CESAR has reduced overall equipment theft in the UK by 46% and increased the rate of recovery of stolen equipment by a factor of six. In doing so it has also helped decrease insurance premiums.

Datatag ID managing director Kevin Howells said: “I have every confidence that this will be as successful for Gators as it has been for John Deere tractors.” www.deere.co.uk

Makita UK has recognised its 100th year of global business with a portfolio of 100 different cordless power tools, all using the same 18V lithium-ion (li-ion) battery.

Since Makita launched its pioneering li-ion powered tools in 2005, the company’s market share has risen consistently.

The ‘100 professional cordless power tool range’ includes almost every type of power tool from entry

level drill drivers to impact tools, screwdrivers and every type of saw.

On top of this is the grounds maintenance, landscaping and gardening range including li-ion powered hedge trimmers, mowers, chainsaws and grass trimmers. www.makitauk.com

Glendale and Isuzu on track with £500k fleet deal Glendale has invested £500,000 in a fleet of 25 Isuzu utility-spec D-Max pick-ups, in its biggest fleet deal to date.

The investment follows Glendale’s recent contract to provide utility arboriculture services on behalf of Western Power Distribution. Mark McKinnon,

company engineer at Glendale said: “The vehicles have been prepared to our specification at a very high standard. The investment is in line with our commitment to ensuring maximum efficiency and safety, coupled with minimum environmental impact.” www.isuzu.co.uk

It’s Little Wonder professionals demand it Little Wonder has been building edgers for over five decades. The Little Wonder Pro Edger is designed to cut clean, crisp edges quickly and efficiently. It will cut up to 90ft/28metres per minute. Fingertip control, height adjustment, dual belt drive, Honda engine, userfriendly. What more can you say? It’s a Little Wonder.

Schiller Grounds Care 0800 840 0888 lwdealer@littlewonder.uk.com www.littlewonder.uk.com

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EQUIPMENT

Charterhouse appoints Gammies Groundcare as new dealer for east coast of Scotland

Charterhouse Turf Machinery has appointed Gammies Groundcare as its new dealer for the east coast of Scotland.

Located in the market town of Forfar, the company has more than 50 years’ experience supplying horticultural and

agricultural machinery, spare parts and accessories to professional users, local authorities and landscape gardens.

Gammies will be covering the areas of Tayside, Angus, Aberdeenshire and Morayshire.

Managing director Les Gammie said: “Charterhouse’s extensive range of natural and synthetic machinery fits very well within our existing product portfolio and we are looking forward to promoting and selling their products.”

Dougie Archibald, northern area manager for Charterhouse, added: “Gammies’ reputation is built upon providing excellent tailored customer and after sales service, they are well respected throughout their region and we’re very happy to be working with them.” www.gammies.co.uk

Kioti releases new compact tractor range via UK importer The Korean manufacturer’s latest range of compact tractors has been introduced as a replacement for Reco’s previous DS economy and LX narrow width models.

Reco area sales manager Steven Haynes explained: “Kioti has listened to extensive

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customer feedback during the early stages of development and has produced an all new tractor which we believe meets the customers demand for a mid-series tractor with big capacity performance.

“This new tractor series will appeal to a much larger customer base due to the fact that there are many different variants. The tractor series will feature Kioti’s proven H shuttle transmission which we believe will be a very popular option, especially for customers who are doing a lot of loader work.” www.reco.co.uk

Etesia produces final Hydro 100 MVEHH ride-on mower Etesia recently marked a significant milestone as the last Hydro 100 MVEHH ride-on mower rolled off its French production line and the company looked forward to the release of a new model in April.

The revolutionary Hydro 100 MVEHH made its entrance back in 1989 and was the first ride-on mower with direct ejection and integrated collection.

The Hydro 100’s successor will have a more powerful Kawasaki engine, new transmission with differential locking system, lighter steering and a larger petrol tank meaning it will be able to go faster for longer.

The new model will be available at the same price as its predecessor and is expected to be in high demand. www.etesia.co.uk

Wessex International launches range of heavy-duty batwing mowers Wessex International’s ST Series of high output rotary batwing mowers has been designed with a blade upturn and tip speed in order to deliver a quality cut at super speed.

There are five models from 4.8m to 8m and each ensures an even distribution of cut material across the width of the machine.

The ST-480 and ST-540 have three rotors and six wheels as standard while the other models offer the option of six and eight wheeled versions with five rotors.

The six wheeled mowers feature independent suspension on each wheel while on the eight wheeled model pivoting axles allow smooth travel over rough terrain. www.wessexintl.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

17/02/2015 10:12

Unequalled.

