

FEILDEN FOWLES AND J&L GIBBONS THE URBAN NATURE PROJECT

LET’S HEAR IT FROM Joe and Laura Carey, Carey Garden Design Studio
OCTOBER
2025
FEILDEN FOWLES AND J&L GIBBONS THE URBAN NATURE PROJECT
LET’S HEAR IT FROM Joe and Laura Carey, Carey Garden Design Studio
2025
WINNERS REVEALED This year’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation
UPSKILLING SPECIAL Building a stronger workforce, together
Eljays44 Ltd, BizSpace, Courtwick Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7TL Tel: 01903 777 570
Deputy editor – Bethany Vann bethany.vann@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 394
Editorial assistant – Holly Chapman holly.chapman@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 407
Senior subeditor – Katrina Roy katrina.roy@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570
Content subeditor – Carmel Mary carmel.mary@eljays44.com
Senior designer – Kara Thomas kara.thomas@eljays44.com
Sales executive – Ollie Finch ollie.finch@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579
Horticulture Careers – Ollie Finch ollie.finch@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579
Managing director – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 589
Divisional director – David Griffiths david.griffiths@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570
Content director – Nina Mason nina.mason@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 393
Commercial director – Luke Chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 582
Subscription enquiries – Ollie Finch ollie.finch@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579
Printed by Stephens and George Ltd
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 2025 subscription price is £128. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, BizSpace, Courtwick Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7TL, 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.
Pro Landscaper is proud to be an Accredited Supplier member of BALI
Pro Landscaper is proud to be an associate member of
Pumpkin spice, spooky films, and a change in nature’s colour pallet – I love October and all the autumnal seasonings it comes with. While we await Halloween's chilling embrace, we have the muchanticipated 14th instalment of FutureScape to keep us more than entertained.
On 7-8 October, step into the UK’s largest landscaping expo and its co-located shows – Public Spaces Expo and the Outdoor Living & Wellness Expo – which are back and bigger than before.
Many of you will likely be reading this as you explore the show floor – come say hello! – and I know you’ll look around and see all of the hard work that has gone into bringing the show to life; even though we make it look easy, the whole team here gives it their all to bring you an unforgettable experience year after year.
From the carefully curated seminar panels and diverse array of exhibitors to the immersive demo zones and not one but two show gardens – brought to life by Green Genie Landscapes and Consilium Hortus – every detail has been planned with you in mind.
Whether you’re here to connect, learn, or simply be inspired, we hope you leave with fresh ideas, valuable contacts, and a renewed sense of passion – ideas are born in the aisles of this show.
But don’t think we’re slowing down there; we will also be hosting the third instalment of the Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards (page 14), as well as the 2025 class of Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation (page 64) at the show.
And if you know us, you know we’re never ones to sit still, we’re always open to new ideas, so stop by our stand at FutureScape and let us know what else you’d like to see from your favourite magazine and trade show.
We hope you enjoy the show (and have the spookiest Halloween!)
12
Making Strides
Ben Walker on his venture into the outdoor living market; from exclusive distributions to a new decked out experience centre
21
Let’s Hear It From...Joe and Laura Carey
The design duo behind Carey Garden Design Studio share how they play to their strengths to deliver functional and enduring award-winning spaces
89
Trees, Glorious Trees
Hit the road with Pro Landscaper on Tour as we take you behind the scenes of Boom & Bonheaur’s expansive nurseries
27
Flavours of Asia
Explore the tropical forests of Southeast Asia without leaving England, in this Asian inspired project by DK Garden Design
33
To The Moon
Prepare for lift off with this year’s APL Awards Supreme Winner; the adeptly named Apollo project from Landscape by Design
39
Walking Through History Venture through time with Feilden Fowles and J&L Gibbons’ Urban Nature Project nestled in the heart of London
74
Member Advancements
What are the industry’s associations doing to support the professional development of their members?
77
Grown With Trust
From tools to management at just 23, Fraser Sheridan reflects on his already impressive journey through the world of horticulture
94
Timeless Materials
David Strows and David Burton team up to share how we, as an industry, can reduce the carbon impact of stone sourcing
Digital Drawing Board
John Wood shares how you can digitally survey almost anywhere in the world using Morpholio Trace’s map asset
Winners Announced
See the full list of winners for this year’s Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30: The Next Generation awards, in association with Green-tech
80
Levelling Up
Looking to sharpen your competitive edge with new skills and certifications? Check out the installer schemes and training courses the industry has to offer
16
Ask the Experts
Rachel Bailey kicks off the return of Ask the Experts with her advice on how to maximise sustainability benefits on a limited budget
82
Tools to Team Leaders
From doing the work to leading to the team, Neil Stead shares how businesses can identify and support rising talent in their ranks
104
Comeback Kings
Humaira Ikram presents her case for why –in a changing climate – it’s time for Buddleja to step back into the spotlight
CLIVEDEN’S LONG GARDEN REIMAGINED WITH CLIMATE RESILIENT REFRESH
New life has been breathed into Cliveden’s Long Garden as the National Trust unveils its new biodiverse, climate resilient redesign.
Originally designed in the 1930s by Norah Lindsay, the 200-metre garden’s transformation blends its heritage with a more contemporary, resilient solution.
While honouring Lindsay’s original design, the garden’s previous seasonal bedding plants have been replaced with a biodiverse mix of shrubs, perennials and grasses.
A no-dig approach was taken to reduce soil disruption, with each of the new species chosen for their longer
Applications are now live for the 2026 portfolio of Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Shows across a variety of categories at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, RHS Badminton and Sandringham Flower Shows.
RHS Badminton Flower Show next July features RHS Young Designer of the Year, which is open to applicants aged 30 or younger in 2026.
Also in July 2026, RHS Sandringham Flower Show is new to the show run.
With the aim of empowering visitors to understand how and why garden design can mitigate against climate change and improve landscapes, it features the Grow Forwards Gardens and the Creative Coastal categories.
While RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 is closed for entries, interested applicants should get in touch with Graeme Maynard, graememaynard@ rhs.org.uk, to find out more about applying in the future. rhs.org.uk
seasonal interest and pollinator support. Cliveden’s garden team worked with garden and landscape designer James Scott of The Garden Company on the new masterplan, he comments on the redesign, saying:
“What I really hope is that when people visit the redesigned Long Garden, they will find it a very immersive, tranquil experience.”
The intent is to strengthen the garden’s planting as well as the overall structure against the challenges of a changing climate, while enhancing accessibility to the site.
nationaltrust.org.uk
For the first time, Pro Landscaper’s Most Influential Stone Suppliers winners have been announced as part of the new initiative.
Since August, readers have been nominating and voting for their favourite stone suppliers across seven categories including Most Influential Stone Leader of the Year.
Best Value has been awarded to The Stonemart, whilst London Stone scoops up two awards for Best British Stone Supplier and Ethical Sourcing.
Best Customer Service goes to Bradstone, and the Sustainability Award has been given to Tectonix. The Best Product Range has been given to Brett Landscaping.
Voted the Most Influential Stone Leader, Giles Heap from CED Stone will join the rest of this year’s cohort at StoneScape to collect their awards.
futurescapeevent.com
The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, has received £5m from The Julia Rausing Trust toward the Palm House renovation project, including the Waterlily House. Pursuing Kew’s vision to safeguard and revitalise the glasshouse, this donation is one of the most significant single grants in Kew’s history.
Richard Deverell, director at Kew, says: “It will not only help us protect the extraordinary heritage of the Waterlily House, but might
New Gardeners’ World presenter Jamie Butterworth has released a book that offers easy-to-follow planting guides for everything from balconies to large estates.
‘What Grows Together: Fail-safe Plant Combinations for Every Garden (DK)’ has been praised as “invaluable” by TV gardener Monty Don, who called Butterworth “one of our brightest and most exciting young gardeners and growers”.
The 30-year-old plantsman held a launch event for more than 200 gardeners, designers and clients yesterday in a polytunnel at his Surrey-based nursery, Form Plants. formplants.com
inspire others to consider donating to help us renovate these iconic buildings.”
The regeneration of the Palm House and Waterlily House will safeguard its resources for future generations, with an ambition of making the glasshouses net zero as the first of its kind. kew.org
Awarded the project in May 2024, Eco Green Group has now finished the Excel landscaping project which is now open to the public.
The Excel, London, has been undertaking major development projects to extend existing facilities by up to 25,000m².
Eco Green Group conducted work across all aspects of soft landscaping, including the installation of planters with LED recesses, tree pits, an irrigation system and wildflower and swale areas.
Jeff Thackeray, associate director of Eco Green Group says he is “looking forward to going back soon and seeing everyone enjoying the space, bringing an extra touch of nature to the community”. ecogreengroup.co.uk
OAK VIEW LANDSCAPES AND BLAKE TREE CARE GROW TOGETHER
James Downer from Oak View and George Blake of Blake Tree Care talk about the importance of joining forces on projects.
SAFETY IN PARKS: WHAT IS THE EVE TOOL?
A means to increase safety within parks, Parks for London has developed the Environmental Visual Evaluation (EVE) tool.
NEW PLANTING DESIGN COMPANY:
“WE’RE HERE TO MAKE LIVES EASIER” From friendly introductions to founding a planting design company together, Joy Taylor and Claudia Willard welcome Studio Mōr to the world.
Keep up to date with the @ProLandscaper team over on Instagram! IN CONVERSATION AT KEW GARDENS: BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE With first-hand insights and expert advice, Kew Gardens brought leading voices in the horticulture industry to centre stage.
PRO LANDSCAPER ON TOUR WITH BOOM & BONHEUR Boom & Bonheur hosted Pro Landscaper on Tour, taking the team to see its trees in Germany and The Netherlands.
PRO LANDSCAPER EDITORIAL DAY
The editorial team discussed the magazine during a day filled with fresh ideas and plenty of pizza.
Taking place 7 – 8 October at the Excel London, this year’s FutureScape event is not one to be missed. Here are just some of the unmissable stands you’ll find at the show
Aggregates International is Europe’s leading supplier of decorative gravel and chippings. With a range of more than 500 varieties, our patented gravel grids, and a unique selection of Corten steel garden products, we always offer the right solution. Thanks to our own fulfilment centre, we can guarantee delivery in Europe within 10 days. Curious to learn more? Our team is ready to assist you with expertise and service. aggregates-international.com
Grad is a revolutionary hidden-fix system for decking and cladding. Using precision-engineered aluminium rails and clips, it delivers faster installations, perfectly aligned boards, and a flawless finish with no visible screws or nails. At FutureScape, join us for our live demos on both days to see just how quick and simple Grad is to install. Visitors can also explore how Grad supports premium timber projects with technical advice, free Grad 3D renders, and on-site guidance. grad-system.co.uk
“I'm incredibly proud to be overseeing the 14th edition of Futurescape this year on the 7-8 October! Each year we evolve the show to keep things fresh and to reflect what's happening in the industry, so this year we have levelled up Landscape Performance Live and the Decking Hub, introduced a completely dedicated zone for arboriculture with Pro Arb Live; in association with LANTRA, and as a personal highlight for me, we have collaborated with Green Genie Landscapes and Consilium Hortus to curate not one, but two incredibly well designed show gardens for you to explore and see products 'in-situ'.
“We’ll have even more suppliers exhibiting on the show floor this year, and we wanted to draw your attention to some stand-out exhibitors you have to go and see.”
Tom Proudley, FutureScape portfolio director
Green-tech is the UK’s leading supplier of landscaping materials, supporting contractors, architects and specifiers with sustainable solutions. At Futurescape, we’ll be showcasing our urban tree planting innovations, including the Tree Parker system, John Chambers Wildflower Seed and Green-tree Substrates. Visit us to see how our products enhance biodiversity, soil health and long-term tree establishment in urban environments. green-tech.co.uk
Paving Superstore is the UK’s largest paving supplier, operating as a one-stop-shop for all your professional needs, we offer all of the leading brands of paving, including Marshalls, Talasey, and most recently London Stone – all at competitive trade prices – which we’ll be showcasing at FutureScape. But we’re not just limited to paving – come find us at the show to find out more and discover what being a Paving Superstore Trade account holder has to offer! pavingsuperstore.co.uk
Landscapeplus is a trade-only supplier of lighting, irrigation and water feature brands and systems. Our aim is to help industry professionals to create beautiful gardens by building long-term, trust-based relationships; putting gardens at the heart of what we do. This year marks our 25th anniversary, and we’re so excited to celebrate this milestone with both new and long-standing customers at FutureScape. landscapeplus.com
• 9 SEMINAR STAGES
• THE DECKING HUB IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE DECKING NETWORK
• PRO ARB LIVE
• STONESCAPE EXPO
•LANDSCAPE PERFORMANCE LIVE POWERED BY HYPHAE LEARNING
• BALI BARSPONSORED BY BALI
• THE OUTDOOR LIVING GARDEN - CURATED BY CONSILIUM HORTUS
• THE WELLNESS RETREATCURATED BY GREEN GENIE LANDSCAPES AND MUCH MORE!
“It’s important to attend FutureScape to be current and be on point with trends and to be present. The marketplace is ever evolving and you need to understand what the market is doing, this is the place to do it.
MarkGregory,LandformConsultants
“FutureScape is the meeting place for the industry, for everyone to come and see what’s new. It’s a powerhouse for the industry.”
Sam Cox, Landscapeplus
“As a significant event in our field, it provides an excellent opportunity for industry insights and networking. I attended several noteworthy seminars and explored supplier stands to discover new materials and systems” Nilufer Danis
PRO LANDSCAPER PREMIUM PLUS
The landscaping sector is evolving quickly. Growth has been rapid, forecasts remain strong for 2025 and beyond, but the big questions remain:
• What does the future really look like?
• How will policy, investment, and technology shape our industry?
• How can today’s leaders prepare to meet tomorrow’s needs?
Industry Leadership, powered by Pro Landscaper Premium Plus at FutureScape, brings together business owners, leaders, and stakeholders to explore exactly this. Join collaborative discussions that inspire, challenge, and futureproof your organisation. Only at FutureScape.
LANDSCAPER
IN ASSOCIATION WITH HORTUS LOCI LANDSCAPES
The landscaping industry is leading the charge toward a greener, more biodiverse world. The Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards honour the people, projects, and businesses driving real change—from sustainable design and eco-friendly innovation to industry leadership. Launched in 2023, these awards showcase the UK’s most inspiring initiatives enhancing biodiversity, cutting carbon, and setting new green standards. Celebrate the leaders shaping tomorrow’s landscapes—only at FutureScape!
PRO LANDSCAPER’S 30 UNDER 30: THE NEXT GENERATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH GREEN-TECH
The future of landscaping and garden design is being shaped by fresh talent, and Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation celebrates the rising stars redefining outdoor spaces with creativity, innovation, and sustainable practices. Since its launch, the initiative has spotlighted exceptional young professionals who are setting new standards and pushing boundaries in modern garden design. More than an award, 30 Under 30 is a launchpad that offers recognition, networking, and a platform to inspire others. Join us at the show to celebrate the innovators and future leaders shaping the outdoor spaces of tomorrow.
Pro Landscaper will be bringing its magazine content to life with its own dedicated theatre at this year’s FutureScape, with talks and panel discussions looking to the future of the industry. What are the obstacles to overcome, and what are some of the biggest opportunities? Speakers will share their thoughts on what they think is shaping the landscaping industry and what we need to be taking advantage of to adapt and get ahead.
Ben Walker on his flourishing journey in outdoor living alongside Millboard and Roostr
WORDS: HOLLY CHAPMAN
Sparked by an initial meeting in Amsterdam, managing director of Walker Landscape & Design and Walker Outdoor Living, Ben Walker met with Roostr Outdoor Kitchens for the first time two years ago. Walker bumped into the owner and founder during an off-chance outing to another showroom in Amsterdam. Now Roostr’s UK distributor, Walker Landscape & Design continues its commitment to creating dream outdoor spaces.
Walker’s core business Walker Landscape & Design, founded in 2013, is an award-winning family-run garden design and build landscaping business. Taking outdoor spaces from design
concept to reality. Essentially a design to build company, Walker invites interested clients to the showroom in Cheshire.
The outdoor living market has been growing over the years, as the industry is aware, and Walker decided to expand his services back in 2020 by adding Walker Outdoor Living. Since then, he has seen a growth in outdoor kitchens specifically.
Kitchens have been a staple, especially combined with a pergola. Suitable for all weathers, this trend has been hard to miss
“Kitchens have been a staple, especially combined with a pergola. Suitable for all weathers, this trend has been hard to miss.”
Collaborations that last
Roostr already aspired to trade in the UK, and Walker became a figure to turn its dream into a reality. After a visit to the Walker Landscape & Design showroom last year, the team flew over to Rotterdam to finalise the agreement. “As the relationship grew, we pitched to become the UK distributor, and we were successful,” explains Walker.
Founded by Liam van der Linden, Roostr was born in 2021 built on his passion for BBQ’ing. Combining stainless steel, galvanised steel and a strong powder coating, the Dutch business assures high quality and stylish outdoor kitchens. As the main UK distributor, Walker Outdoor Living is there to support a project from start to finish.
Roostr kitchens are available to view at Walker’s showroom in Cheshire, alongside its expanding network of sub-dealers, where the team have curated a collection of popular layout configurations. It has joined a long list of other brands available such as Renson,
Flammkraft, Solus, Gozney and Millboard. One of two in the UK, Walker Landscape & Design hosts a Millboard Experience Centre. Another new addition to the company’s outdoor living expansion, Walker understands the importance of collaborating with different brands as its presence in the industry grows.
The experience centre, which opened its doors in July, features the full Millboard collection, from decking to cladding - profile, finish and colour. The Cheshire location provides a destination for outdoor living inspiration. Designed as an educational and
inspirational hub for trade professionals and homeowners who need guidance whilst seeing Millboard in a real-life setting.
“Outdoor living spaces were already rising in popularity before the covid days, but when people were forced into utilising their garden, they realised what was truly possible. I think the other part of the rising popularity of outdoor living is just how busy and stressful a normal person's working week can be these days. I think come the weekend, everyone is ready to slow down, relax and connect with friends and family. By having their garden set up exactly as they’d like, it’s ready to go,” explains Walker.
What’s next?
At FutureScape, Walker has also launched a new programme, the Walker Collective. Intended to provide a space for trade professionals, they can gain a free membership to the scheme for access to an online portal with CAD designs, SketchUp models and product specs of all Walker Outdoor Living products. As well as this, the new programme will also offer behind the scenes videos into products and materials as well as a loyalty reward scheme. “We’ve got the technical background where we can assist landscapers and designers for their project and help with the outdoor living side of things, we want to make specifying our products as easy as possible” Walker explains.
We’ve got the technical background where we can assist landscapers and designers for their project and help with the outdoor living side of things,we want to make specifying our products as easy as possible
As its existence in the world of outdoor living remains strong, Walker has noticed a new trend that could grow just as popular as kitchens, he predicts. “The biggest new trend in enquiries we’ve had is the interest in wellness areas, including ice baths, saunas and steam rooms,” he explains. He also notes that whilst people are taking their health and fitness seriously, these trends will continue to rise.
Off the back of the summer launch of its new showroom in Cheshire, Walker Outdoor Living is bringing together both Millboard and Roostr at FutureScape this year. The collaboration brings Roostr into the industry with products that are relatively new to the UK market. Walker and his team highlight outdoor living down Main Avenue at the Excel in London.
Walker Outdoor Living head into the colder months just as busy as the summer. With booming collaborations and the launch of the Walker Collective, who could be surprised.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN PROJECT
ROOTED IN HORTICULTURE – BEIT QUADRANGLE
J&L GIBBONS
ST MARY’S PEACE GARDEN
MCWILLIAM STUDIO
ECHOES OF WATER
THE INCLINE, A GREEN CLIMB
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
GARDEN ON A ROLL
GARDEN ON A ROLL WILDLIFE GARDEN BORDER THE VIBRANT VERGE BEE BOLLARD™
MERTHYR TYDFIL COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
MERSTHAM PARK SCHOOL
MERTHYR TYDFIL COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL NATURAL DIMENSIONS LTD
PRIORS HALL PARK VILLAGE GREEN
URBAN&CIVIC
GARDEN DESIGN COMPANY
HARRY HOLDING STUDIO
PIKE STUDIO
TEASELS BIODIVERSE DESIGN & CONSULTANCY
THE LANDSCAPE SERVICE
LANDSCAPING COMPANY
N T KILLINGLEY LTD
QUALITY & SERVICE LTD (Q&S)
TAMAR LANDSCAPES LTD
WILDFLOWER SEED MIX FOR SOIL HEALTH
ENHANCE WILDFLOWER BIODIVERSITY RANGE
JUB HOLLAND UK LTD NICHE KENT SEEDS WILDFLOWER TURF LTD
SUPPLIER OR SERVICE PROVIDER
LONDON COLLEGE OF GARDEN DESIGN
LONG RAKE SPAR
VECTORWORKS, INC.
MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
CHISWICK PARK ENJOY-WORK
WILD HAVEN NURTURE LANDSCAPES LTD
VALE ESTATE LANDSCAPING & IRRIGATION
CONTACT WILL OR SCAN THE QR TO PURCHASE TICKETS
WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE AWARDS
COMMERCIAL BUILD PROJECT
HALLIWICK RECREATION GROUND
BLAKEDOWN LANDSCAPES
WESTMINSTER CITY SCHOOL
BOWLES & WYER LTD
BRADFORD CITY CENTRE
GAVIN JONES LTD
PRIORS HALL PARK VILLAGE GREEN
URBAN&CIVIC
LOCAL AUTHORITY/ COUNCIL OF THE YEAR
CITY OF BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCIL
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH
MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL
NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL
ARBORICULTURE COMPANY
BEECHWOOD TREES AND LANDSCAPES LTD
G TROTT TREE CONSULTANCY HELMRIG
SUSTAINABILITY AND BIODIVERSITY LEADER
DAVE GALLAGHER
LUCY FISHER
SCOTT CHALMERS HELMRIG IDVERDE URBAN&CIVIC
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE COMPANY
KINGSMAN GROUND CARE LTD
NURTURE LANDSCAPES LTD
VALE ESTATE LANDSCAPING & IRRIGATION
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
GUSTAFSON PORTER + BOWMAN
MACFARLANE + ASSOCIATES
MIKE MCMAHON STUDIO
PIKE STUDIO
For projects with smaller or limited budgets, where should designers prioritise spending to get the biggest sustainability benefit?
Focusing on soil preparation for plants and maximising planting in the gardens you design will undoubtedly be the most cost-effective solution with the biggest sustainability and biodiversity benefits.
Plants can help with flooding and prolonged heat, work in wet sites, help reverse the biodiversity crisis, clean air and provide food for people and wildlife – together with the planting medium they can also offer nesting sites and sequester carbon in their tissues, roots and in the soil, among other things. So where should you spend that precious budget to ensure a future-proof garden for your clients?
First and foremost, work with the soil on-site - there is no such thing as bad soil. If there is no topsoil on-site, avoid bringing in topsoil from elsewhere. Instead, hard landscaping that is in disrepair could be crushed on-site – there can be noise and space implications to this - or recycled grit sand, recycled gravel and or crushed demolition waste could be brought in from a local recycling centre to create a lownutrient planting medium - always check pH levels and test for contaminants offsite first.
See existing trees and shrubs that are already thriving onsite as a gift – even if they are not what you would have selected. Amorphous-shaped shrubs can be pruned into small multi-stem trees, adding to your design.
Specify bareroot plants, superplugs and seeds. You will get more bang for your clients buck and they will also be good for the environment too –no plastic pots, less transport weight, bigger root system for quicker establishment.
Ensure existing subsoil and topsoil are not compacted. If already compacted, de-compact it in-line with the best practice guidelines.1
Select your plants to work with the soil and planting medium, taking into account chemical, physical and biological factors, and the conditions you have onsiteplant ecologically.
RACHEL BAILEY
Rachel Bailey runs an award-winning SGLD registered design practice creating immersive, plant-filled gardens that enrich lives, support biodiversity, benefit the environment, and draw on her biology, and permaculture expertise.
Of course, gardens are for people too and places to sit and or dine, so some hard landscaping will likely be required. Reusing paving already onsite in new layouts, dry laying paving and using recycled, permeable surfaces would offer sustainability benefits over putting in new. And if new paving is to be used, consider selecting paving on quality and longevity and laid using a method for ease of future reuse. For more help and insights, use elemental2, the industries green design tool to assist with designing for the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis.
Maximising ecologically designed planting with good soil/ substrate preparations will result in a garden that thrives - good for the client, good for nature and good for your portfolio.
CHRIS WELLBELOVE
As managing director of Blakedown Landscapes, an awardwinning landscape and civil engineering specialist, Chris Wellbelove leads the company’s strategic direction, centred on quality, collaboration, and long-term value.
CLAIRE BELDERBOS
Claire Belderbos runs Belderbos Landscapes with her husband, Ed. The London-based design and build company became employee owned after celebrating its 20-year anniversary last year.
I'M SPEAKING AT FUTURESCAPE THIS YEAR! SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE:
Working in the landscape industry involves a lot of sustained and repetitive movements, such as bending, kneeling and lifting. It’s important to keep the body and the back fit and strong so that it can safely deal with those repetitive sustained movements and positions.
You can prevent back pain by having a good baseline level of fitness that complements the demands of the job by doing regular cardiovascular exercise and strengthening exercises.
• If you’re doing lots of heavy and manual tasks, build these up gradually or you risk injuring yourself if you do too much too soon.
• If you’re having to work in similar positions for long periods of time, take regular rests and movement breaks.
• Maintaining general back stretches and exercises each day can help maintain flexibility and strength.
If you do have back pain, take a ‘little and often’ approach, rather than long periods of heavy work.
• Pace yourself and build up physical work gradually, take more regular movement breaks to do stretches and change position.
• Take short term, appropriate pain medication to help you stay active at the advice of your doctor.
• Above all – keep moving. You may have to reduce your workload temporarily and build back up gradually, but keeping moving helps your muscles from getting too tight and causing more pain.
Jodie Walters shares her advice for dealing with back pain when working on physically demanding projects
Positive thinking and managing your stress can help improve your sleep and help you relax. This is important when dealing with
Ongoing unresolved distress in your life will wind up your body’s fight and flight system, raising tension in your back muscles which is likely to cause more frequent flare-ups. Some of your daily stressors within your home or work life can be difficult to keep on top of but if you can find ways to manage these better, you will find that your back will be much less troublesome.
Focus on a structured plan to help you sleep better
back pain as the more tension you hold in your body, the more you’ll feel pain. A few ways to manage your mindset include:
Refreshing sleep is essential for our general health and wellbeing. Avoiding using technology including computers, mobile phones and television before bed and having a bedtime routine leading up to sleep are simple strategies you can use to make refreshing sleep more likely.
Clear your mind. If you change your thinking, you could change your back pain
Thinking negatively can exacerbate pain. You can try what’s called the 7-11 breathing method to calm your body and bring your focus away from your pain and negative thoughts. Breathe in for a count of seven, and out for 11. Do this for 5-10 minutes and you should find your body start to relax and begin helping clear your mind.
Whilst these tips may not work immediately, persevere with them. You should see gradual improvements overtime, but if your back pain worsens and you’re having problems with numbness or with bladder/ bowel function ,it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.
Walters is a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. Patients can find general information and advice about managing back pain here: nhs. uk/conditions/back-pain. You can self-refer to our hospital for NHS physiotherapy treatment, for those in the West Midlands or able to travel to us: Royal Orthopaedic Hospital - Therapy roh.nhs.uk/services-information/therapy
Welcome to this regular column, where I share practical, iPad-based digital workflows, tools and drawing techniques to help make your landscaping and design work easier, faster and more efficient—whether you're out on site or back at the desk.
This month I want to look at one of the most useful features in Morpholio Trace: the maps function. Most of us are used to seeing satellite imagery every day on our satnavs or through Google Maps. Morpholio Trace takes this a step further by embedding satellite imagery directly into its drawing environment. The result is that we can survey almost anywhere on the planet with surprising accuracy, directly within the software we already use for design.
MORPHOLIO’S SATELLITE IMAGERY ALLOWS US TO HONE IN ON SITES PRETTY WELL ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET
Take, for example, a property in North Wales, just above Llanberis. With Morpholio Trace I can zoom in on the site, and the program automatically brings in satellite data at scale. By placing a digital scale rule over the image, I can immediately measure distances with a high degree of confidence.
Every map image is also locked to true north, meaning we can instantly assess sun orientation— something fundamental for any landscape or garden design project.
AN OUTLINE SURVEY DRAWING CAN BE PRODUCED IN MINUTES WORKING REMOTELY AND WELL BEFORE A FIRST SITE VISIT, PROVIDING US WITH A WEALTH OF ADVANCE INFORMATION
a clear and confident understanding of the site.
ONCE UPLOADED INTO A MORPHOLIO PROJECT, SATELLITE IMAGERY BECOMES INSTANTLY MEASURABLE BOTH IN TERMS OF LINEAR DIMENSIONS AND SURFACE AREAS.
the benefit of precision digital tools. Within minutes you can produce a clean outline survey of boundaries, buildings, and major features.
This process radically simplifies what used to be one of the more awkward aspects of survey work: triangulation. Instead of working out alignments and proportions from scratch, you arrive on site with an accurate drawing already prepared.
In practice, all that’s required is a quick check of measurements to confirm accuracy. Even on very small properties, the method works extremely well, giving you a clear grasp of layout and dimensions before you even step foot on site.
Within minutes you can produce a clean outline survey of boundaries, buildings, and major features
But the real power comes, as the name suggests, when you begin to trace. Just as if you had a sheet of tracing paper over a printed map, Morpholio Trace lets you draw directly onto the satellite image.
Using the iPad and digital pencil feels remarkably similar to pen on paper, but with
The aerial view also removes one of the common difficulties of surveying by hand: boundary alignment. From the ground, sightlines can be confusing, especially in tight or irregularly shaped plots.
From above, boundaries and orientations are immediately obvious. By preparing a survey drawing in advance, you arrive with
Personally, I like to arrive at a first site meeting an hour early, sit in a nearby café, and sketch out the plan on my iPad. By the time I walk onto the property, I already have a working drawing in hand.
The benefits don’t stop there. As we discussed in last month’s column, Morpholio Trace lets you analyse your drawing in terms of both linear dimensions and surface areas. That means you can calculate proportions and square metreage even before you visit.
For some designers, this opens up the possibility of offering remote design services. Instead of relying on client-supplied measurements, you can generate a highly accurate base plan yourself and start working to the client brief straight away.
For me, this is where Morpholio Trace becomes more than just a drawing tool. The maps function provides a straightforward way to carry out preliminary outline surveying— helping you prepare a clear and accurate base plan, save valuable time on site, and arrive better informed for your first visit.
Scan the QR code to view this month's video demonstrating Morpholio Trace's useful maps functions
John Wood runs Create Visual, a CPD training platform for garden and landscape professionals, specialising in digital drawing and 3D modelling workflows using iPad-based tools. He delivers training both independently and for the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers, and also offers a professional visualisation service for designers and landscape architects, transforming 2D plans and sketches into 3D renders and photorealistic fly-throughs. Drawing on over two decades of experience in garden design, he helps professionals work more creatively, efficiently, and with confidence in their presentations. create-visual.co.uk
Gareth Wilson expands on last month’s discussion around standards, highlighting the growing need for training, collaboration, and industry-wide support in landscaping
Following on from last month's article, Knowledge Is Power, regarding specifications and standards, I decided to write a little more on this, and the need for training resources, expanding your knowledge, and lessening your chance of having issues with you and your business.
Undoubtedly, it's a tall order to be a landscaper in 2025. Landscaping covers a large area of skillsets, such as groundwork, paving, joinery, bricklaying, soft landscaping, irrigation installation, and so on.
I’ve mentioned in previous articles the need to bring in specialists if you are not competent enough to carry out work to a high enough standard, such as dry stone walling, bricklaying, garden room installation, etc.
There're now more opportunities for landscapers to expand their knowledge and have less risk of failure
I was fortunate enough to be a guest speaker at Alan Sargent’s farewell seminar, which took place at The Glasshouse Collective in Chobham. I have to say what a wonderful and inspiring experience it was. The Glasshouse, Mark Gregory’s project, was ably assisted by Alan Williams, a bus conductor and bus driver, as Gregory describes it: Alan has been instrumental in delivering the Glasshouse Project. This was quickly followed by an APL super cluster, which, by all accounts, was another amazing success. The Glasshouse Collective is a place where landscapers, designers, and suppliers can collaborate, learn, and meet other people in the industry. Education-wise, I see this as an exceptional opportunity to expand throughout the country.
With BS7533:102 being released in April, there's no doubt that this is now a prominent standard for domestic paving installation and a big step in bringing standards to not just paving but landscaping in general. There are now more opportunities for landscapers to expand their knowledge and have less risk of failure. Paving Site – I know I am biased – is a great resource for paving, with articles on managing difficult clients and steps to mitigate them. Karl Harrison’s Decking Network being another great resource.
The big question at the end of the seminar was,‘Where do we see landscaping in three years?’ My answers were quite simple in that I think there will be more steps towards standards within the industry. I’m also mindful that the BS7533:103 permeable pavements document is due out in 2026, which I believe will increase domestic water management, which isn’t as enforced as it should be in some areas of the country.
Nothing would please me more than having more Glasshouse Collective hubs not just in the south but up north too, as I think we get forgotten about up north a bit – but that’s another discussion for another day.
Gareth Wilson is a leading paving installation expert in the UK. He has won 14 RHS Gold medals and five Best in Show & six Best Construction Awards, and he is a member of multiple professional bodies. He provides technical advice to large companies, and he mentors and trains contractors and garden designers in landscape construction and on show garden logistics. He also provides on-site training, expert witness reports and mediation services. He is a B/507 modular paving committee member, BS7533:102 panellist, and an industry awards judge. gkwilsonlandscaping.co.uk paving.site
Where art meets nature and function meets feeling, the design duo behind Carey Garden Design Studio, Joe and Laura Carey delve into creating living spaces infused with care and purpose
WORDS: BETHANY VANN
Growing up in coastal Wales where luscious green spaces, fields of wildflowers and awe-inspiring landscapes – not to mention enough rainfall to fill your wellie boots – Laura Carey’s affinity to the natural world should come as no surprise. But it wasn’t until moving away to Nottingham to study Decorative Arts and founding her own botanical prints and illustrations business
that Laura truly tapped into that deep-rooted passion. Before long, every available surface was claimed by greenery – turning her home into a true living jungle, which she says was in the name of ‘research’.
While the other half of Carey Garden Design Studio, Joe Carey was born and raised in North London. He spent his formative years exploring the city’s captivating landscapes
and outdoor spaces – and who can blame him? Like Laura, he too relocated to Nottingham to study Design before going on to teach design in Hertfordshire.
After the two collaborated on a personal garden project, it didn’t take long to realise their artistic talents paired seamlessly, amplifying the other’s. “This quickly grew into the opportunity to translate that into starting a professional practice”, says Laura, adding that “Joe brought his technical expertise and strategic design approach,” while she “contributed her refined artistic vision and experience in design and colour”, adds Joe. And with that they founded Carey Garden Design Studio. “We have always aimed to deliver gardens that are both visually striking and respond to the client's needs”, notes Joe.
From the very beginning, our studio has been defined by creativity, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering bespoke designs tailored to each context
a studio that delivers projects specialising in the understanding of colour, space and structure, as Joe puts it “From the very beginning, our studio has been defined by creativity, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering bespoke designs tailored to each context” - noting that they continually strive to create spaces that are “elegant, functional and enduring”, to meet each client’s needs.
Based primarily in North Norfolk, but with projects across the UK, the design duo has capitalised on their synergy to create
Joe Carey
Arguably we have been seeing the lines between the indoor and outdoor spaces blur, with the home’s heartbeat extending into the garden to create a literal ‘living’ room, a trend – which could be safe to assume is here to stay – is right up the design duo’s green corridor; “we simply curate the created. Rearranging the raw materials and nature in such a way that it brings joy to living. Helping people to thrive and flourish”, shares Laura.
Highlighting the restorative benefits of the creative arts, The Talitha Arts Garden pairs sculpture, performance and planting together to create a safe space for those who have suffered trauma. From 2022, gardens at RHS Chelsea became mandatory for relocation post show – a result of the sustainability initiatives introduced by long-time sponsor, Project Giving Back. With that in mind, Joe and Laura designed The Talitha Arts Garden backwards; using techniques and picking materials that would benefit the relocation site –St. Margaret’s House community centre in Bethnal Green, London.
This shared enthusiasm for creating thriving spaces infused with naturalistic and sustainable planting has led the couple on an upward trajectory in recent years, with the two going onto win a Gold medal and the award for the Best All About Plants Garden for their first ever garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show back in 2023, The Talitha Arts Garden – built by Landcraft - which the two highlight as a pivotal moment for the practice’s growth, as Joe shares: “Chelsea provided a prestigious platform to showcase our work and connect with industry leaders, while media attention and awards reinforced our reputation.”
Fast forward to this year, the two returned to RHS Chelsea for the studio’s The Addleshaw Goddard: Freedom To Flourish Garden, built by The Outdoor Room. Inspired by the landscape of their home and the Norfolk colloquialism ‘slow you down’, the garden champions the need to stop and smell the flowers; exploring the mental health benefits of living life unrushed and surrounded by nature.
Laura adds to this saying: “The message behind our most recent RHS Chelsea garden best sums up our ethos and values. The garden was based on the narrative of being unhurried and allowing nature to captivate our time and imagination...Nature is never in a hurry, and yet everything is accomplished.”
The garden went on to win a hat-trick of awards – RHS Chelsea Small Garden of the Year, Best Construction Award, and a Gold medal. “The positive response confirmed that our design philosophy resonated with both clients and peers alike”, adds Joe.
When asked what both show wins meant to them, Laura says; “Professionally, it cemented our reputation as leading designers in the field, opening doors to other projects”, adding that the recognition has allowed them to take on more ambitious projects and approach each design with even greater clarity and confidence. “It reinforces the studio’s commitment to excellence, encouraging us to continually refine our craft, innovate in design solutions, and maintain the high standards our clients expect.”
The two go on to note that on a personal level, having gotten recognition at both
Echoing the landscapes of Norfolk, the garden’s planting pallet is made up of species native to the area – many of which can be found growing in the wild. Layers of lilac and indigo colours pair with peach tones in the flowers of Oenothera odorata ‘Apricot Delight’, and Baptisia australis, to create a harmonious sunset inspired landscape. While the trees were also a standout feature, particularly the Heptacodium miconioides, with its oaty coloured bark complimenting the natural stone. At its heart, the garden features a relaxed seating area embraced by a gently flowing stream. As the water rises, it spills over the stone walkway, inviting visitors to pause, linger, and fully immerse themselves in the tranquillity of the space.
shows, but also getting through the creative process of designing a show garden – which many will arguably understand is no small feat – with a young family cemented their ability to take part in something “huge” without compromising their family values; the two hope this encourages others who balance the “hustle and bustle of family life” while working to do the same.
And if one 2025 RHS flower show wasn’t
already enough to keep them busy, the duo also went on to design The Alan Partridge Sound Bath Garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival straight after their RHS Chelsea run.
The message behind our most recent RHS Chelsea garden best sums up our ethos and values
Laura Carey
The garden, built by Landesigns, was designed in collaboration with TV personality, Alan Partridge (played by Steve Coogan), and went on to win the duo their second RHS Gold medal of the year –making them the first designers in history to win Gold at both shows in the same calendar year, a fact they both admit to be very proud of – justly so I’d say.
While some could assume that working together – especially as a married couple – could lead to rivalry, Joe and Laura prove otherwise.
RHS
Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025
Each play to their strengths as “Laura drives the artistic direction, creating visually compelling planting schemes, textures, and seasonal dynamics”, says Joe, utilising her knowledge of intimate plant details and eye for colour, while Joe draws on his natural inclination for form and function “taking the lead on structural and functional aspects, ensuring that every garden is practical and thoughtfully planned”, adds Laura. But while each have their defined areas of expertise, sentiments they both share is that collaboration is constant and working together has strengthened both their approaches. While Joe’s expertise in structure and functionality enhances the artistic elements, Laura’s visual sensibility elevates technical designs - “every decision is considered jointly to ensure cohesive and sophisticated results. There are no rules. We can step on each other's toes!”
When designing for every project
Joe says the “atmosphere and the overall experience of the garden is rooted in functional and
Again, paying homage to the county they call home, all the Larch used to create the garden’s rear boundary fence was grown and sourced from North Norfolk Estates. While the planting pallet also took inspiration from Norfolk landscapes, with species like Achillea, Digitalis, Scabiosa, and wild fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Every part of the garden was carefully selected to represent an ethos of thoughtful modernity and resilient tradition.
purposeful day-to-day use. Our synergy defines the studio’s philosophy, creating gardens that are harmonious, innovative, and beautiful.”
Clear communication, mutual respect, and trust in each other’s expertise are essential. We maintain a shared vision throughout every project and value the unique perspective each of us brings
Laura Carey
But how do they keep collaboration running smoothly? “Clear communication, mutual respect, and trust in each other’s expertise are essential. We maintain a shared vision throughout every project and value the unique perspective each of us
brings”, shares Laura, while Joe adds: “This approach ensures that collaboration is productive, creative, and results in a cohesive, exceptional garden. We value friendship and good relationships. If no one is enjoying it, it's not worth doing.”
When asked what plans are in the works for the studio, both Laura and Joe share their excitement to keep delivering gardens that inspire and elevate the outdoor experience, while exploring new and creative approaches with the use of materials that challenge traditional design conventions.“We love working on the big stuff - but we also love to create small, unseen, beautiful gardens for private clients in the middle of nowhere. The balance of projects is a bit bonkers at times; we go from postage stamp back gardens to larger public spaces –and everything in between”, shares Joe. And as Laura perfectly summarises; “If it's creative, exciting, challenging - we're there!”
