MARCH 2O20
LET’S HEAR IT FROM
GROWING CONCERNS
THE HEAT IS ON
WINNERS REVEALED
Lara Behr, Lara Behr Garden Design
Sustainable practices in leading nurseries
Industry efforts to combat climate change
Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2020
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WELCOME
W E LCO M E W
elcome to the March issue of Pro Landscaper. Fresh from the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2020, we are reminded of the excellent business practices within our sector, and this year’s bunch of winners are no exception. Well done to all those shortlisted and winners of the 17 categories at this year’s event. Special congratulations must go to Oak View Landscapes, which won the Supreme Award. This company is one that many businesses aspire to and it’s so good to see managing director Paul Downer so willing to share his knowledge and business practices to help others develop and grow too. Also, well done to all the 2020 SGD Awards winners. There were some fabulous projects and schemes highlighted which you will continue to see in the Inspire section over the coming months. You may notice a theme running through this month’s issue. Leading on from The Summit at FutureScape 2019, the focus is ‘green’, which we all know encompasses many other terms,
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such as: sustainability, environmentally or eco-friendly, ethical, organic and Fairtrade, to name a few. Vast amounts are now being spent by manufacturers on R&D to help us protect our planet. The landscape industry can elevate its stature and take the lead on change – and we believe it already is. In this issue, you will find some fairly easy ways of becoming more environmentally compliant with products, lighting, soft landscaping and equipment. There are also features that carry a strong focus on sustainability. We believe that our industry can now stand out and with the younger generation seemingly putting more importance on the planet, it could prove to be a massive advertisement for a rewarding career in the horticulture sector. We hope to see lots of you at FutureScape Spring on Tuesday 17 March. Have a good month,
JIM & LISA
THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY CAN ELEVATE ITS STATURE AND TAKE THE LEAD ON CHANGE – AND WE BELIEVE IT ALREADY IS
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CONTENTS
INSPIRE 41
INFORM 08 10 15 18 21 26 29 30 33 35 38 41 4
Agenda Capitalising on climate change News Our monthly roundup of industry news News Extra Landscape Institute Future Projects IKEA Vienna Let’s Hear It From Lara Behr Company Profile GK Wilson Landscape Services View From the Top Marcus Watson Too Mulch? Andrew Wilson Whatever the Weather Holly Youde Time To Act Ben West Get Active Jo Manfredi-Hamer Local Authority Salford City Council
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The Design is in the Detail Landscape Associates Curved Composition The Outdoor Room Considerate Calm TGP Landscape Architects Landscape Architect’s Journal Urquhart & Hunt Trends for 2020 Debs Winrow Stoneworld Championing British stone Paving Suppliers predict trends for 2020 John Cullen Lighting Sustainable lighting management Lighting The latest feature lighting choices Street Furniture Three new product launches Sustainable Product of the Month Wool Compost, Dalefoot Composts
NURTURE 81 87 88 91 92 94 96 98 101 105
Feature Garden Arundel Castle and Gardens Changing Expectations Noel Kingsbury Make Time to Train Chris Stone The Need for Shade Trees Nick Coslett Part of a Community Lewis Normand Trees for Cities Funding to plant nationwide Growing Concerns Embracing sustainable practices Pledge to the Hedge Big Hedge Co Nursery Focus Griffin Nurseries Bark and Mulch High quality bestsellers
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CONTENTS
MARCH 2020 E D U C AT E 109 110 111 112 114 117 120 123 129 131
Lending a Hand Henry Ejdelbaum The Value of Joining Trade Associations Lee Bestall Part of the Machine Angus Lindsay The Time Is Now Upgrading to cordless tools Battery Powered Kit Exciting electric solutions Go and See FutureScape Spring Stormwater Solutions GreenBlue Urban The Heat Is On Responding to climate change Managing Expenses Comparing software Case Study Renson
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PEOPLE 135 136 138 141 142 144 147 149 151 154
PLBA Interview Jim and Lisa Wilkinson Out and About Pro Landscaper Business Awards Out and About SGD Awards 30 Under 30 Ryan Mills
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Life/Style Jon Sheaff What I’m Reading Richard Moore What’s Your Role? Guy Horwood Have Your Say Vicky and John Wyer Have Your Say Landscape for Future Little Interviews Questions with the individuals who make up our industry
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CONTRIBUTORS
CO N T R I B U TO R S Ben West Ben West argues the importance of creating naturalistic gardens in order to make an environmental difference. Ben also stresses that, as an industry, we should be considering the environment more thoroughly when it comes to design.
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MARCUS WATSON P29
@LANDSOLUK
Jo Manfredi-Hamer
ANDREW WILSON P30
This month sees Jo kicking off her three-part series discussing how to care for your health and wellbeing as a sole trader. In this first article, Jo explains the importance of physical health and shares some easy tips for improving your day-to-day lifestyle.
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W W W. JMHGARDENDESIGN.CO.UK
@JMANFREDIHAMER
DEBS WINROW P62
Noel Kingsbury In his article, Noel explains why the inclusion and installation of irrigation systems are not the stand-alone saviour when it comes to tackling droughts. Noel discusses the importance of change and highlights a strong alternative in drought-resistant planting.
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NICK COSLETT P91
@NOELK57
Chris Stone
HENRY E JDELBAUM P109
This month, Chris Stone discusses the focus that Bushy Business has when it comes to training programmes and development within the company this year. As well as the staple courses most businesses will explore, Chris highlights some more specific options available.
CONTACT
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Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA Tel: 01903 777 570 EDITORIAL Editorial director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579 Head of content – Nina Mason nina.mason@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 393 Features writer – Rachael Forsyth rachael.forsyth@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578 Features writer – Frankie Youd frankie.youd@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 394 Equipment editor – Rachel Gordon proarbeditor@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Subeditor – Katrina Roy katrina.roy@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 391 Subeditor – Sam Seaton sam.seaton@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 391
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Design – Kara Thomas, Kirsty Turek ADVERTISING Business development manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 585 Head of sales – Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587 Horticulture Careers – Laura Harris laura.harris@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Managing director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 589 MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Tel: 01903 777 570 Subscription enquiries – Laura Harris laura.harris@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 580
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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 Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2020 subscription price is £95. 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.
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MANAGEMENT Managing director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business development manager Jamie Wilkinson
Online content editor – Amy Fitz-Hugh amy.fitz-hugh@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 392
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INFORM
AGENDA
HOW COULD THE FURORE AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE BENEFIT A BUSINESS? Niall Williams
Steven Walley
Ben West
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, ND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONDON STONE
MANAGING DIRECTOR, LANDSCAPING SOLUTIONS
The climate crisis creates a platform, upon which to advocate our services upon. We are uniquely positioned to not only mitigate the climate crisis, but simultaneously provide a vast myriad of benefits for the wider society. This isn’t something we can do alone, however.
Tackling climate change is everyone’s responsibility. We desperately need legislation that’s got teeth, but when that is not forthcoming, suppliers must be ready to lead the way. Customers must also play their part by demanding that the products they buy are produced in a way that minimizes CO2 emissions. Suppliers need to stop looking at this as an inconvenience and realise that our planet is facing an existential crisis. This is not going to go away. The most important thing any business can do is to immediately look at reducing business activities that cause CO2 emissions.
Climate change is helping us see ourselves as inextricably connected to the rest of nature rather that detached agents acting upon it. Cumulatively, our most mundane decisions and actions have profound
THE CLIMATE CRISIS CREATES A PLATFORM UPON WHICH TO ADVOCATE OUR SERVICES We need to work with other professions to deliver this. As professionals, we sit at a critical junction between our associated professions, and are again uniquely suited to act as a neutral force. We are not seen to have a vested interest in a particular field, as ecology or forestry might. Instead, we find ourselves able to articulate our colleague’s information into a story that caters for all, delivering a considered approach delivering benefits for all. If, as a profession, we can take this high-level approach and position alongside associated professionals, the benefits will filter down into daily practice.
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SUPPLIERS NEED TO STOP LOOKING AT THIS AS AN INCONVENIENCE AND REALISE THAT OUR PLANET IS FACING AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS Let staff work from home, reduce vehicle movements, improve processes to minimize waste, go electric, hold meat-free days and encourage everyone to get involved. So much can be done and there is no time to waste.
HOW CAN CLIMATE CHANGE BE MITIGATED BY THE ACTIVITIES OF OUR BUSINESS? consequences. This awareness should lead consumers to make informed choices. They will look to appoint suppliers that are taking action to ensure their activities leave the environment in better condition than they found it. Companies and individuals awake to this shift will be well positioned to benefit. We need to twist the question and ask: How can climate change be mitigated by the activities of our business? Those not asking this of their businesses may be left by the wayside. The entire lyric to Bob Dylan’s 1964 song The Times They Are a-Changin’ seem more relevant than ever, but one line seems more appropriate than most – “Your old road is rapidly agin’. Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand”.
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INFORM
Marcus Watson
Sarah Eberle
Doug Graham
MANAGING DIRECTOR, GROUND CONTROL
OWNER, SARAH EBERLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, I DVERDE
The furore is well deserved: too much lip-service has been paid for too long on the issue of climate change. And the world has become more vocal on the issue, especially the younger generation. How can this benefit business? By changing the lip-service to practical, visible action (however small you start), businesses can
Those of us in the landscape industry generally consider ourselves well placed during times of environmental challenge – after all, most of what we do is ‘greening’ our habitats. However, now is the time to follow that through and ensure all aspects of what we do are in response to the climate crisis are proactive and also well considered. The mantra of ‘client first’ is changing to ‘environment first’, and we need to be seen as leaders. We may be proudly boasting of our product which is no longer a luxury but a necessity (which many businesses cannot do) but we will be judged behind the scenes on how we deal with our ‘manufacturing’ process – on waste, plastics, hard materials, transport, etc. We must bring our businesses into line, so we can boast of good carbon footprint
Businesses can benefit greatly from the increase in focus on climate change by identifying and implementing ways of operating that are less damaging to the global environment. Whilst this is an improvement in environmental performance, it also significantly increases business credentials in terms of customers, colleagues, communities, and other stakeholders.
WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS LONG OVERDUE FURORE BY HIGHLIGHTING THE SERVICES WE OFFER WHICH ACTUALLY HELP SOLVE CLIMATE CHANGE become and be seen as authentic and trustworthy – trust being a key currency in any business transaction. In addition, because we all work in land-based industries, we have a head start, we are seen to be operating in the green economy. We create and maintain spaces that are safe, enjoyable and sustainable. As businesses, we can benefit from this long overdue furore by highlighting the services we offer which actually help solve climate change. In this way, not only can we have a positive impact on tackling climate change through our work, we can be a catalyst for broader change as our customers seek our advice on how they can reach their own environmental goals, generating more business in the process.
WE MUST BRING OUR BUSINESSES INTO LINE SO WE CAN BOAST OF GOOD CARBON FOOTPRINT CREDENTIALS credentials. After all, most clients will demand this as part of the tender qualification process before too long. So boast away as we are in a brilliant position, but make sure you sweep your cupboards clean of skeletons first.
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES NEED TO BE BUILT AROUND CREATIVITY, NOT JUST COMPLIANCE Strategies and initiatives need to be built around creativity, not just compliance, by recognising and understanding an ability to impact on others. These risks need to be identified, as well as opportunities that could result from those impacts. Companies need to take an informed and balanced approach to the associated business decisions to deliver the broadest possible benefit that goes far beyond simple bottom line profit. Whilst this isn’t new, it’s certainly more of a priority for all concerned, and businesses need to be creative in their thinking as many solutions also have a positive effect on colleagues working in the environment, with increased engagement and satisfaction levels for those working for a company that takes their responsibilities seriously.
N E X T M O N T H : FOLLOWING THE VOLUNTARY PEAT BAN, SHOULD MORE STRINGENT LEGISLATION ON PEAT USE BE PUT IN PLACE? H AV E YO U R S AY: C O N T E N T@ E L J AYS 4 4 .C O M
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NEWS G R E AT E R MANCH EST ER TO INVEST MO RE T H A N £1 .5M IN N EW T R EE PL A NTING
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reater Manchester has secured funding from The Urban Tree Challenge Fund, matching existing resources to plant both small saplings and large urban trees. The Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTCF) is a £10m government fund for planting both large and small trees in and around towns and cities in England. The fund is being delivered by the Forestry Commission as part of its work to expand woodlands and tree cover across England. City of Trees has been co-ordinating the bid for Greater Manchester in partnership with the 10 districts and the registered housing providers. In total, more than 2,500 trees will be planted across the city region. This includes 650 small sapling trees and slightly more than 1,900 large, high impact trees. The vast majority of the trees will be planted by March
2020. The larger trees will be more than 2m in height and will take root in parks and green spaces across the city region, as well as in grass verges by roadsides and in residential areas. The new trees will also form part of the Northern Forest, an ambitious initiative to plant 50 million trees, stretching from Liverpool to Hull, within 25 years. www.cityoftrees.org.uk
©Alex Daniels/Shutterstock.com
HS2 GIVEN THE GO AHEAD
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t has been confirmed that the controversial HS2 project will be going ahead. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement to Parliament that, after careful consideration of the independent Oakervee review, the decision has been taken to proceed with the high-speed railway. Johnson says: “Delivering better, faster and more reliable transport connections is the way to close the opportunity gap across this country. Dramatic improvements to local transport and the decision to proceed with HS2 will shift this country’s centre of gravity away from the capital and transform connectivity between our towns and cities. “I am drawing a clear line under the mismanagement of the past – HS2 must be delivered more efficiently and cost-effectively so that communities feel its benefits more quickly, particularly those in the north.” After thorough analysis of the benefits and impacts of the project, work on Phase 1 – the route between London and Birmingham – is set to start in April. Government will revive the legislation to deliver Phase 2a, connecting Birmingham to Crewe, as soon as possible. The Prime Minister outlined measures going forward, including appointing a dedicated minister with oversight and accountability for the project, who will provide regular reports to Parliament to improve transparency. www.gov.uk
G&L LIGHTING
High quality outdoor lighting • www.gardenandlandscapelighting.co.uk
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PLANS TO REMOVE FUNDING FOR COURSES WITH LOW STUDENT NUMBERS
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ualifications with low or no enrolments could see funding withdrawn in a drive to level up skills and opportunities. More than 5,000 qualifications which are not being taken by anyone or are being studied by less than 100 students each
year may lose government funding, under plans announced by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. The government is seeking views from the education sector on whether any of the 5,000 qualifications on the list should continue to attract public funding from August 2021. Some of the courses with low entries include RHS Level 2 and 3 qualifications, such as The Principles and Practices of Horticulture and The Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting. For the list of industry courses at risk due to low or no enrolment, visit the full story on the Pro Landscaper website.
NEWS IN BRIEF NEW ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED TO BRING TOGETHER UNDER 35s An association designed to bring together the under 35s of the ornamental horticulture industry has been launched. The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) will maintain contact through social media and arrange events. For more info, contact: yphassociation@outlook.com
CITY IRRIGATION LTD The UK’s One Stop Trade Irrigation Equipment SupplierAT THE POT COMPANY ALL CHANGE ENVIRONMENT BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED
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he long-awaited Environment Bill was introduced at the end of January following its return to Parliament after the General Election. The new Bill is said to help ensure that we maintain and improve our environmental protections as we leave the EU. Measures will be introduced to improve air and water quality, tackle plastic pollution and restore habitats so wildlife can thrive. It will hold this government – and future governments – to account if they fail to uphold environmental duties. This includes meeting net-zero by 2050 and wider long-term legally binding targets on biodiversity, air quality, water, resource efficiency and waste management, which are established under the Bill. The enhanced Bill will also create new powers to stop the exports of polluting plastic
You may have already found the first edition of the new format, quarterly trade brochure from The Pot Company enclosed with this magazine. It announces a series of changes for 2020, including the launch of new and improved Corten steel and aluminium ranges, increased stock holdings of core products, such as Terracini and Polystone, and the introduction of Designer Deals with savings of up to 25%. If you couldn’t find your copy or wish to subscribe to future editions, email the Pot Company on sales@thepotco.com or call them on 01892 890 353. www.thepotco.com
CITY IRRIGATION LTD www.cityirrigation.co.uk The UK’s One Stop Trade Irrigation Equipment Supplier waste to developing countries. An announcement was also made that the government will conduct a review every two years of significant developments in international legislation on the environment. The government will then publish this review and ensure its findings are factored into its Environmental Improvement Plan and environmental target setting process, both of which will be enshrined in law. www.gov.uk
City Irrigation Ltd, Oakley Road, Bromley , Kent BR2 8HG Tel:020-8462-4630 email: sales@cityirrigation.co.uk Bognor Regis Branch Chalcraft Lane, Bognor Regis, PO21 5TS Tel:01243 827178 email: bognor@cityirrigation.co.uk CITY IRRIGATION LTD The UK’s One Stop Trade Irrigation Equipment Supplier
www.cityirrigation.co.uk www.cityirrigation.co.uk City Irrigation Ltd, Oakley Road, Bromley , Kent BR2 8HG Tel:020-8462-4630 email: sales@cityirrigation.co.uk City Irrigation Ltd, Oakley Road, Bromley , Kent BR2 8HG Tel:020-8462-4630 email: sales@cityirrigation.co.uk Bognor Regis Regis Branch Branch Chalcraft Chalcraft Lane, Lane, Bognor Bognor Regis, Regis, PO21 PO21 5TS 5TS Tel:01243 Tel:01243 827178 827178 email: email: bognor@cityirrigation.co.uk bognor@cityirrigation.co.uk Bognor www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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INFORM
MATERNITY LEAVE – KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS Pregnancy in the workplace and maternity leave can be a difficult thing to get right, especially in our industry where so much of the work can be manual. www.prolandscapermagazine.com/ maternity-leave-knowing-your-rights
MATERNITY LEAVE – RETURNING TO WORK Returning to work after a long period of leave can be tough, even more so when you’re a new mother. Here we look at your rights as an employee and what you must do as an employer. www.prolandscapermagazine.com/ maternity-leave-returning-to-work
ANDREW GRANT MEMBER OF GROUP CALLING FOR ‘QUALITY’ DESIGN PRINCIPLES
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ndrew Grant, founder and director at Grant Associates, is one of 10 expert members of a design group tasked by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to develop quality design principles for national infrastructure projects. Launched by the Design Group on 5 February, the UK’s first ever Design Principles for National Infrastructure seeks to embed four key considerations – climate, people, places and value – into the planning and delivery of projects to construct and renew nationally significant infrastructure: • Climate – infrastructure must help set the trajectory for the UK to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner and be capable of adapting to climate change. ©Ferla Paolo Photography
Online Exclusives
• People – projects should be human scale, instinctive to use, and seek opportunities to improve the quality of life for people who live and work nearby. • Places – schemes should provide a sense of community identity, support natural and built environments, and improve ecosystems. • Value – value should be added beyond the main purpose of the infrastructure, solving problems well and achieving multiple benefits. The publication of the principles comes just a month before the expected publication of the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy and at the start of a decade in which a number of high-profile projects are set to be undertaken. The Design Group, chaired by Stirling prize-winning architect Professor Sadie Morgan, is calling for the principles to be adopted in the government’s infrastructure strategy, alongside the National Infrastructure Assessment’s recommendations for all nationally significant projects to have design champions and review panels. www.nic.org.uk
PRACTICE APPOINTED TO REDESIGN GROSVENOR SQUARE
©Robert Myer
For the first in a series of articles, Dan Riddleston of Bowles & Wyer talks about building The Florence Nightingale Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020. www.prolandscapermagazine.com/ rhs-chelsea-2020-diaries-danriddleston-part-one/
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©www.andrew-holt.com
RHS CHELSEA 2020 DIARIES – DAN RIDDLESTON – PART ONE
rosvenor Britain & Ireland has revealed that architecture practice Tonkin Liu will redesign London’s Grosvenor Square ahead of its 300th anniversary. Situated in the heart of Mayfair, the Grade II listed square has a rich history that can be traced back to 1726. Over the past three years, Grosvenor – which manages the public garden on a not for profit basis – has been working with local residents and Londoners to build a shared vision for its future: to enhance the square’s contribution to Mayfair and London by making it more sustainable and welcoming. These ambitions will be brought together by Tonkin Liu in a design developed with the active participation of Mayfair’s many communities, as well as people with an interest in the future of public gardens. By reinventing how the square contributes to the environment, and the
wellbeing and needs of people who rely on it, Grosvenor plans to create the capital’s outstanding green space and a future for the square focused around the community. Tonkin Liu has been appointed following a six-month long formal competition incorporating some of the world’s leading design and landscape teams as well as selected entrants from Grosvenor’s 2018 international Call for Ideas. The emphasis of its design process on connecting people back to nature, collective storytelling and community involvement were key factors in its success. www.tonkinliu.co.uk
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C L I M AT E
INFORM
CHANGE A N D B I O LO G I C A L DIVERSITY
PRESIDENT OF THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE ADAM WHITE SHARES AN UPDATE ON THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE’S COMMITMENTS TO ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND HIGHLIGHTS HOW MORE ACTION NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE
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t a time when we are seeing more and more extreme weather, from flooding in South Wales and Worcestershire to wildfires burning on several continents, we have the opportunity – as individuals and as a profession – to make a real difference. As Landscape Institute (LI) president, I was particularly impressed to see the range of
OUR PROFESSION AND SOCIETY NEED TO DEMONSTRATE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS IF WE ARE TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING
But it is clear that we, along with governments and society worldwide, need to do more. As many of you will be aware, in June 2019, in line with many other organisations and professional bodies, myself and the LI Board declared a climate and biological diversity emergency. But what does that mean? The landscape sector is in an ideal position to deliver effective, sustainable climate solutions. We have a significant role to play in the fight against climate change – both in adapting landscapes from the effects of global warming but also by mitigating, or designing against, the causes of global warming. If there was ever a time landscape professionals are needed, it is now. We are the new ‘superhero’ of tomorrow, and together we must be the leaders in climate change adaptation. It’s admirable to hear what our
AS PRESIDENT I WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE MORE COLLABORATION TO FIND THE SOLUTIONS NEEDED industry is doing, but we are tiny carbon emitters, relatively speaking. Our real super power will be designing and managing spaces and places that are resilient to increased flood risk, urban heat island effect and the more frequent drought events. With millions of children from over 150 different countries taking part in global climate strike protests, there has never been a more
projects at last year’s LI awards leading the way in developing innovative ideas and approaches at this crucial time for our planet. The LI published our Climate Change Position Statement in 2008.
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important time to raise the awareness of a career in landscape. During my first year as president, I launched #ChooseLandscape at the Garden Museum in London, a career campaign with the goal of encouraging the next generation to choose a career in the landscape profession. We need to future-proof the skills needed to meet the needs of not just employers, clients, and society, but for the most vulnerable of all: our planet. That is why the LI is running a programme of activities including briefing career advisors, getting its members involved as ambassadors and engaging communities. This will ensure educational courses fit the needs of the profession and tackle the climate crisis whilst exploring new routes into the profession.
Since declaring a climate and biological diversity emergency, what action has the LI taken? • Changed its travel and expenses policies to discourage high-carbon activities, such as flying. • Improved the sustainability of events, including switching to default vegetarian with “opt-in” meat option for the recent LI Awards. • Began to offset carbon on certain activities. • Improved member awareness through our communications channels, including a dedicated climate edition of our Landscape journal. (Oct 2019) • Introduced a minimum requirement of five hours of climate, sustainability and resilience-related CPD per year for all members (starting July 2020). • Moved to more online virtual meetings.
As part of the LI declaration, we committed to bringing together a panel of experts, both members and non-members, to help the LI explore what else it could do in the medium to long term. The panel was recruited in September 2019, including representation from the public sector, private sector and academia, supported by an external climate consultant. Their recommendations will help us build climate change and biodiversity into all our future work and lead to further collaboration. The LI are still interested in good ideas coming from any quarter. What are the key “crunch points” during the landscape life cycle that can be improved? Where are the big skills gaps or policy barriers that stop us doing better? What does our profession need to become better
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champions for sustainability on-the-ground? In short, how can we be the best that we can be? Our profession and society need to demonstrate a significant change in our thoughts and actions if we are to make a real difference to what is happening. Landscapes are traditionally planted so they possess the power to sequester carbon where hard materials cannot. So can landscape professionals aim to go one better than carbon neutral? Can we instead strive beyond neutrality to do ‘net good’ and contribute to the fight against climate change? The answer is yes, but, if we want to join this global initiative, we must measure our
IT IS OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND TO SAFEGUARD THE LANDSCAPE AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS contributions. To improve the impact of our projects on the planet, we need to better understand their landscape carbon footprints. To achieve this, we need a joined up approach and as president I will continue to encourage more collaboration to find the solutions needed. The good news is the LI have already begun to engage with our fellow built and natural environment professionals to harmonise our efforts. This has included a wide range of
organisations, featuring representatives from BALI, SGD, RIBA, RICS, CIBSE, CIEEM, RTPI, CIC, EPF, local authorities, registered LI practices and several sustainable trusts and environmental organisations. Ahead of finalising our longer term plans, we are now actively seeking out best practice on climate mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity enhancement and resilience to profile at major upcoming LI events: • Landscape and Place Conference 2020: 30 June and 1 July, Birmingham • Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation CPD Day: 15 September, London • Water and Resilient Cities CPD Day: 25 March, Leeds. We are currently planning further improvements to our entry standards, ethics and codes of practice, as well as developing a long-term programme of guidance and support for members who are committed to taking climate and biodiversity action. My two-year term as president of the Landscape Institute comes to an end in July 2020. During this time and beyond, I will continue to do all I can to help inspire the next generation to #ChooseLandscape and will work hard to further galvanise the industry together through more joint working and collaboration. It is our collective responsibility to act in the public interest and to safeguard the landscape and the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
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FUTURE PROJECTS I
KEA is already a destination store. Customers drive there for the famous flatpack furniture, renowned meatballs and the social media shots in each of IKEA’s display rooms. More recently, though, the Swedish furniture and homeware giant has been striving towards building a reputation as an exemplar of sustainability. In the heart of Vienna, it is building what it says is the “most innovative city centre IKEA store in the world”, with all four facades set to be swathed in green. Around 160 trees will cover the building, reportedly lowering the temperature inside by at least two degrees and creating a green beacon in Austria’s capital. It’s not the first time IKEA has been linked to urban greening. Last year, the store partnered
IKEA Vienna
Westbahnhof, Vienna, AUSTRIA IKE A IS BUILDING ITS MOST SUSTAINABLE STORE TO DATE, AND TREES ARE PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN ITS GREEN CREDENTIALS
with British designer Tom Dixon to create an exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Boldly titled ‘Gardening Will Save the World’, the stand sought to showcase the future of urban farming, with hydroponic technology growing hyper-natural edibles on the ground level and a botanic oasis on a raised platform above this, allowing visitors to feel the benefits of being surrounded by this type of ecosystem. Whilst Chelsea has a global audience, it’s fair to say IKEA’s latest project is on the next level. In a bid to lower its carbon footprint, the new store will not include a car park. It is connected to Westbahnhof train station and is easily accessible from all ends of the metro line within 20 minutes. This is largely after its research showed “two-thirds of people
160 TREES
IKEA IS UNDOUBTEDLY SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SUSTAINABLE STORES GOING FORWARD Of all the cities across the globe, Vienna seems like a perfect place to start trialling such a store. There are around 90 parks scattered across the city, with green spaces making up around half of the land in total. Its commitment to the natural environment is one
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living in the inner-city districts of Vienna do not even have a car anymore” and that consumer behaviour is increasingly leaning towards home delivery and online ordering.
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Architect IKEA and querkraft architekten Landscape architect Kräftner Landschaftsarchitektur, Green4Cities
IT WILL BE THE MOST UNIQUE AND GREEN IKEA STORE of the reasons Vienna has ranked as the most liveable city in the world in Mercer’s Worldwide Quality of Living Survey 2019 for the tenth year in a row, and why it ranked first worldwide in the Smart City Strategy Index 2019, which looks at how digital technologies are helping cities tackle challenges such as air pollution. IKEA Westbahnhof will likely be a fitting addition to this forward-thinking city. Developed
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an “iconic retail destination for home furnishing”. The transparent, modern look of the building will make customers feel the structure is more open and more in touch with the outside. Construction started in January this year, with the store set to open in 2021. IKEA is undoubtedly setting the standard for sustainable stores going forward, going some way to giving consumers confidence that the future of retail is decidedly green.