JUST GOT UPGRADED

Step up into new levels of comfort, reliability and performance with the new STW compact tractor series from Kubota.

From mowing to loading, the new STW is an unequalled performer. Amazingly quick and impressively powerful, it’s lightweight and compact design delivers outstanding efficiency with minimal surface impact.

Heavy duty tasks are light work thanks to the STW’s high torque, low noise Kubota diesel engine plus a host of standard features including the exclusive Bi-Speed turn.

With a panoramic, spacious and air-conditioned cab, the STW offers class leading visibility and operator comfort.

A full range of Kubota engineered implements are available for enhanced productivity.

Why settle for less.

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THE NEW, EVEN BETTER

STW COMPACT TRACTOR SERIES

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For more information or to find your local dealer call: 01844 268 000 or visit: www.kubota.co.uk PRO LAND STW KUBOTA 118x186mm.indd 1

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• Compact size – machine weights 650 - 1700 kg.

Easy transport on standard plant trailer • Strength – lifting capacities 350 - 1500 kg • Manoeuvrability – articulation and compact size allows access to area other machines cannot reach.

• Light footprint – can be operated on sensitive surfaces • Power – massive power to weight ratio and auxiliary hydraulic capacity • Versatility – one machine for many jobs!

One machine, many jobs Avant loaders have been imported into the UK for over 20 years and there is now an experienced dealer network plus an extensive userbase of very satisfied customers. Avant mini loaders are available in seven different series and can be equipped with a variety of useful options. In addition, there is a choice of over 150 attachments to enable almost every job imaginable to be tackled with ease.

AVANT Tecno (UK) Ltd.

Manor Farm, Bridgham, Norfolk, NR 16 2RX Tel (01953) 714 896 Fax (01953) 714 897 E-mail: sales@avant.co.uk

www.avant.co.uk

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0800 015 8482

13/02/2015 13:35

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The Heavy Duty Mover (Ref NTT).

For the easy transportation of trees, paving slabs, bags of aggregate and much more.

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020 8551 8363 020 8220 8838 info@popuppower.co.uk www.popuppower.co.uk

There when you need them, hidden when you don't...

16/02/2015 09:29

EQUIPMENT

ARB KIT: CHIPPERS

Greenmech’s Arborist 130 is a compact road tow chipper made to meet growing industry demands. Purpose-built for landscapers, arborists and groundsmen, it arrives in traditional in-line format and is a user-friendly chipper available at a modest price. Its sizeable 970x790mm infeed hopper aids bushy brash reduction and heavily forked branches can be digested through the chipper’s 150x230cm throat. Powered by a 23hp Honda petrol engine and standardised with GreenMech’s patented disc-blade technology, the Arborist 130 has been conceived for quality, economy and performance.

WWW.GREENMECH.CO.UK

Eliet shredders, produced by PSD Groundscare, are an excellent solution for shredding wood, shrubbery and leaves all year round by virtue of their multi seasonal specifications.

PSD Groundscare also supplies an extensive range of multiimplement machines with ail chipper and stump grinder

attachments. The new Super Prof compact chipper has a wide throat and is a well-received product for landscaping professionals and the casual domestic gardener.

WWW.PSDGROUNDSCARE.CO.UK

Bandit’s low priced 150XP is the most compact of its three model range of 12in disc chippers. The kit has been designed for users who seek a chipper that is economical yet has the performance of a 12in capacity appliance. The 150XP boasts a 14x17in chipper opening and a large 29x35in infeed opening area to process material

with limited trimming. A wide variety of engine options are available from 65 to 140hp.

WWW.GLOBALRECYCLING.EU

Chippers International has updated the Chipper 150 with the TPS model, which is fitted to the third-point linkage of any tractor type and powered by the PTO shaft. Each chipper has a built-in

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The TW 230DHB chipper from Timber Wolf is a larger version of its former self and now has a more powerful chipping rotor. This model has improved serviceability and greater strength has been built into every feature to ensure top level performance and safety. All service items have easy access and the central greasing systems ensure downtime is kept to a minimum. The TW 230DHB boasts quad force, wide rollers, an extra-large throat and open top funnel.

WWW.TIMBERWOLF-UK.COM

blade removal and replacement system that reduces maintenance time. The TPS’s hydraulic system has been manufactured with high quality components, oversized pipes and a special electro-valves group to ensure maximum reliability and long lifespan.