DK GARDEN DESIGN
TROPICAL STYLE GARDEN, CHORLTON
Having extensively travelled in Southeast Asia, the clients fell in love with the landscape of Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam specifically. From rolling rice fields to the dense forest, the countries’ planting left a lasting impression on the Manchester homeowners.
After a visit from David Keegan of DK Garden Design, also a frequent traveller to that side of the world, the idea to create a tropical garden with a flavour of Southeast Asia was born.
Based in Chorlton, Manchester, the clients wanted the space to feel like walking through the tropical forests of Asia that could also be used for entertaining and socialising. What was once a worn-out, tired back garden atop an old lawn has been transformed into a series of interconnected platforms, a water feature and a lush haven fit with its own microclimate.“For us, it was a dream project –a blank canvas waiting to be transformed,” clarifies the team at DK Garden Design. From scrapping the oversized
trampoline and digging up the lawn, Keegan wanted to ensure the garden would be as sustainable as possible.
“Lawns are not going to be sustainable anymore, because they won’t be able to cope with the climate changes that we're currently experiencing, never mind what we're going to experience in the future. Where a project allows, I’m in favour of removing lawns and replacing them with wildflower or dense planting for a different approach to open space.”
Everything within the garden’s creation was done organically, as Keegan states: “Wherever possible we favour specifying UK designed and manufactured materials, hence the lights in this project were all sourced from Hudson Lighting. If no UK option is available, our second port of call is Europe, hence the use of Design Board by London Stone for deck platforms, as it's manufactured in Portugal. My point of view is that we should be supporting British design and manufacturers as much as we possibly can.”
Lawns are not going to be sustainable anymore, b ecause they won’t be able to cope with the climate changes that we're currently experiencing, never mind what we're going to experience in the future
Despite initial challenges surrounding the
“It’s full to bursting with plants, and we love it. It genuinely feels like we could be anywhere in Southeast Asia!”
• Schefflera rhododendrifolia
• Fatsia polycarpa
• Carex scaposa
• Hedychium densiflorum 'assam orange'
• Aucuba japonica 'salicifolia'
• Fatsia polycarpa
• Illicium merrillianum
• Illicium simonsii
• Passiflora 'snow Queen'
possibility of creating conditions ideal for native plants, the garden’s passionflower growing up a palm tree has borne fruit this summer. Even in the northwest of England, the garden has managed to create a heat bank due to its proximity to surrounding buildings.
Some of the more unusual and rare plants in the garden have been grown from seed collected across Asia by Crug Farm modern day plant hunters based in North Wales, whilst the rest were sourced from its
1 Side entry densely planted & granite stepping stones
2 Aucuba japonica 'Salicifolia'
3 Passiflora 'Snow Queen'
4 Garden room & steps to level access platform
5 View from shade platform to level access platform
6 Bespoke design water feature with bamboo poles
Few of these plants would in reality be found in the same environment but they all blend to create the illusion and aesthetic of a lush tropical style garden
suppliers in Holland, and supplied by Bespoke Garden Elements Ltd. With a varied assortment of planting and extended flowering periods, the plants create a wildlife hotspot attracting a variety of insects; from bees to butterflies, as a means of enhancing biodiversity.“Given the impacts and changes being brought up by climate change, this could be a template for gardens of the future in the UK."
Set in England and relying purely on inspiration from areas in Southeast Asia,“few of these plants would in reality be found in the same environment, but they all blend to create the illusion and aesthetic of a lush tropical style garden,” explains Keegan. Clear on the brief, Keegan tailored the garden’s design to the client’s travels as a form of experimental planting without direct cultural references. Featuring three interconnected platforms, each offer a unique calming effect all set to the soothing background sounds of a bespoke water feature.
Designed by Keegan
specifically for this project, the water feature is located opposite the home’s garden room, fitted with a hot tub. This area has been kept open with minimal planting, careful to not obscure the view of the flowing water. The landscaping of each platform comes from Keegan’s own inspiration from his travels
in Southeast Asia. Connected to the back of the house neighbouring the kitchen, the large level access has been designed for entertaining and dining. Through the centre of the garden, stepping stones aim to replicate the feeling of walking through a tropical forest, surrounded by dense planting that has “flourished” since construction, assures Keegan. Abundant in leafy greens and biodiverse flowering climbers, the garden is reminiscent of the memories of Southeast Asia. A sentiment to the clients’ travels, the new social space has been curated to welcome friends, family and a plethora of wildlife.
7 View from access platform to shade platform
8 Buddleja × weyeriana 'Sungold' Photographs ©David Keegan
David Keegan is an international, national and regional awardwinning garden and landscaping designer. His design philosophy centres on a naturalistic planting style. Keegan’s garden projects re located around the UK, in Manchester, Chesire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and the north-west of England. dkgardendesign.co.uk
Landscaping contractor Garden360 UK mygarden360.com
Platform London Stone Londonstone.co.uk
Granite Pavement London Stone Londonstone.co.uk
Planting
Crûg Farm Plants crug-farm.co.uk
Planting
Bespoke Garden Elements
Lighting Hudson Lighting Hudsonlighting.co.uk
Soil Tarmac tarmac.com
Furniture Cox&Cox Coxandcox.co.uk
Artichoke Monolith A Place in the Garden aplaceinthegarden.co.uk
Project value
£250k+
Build time 4.5 months
Awards
APL Awards 2025
Supreme Winner and Project Value over £250,000 Best in Category
LANDSCAPES BY DESIGN
The movie watching experience is ever evolving, with more quirky gimmicks arising to immerse audiences. We long to be absorbed in our viewing, whether it’s watching Jaws (1975, Steven Spielberg) from a rowboat on a lake or walking on a treadmill during The Long Walk (2025, Francis Lawrence), these experiences are anything but ordinary. But what if we told you that you could watch American docudrama Apollo 13 (1995, Ron Howard) on the moon? Okay, maybe not on the moon – but pretty close.
This project by Essex based landscape architecture practice, Landscapes by Design (LBD), adeptly named Apollo, takes the homeowners and their guests on a journey that is out of this world – too easy – with a design that feels plucked out of the night sky itself.
Beginning as what LBD’s Stuart Reid describes as a “bland, boring lawn”, the space has been completely transformed, rebuilt from the ground up. With a brief that allowed for a healthy amount of free rein, the design was left to Paul Newman of DesignScape. Let’s address the elephant, or rather space shuttle, in the room – while the client loved the design, he felt something was missing. He’d come across Apollo – the central shuttle – in Timothy Oulton’s studio in London prior, and upon presenting it to the team, it was a done deal. “I thought it would be a mirrored sculpture at first but when he turned around his iPad, it was a spaceship. I told him I’d buy it the next day, so it would be delivered as soon as possible for us to build the garden around.”
• Betula utilis subsp. Jacquemontii
• Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
• Dicksonia antarctica
• Phormium
'Platt's Black'
• Pinus densiflora 'Low Glow'
• Prunus serrula
The stainless-steel capsule is built to the same scale as the Apollo 11 Command Module, which was named Columbia and operated as the crew’s living quarters
and control centre during the first crewed lunar landing mission in 1969. But despite what you may think, the replica shuttle isn’t just for awe-inspiring show, much like the astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, the owner and fellow guests are able to traverse the interior.
Equipped with a plush, padded interior around a central table and chandelier – which creates a cinematic hue of colour as you enter – the shuttle offers a unique space for entertainment set against a xeriscape backdrop, reminiscent of the moon's surface.
Framing the shuttle is a bed of sand-coloured aggregates laid with a white porcelain path guiding guests to the shuttle, with a scattering of bigger focal rocks to mimic a lunar landscape; the majority of the stone used in the project was either mitred or bullnosed, which was all done on site. While thoughtful lighting illuminates the spaceship, casting soft orange hues against the structure’s colder colour.
Beyond the shuttle lies a luxury entertainment space, with a custombuilt-in, weather-resistant seating area which surrounds a contemporary firepit. Employing the use of a cool-tone colour palatte, consisting of a limited range of deep greys, pearly whites and subtle blues to invoke the vastness of space.
“This project is an example of excellence in both design and construction. It’s a hugely developed scheme, the thought that went into the detail is very impressive, as is the scale of endeavour.
A mm near faultless project.”
Breaking up the space are pockets of structured green which call back to the surrounding soft landscape that encompasses the area, allowing the owner functionality – facilitated as well by the new outdoor bar - while still retaining that softer edge. The seating area is also illuminated by lanterns, adding a touch of romance to the space and creating a cosy and inviting ambience.
Planting includes a cluster of five Betula utilis subsp. Jacquemontiis to provide canopy cover over the main planting backdrop, with understory plants chosen to provide a dense mix of structural planting where neatly clipped evergreen domes meet soft wispy grasses and bright green fern fronds provide a dramatic contrast to the Phormium 'Platt's Blacks' and Prunus serrulas.
Other notable plants include Pinus densiflora. 'Low Glow' is set within the fire table, as well as Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy', and numerous Dicksonia antarcticas and ferns for underplanting, together with evergreen climbers to create a green backdrop to the boundary.
Alongside the Apollo shuttle, the other defining feature of this garden is the 10m2 high-definition TV screen overlooking the sunken seating area; giving the owner the perfect setup to watch Hollywood icons Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton traverse space.
This project, which swooped up the Supreme win at the APL Awards earlier this year, has seen a once barren lawn reinvigorated into a contemporary lunar escape, built with functionality and relaxation at its core, creating a space that’s perfect for entertaining not just your regular guests, but perhaps a crew of astronauts as well.
Landscapes by Design is an Essex based specialist in hard and soft landscaping and design. It provides expertise in creating outdoor living areas and garden rooms to enhance the beauty and functionality of outdoor spaces. The team of multi-skilled professionals work closely with clients to bring their vision and design to life, creating stunning and functional landscapes that enhance the beauty and value of any property. landscapesbydesign.co.uk
Designer (in collaboration) DesignScape designscape.uk
Porcelain paving London Stone londonstone.co.uk
Rocks around the shuttle CED Stone cedstone.co.uk
Calacatta White Quartzite
Outdoor Bar Worktop Medusa Stone medusastone.co.uk
Planika Gas Fire Stonewoods stonewoods.co.uk
Apollo Landing Shuttle Timothy Oulton timothyoulton.com
Cladding Cladco cladco.co.uk
Planting Provender Nurseries provendernurseries.co.uk
AV systems and out TV ESL Systems esl-systems.co.uk
Electrics SSE sse.com
Seating and cushions The Outdoor Cushion Co outdoor-cushion.co.uk
Bar stools, rechargable lamps, Bar trays Fermob fermob.com/en_int
Outdoor bar fridge BeefEater beefeaterbbqeurope.co.uk
• Geoweb is the original Geocell co-invented in the 1970’s by Presto Geosystems.
• Geoweb TRP was the first Geocell used and approved for tree root protection applications in the world.
• Patented Atra Key connectors. Fastest, safest, most cost-effective connection mechanism.
• Project specific design available.
• Geoweb is available from 75mm to 300mm depth.
Greenfix are pleased to offer a CPD approved Guide to Tree Root Protection seminar which can either be hosted online or in person.
To book a CPD contact us on the details below.
• Geoweb TRP 200mm deep system, New ECO Dwelling, Liff, Angus.
• Temporary use for demolition, construction traffic and 60 ton crane loadings.
• Fully designed the Greenfix engineering team.
• Clean free draining infill to allow percolation of water and maintain aeration.
• After the building work the Geoweb was recycled, and the stone infill re-used on other areas of the site.
Greenfix is the leading designer and supplier of soil stabilisation and erosion control systems in the UK.
Around 4.6 billion years ago, Earth formed from the dust and gas surrounding the young Sun. Life appeared relatively early in Earth’s history, with the first simple single-celled organisms emerging over 3.5 billion years ago. For billions of years, life remained microscopic, until multicellular organisms arose, eventually giving rise to complex animals by around 600 million years ago. Much later, modern humans (Homo sapiens) appeared about 300 thousand years ago. Humanity has therefore occupied less than 1% of Earth’s history – a blink
PROJECT DETAILS
Project value
£25m Build time 24 months+ Size of project 20,234 m2 Awards Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards 2025 – Building Project of the Year Over £20m, and People’s Choice Award Winner, International Holcim Awards 2023 – Europe Award Silver
of an eye on the geological timescale – yet in that time, our population has surged to over eight billion as of 2024.
To accommodate the growing population, urban expansion has gradually advanced in parallel, picking up significant speed during the 18th century Industrial Revolution in places like England, with another renewed acceleration in the 1950s – a period marked by massive
1 Fern at dusk ©Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
rural-to-urban migration in developing countries and the rise of megacities.
Urban expansion has been cited on numerous occasions across various texts as a significant disrupter of biodiversity through damaging and fragmenting natural habitats, altering the ecosystems through pollution, introducing invasive species, and altering local climates.
But the conversation is shifting, our cities are now being positioned as the answer to this decline. Urban rewilding and the creation of new green spaces within cities offer unique opportunities and benefits for reconnecting people with nature, fostering community engagement, and bolstering once depleted habitats.
In response to the increasing pressures of urbanisation and biodiversity loss, the Natural History Museum in London launched the Urban Nature Project – an initiative that sees a previously unused five-acre garden, transformed into a vibrant, accessible ecological haven. The space offers a visual retelling of the natural world’s history and aims to educate visitors on Earth’s timeline and the vital role of biodiversity in urban environments, all within the heart of the city.
The Urban Nature Project marks the first complete transformation of the museum’s gardens in its 144-year history.
Co-designed by architect studio Feilden Fowles, landscape architect practice J&L Gibbons, 3D designer Gitta Gschwendtner, and M&E, lighting and acoustic engineers Max Fordham, the project takes inspiration from the Grade-I listed building's original architectural design by Alfred Waterhouse, who arranged the museum with the past (extinct) nature in the east wing and the present (living) nature in the west. The same consideration
has been carried out in the Urban Nature Project’s gardens, which have been divided into two sections – the Nature Discovery Garden, and the Evolution Garden, supported by the Cadogan Charity.
The latter guides visitors through a new Evolution Timeline, supported by the Evolution Education Trust, depicting more than 2.7 billion years of history. From the Precambrian Period through the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous periods, all the way to the present, with each metre of pathway from the start of the Cambrian period marking five million years of history told through a timeline of plants, geology, and visual representations of reptiles, birds and mammals.
Accounting for over 85% of the Earth’s geologic time –covering the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic eons – the Precambrian Period spans approximately four billion years, making it impossible to fit into the Evolution Gardens’ timeline, unless the team were to start it half a mile down the road in the nearby Harrods shop. Instead, the supereon is represented throughout the new canyon, made partly from the oldest rocks in the UK: Lewisian Gneiss, a metamorphic rock over 2.7 billion years old – it can be found on the Western Isles and the West Coast of Scotland. Lewisian
Local school children in North Kensington chose the name Fern.
Brass inlays and tactiles can be found throughout the timeline as well, telling the story of the evolution of life on Earth, these include the Tiktaalik roseae, one of the earliest known fish to venture onto land, and human footprint which appear at the end of the timeline.
Gneiss is distinguishable by its distinctive banding where the minerals crystallise out, forming darker and paler bands.
At least 26 rocks are used throughout the canyon and the rest of Evolution Timeline, each one representing a different geological age – all bar two have been sourced from the UK. The youngest rock visible in the Evolution Garden is scoria, a red volcanic rock sourced from Iceland. It marks the Permian-Triassic extinction
2 Visitors at the Evolution Timeline leading into the Evolution Garden ©Jim Stephenson, The Trustees of The Natural History Museum, Feilden Fowles, J&L Gibbons
3 Fern, the bronze replica of the museum’s beloved Diplodocus
4 Evolution Garden
5 Megazostrodon rudnerae (early mammal)
6 Garden wildlife
7 Fern at dusk
Images 3-7 ©Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
– the greatest mass extinction in Earth’s history. During this event, around 90% of marine species and a very large fraction of terrestrial life were lost. Some organisms survived, and over time life recovered and eventually the age of dinosaurs followed.
Speaking of dinosaurs, one of the focal points in the Jurassic Garden is Fern, a near-exact bronze replica of the museum’s beloved Diplodocus (“Dippy”). Fern measures about 22 metres long and about four metres high. It is more anatomically accurate than the original Dippy cast: scans of Dippy’s 292 bones were used, and some errors in posture and alignment – from older reconstructions – have been corrected in Fern’s design. Surrounding Fern is a planting palette made up of species chosen to replicate a nearauthentic Jurassic landscape, including ginkgo biloba, cycads, ferns, and Wollemi pines. The latter are known as “living fossils,” since the genus was thought to have been extinct for around 65 million years until a small population was
Fern isn’t the only bronze dinosaur residing in the garden; the Hypsilophodon, found to the side atop a stone platform, is native to the UK, with specimens found on the Isle of Wight. Both bronze sculptures are supported by Kusuma Trust.
Translocating the wildlife pond water led to additional plants, not originally found in the pond, to re-seed. Scientists also discovered a previously unrecorded species of stonewort in this process.
discovered in 1994 in Australia’s Blue Mountains. Today, the species Wollemia nobilis is classified as critically endangered. The rest of the Evolution Garden’s planting has been carefully selected to immerse visitors in shifting landscapes through Earth’s geological ages, creating a mosaic of habitats for wildlife to thrive in. Mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) dominate in the Ordovician section. In the Carboniferous period, large tree ferns and other ferns evoke ancient coal-forest environments, using living proxies for now-extinct plants. Later in the timeline, flowering plants appear first in the Cretaceous zone. There is also a dedicated corner representing the Eocene Epoch, when London’s climate was subtropical.
Integrated within the landscaping, two new timber and stone buildings have been established in the gardens, one of which can be found in the Evolution Garden. The new Garden Kitchen offers near floor to ceiling views of the surrounding garden, as well as a seasonal menu and bespoke Garden Room, the latter of which accommodates 70 people.
Previously, the museum’s Wildlife Garden – where more than 3,500 species of animal, plant and fungi have been recorded since its establishment in 1995 – the new Nature Discovery Garden provides a space for visitors and museum scientists to identify, monitor and discover more about UK wildlife.
• A diesel-free, wastefree construction site with all excess site material recycled
• Locally sourced natural materials, including solid Douglas fir and limestones
• Low embodied carbon building materials meeting RIBA Climate Challenge targets
• Passive design principles for buildings; natural ventilation, excellent thermal and airtightness performance
• A holistic, site-wide water strategy, including rainwater harvesting from buildings and surface water distributed to water plants in the gardens' landscape.
Together with the Evolution Garden, the two gardens have doubled the area of native habitats within the museum’s grounds, while the pond in the Nature Discovery Garden has been increased by 60%, each with the intention of better enhancing biodiversity across the site.
To improve accessibility, the pre-existing pond was relined and excavated to add a sunken pathway wide enough to accommodate two wheelchairs. The pathway brings visitors right to the water's edge, allowing them an up-close look into the wildlife inhabiting the waterscape.
To protect the existing biodiversity inhabiting the pond throughout construction, the original pond water and wildlife were preserved. Scientists and the designer team translocated the pond water, and as much of its sediment, flora, fauna and microbes as possible to storage tanks.
As temporary ponds aren’t widely used at this scale for the translocation of living biodiversity, the team used the opportunity to explore how this method works, monitoring the water and its biodiversity closely throughout the process, where they observed the temporary pond thrive.
8 Evolution Garden
9 Dinosaur footprints
10 The Garden Kitchen at the Natural History Museum
11 Garden wildlife
12 Interpretation panel about wollemi pines
13 Pond landscape
Images 8-13 ©The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
Now, the pond is home to frogs, newts, dragonflies and mandarin ducks and adorned with water lilies, reeds and irises. Adjacent to the Darwin Centre, which opened to the public in 2009 and houses the museum’s most important plant and insect specimen collections, is a newly planted courtyard. With a more modern suburban edge style, the space is laid with a mix of drought-tolerant native and non-native, ornamental and edible species to showcase what our nation’s towns and cities could look like in the future as climate change continues to adjust our ecosystems.
Since their reopening in July 2024, the gardens have welcomed over five million visitors
The second new timber and stone building can be found in this area of the gardens; the Nature Activity Centre, supported by Amazon Web Services, is a purpose-built space designed to facilitate learning and training, as well as provide a space for school workshops to be held with three new
outdoor classrooms. Together, the new gardens offer an immersive learning experience, designed to echo the museum’s ethos of conservation and learning. Scientists at the museum are using the space to gather important data through monitoring techniques such as environmental DNA, acoustic recordings, and visual observations fed into a Data Ecosystem developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, all of which goes towards safeguarding our nation’s biodiversity for the years to come.