FOUNDATIONS
DURING WORKS
©Robert Harson
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in cooperation with Viennese architecture firm querkraft architekten, the seven-storey building will feature the main store on the first four levels, with the top two floors as a 345-room Jo&Joe Open House hotel, with a restaurant and rooftop bar. IKEA says it will be “the most unique and green IKEA store”, with the architects striving towards BREEAM Excellent certification for the building and the grid designed to represent a rather unusual bookshelf. The Swedish chain is also eager for it to be a place for people to socialise – to be the meeting place in the city centre. Situated at the end of Mariahilferstrasse, one of the main shopping streets in Vienna, it’s likely to draw a crowd. Alongside the furniture store itself, there will be various businesses for the urban shopper to take advantage of a pharmacy, a hair salon and a bakery, for instance. The publicly accessible roof garden will include a café, which will be open outside of the store’s opening hours. IKEA says that “it will be inviting, humanscale and standing out as a landmark”, as well as
©zoomVP/querkraft architekten
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Let ’s Hear it From
LARA BEHR LARA BEHR GARDEN DESIGN
GARDEN DESIGNER LARA BEHR, RECENT WINNER OF A PRO LANDSCAPER SMALL PROJECT BIG IMPACT AWARD, EXPLORES HOW SHE GOT INTO THE INDUSTRY AND HOW SHE IS LOOKING TO HAVE A MORE ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACH TO HER DESIGNS
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he may be a multi-award-winning garden designer now, but Lara Behr got into the industry somewhat by chance – waiting in a queue at a health food shop. She’d overheard the woman in front of her discussing her garden maintenance business with the cashier and asked if she could undertake work experience for the company. This wasn’t entirely out of the blue, though. Just the night before, Lara had been discussing her love of gardening with her husband and discussing a change in career. She had previously gained a degree in history from the University of Bristol, followed by a degree in law, but fitting in work around childcare became an issue when she was looking for jobs in this field. “I started applying for traineeships, but realised that the long hours, as well as looking after two children, was going to be a struggle,” says Lara. “I came home and said to my
husband that I didn’t want to do it, despite loving the subject. He mentioned how I spend hours in the garden – he has to call me in when it gets dark – and asked if I’d thought about doing something completely different.” The following day, she reached out to the woman in the queue and embarked on a year’s work experience before leaving to set up her own garden maintenance company, carrying out work locally for a couple of years and running a gardening club once a week at her children’s primary school. Clients kept asking her to design areas of their garden, though, saying they would like to add elements such as a patio. “I felt like I needed more knowledge for that,” says Lara. “I’d gained my RHS Level 2 qualification, so I felt I knew about plants, 1 A redesigned London garden ©Annaick Guitenny 2 The Macmillan Legacy Garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2017 ©RHS/Lee Beel
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but not so much about design and hard landscaping. So, I went to the London College of Garden Design.” Here, Lara completed the one-year garden design diploma, and four years ago she started her own practice, Lara Behr Garden Design. Since then, she’s worked towards numerous awards, from RHS medals to recognition from the Society of Garden Designers. Most recently, Lara scooped one of Pro Landscaper’s small project BIG IMPACT 2019 awards for her project in Burghill Road. It was the first project of which she had professional photos taken, so she decided to enter, and – much to her surprise – she topped the category. “It reinforces that you’re doing something right, especially when you’re just starting out. “I’ve been working as a garden designer for four years now, which in horticulture terms isn’t that long. It’s really difficult to build up a portfolio; you get your first project, you build it, then you have to wait for the plants to grow. So, when you have a project that works from start to finish, like the Burghill Road one, it’s great. The clients put their faith in me and agreed with everything, they even upped their budget – they’d originally just gotten me in to do some planting.” As her reputation builds and the projects mount up, Lara is focused on ensuring her designs are as sustainable as possible going forward. “This year, I’m going to be thinking
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3 a lot more about how I run projects and approach each garden [from an environmental perspective], with the idea of not ripping everything out and starting again. One of the biggest things is to start reusing elements and not always buy new products.” This is the approach Lara is taking with a garden in Notting Hill. “It’s listed, so there is a limit, but the client wants the garden to look like it’s been there for years rather than like it’s just been installed. So, whilst we’re taking out certain aspects and putting a new layer in, we’re also keeping a lot of the old elements and rearranging them.” There are certain gardens trends, though, which can make it difficult to encourage clients to lean towards this approach to design. Lara says: “There has been a lot of focus recently on creating an outdoor room; living outside and having big kitchens. These can be great, but my work is mainly in London where green space is really precious. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden here, I prefer one with a focus on plants
rather than on something like an outdoor kitchen. There’s nothing wrong with these, of course, but clients can still get an extended outdoor living space out of these smaller green areas.” Despite city clients somewhat leaning towards contemporary, low maintenance spaces, Lara says these spaces don’t have to be spotless – or without plants, for that matter. “If you have a good planting balance then a lot of gardens can be low maintenance, and putting an aftercare plan in place can help with this.” Lara therefore ensures there is a maintenance proposal in place for her projects once they’re completed. For the Notting Hill garden, she is helping the client to find someone who can maintain the garden early on so they can be involved throughout the process of it being built. This was the case for a recently completed hospital garden Lara designed, too. “The person overseeing the project was retiring, so they needed someone who would help to maintain the space,” says Lara. “So, we set up a volunteer gardening group right at the beginning, building a team that would be involved in maintaining it. “The team came to meetings and was involved in the planting of the garden. I felt this was really important – they’d fundraised for this project and people were doing it for
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS TO START REUSING ELEMENTS AND NOT ALWAYS BUY NEW PRODUCTS personal reasons, so I felt responsible for ensuring it was kept. It’s amazing to see the value of the space now.” The garden opened at Chesterfield Royal Hospital near to the NGS Macmillan Centre, a custom-built cancer treatment unit which opened in 2017, partly thanks to a £1.5m donation from the National Garden Scheme (NGS). As well as planning ahead for aftercare, Lara also took the chance to reuse existing elements of the space in her design. “The garden had raised beds made of brick right in the middle and loads of shrubs. I went to the first meeting, where they
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said they wanted to completely change it, but the beds still worked and were in good condition, so I asked if they’d consider keeping them. I offered to put together two designs – one completely new and another with the beds – and they liked the one with raised beds! “It was really interesting and challenging as a designer; I didn’t particularly like the beds but I didn’t want to get rid them because it felt like we had to be realistic. There was no point going over the budget and getting rid of something that works if we could just make it better instead. “It worked really well. We used the way the beds were laid out to separate the spaces around them, to create different seating areas. We made planting areas, private seating areas and social areas. There’s a lot more planting now and it’s very seasonal. Lara was approached to design the space, having relocated her show garden from the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2017 to the hospital. The Macmillan Legacy Garden was Lara’s first show garden as sole designer, and it was an impressive debut – as well as achieving a Gold medal, it also won Best Back to Back Garden and the People’s Choice Award for that category.
When representatives from Macmillan came to visit the garden the afternoon after it was finished, they were left in tears of joy as to how the charity, and the importance of legacy donations, had been represented. Vertical timber and copper poles meandered through the garden, representing the work of Macmillan. A quarter of the poles were copper to reflect the
IT WAS GREAT TO BE TRUSTED TO DESIGN THE MACMILLAN LEGACY GARDEN proportion of Macmillan’s total funding which comes from legacy gifts. “I really wanted to do them justice,” says Lara. “They’re a charity, so you want to do your best, and it was great to be trusted to design the garden.” She’d had some experience with show gardens prior to Tatton thanks to the London College of Garden Design. Her tutor, Andrew Fisher Tomlin, had invited Lara and other students to help out on his garden at Hampton
Court in 2016 – The Bowel Disease UK Garden for Crohn’s Disease – and the following year on the Blind Veterans UK: It’s All About Community Garden. “Andrew is great to work with. I got really good experience working with him on show gardens,” says Lara. Andrew even came up to help with the planting on her Macmillan Legacy Garden. Despite admitting the experience “took over my life”, Lara would consider designing a show garden again. “I hadn’t realised what a big show Tatton was before I got there. It was the only one they had in that area, and even the hotel I was staying at was excited I was doing a garden. It was really nice, and they were all supportive. I’d do Tatton again, but it’s about finding the right sponsor; it’s important that there are themes that people can talk about.” In the meantime, Lara plans to continue running her practice, with the occasional
3 The Mayor’s Garden, a courtyard garden at Chesterfield Royal Hospital in Derbyshire 4 Plan for garden redesign in progress, Notting Hill 5 The Macmillan Legacy Garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2017 ©RHS/Lee Beel
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helping hand. “I will carry on working on my own, but I’m trying to build a group of people that I can bring in for specific jobs,” she explains. “I once saw a garden designer speak about this at college; about how she likes to work on her own but has a team of people she can call in. I like the idea of this, you have that flexibility to do what you want.”
IT’S IMPORTANT THAT THERE ARE THEMES THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT This flexibility is allowing Lara to fly out to New York in May to undertake a couple of weeks’ work experience with another garden designer. “Gardens are fewer there, so I find it interesting to see what they do with them. They have great community gardens. I’m going to be shadowing a lady I met last time I was out there who runs a garden design business.” Lara’s used to spending extensive periods of time in different countries. “[My husband and I] have travelled a lot. When we had kids, we wanted them to stay in one place, though, to have a local school and a grounding. But now that they’re older, we have more freedom.” With a passion for garden design, for exploring different approaches and for learning from those more experienced, there can be little doubt that the career path Lara chose to pursue was the right one.
6 6 Large contemporary, cottage-style garden ©Annaick Guitenny 7 A complete redesign of a garden in London for a couple who wanted a space for both relaxing and entertaining ©Annaick Guitenny
C O N TA C T Lara Behr Garden Design Tel 07590 675340 Twitter @Lara_behr Instagram @lara.behr Email lara.behr@btinternet.com
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GARETH WILSON, DIRECTOR OF G.K WILSON LANDSCAPE SERVICES EXPLAINS HOW THE COMPANY STARTED AND DISCUSSES HIS UPCOMING INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS YEAR’S RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW How and when was the company founded? It goes back to 1989, I’d left school and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. When I was at school I maintained a few gardens for the neighbours and I helped my dad who was a dry stone waller. My dad came home from work one day and he suggested I should start my own business, so I did! How has the company developed since then? It started off very small and it’s gradually grown from there. It just struck me that I needed to do more landscaping than garden maintenance, so I took a couple of lads on and we were doing a lot more landscaping. By 2010 I was ready to think about selling the garden maintenance side of things; we were virtually all landscaping.
COMPANY PROFILE
G. K. WILSON LANDSCAPE SERVICES UK LTD
BY 2010 I WAS READY TO THINK ABOUT SELLING THE GARDEN MAINTENANCE SIDE OF THINGS; WE WERE VIRTUALLY ALL LANDSCAPING In 2010 we went to the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park with a friend of mine. We had a look around, and when we saw some of the show gardens, we thought: “Oh my God, how do they build these in such a short amount of time?” Then, my friend said: “Why don’t you have a go? Try one of the Back to Backs.” And I thought: “Yes, that sounds doable!” The year after, we applied and we got accepted. We built out first garden: Peak Reflections. We designed and built it ourselves, and it got a Silver-Gilt and Best in Category. We then had a year off, and afterwards, went back to Tatton and did Industrial Transitions, which we designed and built ourselves too and received our first Gold and Best in Show. After that, we did the Perennial
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HARMONIOUS
ARDEN O LI E RHS
HELSEA LOWER SHOW
SIL ER MEDAL
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BASALT MILLBOARD DECKING, HOT TUB AND SLATE WATER FEATURE
ESTABLISHED 1989 EMPLOYEES 8 AWARDS 7 RHS GOLD MEDALS, 7 BEST IN SHOWS, 3 PEOPLES CHOICE & BEST CONSTRUCTION AWARD TURNOVER £700K
MINDFUL MEDITATION GARDEN, RHS CHATSWORTH FLOWER SHOW
HARMONIOUS GARDEN OF LIFE DESIGNER: LAURELIE DE LA SALLE
Legacy Garden, which Paul Hervey Brooks designed. We won the contract and that got a Gold and Best in Show as well, so again, we were over the moon with that! We also built a second show garden at Tatton that year and got a Silver-Gilt. From there, we went to Hampton Court and built the Dogs Trust garden that got a Gold. Then, went to Chatsworth and built the second biggest show garden in the RHS’ history. For this, we won Gold and Best in Show and Best Construction award. We then went to Chelsea in 2018, and got a Gold for the Artisan garden we built there, and we received a 5 Star Tradestand award for Hartley Botanic. Can you tell us a bit about your RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020 garden? It’s the MiaoFu’s Garden, and it’s based around Lotus seeds that we dug up through excavation which are 700 years old. We have got a lot of communication going on between ourselves and China, so it’s an exciting garden! It’s always nice when you do the flower shows because each show that you do, whatever it may be, you see your friends from all over the country. To watch the gardens grow is a wonderful thing. We all know the show gardens are hard work – it can be stressful at times, but seeing it from start to finish is always worth it. The recognition is nice when you’re on the stand and the public are coming around. There are so many nice people who come up and compliment. It’s nice to speak to the public and see yourself on the TV because you and your team have built it and worked hard. What services do you offer? We do all elements of hard and soft landscaping – driveways, block paving, composite decking, timber decking, turfing, fencing, patios, etc. We always get a lot of detail into the work we do as well.
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How is the company structured? My wife and I are the directors – I go and do the costings and the quotes. I’ve got Tom who is my right-hand man – he manages all the sites for me and he keeps on top of everything. We have our secretary and PA Samantha, and we report any materials that we need to her.
WE WORK ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BUT WE ARE PREDOMINATELY BASED IN THE NORTH WEST What areas do you cover? We cover the North West – we go into Derbyshire and Sheffield. We have also had a couple of jobs in London this year, and we do work all over the country, but are predominately in the North West. Are you a member of any trade associations? HTA, APL, and I’ve just been accepted by the general into the PGCA. We are Bradstone Assured installers, and I’m a CIHort member. What is the split between domestic and commercial work? I would say 80% domestic, 20% commercial. What are the plans for the company moving forward? I would like to employ another landscaper just so we can expand a bit more – it takes the pressure off just to have that extra landscaper. I would perhaps like to add a manager who can do the quotes for me as well, then I can concentrate on other projects. I would really like to do an international garden show too. I think that would be interesting.
C O N TA C T GK Wilson Landscape Services 35 Croft Manor, Glossop, SK13 8PP Tel 01457 868933 Email gkwilsongardens@icloud.com
www.gkwilsonlandscaping.co.uk
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M A R C U S WATS O N VIEW FROM THE TOP
MARCUS WATSON OF GROUND CONTROL EXPLAINS THAT, IN THE INCREDIBLY TRANSPARENT WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR BUSINESSES TO HAVE PURPOSE AND BE AUTHENTIC
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e humans are social animals, and many of our decisions are dictated by our inner primitive brain, meaning many of our decisions are based on ‘feeling’ and our ‘gut’. For example, the correct logical choice for a car might be a roomy five-seat saloon with great features, reliability and value for money; yet so many of us desire an expensive, unreliable two-seat sports car. Without emotion and feeling, two-seater sports cars would not even exist – there should be no logical, economic, practical market for such things. To think other aspects of decision-making are based purely on logic and fact would be a mistake. Unless you want to reduce your business proposition to being the lowest cost, you had better consider how your business makes people feel. People don’t buy into what you do, they buy into why you do it if they understand your purpose. I read an article a few years back which offered the following advice to potential employers: “Give me a reason why I should join your company other than making your shareholders rich”. This struck a chord. If people join you because they need a job, they will work for the money until such a time when someone else offers slightly more, especially at times such as now when the UK is benefitting from practical full employment. Employees have choices. Alternately, if people join you because they believe what you believe, then they will work for themselves, as every day working with you serves their own purpose. As with customers; people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. All businesses the world over know what they do. They cut grass, manage vegetation, clear
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snow – not exactly inspiring. Some businesses know how they do it – they know what makes them special or different, their unique selling point (USP) and their technology. They might say: “We have great mowers and well-trained mower drivers and we cut grass faster and more neatly than the competition.” Few businesses know why they do it, though. Most businesses start conversations with what they do which, in turn, forces customers and
PEOPLE DON’T BUY WHAT YOU DO, THEY BUY WHY YOU DO IT
or negotiation thereafter. People with options don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it, whether customers or potential employees.1 What you do simply serves as the proof of what you believe. If we start conversations with what we do, we might say something like: “We cut grass really well. We have the best technology. Wanna’ buy some? Wanna’ join us?” – uninspiring, right? Turn it on its head and start with why we do what we do. At Ground Control, our purpose (and tagline) is ‘Caring for our Environment’. That is why we do what we do. What we do is invest in amazing people and fabulous technology to be the very best in every market we choose to be in; we create and maintain external spaces that are safe, sustainable and enjoyable for all. Wanna join us? In a world of complete and immediate transparency as well as full employment, being in business simply to make money is uninspiring to customers and colleagues alike. Being clear on our purpose helps us attract people who believe in what we believe to achieve more than was ever thought possible.
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employees to think with the logical part of their decision-making brain. It leads them to ask questions such as: “Are you cheaper?” or “Am I paid enough?” On the other hand, if you flip it on its head and start conversations with why you do what you do, you’re explaining the purpose of your business. This leads customers and employees to ask: “Do I believe what you believe?”. If the answer is yes, then they have bought into your business; price, salary, and cost are simply part of a conversation
Simon Senek, “Start with why – how great leaders inspire action”, TEDx Talks, 28 Sept 2009. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA
A B O U T M A R C U S W AT S O N Joining Ground Control in 2011, Marcus Watson champions outstanding customer service, the power of people in business and innovation. In 2016, Ground Control was recognised with a Queen’s Award for Innovation, celebrating the company’s application of technology.
www.ground-control.co.uk
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ANDREW WILSON TOO MULCH?
ANDREW WILSON IS IN A REFLECTIVE MOOD AS HE CONSIDERS ONE OF HIS PET HATES THAT IS ALL TOO APPARENT IN SO MANY OF OUR LANDSCAPES
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kay, I hate bark mulch! It’s out there in the open in the first line of my article. I am totally aware of why it is used and the thinking behind it, but sometimes we just can’t help ourselves, whether we incorporate it into our design work or into our landscaping and maintenance. Could I just ask people to pause for a moment before they specify it or rely on it by the lorry load, and ask if there is an alternative? I first realised how much I loathed it when I was an assessor and judge for the RHS shows. At Chelsea, this was less of an issue as budgets were higher and planting was generally more dense, but at Hampton Court or Tatton, I could smell the mulch 20m away, sometimes even before I could see the garden, all freshly applied and brown! A little like a gardening version of Marmite, which I also loathe. Students in their naivety often propose it for their woodland paths when they work on their larger-scale gardens. I hastily dismiss the idea, describing their features as a streak of diarrhoea on their beautifully designed landscape.
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There are always alternatives! It all came flooding back to me when I attended the fabulous masterclass delivered by the erudite and talented landscape architect Thomas Rainer in January this year. He talked about how the Americans love to plant into a sea of mulch.
PLANTING WILL DELIVER A BETTER ANSWER – MORE SUSTAINABLE, LOWER IN MAINTENANCE OVER THE LONGER TERM Whereas we, for over a century, have planted in dense associations, the concept of matrix planting or tighter mixes seem still to pass by the US landscapers and designers. When I was last in the States, I gave a couple of lectures in Minneapolis extolling the virtues of British and European contemporary planting. At the end of one of the lectures, I was approached by a guy who opined that he loved our style and the density of our planting, as opposed to the acres of mulch seen in the US with individual plants as far as 1.5m apart. I asked him why this was – I can’t have been the only British designer talking about our planting design in this way. His response was that he
simply didn’t know, it seems to have always been that way. Thomas showed a recent landscape scheme that had won a gold award for its environmental credentials, and yet showed this same pattern – acres of brown stuff with the odd plant proudly standing in a widely-spaced grid. In the lunch interval, I asked him why this happened, and his response was also that he didn’t really know, except perhaps that the material was really cheap! What Thomas and many contemporary planting designers espouse is that planting will deliver a better answer – more sustainable, lower in maintenance over the longer term (if the right planting selection is designed in), higher in biodiversity value, lower in carbon footprint and aesthetically sooooooooo much more satisfying and rewarding. What’s not to like? If, after pausing for thought, you decide that a different form of mulch is required rather than bark or related products, then I will accept gravel (and yes, the design police are out in force here!), but I leave you with one of the most appalling photographs I think I have taken in recent years, suggesting that perhaps slate mulching is not the answer, unless you happen to work in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Ladies and gentlemen, for your delectation and delight, I give you an island bed in Cobham. (pictured left)
ABOUT ANDREW WILSON Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden design consultant, director of the London College of Garden Design, and an author, writer and lecturer.
www.lcgd.org.uk
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H O L LY YO U D E WHATEVER THE WEATHER
IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLAN FOR WHEN ADVERSE WEATHER MAKES WORKING ON SITE NOT AN OPTION, SAYS HOLLY YOUDE
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andscaping, at times, is reliant on the weather conditions. As a company, we are often asked what we have in place when it’s impossible to work on site due to poor or unsuitable weather conditions. In the past, we created a formal agreement within our employment contracts and company handbook that if we encountered conditions when staff couldn’t work on site, or it was potentially dangerous, that we would make the call to lay them off. In the agreement, we guarantee to pay them an amount per day which must be no less than £29 per day legally, and this is the amount your employees can access as statutory lay-off pay, if you prefer to claim it back. The statutory amount is only accessible for any five days in a three-month period, and for part time workers it is worked out proportionally. To qualify for statutory lay-off pay, the employee must have been employed continuously for one month, be available for work and not refuse any reasonable alternative work that you can provide. From the employee point of view, be conscious that they lose potential pay through no fault of their own, so an offer of weekend work in lieu for any that want to make up any losses could be an option for an employer. We often keep some non-priority projects or tidying up, cleaning tools and maintaining equipment in our yard as something that can be done if we ever can’t work on site, although as we have grown the number of site staff, it’s not always feasible to find enough work for everyone at short notice. The feasibility of this very much depends on how many site staff you have. Now we have the Landscape Academy,
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BE CONSCIOUS THAT THEY LOSE POTENTIAL PAY THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN our plan for any lay-off days is to bring the team in to focus on any required training, utilising the time to upskill, do team-building or problem solving. You can never have too much training! Other companies I’ve spoken to in the past have different approaches, one being a claw back policy – staff are fully paid for any adverse weather days and the company agrees to claw back any associated cost if poor performance occurs over the course of the next few months. A good way to keep standards consistent, but needs careful planning and open monitoring. Another approach is to factor in an amount of adverse weather days into your costings, so that when you work out a daily rate for your team, the down days are already potentially covered. If you’ve done your figures correctly and kept them well monitored, you should have
the cash flow to pay the staff in full, although this will depend on how tight your cash flow is. Consider that the down days may well be all in the same month on consecutive days, so will have an effect on that month’s flow. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have any wording approved by an HR consultant to ensure you are adhering to current legislation and, more importantly, have communicated your policy to your employees.
A B O U T H O L LY Y O U D E As joint director of Urban Landscape Design Ltd, Holly plays a fundamental role in the growth and diversification of the design and build company, as well as heading up Outdoor Living by Urban, and the upcoming launch of The Landscape Academy. In 2019, the company won the Pro Landscaper Business Awards Landscape Company <£2m Award, and has previously won Best Commercial Garden at the APL awards, Employer Excellence Award at the BALI Awards, and the High Sheriff of Cheshire Award for Enterprise. Holly has just been announced as the first female vice-chairperson of the APL.
www.urbanlandscapedesign.co.uk
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B E N W E ST TIME TO ACT
BEN WEST ARGUES THAT THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY CAN MAKE A BIG ENVIRONMENTAL DIFFERENCE, AND WE NEED TO BE CREATING MORE NATURALISTIC GARDENS TO DO THIS
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n the February issue of Pro Landscaper, Nick Temple-Heald expressed his thoughts on The Summit at FutureScape in November. The ‘topic’ up for debate that evening was the problem of environmental sustainability in our industry. Nick came away unimpressed. Despite the good intentions on display that evening, for him, the event was a reinforcement of his belief that everyone in the room, himself included, was a contributor to the problem. On this point, I concur; as agents in a culture whose main drive is economic growth at all costs, we are all playing our part in escalating climate chaos and biodiversity losses. However, Nick goes on to say that The Summit’s attendees were “a group of predominantly western, white, middle class professionals” that epitomised the main barrier to progress. The premise throughout his article seems to be that we are all hypocrites and should shut up and carry on as normal. I beg to
differ with Nick’s analysis. When I looked around the room that evening, I saw impassioned and informed individuals desperate for unity and guidance on the subject and exasperated at the slow progress and lack of leadership from
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people in positions of power. Unlike Nick, I looked beyond class and ethnicity and saw a group of people recognising the existential threat and attempting to find, for themselves and collectively, new ways of doing business. Above all, I saw hope. The further I read into Nick’s article, the more I wondered whether it is these harsh winds of social change rather than the catastrophic consequences of climate change that really motivate his concerns. I would suggest, of all the individuals in attendance that evening, it is characters of his ilk that represent the main
AS LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS WE ARE EXTREMELY WELL PLACED TO INFLUENCE WIDESPREAD CHANGE barrier to progress. Does he speak of himself when he says: “The people who will ultimately make structural change are pushed the other way by all of this” – are his feelings of disdain dredged up by a perceived hypocrisy in the attitudes of those who advocate change? Or, are they perhaps symptoms of a nausea experienced by all those who hold the reins of power when they feel their foundations rocked by a groundswell of shifting public opinion? As the chairman of idverde, the largest landscaping company in Europe, Nick is one of the exalted few with the power to execute structural change. What a tragedy, then, that on top of expressing scepticism as to the reality of
climate change, he chooses to shrug off the consequences of two of the most profoundly damaging practices in our industry in his last couple of articles for Pro landscaper. In July 2019, he championed the continued use of harmful chemicals in the environment whilst simultaneously bemoaning enlightened pesticide-free towns on the continent. Then, in October 2019, he played down the wellestablished impact of peat extraction on climate change and habitat loss. Voices like Nick’s are those that need to be strongly challenged as we go into the new decade. Make no mistake, there are those with vested interests in our industry who will be banking on the burgeoning environmental movement being a flash in the pan, a fad that will fizzle out fast, in order to continue with business as usual. As instigators of change, our first task is to ensure that the current momentum builds to become an unstoppable force. I agree with Nick’s observation that change “will come down to what the people want”, therefore, we have to continue to advocate and embody the changes we wish to see and press on with winning the hearts and minds of our clients and the wider community. Einstein said: “The world as we
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have created, it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking”. We must keep this uppermost in our minds when embarking on the task ahead. Do not be cowed by Nick’s belief that we are a small industry with an over-inflated ego. As landscape professionals, we are extremely well placed to influence widespread change; we are at the very coalface. Our clients invite us to set the scene for their interactions with the natural world. A daunting responsibility, yet one that offers a unique opportunity. Gardens are where it all happens. My deep passion for nature was ignited by chance – meeting with a fledgling house sparrow in an 80s suburban garden on the outskirts of Stoke. A less auspicious setting would be hard to imagine, but therein we have the essence of why gardens are such an important portal – magic happens amidst the mundane. Gardens are a gateway to experiencing that all-important connection with nature. It is our responsibility as designers and landscape professionals to help coax our clients through, and there is no greater responsibility than helping children transform their consciousness in order to create the next generation of nature’s guardians. If we have a young population with no emotional investment in the natural world, we will face a future inundated with indifferent adults lacking the motivation to protect and nurture that world and its inhabitants. Indifference and apathy will lead to further loss and degradation of the remaining environment. Therefore, we must engage the nation’s youth with the natural world as never before. We must open their eyes to the magic. We owe it to future generations to have the possibility of experiencing the kind of connection that led me to a lifetime of wonder in the beauty of nature and landscape. Sustainability is a noble goal and a great starting point, but it is not enough. We have to be regenerative in our designs and active in our personal contributions to positive change. We have to start making gardens, public spaces, and ourselves, less sterile once more. Let’s take our lead from the aforementioned French towns that are buzzing with insects. Or better still, adopt the kind of rewilding programme that has transformed Berlin in recent years. Let’s kick back, relax and grow some ‘weeds’. Nature – humans included – needs more scruffiness. Why are we mowing and spraying our roadside verges, village greens, parks and gardens into oblivion? Or filling them with sterile annual bedding plants? Or stripping them out in favour of plastic grass? Imagine letting them go
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NOW IS THE TIME TO GROW UP, DROP THE DENIAL AND FACE UP TO FACTS
wild, or removing the rank grasses and re-laying them as wildflower meadows to reap benefits of colour, sound, movement and renewed life. We have to find ways of moving away from the ‘no maintenance outdoor room’, and towards making wild gardens more desirable. How about having high-profile show gardens and trade body prizes awarded primarily on the basis of their sustainability credentials and attractiveness to wildlife? Why are we buying peat products and funding the destruction of wetlands when there are good sustainable alternatives, like Melcourt’s ‘SylvaGrow’? To combat climate change, we need to think about preserving, restoring and creating natural landscapes to provide increased wildlife habitat and sequester more atmospheric carbon. Above all, it’s time to grow up. In the face of record high temperatures, regular devastating so-called ‘freak’ weather events, and overwhelming consensus on the issue in the scientific community, why do we still tolerate vocal sceptics in positions of power? Now is the time to grow up, drop denial and face up to facts. As an observer of nature since childhood, I’ve witnessed firsthand, in a short space of time, the decline in insects and the subsequent disappearance of birds, like spotted flycatchers and willow warblers, from gardens and towns. I have seen Mediterranean species, like little egret and Cetti’s warbler, move in from the continent in response to a warming climate. I’ve watched lapwing and curlew numbers crash as their wetland homes are degraded or destroyed by development and peat extraction. These observations are backed up by the science. It is common knowledge. In his article, Nick Temple-Heald admits to not having solutions to the environmental problems we face. To that, I say: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”. We witnessed the will in the room at The Summit. Now, it’s time to work together to find the way.