WWW.CHIPPERSINTERNATIONAL.CO.UK

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EQUIPMENT

ARB KIT: STUMPGRINDERS Predator Power has launched a new selection of add-ons for its P50RX model. One of the UK’s leading designers and suppliers of stump grinders, Predator Power has ensured a range of applications can be used in combination with the machine’s

rear hydraulic PTO. The P50RX is the narrowest stump grinder on the market relative to its power output, measuring up at only 31in wide. It is powered by a 50hp diesel engine, is radio controlled and fully hydraulic.

WWW.PREDATOR-MFG.COM

The SP5014TRX from Orange Plant claims to be the industry’s best performing hydraulic self-propelled grinder. Available with petrol or diesel engines from 30 to 44hp, the unit also provides a versatile rubber traction undercarriage. The lever-

The ST20B from FSI has a turntable design permitting the operator to park the wheels with two brakes. This enables the peak of the grinder to slew on its bearings so the user’s force is directed into the stump. It features responsive brakes that let the operator ‘walk’ the machine up or down steps and steep banks. The ST20B is made to be used for long periods on a daily basis, aided by its anti-vibration handle mounts to protect the user’s hands. It also includes remote grease points making it easy to maintain.

WWW.SPECTRUM-PLANT.COM

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Rayco has launched the largest electric start grinder in the Mini Work-Force line up.

The RG25HD machine is powered by a 25hp Kohler Command engine and has a Donaldson dual element air cleaner. With the convenient handlebar

controlled appliance comes with several compatible engine options. It can operate under a Kohler, Vanguard or Kubota motor with a choice of features including either wired or wireless remote control.

WWW.ORANGEPLANT.CO.UK

At only 28in (710mm) wide, the DANequip 25SP and 27SP pedestrian stump grinders have

the advantage of narrow access so they will fit through most gaps. A narrower set of wheels come as standard with the machines, cutting the width to 26in (670mm). The machines are compact and well balanced, making them easy to use. The 36cm diameter cutter wheel is 12mm thick, using just eight standard teeth, providing more than enough momentum, but keeping running costs down.

WWW.DANEQUIP.CO.UK

adjustment option o ering customised user control, the operator is always in command, whatever the conditions. It is selfpropelled, making it the ultimate choice for roaming up and down hills, trailer ramps, mounded landscaping, etc.

WWW.WESTCONUK.COM

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19/02/2015 11:58

SUPERB ON SLOPES AS940 Ride on Brushcutter • 4WD for outstanding performance on slopes

• Unique twin blade cutting system for a cleaner cut

• Versatile machine for all year operation

• Low centre of gravity for greater stability

To request more product information, locate your nearest dealer or arrange a machine demonstration please contact PSD Groundscare:

08450 773 773 sales@psdgroundscare.com www.psdgroundscare.com

PSD4942 - PSD AS Motor advert 04.indd 1

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EQUIPMENT

GENERAL LATEST KIT

John Deere’s latest 7700A PrecisionCut mower is an advanced upgrade from the company’s turf maintenance product line and has been designed with golf courses in mind. It is also suited to other sports and amenity areas and offers advanced user control and simple operator training.

The PrecisionCut model is part of the new A Model fairway range, which has been commended by turf industry professionals for its simplified advanced technology. The user friendly digital display enables variable mowing options and limits variations in performance to provide a more consistent finish. Originally used on the John Deere compact tractor range, the load-match feature coupled with on-course technology has been engineered to improve overall performance, reliability, better diagnostics and increased operator comfort.

WWW.DEERE.CO.UK

Kubota UK has expanded its range of compact tractors with the launch of its STW series providing

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The cordless EGO Power+ is a market leading blower requiring a single charge of a powerful 2.0Ah 56V lithium-ion battery to perform on low or normal speed. The rechargeable tool uses the industry’s strongest battery and achieves the power of petrol

driven models without excessive noise or emissions. The compact and lightweight motor construction ensures a longer running-time and allows debris to be cleared quickly and effectively.

Makita has revealed the new, far-reaching EN4950H pole hedge trimmer, designed to top-out hedges at least three metres high.

A fuel-efficient 25cc Makita MM4 engine with low noise and emissions make the

EN4950H environmentally friendly. The all-steel bevel drive system produces maximum cutting torque and reliability.

With 13 different angle settings, the trimmer can operate at up to 135° allowing it to cut through branches of up to 21.5mm in thickness.

It features a safely fitted D front handle, is reliable for hot and cold starting and can be flat-packed for ease of transport.

WWW.MAKITAUK.COM

a new level of comfort and performance. The three series models (STW34, STW37 and STW40) have been introduced to handle a variety of tasks from everyday to heavy-duty jobs.