14 Exterior view of school group enjoying the Nature Activity Centre ©Jim Stephenson, The Trustees of The Natural History Museum, Feilden Fowles, J&L Gibbons
15 Hypsilophodon ©The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
Feilden Fowles is an award-winning, Londonbased architecture studio. Its approach is both academic and hands-on; it enthusiastically engages in contextual research while exploring materiality and craft through large-scale prototypes and models. The team investigate historic and vernacular precedents to inform our response in the present day. feildenfowles.co.uk
J&L Gibbons is an established and visionary landscape architecture studio based in London. The practice is driven by a desire to safeguard the deep ecologies that shape the character of a place. It is dedicated to key practice priorities of design quality, integrated green infrastructure, promoting natural heritage (especially veteran trees), landscape stewardship and community empowerment through sharing knowledge and experience in the landscape. jlg-london.com
Architect Feilden Fowles feildenfowles.co.uk
Landscape architect J&L Gibbons jlg-london.com
Principal contractor WalterLilly walterlilly.co.uk
Structural engineer engineersHRW ehrw.co.uk
Stone suppliers CED Stone cedstone.co.uk Lazenby lazenby.co.uk
Szerelmey szerelmey.com
Planting
Architectural Plants architecturalplants.com
Deepdale Trees deepdale-trees.co.uk
Johnsons Nurseries johnsonsnurseries.co.uk
Kelways Plants kelways.co.uk
Leahurst Nurseries treeferns.com
Palmstead Plants palmstead.co.uk
Robbie Blackhall Miles, Fossil Plants fossilplants.co.uk
Soft landscape contractor Gavin Jones nurture-group.co.uk
Soil scientist Tim O’Hare Associates toha.co.uk
Plant exchange
National Trust for Scotland - Brodick Castle nts.org.uk/brodick-castle
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew kew.org
Structural engineer (Diplodocus)
Structure Workshop structureworkshop.co.uk
Artist/fabricators (Diplodocus) Factum Arte factum-arte.com
Experience the timeless beauty of the Florence Porcelain Range. Inspired by classic stone, each tile features naturally tumbled edges that create an authentic, handcrafted look. The subtle texture and warm tones bring a soft, inviting atmosphere to any space, perfectly blending rustic charm with modern elegance. This is just a glimpse of the wider collection waiting to be explored.
Explore our range at www.digbystone.co.uk
Last year in the Evans household we dove headfirst into growing our own, with seed trays lined up, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, fruit and various beans all chosen and ready to be nurtured by my five-year-old daughter for the duration of the growing season.
The truth is, we bit off more than we could chew (excuse the pun) tight on space, clients' gardens having to take priority over my own space most of the time, and a lack of sun in the garden due to being mostly on a north-facing slope at home meant that Riverford Organic we were not!
This didn’t let my daughter’s enthusiasm wane though and we enjoyed a minimal harvest and so many cucumbers we were
From seed trays to dinner plates, growing your own is as much about connection and curiosity as it is about yield
handing them to neighbours on the driveway for weeks! She got the bug…
Growing your own food is seeing a real resurgence at the moment. We’re all looking to re-connect with where our food comes from and trying to keep costs down – but the truth is, most of us don’t have space to grow edibles year-round and produce enough to keep us and our families fed.
It is, however, hugely rewarding to grow your own and the primal urge to gather and grow is in all of us somewhere… Space is something we often talk about, from vertical planting solutions, to container gardening or even using your conservatory as a productive greenhouse.
Growing produce in a more controlled environment often means we can limit exposure to pests and inclement weather. A terrace can provide welcome respite from strong winds that can damage crops and reduce yields, and roof terraces offer unrivalled levels of sunshine where the ground may be shaded from surrounding buildings and established trees.
Urban environments have always been host to spaces where communities can access allotments and their own private gardens. Landowners and businesses are now joining in, and there are many examples of plots being loaned to community groups and organisations to grow.
Fruit and vegetables are often a great way into horticulture and getting your hands in the soil. Youth and school groups can capitalise on this which encourages young people to engage with our industry and learn more about where our food should come from.
The increasing availability of compact varieties and espaliered trees mean that fitting these into smaller garden spaces is easier than ever – meaning productivity needn’t compromise functionality.
Growing your own food is seeing a real resurgence at the moment. We’re all looking to re-connect with where our food comes from and trying to keep costs down
Encouraging diversity in planting is both very on trend and beneficial for garden health, combining edibles with ornamentals harks back to the principles of monastic garden design, where planting would be designed to have not only visual but medicinal and productive edible benefits. Plant-based power is very much at the front of the dietary and wellness boom. With increases in home grown beans, pulses and protein crops as people look for alternatives to more generic options. This trend is also benefitting from the desire we all have to lessen the food miles we contribute to through our buying habits.
With technology, space-saving and vertical growing solutions, as well as our changing tastes and desperate need to
Standard Wooden Raised Bed
Wooden raised beds crafted from durable Scandinavian timber; strong, pre-drilled, easy assembly, combining superior quality design with longlasting value. Sizes range from 2ft x 2ft up to 8ft x 8ft with five height options. Price: From £44 harrodhorticultural.com
We all know that the act of breaking bread around the table and the social connection it gives us is hugely beneficial. There’s no reason that the entire process shouldn’t then be part of the social process. Growing as a collective, collaboration or community – what could be better than sharing the fruits of your labour with others.
In a world where we are all – like it or not – increasingly busy and distracted, growing your own edibles becomes a reason to slow down and concentrate on something positive – much like the rest of a garden.
For many of the public who aren’t interested in flowering plants and the ongoing maintenance requirements that come with ornamental gardens, edibles offer clients the most basic of connection to the garden.
Fruit trees and shrubs like blueberries fit nicely into ornamental spaces but offer a high yield year on year. Plums always remind me of a tree we had in our family garden when I was younger. Every year, we spent weeks picking/collecting and making with the bountiful harvest.
address the climate crisis, it feels like growing our own food is something we should all be doing. It’s not as easy as that, but little by little, it becomes a lot. Start small, go perennial, and remember every meal can start or feature something from your own garden. Even if it is just a sprig of rosemary in your gin and tonic!
Vertical Herb Stand
Easily plant and display a selection of herbs in the three generous planters or use to display a variety of flowers and climbing plants. Price: £147.99 hillier.co.uk
Matt Evans is the managing director and design lead at The Garden Room Living and Landscape Studio, based in Poole, Dorset. The Garden Room is a young, creative design studio founded by partners in life and design, Matt and his wife Elle Evans. Located just a stone’s throw from the shores of Poole Harbour and the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, they operate across Dorset, London and the south of England offering garden design, project management and planting as well as specialist aftercare. thegardenroomstudio.com
Millboard takes stock of the trends that shaped the world of cladding this year while looking ahead to what 2026 could bring
This year has marked a turning point for exterior cladding. Designers have leaned into richer palettes, using texture and tone to define spaces rather than treating cladding as a background element.
Warm, bronzed hues have captured attention, offering a richness that feels both natural and contemporary. On grain-rich profiles such as Shadow Line+ cladding, these shades catch the light beautifully, shifting with the day and adding a sense of movement to any façade.
At the other end of the spectrum, deeper, darker hues have risen to prominence. Burnt Cedar continues to be a mainstay, but 2025
also saw a surge of interest in bold new shades such as Anthracite. Applied to Board & Batten+cladding, this dark, architectural tone has brought gravitas to contemporary
residential and commercial projects alike. The story of the year? Cladding as a design statement in its own right.
As we look ahead, the appetite for contrast is set to grow. Expect to see more bronzed, burnished cladding and limed oak, warm tones that soften sharp architectural lines, alongside the confident drama of darker finishes. This interplay of light and shade offers landscapers and designers a dynamic palette to work with, allowing façades to feel more considered and characterful.
The emergence of decorative accents is another trend to watch. With products such as Envello Décor, cladding steps into the realm of artistry: cladding and accents that create patterns, textures and focal points rather than just covering a surface. We’re beginning to see
them used for feature walls, garden rooms, and even to add interest to interior spaces that blur the line between indoors and out.
For landscapers and specifiers, the key is to think beyond the surface. Cladding can frame openings, highlight transitions between zones, or add depth through the use of boxouts. These projections are not only practical, providing shade, shelter, or articulation but they also bring a bespoke, architectural quality to a scheme. Pairing is crucial, too. Warm, oak-like hues sing against soft planting, while darker finishes set off pale stone or render. And remember, it’s the detail that delivers a polished finish. That’s why Millboard has launched a new cladding installation course at its Midlands Experience Centre at London Stone, Birmingham, offering hands-on training to ensure projects achieve the crisp finish and enduring quality the market demands.
Tel 02476439943
Email enquiries@millboard.co.uk millboard.com
Check out Millboard’s Approved Installer Scheme on page 80
Sustainable timber solutions for the built environment with limitless design potential. From new designs to retrofits, the modular WoodBlocX system provides unrivalled versatility.
Explore this curated selection of innovative stone products redefining surfaces in architecture and design
Blended Natural Sandstone
Paving in shade Burnt Umber
Price: From £23.46 per m2 (RRP)
Blended Natural Sandstone paving is a popular, durable choice for outdoor landscaping projects. Its blend of colours and patterns creates a natural, organic look, perfect for complementing any garden or architectural style.
• High quality natural stone
• Inherently durable and hard wearing to weathering
• Attractive natural veining and diverse tonal variations
• Riven finish for an established look
• Low maintenance bradstone.com
Black Granite Tumbled Setts 200 x 50mm
Price: £0.95/£83.60 per m2
Kebur Black Granite Tumbled setts are a dark charcoal colour with a silver fleck and occasional brown markings. These setts have sawn sides and a shotblasted textured surface and have been tumbled for a softer appearance. They can be used to create stunning patios, edgings, courtyards and features.
• Durable
• Dark charcoal granite with silver flecks and brown tones
• Tumbled, shot-blasted finish
• Natural imperfections add unique character
• Compact 200 x 50 x 40mm size for flexible paving designs kebur.co.uk
Natural Sinai Pearl
Beige Limestone
Price: From £27.44 per m2
(incl. VAT and delivery)
• Natural veining
• Pre-treated with waterproof matte sealer
• Available in three finishes; acid washed, tumbled, and honed
• Fossil and quartz characteristics
• Available as bullnose steps pavingsuperstore.co.uk
Choose the right machine for the job
Not every saw that you have in your arsenal is perfect for every job you work on. So, it’s imperative you use the right machine for the job at hand. Smaller projects with only a few pieces of stone to cut might be suitable for our TC-125 G2 circular saw, or our DC 250 Python. However, for projects with heavy duty cutting the DCX Expert, or the DX 350 may be preferred. These two options are better suited for thicker stones, with the DCX Expert able to cut up to 90mm thick tiles, and the DX 350 up to 220mm tiles.
Use the correct blade for the material
Different materials require different blades. Using the wrong one can cause chipping, premature wear, and inaccurate cuts. RUBI offers blades designed specifically for natural stone materials.
A blade designed to cut granite will not be as effective as one designed for marble, and vice versa – which is why it’s important
RUBI guides us through how to achieve professional results with the right techniques and setup
to always check the blade’s suitability before you start cutting. It’s the simplest way to guarantee a cleaner finish and extend your blade’s lifespan.
Check blade direction before cutting It sounds basic, but it’s often overlooked: blades must be mounted the right way round. All RUBI blades feature an arrow etched into the back to indicate their correct rotation. Simply line these up with the arrow found on your machine, usually on your machine’s blade guard. A blade set in the wrong direction won’t cut properly and can cause unnecessary stress on both the machine, blade, and the material being cut.
Set up your repeat cut guide
Accuracy is everything, especially with rising material costs. Utilising your machine’s repeat cut guide can make your job quicker
DC Smart Advance
The world-first smart automatic wet saw, adapting its cutting speed based on tile thickness and blade resistance. orld's first smart automatic wet saw 230v & 110v ends the life of your blades
and easier. With this simple tool you can quickly line up your cuts with confidence that each one will be consistent. This feature is particularly useful on machines like the DC Python and DCX Expert, where precision is built into every element of their design.
Maintain your water system daily
RUBI tile saws use a water-cooling system to keep the blade from overheating and to minimise dust. It’s important to empty and clean the reservoir every day to prevent stone particles from building up. If left unchecked, these particles can clog the system, reduce cooling efficiency, and affect the quality of your cuts. A full rinse at the end of each day and running clean water through the machine afterwards will keep your machine performing at its best.
For more information: rubi.com/en
DX 350
RUBI’s largest wet saw, capable of cutting various construction materials up to 22cm thick including concrete, natural stone, and porcelain.
• 230v & 110v
• 22cm cutting height
• 3hp b elt drive motor
From his parents' house to major restaurant chains – the founder of Gardening 4U by Will shares the company's journey to success
When and why did you found the company?
I founded Gardening 4U by Will at the age of 16 while living at home with my parents in 2022, after my obsession with all things plants fully cemented. I started selling on Facebook, Instagram, and it got really big, really quickly – my parents had to deal with customers coming into their house every weekend – now it’s grown to an impressive scale.
How has the company evolved?
From selling out of my parents' house to now supplying large scale restaurant, hotel and office chains across London and beyond, it’s safe to say we’ve evolved hugely in the last few years.
Located at the heart of New Covent Garden Flower Market in London, we are now a leading supplier of wholesale plants in Covent Garden,
proudly serving landscapers, garden designers, garden centres, and plant retailers throughout London and beyond.
From selling out of my parents' house to now supplying large scale restaurant, hotel and office chains across London and beyond, it’s safe to say we’ve evolved hugely in the last few years
What sets your offerings apart from the rest of the market?
With a strong trade focus and a customer-first approach, we source directly from our UK nursery; spanning over 170 acres – home to an outstanding and ever-growing range of herbaceous perennials, including Agapanthus, Salvias, Echinacea, Dahlias, Delphiniums and Digitalis. They are expert growers of Premium Perennials. Which are clean, sold in bud or flower form and come in big pot fulls – and due to zero importing costs of perennials we are very competitively priced.
Our rose supplier grows the latest disease resistant varieties on peat free compost and produces over 10,000 roses a year. It has taken time to establish our reputation as a leading wholesale plant retailer in London, which all stems from being consistent with stock, approachable and reliable.
Hellebore Festival. We have sold an impressive collection of nearly 1,000 dahlias in a few weeks. Perfect for borders, these are tuberous plants that thrive in sunny spots and give the wow-factor.
We have some that have dinnerplate size flowers. Our hellebores start now in October and continue all the way till January. These are 25% more competitively priced than Dutch counterparts, and we grow these in 4.5 litre and two litre pots – my favourite variety is Merlot which has dark wine burgundy-coloured flowers.
We have a very unique range of herbaceous perennials and bedding with some varieties and sizes not found anywhere else in the landscape supply industry
In recent years, our partner nurseries have invested heavily in a significantly increased production capacity. Their 100-acre site in Herefordshire has been designed with the latest technology in providing environmentally sustainable and efficient dispatch. We have a very unique range of herbaceous perennials and bedding with some varieties and sizes not found anywhere else in the landscape supply industry.
What happens on the nursery at the quieter periods of the year?
At this time of year, our new plants trial area starts filling up with new and interesting candidates that we evaluate for inclusion in our range. At our Hereford site the trial area has over 250 different varieties this year, including new high-quality bedding and perennial plants, shrubs, roses and trees. Every variety will be evaluated by sales and growing staff with just a few excellent new introductions joining our product range for landscapers and garden centres.
What are your most popular plants?
For landscapers and garden designers, our three litre Gaura range is always a hit. With impressive tall wavy flowers which give grace and elegance to a planting scheme. We have a very popular variety such as Papillon and also Rosy Jane. After this, it would be our Dahlia or
Where in London are you based?
We are based at the UK’s largest Wholesale Market. New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms, London where landscapers can pick up pre-orders from the nursery, browse our seasonal range and order for the following week. We have a large stand with expert sales advisors, as well as myself to assist.
How large is your range and can customers visit the nursery?
Yes, the nursery is open by appointment, and we can take you on a guided tour of the site on our very own golf buggies. We have a huge range of bedding, perennials, shrubs and specimens – all of our bedding, perennials and shrubs are majority home grown. We also do have some specimen pleached trees, topiary and hedging, of which we have regular deliveries. You can also visit us at Covent Garden for more information.
How can customers stay up to date with nursery and stock updates?
We use a variety of platforms to reach our customers weekly, including email, WhatsApp and our amazing social media pages on Instagram and Facebook. You can always send us a message for a plant request, or for us to put aside something for collection that you have seen.
I would highly recommend checking out our Instagram as we connect, collaborate and showcase our plants, while we share more about the business on Covent Garden Flower Markets Instagram. We established this nearly four years ago and have grown to have a following of nearly 9k in that time.
Tel 07783 501126
Email will@gardening4ubywill.co.uk gardening4ubywill.co.uk
Toasted marshmallows and cosy nights – these fire pits bring the warmth and the vibes
Hemi Fire Bowl
Price: From £4,194
The Hemi fire bowl by Solus Decor, blends fire and art in high-performance concrete.
Customisable with colour, size, fuel and accessory options as well as a powerful 31kW Burner option.
Loved by designers for over a decade, it creates warmth, ambience, and a sculptural focal point outdoors.
• Heat output is up to 31kW with the High Output Burner
• Compatible with natural gas (mains), liquid propane or biofuel
• Available in manual or electronic ignition systems
• Available in three sizes
Elementi Manhattan
Fire Table
Price: £1,299.99
The Elementi Manhattan Fire Table blends modern style with powerful performance. Made from durable cast concrete, it doubles as a table and fire feature. With 45,000 BTU heat output, electronic ignition, and included lava rock and cover, it’s perfect for creating warmth and ambience in any outdoor space.
• High-performance cast concrete body
• Made from Solus High Performance Concrete solusdecor.co.uk
• Powerful 45,000 BTU (13.2 kW) heat output
• Push-button electronic ignition, auto shut-off
• Includes 9kg lava rock and canvas cover
• CE and CSA certified safety standards elementifires. co.uk
from £3.6k
Glowbus Dewdrop is a striking outdoor fire sculpture, hand-crafted in durable Corten steel. Its iconic teardrop shape radiates warmth and ambience, developing a unique protective patina over time. Available in three sizes, it’s wind-resistant, safe, and enduring – a timeless centrepiece blending art, fire and nature.
• Glowbus® Years of design, handcrafted balance of tradition and innovation
• Exceptional durability and weather resistance – a lifetime warranty for peace of mind
• Standard wood-burning and optional modular smoke-free bioethanol burner insert
• Protective dewdrop-shield for sensitive surfaces, including decking and porcelain finishes
• Each Glowbus® is handmade art, transforming evenings with firelight magic glowbus.co.uk
Transform your landscape instantly with our award winning wildflower turf, designed to create a vibrant wildflower meadow or garden area. It features a carefully balanced blend of native wildflowers, herbs, and colourful flowering perennials, all thriving in a moisture-retentive, plastic-free, biodegradable felt. This eco -friendly solution not only enhances the beauty of your outdoor space but also supports local biodiversity. Experience the joy of an instant wildflower area that is both sustainable and visually stunning.
Our Species-Rich Turf is a harmonious blend of wildflowers and grasses, the 80/20 mix is carefully cultivated into a plastic-free, moisture-retentive mat, creating an instant biodiverse haven. This uniqu e turf can be maintained like a traditional lawn with regular mowing, or left to grow naturally to encourage the flourishing of diverse plant species.
Mona Irrigation System
Price: POA
Green-tech’s Mona Irrigation System delivers water directly to the root zone, ensuring efficient use of resources and healthier tree establishment. Easy to install and long-lasting, the system reduces water waste while supporting sustainable planting in urban and landscape environments.
• Directs water to tree root zone
• Promotes strong, healthy root development
• Reduces water waste and run-off
• Long-lasting and maintenance free
• Easy and quick to install green-tech.co.uk
System with Plati-Mat
Price including: £61.68
The award-winning D-MAN™ is a strong, compact and lightweight system that replaces traditional deadmen where there are buried services, shallow soils and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). You can use units individually or in multiples –they simply lock/unlock together with distinctive letterbox-style wire anchor points.
• Perfect for urban, roof garden and shallow planting
• Nestable and lightweight for compact and easy transportation
• Reduces labour, cutting installation time and cost
• Excels in all soil types and roof garden substrates
• Integrates easily with Soil Cells (adjustable anchor legs available) platipus-anchors.com
Biodegradable Tree
Guard Range
Price: POA
Green-tech’s
Biodegradable Tree
Guards provide sustainable protection for young trees against browsing animals.
Manufactured from compostable materials, they naturally break down over time, removing the need for collection and disposal while supporting responsible tree planting and long-term landscape management.
• Protects trees from rabbits, hares and voles
• Manufactured from biodegradable, compostable materials
• No collection or disposal required
• Supports sustainable planting projects
• Designed for simple installation green-tech.co.uk
From smart anchor alternatives to biodegradable grow guards, these innovative tools are making it easier than ever to plant, protect, and nurture trees in urban environments
EBBEN TREE NURSERY
Lagerstroemia 'Natchez’ Price: Varies Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’ is among the hardiest crape myrtle cultivars, while also highly tolerant of summer heat and drought. The tree is particularly notable for its strong resistance to powdery mildew. Each season offers a distinct ornamental feature.