ABOUT BEN WEST Ben West spent his formative years tramping the woods, fields and waterways of Staffordshire, and studied environmental management at Keele University prior to relocating to Surrey and setting up Landscaping Solutions in 2005. The firm has achieved multiple RHS medals and BALI Awards in the intervening years. Now in his 28th year in the landscaping industry, Ben wishes to use his passion for natural landscapes and ecology to direct the future trajectory of the firm, and to ensure clients and the wider community consider nature when planning landscaping schemes.
www.landscapingsolutionsltd.co.uk
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GET AC T I V E KICKING OFF A THREE-PART SERIES ON HOW SOLE TRADERS CAN CARE FOR THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING, JO MANFREDIHAMER SHARES HER THOUGHTS AND STARTS BY TACKLING PHYSICAL HEALTH
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eing a garden designer gives me the flexibility to work from home, control my workload and avoid office politics. However, one of the downsides is that there is no-one to pick up the workload when I get ill. So, as a sole trader, I definitely need to learn how to take better care of myself. Taking care of myself is a little like doing a risk assessment on myself. Garden designers are used to doing these to anticipate physical injury on work sites, but should they be doing these to cover mental health issues too? And how about taking a look at themselves throughout the year? In a three-part series, I will be exploring how sole traders can learn how to look after their own wellbeing and looking at wellbeing in the context of horticulture more generally. As I looked back on my curveball challenges last year, I was surprised to find that it was the little things that helped the most. For example, taking up yoga to manage bad posture, learning to deep breathe through a show garden build, and taking a walk every day to give me time away from my desk.
ABOUT JO MANFREDI-HAMER Jo Manfredi-Hamer is an award-winning garden designer. She designed the Mental Health Garden which took gold at the Harrogate Flower Show 2019 and was proud to support Leeds Mind in that venture. She is passionate about how we can use gardening and horticulture generally to alleviate mental health issues in society. Jo is a pre-registered member of the Society of Garden Designers.
www.jmhgardendesign.co.uk
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HERE ARE SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER FOR IMPROVING PHYSICAL WELLBEING
Prevention is better than cure It can take a lot of time to heal from a physical injury, so prevention is better than cure for the sole trader and you should invest time now to become fit and healthy. Try initially to spare a total of an hour a week to practise exercise which is right for you and gradually increase your fitness to 30-minute exercise sessions, five days a week. I like to do yoga to help me stretch out after spending hours at the computer, but taking a run, Pilates, walking or cycling are all good alternatives. Check your office space Sole traders often do everything in their business and much of this is done at the computer. Are you sitting comfortably with your screen at eye level? Is your chair adjustable and is your back supported? Take a break to give muscles a chance to relax. See www.nhs.uk for more detailed guidance.
Warm up before major exercise We all know we should do this, but when we are in a rush to get 200 plants in the ground in an hour it all goes out the window. Regardless of how experienced we are, muscles need warming up before a major planting session. We are what we eat Try and eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and drink plenty of water. It is amazing what a difference this makes to energy levels. Sleep is king The National Sleep Foundation recommends making sleep a priority and states that the recommended hours of sleep for an adult are seven to nine a night. If we are healthier, we are also more productive; this sole trader definitely thinks thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth the investment.
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THE SECRET OF
SALFORD’S SUCCESS PRO LANDSCAPER SPENDS SOME TIME IN SALFORD, DISCOVERING HOW RENEWED FOCUS BY THE LOCAL COUNCIL HAS REJUVENATED THE CITY’S NEGLECTED PARKS OFFER
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arks are vitally important elements in the fabric of community life, something which long-time readers of this series on publicly funded green spaces will know very well. There are a variety of reasons for this, the most obvious being the degree to which a well-maintained, vibrant park offering can drastically improve the lives of residents living within a particular area. This could be in terms of simply giving office workers somewhere pleasant to go at lunchtime or, in some cases, actively contributing to attracting tourists, thereby helping to improve the local economy. That being the case, however, it’s clear that the opposite is also true, with poorly maintained, or even derelict, pieces of green space holding the potential to be hugely detrimental to the wider environment in which they exist. This kind of site is a magnet for anti-social behaviour of all kinds; for instance, attracting activities such as drug use, harassment of legitimate park users, and
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so on. In the very worst cases, this can in turn According to Annie, the money for this has have a profoundly detrimental psychological been provided in part by capital investment on effect on residents, while at the same time the part of the city council, whose attitude has deterring local investment via a kind of been transformed since the publication of its parks equivalent of what’s known Parks for People strategy in as ‘broken window’ syndrome. 2006. The city has also With that in mind, it would be benefitted from Section fair to say that this issues’ local 106 legislation, which requires authority – Salford City Council that any private property – has provided a veritable model development must also be of how to transform the latter accompanied by investment into the former, particularly in in local green space. regard to its recent activity. This Breaking the level of includes the regeneration of not investment down further, DAVID LANCASTER only a number of ‘peripheral’ Salford councillor David sites across the city, but also of Lancaster says: “Over the Peel Park, one of the oldest public parks last five years, we’ve invested around £5m in the entire country. in improving parks, and this year [2020/21] we’ll be putting in another million. It’s made Increasing green spaces an enormous difference to our parks offer, Located in the north of England in Greater and to the city as a whole. Manchester, Salford is around eight square “Former colliery and railway lines across miles in terms of its size, with a population of Salford have been turned into 27km of off-road just over 100,000 people according to a census walking and cycling routes for commuting and carried out in 2011. It sits directly to the west leisure, for instance. Our investment in these of perhaps the more high-profile city of ‘looplines’ has [in turn] paid off massively, with Manchester, across the River Irwell. improvements in surfaces, direction signs, Annie Surtees is green space and street benches and public art. We’ve seen a 1000% scene manager for the city council, and as such increase in use of one of those areas alone, has a core role to play in its parks offering. with 270,000 people enjoying it over the Giving an overview of that offer, both as it was course of a single year.” then and how it is now, she says: “As an area, He continues: “New green space is also we’ve got something like 60% green space, being added all the time; for instance, in 2018 when we worked with The Environment Agency to open a new £10m flood basin in the loop of the River Irwell. This not only protects homes, but also provides a vast green public space, with more than five hectares of wetland habitat for birds and other wildlife.” Another ongoing project meanwhile – albeit not strictly the responsibility of Salford City Council – is the creation of the Royal something which I think surprises a lot of Horticultural Society’s next national garden, people particularly if they think of Salford the £44m RHS Garden Bridgewater. More than as primarily an urbanised industrial centre. £3.2m is also being invested in something “Across the city, that includes a lot of areas called the Carbon Landscape project involving of former industrial land, as well as country the restoration of wetlands, such as former parks and agricultural sites as well. Key to peat extraction site Little Woolden Moss. a lot of what we’ve been doing in particular is the improvement of the recreational offer.” From disrepair to where? She continues: “Over the course of the last Arguably the most famous green space 10 years, we’ve increased the number of people in Salford is Peel Park, which is situated in who have access to [useable, maintained] the east of the city next to the university. district parks from 17% to something like 95%. As mentioned, it was opened in 1846 as one of It’s easy to say that we’ve got all this green the first parks in the UK designated for use by space across the city, but that doesn’t mean the public and has been the site of a number of very much if it’s not reflected in people’s important cultural events in its 150 plus-year experience of the land in and of itself.” history. These include the royal visit by Queen
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE’VE INVESTED AROUND £5M IN IMPROVING PARKS
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OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS WE’VE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO DISTRICT PARKS FROM 17% TO SOMETHING LIKE 95%
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Victoria in 1851, as well as its use by LS Lowry as the inspiration for several of his paintings. Unfortunately, much of its recent history has been typified by neglect, with the park regarded as a no-go area up until a couple of years ago, according to Annie. Thankfully this all began to change following a £1.6m Heritage Lottery-funded refurbishment of the park taking place in 2017. Discussing the history of Peel Park, and in particular the way in which its recent restoration symbolises the council’s current attitude to its precious green space, she says: “When I first
came to Salford as a student I was told in no uncertain terms to avoid Peel Park, because of the level of anti-social behaviour which was going on there at the time. It had basically been neglected and abandoned. “The situation now is completely different, thanks in part to a change of attitude on behalf of the council, as well as the influence of the parks groups which have grown steadily over the years. The latter had always existed, but as time went by – and the parks fell into increasing disrepair – they increased their influence by becoming more focused on campaigning.
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“One example of that would be in what’s happened in Light Oaks, where they’ve opened a little cafe over the summer in what used to be the gardeners’ mess room. There’s also Blackleach Country Park, which used to partly belong to the coal authority and was completely derelict. In the first instance, the local action group campaigned to have it saved, after which it’s been transformed into one of our key nature reserves.” Going back to the notion of Peel Park as the exemplar of the council’s green spaces offer as a whole, one interesting question is its level of funding compared to other parks across the city. Does it receive ‘special treatment’, for instance, when it comes to higher-cost stock such as bedding or more labour-intensive forms of maintenance? “When it comes to things like bedding, unfortunately we’ve had to cut back across the city as whole due a decrease in overall funding,” says Annie, referencing the cuts which have recently reduced crewing levels by two thirds. “Thankfully, because of its status, we’ve been able to resource Peel Park a bit differently, and there is certainly an amount of bedding to help it reflect the original design.” She continues: “At the same time, however, we’ve had no choice but to introduce more herbaceous planting into the mix. That’s been very successful, particularly when it comes to the nectar plants we’ve introduced, and in particular how beneficial they’ve been to local wildlife such as bees and butterflies.” Annie illustrates this with the example of the reopening of a bridge across the Irwell linking Peel Park to an area called Crescent Meadows. “Crescent Meadows were former playing pitches which had not been used for a long time and had been allowed to diversify,” she says. “As the name suggests we’ve gone with a more ‘meadow based’ model there, which is not necessarily something everyone is in complete agreement with, from the point of view of the public. People think that you can’t be bothered to cut the grass, but that kind of thing takes as much planning as a bedding scheme.” Thanks to investment on the part of its city council, Salford is on the way to becoming a veritable oasis of green space. Its transformation is not only instructive, but inspirational. 1 The grand entrance to Peel Park 2 Salford’s first MP Joseph Brotherton surveys Peel Park which he helped create 3 Restored Victorian planting at Peel Park 4 Clifton Country Park 5 Kersal Wetlands and flood basin 6 Worsley Woods
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TH E D ES I GN IS IN
THE DETAIL SMALL URBAN GARDEN L A N D S CA P E AS S O C I AT E S A W A R D -W I N N I N G D E S I G N E R J A M E S A L D R I D G E C O N TA C T E D L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT E S T O B U I L D A SMALL URBAN GARDEN IN PECKHAM FOLLOWING E X T E N S I V E R E N O VAT I O N O F T H E P R O P E R T Y
PROJECT D E TA I L S Project value £40k Build time 6 weeks Size of project 98m2 Awards BALI National Landscape Awards 2019 – Domestic Construction £30k-£60k
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L
ocated in South London, a newly renovated property required Landscape Associates to install a garden which complemented the new stylish interior. Prior to the landscaping works, the garden was a small bare patch of compacted soil; all that remained of interest was a mature characterful apple tree which was integral to the design.
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Client brief The clients wanted a simple design with strong detailing for the small space, a requirement particularly important due to the clients being young, professional and design conscious. The final design was strongly influenced by their love of Japan. The intention was to combine elements of Japanese design to create a modern garden for city living that would enhance the clients’ experience with their outside space and provide an intimate area to entertain friends and family. Design and build A limited space measuring 14m long by 7m wide meant it was important for Landscape Associates to utilise the area well, making the most of every square inch. The rear of the property has large glass doors, bringing the outside space into the daily lives of the clients. An upper and lower terrace are separated by a large mass of planting including Mahonia eurybracteata sub sp. ganpinensis ‘Soft Caress’ and Cyrtomium fortunei, chosen for their foliage and structure. A dense green carpet has been formed, with Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ and other ground cover species. Grasses and perennials complete a rich tapestry of forms and textures. The shade tolerant planting perfectly suits the environmental conditions of the garden, while the mainly green tones fulfil the brief and create a relaxing space. Evergreen climbers Trachelospermum jasminoides were used with
Phyllostachys aurea to provide screening to boundaries, a contrast to the charred timber. Generous plank paving cuts through this; its direction is guided by a large apple tree that arches over the garden. The tree had been carefully pruned to enhance its sculptural shape, leading to a seating area that mixes the darker basalt stone with silver grey granite. The intimate seating area has low comfy seating around a small firepit, providing further opportunity to sit, relax, entertain and enjoy the planting from a different perspective. Charred wood using Japanese techniques was used to form decorative panels and storage space. A bespoke barbecue area has been constructed utilising charred timber to create doors with natural granite work surfaces to match paving materials. A western red cedar cantilevered bench floats from the boundary and retaining walls wrapping around the lower terrace providing extra seating. Challenges Being a recently refurbished build, many issues arose which are no doubt familiar to other landscape contractors. Firstly, the budget was tight, meaning the exploration of value engineering opportunities was necessary.
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1 Relaxed seating area with Paloform firepit and sofas with mixed basalt and granite plank paving 2 Planting, house and main terrace with built-in BBQ 3 Level change from terrace to garden with solid granite steps and cantilevered Western Red Cedar bench 4 Path through lush Japanese inspired planting to seating area in granite plank paving with polished marble pebbles
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Secondly, the clients and their neighbours had lived with the construction work for the previous two years and were sensitive to additional landscaping work taking place. Garden access was via the property which had level changes, meaning manual handling costs were not conducive to the budget constraints. Solutions were found for wheelbarrow access through a neighbouring property, saving the clients money and reducing the build programme. With a small, simple design, attention to detail was critical, and Landscape Associates had to make sure every millimetre counted. The onsite team ensured every stone cut, joint and shadow gap or piece of charred cladding was perfect.
ABOUT LANDSCAPE A S S O C I AT E S Set up in 2001, Landscape Associates has built a reputation for delivering outstanding gardens. Working throughout West London, Surrey and Berkshire, Landscape Associates offers garden construction and complete aftercare services. It has achieved multiple awards, including RHS Gold medals at Chelsea and Hampton Court, as well as BALI Principle Awards and APL Gold Medals.
www.landscapeassociates.co.uk
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REFERENCES Designer James Aldridge www.jamesaldridgedesign.com Charred timber fencing and cantilevered bench R & B Joinery www.randbjoinery.co.uk Granite, plank paving, cladding and granite steps CED Ltd www.cedstone.co.uk
BEFORE
Garden lighting Platinum Wiring Ltd www.platinumwiringservices.co.uk Firepit Paloform www.paloform.co.uk
DURING WORKS
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DURING WORKS
Plants Creepers Nursery www.creepersnursery.co.uk Knoll Gardens www.knollgardens.co.uk
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PROJECT D E TA I L S Project value £220k Build time 20 weeks Size of project 185m2 Awards SGD Award Winner 2020: Small Residential Garden; SGD Award Winner 2020: Hardscape; BALI Principal Award Winner 2019
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C U RV E D
COMPOSITION RIBBON WHEEL GARDEN THE OUTDOOR ROOM S I T U AT E D AT O P T H E C I R C L E L I N E , T H E D E S I G N O F T H I S C I T Y G A R D E N I S F I T T I N G LY R O U N D
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he Ribbon Wheel Garden is an intricate series of ten interlocking paved circles using various formats of setts, pitchers, cobbles and bespoke radial cut Yorkstone. The circles are linked beautifully by ‘the ribbon’ to create cohesive and rhythmic detail. Prior to the renovation, the garden – situated in West London – was laid with natural stone over a thick concrete pad and a narrow planting bed along the main garden wall. It mainly comprised of small Catalpa trees, which were mostly lifeless due to being planted too deep. Client brief The brief was to create a purposeful, inviting garden where family and friends can dine and relax with space to entertain. Due to the terrace being adjacent to the resident’s private garden, security and privacy was of utmost importance to the clients. They asked for a design that would contrast the minimalist, rectilinear-style
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communal garden. Good circulation from various entrances on the ground, basement and first floors was also important, as was providing a full lighting scheme. Design/build The London Underground Circle Line runs diagonally beneath the communal garden and the North East end of the terrace, house and driveway. The tunnel is close to the surface and early site excavations revealed large quantities of reinforced concrete beneath the existing Portland paving. This meant spot loading and certain excavations were very limited. Separate lifting days were required for the project, involving three different methods of lifting including Hiab lorries, traditional cranes and a furniture hoist. The bedroom terrace and ribbon wheel garden involved part road closures for four separate crane days, the first to remove all existing landscaping materials and lift new materials. As space was limited the second crane lift was used for planters, pots, plants, lighting and furniture. To create privacy along the eastern boundary a new Taxus baccata was proposed to mirror the hedge at the opposite end of the communal garden. The existing low wall running along the boundary has three sets of steps leading directly into the communal garden; one set of steps 3 has been retained
incorporating a new gate, the others removed, and the walls infilled and topped with 100mm-thick Portland coping. The space is largely shady all year due to the surrounding buildings and large London plane trees on the boundaries. Even in the height of summer it only sees a one-hour band of sunlight which travels across the garden. These conditions were crucial to bear in mind when designing the planting plan. All plants were to be planted in containers. They were all Hiab-ed into the garden, then manually lifted safely into the planters. The size of the plants was considered for this to be done safely.
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Challenges Access to the garden was limited, which resulted in removal of materials being restricted. All rubbish had to be bagged up daily and taken to the roadside ready to unload into the skip. Storage of materials was also
1 The Ribbon Wheel Garden designed by Butter Wakefield and built by The Outdoor Room 2 The copper planters and French limestone trough 3 Soft lighting creates a beautiful ambiance for relaxing and entertaining in the evening
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4 The furniture was bespoke designed to fit the largest paved circle
constrained; paving had to be delivered in a certain order, ready to be used and Hiab-ed into the garden. Deliveries were staggered on many days to cope with this, and all trees, except the large birch, had to be manually moved into place as there wasn’t enough room for a crane due to existing tree canopies. The initial proposal for the scheme did not include planters; however, after initial site surveys, it was found that the garden was covered in a deep layer of concrete on top of one of London’s main tube lines. It was therefore decided that it was not possible to dig down to plant. The generous planters proved to be the perfect solution, though, giving the opportunity to allow for some mature trees as well as being stunning features themselves.
ABOUT THE OUTDOOR ROOM The Outdoor Room is a multi-award-winning landscape company. The company’s knowledgeable, experienced and creative team offers a professional comprehensive service to private clients.
www.theoutdoorroom.co.uk
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BEFORE
REFERENCES Designer Butter Wakefield Garden Design www.butterwakefield.co.uk Copper planters, French limestone trough Architectural Heritage www.architectural-heritage.co.uk Garden tables, chairs and loungers Home and Garden Ironwork www.homeandgardenironwork.co.uk DURING
Shrubs Creepers Nursery www.creepersnursery.co.uk Perennials and grasses Chichester Trees & Shrubs www.ctsplants.com How Green Nursery www.howgreennursery.co.uk
Photographs ŠEleanor Walpole Photography
Trees and Fagus domes Deepdale Trees www.deepdale-trees.co.uk Lighting Hunza Lighting www.hunzalighting.com Hedging Big Hedge Company www.bighedgeco.com
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PROJECT D E TA I L S Project value £240k Build time 6 months Size of project 1,200m2 Awards Specifi Project of the Year Commendation 2019
CONSIDERATE
CALM
C R E AT E D F O R R E S I D E N T S OF ABERDEEN AFFECTED BY THE NHS ‘BABY ASHES’ SCANDAL, THE RAINBOW GARDEN PROVIDES A PEACEFUL PLACE F O R C O N T E M P L AT I O N
THE RAINBOW GARDEN, ABERDEEN TGP LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
O
nce an open space was identified in Aberdeen’s Hazlehead Park, TGP Landscape Architects was appointed to develop concept designs. These were to be discussed with the parents affected by the ‘baby ashes’ scandal, which saw parents falsely told by Mortonhall Crematorium that there were no ashes to return after the cremation of their babies. The concept ideas provided multi-layered designs, each of which would superficially act as a pleasant garden space for the general public, yet provide seclusion, peace and quiet for the parents.
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Portfolio 3 Aberdeen Rainbow Garden.indd 54
Client brief The initial design premise was simply to provide both a unique and personal place for the parents and a new public open space for general park visitors. Both TGP and Aberdeen City Council were deeply respectful of the parents’ feelings and
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concerns, wishing to make a statement of support for the parents, whilst also taking a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;back seatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and not be seen as interfering. This sympathetic approach allowed the parents to feel that they were in control of the project throughout. The council approached TGP Landscape Architects to undertake liaison with the parent group representatives and to design all the hard and soft landscape, earthform, furniture and access into the park. Design and build Due to the emotive nature of the proposed project, a comprehensive engagement process was initiated with the parents at the earliest opportunity and maintained throughout the entire design and construction process. This ensured that the parents were a guiding force behind the complete design process and their considerations greatly influenced the development of the project. Key to the liaison process was the desire to treat the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wishes with respect and adapt the design to accommodate their aspirations in a sympathetic and respectful manner. The design process was deeply personal and emotional for the parent group and designers alike. Of the three design options given, the parent group selected the most formal, rigid structure to fill the spaces and a clear axial emphasis to the garden, dominating the surrounding areas of grass and peripheral seating areas. A feature entrance has been added to the garden to signify arrival into the safe space and set apart from the wider park. An access path continues from the gateway to form an inner pathway, turning in on itself, completing and
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Portfolio 3 Aberdeen Rainbow Garden.indd 55
enclosing a central, circular area. A secondary path orbits the central area, providing alcoves for two-person arbour seats, with each seat nestled within the surrounding earth bund. This secondary path also provides access to the most intimate contemplation area, where name plaques are located in a small circular area. The open space is south-facing and enclosed by new planting beds and both existing and new trees; designed so that the perception of the garden changes throughout the day as the sun moves from east to west. This change can be experienced from dawn to dusk, with at least one seat in shade and one in full sun. The team reused any hostas, splitting and replanting the existing stock rather than
removing and replacing. Being located within a rhododendron and azalea area within the pack, so many specimen azaleas are used within the embankments, continuing a colourful theme throughout the surrounding area, complemented by decorative acers to enhance the autumn colours. The central area contains soft herbaceous planting to complement the adjacent grassed area, using a combination of aromatic herbs including rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano and lavender, along with soft and sensory leafed
1 2 3 4
Central garden area and sculpture Bespoke arbour garden seating for two Feature entrance gateway Quiet area for plaques and contemplation
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plants such as decorative grasses and soft foliage plants. Medicinal plants have been woven throughout, such as Echinacea and Allium, of which long-lived flowers provide drifts of colour throughout the year, in combination with colourful drifts of Iris and Crocosmia. All materials are of the highest quality, including extensive use of natural granite, supplied by Fyfe Glenrock and constructed by MTM Construction. Hard elements are bespoke and have been kept to a restricted palette to ensure complexity does not overpower the simplicity of the design. Resin bound aggregate paths have been used to further soften the garden, with extensive use of dissected leaf and herbaceous plants. Challenges The biggest challenge to the project was the sensitive nature of the subject. The client group was understandably extremely emotionally invested in the project; managing their expectations whilst keeping the developing site private was a challenge that TGP met by providing regular updates, project information and rapidly responding to queries and requests. The climate was harsh throughout the first five weeks of the construction phase, resulting in delays to excavations, earth forming and the installation of foundations (due to low temperatures preventing the mixing and use of concrete). However, the council was very understanding and did not push the contractor to rush these works once the temperature
BEFORE
5 improved, which could have led to a compromised product. Both TGP and the contractors worked closely with sculptural artist Maja Quille to ensure that her work was installed in situ and protected whilst construction work continued. The main constraint to the physical works was the main entrance gateway which, due to its enclosed design, required all machinebased operations within the garden to be complete before the stone circle was built. Therefore, careful programming was necessary to ensure that all operations requiring machine access were complete before entrance gateway construction began. All of the issues and constraints were overcome by clear dialogue between the members of TGP, the council and MTM, with immediate response to queries ensuring that matters arising on site were addressed without adverse impact. One of the main design aspirations was that when the garden was officially opened, the planting appeared well established, which required early planting and comprehensive hand maintenance in order to ensure that the plants were thriving when the garden opened. Together, MTM and the council officers managed this aspect extremely well, resulting in an exemplar setting when the parents were finally presented with the finished garden.
DURING WORKS
ABOUT TGP LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS TGP Landscape Architects is an innovative landscape architectural practice which delivers high quality, multi-sector landscape planning, design and contract management services across Scotland and the North of England. Now 27 years old, the practice specialises in several areas including education, health, heritage, conservation and restoration, LVIA and urban realm enhancements.
www.tgp.uk.com
REFERENCES Contractor MTM Construction Ltd www.mtm.co.uk Granite Fyfe Glenrock www.fyfe-glenrock.com Sculpture artist Maja Quille www.majaquille.com Sculpture fabricator Beltane Studios www.beltanestudios.com
5 Arbour seating in the sun, facing into the garden
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Portfolio 3 Aberdeen Rainbow Garden.indd 56
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LANDSCAPE A R C H I T EC T ’S
ADAM HUNT AND LULU URQUHART, FOUNDERS OF URQUHART & HUNT, BUILT THEIR COMPANY WITH THE AIM OF PROTECTING AND ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THEIR PROJECTS. THEY DISCUSS BEING ACTIVELY ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS, AS WELL AS THE ORIGINS OF THEIR ORGANIC BULB COMPANY
JOURNAL
P
rotecting our natural environment may have been at the top of this industry’s agenda for a long time, but in recent months it seems that it has also risen to the top of the public’s agenda in the wake of Extinction Rebellion and Greta Thunberg. This advocacy for the environment and for sustainability is also stretching to government, as 30 January saw the Environmental Bill be introduced. This Bill will seemingly ensure that the natural environment will be better protected for generations to come, introducing measures to improve air and water quality, tackle plastic pollution and restoring
U R Q U H A RT & H U N T
OUR WORK ATTEMPTS TO WEAVE A TALE OF CONNECTION TO EARTH AND CELEBRATES THE BEAUTY OF PLANTS AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
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habitats so plants and wildlife can thrive. Essentially, it looks to ensure that the environment is at the heart of all government policy making. Now more than ever, our industry has the opportunity, if not a responsibility, to be at the forefront of environmentally friendly solutions. For Urquhart & Hunt, this has been the mission from the beginning. Based in Somerset but working
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on projects all around the UK, Urquhart & Hunt aims ensure it has a positive impact on the environment. Adam Hunt and Lulu Urquhart formed the company 15 years ago – Lulu explains: “Our work attempts to weave a tale of connection to Earth and celebrates the beauty of plants and the natural environment.” Collaboration Urquhart & Hunt got to collaborate with renowned master plantsman Piet Oudolf on
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IT FEELS LIKE PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS a project at the Hauser & Wirth art gallery. Once a derelict farm complex, the site has now been converted into a vibrant new gallery and cultural centre. The project consisted of the creation of a secret ‘cloister garden’ and an acre and a half of contoured beds, packed with an intricate scheme of over 26,000 herbaceous perennials in the classic Oudolf style. Using skilled local craftsmen, Urquhart & Hunt carefully restored the original features of the farm, from reinstating crumbling dry stonewalls and using reclaimed field stone from the farm fields for the track ways to recreating traditional Somerset-style ironmongery and seeding the margins with wildflowers of local provenance. Urquhart & Hunt puts a great emphasis on collaborative, organic approaches. “It’s important that we have a shared vision,” Adam explains. “We always advocate an organic approach to land management and it can be challenging, so it’s crucial that the client is completely on board. It feels like people are waking up to environmental concerns.” This advocacy for an organic approach begins during the build, where Urquhart & Hunt work from the soil up. It is very careful with the way it
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3 treats soil, requiring its contractors to do the same – Urquhart & Hunt has banned the use of glyphosates when clearing sites, choosing instead to clear by hand. Although more time consuming, and therefore slightly more costly, it is in these small details where its passion for protecting the environment can really be seen. A long-term project Urquhart & Hunt has been involved with is the masterplanning for 42 Acres Retreat in Somerset. The 100 acres of land which surrounds the retreat will be used for regenerative agriculture and food production – according to Lulu, “it’s a soil to gut philosophy. Organic food is produced while gently allowing the land to ‘wild’ itself”. By enabling the land to rewild, the landscape can restore itself, bringing huge biodiversity benefits and improving the soil health. This is not only a win for the environment, but it complements the matters being taught and studied at 42 Acres Retreat. Working with nature Urquhart & Hunt has a number of clients whose estates are both organically and biodynamically registered which is something the company
then planted into. The species were chosen so they would self-seed and move naturally around the area. Organic Wanting to remain as organic as possible, and finding the sourcing of organic bulbs increasingly difficult, Adam and Lulu decided to start up their own organic bulb company, Organic Bulbs. Sourced from growers in the Netherlands, these bulbs have not got the toxicity of some bulbs and therefore do not interfere with the soil, making them less damaging for local nectar feeding insects. “We’ve already had a lot of interest,” Adam tells us. “Our aim is to create a large market for growers so they can move to growing more organic bulbs.” The future As well as pushing forward with Organic Bulbs, Urquhart & Hunt has The Tree Conference coming up, of which it is a partner. The conference, held on 2 May, aims to support citizen-led landscape restoration, halt the destruction of old growth forests and highlight the changes that are happening around caring for the Earth’s ecosystems. Mostly, Urquhart & Hunt will be continuing to push its passion for finding environmentally friendly solutions. “It’s incredible to see how quickly a landscape can recover given the chance. If we could just leave half the planet to nature, it would sort itself out.” It seems for Urquhart & Hunt, it’s never too late to save the planet.