The tractors are available with an optional factory-equipped cab offering a higher degree of comfort. The four-pillar design

gives 360° visibility while the air conditioning, front windscreen wiper and rear defogger make the machines ideal for use in all seasons. The trio all feature hydrostatic power steering to perform tighter turns and handle front loader work with confidence, helping to reduce operator fatigue.

WWW.KUBOTA.CO.UK

Blower performance and wind speeds are 425m3/h (45mph) on low, 650 m3/h (74mph) on high and 810 m3/h when in boost mode.

WWW.EGOPOWERPLUS.COM

Groundsman’s TMC26 advanced turf cutter has been engineered with landscaping and sports-turf renovation in mind.

An all purpose cutter, it can cut through all grass surfaces and soil conditions. It is manoeuvrable, portable and easy to operate, with the lowest hand-arm vibration levels (HAV) on the market.

The company’s two and four wheel drive turf cutters are designed not only to effortlessly cut sods with a thickness of up to 7cm and a width of from 30 to 60cm, but also to perform a variety of functions as well as regular sod cutting.

A range of blades are available that can work down to a depth of 13cm depth. These include a trench blade, subsoil de-compactor, mole-drain and a cable-pulling blade.

WWW.GROUNDSMANINDUSTRIES.COM

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EQUIPMENT

The latest addition to the GKB line is the Sandfiller drainage system, designed to preserve sports-turf areas where surface water and moss forming are a problem.

The Sandfiller provides economic and environmentallyfriendly aeration of the top layer by using three adjustable depth rollers and a slitting rotor. It fills the trenches with sand, the flow of which is controlled hydraulically by a valve on the side of the machine.

FGM Claymore has added two stylish and user-friendly tractors to its Simplicity range specifically adapted for wide-ranging mowing.

Complete with simplified foot pedal operation, both larger tractors possess automatic traction control, cruise control and accessible interior dash controls.

The bright orange exterior features LED headlights as well as

The Hitachi CS36DL 36V lithiumion cordless top handle chainsaw is an updated version of its predecessor with enhanced battery life.

When combined with the BL36200 750Wh backpack power supply, the chainsaw can

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General LK 2.indd 93

The Trilo brand has also expanded in 2015 with the arrival of the BL960 Blower, one of the most powerful on the market.

The BL960 is fitted with a 960mm fan with nine blades, giving it a capacity and range that make it ideal for use in large parks or on the golf course. It is driven by a Walterscheid PTO shaft and can be equipped with a 180° reversible spout operated from the driver’s seat.

WWW.THEGRASSGROUP.COM

electric cutting height control. The mowers are fitted with a fully floating deck and a choice of three cutting widths with mulching and collection available as an option. The Simplicity Conquest is an upgrade on the original simplicity Broadmoor that guarantees to deliver maximum mowing performance.

WWW.FGMCLAYMORE.CO.UK

run 10 times longer, giving up to eight hours of run-time when on full charge. As a result, if charged overnight the combination of chainsaw and backback is able to last a full working day.

The back pack is extremely low maintenance as there is no need to drain fuel for storage purposes or clean any air filters, contributing to its ease of use.

WWW.HITACHI-POWERTOOLS.CO.UK

The Groundmaster 360 from Toro is renowned for its agility and manoeuvrability thanks to its in-built quad-steer technology.

The MP493 and MP653 from Ransomes Jacobsen are wide area mowers ideal for landscape contractors maintaining significant open spaces. They are powered by 49hp and 65hp Kubota diesel engines and feature three all new rotary decks – one out front and two on the wings.

Thanks to the ground up design and use of high strength steel the mowers are the lightest in their class allowing significant fuel savings.

The Ransomes 653 has the latest Euro Stage IIIB turbocharged engine with advanced electronics for more precise control.

WWW.RANSOMESJACOBSEN.COM

The 36hp four-cylinder Kubota diesel engine allows the user to complete a steep, anti-slip hill climb.

The 360 permits 180 degree turns without tearing turf and hugging both turns and side hills while mowing in quality comfort.

Put simply, the 360 makes an excellent solution for groundsmen wanting to maintain and preserve large areas of turf.

WWW.TORO.COM/GROUNDS/360

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PEOPLE

LOUISE HARRISON-HOLLAND Blue Tulip Garden Design www.bluetulipgardendesign.co.uk

Your most referred to gardening book of all time The Hillier Gardener’s Guide, Planting with Trees.