• The dark cinnamon-coloured bark exfoliates beautifully, revealing creamy patches
• Showy white flower panicles with delicately fringed petals appear from July to November
• The glossy dark-green foliage turns brilliant shades in autumn
• With its broad-spreading habit and tolerance of paved and semi-paved surfaces, this cultivar is well suited for parks, gardens, and urban plantings ebben.nl/en
enquiries@wykeham.co.uk
I n late summer, our tree nursery reveals more charm: branches heavy with fruit, touches of late bloom, and leaves showing their rich structures and colours. A living palette that captures the season’s quiet beauty. Shrubs and trees enrich our surroundings with beauty while providing essential habitats that support biodiversity. Get in touch for tailored advice on the best use and perfect plant choices. Boom & Bonheur – because trees give life and bring happiness!
It’s well known that our community has been grappling with a persistent skills shortage for quite some time. Not only is it a frequent topic of discussion in this magazine, but it’s also a key factor influencing current business practices. And while we’re committed to working on ways to remove the barriers keeping people from joining, more can always be done.
Back in 2015, we recognised that need for more and launched Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation awards, an initiative dedicated to recognising people from across the industry aged 30 or under for their impressive achievements and upward ambition.
and George Trott, who have founded their own thriving companies, and many others who have achieved incredible feats of success.
Now that mantel of greatness is being passed onto this year’s winners. Our class of 2025 are already shaping the future of the industry; some have boldly changed careers and are now thriving in their new roles, while others have taken the leap to launch their own businesses.
Our class of 2025 are already shaping the future of the industry
Across all this year’s winners one theme stands out: an unwavering determination and passion to leave not only the industry, but also the natural world in a better state than they found it.
In the 10 years that have followed, we've celebrated 300 exceptional young individuals from across the industry. Many have gone on to achieve remarkable success – from Harry Holding and Rachel Platt, whose designs have been showcased on RHS showgrounds, to Dominic Knower
We’re looking forward to welcoming all this year’s incredible winners and celebrating their success at an award ceremony at FutureScape.
Congratulations
to the class of 2025!
From our partner
“Congratulations to this year’s 30 Under 30 winners. Your energy, ideas and ambition are reshaping the future of landscaping. Green-tech is proud to support this initiative, which recognises not just talent but the potential to lead and innovate.
This year’s group reflects the changing face of our industry, from sustainability and technology to design and biodiversity. It is inspiring to see such a wide range of skills and passions driving progress across horticulture, arboriculture and garden design.
Recognition at this stage of your career is powerful. It opens doors, builds networks and sets the tone for what comes next. We are excited to see where your journey takes you.”
Kris Nellist, Managing Director, Green-tech
Green-tech supports urban tree pits at one of Dublin’s latest destination venues with its TreeParker® System
In the 1950s, the area around Wilton Park was the most bohemian community in the city. It sits around the newly renovated, delightful one-acre park, sitting alongside the Grand Canal. The work included planting 30,000 new shrubs and 48 new trees, restoring the Victorian fountain, and adding new seating. It is open seven days a week from 6.30am to 9pm.
The development of the inspiring office, social, and residential building involved years of preparation and consultation with city planners and the local communities.
Every facet of the design, materials and amenity space has been driven by the desire to create a space that people will use and love. Wilton Park is the only workplace in the city with its own park, and as if to rubber-stamp its credentials, three major companies LinkedIn, Stripe and EY have chosen the location for their new headquarters.
One outstanding feature is a new public square with
a mature cherry tree and interactive water feature. Mary Lavin Place is the first public place in Ireland to be named after a female writer, celebrating the area’s literary connections.
Launched as a like-for-like alternative to the tree pit support systems already on the market, TreeParker® works in exactly the same way – supporting the paving above, vehicular or pedestrian, whilst protecting the soft, organic topsoil below from compaction. It does however have a number of distinct advantages.
The heavy-duty, reinforced legs are available in six height options from the factory: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500mm. This gives a previously unheardof flexibility with depth options, and more importantly, without the need to stack two units high, saving installation time and money. It also enables the units, by having rounded legs rather than side walls, to easily straddle, or work around service pipes and lines.
The new TreeParker® system comprises rigid, modular units made from reinforced, recycled polypropylene. These units do a vital job in enabling the ground above a tree pit to be trafficked, supporting the paving above (up to 56t/m2).
This means that rather than having to use a fast-draining and low-organic structural tree soil, we can use a soft, friable, organic topsoil, ideal for successful tree establishment. Made from highly rigid, 100% recycled polypropylene, the units still provide 95% of their volume for rooting space.
Project Wilton Park Tree Pits
Location Dublin, Ireland Products/Services Supplied Green-tech TreeParker®
There were various sized tree pits across the site up to 28m2, and longer trenches up to 39m long, allowing for around 20 new trees to be planted along the front and rear aspects of the main building. Supplying product to site in a timely manner was no problem thanks to Green-tech’s fully stocked warehouse in Ireland, serving both Northern Ireland and Éire.
The feedback on TreeParker® has been complimentary, focusing mainly on the speed and simplicity of installation. There were several utility lines on site and the absence of intrusive side walls meant that installation was a lot more straightforward than it might otherwise have been.
Contact Email sales@green-tech.co.uk Phone 01423 332100 green-tech.co.uk
Sustainable landscapes demand a solutions-led approach to climate resilience and require integrated Blue Green Infrastructure (BGI) that performs. Our expert team helps translate policy into practical, buildable designs. From rain gardens to green roofs, we’ll help you:
> Navigate BNG requirements
> Integrate SuDS seamlessly into green infrastructure
> Specify with confidence using proven, compliant systems
> Access CPDs, case studies, and tailored support from day one
OPERATIONS MANAGER, WALKER LANDSCAPE & DESIGN
Age 26
Age 20
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT APPRENTICE, JOHN O'CONNER (GROUNDS MAINTENANCE) LTD
As the longest serving employee at Walker Landscapes & Design, Tom Ashman’s journey began 10 years ago, fresh off the back of finishing his GCSEs. What started as a temporary summer job has since evolved into a pivotal role, with Ashman now playing a key part in delivering the company’s most ambitious and complex projects. Beyond his technical expertise, it is his unwavering dedication to the company’s growth and the wellbeing of his colleagues that truly sets him apart. As managing director Ben Walker puts it, this commitment is Ashman’s greatest contribution – and the legacy by which he will leave his mark.
GARDEN DESIGNER, FRED STUDIO
Age 25
Since he was a finalist for the RHS Young Designer of the Year competition in 2022, Tom Clarke has found a passion for show gardens. He won the People’s Choice Award for a Balcony Garden at last year’s Chelsea and picked up a Silver medal for his collaboration with close friend Ros Coutts-Harwood on a Small Show Garden this year. The Yorkshireman’s severe
dyslexia makes him “incredibly creative,” he says. Clarke found his confidence in gardening, setting up a business from a 1950's Airstream caravan selling homeware and garden plants and tools. He has since trained as a garden designer at the Inchbald School of Design and now runs his own studio in North Yorkshire.
Age 24
Lenny Ball has just become John O Conner’s first ever business development and sales apprentice after completing his Level 4 Sales Executive Apprenticeship with Distinction. On joining the company less than two years ago, he made it a priority to contribute beyond his immediate role, supporting the company’s Turmore Dale project and representing the company at local careers events. His focus is now on supporting ethical and sustainable business growth across South East England and to build a fulfilling career that brings value to others, whether that’s clients, colleagues, or communities. A long-term ambition is to lead or co-design a community-facing landscape project in a public space, something that leaves a lasting, visible impact.
LANDSCAPER, LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATES
Working as a landscaper for the past two years, Joe Coleman joined Landscape Associates with a strong knowledge of plants. Once an employee at RHS Wisley over four years, he then completed a course in Landscape Construction and Horticulture at college. Keen to learn and grow, Coleman says he wants to “play a part in building more beautiful, lasting gardens”. Creating a space where people can reconnect with nature is why Coleman is passionate about his progression and improvement within the landscaping industry. After working on several successful RHS show gardens, he aspires to continue his winning streak as his career progresses.
GARDEN DESIGNER, LUKE COLEMAN GARDENS
RHS Young Designer of the Year 2025, Luke Coleman trained at the Eden Project and SRUC Edinburgh before founding Luke Coleman Gardens. Designs rooted in place, with bold ideas and soft edges are projects that he enjoys the most. The solo practitioner intends to challenge convention, champion sustainable materials whilst contributing to an inclusive future for landscape design. As his career progresses and he focuses on spaces within the public realm, Coleman aspires to play an active role in mentoring and education. “Opening up the industry to more diverse voices can help others find meaningful paths into this work,” he explains.
Age 28
Age 28
Laura Darlow has been working her way up the ranks since she first started at Green-tech in 2015, having just completed a diploma in Horticulture. From dispatch assistant, she was promoted three years later to a newly created role within the logistics team and, just one year later, became logistics team leader. Two years ago, she was put forward for Greentech’s Management Development Programme, on which she was named the ‘outstanding contributor’. Approaching her 10-year anniversary at the company, Darlow is now looking to grow into a senior leadership position within the operations department; as she says, “operations may not always be visible, but it's the engine room that keeps everything moving.”
DIRECTOR, CJ TREE SURGEONS
Age 31
As James Drewitt will tell you, a chance encounter changed his life and completely shifted the trajectory he was on. After underperforming in his A Levels, Drewitt felt adrift, and it wasn’t until he found arboriculture that the pieces fell into place. From saving up his money for training, becoming a team leader at 20, to founding CJ Tree Surgeons, a now Arb Approved company. Echoing his own beginnings, Drewitt is championing for those looking to change careers, bringing in newcomers, training them up and helping build careers they love – “watching them become skilled, confident professionals has been one of my proudest achievements.”
LANDSCAPE DESIGNER, ONLINE GARDEN DESIGNS
Working on-site during the summer with his dad, Joe Eustace witnessed firsthand the emotional impact a well-designed garden had on clients – making his path into landscape design feel inevitable. His most pivotal moment came during his academic journey when he won a competition to design and build a garden at Bord Bia Bloom – a show he had followed since childhood. But if kick starting his academic studies wasn’t enough, Eustace also founded his own company, Online Garden Designs, the same year, which has continued evolve year-on-year.
Age 23
“For me, a career in landscaping is about more than design – it’s about impact.”
SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND HEAD OF GARDEN DESIGN, PWP DESIGN (ASSOCIATED WITH PWP LANDSCAPE) Age 29
For more than a year and a half, Beatrice Freeman has been working with the directors of PWP Landscape to develop a garden design division to streamline and modernise the business’ approach.
As a senior landscape architect, she continues to work on commercial projects for the company – something Freeman has done since graduating from Leeds Beckett University in 2018; but her growing role as garden design manager means that she now oversees all domestic garden design enquiries. She’s now debating whether to pursue chartership or garden design but says either route would allow her to do what she loves – “creating thoughtful landscapes and working with great colleagues and clients who make this profession so unique.”
Age 29 BEATRICE FREEMAN
GARDEN DESIGNER, TONY BENGER LANDSCAPING
From watching re-runs of Ground Force to working on award-winning gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Emily Fuller’s love for garden design has gone full circle, but she’s not stopping there. “One day I hope to have built up a portfolio of gardens that have helped elevate and improve the lives of those who use them.” Longevity, functionality, and accessibility are at the forefront of Fuller’s plans as she aspires to create purpose-built spaces for all works of life. She is also keen to encourage the next generation of designer and landscapers to pick up the mantel; helping them to discovery that same love she had when watching those re-runs.
LEAD DESIGNER, SAMUEL GALLOWAY STUDIO
Transitioning from architecture, Samuel Galloway found his true calling outdoors, combining design experience with his lifelong love of plants. As well as running his own design studio, Galloway also works on housing developments, seeing firsthand the benefits of well-integrated green spaces. This year, he designed a garden for the Chorley Flower Show and helped fellow 30 Under 30 winner Tom Clarke on his garden at Chelsea before creating his own community cube at the first RHS show at Wentworth Woodhouse. He aims to lead a multidisciplinary design studio, also consulting on major development projects, to give talks and workshops that inspire the next generation, and to own a nursery that doubles as a creative hub.
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER AND MEADOWSOW™ MANAGER, WILDFLOWER TURF
In his role, Olly Hewetson-Brown is at the heart of bringing Wildflower Turfs’ vision to life; leading a cohort of 15 strong across three UK sites and overseeing the meticulous cultivation of a whole host of ecologically beneficial products. Looking ahead, Hewetson-Brown is determined to leave his mark on the industry by becoming managing director of Wildflower Turf and championing the widespread adoption of wildflower products and services.“My vision is to not only expand the availability and accessibility of our high-quality solutions but also to drive innovation, explore new applications, and educate the broader landscaping community on the immense potential of wildflowers.”
24 Age 25 Age 25 Age 25
ASSISTANT CONTRACT MANAGER, GROUND CONTROL
Pheobe Gannon entered the landscaping and construction industry two years ago driven by a desire to contribute to environmental sustainability. Landing a place in the graduate programme in 2023, Gannon gained an insight into the world of landscaping before finding a home at Ground Control. Determined to leave a lasting impact on the industry, she looks to champion diversity and inclusion whilst building a strong network on young women within the landscaping community.“I want to create a space for others to thrive,” she says as frequently one of the only women on site.
ASSISTANT LANDSCAPE DESIGNER, NICHOLSONS DIRECTOR, AJ CONTRACTING
Equipped with little more than a small green van, a vision and a shovel, Archie Hull founded his own family-run business in 2021 around the ethos of creating a positive and lasting impact on the industry, starting with his local community. This impact goes beyond the beautiful and sustainable spaces he creates but is present in how he engages with the local area; from taking on those with little to no experience in the industry and training them up, to supporting local wildlife charities. As he and the team continue to grow stronger, Hull is eager to take on larger-scale projects and explore opportunities in the commercial sector moving forward.
A desire to work with nature and green space, Gemma Loftus grew up in the Surrey Hills countryside where she fell in love with beautiful landscapes and the outdoors. Not only are they appealing, "having access to wide open spaces has a huge impact on wellbeing,” which has helped shape Loftus’ desire to work in an industry connected to the environment. She then travelled to areas of Asia and Africa, learning about how different cultures engage with outdoor space. Working in design development, her role also covers collaboration with ecology. As her career progresses, Loftus aspires to reach chartered landscape architect status to specifically concentrate on spaces that encourage sustainable, wellbeing focused lifestyles.
DIRECTOR AND LEAD DESIGNER, THE CONSCIOUS GARDENING CO
Age 30
Since finishing university, Cameron Macfie has worked in a variety of roles across the industry, but after experiencing first-hand a lack of environmental awareness in his then current role, he made the decision to found The Conscious Gardening company centred around an ethos of beauty, functionality, and ecology. What started as a garden maintenance and landscaping company has evolved to now offer design and build services following Macfie’s completion of a National Design Academy course in 2023. Today, Macfie continues his studies, having also recently graduated from the design diploma at The London College of Garden Design.
AFTERCARE FOREMAN, BOWLES & WYER LTD
During the final year of his A Levels, Jack McMahon reached out to Bowles & Wyer for horticultural career advice and, having impressed with his eagerness to learn, he was offered a part-time assistant gardener role after his exams. He quickly worked his way up to team leader and carried out this role whilst studying for his RHS Level 2 in Practical Horticultural, which he passed with Distinction. Earlier this year, he became the company’s youngest foreman yet and has been chosen for three years in a row to help build the Hamish Mackie trade stand at Chelsea. McMahon is now studying for his Level 4 in Garden Design, hoping to work more on design and build projects alongside aftercare.
Age 21
OWNER AND DIRECTOR, MCNAUGHTON’S LANDSCAPES LTD
Founding his company, McNaughton’s Landscapes, in 2015, Hamilton McNaughton has developed both landscaping and garden maintenance projects for 10 years. Not only does McNaughton intend to create a company that others aspire to join, but his overarching goal is also to “continue the country’s heritage of creating and maintaining exquisite gardens,” he says. McNaughton's passion for the outdoors comes from spending much of his childhood exploring nature and working in local gardens. Whilst the director oversees progress across the company’s project sites, McNaughton also enjoys rolling up his sleeves to join his team on site.
SITE MANAGER – NATURAL SWIMMING POOL INSTALLATIONS, ELLICAR
Age 30 Age 23
When schools closed during the first covid-19 lockdown, George Murch – aged 17 at the time – started to work on site for his family’s business, Ellicar. He’d previously helped out with pool maintenance, planting and servicing, but this time helped the team to construct a pool and garden – and absolutely loved it. Instead of going to university, Murch decided to join the company, and at just 18 years old, became site manager of his first natural swimming pool and garden project. Two years later, he managed the construction of Ellicar’s first public pool. He now has his sights set on constructing natural pools overseas and larger scale projects.
OWNER AND FOUNDER, TOM'S YARD
Age 29
DIRECTOR, RAVENSTONE GARDEN SERVICES
Age 29
A true social butterfly with a self-declared passion for pots, Thomas Pearson couldn’t have created a company more perfectly suited to his personality – “they are intrinsic to many cultures throughout the world, and I am fascinated in how they differ region to region.” It’s an added bonus that he and the company have gone on to gain award recognition, as well as most recently becoming a trustee for a local charity – Herefordshire Growing Point. With plans to open the company’s first retail premises next year, Pearson is well on his way to making his dream of Tom’s Yard becoming a go-to recognised name, a reality.
From a young age, Will Pulford was instilled with the values of quality, integrity, and a deep respect for the land – principles passed down from his father. Today, these same ideals continue to shape his leadership of the family-run business. While honouring the legacy built before him, Pulford is committed to driving the company forward through responsible stewardship, sustainable practices, and a relentless pursuit of excellence – “I take particular pride in finding innovative solutions that preserve design intent while improving efficiency and durability.”
ASSISTANT CONTRACTS MANAGER, NURTURE LANDSCAPES
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, HUSKISSON BROWN ASSOCIATES
Age 29 Age 27
Drawn in by his love for the outdoors, Ahtraeo Punter’s decade-long journey in the industry has seen him rise through the ranks, but two focuses remain at the forefront: continually developing his own skills and sharing all he’s learned with those around him – “supporting the next generation of gardeners is something I care deeply about, and I’m proud to have helped several colleagues grow into leadership roles.” The ultimate goal for Punter is to help shape a greener, more sustainable world through the creation of beautiful and functional spaces.
One pivotal "eureka" moment transformed everything for Elena Rose, setting her on a passion-driven journey that led to earning both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in landscape architecture. Her role at Huskisson Brown Associates sees her working closely with the team across all stages of a project. Looking ahead, Rose is driven to become a leading authority on British Rococo gardens – “it’s an opportunity to engage both the public and other professionals in a large-scale research project.” She also aims to pursue a PhD in garden history – a niche field, she acknowledges, but one she believes holds significant value.
SEAN RYAN Age 29
GARDENER, ALL ENGLAND
LAWN TENNIS & CROQUET CLUB
When Sean Ryan left a corporate sales role to pursue an apprenticeship, he discovered a passion for the working outdoors. He went on to study for a three-year Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design, followed by a Level 3 qualification in Countryside Management. His first industry role was supporting the maintenance of Holland Park in London for idverde before joining The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in 2018. Ryan became its first seasonal gardener to be taken on full time immediately following his seasonal contract, and has since progressed into a more senior role. He has also founded his own business, Land Craft Consultancy, which delivers everything from garden maintenance and irrigation systems to landscape design, pest control and deer management.
“From my first day, I loved it,” says Fraser Sheridan on starting his career with The Outdoor Room at 18-years-old as a trainee. Something he favours the most is that every day brings something different, keeping the landscaper busy on every project. Working his way up the ranks, Sheridan has worked as a skilled landscaper before becoming a site foreman and leader. A passion for hard landscaping in particular, Sheridan has also become a vital communication line between his client and the project team. Looking towards the future, Sheridan hopes to climb even higher at The Outdoor Room until he can use his landscaping knowledge to become a garden designer later in life.
LEAD LANDSCAPE DESIGNER, FIRST LIGHT LANDSCAPING
Unfamiliar with the career landscape architect, Sammie Strickland’s eyes were opened at age 17 during a week’s work experience with Farrer Huxley in London. After studying an undergraduate and Master's degree, which led to a career in landscape architecture for four years, Strickland found herself gravitating towards smaller-scale detailed design work. Pivoting to garden design, she works with clients to create personal outdoor spaces,“which is incredibly rewarding,” she says. Having been at First Light Landscaping for over a year, she looks forward to new challenges and potentially designing a RHS Chelsea show garden one day.
Leading the design and delivery of projects at Ground Control, Sophie Sturgeon’s role spans across all stages of the design process as landscape architect. Initially unsure with where to go with her life whilst researching university courses, landscape and garden design felt like the "right path,” she says. A course that combined design, nature and people; Sturgeon has also completed a landscape architecture Master’s alongside practice. Working towards one day becoming a chartered landscape architect, she ultimately wants to create spaces with a lasting impact on people’s health, wellbeing and connection with nature.