5 encourages. The company also attempts to work seasonally and rhythmically with the landscape. One naturalistic and dynamic planting scheme in which Urquhart & Hunt showcased its ability to work with nature and the landscape was at Babington House. Here, Urquhart & Hunt was asked to develop a gravel garden at the Relax Spa, a private members club and hotel et in 18 acres of Somerset parkland. Because of the vast number of earthworks which had taken place in the woodland area, Urquhart & Hunt bought in a special mix of free drainage soil with horticultural grit which was
1 Private Estate, Cotswolds ©Jason Ingram 2 Mill Road Mosque, Cambridge 3 Hauser & Wirth art gallery, Somerset ©Jason Ingram 4 Babington House, Relax Spa, Somerset 5 Fulham Palace Trust ©Matthew Bruce
C O N TA C T Urquhart & Hunt, 61 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AL Tel +44 (0)1373 888720 Email studio@uandh.co.uk
www.urquharthunt.com www.organicbulbs.com
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DEBS WINROW REVEALS THE L I K E LY T R E N D S F O R T H E Y E A R A H E A D , I N C L U D I N G T H E I M PA C T S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y W I L L H AV E O N O U T D O O R S PA C E S
W
hilst I don’t consider myself a 'trend forecaster', at this point in my career within the landscaping industry, I do believe I have an intuitive sense of things to note and notice. In celebrating the start of a new decade, I’ve rounded up the trends that I suspect will become huge in our outdoor lives, especially as consumers realise that creating new gardens and outdoor spaces will play an even more important role in helping them gain healthy and happy places to live. 2020 is therefore the year for sustainability, growing your own, outdoor kitchens and supersized house plants, with continuing trends of supporting the environment and local wildlife. Sustainability As we all watch our favourite brands, we see a surge of emphasis on eco-friendly production practices, environmental impacts and strong engagement of their audiences asking to purchase products and materials from sustainable sources. Design website Houzz suggests that sustainability is “becoming a more frequently requested feature by homeowners” using its online home renovation and design platform. The platform's research revealed that 15% of
SUPERSIZE HOUSE PLANTS
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renovators state that ‘integrating green materials’ was a priority, and that the word ‘eco’ was one of the most-searched-for keywords on Houzz in 2019. I look forward to talking with the amazing array of manufacturers which we buy from to support their challenges of experimenting with eco-materials and recyclable products with new products and packaging as we move forward. We need to be ready to offer eco-alternatives to our customers, even if this puts up the price point. A lot of consumers understand this and are prepared to pay a higher price to move towards more sustainable choices. Adding 'grow your own' areas The continued frequency at which customers ask for a zone designed for ‘growing their own’ is exciting. Seeing vegetable gardening merge with the outdoor entertaining trend is one that can be quite simple to incorporate into designs, even when your heart tells you that your customer is no green-thumb! The satisfaction of picking some fresh sprigs of mint to garnish a mojito or sprinkling some fresh basil to top a pizza will really inspire them to continue enjoying their outdoor spaces. If plans allow for it, consider an area of raised beds or large containers to help them with a small veggie patch. Chilli, for instance, is still number one on the lists of popular spices to grow and is an easy option to get them started.
Glee 2019 also saw predictions that the ‘grow your own’ trend will become even more popular this year, so there will be plenty of products hitting the catalogues, making our choices very easy. Outdoor kitchens With the aforementioned trend making headlines, the idea of cooking outdoors is also becoming
TOMATO HARVESTING
a favourite hobby. As I write this, I can see my parents (mum, a keen veggie grower; dad, a fan of barbecuing fresh fish and vegetables) raising their eyebrows – as if this is a new thing. But, with many generations, the public seems to have learnt the love for outdoor cooking from holidays abroad or online and not from experience. Enter the next trend: outdoor kitchens. From the classic and widely-owned barbecue to a much more designed and sophisticated full kitchen setup, there are many outdoor kitchen designs, allowing us to specify to the customers’ requirements and budgets. Be aware that the expectation of costs is likely still low in their
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INSPIRE
'CLASSIC BLUE' COLOUR SCHEME USING A WWOO OUTDOOR KITCHEN
ON-TREND PLANTERS
showing up in houses to aspire to. Having this trend to disguise horrid fence lines, existing sides of garages and sheds is useful for us all. Have black Cuprinol on repeat order! Finally, I am keen to see just how the blush pink that we’ve had around for a few years will emerge, perhaps as a newer, subtle, peachy or light pink mode. It will be interesting to see how this might show up in planting plans and influence design schemes. So, what 2020 trends will you be embracing? Maybe all, maybe none, but it’s useful to understand how other industries are influencing our clients through cut flowers, packaging, interiors and even their favourite local café taking on a trend that inspires them. 2020, here we come! OUTDOOR CONCRETE KITCHEN BY PROFRESCO OUTDOOR KITCHENS
knowledge and that build times can be quite long, so make sure an outdoor kitchen element doesn’t eat away at other, more necessary landscaping budgets. Also, make sure you take the weather in the region into account. Avoid windy and cold spots and consider covering the outdoor kitchen under a canvas or patio roof so that the rain won’t stop them from enjoying cooking outside. Supersize house plants Forecast to take centre stage in our homes this year is the addition of large houseplants. Giant leaves, contrasting stems and patterned foliage are all making it onto Pinterest boards, as well as interior magazines and styling mood boards. So, how may this impact us outdoors? Customers are going to need guidance, a source for buying large, healthy and approved specimens and, more importantly, gorgeous and on-trend planters – something we all have great access to at trade prices, right?
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Potentially styling garden items into our clients' homes, garden houses, conservatories or patios means another income stream. Colour update This year’s on trend colour palettes are a pure dream for us 'outies' to work with. From Pantone’s 19-042 Classic Blue, which is elegant and suggestive of the sky at dusk, to Dulux Colour of the Year ‘Tranquil Dawn’, a grey-based, washed-green hue, you have combinations that will work well with any outdoor space. Greens particularly depict calmness, and maybe the fashionable trendy greens might not stay around for too long, but we are in the best design seats offering arrays of natural greens within strong planting plans behind every design. Maybe indulge in on-trend greens in planters, painted furniture or soft furnishings. It is nice to see dark colours also holding their own again this year, with dark walls, monochrome schemes and even black ceilings
ABOUT DEBS WINROW Debs Winrow, creative director of award-winning landscape company Garden House Design, is an avid trend spotter, responsible for seeking out the latest and best outdoor living products, and developing an expansive portfolio to offer to both consumers and fellow landscapers and designers.
www.gardenhousedesign.co.uk
PANTONE S
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LASSI
BLUE
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ADVERTORIAL SANDITON
I
n response to higher demand from garden designers and landscapers, Stoneworld has launched a new range of stone paving – The Great British Stone Selection. The range seeks to give customers the best choice of high-quality British stone paving. Buying British enables those wishing to make a more environmentally sensitive choice on landscaping projects the ability to do so. Products include stone paving and setts from around the British Isles, including: Westmoreland and Welsh slates, Purbeck limestones, Pennant sandstones, traditional gritstones and seven different Yorkstones. As we all seek to find more sustainable ways of operating, it is time to rediscover what British stone has to offer landscape design and reacquaint with products that have been overlooked by the trades in more recent years.
PEMBERLEY
By choosing British stone, customers can help the environment. Less transportation requirements from quarry to site will dramatically reduce the carbon footprint on any garden design project, at the same time supporting quarries all around the UK. Paving stones are available in a variety of colours, from gentle to dramatic hues as well as traditional and classic formats, meaning British stone can sit extremely comfortably in any landscape design. British sandstone comes in many formats, and Yorkstone is, of course, the classic British sandstone. Stoneworld offers riven and sawn Yorkstone paving and setts in seven tones and formats. There are also other classic sandstones in the range, such as classic gritstones that have a wonderful gritty surface texture. They all have their own individual qualities. Stoneworld’s Pennant Sandstone Paving is supplied in a natural mix of sandy and greyish blue tones. The traditional charm of this stone is its natural variation. Pemberley Sandstone is supplied at a standard robust thickness of 50mm.
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CHAMPIONING
B R I T I S H STO N E STONEWORLD EXPLAINS WHY BUYING BRITISH I S B E S T, S H O W C A S I N G I T S N E W C O L L E C T I O N
Sanditon, a Purbeck Limestone Paving, is a classic pale limestone paving that has graced our architecture in the British Isles for many centuries, characterised by grey and buff tones. This classic British stone is available in several formats of paving and setts. The subtle colour will give immense elegance to any garden design. The range also features dramatic dark Cumbrian slates, such as Brantwood, a Westmoreland Green Slate Paving. It has a pale green colour with characteristic markings that will add dramatic background to any planting scheme. If a design requires bespoke finishing, Stoneworld’s masonry factory will be able to achieve the specification required. Any stone can be fabricated to create a unique product by taking advantage of the onsite masonry services available at Stoneworld. Using the latest in stone cutting technology, bespoke stone wall copings, swimming pool copings, step treads and more can be cut to create a perfect finish on any project. Stoneworld offers a vast selection of paving and landscaping products. Alongside The Great British Stone Selection, it continues to supply high-quality stone from around the globe that the company has become known for. The products available are extremely durable and include beautiful examples of Indian sandstone
These imported stone products represent the best quality available, and Stoneworld continues to develop the BARSET products it offers with its highly trusted suppliers overseas. There are also high-quality porcelain paving choices in a wide variety of colours and formats. Stoneworld aims to empower customers by giving them plenty of quality stone options
to choose from. The team at Stoneworld is always available to give advice on any stone purchase.
BRANTWOOD
ABOUT STONEWORLD
and limestone. The sale of these stones supports the economic development of these emerging countries, and there is pride at Stoneworld in continuing to do this.
Stoneworld is an innovative company supplying high quality stone and porcelain products for landscape design. The wide product range includes paving, pool copings, setts, ornamental gravels, walling and rockery stone. Masonry cutting services are available for bespoke finishing on any project and work is carried out in its own high tech masonry workshop.
www.stoneworld.co.uk
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INSPIRE
KEBUR Name of the trend Yorkstone With a growing desire to reduce carbon impact and source locally, some consumers are now looking closer to home for their paving. High quality manufacturing processes and a classic appeal make sawn Yorkstone a durable and stylish premium paving option, suitable for contemporary and traditional gardens alike. The smooth finish and consistent warm shades of Yorkstone give it a sophisticated and under-stated feel that provide the perfect backdrop for planting. A product which fits with this trend? Kebur Sawn Buff Yorkstone Price £119.95 per m2 (inc. VAT, supplied in 12m2 palettes) WWW.KEBUR.CO.UK
LATEST PRODUCTS
PAVING
TALASEY GROUP Name of the trend Size Matters The Talasey Group is seeing a big increase in the use of their large format porcelain paving because they offer a chic and contemporary look, and these larger-than-life pavers create show-stopping paved areas for outdoor entertaining. For 2020, Talasey have preemptively introduced a wider selection of larger sized formats to their Vitripiazza porcelain ranges, including Colosso, Metallo, Dolmen, Aix, Di Pietra, Stile and Traverta. Sizes include: 1200 x 600mm, 1200 x 1200mm and even 3240 x 1620mm. A product which fits with this trend? Metallo (Corten, 1200 x 1200mm) Price Approximately £504 to £552 per m2 (This is excluding delivery and the exact price will vary subject to the retailer and volume required) WWW.TALASEY.CO.UK
WE ASKED THREE SUPPLIERS FOR THEIR PREDICTIONS FOR THE TOP PAVING TRENDS IN 2020
LONDON STONE Name of the trend Fifty Shades of Grey Florence Grey was introduced into London Stone’s premium porcelain paving range in 2019 and has quickly become popular among garden designers and landscapers alike. Grey creates a stunning base tone against which green planting makes an impressive impact. Bringing designs together, grey will sit effortlessly in both contemporary and modern designs. Grey has continued to be popular and, for this reason, 70% of the porcelain London Stone introduced in 2020 is a variant of the shade. A product which fits with this trend? Florence Grey Porcelain Paving Price £30.60/m2 (exc. VAT) WWW.LONDONSTONE.CO.UK
©Kate Gould Gardens
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INSPIRE
SUSTA I N A B L E ,
E N V I R O N M E N TA L LY- F R I E N D LY LUKE THOMAS, DESIGN DIRECTOR AT JOHN CULLEN LIGHTING, DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGING LIGHTING IN ORDER TO MINIMISE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND WILDLIFE DISTURBANCE The lighting industry has been a front-runner in the reduction of energy consumption with the recent lamp ban and a conscious drive towards the longevity and efficiency of LED lighting. Regulation has, in many respects, forced through these changes and allowed LED to flourish as the demand increases. Prices are falling and quality is improving. Consumers are sold the ideals of low maintenance, reduced energy bills and physically smaller products. It is very easy to understand these practical benefits of LED and how it may improve our lives, but what about the balance between our desire for an illuminated world and the natural environment around us? There is more we can do than simply switch to a more energy efficient light source. We need to consider the lighting layouts, the fittings selected, and how the installation is controlled. The approach should be to limit, or prevent entirely, the effect of lighting on wildlife, using discreet non-invasive solutions. The first step is to consider the specifics of the project. Is there any wildlife at particular risk from the lighting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for example, is there a flight path for bats in the area? We will also need to consider the requirements of those using the space; security, illumination to pathways, designating entrances, garden features such as sculptures. The lighting should be positioned
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LIGHTING
around these elements. Floodlighting of exterior spaces should be avoided as most of the light from a flood is spent in areas where it is not required. The aim should be to achieve a focused light onto specific features rather than trying to light open spaces. Lighting from a height in a garden is usually difficult (due to the lack of a ceiling), so ground mounted lights are typically the only option.
THERE IS MORE WE CAN DO THAN SIMPLY SWITCH TO A MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHT SOURCE
temperature of the lighting should be warm (between 2200K and 3000K) to provide a softer effect that creates less disturbance. Lighting controls can further improve the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the installation. As a minimum, all lighting should be linked to a photocell. This will detect the natural light levels and, once they reach a certain level, turn off the lighting so that it is not in use during daylight hours. Passive infra-red sensors (PIRs) can be utilised so that lighting is only in use while certain spaces are occupied, limiting energy wastage and the effect on wildlife. A more sophisticated system can be programmed with different scenes across a space, typically manually operated or activated through an astronomical clock. It is worth consulting a professional designer with experience lighting outdoor areas to advise on the spread of light and the selection of specific equipment. With careful thought, you can produce a lighting installation that meets the requirements of both the user and our environment.
ABOUT LUKE THOMAS Fittings with optics over the light source will control and focus the beam of light. They should be adjustable so that all the light can be directed towards the object of illumination and not straight into the sky. Baffles and glare guards are usually offered as optional accessories and should be used. They improve the effect of glare on the human eye but also prevent light spill. The colour
Luke Thomas, design director at John Cullen Lighting, has been in the lighting industry since 2008. Working in a team with top designers, architects, contractors and clients, Luke has been involved in a wide range of projects, offering design-led solutions which improve clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experiences of spaces.
www.johncullenlighting.com
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INSPIRE
LIGHT VISUALS BR ACKET LIGHT
Light Visuals used its Bracket Light (LV-BL801) in black powder coated stainless steel to illuminate this bridge scene as the product is very compact and discreet. The light is ideal for mounting to tree branches. The Bracket Light also comes with an impressive 10-year warranty, so this is an ideal product to use in difficult to access locations. Various alternate finishes are also available. Price £196.80 (inc. VAT) WWW.LIGHTVISUALS.CO.UK
LATEST PRODUCTS
LIGHTING A S E L EC T I O N O F F E AT U R E L I G H T I N G
LIGHTING FOR GARDENS ELIPTA SPIKE 12
Elipta Spike 12 is one of the latest, next generation, high output CREE LED spotlights. An ideal outdoor warm white light for bringing feature walls alive at night and available in 240v mains and low voltages. IP67 and maintenance free for 50,000 hours with a three-year warranty. Pre-wired with 2m rubber cable and stirrup bracket allows easy fixing to walls or ground mount with spike supplied. Price £76.44 (exc. VAT) WWW.LIGHTINGFORGARDENS.COM
MOONLIGHT DESIGN HIGH POWER LED SAFE TOUCH 50 – SOLID BRONZE – LOW VOLTAGE
G&L LIGHTING SCORPIUS POWER SPOT LIGHT
A stylish, high quality, UK produced outdoor spot light, this product comes with its own inbuilt LED and spike, suitable for lighting outdoor spaces from flower beds to walls and pathways. These are bespoke lights and can be built to lumen and colour output specification. Price from £130 (exc. VAT) WWW.GARDENANDLANDSCAPELIGHTING.CO.UK
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This is an uplighter for inground, recessed installation. It produces high-output optically pure light, but operates with cool lens temperatures, low energy and minimal maintenance. The fully adjustable gimbal allows 360° rotation and 0 to 20° elevation. This luminaire is extremely tough, durable and waterproof, making it ideal for installation in public places, large-scale projects and residential areas. Price £313 (inc. VAT) WWW.MOONLIGHTDESIGN.CO.UK
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D R AMATIC L IG H T IN G EFF E CT S help to bring award winning gardens to life at night
2019 BALI Award Winner for Domestic Landscaping over ÂŁ250k Project: New house build in Esher Garden design: Selina Botham Landscape contractor: LDC Landscapes Lighting Design: Mike Shackleton Architectural and garden lighting design and Installation: Ornamental Garden Lighting www.ogl-uk.com
part of the professionalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; choice www.lightingforgardens.com
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GREENWICH WATERFRONT BENCHES - SEATS - LOUNGERS - CANOPIES USD were commissioned by Maylim Ltd to supply bespoke benches, seats, loungers and architectural canopies for the promenade that stretched for 1km from the peninsula, alongside the River Thames. USD worked closely with Maylim and the architect Gross Max on the design of the bespoke benches and coordinated with architects DSR and structural engineers Arup on the architectural canopies. The large bespoke canopies, designed specifically for this area, comprise of 20mm thick powder coated Mild Steel and FSC Hardwood timber to complete the desired aesthetics. The Bespoke benches comprise of a powder coated steel subframe and FSC hardwood timber slats all individually cut to fit the frame, utilising the skills of our fully coded welders and joinery department.
SEE US AT
The loungers and seats were manufactured with FSC hardwood slats and a powder coated subframe. Utilising our top of the range Bystronic press brake and in-house powder coating plant.
STAND 57
Contact us on: 01282 507 656 sales@urbanstreetdesigns.co.uk
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INSPIRE
ST R E E T F U R N I T U R E THE BENEFITS OF INCLUDING STREET FURNITURE IN COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S F R O M T H R E E R E N O W N E D C O M PA N I E S G I V E T H E I R T H O U G H T S O N I N C L U D I N G S T R E E T F U R N I T U R E W I T H I N C O M M E R C I A L P R O J E C T S A N D T H E B E N E F I T S T H AT I T C A N B R I N G
LUDO PITTIE WSP
B
eyond its most basic functional role – providing somewhere to sit, a place for your litter and help to know where you’re going – street furniture says a lot about society’s values. Street furniture is a key tool for reinforcing the identity and character of a space. Form, colour and materials are critical to defining the quality and tone of a place, setting
OUR STREET FURNITURE SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR SOCIETY’S VALUES
S ROMY RAWLINGS VESTRE
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expectations, and influencing how people feel and behave. Seating enables places to be more accessible, provides opportunities for social interaction and encourages people to linger, which can support the local economy. Expanding on this social dimension, initiatives such as public book swaps are a good example of where people can potentially engage with others, helping to overcome issues of loneliness and isolation. Looking forward, there is a valuable role for multifunctional and adaptable street furniture, to engage with reclaiming space for people and biodiversity, providing micro-restorative spaces that incorporate digital age technologies, such as charging points, WiFi zones, USB links and music hotspots.
adly, and all too often, I see street furniture stripped from projects for reasons of cost. Often the last item to be brought to site, the budget may have been fully squeezed, with nothing left for the ‘nice to have’ items. But I’d argue that these elements are vital if we’re to humanise outdoor spaces and make places where people want to spend time. Otherwise,
particularly with the use of street furniture (including seating, planters and planter walling), people naturally choose to spend more time out and about. This in turn brings them physical and mental wellbeing benefits. Street furniture has the power to incorporate people within commercial
CATHERINE BARRATT FURNITUBES
W
e are on a mission to get more people outside. We believe that well-designed street furniture adds significant value to outside spaces and enhances the aesthetic of commercial projects and the overall landscape. We see the true importance of creating outdoor spaces where people want to spend time either by enjoying a bite to eat in between meetings, to catch up with friends or simply, to watch the world go by. By providing more resting places in environments,
THESE ELEMENTS ARE VITAL IF WE’RE TO HUMANISE OUTDOOR SPACES where will you securely park your bike? How can you get close to some ‘green’ in the
IT ENCOURAGES GREATER INTERACTION WITH OUTSIDE SPACES projects as it encourages greater interaction with outside spaces. It provides a somewhat outside room for visitors to gather together and interact, forming how people feel about a space and helping to create a sense of community.
urban jungle? Where do you put litter (other than the pavement)? And, if you have impaired mobility or are elderly (as many of us could be within a couple of decades), a comfortable seat every 50m or so can be an absolute necessity. Building communities, reducing loneliness, and improving public health can all be assisted with a simple seat.
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INSPIRE
STREET FURNITURE THREE NEW STREET FURNITURE PRODUCT LAUNCHES
VESTRE
LEAFIELD
CODE PLANTERS
H E R I TAG E X L TA K E S O N MORE LITTER
In response to customer requests, Vestre now offers brand new planters to make this modular system even fresher and greener. A flexible system that allows designers to create spaces for social activities, the Code range consists of seat and planter boxes that can be combined both horizontally and vertically in countless configurations. The recent addition of planters allows the seamless integration of a green element, with all the benefits that plants bring for wellbeing. www.vestre.com/uk
The Heritage XL Square Litter Bin features a 240L wheelie bin, making it simple and easy to empty while allowing more litter to be collected than a standard litter bin. The enhanced double wall structure was designed for ultimate rigidity and durability for high footfall areas, remote locations or coastal environments. The traditional style features a gold banding, anti-fly poster ribbed surface and 4-way apertures for all round access. Optional bespoke and personalised posters available upon request. www.leafield-environmental.com
MARSHALLS URBAIN Urbain by Marshalls is a modular seating system designed to fit perfectly into a number of urban settings. The collection comprises of an interchangeable bench, seat and table allowing for greater modification. Urbain is created using FSC-certified hardwood and mild steel that can be customised with a range of RAL fossil effect powder coats, adding to the industrial inspired yet contemporary appearance. www.marshalls.co.uk
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EDUCATE
SUSTAI NABL E
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH Product name Wool Compost Supplier Dalefoot Composts Dalefoot supplies premium peat-free composts made from sustainable ingredients. Its growing media meets a variety of gardening needs: Wool Compost for Potting & Containers, Wool Compost for Vegetables & Salads, Wool Compost for Tomatoes, Wool Compost Double Strength, Wool Compost Ericaceous (and Double Strength), Wool Compost for Seeds and Bulb Compost. Lakeland Gold, the original bracken compost, is a renowned clay-buster and high potash feed. These are all available in bulk. www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk
PRO LANDSCAPER IS COMMITTED TO DOING ITS BIT TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE. TO HELP WITH THIS, WE’RE ASKING OUR READERS – FROM LANDSCAPERS TO GARDEN DESIGNERS TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS – TO SUGGEST SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS THEY HAVE COME ACROSS OR USED WHICH THEY THINK NEED TO BE SHARED WITH THE INDUSTRY. WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, AFTER ALL, AND WE’RE EAGER TO SHOWCASE THE PRODUCTS WITH IMPRESSIVE GREEN CREDENTIALS FOR EVERYONE TO GET ON BOARD WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL CREDENTIALS It is 100% peat-free and Soil Associationapproved for organic growing, as well as having free-draining qualities and soft texture of peat, which makes it ideal for customers wanting a more sustainable solution for their gardens. The Wool Compost range is made from sheep’s wool and bracken which provide natural, must-have nutrients and trace elements to grow dazzling plants and improve soil quality. Natural water retention of wool fibres means up to 50% less watering. Wool provides a steady, slow sustained supply of nitrogen. High levels of natural potash from the bracken promotes flowering and fruiting, healthy growth and hearty crops, without the need for any additional plant food. All of the composts contain ingredients from the Cumbrian fells. As well as helping the growing number of gardeners who want to switch to peat-free products, the compost finds a novel use for British wool – good news for struggling sheep farmers.
BRACKEN CUTTING
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The use of bracken is also beneficial. The spread of this waist-high plant makes grazing difficult, impacts upon native species, and harvesting on rotation at exactly the right time of year, as well as improves the habitat for ground nesting birds and butterflies, and in particular, the endangered high brown fritillary.
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At Majestic Trees, we value biosecurity very highly...do you? In 2019 OPM was parachuted from Europe into over 90 sites across the UK by professionals that were not so careful about biosecurity, importing oak trees ‘unknowingly’ infested with OPM from nurseries, traders and sourcing services they thought they could trust!
Biosecurity Crash Course for Designers Guest speaker: Mike Robinson, APHA
Thurs 12 March 10-2pm
• ADVICE • DELIVERY • PLANTING • AFTERCARE • Majestic Trees spend months selecting the trees we grow, ensuring they are of the finest quality, clean and healthy. • Grown on our 27 acre nursery to ensure they are free of OPM and other pests and diseases threatening our futures! • Each tree is lifted and transplanted up to 7 times! • Grown on in AirPots to ensure the finest fibrous root system! • Trees are professionally pruned to develop a strong and vigorous crown.
Next time you are looking for trees, consider Majestic Trees.
Unlike so many of our competitors, we are not a sourcing service, a virtual nursery or nursery that trades rootball trees we didn’t grow. Take your project’s biosecurity seriously, and ensure you comply with the new traceability and plant passport legislation, by buying trees grown on a UK nursery.
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ARUNDEL CASTLE AND GARDENS
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WITH THE ARUNDEL CASTLE AND GARDENS TULIP F E ST I VA L 2 0 2 0 R I G H T A R O U N D T H E C O R N E R , W E F I N D O U T H OW H E A D G A R D E N E R M A R T I N D U N C A N A N D H I S T E A M A R E P R E PA R I N G , A S W E L L A S W H AT OT H E R TREASURES THE GARDEN HOLDS
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reated as a royal stronghold for the Duke of Norfolk, Arundel Castle’s history stretches back nearly 1,000 years. Many kings and queens have graced its halls, but it’s not just this fascinating history that pulls in visitors from all around the world. It’s an impressive feat that head gardener Martin Duncan has been able to develop 32 acres of landscape and gardens which are not outshone by the Gothic style castle and Norman keep, but instead compliment them. This could be down, in part, to the panoramic views of the South Downs and River Arun, but mostly it’s due to the work of Martin and his team. Swathes of flowers surround the castle, with bright yellow Narcissus 'Dutch Master' and Narcissus 'Milena' flowing into white Narcissus 'Thalia' and Allium 'Mont Blanc' flowing still into Tulipa 'Purple Dream' and Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'. Yew and box hedgerows have been crafted into cloud hedging which Martin transformed from a collapsed hedge, and hellebores and pulmonarias have been planted beneath to provide a touch of colour. Areas of wildflower meadow are planted with spring bulbs so that there is life even before the wildflowers take over. Bulbs are also planted into around 400 pots, which means Martin can move them around the grounds and create displays as and when they are needed. This year alone, Martin and his team have planted 120,000 spring bulbs, with Martin seeing an astonishing 1.2 million bulbs planted since he started.
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Martin has developed a dedicated team of eight gardeners who are all incredibly forward thinking. It is important to Martin that his team knows the garden inside and out, which includes learning the plants Latin names. He says: “I tell my staff they need to know their plants – heights, sizes, textures – and quite often the Latin name tells a lot about that plant.” "Take Parthenocissus tricuspidata for example. Commonly known as Virginia creeper, Boston ivy or Japanese creeper, the ‘parth’ refers to the fact it always finds its own way and the ‘tri’ refers to its tri-leaves," Martin explains to us. The team also has quite a unique way of planting the spring bulbs that decorate the castle grounds, wanting to avoid displays in traditional shapes: “It’s natural instinct to create these rather conformist shapes, so if you throw the bulbs up in the air and plant them wherever they land you get a much more natural feel.” This has created a landscape sprinkled with flowers which look as though they have come up naturally. Their forward-thinking attitude means that there is always a project on the board. At the site of the original monastic fishponds, Martin and his team are working on a new project to
rejuvenate the area into a water garden. Currently, a boat is working on churning up the water to remove the excess silt but, come summertime, 1,500 water plants will have burst into life around the ponds, and the thatched boat house will be complete – rowboat and all. “We’re always moving forward,” Martin tells us. “The Duke and Duchess are great supporters of the garden, so we’re able to forge ahead with projects.”