Best garden in the UK I was pretty blown away by the walled garden at Broughton Grange designed

by Tom-Stuart-Smith. In the public realm, I love a visit to Trentham Gardens at any time of year.

Biggest life influence My love of designing spaces. I was a qualified interior designer, left to go into marketing, but my desire to draw and manipulate space drove me to retrain for a third career in garden design.

Top plant Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ is an old favourite. A new one being Geum ‘Prinses Juliana’ to satisfy my recent craving for orange.

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Favourite tipple New Zealand sauvignon blanc, or a watermelon Martini if I’m being daring.

Most treasured gift My Pure digital radio, a constant companion while I’m working.

Your most used saying or cliche You can’t have an Aston Martin for a Ford price! I always keep this to myself; never say it to the client, I hasten to add!

Your prediction for newest gardening trend More structure to a garden with the greater use of shrubs and a move away from the en masse planting of perennials.

Pro Landscaper asks quick-fire questions to get a small insight into the people that make up our industry. To take part email lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com

PETER TILBURY J Jackson & Sons www.jacksonsnursery.co.uk

Your most referred to gardening book of all time The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs.

Best garden in the UK Heale Gardens, Middle Woodford, Wiltshire.

Lifelong fan of (sporting team) England rugby.

Your most used saying or cliche It’s alright, it will be brighter later (in regard to any day that is slightly inclement).

Biggest life influence Hawkwind/festivals.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Nigella Lawson, top cook; Caitlin Moran, top journalist and Jo Thompson, top garden designer!

Most treasured gift Health.

Top plant Liquidamber (at the moment).

Favourite tipple Yorkshire Gold tea, am.

Real ale, pm.

Your prediction for newest gardening trend White Aquilegias.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Lemmy, Quentin Crisp and Vivienne Westwood.

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12/02/2015 12:44

PEOPLE

GERALD ABRAHAMS Director, GA Landscapes www.galandscapes.co.uk

Your most referred to gardening book of all time Trees For Your Garden by Roy Lancaster.

Best garden in the UK Biddulph Grange captures the imagination, excitement and fun of one’s childhood.

Biggest life influence My father.

Most treasured gift My dog Sonny, he came from a rescue centre.

Top plant How can you possibly decide? Rhamnus alaternus variegata as an underated shrub for dry shade.

Lifelong fan of (sporting team) The Brazilian women’s beach volleyball team.

Favourite tipple Unpricey merlot keeps me happy!

Your most used saying or cliche Not too deep.

ROCKY COLES

SUE TOWNSEND

Freelance Horticulturist

Sue Townsend Garden Design

www.rockycoles.com

Your prediction for newest gardening trend Less perennials, more shrubs hopefully.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Boris Johnson, Bon Scott (dead ACDC singer) and Noel Edmonds.

www.suetownsendgardendesign.co.uk Your most referred to gardening book of all time Shrubs by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix – their books have great photos and descriptions.

Best garden in the UK No such thing. They are all unique, like pieces of art.

Biggest life influence My parents, supporting and encouraging me.

Top plant Acer griseum or any tree that holds interest once the flowers have gone.

Favourite tipple Definitely rum, preferably dark on the rocks.

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Little Interviews TW.indd 95

Most treasured gift Health, to be able to explore places and the people who you meet along the way.

Lifelong fan of (sporting team) Not really sporty but it would have to be The Saints, Northampton.

Your prediction for newest gardening trend Gentle evolution of the smallholder movement.

Bees and sustainability are huge at the moment.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner How about a huge soup run on the streets. It will surely feed more than three.

Your most referred to gardening book of all time The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs.

Best garden in the UK East Ruston Old Vicarage ticks a lot of boxes but I need to visit so many more.

Biggest life influence Fabulous family and friends.

Top plant Alliums.

Favourite tipple A glass of wine or a mojito at sunset somewhere hot.

Most treasured gift A little black book of my mum’s favourite recipes.

Lifelong fan of Strictly Come Dancing.

Your most used saying or cliche I’ve got to meet a deadline.

Your prediction for newest gardening trend Sustainable gardens that are designed to cope with the extreme weather conditions we have had over the last few years – flooding and drought.

Three people you’d like to invite to dinner Aung san Suu kyi, Nelson Mandela and Ella Fitzgerald.

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12/02/2015 12:45

PEOPLE

LOOK OUT FOR...

WILL BURBERRY Next generation landscape gardener Will Burberry tells Pro Landscaper why he was inspired to follow his dreams and pursue a career in landscaping despite the prevailing wisdom pushing him down a more academic route

How did you get into landscaping and what made you want to do it?