GARDEN DESIGNER, HARRY HOLDING STUDIO
Age 29
Having gained experience in a diverse range of roles, from working at landscape architecture firm Gustafson Porter + Bowman to maintaining gardens for the CEPC in Regent’s Park, Chloë Webster now combines hands-on horticultural knowledge with technical ability as a garden designer for Harry Holding Studio. Her standout achievements are those which have impacted or been informed by her local community, such as developing a circular composting scheme and designing a ‘Freedom Garden’ in the grounds of a deconsecrated synagogue in Margate. As a student, Webster also received various awards, such as BALI Chalk Fund Top Student of the Year, and she was part of a winning team to design and plant benches for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival last year.
Entering the industry in 2020 with no prior experience and no long-term vision, Chris Wright found a home at Oak View Landscapes as a landscape operative before quickly realising a career working with the outdoor environment is exactly what he was passionate about. “I found myself captivated by the work,” he says. Working with Oak View for five years now, Wright models progression that is he incredibly proud of, lending to his knowledge, confidence and leadership skills. Committed to building a future within the landscaping company, Wright intends to continue delivering the best possible service to his clients.
It is important that the industry reflects the full diversity of the UK. While I've seen positive steps toward inclusion, there is still a way to go. Too often the same voices are championed, which can create an impression of exclusivity. It is crucial that professional bodies continue to spotlight young talent, people from underrepresented backgrounds and those working behind the scenes.
Improving pay across the sector would encourage companies to invest more in their workforce, leading to a stronger pipeline of skilled professionals. Expanding access to the apprenticeship levy would support individuals in developing their expertise and pursuing specialised roles. While landscaping is often promoted as an outdoor alternative to desk-based work, it also offers continuous learning, career progression, and opportunities to specialise in areas such as ecology, design, and project management.
This year's 30 Under 30 winners share their insights on the changes that could make the industry thrive
We must promote the environmental impact and deeper meaning of this work. When people realise they’re contributing to biodiversity, climate resilience, and healthier communities, the job becomes more than just manual labour. Reframing the industry as a purpose-driven career path can inspire a new generation of skilled, passionate professionals who want to make a difference, and stay in the sector for life.
Landscaping doesn’t exist in isolation, it connects with housing, development, ecology, and urban design. By encouraging collaboration between these industries, and showing how skills can transfer between them, we can create a shared goal: greener, healthier places for people to live.
Roles and pathways need to be clearly defined, showing how people can grow from entry-level positions into leadership, technical or specialist roles. More collaboration across businesses and organisations would also help reduce the silo mentality and open up cross-sector development opportunities.
People with learning differences, like dyslexia, ADHD or autism, often thrive in creative and practical environments – yet it’s still pretty tough for them to enter careers like garden design. I’d love to see more tailored training schemes or placements that make space for different learning styles and abilities. It would be great for the industry to have a massive injection of this diversity of thinking.
Modern landscaping is increasingly driven by cutting edge technologies and smart solutions. Highlighting the use of drone surveying, advanced digital design software, intelligent irrigation systems and even AI in project planning will attract a different audience who are passionate about technology and forward-thinking practices.
At present, there aren't enough opportunities tailored to young people or those who may not follow traditional academic routes. By expanding apprenticeships, scholarships, and mentoring schemes, we can open the door to a broader and more diverse talent pool – bringing fresh perspectives that better reflect the communities we design for.
We’re excited to announce that Schellevis® and Adezz will be exhibiting together at FutureScape 2025 in London – the UK’s leading event for landscaping and garden design professionals.
Visit us 7th & 8th October at Stand F80
Schellevis® produces concrete paving and elements to connect architecture with nature. Always supporting and respecting the outdoor space they are placed in.
The entire range has the same Schellevis® appearance. Used in combinations, the products help transform every outdoor space into a harmonious, timeless living environment.
Visit our website to see our products in a variety of outdoor spaces, in different ways and often combined.
Safe to install without an electrician
Low-voltage means all you need is an outdoor socket
Quick, easy & hassle-free
Lay your cable and connect lights in seconds with the EASY-LOCK connector
Grow with the garden
Add lights to the system over time without needing to turn the power off
Flexible installation
The self-healing cable allows you to move fittings to change with the garden
Protected trade margin
Your prices are protected and retail prices are available as a guide
Large stock holding with next day delivery
100% outdoor lighting
in-lite have been exclusively focused on garden lighting for over 25 years
3D render files available
You’ll have access to compatible files for each in-lite fitting
The perfect light
All in-lite fittings are CRI 90+ preserving the natural colours and beauty of the garden
Support with 2D & 3D plans
With the Landscapeplus Design Support or in-lite LAB team
Extensive image library
Ideal for creating mood boards and showing the potential of in-lite to clients
Designer rebate scheme; a financial reward for specifying in-lite*
Since
From educational podcasts to training courses – what are the industry’s associations doing to support their members professional development?
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has for over 50 years championed high quality across all aspects of the landscaping industry – including skills and training. Ensuring our members have access to the right people and training for their businesses is a crucial part of our activity.
• Our skills and careers initiative, GoLandscape, has been at the forefront of our skills and training activities. Working with schools, colleges and training providers, we aim to promote the industry and ensure that the right training is available to deliver on our members ambitions.
Register of Land-based Operations (ROLO) Courses
• Our ROLO training provision, and the
development of dedicated BALI standards and endorsed qualifications helps to upskill those already in the industry.
• BALI’s Chalk Fund also provides funding to allow colleges to deliver additional training designed to enrich the students' learning experience.
Over the last two years, we have worked to find new seams of talent. Working with the right organisations to promote the opportunities in the sector to ex-offenders, refugees and the long term unemployed. Our schools work continues with the help of our dedicated ambassador network, who inspire young people by sharing their passion for our industry. We know that we cannot do this alone and so, in addition to
Mentorship programme expansion
• We've been strengthening our mentorship offering for pre-registered members working towards accreditation. This includes a more structured framework of support from experienced designers, aimed at building confidence, competence, and professionalism.
Accreditation review
• Our accreditation process has recently been reviewed to ensure it remains relevant, rigorous, and supportive of members at all career stages. As part of this, we’ve introduced clearer guidance materials and improved access to peer-to-peer support.
Professional development series
• The Society runs a growing number of CPD webinars and events throughout the year, covering technical skills, planting design,
our work with the industry’s Environmental Horticulture Group, BALI has strengthened its own policy team to lobby and ensure that Government understands the industry’s skills and people challenges and steps up to help us resolve them.
Wayne Grills, BALI chief executive
sustainability, and business practices – all of which are recorded and made available to members.
Sustainability focus
• In response to the climate and biodiversity crisis, we are embedding sustainability principles into all aspects of our work – from guidance documents to events – ensuring members are equipped to respond to environmental challenges through their practice.
Andrew Duff MSGLD, chair of the SGLD
The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) is a specialist group of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), made up of members of landscapers and garden designers who meet rigorous standards of quality and professionalism. Here are some of the initiatives that the APL are involved in, which not only help our members but also ensure customers receive the highest quality.
BS7533-102 British Standard (clause four)
• This British Standard is an industryrecognised best practice for high-quality and durable pavement installations. It’s a daunting document when you first see it, with over 140 pages, but the most relevant part of it is clause four. It is the first of its kind for traffic categories 3 and below, which is most commonly domestic.
• To support members, the APL is recording a series of podcasts featuring APL Chair, David Strows; chair of the British Standards Committee, David Burton and garden designer, Mark Gregory (Landform Consultants). They will explore the standard, explain what the different areas mean, and more importantly, what that means to members and how they can utilise the standard in the quality work they produce.
Business development programme
• We run an APL business development programme which features a series of two-day financial courses to support members in understanding their numbers.
• We believe that running a business is as much a skill as laying paving or building a deck, so there will also be a series of online and face-to-face business-related sessions coming soon.
The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) has recently launched two major initiatives to upskill young professionals.
Launch success challenge
• An eighteen months-long product launch project where young members took an un-named Begonia from breeder to market. Participants worked on identity, packaging, marketing, photography and commercial strategy – culminating in a live product launch at Gardeners’ World Live.
YPHA Management Development Programme
• A 75% subsidised, nine-day leadership course delivered in partnership with Cedar Associates. The programme covers strategic planning, communication, people management, conflict handling, and personal impact. Open to both committee members and the wider YPHA network.
Both initiatives are designed to develop practical, real-world skills that are often overlooked in traditional horticulture
– where people who like plants are often taught more about plants. Crucially, they also form part of YPHA’s plan to ensure the group’s continuity beyond its founding leadership –equipping the next generation to step up with confidence.
Natalie Boynton, co-founder of the YPHA
Regular assessment
• The APL is the only landscaping scheme operator of TrustMark, a government initiative that promotes professional trade to consumers. Members are regularly inspected and agree to follow a customer charter with clients.
• The assessments that are a requirement of our Trustmark relationship not only provide a vehicle for accrediting our members, but they are vital for keeping members up to date with current legislation and practices.
Support of our Membership Academies and Consultants
• By including these businesses in our membership, and guiding visitors to them via our website, we enhance our members' skills through third-party partnerships.
Phil Tremayne, APL general manager
At 23 years old, Fraser Sheridan has climbed the career ladder from a trainee on the tools, to a team leader at Surrey-based landscaping company; The Outdoor Room
WORDS: HOLLY CHAPMAN
After finishing secondary school, Fraser Sheridan had no concrete plans nor ideas as to where to go. All he knew was that he wanted to work outdoors. His first steps into the world of horticulture were choosing a countryside management course at Merrist Wood College in Guildford. Initially leaning toward becoming a ranger as a national trustee, he completed his first year of training before switching to a landscaping course in his second year. At 18 years old, landscaping company The Outdoor Room decided to take a chance on Sheridan as a trainee. The now-23year-old has worked his way up the ranks, with every intention to climb higher.
Planting the seed
As his college course drew to a close, with zero site experience and minimal knowledge of the industry, Sheridan applied for The Outdoor Room at an entry-level role in 2020. “From my first day, I loved it,” explains the now-team leader, three years strong within the company. “I just kept getting more and more
opportunities to learn and develop,” he adds.
Sheridan looks back at his early days fondly, thanking now-director James Sponder for showing him the ropes. He is also grateful for Mark Britton, managing director, for trusting him since the beginning.
From my first day, I loved it. I just kept getting more and more opportunities to learn and develop
Now, having been at the company for five years, he spends his days managing deliveries, working on programmes and ensuring smooth communication between designers, contractors and his team. An invaluable link between the office and his clients, Sheridan has also been named a Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30:
The Next Generation, in association with Green-tech award winner this year.
Starting as a trainer and working his way up to foreman, Sheridan’s leadership role combines people skills with practicalities and quality control.“I love the fine details, and I just have a real natural eye for it. That's what you've got to really look out for to make sure that you actually are a good foreman and succeed.”
This is a skill picked up from The Outdoor Room, as Sheridan explains that both Sponder and Britton had faith in him from a young age.
Cementing roots
Finding a real passion for hard landscaping, Sheridan clarifies that this is what he enjoys the most. Currently, he is working on his first real-life project combining both soft and hard landscaping.
They've given me so much trust and so I’d like to work my way up. I’m very happy to stay here and potentially look at a director role in the future
Since December, Sheridan has worked on the domestic landscaping project, featuring paving, a swimming pool, planting and irrigation.
Team leader for The Addleshaw Goddard: Freedom to Flourish Garden, designed by Laura and Joe Carey, Sheridan contributed to its immense success at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. The garden picked up a gold medal, RHS Chelsea Small Garden of the Year and the Best Construction Award.
Inspired by the landscapes of north Norfolk, the garden featured a tidal water feature, careful planting and hard landscapes reflective of Norfolk sea cliffs. The young landscaper assures us that he has found a home at The Outdoor Room. “My body's not flagging yet out on site. I'm loving it, so I’ll carry on building these gardens with the best quality possible for interesting designers and clients for as long as I can,” he explains.
Inspired by Sponder’s journey, a foreman who joined the company at 16-yearsold and has very recently been promoted to a director role, Sheridan hopes to follow in his footsteps within the company. "They've given me so much trust and so I'd like to work my way up. I’m very happy to stay here and potentially look at a director role in the future. Jim [James Sponder] has taught me since I joined the company. His path is something I look at.”
Sheridan discusses what could be next for him as he grows older. As he clarified, he’s very comfortable working on site at the moment. However, after he’s made a career in landscaping as a director, Sheridan looks at a profession later in life as a garden designer. “My landscaping knowledge behind me will really help once I can't do the physical stuff anymore,” he points out. However, before his bones grow tiresome and the grey hairs peek through, the foreman also decides it’s time for the industry to encourage other young people to follow a similar path as his own.
Sheridan recognises that he slipped into the industry with little knowledge and reflects on the trust that The Outdoor Room has placed in him. “I was just a kid on the Xbox and now I absolutely love what I do whilst being outdoors,” he beams. Something that he never thought was an option, landscaping had quickly become part of Sheridan’s life plan. With trust, a person can develop into the industry’s very best.
Warm golden yellow
• Betula nigra
• Carya cordiformis
• Carya illinoinensis
• Cladrastis kentukea
• Juglans nigra
Unlock autumn’s most brilliant colours by understanding the seasonal secrets behind nature’s grandest show
y late August, the first trees begin to show the tell-tale signs of their autumn finery. How spectacular the “Indian summer” will be in any given year depends largely on weather conditions and microclimates.
Creating a design that showcases striking autumn colour is entirely possible – but selecting the right tree requires more than choosing a species name from a list. Achieving the most brilliant foliage display means understanding and working with a range of natural factors.
The dazzling hues we associate with autumn are the result of complex biochemical processes, tightly linked to the changing of the seasons. With a sound grasp of these processes, it becomes possible to select trees specifically for their autumn colour potential. Key influences include day and
night temperatures, soil type and moisture levels, humidity, and light intensity.
The character of the preceding summer also plays a role: was it warm and dry, or cool and damp? And was the transition to colder weather abrupt or gradual? Each of these factors influence how richly a tree will colour in the autumn.
Broadly speaking, trees that produce all their leaves in spring – such as maples (Acer) – begin their autumn transformation at the outer edges of the crown, with the change gradually moving inwards.
By contrast, trees that generate foliage throughout the growing season – including birch (Betula) and larch (Larix) – start colouring in the heart of the crown, with the effect working outward before the leaves are shed.
The point at which colour change begins depends on how much water is transported from root to crown. In some species this is uneven, which can result in branches glowing in different shades at the same time.
Other species show little or no autumn colour, simply dropping their leaves still green – the
If you are choosing a tree primarily for its autumn colour, the most reliable approach is to view it at that time of year. Only then can you fully appreciate the range and intensity of hues. You are warmly welcome to visit our nursery this autumn and see for yourself!
common alder (Alnus glutinosa) and common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) are classic examples.
The formula to an Indian summer
As a rule, the finest colours are produced when warm, sunny days are followed by cool, crisp nights. Too much rain can wash away pigments, while strong winds can strip the trees of their foliage before the show has even begun. In short, it is those dry, clear spells of weather that bring about the truly spectacular “Indian summer”.
Light yellow
Styphnolobium japonicum
• Gymnocladus dioicus Fraxinus pennsylvanica ‘Summit’
• Celtis sinensis
Phellodendron amurense
• Acer triflorum
• Zanthoxylum simulans
• Crataegus × persimilis ‘Splendens’
• Koelreuteria paniculata
• P yrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’
Fiery red
• Acer × freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’
• Ulmus ‘Frontier’
• Parrotia persica
• Acer ‘Pacific Sunset’
• Nyssa sylvatica
• Quercus imbricaria
• Quercus phellos
• Quercus palustris
• Zelkova serrata
• Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Applause’
• Nyssa sinensis,
• Parrotia persica ‘Bella’
Visit ebben.nl/en/ or scan here for more information:
Price: £299 per company (includes up to five people)
The Millboard Approved Installer Scheme equips professionals with specialist training in its premium decking and cladding systems. Through expert-led theory and practical sessions, installers gain the skills and confidence to deliver exceptional results. Certification brings recognition, rewards, and visibility, helping landscapers grow their business while ensuring consistent quality and peace of mind.
Benefits
• Featured as an Approved Installer on the Millboard website
• Access to the ProPoints rewards scheme
• Includes a professional sales toolkit
Activities and Insights
• Theory-based training on Millboard systems
• Hands-on practical installation session
• Post-course review of real installations leading to certification
Find out more: email: installers@ millboard.com or call 024 7643 9943 millboard.com/en-gb
Price: Membership scheme: free Training days: £25 + VAT
Becoming a part of the Caribbean Blinds trade installer scheme means UK professionals gain exclusive access to free training, bespoke sales and marketing literature, expert technical advice, product specifications, technical drawings, product photography, premium external shading solutions and an industry-leading five-year guarantee.
Benefits:
Price: Varies
Wildflower Turf’s flexible training scheme supports landscape professionals with tailored sessions covering Wildflower Turf, MeadowScape Pro, and Seed. Combining hands-on practical work, classroom-based learning, and expert guidance on biodiversity net gain (BNG), the training equips participants with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to successfully deliver wildflower projects across all sectors.
Build your competitive edge with these certified installer schemes and hands-on training days
• Five-year guarantee
• Products are rigorously tested to meet or exceed stringent quality and safety standards
• Installers receive certificate of competency following training
• In-house trade team offer sales, marketing, technical and lead generation support
• Sales and marketing product catalogues, product sample kits and in-store product display stands available to all customers
Activities and Insights
• Installer Training Academy: The two training courses cover how to correctly survey, install, commission and maintain all products. It is a hands-on experience that allows delegates to see the meticulous detail that goes into manufacturing the external blinds, awnings and louvred roof pergolas by Caribbean Blinds. cbsolarshading.co.uk
Benefits
• Training that suits different learning styles and project requirements
• Practical and theoretical knowledge of Wildflower Turf, Seed, and MeadowScape Pro
• Clarity on applying BNG in real-world projects
• Tailored content based on participant goals or experience level
• Ongoing expert support post-training
Activities and Insights
• Hands-on product installation training across all formats
• Classroom-style sessions covering product selection, maintenance, and design principles
• In- depth guidance on achieving BNG targets with wildflower landscapes wildflowerturf.co.uk
Bradstone Assured Landscaper scheme
Price: One year - £360
Two years - £540
Multiple payment options available
The Bradstone Assured scheme connects homeowners with a nationwide network of meticulously vetted, professional landscapers. It ensures every member is skilled, insured, and committed to high standards. By choosing a Bradstone Assured Landscaper, clients can confidently transform their outdoor space with the peace of mind that their project is guaranteed to be showstopping and built to last.
Benefits
• Guaranteed Projects: Every job undertaken by a Bradstone assured member comes with a 10-year guarantee on Bradstone productsexcluding Peak- and a five-year guarantee on the installation.
• Vetted and Trusted Network: Bradstone conducts thorough skills and quality assessments, reference checks, and verifies insurance, ensuring clients are in safe hands.
• Professional Development: Bradstone provides ongoing training and support, keeping its assured landscapers up to date on the latest advice and trends to help them stay at the forefront of the industry.
• Direct Leads: Bradstone promotes the scheme to customers, driving qualified leads to members through its "Find a Landscaper" tool.
• Reward Points:
Bradstone Assured members can earn reward points for purchasing Bradstone products - redeemable against a range of reward items. bradstone.com
Price: Free
Pre-Installation Consultation - £199 (refundable with a pool purchase)
The EVi Trade installer program streamlines the installation of luxury one-piece domestic swimming pools for trade professionals. It simplifies the process through pre-fitted shells, pre-wired plant rooms, guided technical support, and online training resources.
Benefits
• Access to trade pricing, with savings of up to 30%
• Inb ound retail lead connections after becoming an approved installer
• Full technical support and access to digital technical drawings and SketchUp files
• Ongoing aftercare, assistance and servicing for clients provided by EVi
• Additional on-site technical support days if required
Activities and Insights
• Guided Preparation: Stage-by-stage checklists and a pre-delivery checklist ensure the site team is ready.
• Guided Delivery and Installation: The program provides on-site assistance on delivery day when an EVi representative will be on-site to assist with and sign off on key stages.
• Plumbing the Circulation System: An EVi representative will connect the plumbing between the pool and the plant room and perform a pressure test. Ensuring all connections are secure and watertight before the pool is integrated evi.co.uk
Price: subject to participants, priced on individual basis for content covered
Grow Your Expertise with Robin Tacchi Plants’ CPD Days. Step inside the world of professional plant production with Robin Tacchi Plants’ immersive CPD days.
Designed for landscape professionals, architects, and garden designers, these sessions go beyond the ordinary nursery visit, offering hands-on practical training, exclusive insights into plant production, and award-winning industry knowledge to support project success from concept to completion.