THIS YEAR ALONE, MARTIN AND HIS TEAM HAVE PLANTED 120,000 BULBS WITH MARTIN SEEING AN ASTONISHING 1.2 MILLION BULBS PLANTED SINCE HE STARTED THE JOB Among the hundreds of plants which will emerge in the spring are water lilies, irises, water hyacinths and Myosotis scorpioides. Planting up this area was a hectic time for the team as it was crucial that they had everything
planted within 72 hours of receiving the delivery which saved the plants from drying out. This was from a locally-sourced aquatic plant company. A bridge made from Millboard decking will lead visitors towards a thatched roundhouse which will become an area for educational school visits – something which Arundel Castle and Gardens excels at. “We want to keep the area really natural,” Martin explains – “There’s so much wildlife here, with dragonflies and butterflies round the flowers, swans on the ponds and peregrine falcons nesting on the castle. We want to keep it as a haven for them. With Arundel Cathedral as a backdrop, the gardens themselves are a collection of pockets or rooms, each varying dramatically from the last and each constantly in motion. The newest addition to these gardens is a fantastic semi-circle of Magnolia grandiflora trees, created as a seating area and to give children another space to explore and play – with the added benefit of keeping them out the borders. “The most crucial thing with gardening is to really prepare your soil,” Martin tells us. “If your soil is good, everything else in your garden will flourish and it will grow unbelievably fast.”
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5 This has been proven in the gardens at Arundel where, in the first year of planting four new exotic borders in the Collector Earl’s Garden, visitors thought they had been there for years. The tropical borders were Martin’s contribution, but the space was originally designed by Julian and Isobel Banner as a light-hearted tribute to the Collector Earl, 4th Duke of Norfolk, opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2009. The borders look as though they were always meant to be there though, complimenting the architecture in the space. Orange dahlias and Echium wildpretii – more commonly known as tower of jewels – brighten up the space, while rocks from Fiddleworth Quarry, hand selected by The Duchess of Norfolk and Martin, break up the straightness of the garden. Other pockets of gardens include a stumpery designed by Martin himself, designed using upturned ancient tree stumps from around the estate and planted with small delicate flowers such as snowdrops and miniature tulips, a cut flower garden, a tropical
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WITH ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL AS A BACKDROP, THE GARDENS THEMSELVES ARE A COLLECTION OF POCKETS OR ROOMS house, and an organic kitchen garden. This kitchen garden contains one of only three original 1852 Clarke and Hope Vine and Peach Houses left in the world. What is abundantly clear is that every inch of the garden is considered. Windows have been carved out of hedges, mirroring the gothic Cathedral windows and framing snippets of the gardens. Other parts of the hedging have been shaped to reflect the curve of the benches, or elegant table legs. Straight edging has been removed from flower beds to allow plants to cascade and flow onto the paths and organic kitchen beds replicate the Cathedral’s stain glass windows. “If you don’t have the
6 architecture in place, you might have really nice planting, but it won’t look spectacular,” Martin says. It’s not just the gardens which have a lot going on. Arundel Castle and Gardens host several events throughout the season, including Medieval Jousting Week and a Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. But perhaps the most important for Martin and his team is the Tulip Festival and the Allium Extravaganza.
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Annual Tulip Festival – 2017 ©Julia Claxton Annual Tulip Festival – 2018 ©Visual Air Rose Garden – 2019 ©Visual Air Rose Garden, Arundel Castle – 2019 ©Visual Air The gardens in summer ©Abigail Rex The Rill Pond ©Julia Claxton
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7 Beginning as a small event, Martin and the Duchess of Norfolk created Allium Extravaganza to showcase not only some of the beautiful species they grow, but also some interesting ways you can plant the immensely popular flower. Martin tells us about one of his favourite ways to plant alliums: “I plant Allium cristophii among lavender – the alliums look like hot air balloons floating up when they’re in bloom.” Twenty varieties of alliums will be on display, including the stunning Allium stipitatum 'Mount Everest'. There is never a busier time in the gardens than during the Tulip Festival. The tulips this year have a red, white and purple theme, seeing species such as Tulipa 'Lilac Time', Tulipa ‘Negrita’, Tulipa 'Apeldoorn' and Tulipa 'Swan Wings' planted around the gardens.
THE MORE WE DO AND THE BETTER WE DO, THE MORE IT’S APPRECIATED – MONEY CAN’T BUY THAT The pinnacle of the festival, though, is the display in the Collector Earl’s garden, where Tulipa 'Purple Dream', Tulipa 'Apeldoorn' and Narcissi will form a stunning maze. Altogether, the team have planted 180 different named tulips and 120,000 spring bulbs, beginning the arduous task in October and November, finishing in time for Christmas. Martin always
ensures they have more tulips than they need as, with all living things, the garden can be unpredictable. If something such as tulip fire – a fungal disease – gets a hold, it could spell disaster. The garden's success speaks for itself, with 180,000 visitors a year. It is also host to The English Gardening School’s practical sessions. For Martin and the team though, it isn’t this prestige that keep them dedicated to the gardens. “There is nothing more gratifying that people coming up to you and complimenting the garden. "We are very fortunate, in the sense that in this profession, you get a lot of gratification from the public,” Martin tells us. “The more we do and the better we do, the more it’s appreciated – money can’t buy that.” 7 Tulip Labyrinth, 2018 ©Visual Air 8 Alliums ©Abigail Rex
C O N TA C T Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9AB Tel: 01903 882173 visits@arundelcastle.org
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CHANGING
E XPECTATIONS NOEL KINGSBURY EXPLAINS WHY IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AREN’T NECESSARILY THE ANSWER TO DROUGHTS
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rought is inevitably going to be a bigger part of the climate scene in the future. Even if the total annual rainfall stays more or less the same, the frequency of rain is almost certainly going to become more unpredictable, inevitably leading to periods when soils dry up. The reaction to drought has historically been to carry on as normal but to irrigate. Even if we did not face serious climate change issues, this seems to me to be a solution that addresses only symptoms; besides which it usually seems to be mean miles of plastic irrigation pipe. Many public and private plantings that I have seen in drier climates are disfigured by this stuff as it rarely gets completely covered by growth or mulch. It’s also rarely used appropriately, with either water not being delivered when it is needed or turned on when it isn’t. Even many drought-tolerant plants look better when they are well-watered, so there is a great temptation to turn the tap on for appearance sake. Except for small, high visibility areas, I believe that installing irrigation systems will become increasingly unsustainable. Drought-tolerant planting will have to rely more on selecting plant species which will survive and installing and managing them to minimise water use. The key virtue will perhaps be patience. I am spending an increasing amount of time looking around gardens and parks in the
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Mediterranean region, and one of the things that strikes me is how often I see familiar plants doing very well in minimum irrigation situations. In nearly all cases, however, this is because they started off small and weren’t coddled with watering as they grew. The root systems of many species can plunge deep to access soil moisture during dry periods, but these need to develop early, especially with woody plants. ‘The smaller the better’ is one of the most important rules of dry climate planting. Large pot sizes are out, and semi-mature sizes have to
PATIENCE IS ONE VIRTUE WE NEED TO CULTIVATE, AN ACCEPTANCE OF NATURAL CYCLES ANOTHER be banished, becoming memories of the past. ‘Forestry plugs’ are increasingly popular in southern Europe, often produced in sturdy, re-usable plastic blocks. Clients will inevitably chafe at the bit and encouraging patience will be an uphill struggle. The most effective way of reducing water use will perhaps, like all unsustainable practices, only be ultimately achieved by legislation or taxation. Good practice to refer clients to will be very important, which suggests a role for local authorities – good examples need to be visible and promoted. Patience is one virtue we need to cultivate, and an acceptance of natural cycles is another.
The great problem with Mediterranean region planting is perhaps not a horticultural but a cultural one. The summer is a dormant season for almost all plants as it is too hot and dry to grow, but summer is when people are on holiday and expect green lawns and flowers. Increasingly, I suspect we will have to learn to manage client expectations towards appreciating planting at times when it – and not us – wants to look its best. The upside is that a great many drought-tolerant plants are evergreen, and that many are early or even winter flowering. I suspect that change will only come when irrigation becomes not just undesirable but impossible. The industry should use the situation to help change attitudes and promote plants and planting methodologies that look to the long-term and help realise the adaptability that a great many plant species naturally have, but can often only develop healthily in the right circumstances.
Pictured: Garden and landscape designers in dry summer climate regions increasingly use droughttolerant plants and focus on those that leave behind attractive foliage or seed heads for the summer dry season. Design: Fernando Martos.
ABOUT NOEL KINGSBURY Noel Kingsbury is a freelance designer, writer and researcher who has long promoted naturalistic planting design. He also teaches at Boston Architectural College.
www.noelkingsbury.com
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M A K E T I M E TO T R A I N CHRIS STONE RELAYS THE BIG FOCUS BUSHY BUSINESS HAS ON TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT THIS YEAR
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s I sit here writing this in between inevitable rainstorms, we are six weeks into the new year and are awash with both the rain and new enquiries. It used to be that we could have a reasonably gentle start to the year, easing ourselves into it – but this year has been relentless. I’m not complaining; it is certainly better than the alternative, but it does limit the usual time we have for training our staff. Every autumn, David and I sit down with the managers and discuss what training we need to look at and it’s usually a long list – this year is no exception, and we have booked up some really interesting days. Scheduling this training is the biggest headache; no matter how long it’s been in the diary it always ends up falling on the wrong day. Nevertheless, these days are invaluable, not just for learning new skills but honing existing ones, inspiring new ideas and building team unity. Other than the usual staples of health and safety meetings, first aid refreshers, excavator
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and dumper, CAT and Genny training, and plant idents, we will embark on a brilliant day with Architectural Plants learning more creative maintenance techniques. We spent a day with our maintenance and aftercare teams here a couple of years ago and it was amazing. We all walked away from it looking at mature shrubs, clumps of bamboo and small trees in a completely different light. I also ran out and bought a load of bread knives and blowtorches!
THESE DAYS ARE INVALUABLE, NOT JUST FOR LEARNING NEW SKILLS BUT HONING EXISTING ONES, INSPIRING NEW IDEAS AND BUILDING TEAM UNITY With the mild and wet weather and a lack of hard frosts, we could be in for trouble with some pesky pests and diseases, so that is definitely on the training agenda this year. Then we are looking for some of our soft landscape team to head over to Wildflower Turf to catch up with its latest developments and techniques. So much research and development is carried out each year – there’s always something new. But, almost paradoxical to this, we are doing an artificial green wall training day at VistaGreen. This is not something that I could have imagined us considering a few years ago, but I really believe they have their place in some of today’s modern gardens, with busy clients who don’t have green fingers and just want a clean space.
Additionally, we are looking at courses from Paul Hensey, Alan Sargent and the regular APL cluster meetings run by Phil Tremayne that always give us plenty of food for thought. Not to mention being inspired by Bowles & Wyer; we have plans to start more structured in-house training with our apprentices, having more time to try their hand at paving and different types of walling at our yard as well as one to one with our landscape managers out on site. This is similar with our head of fine horticulture, Graham, who will dedicate more time out in our gardens with his teams teaching as they work. I was recently invited to attend meetings to put together a course framework for a new Level 5 management apprenticeship and course content for one of our local horticultural colleges. It is great to see the passion that our industry experts have, and the ideas being given to help shape the future of the next generation of horticulturists and landscapers. I know the APL and Kebur are working on a training centre in Hampshire that will offer some similar courses, as is Urban Landscape Design’s centre in Cheshire, both open to APL members and non-members. The years of struggling with where to train our staff are being eased by forward-thinking individuals and companies, which, in turn, makes us consider what we can offer more ‘in house’. The colleges seem to be waking up to the fact that they need to offer flexible learning that is more in tune with what the modern employer is looking for. I think we are on a good path, but as ever we need more cohesion between the industry bodies and the big players within it to bring our knowledge together and help shape the learning pathway. We are one great industry, with so much knowledge and passion. It’s time we all stepped up and made that count.
ABOUT CHRIS STONE Chris Stone is founder and managing director of Bushy Business Ltd, an RHS and APL awardwinning company which carries out garden design, hard and soft landscaping, maintenance and aftercare in domestic gardens throughout the south-east of England.
www.bushybusiness.com
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NURTURE
REFLECTING ON THE HUGELY POPULAR PALMSTEAD SOFT LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP, NICK COSLETT SHARES THE SHADE TREE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DAY AS WELL AS THE PITFALLS TO BE AWARE OF
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ecently, I had a great day chairing the Palmstead Soft Landscape Workshop with awesome speakers and a packed and attentive audience of some 350 industry delegates. The title – ‘Thinking Outside the Pot’ – was quite suitable. We discussed the climate and ecological emergency and how our industry should react. The path is not clearly flagged out, but the consensus was to do something, to start action. Peter Gibbs said the growing season has extended by four weeks in his lifetime. We can expect warmer, drier summers – especially in the south – and wetter, milder winters. However, extreme weather events and frosts will still occur, if less frequently. It is likely that the urban heat islands will amplify climate change too. So, how should the landscape industry respond? We know the landscape industry as a whole makes places better for people and wildlife. The practice of tree planting should have positive effects on our environments; but Dr Henrik Sjoman said that 25-40% of trees which fail to establish don’t get re-planted, nor do the planners oversee developments to ensure the JA PA NE SE PA GO DA TR EE correct trees are planted and established. Their approval conditions just state “trees to be planted”, when it should say "to be
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DAWN REDWOOD
T H E N E E D FO R SHADE TREES
established until independent". That would make developers, and all involved, up their game, with current tree planting survival rates at only around 60%.
THE PATH AHEAD IS NOT CLEARLY FLAGGED BUT THE CONSENSUS WAS TO DO SOMETHING Kew’s tree man Tony Kirkham MBE gave a list of shade trees he felt were good for the future. All were non-natives and many not yet in commercial production. But he gave a strong recommendation to plant Ginkgo as they are “bullet-proof” in regard to heat and drought. The others are below, and those marked in bold are in cultivation to a degree: • Red Oak (Quercus rubra) • Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) and its columnar cultivar Green Pillar • Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), which appears to be less susceptible to OPM • Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) as it can tolerate stress better than Quercus ilex • Algerian Oak (Quercus canariensis) • Italian Maple (Acer opalus), with good autumn colour but provenance was important • Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), but again provenance and origin are key • Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), which was best seed raised • Pagoda Tree (previously Sophora, now Styphnolobium japonicum)
• Indian Horse Chestnut (Aesculus indica) and the variety Sydney Pearce • Silver leafed Lime (Tilia tomentosa Petiolaris) • The Persimmons (Diospyros kaki, lotus and virginiana) • Toona sinensis If designers and specifiers begin asking for Tony’s shade trees, the nursery industry won’t cope, but it may stimulate them to start production. Specifying these trees will most probably trigger an import from European growers with the required phytosanitary inspections and certificates, which doesn't guarantee them being free from pests. As seen last summer with the outbreak of oak processionary moth (OPM), certificates and inspections were not thorough enough to spot hard to see OPM eggs camouflaged on the branches of oaks. We are in the International Year of Plant Health, so designers and specifiers, please consider where your trees are coming from and what risks it may carry.
ABOUT NICK COSLETT Nick has spent his working life in landscape and horticulture. He initially trained as a landscape architect, then parks manager, and for the last 20 years, he has worked with Coblands and Palmstead nurseries, running the Soft Landscape Workshops which have become popular industry events. He’s been involved with BALI as national and regional chairs. Now retired, he is a BALI National Landscape Awards judge and Chalk Fund trustee, and has more time to follow his lifelong interest in the industry.
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PA RT O F A
C O MM UNI T Y LEWIS NORMAND REFLECTS ON HOW THOSE IN THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY WHICH SHARES AND GROWS TOGETHER
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ommunity garden, guerrilla gardening, horticultural citizen and student engagement projects have never been more popular in the UK than they are right now. Perhaps this is a reaction to lower investments in our green spaces, or a result of smaller gardens and an increasing population without any garden space of their own. Regardless, lots of great things have been happening over the last decade in this respect. Pocket and pop-up parks, community and urban vegetable production, school gardening projects and so much more have become mainstays of the way in which many of us experience gardening. With the amateur market engaged through socially conscious ‘reach out’ projects like these, this is likely to remain a big part of the agenda for horticulture going forward. Indeed, large organisations like the RHS are putting social and community engagement projects high on their aims to interact with the amateur market. This has all got me thinking about community in general and reminded me of just how lucky I am to work in this industry. The horticultural community has long been one of support and friendship. Business rivals may not necessarily want the other to do very well, but in my experience and, at least publicly, they rarely
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want them to fail. This may come from a shared adversity, where making a living – especially a good one – in horticulture can be difficult. Much of this is down to the perceived value of the industry in the eyes of the general population. Nobody in horticulture has forgotten when, in 2012, the then Prime Minister compared gardening to litter picking. While many of us in the industry are not necessarily gardeners, we got the measure of where we were being placed in the grand
BUSINESS RIVALS MAY NOT NECESSARILY WANT THE OTHER TO DO VERY WELL, BUT... THEY RARELY WANT THEM TO FAIL scheme of things. This may have been a consequence of the lower average pay across the industry when compared to others, or just a lack of understanding – either way, outside perception doesn’t help us command more for our products and services from the end user. So, out of this alienation and lack of understanding in how we collectively work, we seem to have been continually brought closer to one another. For example, we share information surprisingly readily when interacting at events, shows and trade bodies. Few other industries would be so quick to formally or informally discuss who their clients or suppliers are. I’m not in any way suggesting that this is a good
idea commercially – it almost certainly isn’t, but I think it is telling of us as a collective that we still hold trust and fair play highly in our hearts. Over the years, when a few rogue traders have slipped through the net and been accepted as ‘good guys’ only to later be caught out as charlatans, people quickly throw out phrases like ‘it’s a small industry’. Indeed, it is true that if you are a member of our industry, the chances of you not encountering someone who you have wronged or has wronged you again over the years is very slim. It could be this fear that keeps us from straying and being commercially savvy, if not professional with our business rivals. It could just be old fashioned respect and a sense of honour. Or, with the market value of UK horticulture in 2017 being £24.2bn according to the HTA, it may be that we are actually a very significant industry and there is enough work for all of us to have our cake and eat it. I suggest that we are not a ‘small’ industry, but rather a surprisingly solid community of like-minded experts who far too often undervalue ourselves.
ABOUT LEWIS NORMAND Lewis has worked in a wide variety of roles within horticulture over a 20-year career. He has lectured on garden design and horticulture, and designed gardens in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Since 2011, Lewis has focused on nursery sales, now working as sales manager at Bernhard’s Nurseries, and has helped to launch a number of new plants into the UK plant market. He is a specialist supplier to show gardens, supplying over 100 gardens at major shows.
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NURTURE
PLACES THE TREES ARE BEING PLANTED
©Nathalie Weatherald ©Luca Radek
11 PARTNERS
©Nathalie Weatherald
FOR CITIES
T R E E S F O R C I T I E S H A S R EC E N T LY R EC E I V E D A G R A N T W H I C H S E E S I T M A K I N G P L A N S TO P L A N T 1 0,0 0 0 T R E E S I N U R B A N E N V I R O N M E N TS AC R O S S T H E U K
Birmingham Brighton Great Yarmouth London Newcastle Newquay Nottingham Rotherham Stockton Sunderland
• Brighton Permaculture Trust • Birmingham City Council • Urban Biodiversity CIC • Sunderland City Council • Newcastle City Council • Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council • Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council • Redbridge Council • Nottingham City Council • Nottingham Summerwood Community Garden Ltd • Great Yarmouth Borough Council
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limate change, global warming, the decline of urban green spaces – all topics of discussion that are constantly growing in urgency. Multiple initiatives and regulations are being carried out in order to combat the adverse impacts, one of which involves tree planting schemes. In 2017, the government’s election manifesto stated that, by the end of 2022, it will successfully plant one million trees. This is needed now more than ever. The government estimated last year that, in order to begin tackling the impacts of climate change in the UK, 1.5 billion trees will need to be planted. Given that trees play an extremely important role when it comes to increasing urban biodiversity, providing habitats and improving air quality, the inclusion of trees within urban environments also allows a step to be taken towards the UK’s aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Environmental charity Trees for Cities is leading the fight against climate change, following a recent grant awarded to it through the Forestry Commission. The awarded grant will fund the planting of 10,000 urban trees as well as covering the first three years of care. The scheme is part of the larger £10 million Defra-funded Urban Tree Challenge Fund, which will see more than 130,000 trees planted across the UK. Trees for Cities has been able to secure this funding with match funding from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation and The Dulverton Trust, as well as from partners. The charity works at a national and international scale, planting trees within urban environments in order to combat
the impacts of climate change. The charity sees itself working with volunteers, local communities and schools to enhance green spaces in urban locations – forming cleaner, healthier environments for communities. Species which are being planted include a mix of broadleaf and conifers such as oak, Scots pine and hazel – along with varieties of birch and cherry. The project is being carried out across ten cities including Brighton, London, Nottingham and Sunderland with the grant supporting up to 50% of the capital costs of planting the trees. Trees for Cities will be planting a variety of tree species over several sites within these urban environments including orchards, parks and roadsides. Trees for Cities will not be working alone however, it will receive help from eleven other partner organisations including Brighton Permaculture Trust, Urban Biodiversity CIC, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council. David Elliott, chief executive of trees for cities, says: “This grant is a fantastic step towards delivering a generational movement in urban tree planting and greening for people and nature. Planting trees in cities has a huge impact on mental and physical health and that of our environment. This grant will help us and our partners work together with local communities to cultivate lasting change in their neighbourhoods.” This scheme also allows the local community to be involved when it comes to the planting and maintaining of the trees. Local community members will be offered the opportunity to plant trees and support the programmes during their installation process.
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NURTURE
N U R S E RY
SUSTAINABILITY S O M E E X A M P L ES O F H OW L E A D I N G N U R S E R I ES A R E E M B R AC I N G SUSTA I N A B L E P R ACT I C ES
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he United Nations has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health – a year to celebrate, appreciate and conserve the benefits of plants. The initiative also strives to promote responsible practises, pest and disease management and sustainability within the plant industry. Nurseries have often been in the firing line when it comes to discussing the use of plastic pots, pesticides and the transportation of plants. With this in mind, we spoke to a range of nurseries to discuss the initiatives and practices they are putting in place in order to ensure sustainability within their businesses.
POTS The use of black plastic pots by nurseries is a hot topic of discussion with much debate and dispute within the industry, with many feeling that more needs to be done. Black plastic cannot currently be detected by recycling machines across the UK, and so millions of black plastic pots end up in landfill each year. Some nurseries are therefore turning to alternatives to combat the issue. The use of taupe coloured pots is already being utilised by several nurseries. These can be recycled alongside household waste. Bernhards Nurseries supplies these domestically recyclable taupe pots, and Palmstead is currently developing a range of plants in taupe pots that can be collected as part of local authority domestic waste collection. Pot recycling processes have also been implemented, which facilitate the return of plastic pots back to the nursery site. Boningale launched its Potback scheme at the beginning of this year; once returned to site, the plastic pots are compacted and sent for recycling, avoiding landfill. Other nurseries, such as Crowders currently have their own internal recycling system, allowing them to successfully reuse their pots and prop trays which are arranged for collection annually by a certified recycling company.
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DELIVERY
With millions of deliveries taking place nationwide annually in order to provide customers with their desired plants, CO2 emissions have been a growing societal concern since the turn of the millennium. In response, many nurseries are ensuring that when it comes to delivering produce to clients, their vehicles travel down the most efficient route, avoiding unnecessary stop offs and congestion areas. In order to reduce excess mileage and its carbon footprint, Boningale utilises a nationwide zonal delivery system which sees its drivers delivering to specific areas on the same day each week. At Crowders, the team uses as much local transport as possible, reducing its mileage. James Hunter, head of production at Crowders, says: “At the nursery, we have carefully selected drivers that use vehicles in line with the EUR6 legislation. This way we can keep emissions to a minimum.” Frequent checks are also carried out by nurseries such as Bernhards in order to record and monitor CO2 emissions, as well as to ensure that vehicles are keeping in line with the environmental policies.
PEAT The extraction of peat in order for it to be used within nursery composts can prove to have numerous negative environmental impacts, the most prevalent being the release of CO2 once a peat bog has been drained. Alternatives can be used, though – the most obvious being peat free, which is already being swapped in to replace its peat-based counterparts. Many nurseries are currently using peat-free products, with some taking part in audits against the use of peat-based products. Palmstead’s ‘green audit’ last autumn saw a member of its board taking on the role of championing the nursery’s plans for continuous improvement, which included peat reduction alongside its other environmental KPIs. On a similar note, Boningale boasts ISO 14001 accreditation, which results in it asking its compost suppliers to provide evidence that any peat they incorporate into their mixes comes from responsibly managed peat bogs. John Marsden, general manager at Bernhards Nurseries, says that it has been peat free since 2013. “It was the right commercial decision to make at the time, and we have not looked back. Quite simply, it makes environmental sense, whilst performing consistently across a wide range of trees and plants; isn’t that what all growers, big or small, want?”
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NURTURE
CHEMICALS There is growing concern surrounding the environmental impact of chemicals being used by nurseries. This has resulted in biostimulants being introduced. These organically made products are used by nurseries such as Boningale in line with the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD). When used, pesticides are applied in moderation in line with nurseries’ integrated pest management (IMP) policies. Palmstead’s IMP results in the use of pesticides being recorded along with an assessment which covers when, where and why certain products were used. However, Palmstead has noted that by monitoring, planning and measuring using traditional physical controls it has been able to reduce its chemical usage. This has also been the case with Bernhards. Geoff de la Cour-Baker, marketing and designer sales manager at Palmstead, explains: “By planning and utilising traditional physical controls, we have reduced our use of chemicals at the nursery year on year. With the added benefit of in-house production, any issues we experience with our young plants can be controlled at source.” Crowders has implemented water management methods, something which enables it to reduce its use of pesticides. By using various irrigation methods, Crowders has been able to reduce water waste, resulting in control of leaf wetness and diseases.
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IMPORTS
Similar to the issues surrounding the delivery of plants and other goods to customers, as well as to the nursery itself, imports can produce large amounts of CO2 and have a damaging environmental impact. One step that has been taken to help reduce the number of imports taken on by nurseries is reducing and securing the number of European suppliers that they use. By building these relationships with these reliable suppliers, focus can be maintained when it comes to biosecurity and policy standards. Palmstead discusses ethical and environmental practices with its suppliers to ensure that its practices align with its own before imports take place, allowing for biosecurity to be monitored closely as well as other environmental issues. When it comes to sourcing from outside of Europe, only reputable growers are used after thoroughly vetting them. Stock is carefully quality checked and quarantined away from any other material on site at the nursery.
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NURTURE
P L E D G E TO T H E
HED G E
DAVID T BINKS HIGHLIGHTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PLANTING HEDGES, AS WELL AS SOME SPECIES THAT EXCEL WHEN IT COMES TO CARBON CAPTURING
C
arbon capturing’ is currently a hot topic, and with the introduction of the ‘Decarbonisation and Economic Strategy Bill’ and its commitment to bring the UK to carbon neutrality by 2050, there is some serious work to be done. As an industry, we are going to play a formidable role in achieving the government’s objectives, by way of installing green infrastructure in the projects we work on. We are all aware of the benefits of planting trees, but in the battle to capture carbon and improve air quality, the lowly hedge – a quintessential part of the British countryside – could prove to be our secret weapon. Recent studies show that “hedgerows sequester 50% more carbon than forestry” (University College Dublin) and that “hedges along roadsides are most effective at reducing pollution exposure, cutting black carbon by up to 63%”. (University of Surrey)
TAXUS BACCATA
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It makes sense, really. Newly planted trees typically have a clear stem of 2m before their carbon capturing canopies are free to grow, whereas a low-slung hedge is green from the bottom up. With the canopy of a hedge starting at ground level, it is at the right height to start capturing particulates from one of the primary emitters of CO2 emissions – vehicle exhaust pipes. Where hedges are particularly effective is in the narrow streets found within cities; the introduction of hedges along the road networks within our cityscapes would provide a simple urban planning solution for improving air quality.
THE LOWLY HEDGE – A QUINTESSENTIAL PART OF THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE – COULD PROVE TO BE OUR SECRET WEAPON
Not all hedges are equal in their ability to capture carbon and other particulates; needless to say, evergreen hedges are most effective, as they are working 12 months of the year. However, some coniferous hedging (which keep their leaves/needles for more than one year) can become so overloaded with contaminants that they die, so it is crucial to select a genera which is tolerant of air pollutants – enter stage Taxus baccata. With its dense structure and soft evergreen needles, yew hedging has a large surface area capable of filtering contaminated air. Not only that, it can be tightly clipped to create a beautiful formal looking hedge. Another evergreen option with similar properties is
CARPINUS BETULUS
Western Red Cedar, which can still be tightly clipped, but lacks some of the elegance of Yew. Of the deciduous varieties, Carpinus betulus and Fagus sylvatica are cited as being effective at both filtering particulates and carbon sequestering, thanks to them holding on to their leaves throughout the winter. Due to the rough texture and serrated edges of the Carpinus betulus leaf, it has a slight edge in that in traps more particulates than Fagus sylvatica. The ability of a hedge to act as a live air filter is commensurate to its size, so the bigger the hedge, the greater the amount of carbon it is capable of sequestering and the higher the level of particulates it can capture. Couple these attributes with the ability of established hedges to mitigate the effect of floods, their ability to reduce noise pollution and that upon planting they create instant habitat for wildlife, it’s clear why we, as a nation, need to make our pledge to the hedge.