My earliest memories of wanting to be a landscaper were from about age five when I was let loose on my grandparents gardens and had an obsession with digging and machinery. It was something I had always wanted to do. My teachers at school kept trying to steer me down the academic route, telling me I could do something better with my life, but my mother

encouraged me to follow my dreams, she always says that if you do something you love you never have to work again! When I had the option of work experience at the age of 14 I was lucky enough to be accepted by Neal and Ainsley at Gardenscapes for a one week placement laying a large patio. I absolutely loved it and knew for sure I had found the job of my dreams. Luckily they were pleased with me and told me to contact them when I had left school. I did this and started working for them as an apprentice, aged 16. They enrolled me on an NVQ 2 in landscape construction and horticulture at Merrist Wood College, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I finished the course in the summer of 2014 and was thrilled to be awarded Apprentice of the Year for Merrist Wood in November 2014.

Do you prefer hard landscaping or planting?

Definitely the hard landscaping as I really enjoy using machinery and bringing the shape of the garden to life. I quite enjoy planting bigger shrubs and trees.

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Do you think you will need any further education in relation to any aspects of your job?

I was looking forward to returning to Merrist Wood to study NVQ 3 but unfortunately they didn’t have enough interest from other students and decided not to run the course, which was disappointing. I am hoping to complete it in the future. I also plan on getting my digger and dumper licence and am interested in being trained to install specialist materials such as resin bound surfaces and artificial grass, which has improved greatly in recent years and appears to be growing in popularity.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Seeing an area completely transformed, starting with a blank canvas and then leaving the job completely landscaped is fantastic. I enjoy planning and installing drainage into gardens and I find it really satisfying watching the water drain away to transform the use of the area, particularly if it was previously very wet ground. I have also been surprised at how much enjoyment I get from the carpentry side of landscaping – fencing, decking, pergolas, oak framed buildings and railway sleeper walls.

How would you encourage other young people to take up a career in landscaping/horticulture?

I think one of the key ways to revitalise the landscaping industry with the younger generation would be to encourage schools and parents to promote it as a long term rewarding career.

Currently they appear to do their best to put young people off getting a trade (particularly if it is working outside) and steer them more down the line of training for office/media/retail jobs only to find there is a lack of those jobs available. When I talk about my job with my friends most of them are envious of what I do and that I was ‘allowed’ to do what I wanted in my career.

And the worst thing?

I can’t actually think of anything bad about my job but adverse weather is irritating when it delays work.

Where do you see your career progression?

As I gain more experience it would be good to be involved in the planning/tender process from the beginning, ordering the materials and running my own team. My bosses are training me very well and in turn I would like to be able to pass those skills on to others who are also keen to learn this trade.

CONTACT Gardenscapes 2 Burgess Road, Langshott Park, Horley, Surrey, RH6 9YU Tel: 01293 772587 Web: www.gscapes.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

16/02/2015 11:11

JOBS

For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

Call 01903 777 570 or email hortcareers@eljays44.com with your vacancy.

MAINTENANCE GARDENER KEN MUIR GARDEN CARE UK Loughborough

An experienced gardener is required to assist with planting and maintaining installation projects. You will have a qualification in horticulture and experience in garden maintenance and working with plants. A passion for this profession is essential. Working as a knowledgeable gardener in a hands-on capacity, you will have a flexible approach to working with a team and on your own and you will be familiar with using and maintaining handheld garden power equipment.

SENIOR GARDENER

TOPIARUS HORTICULTURE Chipping Norton Topiarus Horticulture maintains the gardens and grounds of a number of corporate and private clients across Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. We are looking for a senior gardener to help manage and maintain these to a high standard. You will have at least three years’ experience in gardening and soft landscaping, good plant knowledge and be able to guide and manage a small team. You will also need to be able to communicate with clients and your team and be comfortable working with a range of garden machinery.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

SOFT LANDSCAPE/ MAINTENANCE TEAM LEADER

EXPERIENCED GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR

BUSHY BUSINESS Surrey

Bushy Business is looking for a new team member to supervise and carry out maintenance of gardens including soft landscaping in and around Guildford, Surrey.

The ideal candidate must have excellent plant knowledge and pruning skills, good communication skills and experience of the safe use of garden machinery; be fully competent in all aspects of garden maintenance and soft landscaping including turfing, planting and fencing; be polite and presentable and able to keep accurate records of daily works and corresponding costs.