• Participants leave with a stronger grasp of sustainable horticulture and confidence in plant specification
• Gain a clear understanding of how legislation, importing, and tendering processes impact real-world projects
• Access to insider knowledge, direct from experts, while building valuable connections across the sector
Activities and Insights
• Hands- on Nursery Tours: See irrigation systems and alternative planting methods in action.
• Sustainability in Practice: Explore peat-free trials, recycling principles, and eco-friendly growing mediums.
• Behind the Scenes of Supply: Learn the tender process, contract growing, and supplier collaboration for success. robintacchiplants.com
Developing the Next Generation of Managers
In landscaping, the typical career path is clear: start on the tools, gain technical experience and become the reliable “go-to” person on site. For many, that’s where the journey ends. But if we want landscaping businesses to thrive, not just survive, we need a more deliberate route from doing the work to leading the team.
Upskilling isn’t just about sharpening technical skills - straighter lines, faster installs, safer machinery handling. It’s also about recognising who has the potential to step into management, preparing them for leadership, and supporting them so both they and the business benefit. And at the heart of it lies a key question: do we mould the person to the role, or the role to the person?
Spotting Potential Early
Too often, businesses promote the person who is “best at the job.” But the best landscaper isn’t automatically the best manager. Management requires more than technical know-how - it calls for communication, problem-solving, and foresight.
What should you look for?
• Curiosity: the person who asks why things are done a certain way.
• Initiative: the one who notices problems before they escalate.
• Supportiveness: the team member who naturally mentors others or boosts morale in tough conditions. These qualities often surface long before someone applies for a management role. Spotting them early gives you a head start in nurturing leadership.
requiresManagement more than technical know- how - it calls for communication, problem-solving, and foresight
Responsibility Before Authority
A common misstep is promoting someone overnight: one day they’re “on the tools,” the next they’re “in charge.” That sudden leap can be daunting for them and frustrating for the team. Instead, think of management development as gradual steps: Give responsibility, not authority. Start small: a client relationship, a piece of equipment, or a process. Build confidence gradually. Expand their responsibilities as they succeed. Support through mentoring. Regular check-ins help them learn without feeling left alone.
Layered responsibility
creates a pathway into management, not a plunge into the deep end.
So, should you mould the person to the management role, or adapt the role to fit the person? In my opinion, the answer is a balance. A business needs structure - roles can’t be endlessly reshaped. But ignoring individual strengths (and weaknesses) sets people up to fail.
For example:
• Someone strong with people but weaker with admin may thrive if supported by good systems or part-time office help.
• Someone detail-driven but less confident with clients could excel in operational management while the owner continues to handle key client relationships. The aim is alignment: keeping structure in place while flexing enough for individuals to succeed.
The Four Pillars of Management
When I work with business owners, I use a simple Business Management Framework that focuses on four key pillars: Strategic,
Customer, Operations, and People. And for me it applies just as much to developing managers as it does to running a company.
• Strategic: Can they see how their role connects to the bigger picture?
• Customer: Do they understand what clients value and how to protect it?
• Op erations: Can they manage systems and processes, not just tasks?
• People: Do they know how to motivate, guide, and handle conflict constructively?
Few new managers arrive strong in all four areas. But with training and support, they can grow into them.
Training Beyond the Tools
back from firefighting and focus on growth.
Upskilling isn’t just about individual careers. It’s about building a stronger, more sustainable business.
Landscaping is as much about people as it is about tools. Tools build gardens - but people build businesses.
Upskilling isn’t just about individual careers. It’s about building a stronger, more sustainable business
Technical training is essential, but management development requires different skills:
• Communicating clearly and giving feedback.
• Managing time and priorities.
• Understanding costs, margins, and budgets.
• Shif ting from “I do the work” to “I enable others to do it well.” These don’t just happen naturally. Structured learning - training, mentoring, or coaching - is vital if you want managers to succeed.
Investing in management development pays off across the business:
• Stronger loyalty: People who see a future with you are more likely to stay.
• Better client experience: Skilled managers keep projects running smoothly.
• Owner freedom: With confident managers, the owner can step
If you want your company to grow, don’t leave management development to chance. Spot potential early and give responsibility before authority. Flex roles without losing structure, and always support growth through the lenses of Strategy, Customer, Operations, and People.
Get this right, and you won’t just promote your best landscaper. You’ll create the next generation of leaders to take your business forward.
I'M
Stead is an accomplished Business Consultant & Coach with three decades of experience at one of the UK's most respected brands. In 2021, he established Steady Consulting to partner with small business owners, helping them build stronger, more sustainable businesses – benefiting their customers, employees, and aligning with their personal aspirations. Stead focuses his expertise on the horticulture and landscaping industry – providing tailored, hands–on guidance, strategic advice, and dedicated support. He also brought his expertise to the Pro Landscaper Business Awards as a judge. To book a free discovery session, scan the QR code.
steadyconsulting.co.uk
At almost every gathering of the professional landscape clans we hear the same subject come up whenever the question of ‘what’s holding the landscape industry back?’ is put forward. Depending on the audience and remit, the responses can be mixed but one always appears – the skills shortage.
This happened again at the Pro Landscaper Boardroom Briefing recently, and people mentioned a few well thoughtout schemes such as #ChooseLandscape and Go-Landscape which rightfully champion the premise of going into schools, colleges and universities to spread the message of landscape, both design and construction.
This has been the mainstay of the drive for recruitment for the past few years, but still, we seem to be asking the same question. How do we get people into the landscape industry?
We all know that landscape requires a particular mindset, a love of the outside, a desire to create and to leave a legacy, as well as a tolerance for the extremes of the British weather, acceptance of being undervalued financially and having your years of knowledge under-appreciated.
We all remember one former prime minister equating gardening with being the most menial of jobs which you could do if you were no good at anything else, but the legacy of that view is what we must now live with.
You, like me, probably cannot attend a party or barbecue without someone asking your advice about pot plants, lawn care or unwanted plant pests. This is probably true whether you are an apprentice at a small landscape company or the CEO of a large landscape
As demand rises, Brian Hawin says the industry must rethink recruitment and training to bridge the skills shortage
What if we look in places where the competition is less, but the need for what we offer is more?
architecture practice. People like landscapes, people like plants, people like gardening but as a career… it’s most often a brisk ‘no thank you’.
Most of us who care about our industry have gone into schools, talked to students and in under half an hour have tried to explain the complexities and scope of this wonderful industry of ours, only for the next parent, careers fair speaker or professional on the podium to be someone who steals your limelight with something sprinkled with star quality.
At my son’s school careers fair, it was former Dutch International forward and Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink talking about football coaching – an extreme example but it highlights the difficulty of selling landscape planning or contract mowing as a career.
It’s a forum where we are competing with interesting, potentially well-paid and fascinating careers. I could be wrong, but we just don’t seem to be getting the uptake we
need from this approach.
What though, if we think outside the box?
What if we look in places where the competition is less, but the need for what we offer is more?
What if we look outside the schools, and instead look for the people who need us instead of chasing people who need persuading into the landscape industry?
By pricing to the bottom, some elements of the landscape construction industry do us as a whole no favours and skills disappear as a result
Why do I say this? Because 40-plus years ago that person was me.
I went to grammar school, I did my A levels and was expected to go to university, but I didn’t. I messed up and fell out of the system. After two years of dropping out, a friend of mine with a garden business asked if I wanted to help him for a week.
Saying yes was the beginning of working regularly with him, my own business, getting a degree, doing the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, lecturing, being on TV with Alan Titchmarsh and eventually becoming a CMLI more than 30 years later. All because I was given an opportunity by a friend when no one else would employ a longhaired oik with no A levels.
There are dozens of organisations around the country who try their hardest to gather up people who fall out of the system to stop them treading the wrong path, mentoring, caring for them, helping them.
There is one such organisation in Nottingham called Switch Up and it is run by Marcellus Baz BEM – a former boxer and BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero. Centred around a boxing gym it helps children and teenagers find the right path, to give them hope and opportunity. Baz fights hard to give these people the opportunities denied to them by the education system and by their circumstances, so maybe we should, as an industry, seek out organisations like Switch Up and ask them if they could help fill our shortages. Whether it’s a site apprentice or starting out in a landscape architecture practice learning the ropes or working in a plant nursery, we have the opportunities and we have the ability to give somebody hope. Isn’t that
worth a thought, a phone call, or even a Google search. Unfortunately though, once we have recruited the people to do the work, we are faced with the task of keeping the skills they need within the industry alive. There are many drivers to creating this problem, but none of them are straightforward to solve.
The physical skills for site work need teachers, mentors and experience of the skills involved and these are becoming few and far between. So much of what I see doing development site audits is driven by a ‘race to the bottom’ pricing structure that means that skills get priced out. A skilled paver costs money, but Barry and his mate from the pub are cheap and unskilled. The paving goes in, but it won’t last, and the developer walks away before it becomes evident. By pricing to the bottom, some elements of the landscape construction industry do us as a whole no favours and skills disappear as a result. Site audits themselves are a particular concern for a different reason. The lack of experience in landscape architecture to conduct site audits –indeed to actually know what to detail – is born out of the attractiveness of design and build contracts to project managers.
The scenario is simple; the design is complete and delivered to the client and the project manager has a choice; tender for construction and retain the landscape architect to supervise works, or tender for design and build and save money on the landscape architect and the contractor self-audits.
This results in the next generation of landscape architects not knowing how to audit and not understanding the specifications they are detailing. The question now is, how do we pass on these skills if they aren’t being utilised?
I'M SPEAKING AT FUTURESCAPE THIS YEAR!
Hawtin, associate landscape architect at Huskisson Brown Associates and a chartered member of the LI, has worked in the landscape, development, and forestry sectors. He now advises clients on achieving BNG. Hawtin authored the Barratt Developments Landscape Handbook, designed and managed award-winning landscape projects, and lectured on Garden Design and Landscape Architecture at university. huskissonbrown.co.uk
Following a successful debut in 2024, we are excited for the return of the activity zone – bigger, bolder and more interactive than ever! Sponsored by ASB GlassFloor, the dynamic showcase promotes the inclusivity and accessibility of physical activity. Visitors will be able to see, test and engage with cutting-edge equipment and solutions shaping the future of public spaces. Why just observe when you can participate? Only at Public Spaces Expo!
Pro Landscaper on Tour hit the road again, as Boom & Bonheur takes the team behind the scenes of its vast nurseries across Germany and The Netherlands
Home to 700 hectares of trees across Germany, the Netherlands and France, Boom & Bonheur supplies trees to projects all over the world. From the clean streets of humid Singapore to the colder areas of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Boom & Bonheur’s trees are a sight to behold.
A company founded back in 1895 by the Lappen family in Germany, it was initially named Lappen Baumschule – German for ‘tree nursery’ - before rebranding as Lappen Tree Nursery to better attract the UK market. After expanding over the years, the company unfortunately reached insolvency in 2016 due to a particularly tough market period, before being sold to the Overlack family in 2021. Picking back up under the new management of Peter Overlack and his siblings Anne and Eva, the company started to gain momentum again and began expanding across international markets, whilst also
founding its nurseries in France and The Netherlands. Now in 2025, the company looks after a total of 150 employees.
As part of Pro Landscaper on Tour, a cohort of select landscapes and garden designers accompanied the Pro Landscaper team for its second trip on tour. Welcomed by a downpour from Eindhoven's skies, the team stepped off the plane and headed straight into the safe hands of marketing and communications manager Sabine Theobald, general manager Martien Mantje and account manager Teije de Haan. First on the agenda – a tour of the German growing fields.
Located in the Lower Rhine Bay region along the DutchGerman border, its climate and soil provide an excellent location for a tree nursery. The existing soil in combination with Boom & Bonheur’s ecological cultivation measures promote a healthy root system as a base for stimulating growth.
Heading to the original Lappen nursery in Nettetal, where we explored the head offices and front lawn, known as its ‘garden centre’. An accessible space for customers, the garden centre enables Boom & Bonheur clientele to see a portion of its tree catalogue; from a Taxus baccata and Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' – all located quite literally on the office’s doorstep. Just a few minutes away, we were then guided down rows of fruit, topiary and deciduous trees, large, small, multi-stemmed and standard – it’s safe to say the trees wowed the crowd.
“It's been fascinating to come to the nursery, look at the trees, share the experience with other people in the industry, make great connections, but primarily just see lots of fabulous trees,” shares Rosemary Coldstream, lead designer of her company Rosemary Coldstream Garden Design.
The nursery provides opportunities for clients to see Boom & Bonheur’s collection firsthand. Not only does this stimulate connections, but it gives designers, landscapes and private clients alike an opportunity to see for themselves the products they’ll be purchasing. As a means of inspiration, Ben Walker, managing director of Walker Landscape & Design, says “the trip has expanded my expectations and design capabilities, and inspired what I can do with my planting schemes.” Walker adds that someone could never appreciate the scale and quality of the nursery without visiting, which is why it has been so worthwhile.
It's been fascinating to come to the nursery, look at the trees, share the experience with other people in the industry, make great connections, but primarily just see lots of fabulous trees
Rosemary Coldstream, lead designer and owner, Rosemary Coldstream Garden Design
Growing approximately 1,500 different varieties of tree, the nursery has an estimated 280k trees in total across its entirety.
In addition to the range of trees Boom & Bonheur grow across its sites, the group also had the opportunity to witness the company’s unique machinery up close. From large lorries and cranes at the loading bay in Germany, to ‘Big Dumper’ at the Dutch fields, we saw it all. During the busy season in the summer, 25 to 30 lorries are loaded with trees every day.
Fascinated by the tree’s journey from being planted firmly in the ground to being driven across country, the Boom & Bonheur team demonstrated how the one a kind ‘Big Dumper’ is used to dig up the larger trees without damaging them. Picked up by Overlack at a Public Spaces Expo in Germany, the 30-tonne machine has been
customised specifically for the trees grown here.
Just a stone's throw away into the Dutch border, we explored the fields located in The Netherlands. Perfectly parallel lines of trees were cascading across every field. From the likes of Populus alba ‘Raket’ and ‘Nivea’, to Prunus avium ‘Plena’ and Pyrus communis ‘Beech Hill’, the list continues. Spaced in accordance with the sun, the team’s method enables trees to grow its crown symmetrically. The trees are transplanted every four years, consistently pruned and cared for throughout their lifetime. If a tree unfortunately falls victim to disease or simply dies, Boom & Bonheur works with a company close by to repurpose the unaffected bark to create compost.
The trip has expanded my expectations and design capabilities, and inspired what I can do with my planting schemes
Ben Walker, managing director, Walker Landscape & Design
Unfortunately, due to the vast amount of rain in the days prior, this could not be done on the soil. Instead, we watched the metal claws expand, twist and levitate as though it was carrying a tree. According to Peter Donegan of Peter Donegan Garden Design “I'm literally like a kid in a sweet shop here,” he says, adding,“it has been a real humbling privilege to see how the trees are grown and cared for firsthand”.
Other trees grown by Boom & Bonheur include Tilia (lime), Acer (maple), Fagus (beech), Quercus (oak) and Nyssa (tupelo) which have already started to offer the autumnal shades of orange and yellow, making for an autumn wonderland. Some species cultivated and bred exclusively by them are grown with the branches curved and the ends buried into the ground, which is all done by hand.
I think that we have left an impression on most of the attendants. Hopefully in the future they can use our products in any upcoming projects that they have
Martien Mantje, general manager, Boom & Bonheur
Most recently, Boom & Bonheur supplied the trees for the Boodles Raindance Garden at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show, designed by Dr Catherine MacDonald. Baz Grainger of Landform Consultants curated the tree planting palette to comprise of species such as Zelkova and Pinus sylvestris, which are known for their flood and drought resilience, as well as their capability to thrive even in higher temperatures.
Celebrating its 130th birthday this year, the corporate group is looking to the future where it hopes to expand its international client base, while also making exciting plans to relocate its headquarters in 2026 to a former mansion, ‘Haus Caen’,. nestled within a historic park in Straelen.
It’s not just water and plants at this point. They have technology for irrigation that you wouldn’t see anywhere else
Jake Thorne, director, Green Genie Landscapes
As the climate continues to shift and our lands falling victim to harsher summers and a warmer average climate, Mantje highlights the necessity of native trees that have the genetics of somewhere hotter in order to survive in a changing climate. For this reason, Boom & Bonheur use different root stock for trees destined for a variety of places, highlighting its ability to provide trees internationally, as it has done thus far.
As the trip draws to a close, Mantje reflects on hosting Pro Landscaper on Tour: “I think that we have left an impression on most of the attendants. Hopefully in the future they can use our products in any upcoming projects that they have.”
Marc Lane, director of Landscapia, says the outcome of this trip reflects on those who joined: “We've got the same passion for planting and bringing everybody together who's got that common interest makes us buzz off each other. The people that have taken us around also have that same interest. We have all been able to thrive off each other.”
An “eye-opening” experience, describes Jake Thorne, one half of the Green Genie brothers, he commends the Boom & Bonheur team for their operation practices, from neatness to hospitality.“It’s not just water and plants at this point. They have technology for irrigation that you wouldn’t see anywhere else,” he expands. The new app-controlled drip irrigation system ensures the growth of its plants with direct interaction with the soil. After installing over 192km of drip systems, the growers can be sure that the trees are still maintaining growth even during a dry period.
Consilium Hortus’ Samuel Moore also comments: “The highlight for me is obviously the trees - seeing the full range, the scale, and how instant these trees are, and how they can benefit our projects back home.”
Supplying to gardens, parks, city projects, roof gardens and private estates, Boom & Bonheur has created a legacy for growing and providing high-quality and well-loved trees to be used by garden designers and landscapers alike. Guaranteed to look after you from start to finish, speak to Martien Mantje about arranging a visit to the site: Martien Mantje, +31 6 25125423, martien.mantje@boombonheur.com.
INTERESTED IN PRO LANDSCAPER ON TOUR VISITING YOU?
The new event offering from Pro Landscaper brings together landscapers and garden designers with the industry’s leading suppliers, offering a unique opportunity to network with fellow industry professionals and learn more about some of the innovative products available on the market.
Get in touch with Luke Chaplin to find out more: luke.chaplin@eljays44.com 01903 777582
From ancient monuments to modern pavements, stone has always stood the test of time, but what can we do to improve its carbon footprint? David Strows and David Burton explain...
For millennia, mankind has had a natural synergy with stone. From the earliest inhabitants, who adapted pieces of stone presented to them in weathered hillside outcrops, as building materials and simple tools, to the Bronze and Iron Ages when the advancement in working of metal enabled the creation of hand tools which could split and fashion stone into more sophisticated forms and shapes.
Our instinctual fascination with natural stone has not just been the result of its practical potential; natural stone has always held a profound significance for us. This is made obvious from the colossal efforts that went into sourcing and transporting the stone used to create structures such as Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids.
transport the stone needed for a house for hundreds or thousands of miles. The local availability of stone and the prevailing weather conditions drove the evolution of design.
The ancient Greeks found marble close to hand and easy to fashion, their style of building evolved using vertical pillars and horizontal lintels while paving mostly featured large slabs.
The Romans’ mastery of engineering gave us the arch. Finding outcrops of granite instead of marble as the Roman Empire spread northwards, the smaller pieces of stone more difficult to work drove the evolution of this different architectural style.
As man’s knowledge and skills evolved through the ages, our use of stone became more sophisticated but evolved differently in response to what types of stone were available
David Strows
As man’s knowledge and skills evolved through the ages, our use of stone became more sophisticated but evolved differently in response to what types of stone were available to a society unable to casually
Importantly the arch also became the basis of the most durable pavement design, which endures to this day.
All these achievements were the result of a physical interaction between the artisan and the raw material, from the extraction at the quarry to the transportation
and the detailed sculpting and installation. The whole process had a low carbon footprint and was exceptionally low in waste material as almost all the extracted material was used in some form, whether it was for walls, roadways or Roman mortar and concrete. Even up until recent decades, quarries were employing the skills of quarrymen to manually split stone such as granite, to create kerbs and setts with the use of a hammer and wedges.
The multitude of products now available to us from around the world and their widespread use is proof that our affinity with natural stone still exists and is as relevant as ever.
However, there is no doubt that modern bulk extraction methods and machine processing, combined with cheap transportation around the globe, has the potential to negatively impact the environment and we have a duty to make the most efficient use of this natural resource. We should strive to understand how we can contribute to the responsible and sustainable use of natural stone in our work.
“Understanding natural stone and how best to work with it is not a black art, it’s a science” Simply by re-engaging with natural stone and understanding its properties, we can make a huge difference. In recent years, stone has become portrayed as a mystery by some, and
this has led to a question that is heard quite often, “which is best – porcelain or stone?”
Of course, this question has no simple answer without considering the application and with which type of stone we are comparing. In reality, all products and all materials have both plus points and potential downsides. So, what are the important properties of the widely-used natural stone products and what should we take into consideration when choosing products? There are three major types of stone to consider; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic; the chemistry and mechanical properties of each vary, based on how they were formed.