A B O U T D A V I D T. B I N K S David T. Binks is managing director of Big Hedge Co, supplying and installing mature hedging and topiary nationwide. He also manages Landstruction which over the years has won Gold medals at RHS Chelsea and RHS Tatton Park.
www.bighedgeco.com
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NURTURE
N U R S E RY
FO C U S RUPERT WHITE, M A N AG I N G D I R EC TO R OF GRIFFIN NURSERIES D I S C U S S E S T H E ST E P S T H E N U R S E R Y TA K E S TO C O M B AT P E STS A N D DISEASES AND HOW HIS PURCHASE OF AN EMPTY FIELD TURNED I N TO T H E 2 3 -AC R E N U R S E RY
CARPINUS BETULUS
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stablished in 1989 by its current managing director Rupert White, Griffin Nurseries – a specialist specimen tree and shrub producer – is situated on a 35-acre site in Liphook, Hampshire. The nursery started off as an empty field which Rupert rented from a local farmer in order to pursue his ambition to grow a wide variety of large specimen trees. Since then, the nursery has grown and developed over the years, with 20 staff currently employed and a wide variety of plant species being stocked. Plants on site are grown within containers ranging between 10 and 2,000L, with specimen species being grown in the ground. The nursery supplies across the UK as well as internationally, predominantly via the designers who purchase from the nursery. Rupert explains: “We do supply internationally; however, we more frequently tend to have UK designers who will be carrying out jobs abroad who will use our plants overseas.” As with most nurseries, the threat of pests and diseases can be extremely troubling when receiving stock from suppliers overseas, as well as within the UK. Rupert explained that Griffin Nurseries only deals and trades with suppliers that it trusts and knows which allows it to build up a selection of reliable suppliers. The nursery also of course utilises Defra’s PEACH (the Procedure for Electronic Application for Certificates from the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate) as it is
a mandatory reporting procedure and sees visits from plant health officers occur regularly to ensure plant welfare is constantly maintained. In order to minimise the risk of a disease such as Xylella breaking out amongst the stock, Rupert says the nursery has stopped supplying certain species, including Olea europaea (olive). “Eighteen months ago, we decided we would no
WE RUN A BUSINESS THAT IS CARBON NEGATIVE longer be selling olive trees, the most dangerous species in regards of Xylella. The gain from selling them is not nearly enough to offset the risk of having problems.” When discussing the issue of plants and diseases within nurseries as well as the industry as a whole, Rupert raised the issue of online plant purchasing. "Plants ordered over the internet can (at least until December 31st)
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NURTURE
be delivered direct to the customer from anywhere in the EU with no UK plant health checks. Instead, this relies solely on the competency of the host countries'
THE COST OF GETTING IT WRONG IS CATASTROPHIC AND BUSINESS THREATENING. DISEASES LIKE XYLELLA KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT controls. Many growers like us believe this represents a far greater danger for UK plant health than the carefully controlled nursery to nursery trade.” The nursery has also attended industry shows like FutureScape to discuss the importance of pest and disease control as well as methods that can be implemented into nursery practices to avoid and stop the spread of them. For nurseries such as Griffin, an outbreak of a Xylella would be devastating, and there is the very real potential of the nursery closing forever. Rupert says: “The cost of getting it wrong is catastrophic and business threatening. Diseases like Xylella keep me up at night.” Griffin Nurseries, similarly to many other nurseries, considers sustainability and the environment with its waste management
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methods. The purchase of a large mulching machine has eliminated the number of bonfires needed by the nursery to dispose of waste material and prunings. Although a large investment – £20k – Rupert says that the mulch produced is beneficial. “Everything that is not diseased gets mulched. It gets chewed up and then it gives us material afterwards to be put back in the fields. It’s a useful byproduct – we have virtually no bonfires at all. There are costs but the benefits are there to be seen. We run a business that is carbon negative.”
As a wholesaler, Griffin Nurseries’ website features a login portal, specifically created to provide trade professionals with as much specimen stock information as possible. With the majority of the nursery’s customers being designers and landscapers, this feature is key. When it comes to future plans for the nursery, Rupert notes the potential for expansion. “The plans going forward are to sustain growth, and we are planning to open up another two-acre container this year. We are also looking to open a larger multi-stem field growing area hopefully this year as well.”
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NURTURE
MELCOURT
Picture courtesy of Oak View Landscapes
Melcourt Spruce Ornamental Melcourt Spruce Ornamental is an attractive, versatile conifer bark mulch with a nominal particle size of 5 to 35mm. It is ideal for use in garden borders and landscaped areas to suppress weeds and retain moisture. In its retail form in 60L polythene bags, it is the only bark mulch to be endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. The product is fire tested in accordance with BS 4790:1987, is sourced from British forests and made in Britain, and is FSC certified. Bulk bag quantities are readily available from landscape supply centres and many builders merchants. Polythene bags are available from garden centres. Available in 0.6m3 bulk bags at £55 to £60 (exc. VAT) or in 60L polythene bags at RRP £6.49 (inc. VAT) WWW.MELCOURT.CO.UK
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EDUCATE
LENDING A
HAND HENRY E JDELBAUM, M A N AG I N G D I R EC TO R FO R A S C F I N A N C E F O R BUSINESS, SHARES W H AT L E N D E R S A R E LO O K I N G FO R W H E N YO U A P P LY FO R B U S I N E S S F I N A N C E
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ith hundreds of different variables that go into any given bespoke business loan, putting an application for finance together can be an exercise in frustration for a landscaping business. You can’t put the application together without knowing what the bank wants, but they won’t tell you until the application is in! So, what is a lender actually going to want to know about?
1 You! It sounds obvious, but it’s an easily-missed part of an application; lenders want to know about the applicant. When a lender loans money, they want to have confidence that you will repay the
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loan. If they don’t feel that you’re going to use the finance wisely, then they aren’t going to take the risk. A lender wants to see that you and your team have the experience needed to run an effective business in your sector, with all the qualifications needed to avoid running afoul of any regulatory issues secured or being sorted out ahead of time, and the drive to make sure that your business is going to be a success.
2 The financials As we mentioned, a lender wants to be sure you can repay the loan. To do that, they need to look at the financial situation of your business and how much money you’re making. This also applies if you’re looking at buying an existing business – lenders will want to see the financials of both the business you’re buying and your existing business, if applicable. It’s important to note here that lenders are usually only going to be looking at the existing financials. Lenders aren’t too interested in projections of future turnover or potential profits. They want to be sure that you’ll be able to pay the loan back at the level you’re currently trading at, not solely relying on you to make sure your business grows enough to afford the repayments.
3 The security Whilst the above points are key in determining whether you can get a loan, security is much more about the realities of said loan. Whilst unsecured loan options are available for very strong performers, having property available
as security for your loan is going to make your application much more palatable to lenders and open up more options for financing. Your security is also going to have a notable effect on how much finance you’ll be able to borrow. Lenders operate on a principle of “loan-to-value”, where the amount of finance they’ll offer you maxes out at around 75% of the value of your security.
WHEN A LENDER LOANS MONEY, THEY WANT TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL REPAY THE LOAN In a world where everything is bespoke, you can’t make exact predictions on what lenders will want to know, but every loan will include at least these three elements. Of course, now that you know what lenders are looking at, this begets a second question – what are you looking for? That’s a much harder question to answer – and one that needs the expert assistance of a professional. Any small business looking for finance will face difficulties figuring out what works best for them – after all, your job is to be an expert landscaper, not a financier. A broker, however, is just that. They can do many things to make your application easier, using the years of experience in finance that you don’t have to help identify and tailor your application to the right solution for your particular business.
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T H E VA LU E O F J O I N I N G
T R A D E A S S O C I AT I O N S LEE BESTALL DISCUSSES THE BENEFITS OF THE VARIOUS TRADE ORGANISATIONS IN OUR INDUSTRY AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE PRESENTED
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or those of you who haven’t yet joined a trade association or who are thinking about joining one, I’d first of all like to say just do it. Operating a small company can be a lonely place to work but joining a trade association can help boost confidence, especially whilst networking, and I’ve found people in our industry are more than happy to help you solve problems. It’s like having a room full of mentors; a group of like-minded people who have either ‘been there’ in the past, or who will be experiencing the same challenges that you are. The reason I joined the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) many years ago was because I wanted to benchmark my skills against other designers. Having not formally studied to become a landscape architect, I never had the opportunity to have my work assessed by my peers. I’ll be honest, the whole thing was scary, in particular the adjudication process. It was a tough process and, at the time, frustrating. It appeared slightly belittling, However, it did make me evaluate my work and it raised my game. It highlighted areas that I needed to improve on, and since I became fully registered, I’ve never looked back.
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An unexpected benefit was the number of high quality enquiries we get via the SGD’s website, and for the minimal charge per year is much better value than any social media spend or advertising which might be paid for through Google. The association enables members to develop knowledge through its development days and makes them feel a part of something bigger. It also provides a fantastic magazine and keeps members updated with
OPERATING A SMALL COMPANY CAN BE A LONELY PLACE TO WORK BUT JOINING A TRADE ASSOCIATION CAN HELP BOOST CONFIDENCE changes in our industry. BALI does the same; however, I can’t say that I get as much work through the BALI website as I do through that of the Society of Garden Designers’, but I guess that’s because its main focus is on landscapers. Joining a trade association is just the beginning. It will bring with it some benefits, but you have to make a real effort if you want to get the most value out of a trade association. I know many people who join, stick the sticker on their van and moan that the association never does anything to promote their company but, weirdly then renew their membership for the next 10 years. I’ve definitely found that you get out what you put in, and since becoming
more active in BALI as a regional committee, I’ve made great contacts and now feel part of the larger BALI family. I am planning a brand-new event called ‘Who’s Who Live’. I came up with the idea when I became frustrated by the paper-based directory that BALI produces. The directory is the list of members made-up of suppliers, designers and landscapers, and should be the go-to place whenever we think about needing someone in our industry. These qualified people have been vetted and would be a fantastic starting point when looking to source new products or make new connections. Unfortunately for me and many I’ve spoken to, this was not the case, so I decided to bring the directory to life and organise our own regional event. When I first joined BALI I never imagined that I’d be standing for the position of regional chair, and I’m looking forward to the challenge that the next year will bring. In short, and in the words of a famous footwear brand – Just Do It!
A B O U T L E E B E S TA L L Lee Bestall has been designing and managing the construction of gardens in his signature style for more than 10 years – and his honest, genuine passion is infectious. He regularly writes gardening and outdoor-style articles for magazines, is brand ambassador for Spear & Jackson and a stand-in presenter for BBC Radio Sheffield’s Gardeners’ Question Hour. www.bestall.co.uk
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19/02/2020 15:53
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PART OF THE
M AC H I N E AS TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AND ASSIST OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES, ANGUS LINDSAY DISCUSSES THE BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL SETBACKS THAT THESE ADVANCES MAY BRING
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o, 2020 – a new decade, one in which we will probably see the greatest advances yet in technology, renewable power and, hopefully, the tide turn on global warming. I envisage more electric and autonomous vehicles and machines in use, as well as a shift in the way that grounds are being maintained, with an increase in ‘little and often’ or ‘as and when required’ approaches. Going forward, we will have to trust the technology and embrace the changes it brings. We may not like them and struggle to understand how these new-fangled ideas are better than the way it was, but that’s progress. In some cases, progress requires a radical change from the norm, something which may not always be popular. As a land-based industry heavily reliant on people and practical skills, we are susceptible to a slowly eroding skill base in a sector which may not be in people’s top five career choices.
WE WILL HAVE TO TRUST THE TECHNOLOGY AND EMBRACE THE CHANGES IT BRINGS I have mentioned in several past articles that we are facing a skills shortage in our sector. Be it for cutting the grass, servicing the machine that cuts the grass, managing the contract or specifying the work to be done and the equipment to be used – these skills seem to be on the endangered species list.
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So, can technology help? You would like to think so if applied correctly, and if it utilises the knowledge and skills learnt from years in the industry to give us suitable and applicable alternatives. Otherwise, it will be just another gimmick. Just like a machine where all the individual components work in harmony to achieve an end result, we need to use technology to enhance the productivity of our workforce. This could be through utlising real-time tracking technology to address tasks quickly and succeed first time, or through implementing relevant preventative maintenance regimes by monitoring locations in relation to their footfall and actual requirements, rather than using outdated maintenance regimes. Many other land-based industries have already made significant inroads in the use of technology to replace people where there has been a loss of skills. I have mentioned several
examples in the past, ranging from robotic tractors to drones for land use monitoring. We shouldn’t be afraid of this change; what we should be wary of is learning from past experiences, both good and bad, and not reach a point where we are totally reliant or dependant on technology to solve our problems. Like everyone and everything, it needs to learn and adapt. More and more, the software we use learns from us: the satnav which knows how to get home again, the digital assistant knows your favourite songs and what your diary looks like, or your smartphone, which in some cases seems to have a mind of its own. The time will come when this technology will tell you when to cut the grass, water the flowers, aerate the grass or prune the hedge, so what will we be doing?
A B O U T A N G U S L I N D S AY 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 working as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen. He has an Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation Management MSc from Silsoe, and joined Glendale as machinery manager in 1994, then idverde UK in 2009.
angus.lindsay@idverde.co.uk
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THE TIME
IS NOW
THOSE WORKING OUTDOORS SEE FIRST-HAND HOW THE CLIMATE SEEMS TO BE CHANGING AND MANY LANDSCAPERS WANT TO REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. SO, WHEN IT COMES TO REPLACING AND UPGRADING TOOLS AND MACHINERY, CORDLESS IS INCREASINGLY THE WAY TO GO
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or several years, manufacturers have been pouring resources into the development of a growing range of battery powered kit. The fruits of their labours are now widely available, and whatever a landscaper needs will now almost certainly be available in a cordless version. So, this could range from more a costly capital investment, such as Bobcat’s E10e mini excavator (see page 114), to lawnmowers to a host of handheld tools. Clearly, batteries do have shortcomings, but the run time is improving – it is common now to see products allowing a day’s work on a single charge. Cordless
The evolution of mowing performance.
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can also be more convenient than having to find a power socket, and far healthier than having to work in the smog generated by petrol and diesel. Jonathan Snowball, product category manager for Husqvarna, comments: “Now is
BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING AT A FASTER RATE THAN EVER BEFORE the time to switch on to battery. For many years, the main concern within landscaping was that the battery run times weren’t long enough and the machines' performance and durability simply weren’t meeting the demands of the tasks. But now, there’s no excuse. "As the battery cell technology has developed, so has our understanding of how to make the best machines. For example, the new Husqvarna 535iRXT brushcutter (pictured) offers equivalent performance to a 35cc petrol brushcutter and shares key components as a professional petrol brush cutter." This is a view shared by Steve Roskell, marketing manager for EGO, who says: “Battery
technology is advancing at a faster rate than ever before. We’re packing greater power to facilitate tougher tasks and longer run times – batteries are providing a genuine alternative to petrol powered products with comfortable operation and greater levels of flexibility. “Our batteries are interchangeable across a variety of tools, improving their versatility and efficiency. This enhanced practicality increases uptime on the job – something which is further supported by fast-charge functionality. The benefits of modern battery technology don’t end there, as its use in hand-held tools means less vibration, making tools quieter and operating environments safer.” Meanwhile, Mark Earles, business development manager for garden machinery at Makita, says he is also seeing more landscaping professionals go cordless. “The omission of power leads offers greater flexibility – ideal when working outside or at height. Plus, innovations in battery technology mean that many of today’s cordless machines offer comparable output to corded alternatives. “This is, in part, due to the inclusion of lithium-ion batteries. These have a high energy density, meaning they can continue to work for long periods of time.”
He adds that Makita’s lithium-ion batteries can also communicate with the charger for optimum charging. “This happens through Makita’s patented technology, which uses a CPU that works to protect the battery from issues such as overheating and optimises the charging process, which extends tool and battery life. "Time on site can also be reduced, as operators can swap batteries out with any of the more than 200 products within the Makita 18V ‘LXT’ range, including both
THE OMISSION OF POWER LEADS OFFERS GREATER FLEXIBILITY construction power tools and garden machines to cover a host of landscaping applications from one battery source. This also means that operators only need to purchase the tool bodies, reducing costs.” With sales rising, a growing army of landscapers are member of the cordless club. So, given what’s on offer, are you ready to join the charge?
ZD1211 Zero-Turn Mower: Exceptional manoeuvrability, high productivity Engineered from the ground up to deliver outstanding cutting capability you can rely on. ■ Impressively powerful, reliable and economic 24.8HP Kubota
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KIT
BATTERY POWERED G R O W I N G N U M B E R S O F L A N D S C A P E R S A R E R E F U S I N G TO B E PA R T O F ' T H E E N V I R O N M E N T P R O B L E M ' A N D A R E F I N D I N G A W I D E R A N G E O F S O LU T I O N S AVA I L A B L E I N T H E L AT E ST B AT T E RY- P OW E R E D K I T
BOBCAT E10e Get digging with the zero tail swing E10e, the world’s first one-tonne battery-powered miniexcavator, combining zero emissions, low noise and a width of only 71cm. The model is well suited to those working in urban areas, later into the evenings and places where quiet is needed, such as hospitals and schools, with good manoeuvrability in confined spaces. By coupling with an optional Bobcat supercharger while operators are on their breaks, the E10e can operate for a full working day or for four hours on a single charge. It also offers an efficient cooler system and uses a lithium-ion battery pack with advanced management system. Because of the low voltage, there is no need for operators to have special authorisation to use it. www.bobcat.com
STIHL RMA 765 V LAWNMOWER Stihl’s newest model is targeted at professionals and has a 63cm cutting width. It is powered by a 36V high capacity lithium-ion battery and is highly manoeuvrable – both the front and rear wheels are height adjustable from 25mm to 100mm. Features include a five-speed control panel that includes an eco-mode and battery power level indicator. The foldable handlebar benefits from soft grip and is adjustable to three different heights. Meanwhile, the 63cm cutting deck has synchronised multi-blades that lift the grass, cut it and blow cuttings into the tear-resistant catcher bag. Additional features include a diagnostic connection for servicing and a safety key needed for operation. www.stihl.co.uk
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HUSQVARNA 535iRXT BRUSHCUTTER Power through unwanted vegetation with this newly launched brushcutter, a lightweight and well-balanced model that is part of the brand’s 500-series product range and the first to offer an anti-vibration system. This benefit also means a reduction of user strain, meaning smoother operation during extended hours of use. The product also has a new user interface that allows a constant view of the battery’s status, while integrated connectivity makes it straightforward to keep track of usage stats, service history and the last known location in the Husqvarna Fleet Services app. www.husqvarna.com/uk
EGO POWER+ 45CM CS1800E CHAINSAW Make the cut with this 45cm model, the latest edition to the range, which also includes 30cm and 40cm chainsaws. It is aimed at the professional market, with a brushless motor powered by 56V Arc lithium-ion technology and a chain speed of 20m/s. Features include bumper spikes to increase control when cutting logs and a chain brake improves safety. The chainsaw, which weighs 4.5kg without batteries, also has automatic oiling and tensioning features that mean less maintenance on the job. Low noise and vibration mean it can be used for extended periods and reduces risk of RSA and white finger. The chainsaw is compatible with a choice of batteries, with run times from 40 cuts with the 2.5Ah battery up to 160 cuts with the new 10Ah battery. www.egopowerplus.co.uk
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19/02/2020 14:13
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Legacy Edging
is made from solid steel providing strong, durable and subtle edging. It creates a clean edge between driveways and lawns, beds and pathways.We manufacture in galvanised, natural steel and corten. Available nationwide on a supply only basis or supply and install. Choice of heights and thickness available to suit every application
Pre-formed internal and external right angled sections Flexible for gentle curved features
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For further guidance, advice and information visit our website or call us:
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19/02/2020 11:29
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GO AND
SEE AT
17 MARCH 2020 | SANDOWN PARK RACECOURSE BIOTECTURE
STAND 3
BlantBox, a Biotecture company, offers an innovative new living wall system, featuring a modular, stackable vertical garden ideal for growing plants and edibles in outdoor and indoor spaces. Featuring self-contained irrigation and a competitive price point, this vertical greening system is perfect for residential and commercial projects. Bare vertical surfaces can be covered with luscious foliage by restraining the living wall modules to courtyard or boundary walls, fence uprights, patios or conservatory walls. Ideal for residential projects, PlantBox is supplied in kit form and features 1.8L of water capacity, giving plants just what they need to thrive.
BOURNE AMENITY
STAND 68
Bourne Amenity Ltd is on stand 68 offering a diverse range of specialist soil blends, including roof substrates, SuDS soils, horticultural mixes and fully compliant BS 3882 topsoils and BS 8601 subsoils. Delivering loose loads (grabs or tippers), bulk bags and small poly bags using a FORS Gold registered fleet of tippers, grabs and flatbeds, no site is inaccessible for Bourne.
www.bourneamenity.co.uk
www.growingrevolution.com
CROWDERS
STAND 10
Crowders Nurseries is a nationally renowned wholesale grower – from high end private domestic schemes to large national infrastructure programmes, it supplies a full range of high-quality plant material to create outstanding landscapes. Having grown plants for more than 200 years, Crowders has accumulated all the equipment and expertise it requires to produce the best possible plants at the best prices. It currently has three sites around Horncastle and nearby Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, totalling 140ha of land.
EVEREDGE
STAND 15
EverEdge is the UK’s largest manufacturer of steel landscape edging products. Now with more than 25 years’ experience, it has a full product range and advice available for landscapers’ steel edging requirements, whether it is needed for small domestic or large commercial projects. EverEdge also offers a complete bespoke service for the manufacture and supply of steel ground and podium planters, terrace walls and raised beds.
www.everedge.co.uk
www.crowdersnurseries.co.uk
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G R E E N -T E C H
STAND 26
LONDON STONE
STAND 21
Green-tech is the UK’s largest landscaping supplier, offering a huge range of landscaping and forestry materials designed to enhance, protect and improve plants, trees and their environment. It is an award-winning, family-run business that supplies over 13,500 products for landscape contractors, architects and designers. Whether a project includes maintenance of a public open space, tree planting in a woodland or creating an urban landscape, Green-tech has a range of products to suit. Green-tech delivers throughout the UK, Europe and internationally. The majority of its products are in stock and can be delivered on a next day service.
London Stone supplies quality natural stone and porcelain paving, in-house fabricated bespoke stone products and complementary hard landscaping materials, such as composite decking.With collections including complementary off-the-shelf step treads, copings and edging stone, London Stone offers a market-leading range of high quality materials.London Stone has five showrooms situated around London and the Home Counties, with four partner showrooms. 2020 sees London Stone continue to offer free nationwide delivery on all full packs and orders over £1,000 (exc. VAT) on porcelain, natural stone and composite decking.
www.green-tech.co.uk
www.londonstone.co.uk
L U M E N A L I G H T S LT D
STAND 70
TREX BY ARBOR FOREST PRODUCTS
SPONSOR 13
Lumena supplies trade professionals with one of the largest ranges of landscape lighting in the UK. It specialises in 12v Plug and Play garden lighting, 240v bollard lights and all types of weatherproof lighting, crafted from natural copper, solid brass, marine grade stainless steel and anodised aluminium. Durability, design and innovation often combine, with many bespoke or nongeneric products, such as the ‘Radiata’ Solid Pine path lights and photocell bollard options. In 2020, its range will incorporate the impressively bright and ultra-efficient Professional Solar range, re-imagining what solar lighting means in today’s world.
Trex® is one of the world’s leading composite decking brands. Durable, lowmaintenance and fade-resistant, Trex boards are capped on three sides with a solid core for peak performance. Trex decking is made from 95% recycled materials and is covered by a 25-year limited warranty for residential use. The exclusive distributor of Trex Transcend®, Trex Enhance® and Trex® Outdoor Lighting, Arbor Forest Products is one of the largest independent timber importing businesses in the UK, supplying quality timber to the building, DIY and construction trades through independent merchants each year.
www.lumenalights.com
www.uk.trex.com
URBAN STREET DESIGNS
STAND 57
Urban Street Designs is a designer and manufacturer of bespoke steel and timber street furniture and architectural products. USD offers a full drawing service and manufactures everything in-house in the UK. Its products range from planter and edging systems to benches and water features. USD’s substantial engineering capabilities make for an unlimited number of possibilities. Its factory includes top of the range machinery including a fibre laser cutter, hydraulic press brakes, rollers, table saws, pillar drills and planers, along with a fully skilled team of fabricators and finishers.
WOODLAND H O R T I C U LT U R E
STAND 9
Woodland Horticulture is family owned and run with 28 years of continued supply across the UK of composts, horse and farmyard manures, mushroom compost, topsoils to BS 3882, subsoils to BS 8601, soil conditioners, bark mulches, decorative stones, pebbles and gravels. Deliveries are made in small sacks, bulk bags or loose tipped, available for a timed delivery throughout the country.
www.woodlandhp.co.uk
www.urbanstreetdesigns.co.uk
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S
tormwater management in inner cities has become an increasing issue in recent times, traditionally relying on grey infrastructure wastewater collection systems. Combined sewers systems carry both stormwater and wastewater from residential, commercial and industrial sources, and are often of older design and inadequate for current levels of inner-city development. Overflows are frequent and often result in untreated sewage being released into water courses. Separate stormwater management systems may be able to cope better with quantities of stormwater; however, these are still often being discharged into water courses along with high levels of pollution from highways. Recently, awareness of the use of green infrastructure has been increasing, and although would not be able to replace grey infrastructure systems, can substantially complement it, reducing run-off rates and saving on ongoing maintenance costs.
URBAN TREE PLANTING AT ST PETERS SQUARE MANCHESTER
Awareness of the value of trees in stormwater management has increased and how trees can provide alternative pathways for urban stormwater via a broader range of moisture losses from the urban hydrological cycle. In recent years, GreenBlue Urban has been leading the development on the use of tree pit systems for not only the establishment of trees in hard landscape but also for stormwater management. The ArborFlow™ tree pit solution is designed to allow ground infiltration into the uncompacted soils, allowing for attenuation and infiltration into the permeable sub surfaces as found in greenfield sites. Crucially, the ArborFlow stormwater management tree pit system filters out harmful pollutants, collects, processes and breaks down pollutants and contaminants carried in surface water. Kerb Inlets allow surface water to pass through the tree pit. With the ever-growing concern for flooding, GreenBlue sought a more cost-effective alternative for landscaping. Working with
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BIORETENTION PLANTER
S T O R M WAT E R
SOLUT ION
G R E E N B LU E U R B A N A N N O U N C E S T H E L A U N C H O F I TS N E W H Y D R O P L A N T E R ™ Sue Illman from Illman Young Landscape Design, GreenBlue Urban has announced the launch of a new modular bioretention raingarden system, the HydroPlanter™. The latest product can be retrofitted into highways schemes and onto new developments of any size. With space at a premium in many urban environments, rain gardens are becoming ever more popular, designed to temporarily hold and clean surface water. The ‘Plug and Play’ sustainable urban drainage solution can attenuate and cleanse stormwater and provide amenity and biodiversity to new and existing spaces particularly suitable for highway build outs, central reservations and verges. A single modular unit would also be suitable for new housing developments tackling SuDS solutions when space is at a premium. The HydroPlanter is an easy to design solution with drag and drop CAD drawings available via the GreenBlue Urban website. The modules are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled material that can be filled with a soil specification and planted with wildflowers and biodiverse grasses. The concept is flexible, scalable and each unit stacks together to be a convenient solution that any subcontractor can work with and install. Installation is fast, simple and offers significant cost savings to alternative methods. The complete package is available to include soil, drainage, stone and planting schemes. The HydroPlanter
fully meets all requirements of the four pillars of SuDS outlined in the CIRIA manual. For detailed specification of the new HydroPlanter including internal build ups, suggested planting schemes and UK Hydraulic Performance design tables, visit the GreenBlue Urban website at: www.greenblue.com/gb/ products/hydroplanter. The company also offers dedicated SuDS CPDs with lunch included. Should you wish to discover more, do express further interest by emailing hello@greenblue.com or by calling 01580 830800.