ACRE LANDSCAPES LTD Hove

Acre Landscapes requires an experienced landscape maintenance supervisor to carry out high quality grounds maintenance across the south. The successful candidate will live in Sussex, have a full driving license and a proven track record in horticulture. PA1 and 6 are desirable but not essential as full training will be given.

Our award winning company offers a great salary, benefi ts and career opportunities.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

MOBILE DOMESTIC GARDENER

LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS MANAGER

Our award winning client based in south west London is seeking a gardener/driver to be responsible for their current garden maintenance contracts in and around the Wimbledon area. Duties will include lawn maintenance, weed control, fencing work, planting and pruning. Applicants must have good plant knowledge; a full, clean UK driving licence and previous experience in domestic garden maintenance.

Are you seeking your next move? We have opportunities in expanding companies in grounds maintenance, fencing and weed control or bespoke landscape construction (commercial and domestic).

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

EXPERIENCED HARD LANDSCAPER

LANDSCAPER - TEAM LEADER

Experienced hard landscaper required in Wallington. Applicants must have relevant skills and experience in hard landscaping and be confident working unsupervised. Duties include installation of common landscaping features such as paving, walls, turf and some general labouring. Must have knowledge and experience of laying and preparing paved areas, building other garden features such as walls, fences, turf and decking, basic brick laying skills and efficient general labouring.

Have you got some experience in landscaping? Are you looking to move up? Have you got a friendly personality? Do you know how to work hard and enjoy your work? Do you want to be part of a fast growing company? Do you want great future opportunities? Would you enjoy working in a team to help create fantastic gardens?

If you answered yes to these questions, we’d like to talk to you!

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk.

ANDERSPLUS London

ANDERSON LANDSCAPES London

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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TAYLOR2RECRUITMENT North

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Ride-On Tractor Mowers John Deere GT235, 48” SD deck, 18hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 355 hrs John Deere X320, 48” SD deck, 22hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 195 hrs John Deere GX355D, 48” SD deck, 16hp diesel, 2WD, HST – choice of 2 John Deere X495, 48” SD deck, 24hp diesel, 2WD, HST – 1922 hrs John Deere X740, 54” SD deck, Low-Tip Collector – choice of 2 John Deere X748, 48” RD deck, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – 1380 hrs Etesia Bahia, 32” RD deck & collector, 2WD Etesia H124DS, 48” RD deck, Hi-Tip Collector, 25hp diesel – 828 hrs Etesia Attila Bank Mower (Ex Demo) – low hours

£1’500 £2’500 £3’000 £5’500 £6’250 £6’750 £2’250 £4’750 £ POA

Compact Tractors John Deere X748, 54” Snow Blade, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – choice of 2 JD 4600 & Front Loader, 43hp, 4WD, G.Box, Power Reverser – 4331hrs John Deere 3320, 33hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1230 hrs JD 4410 & Front Loader, 34hp, 4WD, G.Box, Power Reverser – 2279 hrs Kubota B2410, 24hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1720 hrs Kubota B2410 & Front Loader, 24hp, 4WD, HST – 1076 hrs Kioti DK551C with Cab, 54hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 612 hrs New Holland TC27D, 27hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 2312 hrs New Holland TN55D with cab, 55hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 1751 hrs Yanmar FE280H, 28hp diesel, 4WD, turf tyres, roll bar – 262 hrs

£6’750 £7’750 £9’000 £9’750 £6’900 £7’900 £13’750 £7’500 £12’500 £7’500

Ride-On Cylinder Mowers John Deere 900 Commercial Triple, 30” fixed units – choice of 2 JD 2653A, 26” 8 blade units, spiral rollers, scrapers – choice of 4 JD 2500 (A) (E), 22” 11 blade units, groomers, brushes, grass boxes -choice of 3 JD 3235B with Cab, 22” 8 blade units, grooved front rollers – 2708 hrs JD 3235B, 22” 8 blade ESP units – 2691 hrs JD 3225C, 7 blade light-weight units c/w rear roller brushes – 2217 hrs Jacobsen G Plex, recently serviced & extra set scarifying units available Hayter LT324, 6 blade units with 10” fixed heads – choice of 10 Hayter T424, 5 gang, 6 blade – 30” units – choice of 2 Ransome Highway 3 – choice of 2 Ransome Parkway 3, 30” 6 blade units – 1970 hrs

£5’500 from: £5’500 from: £5’750 £6’500 £7’500 £8’000 £5’500 from: £6’500 from: £9’000 £ POA £ POA

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Ride-On Front Rotary Mowers John Deere 1445, various deck sizes and hours – choice of 8 from: £6’500 John Deere 1445 with Cab, 60” SD deck, Serviced – 2126 hrs £8’500 John Deere 1545, 62” RD deck, 31hp, 4WD, HST – choice of 2 from: £9’750 For John all your golf, and4WD, landscape needs.

Deere 1565 withsportsturf cab, 62” RD, 38hp, HST – 1044irrigation hrs £9’750 John Deere 1600TMowers Wide Area Mower with canopy – choice of 2 from: £8’500 Ride-On Tractor BuyJohn online at www.lws.uk.com Deere 997 Zero Turn Mower, 60” deck, 30hp – 291 hrs £1’500£9’000 John Deere GT235, 48” SD deck, 18hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 355 hrs Jacobsen HR6010 Wide Area Mower – 1615 hrs £2’500£ POA John Deere X320, 48” SD deck, 22hp petrol, 2WD, HST – 195 hrs Ransome HR6010 Wide Area Mower – choice of 2 from: £12’000 £3’000 John Deere GX355D, 48” SD deck, 16hp diesel, 2WD, HST – choice of 2 Ransome HR300, 60” RD deck, 4WD, HST – choice of 4 £ POA £5’500 John Deere X495, 48” SD deck, 24hp diesel, 2WD, HST – 1922 hrs £6’250 John Deere X740, 54” SD deck, Low-Tip Collector – choice of 2 Commercial Pedestrian Mowers £6’750 John Deere X748, 48” RD deck, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – 1380 hrs HugeBahia, choice32” of RD Ferris Scag mowers Etesia deckand & collector, 2WD – 36”, 48” 52” Zero Turn mowers. £2’250 £4’750 Etesia H124DS, 48” RD deck, Hi-Tip Collector, 25hp diesel – 828 hrs £ POA Etesia Attila Bank Mower (Ex Demo) – low hours

Visit our website:

Tractors Tel Compact 0345 230 9697 • www.lws.uk.com

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w w w. r o c h fo r d s . n e t

Joseph Rochford Gardens Ltd, Pipers End, Letty Green, Hertford, SG14 2PB Tel: 01707 261370 Fax: 01707 262847 Email: sales@rochfords.net

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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John Deere X748, 54” Snow Blade, 24hp diesel, 4WD, HST – choice of 2 £6’750 JD 4600 & Front Loader, 43hp, 4WD, G.Box, Power Reverser – 4331hrs £7’750 John Deere 3320, 33hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1230 hrs £9’000 JD 4410 & Front Loader, 34hp, 4WD, G.Box, Powerwww.prolandscapermagazine.com Reverser – 2279 hrs £9’750 Balmers GM Ltd, Manchester Rd, Dunnockshaw, Kubota B2410, 24hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 1720 hrs £6’900 5PF Kubota B2410 & Front Loader,Burnley, 24hp, 4WD, Lancs, HST – 1076BB11 hrs £7’900 Kioti DK551C with Cab, 54hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 612 hrs £13’750 New Holland TC27D, 27hp, 4WD, HST, turf tyres, roll bar – 2312 hrs £7’500 New Holland TN55D with cab, 55hp, 4WD, Gear Box – 1751 hrs £12’500 Yanmar FE280H, 28hp diesel, 4WD, turf tyres, roll bar – 262 hrs £7’500

www.balmersgm.com

Ride-On Cylinder Mowers John Deere 900 Commercial Triple, 30” fixed units – choice of 2 JD 2653A, 26” 8 blade units, spiral rollers, scrapers – choice of 4 JD 2500 (A) (E), 22” 11 blade units, groomers, brushes, grass boxes -choice of 3 JD 3235B with Cab, 22” 8 blade units, grooved front rollers – 2708 hrs JD 3235B, 22” 8 blade ESP units – 2691 hrs JD 3225C, 7 blade light-weight units c/w rear roller brushes – 2217 hrs Jacobsen G Plex, recently serviced & extra set scarifying units available Hayter LT324, 6 blade units with 10” fixed heads – choice of 10 Hayter T424, 5 gang, 6 blade – 30” units – choice of 2 Ransome Highway 3 – choice of 2 Pro Landscaper / Ransome Parkway 3, 30” 6 blade units – 1970 hrs

from: £5’750 £6’500 £7’500 £8’000 £5’500 from: £6’500 from: £9’000 £ POA March 2015 £ POA

Ride-On Front Rotary Mowers John Deere 1445, various deck sizes and hours – choice of 8 John Deere 1445 with Cab, 60” SD deck, Serviced – 2126 hrs

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