A BOU T G R E E N B LU E U R BA N GreenBlue Urban is the global leading solutions provider in assisting trees and green infrastructure to establish in urban spaces. Established over 27 years ago with more than 40 years’ experience in the landscaping industry, it has an exceptional expertise in planning and design for urban tree planting for stormwater solutions.
www.greenblue.com/gb
THE HYDROPLANTER
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19/02/2020 16:39
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C
T H E H E AT IS ON
limate change is a problem that causes temperatures to rise, and not just across the planet. Furious residents of Australia have been accusing the government of not acting fast enough to prevent the effects of the changing climate. Bushfires killed nearly 30 people this summer and scorched around 7.3 million hectares of land. Whilst bushfires aren’t unusual in Australia, this is extreme, and global warming is a likely contributor. Temperatures have risen by more than one degree Celsius since 1920, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, and people are demanding stronger policies to mitigate this. Temperatures have climbed in the UK too. The last decade was the second hottest in the last century, according to the Met Office, with last year experiencing the highest winter and summer temperatures ever recorded. The United Nations says there are only 11 years left to prevent irreversible damage as a result of climate change. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Increasing worldwide coverage of the climate emergency is mostly a result of growing action to stop it. Take Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teen activist who kicked off a series of school strikes, encouraging people to start acting now to reduce the impact on the future generation. Closer to home, campaign group Extinction Rebellion has been staging protests across some of the UK’s major cities, with protestors climbing on top of a tube one rush hour. Okay, the protestors were dragged from the roof of
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W I T H C L I M AT E C H A N G E A B U R N I N G I S S U E , P R O L A N D S C A P E R D E LV E S I N TO W H AT AC T I O N I S B E I N G TA K E N – A N D N E E D S TO B E TA K E N – TO E N S U R E THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET
the train by commuters, and it’s hard to forget that Extinction Rebellion was included as an extremist ideology on a list sent to the Home Office, but regardless of the Marmite-like feelings they evoke, there’s no denying that protestors such as these are having a direct effect on global climate change policies. So, how has the UK reacted to the climate emergency? How is the horticulture industry preparing? And what more could be done to ensure the future of our planet? Government effort ‘The climate is changing, and the UK needs to act.’ This is the opening line of the Met Office’s UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) report. It goes on to say that by the end of this century,
each region of the UK is predicted to be warmer. The chances of seeing a summer as hot as 2018 – the joint hottest summer on record – will become more common by 2050. Whilst some might envision days spent sunbathing on the beach, others might remember the heatwave of 2018 damaging crop yields and raising food prices, and that a record number of people attended A&E in England thanks to those high temperatures. This has not gone unnoticed by the UK government. Earlier this year, the Environment Bill was introduced, outlining its commitment to tackling climate change. Former environment secretary Theresa Villiers stated that the new bill “sets a gold standard for improving air quality, protecting nature, increasing recycling and cutting down on plastic waste”, saying “we need to take decisive action”. This includes the establishment of Local Nature Recovery Strategies to encourage public authorities to enhance biodiversity and give communities a greater say in the management of street trees. It introduced the eagerly anticipated biodiversity net gain too, ensuring new developments enhance the biodiversity by a minimum of 10% post-development. Defra has also launched a new online resource to ensure ‘natural capital’ – the sum of our ecosystems – is valued in planning decisions. The ‘Enabling a Natural Capital Approach’ project, which follows on from a commitment in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, offers guidance and provides evidence on the benefits of boosting natural capital.
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85%
OF BRITONS CONCERNED
ABOUT
20
WARMEST YEARS ON
CLIMATE RECORD CHANGE HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST 22
52%
OF BRITONS
VERY CONCERNED IPSOS MORI, AUGUST 2019
CLIMATE
CHANGE HAS LED TO:
48% MD E OC LTI NHE
60% A P H I D INCREASE
YEARS WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO)
73%
SAY BRITAIN IS ALRE ADY FEELING THE
EFFECTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE IPSOS MORI, AUGUST 2019
55% 50% 2050 LIMITING STATE OF NATURE 2019
T O H AV E A CHANCE OF
T H I N K T H AT I S N O T E A R LY
T E M P E R AT U R E
ENOUGH TO
G LO BA L
TO N E T Z E R O
RISES TO 1.5°C,
EMISSIONS
MUST BE
CUT EMISSIONS IPSOS MORI, AUGUST 2019
REDUCED TO
T E M P E R AT U R E S
BY 2050
3-5°c
NET ZERO INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)
M AY R I S E B Y WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO)
124 Pro Landscaper / March 2020
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BY 210 0
It’s a positive start to a big environmental year for the UK, as Glasgow is set to host the United Nation’s climate change summit – COP26 – in November. The UK will lead the conversation around global warming, showcasing its own measures, and prime minister Boris Johnson is urging other countries to follow in the UK’s footsteps and pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 ahead of the summit. Industry actions Introductions such as the Environment Bill and Defra’s new resource indicate a growing emphasis being placed on the role green spaces can play in mitigating climate change. However, the way we create these green spaces in the future may need to change. In the RHS’ 2017 Gardening for a Changing Climate report, the charity said climate change may affect what can be grown and how. With this in mind, the horticulture industry needs to be prepared. “As an industry, we are uniquely placed to identify opportunities to protect landscapes from the effects of climate change and mitigate against its causes,” says James Scott of The Garden Company. “Addressing this challenge will require skilful management and leadership. This will be a process, not a one-off exercise. If we do it well, we will not only embed the new practices in our own industry, but we will set a great example to other industries too.” So, what has the industry done so far? Pro Landscaper itself has stepped up to the challenge, switching to a more environmentally friendly packaging. Our monthly magazine is now delivered in a compostable sleeve which readers can dispose of with their food waste, and for every tree used in the production of Pro Landscaper, three trees are planted in its place. Industry associations are also eager to make a difference, and arguably none are more vocal than the Landscape Institute (LI). It made a bold statement when it presented Sir David Attenborough with the Landscape Institute Medal at its 2019 awards, and in October, it announced the formation of a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency Response panel to help coordinate its response. It’s not the only one, either. The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) has been providing guidance to its members on material selection, producing directives for products such as artificial turf and reclaimed timber. The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has also been looking at ways it can internally become more
environmentally friendly, such as removing plastic from its distributed publications. Chief executive Wayne Grills says there are already several effective initiatives established by the industry which are making a difference. “Biodiversity is a big word in the industry, along with green and blue roofs. Offering new wildlife habitats which also help reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere through sequestration is now firmly on trend and tackling some of the issues we face. “A lot of our members who design and build gardens are bringing the countryside to the city in new and exciting ways. Suppliers of soil-based products are reducing the amount of peat, if not removing it altogether. Nurseries are supporting large public infrastructure projects, such as HS2, by growing millions of new trees for replanting once works are complete and manufacturers of landscaping equipment are developing new state-of-the-art technology, such as batterypowered tools and all-electric micro tractors. The variety and diversity of environmentallyfriendly products available in the marketplace is evolving and far more consumers are responding to their sustainable or zero-carbon qualities.” It sounds like a lot, but the same question keeps popping up – is it enough?
WE’RE ONE OF THE LEADING INDUSTRIES IN THE UK COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE What more could be done? Excuses have run dry. Everyone is expected to act. A recent Ipsos MORI poll showed 85% of Britons are concerned about climate change and 55% think that the target to cut emissions to net zero by 2050 is not soon enough. The landscaping industry itself, despite creating green spaces, has a long way to go. “Virtually every single operation we undertake has a significant carbon footprint and if nothing changes it’s hard to see how the landscaping industry fits into a carbon neutral future,” says David Sewell, chairman of the Association of Professional Landscapers and managing director of The Gardenmakers. “But I’m also heartened by the knowledge that our industry is full of intelligent, innovative and passionate people that care deeply about the environment. Because of that I see us making headway.”
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To help make headway, Allison Walters of awSCAPE is working with reward scheme CounterCoin to set up Tree Radicals, an organisation to help communities tackle local and environmental issues. It plans to do this through the use of tree planting, meadow creation and land management. “This is an exciting project that will call upon businesses to support the project through subscriptions to purchase trees or seed that can then be used by community volunteers,” says Allison. “Volunteers are also rewarded with non-monetary CounterCoins which can be used for money off ‘excess or surplus’ in local businesses signed up to the scheme.” Is this small scale community effort more beneficial than a larger, governmental approach? Arguably, both are needed to make change, but garden designer David Keegan says we need to be lobbying to government. “You can have all the marches in the world but if you’re not engaging politicians then change, even though it will happen, will happen too slowly.” Local authorities need to be on board too, says David. Once landscape proposals have been approved for new developments, the follow-up procedure to ensure they are being implemented in full is lacking, he says. “Usually, when it comes time for the developer to actually install the landscaping, they will downgrade the specification. They will put in plants that are a lot smaller than specified and agreed by the council, change the varieties and decrease the planting numbers.” A budget needs to be created at local level for an inspector to visit these sites and ensure the landscape is installed as per the approval, which is not happening, explains David. But, in an industry predominantly made up of small to medium businesses, as garden designer Ben West puts it, grassroot movements could make a huge difference. “Climate change is a worldwide issue, and that needs a collective voice,” says Ben. And SMEs are taking action. Belderbos Landscapes, for instance, is making small changes in the way the business is run. “If everybody did that, then a small step would actually have a bigger impact overall,” says Claire Belderbos. “For instance, we’ve switched to compostable rubble bags. They’re not perfect, and there is an increase in cost, but they’re much better than what we were using before. Gone are the days when we could choose the cheapest options, we have to choose for sustainability.” Claire says Belderbos is also thinking ahead and planning materials better. “Landscaping is not very environmentally friendly once you start
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CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE UK Peter Gibbs – BBC weatherman and host of BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time “The UK average temperature has risen by around one degree Celsius since the 1950s. That may not sound much, but it’s been enough to extend our growing season by over a month. Frost is now more of a rarity, especially during autumn and early winter. That may sound like a benefit, but plants triggered into early spring growth by mild winters are becoming more vulnerable to late frosts, while increasingly frequent summer
removing lots of materials offsite which go to landfill, so we need to radicalise the way this is undertaken. One of the best ways is recycling materials on site rather than simply taking them away and bringing in new materials.” Julian Ransom of 4th Corner Landscaping says his team is looking at the next generation of equipment, with lower emissions or battery technology. “We are concentrating on micro gains to start making lots of small differences on a local level.” By regularly assessing its carbon miles and footprint, Chris Bridgman says Bridgeman & Bridgman is looking into ways to make the process of installing green infrastructure more carbon neutral, if not negative, and is turning the bragging rights of a company being nationwide on its head. “Why are companies in Birmingham driving to Manchester and companies in Manchester driving to Liverpool
heatwaves and more intense flooding downpours increase stress. Seven of the 10 wettest years in the UK have occurred since 1998, and eight of the 10 warmest years since 2002. Climate scientists are confident these changes are almost entirely down to human activity. Simple physics tells us greenhouse gases such as CO2 trap heat in the lower atmosphere – add more and the planet heats up. The only serious question is: how much? Met Office scientists predict a continuing trend to warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers in the UK. That’s a pretty good description of the weather experienced over the last 18 months, but without serious action to limit carbon emissions the heatwaves and floods we see now will seem benign compared to future extremes.
to work?”, asks Chris. “There are many reasons for this – price, contracts, workload, preference and expertise – but if we were to all work closer to our operational base, we would save millions of miles each year and make a huge reduction in emissions.” Mandy Buckland of greencube design tries to visit projects in one day and car shares when planting gardens. Garden designer Rae Wilkinson is trying to have more video call meetings when travel is not necessary and is looking into switching to an electric or hybrid vehicle. Supplier Wildflower Turf is also planning to buy electric vehicles to reduce emissions, as well as making the most out of solar PV energy. “We already have 80kW of solar panels on barn roofs and we use this electricity in the business,” says managing director James Hewetson-Brown. “We will also look to get our wildflower turf assessed
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O U R S U R V E Y S AYS . . . We asked our readers for their thoughts on some of the green issues facing our industry. Here are our exclusive findings.
41%
SAID CLIENTS ARE ASKING ABOUT THE E N V I R O N M E N TA L I M PA C T O F C H A N G I N G THEIR GARDEN
12% NO CHANGE
53%
DECREASE
35%
SAID THEY ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON THEIR SUPPLIERS TO REDUCE OR CHANGE T H E I R PA C K A G I N G
D O YO U T H I N K DESIGNING OR CONSTRUCTING M O R E N AT U R A L I S T I C GARDENS COULD BE M O R E P R O F I TA B L E F O R YO U R B U S I N E S S ?
N/A
SAID THEY WOULD TURN DOWN A CLIENT IF THEY COULD NOT BE CONVINCED TO CHOOSE MORE E N V I R O N M E N TA L LY F R I E N D LY O P T I O N S
SAID THE P E R C E N TA G E OF SOFT LANDSCAPING O N P R OJ E C T S HAS NOT INCREASED AS AWA R E N E S S O F C L I M AT E C H A N G E HAS GROWN
INCREASE
82% 71%
71%
H AV E YO U S E E N A C H A N G E I N T H E USE OF PLASTIC PRODUCTS?
65%
YES
12%
D O YO U R CLIENTS U N D E R S TA N D THE SUDS R E G U L AT I O N S ?
NO
29%
NO
M O R E E D U C AT I O N O N W H AT I S T R U LY E N V I R O N M E N TA L MAKE REAL CHANGES, NOT JUST TOKENISTIC EFFORTS TA X I N C E N T I V E S T O B U I L D M O R E E N V I R O N M E N TA L LY F R I E N D LY G A R D E N S
71%
USE UK STONE INSTEAD OF LOWER PRICED IMPORTED STONE INTERNAL E N V I R O N M E N TA L AUDITS
VOCAL GUIDELINES FROM TRADE BODIES
STOP USING CONCRETE S T O P U S I N G P E AT FOR GROWING MEDIA GREENER WORK VEHICLES
U S E R E C YC L A B L E O R DEGRADABLE PL ANT POTS EMBRACE P E R M A C U LT U R E ETHICS R E C YC L E WA S T E M AT E R I A L O N S I T E
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IF NOTHING CHANGES IT’S HARD TO SEE HOW THE LANDSCAPING INDUSTRY FITS INTO A CARBON NEUTRAL FUTURE This is the case for both commercial and domestic clients. “We need to make these kinds of schemes attractive and desirable to domestic homeowners,” explains Ben West. “I’m working with someone at the moment to try to bring in an award system – platinum, gold, silver, bronze, depending on what element the client wishes to bring in to improve biodiversity.”
YES
65%
W E A S K E D F O R T H E T H R E E M A I N T H I N G S T H E I N D U S T R Y C O U L D D O T O I M P R OV E ITS GREEN CREDENTIALS. THESE ARE A SELECTION OF THE RESPONSES: STOP USING ARTIFICIAL GRASS
and accredited for the benefits it brings to sequestering carbon and delivering biodiversity net gain.” Impacting trends towards more naturalistic gardens is surely a must, then. “The industry and its customers should be open to a shift in mindset to encourage and accept landscapes that genuinely improve biodiversity and wildlife,” says James. “We need to make nature the ‘new normal’ when implementing landscape design development. To achieve this, society needs to tolerate less formality in the landscape by reducing mown areas and increasing species rich habitats such as wildflower spaces.”
STOP USING CONCRETE SOURCE LOCAL PLANTS A N D M AT E R I A L S TA K I N G C A R E O F S O I L S RECOMMEND LOCAL DESIGNERS AND CONTRACTORS
Reduce, reuse, recycle How exactly can a project become more environmentally friendly, though? Cityscapes has been considering this since its inception eight years ago. Its Remix project, for instance, reused elements of show gardens, as did its more recent New Forms installation at London Bridge station. “When we do projects, we look into the sustainability of the materials we choose, where they’re sourced from, whether they’re ethical,” says co-founder Darryl Moore. “We’re trying to get more designers to think along these lines as well. We hold regular salons where we discuss different industry topics. It’s getting clients to understand the importance of using materials which are sustainable, even if they turn out to be more expensive.” For public play areas, Tanya Wilsher of TCL Group says we need to move away from “prescribed play which is the easiest tick box way developers seek approvals for their [Public Open Space (POS)] areas”. She says: “We need to implement more natural features and planting such as sensory gardens, willow tunnels and mazes which can offer the same play values as your typical steel play equipment.
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Q U E ST I O N S FOR SUPPLIERS We asked those who attended last year’s The Summit debate at FutureScape what questions we should be asking suppliers, in order to be as environmentally friendly in our choices as possible. Here are some of the suggestions:
“When looking at the range of planting we implement into these areas we also need to consider how we aid biodiversity and ensure we are not designing the same species over and over again in areas which would greater benefit from something else.” Value of trees The value of trees should also be considered. David Sewell, for instance, says The Gardenmakers will be factoring into quotes a quantity of trees to plant per £1k spent by the client. However, it’s important to consider the right tree for the right place, says garden designer Helen Elks-Smith. “Planting new trees is important, but we must ensure they survive past ten years and preserve existing trees. Trees have many benefits – urban cooling, air quality, flooding – and it is important that as an industry we try to keep up with best practice and make informed choices about tree species selection, taking into account climate change.” Richard Gardiner of NAG Solutions says this focus on capturing carbon, rather than simply on reducing emissions, could be more effective. “Whilst emissions have undoubtably increased massively since industrialisation, our ability to routinely and effectively sequester carbon is not only more important but is our best chance of effecting real atmospheric change. This is primarily because reducing emissions requires at least a perception of restriction if not actual restriction in activities, whilst sequestering carbon via effective land-based practices requires a change of practices but does not in any way restrict activity.” With ideas around reducing our carbon footprint, capturing carbon and introducing sustainable alternatives, it would appear as though there is a plethora of opportunities to work towards mitigating climate change. But whilst garden designers and landscapers can put forward the solutions, it’s down to the
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client to say yes. “We need to educate our clients to understand that the garden shouldn’t be another room,” says Ben West. “It’s a place for humans, obviously, but it’s also a place that can be a refuge for wildlife, for insects.” Garden designer Manoj Malde says this education needs to start with the colleges. “They need to be teaching students better practice of construction and better use of negative impact materials,” he says. And, if clients refuse to look at more sustainable alternatives despite being steered towards them, should we be turning down the work? “It is very easy to say, ‘don’t think about the cost, just think about what is right from wrong’, but life as we know it does not work like that,” says Manoj. “We all have to live, and the first thing customers are interested in is cost.” However, Darryl Moore argues we need to take an ethical stance. “It’s your responsibility towards the future. You’ve got to actually believe in it.” He adds that turning down clients is not the first step, but instead convincing clients that a more environmentally friendly garden is the better way of doing things, “that they’ll have the same end result in terms of how they use their garden but it will benefit everyone all round.” One thing everyone agrees on, though, is that we need to act now. “We cannot sit passively waiting for others to feed us the information,” says Helen Elks-Smith. “We need to be proactive and receptive. Those that hold information need to find effective ways of sharing it – suppliers, associations, professional bodies all need to help with this.” A passionate industry such as the landscaping one has plenty to offer to help slow rising temperatures across the globe, and it’s a collective effort that’s required. As Sir David Attenborough told a room of attendees at the LI Awards last year: “You have a great responsibility to bring the realities of the natural world to the understanding and the love of human beings worldwide.” No industry is better placed than ours to do this.
• Do you use peat-free compost? • How do you offset your carbon? • What measures do you have in place to tackle climate change? • Are you interested in offsetting your carbon footprint? • Do you recycle pots? • Should we be planting more than just native in rural locations considering the decline of our native trees? • How can we work together to tackle the climate crisis? Allison Walters, awSCAPE • What are the carbon miles of each product before we have even purchased them and what will the carbon miles be when they are sent to our sites? • Are products sustainably and ethically sourced, and how can packaging be reduced to a minimum – or not used at all? Chris Bridgman, Bridgman & Bridgman • Do you have alternative products that have better environmental benefits from the products I contacted you about? Jake Catling, The Landscaping Consultants • How will your product improve the environment? • What can it do for climate change, biodiversity, pollution mitigation and health and wellbeing? James Hewetson Brown • What percentage of your profits goes back into supporting environmental protection? Manoj Malde • How are your products transported? • What are you using for packaging? • Do you have any marks, such as FSC? Tanya Wilsher, TLC
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19/02/2020 11:31
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M A N AG I N G
EXPENSES RYDOO
STRUGGLING TO GET ON TOP OF EMPLOYEES’ EXPENSES? SOFTWARE CAN HELP TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD. WE HIGHLIGHT A PAIR OF EXPENSE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE OPTIONS
ZOHO EXPENSE
Aiming to make business a pleasure on the go, Rydoo is a corporate travel and expense management solution that allows users to find the best conditions for their trips whilst staying on balance. Offering cutting-edge technology and a dashing user experience with Rydoo’s SaaS platform; through its two modules, streamline your entire business travel and expense process. With a team of 350 employees, Rydoo operates in more than 60 countries, serving 8,200 organisations.
Zoho Expense is VAT-compliant online expense reporting software, tailor-made for businesses to automate expense report creation, streamline approvals and make swift reimbursements. Features include auto-scan of expense receipts, automatic corporate card reconciliation and simplification of multi-level approvals. It ensures policy compliance, enables companies to audit expense reports better and automate expense accounting.
Is there an app available? Yes, downloadable via iTunes or Google Play.
Is there an app available? Yes – Zoho offers a range of different apps. Zoho Expense, for example, is accessible both on the web and mobile devices, including Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry phones.
Can you scan receipts? Yes. Rydoo can extract all key data – such as the date, merchant, amount and currency – and transform it into searchable and useable data. Does it automatically calculate mileage? Yes. With Rydoo, the calculation of business travel expenses becomes very easy. The rate of mileage allowance and the date from which it applies can be configured directly in the system. The employee only has to specify which distance he travelled; Rydoo applies the current rate and calculates the total mileage cost. The advantage of this is to facilitate travel expense reimbursement, but also to save valuable time for both the employees and HR. How much does the subscription cost? Subscriptions start at £6 per active user per month. All employees of a company have access to Rydoo, but the company only pays for the active users. Can you integrate it with other tools/apps? Yes, from accounting software, ERPs (such as SAP and Microsoft Dynamics) to mobility (Uber) or working tools (Slack). Can you set spending limits? Yes, thanks to the integration of the organisation expense policy. www.rydoo.com
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Can you scan receipts? Yes, receipts can be auto-scanned. Users just need to click a picture of their receipt and all the important information will be parsed and created as an expense automatically. Does it automatically calculate mileage? Yes. Users can enter their distance travelled and mileage expenses will automatically be calculated using the pre-set HMRC rates per km/mile. How much does the subscription cost? It starts as a free plan for one user and is £2.50 per user per month for a minimum of 10 users. Enterprise plan quotes are also available on request. Can you integrate it with other tools/apps? Yes, it integrates with other Zoho apps as well as many third party apps including QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, GSuite, Office 365, Slack, Dropbox, Evernote and others. It also offers integration with Uber for Business. Can you set spending limits? Yes, employers can assign per diem rates for travelling employees and manage expenses in all categories. These can be set daily, monthly or yearly, per department, per expense type, per country or per project. The admin can then set an employee’s travel spend limits based on their per diem rates. Viewing permissions can be set for custom policies. www.zoho.com/uk
Pro Landscaper / March 2020 129
19/02/2020 14:18
SEE US AT
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19/02/2020 11:32
ADVERTORIAL
FO R C L I E N TS T H AT WA N T E D TO B E O U TS I D E W H AT E V E R T H E W E AT H E R , THE RENSON CAMARGUE SKYE WA S T H E P E R F E C T S O LU T I O N
RENSON’S R
enson ambassador Shade Zone had a client who recently moved into a new home with a spacious garden that had never been fully utilised. As part of a complete overhaul of the garden, an area solely dedicated to year-long and weather resistant socialising with a large family and friend was necessary. Initially working through the client’s own garden designer, Shade Zone had no hesitations in suggesting the Renson Camargue Skye, a premium and stylish, yet modern, aluminium louvered canopy that would fulfil both the needs of the project and complement the space it would be situated in. In specifying the Camargue Skye, the canopy was able to seamlessly attach to the outer wall of the property. Furthermore, with the choice of RAL colours available, Shade Zone could find the perfect colour, ensuring the canopy integrated
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GOT YOU COVERED
with the rest of the exterior colour scheme. With the aesthetics ticked off, the homeowners also wanted to have a solution which would enable socialising outdoor all year long, not just during the warmer months. The clients had emphasised early in the process a desire to have the feeling of being outside all day whilst on holiday – this love for being outside socialising all day and in the evening was missing from their UK residency. The Skye’s retractable roof blades could be rotated to give full control of the amount of sunlight or ventilation the clients deemed suitable for the occasion. Furthermore, the blades offered watertight coverage when closed, with any rainwater filtered away via the Camargue Skye integrated drainage system. Given the client’s love of technology, the ability to control the roof with smartphones meant there was no need to pause the fun if the family needed to open and retract the blades for sun or close the blades for rain protection. In selecting the Camargue Skye for the exterior dining space, there was a chance for the homeowners to make further customisable additions, such as the LED lighting which is integrated into the structure of the terrace covering. Once again, smartphones could be used to dim or turn the lighting off so the space could be used throughout the year. To further accommodate the clients’ to spend many
evenings outside like the clients do on holidays, a double outdoor heating element was also specified to provide year-long comfort. As with all of Renson’s customisable options, this heater was seamlessly integrated into the structure to blend effortlessly into the specification. Along with the double heating element, the audio option was also specified, with integrated flat panel speakers that allow the client or any potential guests to play their favourite music and thus creating the perfect ambience for any event. This Camargue Skye has transformed an already stunning garden with an area that brings family and friends together all year, creating memorable moments in all climates, regardless of the weather. For more information on Renson’s complete range of louvered roof canopies, contact its ambassador Shade Zone on info@s-zone.co.uk or on 01482 481 050.
ABOUT RENSON Renson is dedicated to creating healthy spaces since its early beginnings in 1909. Renson is a trendsetter in ventilation, sun protection and terrace coverings, devising healthy and comfortable environments for indoors and outdoors.
www.renson-outdoor.com
Pro Landscaper / March 2020 131
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PEOPLE
INTERVIEW
PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS AFTER THE SUCCESS OF THIS YE AR’S PRO L ANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS, JIM AND LISA WILKINSON REFLECT ON THE SUCCESS AND HISTORY OF THE EVENT practices. It just seemed like such a good opportunity. We launched in 2017 and the first event took place in February 2018. It’s always been at the same venue – East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf.
How did the event come about? Jim: For a couple of years we had looked at awards within the industry and there were some fantastic project-based awards; however, there was nothing available for the companies themselves. Lisa and I had been out to meet lots of companies who were running superb businesses and we felt that it was really good opportunity for us to reward, recognise and promote some of the excellence that was in the landscaping sector.
I THINK THE GREATEST THING ABOUT THIS YEAR WAS THE NUMBER OF QUALITY ENTRIES Lisa: The projects the companies were developing were fantastic, but there was never really much spoken about the business
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What was the scope of this year’s entries? Jim: The Pro Landscaper Business Awards covers every aspect of the industry – the landscapers, architects, designers, arborists, grounds maintenance companies, etc. I think the greatest thing about this year was the number of quality entries, especially in the landscape architecture sector. Even some of the smaller businesses have grown in confidence to push and promote themselves. What stood out about the supreme winner, Oak View Landscapes? Jim: Oak View is such a well-known company. Everything it does is carried out properly and correctly. It's structured very well, is heavily committed to the landscaping sector, and it promotes best practices. It’s a solid, well rounded company and is a really good reflection of what a landscaping business should be. How was this year's event? Lisa: Each year we strive to make it better and better, and I truly think this year was the best yet. We had a fabulous host, who went above and beyond, along with the excellent entries and amazing guests. The dressing of the venue and catering was also great – everything went very well.
Jim: I loved looking around and seeing everybody talking to everybody. People were coming up to us saying that it was a lovely event, one that they always want to be at. What will be the date of next year's event? Jim: We are looking to change the date slightly to 23 April but keep the same venue. We also want to add a few more criteria and give the judges more time to look at each entry.
EACH YEAR WE STRIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER AND BETTER, AND I TRULY THINK THIS YEAR WAS THE BEST YET
THE FIRST AWARDS IN 2018
What are the changes for next year’s event? Jim: I think aftercare or garden maintenance has become an important part of the sector so we are looking at how to include that. We are also including a sustainability category, focusing on companies that are really pushing the landscaping sector in terms of their green credentials. Lisa: We are also looking at changing the garden designer category into two parts; one for practices with 'three or less staff', and the other for 'more than three staff'.
Pro Landscaper / March 2020 135
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PEOPLE
OUT & ABOUT
PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS 2020 T
he winners have been revealed for the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2020. These awards bring together the landscaping
community for an afternoon of celebrating the excellent standards set within the industry.
Eighteen awards were presented at the third annual ceremony which took place at East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf, on Friday 7 February. The highly coveted Supreme Winner was Oak View Landscapes, which topped the Landscape Company £2m-£10m Turnover category. Marian Barker, of headline sponsor Fresh Horticultural Careers, commented: “Not only is this business committed to its staff and customers but also the industry as a whole, either by raising money for industry charities, playing a key and active role within the landscaping associations or supporting the next generation of landscaping through its involvement with Writtle University College. Congratulations to Oak View Landscapes.” View more photographs from the awards online at: www.prolandscaperbusinessawards.com
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SUPREME WINNER: OAK VIEW LANDSCAPES
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT COMPANY OVER 10 STAFF WINNER: TERRA FIRMA
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PEOPLE
WINNERS Industry Collaboration Winner Davies White Ltd Highly Commended Cityscapes Employer of the Year Winner Green-tech Ltd GROUNDS MAINTENANCE WINNER: NURTURE LANDSCAPES HOLDINGS LTD INDUSTRY COLLABORATION WINNER: DAVIES WHITE LTD
Soft Landscape Supplier Winner Provender Nurseries Supplier and Service Supplier Winner Talasey Group Highly Commended Trex by Arbor Forest Products Arboriculture Company Under £1m Turnover Winner David Archer Associates Arboriculture Company Over £1m Turnover Winner CGM Group
HOST SALLY BUNDOCK
EMPLO ER O THE
EAR WINNER
REEN-TE H
Landscape Architect Company Under 10 Staff Winner Studio 31 Landscape Architects Landscape Architect Company Over 10 Staff Winner The terra firma Consultancy Ltd Design & Build Company Under £2m Turnover Winner The Garden Company Ltd Design & Build Company Over £2m Turnover Winner Ground Control Ltd Garden Design Practice Winner Cube 1994 Ltd
DESIGN AND BUILD UNDER £2M TURNOVER WINNER: THE GARDEN COMPANY
Garden Designer Winner Martha Krempel Highly Commended Jane Bingham Landscape Company Under £2m Turnover Winner Cube 1994 Ltd Landscape Company £2m-£10m Turnover Winner Oak View Landscapes
ARBORICULTURE COMPANY UNDER £1M TURNOVER WINNER: DAVID ARCHER ASSOCIATES GARDEN DESIGNER WINNER: MARTHA KREMPEL
Landscape Company Over £10m Turnover Winner Mitie Landscapes Commercial Landscape Company Winner Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd Grounds Maintenance Company Winner Nurture Landscapes Holdings Ltd
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT UNDER 10 STAFF WINNER: STUDIO 31
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LANDSCAPE COMPANY UNDER £2M TURNOVER WINNER: CUBE 1994
SUPREME WINNER Winner Oak View Landscapes
Pro Landscaper / March 2020 137
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PEOPLE
OUT & ABOUT
SGD AWARDS 2020 T
he winners of this year’s SGD Awards were announced at a glitzy ceremony on 31 January. Held at The Landmark London, the eighth annual award ceremony revealed The Grand Award – the most prestigious award of the evening – which was scooped by John Davies for a contemporary roof garden in London, and the Judges’ Award, another highly coveted prize, went to Adolfo Harrison for the second year in a row. The SGD Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Penelope Hobhouse. Chair of the Society of Garden Designers Sarah Morgan said: “Penelope Hobhouse has influenced and inspired garden design for decades through her plantsmanship, design and writing. Self-trained in practical horticulture and design, she forged a hugely successful career, thanks to her love and knowledge of plants and instinctive design talent.” Nineteen awards were presented in total on the night. To view the full list of winners, please visit: www.sgd.org.uk
ADOLFO HARRISON MSGD WITH ANN-MARIE POWELL AND STEPHANIE HARROD
JOHN DAVIES
Photographs ©Edward Hill
SARAH MORGAN MSGD
THE WINNERS 2020
PENELOPE HOBHOUSE
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www.prolandscapermagazine.com
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PEOPLE
TEAM AWAY DAY
BUILDING WITH NATURE ASSESSMENTS
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RYAN MILLS SINCE RECEIVING HIS AWARD FIVE YE ARS AGO, RYAN MILLS HAS BECOME A CHARTERED MEMBER OF THE L ANDSCAPE INSTITUTE AND MOVED I NTO A NEW JOB ROLE. PRO L ANDSCAPER CATCHES UP WITH HIM TO FIND OUT MORE
S
ince being recognised in 30 Under 30: The Next Generation in 2015, Ryan Mills – previously a landscape consultant at idverde – now works as a senior landscape consultant at Place Services. The role allows Ryan to support local planning authorities on landscape and green infrastructure matters. He also leads discussions to promote high quality placemaking on new developments and within planning policy. The change in job role has allowed Ryan to broaden his industry understanding and knowledge, something which he aims to continue to grow. “I’ve found what I’m good at and what I really enjoy,” says Ryan. “I have been working hard to get to this level in my career – I’m happy with how things are going so I would like to carry on doing what I’m doing and learn more and continue to grow as a professional.” Last year saw Ryan being named as an approved Building with Nature assessor which he hopes will open up doors to new projects across the region. The pursuit of the qualification came from Ryan’s intrigue when it came to green infrastructure standards. “I've given my opinion on what I believe
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needs improving. But this can always differ between professionals. This led me to seek a standard approach that can be used to help measure quality and strive for improvements across developments.”
I’VE FOUND WHAT I’M GOOD AT AND WHAT I REALLY ENJOY. I HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET TO THE LEVEL I’M AT NOW Building with Nature provides a great framework of focused green infrastructure standards which, if achieved, can be used as a promotional tool to showcase developments from clients. "It’s really fun, I’m heavily promoting it at the moment as it can help prevent planning uncertainty and be a mechanism for securing environmental net gain, natural water management schemes and health and wellbeing enhancements.”
Ryan notes his appreciation for the landscaping community, valuing networking tools like LinkedIn (@RyanHMills). He is also a chartered member of the Landscape Institute, having received his chartership in December 2018. He says it was an amazing process that felt like the “final step in his educational journey”. The chartership acts as a victory lap for Ryan, leaving him proud to be recognised for his work thus far. “You feel validated in a way. You know you're doing the job and that you're doing it well, but getting validation that’s credible is really good. I had a big smile on my face – that was the highlight of my year!” After successfully completing his Pathway to Chartership journey, Ryan says that he is considering embarking on his next educational course. “I’ve been heavily involved with a lot of green infrastructure strategies and the promotion of green infrastructure on future development sites, so environmental planning or something similar would be really interesting to research.” Looking forward, Ryan hopes to continue developing his knowledge of the industry with the goal of leading a team of landscape architects and landscape planners.
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WORK
PEOPLE
Best project We’re working with Royal Parks to restore Greenwich Park, including reinstating some key elements of the baroque design that haven’t been seen for hundreds of years. This is also the only landscape that bears the imprint of Andre Le Notre. How many World Heritage Sites do you get to work on in the course of your career? At the same time, we’re restoring a 300ha woodland SSSI in East London – its significance as a habitat and a moderator of climate change makes it such an important project. Colleagues and mentors The team at JSA constantly amazes me with their dedication, creativity and seemingly endless patience (mainly with me), so hats off to them.
I’ve had so much help from so many people down the years that I couldn’t possibly mention them all. But these have almost always been the small acts of kindness that keep the world turning but that you always remember. Best learning curve Every day in the office. We’ve made a mutual commitment to learning at every level of the practice. Starting the practice was a big step, but the biggest change of all was recognising that we have the experience, knowledge and commitment to make a difference. I think all landscape architects should feel this. High and low points of your career Highs: Getting to act as lead consultant role for major projects and winning the competition from people whom I really admire is a huge privilege and sometimes a complete surprise. But getting to work on any project is exciting because you invest heavily in them all intellectually, even before you’ve started. All jobs are perfect on the day you win them! At the other end of the scale, I was leaving
a meeting the other day when somebody came up to me and said, “thank you for the refreshingly positive discussion” – lovely moment. Lows: The other side of the coin, not getting to do things that you feel you can make a strong contribution to can be gut-wrenching. What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months? To continue to get the best possible outcomes for the projects we’re working on. In order to continue pushing boundaries in the profession in the face of big challenges, we must deal with climate change and biodiversity degradation.
LIFE/STYLE JON SHEAFF
J O N S H E A F F O F J O N S H E A F F & A S S O C I AT E S S P E A K S A B O U T S O M E O F H I S FAVO U R I T E P R OJ EC TS , H O B B I E S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N S
INSPIRATION People Richard Evans Schultes, Frans Vera and Sylvia Crowe are all inspiring. But William Kent is still the daddy of them all. No better way to spend an afternoon than following the rills at Rousham.
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Gardens London Fields round the corner saves my sanity regularly. All our National Parks, the Patio de los Naranjos for studied simplicity and effortless class, Llyn Idwal, and the Devil’s Kitchen for a touch of Salvator Rosa!
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20/02/2020 08:48
PEOPLE
PERSONAL Hobbies Playing the piano very badly, making my children laugh and cringe with embarrassment (often simultaneously), singing my head off at every opportunity. Looking for inspiration. Design tastes I’d like to say simple elegance, but I’m increasingly drawn towards mess. The Victorians seem to have instilled in us a need to constantly tidy things up, but there is risk this becomes antiseptic. I do have problems with ‘could be anywhere’ design, and here in London we still seem to be in the thrall of a rather sterile, humourless modernism. We have to resist lowest common denominator wipe-down spaces – these are anti-life. Most treasured possession(s) A small piece of tree I brought back from the Himalayan snow line 40 years ago, and a small bronze figure of a discus thrower I bought at Paestum when I was 11. Favoured dress style I have reached the point where my style choices are limited to distinguished and rugged. My daughter told me I looked “peng” the other day. I took that as a major compliment. Food and drink I love our office coffee machine, but am a hopeless barista. Here in E8, we have a huge choice of fantastic food from all over the world – long may that continue. You can’t beat a good dim sum.
TRAVEL Places you’ve been/places you’d like to go I’ve been trying to work out how long it would take to get to Japan by train. We are now in the ‘Greta era’ and I have to move away from flying. There are 7.8 billion individual choices to be made around this sort of thing, and we should start now. Maybe I’m due a sabbatical. I’ve been lucky enough to go to some amazing places. It’s always tempting to go back, but always better to move forward. How you like to travel Slowly and immersively. How you like to stay when you’re on holiday Somewhere I can see the stars. I spent time volunteering in a village in Tanzania and never saw such a firmament. I understood, then, what William Blake saw but can’t see anymore in our urbanised world. Fiat lux et facta est lux.
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PEOPLE
W H AT I ’ M READING Richard Moore
B O TA N I C A L H O R T I C U LT U R I S T, KEW GARDENS
TITLE Hartmann & Kester’s Pearson New International Edition: Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices AUTHOR Hudson Hartmann and Dale Kester (with Fred Davies, Robert Geneve)
S
ince I discovered this book and the wealth of information between its covers, it has hardly had a chance to sit on my bookshelf. It spends 90% of its time on my desk, with me endlessly referring back to it. Hartmann & Kester’s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices is the ‘world standard’ textbook for plant propagation, encompassing everything from the evolution of plant propagation in human society, the propagation environment, in-depth plant propagation biology and the most detailed and comprehensive chapters on propagation practices and techniques that you will not find anywhere else. During university when I first discovered this book, I immediately fell in love with it. There is no need to go out and buy a library of propagation books, it’s all here in one place, and there is so much to learn! I have to thank my lecturers at university for introducing this book to us – it’s been very well used!
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Throughout university, I was constantly referencing this book in my reports. It really helped me grasp and fully understand a wide range of propagation practices down to the cellular level. It’s benefitted me in so many ways as it covers a wealth of practical skills – seed handling, grafting techniques, the scientific study of seed biology and so much more. I’ve been able to apply the knowledge which this book helped to teach me, enabling me to successfully propagate a wide range of plants.
IT REALLY HELPED ME GRASP AND FULLY UNDERSTAND A WIDE RANGE OF PROPAGATION PRACTICES DOWN TO THE CELLULAR LEVEL This was commercially whilst I was at university, but also as a hobby, which I absolutely love. It has taught me to better understand plant growth and biology from the earliest stages of development, which is so important when working with seeds/cuttings and young plants at work, and has enabled me to put a wide variety of propagation techniques into practice. Recently, having been on a plant hunting trip seed collecting for the Millennium Seed Bank in Vietnam, I was able to apply my knowledge of seed collecting, handling and
processing to ensure that the collections obtained were of the highest quality for seed banking. Seeds were also collected for the horticultural collections at Kew for ex-situ conservation and are currently being grown for Kew’s living plant collections. This was a wonderful project working to conserve rare and threatened plant species contributing towards worldwide seed conservation efforts. It’s difficult to pick a favourite chapter. However, there is a very useful section towards the end of the book detailing the ‘propagation of selected plant species’. This chapter is a fantastic reference guide to a wide range of plants, providing a description of the various propagation techniques that can be used for each particular genus and species, covering rootstocks for fruit and nut species, ornamental trees, shrubs and woody vines, annuals, and herbaceous perennials. It’s extensive and incredibly useful. For the sheer amount of things I’ve learned, it’s by far worth every penny spent on it and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who is interested in growing plants.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
19/02/2020 14:27
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PEOPLE
WHAT’S
YOUR
ROLE?
GUY HORWOOD
What does the role include? A bit of everything really! We are a mixed site of woodland, arboretum and wildflower meadow. The job entails tree climbing, grounds maintenance, and the management of the woodland and wildflower meadow. There’s also a bit of farming involved as we have pigs and sheep on site. Every single day we are doing a different job. I have been here for nearly 12 years and, as a result, have been able to get a good grasp on all the tasks that we do.
IT’S IMPORTANT WITH ARBORETUMS THAT YOU KEEP THE COLLECTION NEW AND EXCITING
OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN AND ARBORETUM GUY HORWOOD, SENIOR ARBORIST AT OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN AND HARCOURT ARBORETUM, DISCUSSES HIS ROUTE INTO THE INDUSTRY AND INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ARBORETUM’S INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION WORK
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collected one of the world’s rarest birch trees; there were only 21 individuals remaining in the wild, now we have them growing in our collection and have hundreds here in the nursery. What is your favourite part about working in the industry? Very hard to say, but I think my favourite part is the variety of the role, as well as knowing the immediate difference that I’m making to the arboretum. I can see that the work I put in over the years pays off, I can see the change.
What was your route into the industry? I left school at 16 and was more of a practical than academic person. I tried thatching for a little bit, then went into forestry. I completed a level one woodland course before realising that arboriculture offered more variety. During the course I had to take work experience and came across Harcourt Arboretum. I completed ten weeks work experience at the Arboretum and was offered a job the following year. I’m amazed I’ve ended up where I am. When I was a kid I was scared of heights! What do the international seed collection trips involve? It’s important with arboretums that you keep the collection new and exciting. The first collection trip I went on was along the west coast of America. We were there to climb the trees, collect the cones and bring them back to the country where they were either propagated and planted or given to other collections. Sometimes the seeds go to the Millennium Seed Bank for conservation. We have been going out to Japan for more than seven years. A couple of years ago, we
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
GUY HORWOOD CLIMBING TO COLLECT CONES FROM A JAPANESE CEDAR, CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA, IN JAPAN
What do you find most challenging? We have to work hard to keep on top of current and future pest and disease threats, whilst ensuring the site remains enjoyable and safe for the public. At times, we have to make tough decisions, such as removing a tree, and these decisions are neither easy nor enjoyable.
Future plans for your career? In my life plan, I was only meant to stay here for two years – so I’m nearly ten years overdue on that! On top of that, this role is very physically demanding and you can’t climb forever – it’s just a fact of the industry. Therefore, my role will evolve as it already has done. I see myself remaining in the world of conservation and arboreta.
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20/02/2020 16:32
PEOPLE
H AV E YO U R S AY Vicky and John Wyer BOWLES & WYER
W
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flooding and other environmental damage, and the case for reducing fossil fuel use and removing carbon from the atmosphere becomes overriding. And Nick, the ‘poor cow’ would benefit from you giving up your Sunday roast!
©Charlie Hopkinson
e read Nick Temple-Heald’s View from the Top article in Pro Landscaper February with anticipation and interest. That quickly turned to dismay. If this is leadership, then it is a dangerous example. The central tenet of Nick’s article was “we’re too small to make a difference”, and this is from the UK chairman of the largest landscape business in Europe. The great irony here is that Greta Thunberg (or ‘Greta the Messiah’ as he mockingly calls her) has shown that nobody is too small to make a difference. If an unknown 16-year-old schoolgirl from Sweden can, within 12 months, be addressing the United Nations and Davos, then we can all make a difference in one way or another. Even if we don’t take to campaigning, the argument of lazy inaction is facile. There used to be an anti-littering advert with the slogan “my one little wrapper won’t make any difference”. Anyone who looks at the verges on our road network knows that individual actions in aggregate can have a huge effect. In the same way, lots of small changes can add up to big changes. This is not to say that structural change is not needed – Nick is right about that; structural change is essential. But that is not an argument for inaction in other areas. Is it likely that Greta Thunberg’s intervention has speed up or slowed structural change? The answer to that seems clear. A wider question is do we have a responsibility to do something? It seems to us that if the landscape sector doesn’t, who does? We are an industry that is built around stewardship of the environment – it’s our job for God’s sake! We owe it to future generations, to our children’s future. But even if we set aside the ethical or moral reasons, the economic and business cases for action are becoming too
strong to ignore. The arguments are not around the cost of action, which is undeniably large, but the far greater cost of inaction. We think there are opportunities here for all businesses. When the world is changing, it makes sense to be on the right side of the argument. We are surprised that Nick is ‘sceptical about climate change’. The scientific evidence is
WE ARE AN INDUSTRY THAT IS BUILT AROUND STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT now overwhelming, even without the anecdotal evidence that is all around us. Surely, Nick is not suggesting we don’t have evidence-based policy? But, setting that aside, the issues are not exclusively around climate change. According to Public Health England, 28,000 to 36,000 people die annually from long-term exposure to air pollution. That alone should be enough to make us act. Add to that widespread species loss or depletion and the issues around
Are you interested in having your say? Get in touch via content@eljays44.com. We’d love to hear from you.
ABOUT VICKY WYER Vicky is a main board director at Bowles & Wyer and has been involved with the firm since its inception, especially for the last 15 years. As well as being an accomplished masterplanner and designer, she also has responsibility for the firm’s Culture and CSR programmes, and overseeing its activity on climate change. She also chairs the environmental charity TriangleGarden.org. www.bowleswyer.co.uk
ABOUT JOHN WYER John has more than 30 years’ professional experience and is a widely published and respected designer, lecturing on his work both in the UK and abroad. John formed Bowles & Wyer in 1993 and continues to take a lead role in the business. He also became a Chartered landscape Architect in 1990 and was recognised as a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers in 2011. www.bowleswyer.co.uk
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PEOPLE
H AV E YO U R S AY Anna French AND Anna Butterfield LANDSCAPE FOR FUTURE
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e were shocked and dismayed to read the View From The Top in Pro Landscaper February. Apart from the unfortunate and derogatory tone it was written in, we felt it was an unhelpful and irresponsible article on behalf of the whole landscape industry, not to mention the company of which the writer is chairman.
WE BELIEVE IN OUR INDUSTRY’S ABILITY TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE We are facing a climate emergency, rising temperatures and seas levels, and a mass loss of biodiversity on a scale we have never seen in human history. There is no denying this, so instead of ridiculing others we should all be working together and doing everything we can to fight against what we know is coming. It seems strange for the chairman of “a leading green service provider in the UK” working with local authorities, most of whom now have rapid net zero targets, to be actively pushing against the green revolution that we would all hope to usher in. Perhaps those local authorities will start to re-consider who they award their contracts to going forward, and work with companies who are more aligned with their climate related targets? Landscape for Future is a multi-disciplinary group of landscape professionals and tradespeople who are concerned about climate change and want to transform our industry so that it is fit for a low carbon future. We believe that our industry has the ability to generate
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Are you interested in having your say? Get in touch via content@eljays44.com. We’d love to hear from you.
ABOUT ANNA FRENCH
ANNA BUTTERFIELD
ANNA FRENCH
solutions which will help in the fight against climate change. We are actively looking to collaborate with more and more proactive individuals across the industry. We want to form further working groups, which will each address one of the many different areas requiring change. If we all work
WE SHOULD ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIGHT AGAINST WHAT WE KNOW IS COMING together on this, we can put the landscaping sector on the road to becoming carbon neutral, and eventually carbon zero. We believe in our industry’s ability to make a huge difference – will you join us? Please get in touch if you’d like to help – we’d love to hear from you!
Anna French is a landscape architect who runs a practice in Bedfordshire. She started the Landscape for Future group originally as a social media campaign to raise awareness after attending the March 2019 climate strike. Since then, it has grown in membership and is focusing on putting pressure on key areas of the industry and to come up with ideas and solutions to affect positive change. Anna believes we need an industry fit for the future and to achieve that we all need to take action. www.annafrenchassociates.co.uk www.landscapeforfuture.org.uk
ABOUT ANNA BUTTERFIELD Anna is a garden designer and gardener running her own business in South East London/Kent. Her main focus is on responsible and wildlife friendly urban/ suburban gardens, naturalistic play spaces and organic gardening. Anna was delighted to join the Landscape for Future group and collaborate with other like-minded professionals working towards reducing the footprint of the landscaping sector. www.annabutterfield.co.uk www.landscapeforfuture.org.uk
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JOBS
For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk Call 01903 777 570 or email ben.cumberland@eljays44.com with your vacancy
HEAD OF PARK OPERATIONS
SKILLED HARD LANDSCAPER
Fresh Horticultural Careers’ client The Royal Parks is eager to enhance its levels of expertise as an organisation, and grow the scale and scope of work that it is undertaking across its parks. As such, it is looking for a head of park operations to help it deliver the highest standards in park management. The role involves identifying opportunities to enhance park and landscape management across the Royal Parks and taking the lead on arboricultural management. The head of park operations will also act as the senior reporting officer on the delivery of projects and programmes. Apply with Fresh Horticultural Careers.
The team at Garden Club London brings experience from the UK, Europe and abroad. The company, based in Vauxhall, promotes ingenuity and collaboration, ultimately striving to create a great working environment for all its employees. It is looking for proactive staff members who are passionate about working in the industry and delivery high quality landscapes. More than two years’ experience in paving, decking, general carpentry, artificial grass installation, irrigation, turfing and fencing is required. The successful candidate should also be able to supervise, train and motivate landscape assistants and apprentices.
For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
TEAM LEADER/MAINTENANCE GARDENER
OPERATIONS MANAGER
THE ROYAL PARKS Location: London
LIVING COLOUR GARDENS Location: London
GARDEN CLUB LONDON LTD Location: London
BLOOMIN’ MARVELLOUS Location: Surrey
An opportunity has opened for a maintenance gardener to run a busy team of one to two operatives. They will travel around sites in central and south-west London to ensure delivery of high-end service designing, planting and maintenance of domestic gardens. They will manage relationships through efficient communication and site meetings, and ensure an efficient maintenance schedule, helping to develop systems and procedures. At least two years’ experience in a similar role is required, or three years’ experience as a maintenance operative or designer.
Bloomin’ Marvellous specialises in garden design and consultation, hard and soft landscaping and garden maintenance in Surrey. The role of the operations manager includes sourcing plants for landscaping and softscaping projects, managing the maintenance team’s timetables, conducting staff appraisals, briefing the teams – ensuring they have the correct tools and materials, and liaising with new maintenance clients. The successful candidate will also be expected to undertake yard management and ensure the upkeep of vehicles, as well as complete administrative tasks and ensure health and safety procedures are followed.
For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
LANDSCAPING AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE APPRENTICESHIP
TEAM LEADER
4TH CORNER LANDSCAPING Location: Oxfordshire
STREET TREE CARE LTD Location: London
4th Corner Landscaping is looking for an apprentice for its Banbury operations. The company serves a range of clients throughout the Midlands and the South. It ensures all its staff have the experience and training they need to build a rewarding career. The apprentice will learn how to deliver a range of gardening and grounds maintenance services to its customers, including planting, soft landscaping, mowing, hedge cutting, pruning and tree planting. Full training is provided on the job. A driving license is beneficial but not essential.
The team leader will be responsible for the daily completion of all tree planting and landscape projects. They will manage their co-workers within Street Tree Care (STC), whilst maintaining the highest standards and working within a set timescale. They will liaise with the H&S coordinator, team manager and directors to ensure all work is delivered to the clients’ expectations. The team leader will be responsible for all driving operation to and from multiple sites in central London. They will be expected to demonstrate good working practices and supervise their co-workers, and will be requested to attend training courses as recommended by the company.
For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
URBAN TREE PLANTER
Award-winning Garden Club London is looking for a landscape architect who is passionate about the industry and delivery high quality landscapes. The successful candidate will shadow the current senior architect ahead of their relocation. They must be confident being involved in all stages of projects, from conceptual and feasibility studies, through to planning applications, detailed design, specification, implementation and contract administration. This is an excellent opportunity for a pro-active and creative landscape architect to lead a growing landscape design studio with a growing reputation and some of the industry’s current top accolades.
The successful candidate will efficiently assist their team leader whilst maintaining the highest standards and working within a programmed timescale. The groundbased operative will be assisting in implementing STC traffic management systems after consultation and instruction from the team leader. This will include ensuring traffic management is executed in a manner compliant with company policy and legislation. The urban tree planter will also implement the highest health and safety standards as defined by the policies and clients of STC. They will be expected to attend courses, as directed, and be committed to providing quality service.
For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
GARDEN CLUB LONDON LTD Location: London
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STREET TREE CARE LTD Location: London
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19/02/2020 11:36
PEOPLE
T H E L I T T L E I N T E RV I E W
PRO LANDSCAPER ASKS QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS TO GAIN A SMALL INSIGHT INTO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP OUR INDUSTRY. TO TAKE PART, EMAIL CONTENT@ EL JAYS44.COM
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ASHLEY ZYMANCZYK
H AY-J O U N G H WA N G
Junior landscape gardener, Dixons Landscapes
Founder and director, Hay.Designs Ltd
www.dixonslandscapes.co.uk
www.haydesigns.co.uk
If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing? Police officer – helping people and stopping crime, almost like a superhero.
If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing? If I wasn’t in this industry, I would probably be a property developer.
Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? I have always been inspired by Japanese gardens. I am currently constructing my own Japanese-influenced garden at my parents’ home.
Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? The beautiful landscapes of South Korea and Japan have been a great inspiration.
The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? I would love to meet the Rich brothers, even though that’s actually two people. One thing that you think would make the industry better? Bringing in younger people. It can be hard work, but it is a very rewarding industry. Best piece of trivia you know? Apparently, running the length of a football pitch burns off the calories of one M&M. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Johnny Depp, because he seems a fun guy, or Tom Cruise. What three things would you take to a desert island? My bed, a Bear Grylls book on survival and photos of people close to me.
What would you blow your budget on? Overused ride-sharing services. The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? Thomas Heatherwick, the founder of Heatherwick Studio. One thing that you think would make the industry better? Technology. Best piece of trivia you know? Hippo milk is pink. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Meryl Streep or Lucy Liu. What three things would you take to a desert island? I’m not going to pick three things – I wouldn’t go there.
Your favourite joke? Kids in Dubai don’t watch The Flintstones, but kids in Abu Dhabi dooooo.
Your favourite joke? Can a kangaroo jump higher than a house? Of course, a house doesn’t jump at all.
Karaoke song of choice? Mr Brightside by The Killers.
Karaoke song of choice? My Way by Frank Sinatra.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
19/02/2020 14:38
PEOPLE
PIP O’BRIEN
GILES HEAP
OLIVER RUTMAN
Garden designer, Philippa O’Brien Garden Design
Managing director, CED Stone Group
Garden designer, Oliver Rutman Garden Design
www.pipobriengardendesign.com
www.cedstone.co.uk
www.oliverrutmangardendesign.com
If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing? Botanising.
If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing? Archaeology. Always fancied a fedora and a leather jacket!
If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing? Ski instructor – fresh powder on a blue bird day. If you can’t have plants, this is as good as it gets.
Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? I find that tall mountains anywhere provide inspiration. What would you blow your budget on? Air tickets. The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? I’m not sure – I’m a bit of a recluse these days. One thing that you think would make the industry better? To stop killing insects, they are an important part of our wildlife. Best piece of trivia you know? Rooks can fly upside down. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Margaret Rutherford, who famously played Miss Marple in the 60s. What three things would you take to a desert island? Definitely a hot shower, some paints and an endless supply of chocolate. Your favourite joke? One about old chairs – I can’t repeat it here. Karaoke song of choice? The Best by Tina Turner.
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Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? Natural ones? Anywhere with proper mountains! Designed? Japan. What would you blow your budget on? A waterjet cutting machine. The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? Capability Brown. I’m honoured to be able to say that I’ve probably met most of the more well-known people in landscape and garden design. One thing that you think would make the industry better? Clients truly understanding the value of good quality landscape and garden design – and paying for it! Best piece of trivia you know? The sloth is the only mammal that doesn’t fart. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Ryan Reynolds. Possibly Hugh Jackman. What three things would you take to a desert island? Knife. Hammock. Unlimited Spotify. Karaoke song of choice? Here I Go Again by Whitesnake, or possibly A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman.
Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? Last summer, I trekked along the Inca Trail that runs through the cloud forests of Peru. It was extraordinary to see epiphytes growing in the wild. What would you blow your budget on? Plants, plants, plants. The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? Having spent so much time at Great Dixter, it has to be Christopher Lloyd. One thing that you think would make the industry better? A planning system that places more emphasis on preserving and enhancing green space in new developments. Best piece of trivia you know? Dolphins sleep with one eye open to avoid being eaten by sharks. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Simon Reeves. What three things would you take to a desert island? Sophie (my dog), sailing dinghy and a guide to foraging. Karaoke song of choice? All We Do by Oh Wonder.
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