• Igneous stone is formed by the solidification of molten magma; it is typically very hard and dense. Examples include granite, gabbro and basalt. Most but not all igneous stone has a distinctly crystalline structure but does not have a distinct grain and is equally strong in all directions, therefore sometimes being referred to as a “free stone”.
• Sedimentary stone is typically formed by the accumulation, packing and sometimes cementing together of mineral particles, a slow process often happening in a body of water. This type of stone typically has an identifiable grain, rather like timber. These stone types are generally stronger in one direction than another and are naturally “slabby”. Less hard and strong than a granite, examples include sandstone and limestone.
Britain, such as Yorkstone, Caithness stone, whinstone, granite, quartzite and limestone.
At the same time, we should understand that the cost and environmental impact of sea transport can be minimal, less than road transport over much smaller distances, so the environmental impact of transport is a complex discussion.
Another major consideration is our choice of installation techniques. The most common form of installation for domestic paving is bound construction, using concrete and mortar. In the grand scheme of things, bound construction is a relatively recent development. Carried out well, this form of installation is very successful and will provide a long service life.
The multitude of products now available to us from around the world and their widespread use is proof that our affinity with natural stone still exists and is as relevant as ever
David Burton
• Metamorphic stone has been altered long after its original formation. Limestone superheated by nearby volcanic action forms marble. Granite reheated and subjected to pressure and shear forces becomes a gneiss, with fascinating swirling patterns. Sandstone subjected to intense geological pressure forms quartzite. Mudstone similarly forms slate, and schists have a similar history.
What else can we do to reduce our carbon footprint and ensure longevity? Well, of course, we can consider sourcing stone products locally to reduce transportation costs, and there are some excellent products available to us within
However, there are many reasons why it could fail. Incorrect assessment of the properties of the stone, water ingress into the construction layers, environmental conditions during installation, inconsistent mortar, etc., this type of construction can also make the re-use of materials more challenging.
In some cases, it is just easier to break it up and recycle as crushed aggregate than attempt to thoroughly remove mortar from each paving unit.
Unbound installation offers more flexibility
For millennia, roadways and paths were constructed without the use of any hydraulic binders, and the fact that some of those roads are still in place today is testament to the strength of this type of installation.
As the units are not bound, there is less chance of surface staining due to wicking, there is no requirement for mixing mortar, and the units can be installed, later removed and reused relatively easily. The units are also laid on crushed rock, which is a by-product of the quarrying process.
This type of installation promotes a healthy reclaimed stone market which in turn reduces the overall footprint of the product. Contrary to the assumption that this form of installation is inferior to a bound construction, for millennia, roadways and paths were constructed without the use of any hydraulic binders, and the fact that some of those roads are still in place today is testament to their longevity.
The arguments in favour of bound Unbound construction generally demands the use of much larger, heavier paving units; these are more expensive although there is a cost saving by not using cement. Here is the main reason that bound construction is mostly preferred by designers and investors – successful, unbound construction depends on skills; our skills. The solution lies in our hands, quite literally. The skills and experience of a professional landscaper make unbound construction possible and viable.
David Strows is the current vice chair of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and a member of the BS7533 committee. Based in Buckinghamshire, he owned a design and build landscaping company for 30 years and is now an independent consultant and mediator. artformlandscapes.co.uk
DAVID BURTON
David Burton is an engineer in three disciplines, mechanical, marine and civil engineering with 25 years' experience in managing quarries and dimension stone production, masonry and pavement design and installation, with ongoing involvement in professional development for designers and vocational training for operatives.
Noel Brock continues his exploration of the UK’s emerging pests and plants, the hidden causes behind them, and how we’re learning to respond
The clean air acts of the 1950s, followed by frequent incremental laws to suppress atmospheric pollution from fossil fuels in cars, heating, power generation etc., have worked! Climate change caused by CO2 gallops ahead unimpeded, but levels of those other fossil fuel gases like nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide etc., have fallen to nearly pre -industrial levels.
Mosses, and their fellow travellers the lichens, were nearly exterminated in our cities because of coal burning pollution with these gases so long ago that even the oldest Britons grew up thinking that this moss free world was normal.
Now mosses have recovered everywhere, in dazzling biodiversity, and “new” (but actually
returning) species are being added to London’s species list every year. These beautiful, harmless and fascinating tiny plants are a very welcome rediscovered bio – diversity.
So why are there literally dozens of new products called “moss killers” on the market? This is entirely due to the above confusion between mosses and algae.
CATCH UP ON PART ONE IN THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE HERE:
The recent fashion for temperate rainforests, mainly thanks to the magnificent book ‘The Lost Rainforests of Britain’ by Guy Shrubsole, should encourage some brave landscapers to attempt mossy rainforest designs in the rainy West Country or Scotland. It would be good if rainforest moss gardens were not limited to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. There are numerous other examples of how the 'linear” style of garden building unintentionally favours the abundance of pests and diseases.
Numerous species have been arriving via the nursery stock route, and I'd dare say in the treads of tyres for years, and as a result the slug fauna of the UK has become very dynamic
For example, the fashion for steel edges to beds (and raised beds altogether) hugely increases the pest problem of slugs and snails. Nearly all the most effective predators of slugs and snails, like ground beetles, centipedes, frogs, and toads are stopped dead in their tracks by these barriers, but snails and slugs glide up them to graze on your plants, leaving behind the predators chasing them!
Several years ago, we started surveying the slug and snail diversity at our wildflower nursery. Early-on we discovered a new species for England. The slug in question, an attractive purplish little number called Decoceras panormitanum is known commonly as the Sicilian slug. Anybody in the landscape industry will
know very well how many large potted plants are imported to this country from Sicily and all Southern Italy.
When you consider that all slugs are hermaphrodite and, in the absence of a partner, will mate with themselves and go on to lay hundreds of viable eggs, it is easy to imagine how this new addition to Britain’s fauna might have arrived here.
Numerous other species have been arriving via the nursery stock route, and I'd dare say in the treads of tyres for years, and as a result the slug fauna of the UK has become very dynamic.
An earlier arrival via human intervention was Arion vulgaris, a large and mobile slug, which has a variety of common names such as Spanish slug and, alarmingly, plague slug. This large - up to 15cm long - slug is also quite profligate in its mating habits.
Not only will it happily mate with itself in the absence of a partner, but it will also mate with other species of the Arion genus, such as Arion Ater, Rion rufus etc., producing viable hybrid animals, which will go on to mate with one another, or other native Arion species. These Arion vulgaris slugs have been in the UK for decades, and the range of their hybrids that we find commonly in London Gardens is quite dazzling.
So why am I going on about this randy foreign slug? It is because the native Arion species were previously well known for not normally eating garden plants and have been described in slug guides as being safe among your plants.
SAND
pests and were considered safe from being eaten.
Even if you are terrified of spiders, or you run screaming from wasps, to have a wilded space in or near your green space is the best pest control you can get
However, the hybrids described above, many of which closely resemble their pure-bred plant safe parents, will eat a huge range of garden plants, including many previously considered slug proof.
vulgaris hybrids happily munching away on the stems and leaves of daffodils. I think most readers will know that, although daffodil flowers sometimes fall prey to slugs and snails, the leaves and bulbs are poisonous to all
As mentioned above, the only practical control method for these hordes of voracious slugs is to have a resident community of these slug-eating predators in your garden which will eat young slugs by the hundreds. However, in a tidy, geometric and sculpted garden, these useful animals are more likely to have nowhere to live, and the slugs and snails have free rein.
Vine weevils were recently rated by the RHS as the UK’s second worst garden pest (after the slugs and snails). I have recently seen the little, solitary wasps, cerceris arenaria, the (sand-tailed digger wasp,) carrying paralysed vine weevils, dozens of them, to feed their babies. They build their nests in bare, warm, compacted sandy soil, so a nice biodiverse nature garden is perfect
Any garden maintenance manager reading this will know that although nematode drenches are quite effective against weevils' larvae, the adults are very mobile and can walk half a mile in one night to chew your leaf-edges.
If you have good biodiversity in your garden, or in your neighbour's garden, almost none of these animals or fungi can build up their populations enough to cause you a problem.
So even if you are terrified of spiders, or you run screaming from wasps, to have a wilded space in or near your green space is the best pest control you can get.
For many years, Frognal Gardens has been building, planting, and maintaining gardens, both private and commercial, in and around Hampstead, central London. During this time, Brock has also pursued his interest in wildlife all over the world, and within the London area. There is an obvious connection between wildlife and horticulture, but it is only recently that he has been able to bring those worlds fully together. frognalgardens.com
“Vision 2035 - Industry Leadership” organised by Pro Landscaper Premium Plus is an exclusive content programme that will be hosted at FutureScape (7 - 8 October, Excel London)
“Vision 2035 - Industry Leadership” is designed and curated to create the space and time for aspirational business owners, leaders and key stakeholders in the landscaping sector that will enable peer to peer discussion and collaborative thinking that will help futureproof organisations.
WHAT WILL BE COVERED?
• Off the Record “What we should do differently” – in conversation with leaders reflecting on action that will help accelerate future success
• Masterclasses and hosted workshop discussions on:
• The Landscape of the Future – BNG, Climate change what are the key considerations when creating great spaces for 2035 and beyond!
• What will an AI Powered Business look like in 2035?
• The Summit - Industry leadership panel
• Landscaping Leadership – Reimagining our Industry for 2035 and beyond
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND
• Gain a competitive advantage and futureproof your business - exclusive access to the strategic and key industry conversations
• Knowledge – gain access to insight from within and outside the industry to inspire thinking to realise future opportunities
• Collaborate – work with peers from across all stakeholder groups and co-create solutions
• Make new connections and partnerships
TO BOOK YOUR TICKET CONTACT OR SCAN
Will Williams will.williams@eljays44.com 01903 959390
We’ll help you select your plants.
We’ll source and deliver your order. We offer planting and installation options. We’ll support you with our warranty and our follow-up care.
“Tendercare has been one of our key suppliers for nearly 15 years, providing an exceptional range of over-sized and unique material for many of our projects. Across the nursery the team are knowledgable, friendly and a pleasure to work with.”
- Will Allerton, Director, Allerton Landscape Design
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) remains in its formative phase just over a year on since its formal introduction. However, even at this early stage, it is already transforming the way ecology is approached in landscaping and housing development, while reshaping the role of land stewardship professionals in delivering greener and more resilient communities. Perhaps the most meaningful shift has been the repositioning of ecological value.
Once considered an afterthought in planning, biodiversity is now embedded at the heart of site assessment, design and, crucially, long-term management. What was once peripheral is now fundamental.
There is clear evidence of a cultural shift among new home developers. Many are no longer focused solely on reducing ecological harm but actively seeking to deliver biodiversity gains directly on-site. This evolution is resulting in more thoughtful, integrated landscapes that serve not only nature but the wellbeing of residents and the communities they form.
For responsible land stewards such as Greenbelt Group, BNG represents an opportunity to align environmental ambition with practical delivery. Supporting developers in meeting their BNG obligations allows land management professionals to contribute meaningfully to landscape-scale ecological restoration, bridging commercial, social and environmental objectives.
Ecological value is no longer peripheral but central to how we build, manage and sustain our landscapes
conservation, cleaner air and water, healthier and happier communities and greater long-term property value.
BNG has the potential to become a defining feature of responsible land use and sustainable development for decades to come
What once might have been seen as a compliance cost is increasingly recognised as a tangible asset. Nevertheless, BNG’s first year has not been without its challenges. Implementation has proven to be complex, in large part due to the intricacies of the statutory Biodiversity Metric and the significant demands of long-term monitoring and reporting. These requirements necessitate specialist knowledge and robust administrative frameworks, both of which can present barriers for some.
There is also a growing need to connect individual BNG projects to broader landscapescale recovery goals. Aligning bespoke stewardship models with national ecological strategies through tools such as strategic mapping and cross-sector coordination would help ensure consistency and effectiveness across the UK.
The requirement for 30-year management plans introduces a vital element of long-term accountability. This emphasis on longevity is encouraging practices that favour resilience and continuity, which in turn is reshaping attitudes toward green infrastructure.
Developers are beginning to appreciate not only the ecological value of such features but also their broader contributions: wildlife
To unlock BNG’s full potential, clear and decisive action is needed. Greater standardisation and clearer guidance from central government and Natural England would reduce confusion and streamline implementation.
Solutions tailored to developments of different scales and complexity, such as those provided by Greenbelt Group, are already demonstrating how a well-considered start can lead to long-term success.
Looking ahead to the inclusion of major infrastructure projects in the BNG framework, the importance of enforcement and ecological integrity cannot be overstated. Poorly maintained or superficial enhancements risk eroding public trust. The true measure of success will be the delivery of lasting and meaningful ecological improvement. As we reflect on the first year of BNG, the foundations are promising. With continued refinement, collaborative stewardship and a focus on long-term outcomes, BNG has the potential to become a defining feature of responsible land use and sustainable development for decades to come.
For 25+ years Greenbelt Group has been a specialist in the stewardship of public open spaces, providing long-term, high-quality management solutions for outdoor areas and amenities on new residential developments. greenbelt.co.uk
For all your planting projects and beyond why not give Spring Reach Nursery a try. Based in Surrey with over 25 years growing experience supplying leading garden designers and domestic landscapers you can expect a top quality service from initial enquiry through to delivery to site or collection. We have a superb choice of hardy nursery stock including some varieties that are not freely available.
•Always holding good stocks of those ever popular lines for immediate impact from large evergreen screening trees pleached panelled trees and multi-stems and specimen shrubs for immediate impact
•Thousands of Herbaceous perennials, Roses and Grasses for giving your design the wow in Summer and Autumn
•Conveniently situated just 10 Minutes from Junction 10 of the M25
•Deliveries made using own transport up to 150 miles or further a field by the pallet network.
Contact 01483 284769 | email info@springreachnursery.co.uk
Long Reach Ockham Surrey Gu23 6PG www.springreachnursery.co.uk
The treatment of the surface of streets and squares makes a huge impact on the identity of any town or city. Since Georgian times natural stone has been a favoured material in successful cities of the UK including the magnificent streets of London, The Crescent in Bath and the elegant cities of Edinburgh and Liverpool. It was chosen to express prosperity and create places of worth.
Today natural stone is still chosen by designers and clients for its aesthetic properties, its inherent good looks and natural beauty and its ability to retain these looks in the long term. Some stone appearances actually improve with age. By comparison, man-made alternatives can start to lose their visual appearance and need renewal much sooner, often long before they have lost their structural integrity.
The wide variety of natural colours and the natural variations within any stone allow the creation of unique solutions which enhance local distinctiveness. Stone can be successfully used as a simple mono-colour or by mixing a rich pattern with different hues, either bright
Rosey Paul explores the benefits of using natural stone when designing pavements
or muted. The permanence of colour and its ability to resist fading in sunlight is a great asset.
Designing with natural stone allows flexibility with the ability to create an infinite number of sizes and shapes from the product. It is therefore easy to design a pavement compatible with standard street furniture, kerbs and drainage.
The stone can be cut to exacting tolerances allowing the creation of intricate designs. A good example of this is the creation of the complex granite seating walls at Pier Head Liverpool. The design of the individual units was computer modelled, and their cutting schedules were prepared in the UK. They were cut and dry assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle before transporting to check on accurate buildability. On site the construction went smoothly with only minor on-site cutting required.
as well as inlay with other materials like stainless steel. It also allows the achievement of a highquality finish to contrasting step nosings and the creation of coordinating tactile paving needed to help with DDA compliance.
The natural durability and inherent strength of good quality natural stone make it ideal for townscape work where long scheme life is important. It is important to select good quality stone. CE marking should be applied to all natural stone products which provides assurance of both quality and performance. With appropriate construction techniques stone can withstand vehicular traffic as well as heavy pedestrian usage, and it also has inherently good skid and slip resistance.
The natural durability and inherent strength of good quality natural stone make it ideal for townscape work where long scheme life is important
For generations, natural stone has been used for masonry, traditional carving and etching. Now with modern developments in both CAD design and cutting techniques, designers can embrace other aspects of art in the landscape, including text and illustration
Rosey Paul has been a chartered member of the Landscape Institute since 1982. She has spent over 30 years working as a public sector client most recently overseeing the regeneration of the public realm in Liverpool City Centre. She led on the public realm works at the Pier Head and Liverpool Canal Link which secured 14 national design and construction awards.
For landscapers who demand a flawless finish, Joint-It Porcelain Epoxy Grout delivers unmatched performance. Developed specifically for outdoor porcelain paving, it offers a cleaner, stronger, more efficient alternative to traditional grouts — with no
Cement-Free, Stain-Free
No grout haze.
Stress-free application. Minimum maintenance.
Exceptional Strength
Withstands up to 7,500 psi power washing. Built to defy limits. In a league of its own.
Dry Application –No Water Required
Faster, tidier, and perfectly suited to outdoor porcelain.
Professional Finish
Colour-stable, anti-mildew, and long-lasting in any weather.
Tailored Application
Use a manual gun for touch-ups or an electric gun for full patio jobs.
Three Refined Colours
Choose from Tan, Grey, or Raven to match premium paving designs.
•
•
•
Humaira Ikram presents her case for why – in a changing climateit’s time for buddleja to step back into the spotlight
The first time I really noticed a buddleja wasn’t in a border, but bursting through the railway lines at New Malden Train Station. There it stood, defying thin soil and pollution, crowned with purple plumes and alive with butterflies.
In the past (and even now), buddlejas were everywhere. They grew fast, flowered for months, and filled gardens with fragrance and colour. Their swaying panicles of purple, lilac and magenta were much admired. They thrived in almost any soil, shrugged off drought, and reliably drew in clouds of butterflies.
The plant’s name carries a story too. Not just the spelling of Buddleja, as written botanically and by the RHS (and how I am referring to it in this article) or Buddleia as in the Oxford English Dictionary. But in 1737, Carl Linnaeus named the genus after Reverend Adam Buddle, an English cleric and botanist, to recognise his contribution to botany but who, intriguingly but not surprisingly, never saw the shrub himself.
Buddlejas are found across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The best known, Buddleja davidii, comes from mountainous China, where it grows on sunny slopes, rocky riverbanks, and landslides — habitats that resemble our own wastelands and railway sidings. Others, such as Buddleja alternifolia, prefer woodland edges and dappled light. In truth, there’s a buddleja for almost every forgotten corner of the garden.
• B. ‘Morning Mist’, with silver foliage and white flowers, sterile or near-sterile but generous with nectar.
• B. davidii ‘Miss Ruby’, a compact shrub with striking magenta flower spikes, highly attractive to butterflies.
• The Flutterby Series, looser and softer in colour, but hardy, nectar-rich, and bred to avoid self-seeding.
But being common has its drawbacks. By the late 1990s, B. davidii was falling out of fashion. It became linked with abandoned ground and self-seeded street corners. Conservationists also raised concerns about its spread, particularly along transport corridors. As tastes shifted towards controlled palettes, grasses, and perennials, the exuberance of buddleja began to feel a little unruly.
Yet this is not the full picture - not all buddlejas are invasive. Many modern cultivars are compact, sterile, and excellent garden plants. They remain a rich nectar source, and their toughness is more relevant than ever. In a changing climate, they tolerate drought, poor soils, heat, and pollution. Once established, they rarely need watering, and they flower for months at the very moment pollinators need them most. In urban areas especially, they provide shelter, greenery, and habitat where little else will thrive.
There’s a buddleja for almost every forgotten corner of the garden
Wildlife gardeners still find buddleja invaluable. The nectar draws in butterflies, bees, moths and hoverflies, while its branches offer perches and shelter. But a wildlife garden is never built on one plant alone, so we need to build communities of plants. To help butterflies through their whole life cycle, include larval foodplants such as nettles, wild grasses, holly and ivy. For bees, you can extend the nectar season with spring bulbs, summer perennials, and lateflowering asters and sedums.
Hoverflies relish the open umbels of wild carrot, cow parsley, or angelica, which also lend an airy, naturalistic feel to a garden and all of these plants pair well with the structure and often looser shape of a buddleja.
Buddleja’s ability to appear everywhere (I once saw it happily growing wild in a 10m high church spire!) perhaps has made its decline inevitable, but the plant itself was never at fault. In the right form, cultivated variety and setting, it remains one of the most generous shrubs we can grow. The butterflies have never stopped appreciating it, perhaps it’s time we learned to value it again too.
HUMAIRA IKRAM
Humaira Ikram has been working as a professional garden designer at Studio Ikram for over 10 years. She runs the Garden Design Diploma at the KLC School of Design, is a gardens advisor to RHS Hyde Hall, and a judge and on various selection and advisory panels for the RHS. She is co-curator of the newly established thehub.earth, is an award-winning broadcaster who has contributed to BBC Radio 4 Gardeners Question Time, been part of garden focused TV and media campaigns and programmes and writes for various gardening magazines. studioikram.com thehub.earth
For all your golf, sportsturf and landscape irrigation needs. Buy online at www.lws.uk.com
CIS Street Furniture offer a diverse range of street furniture which will complement any location.
As a result of the built environment compaction can inhibit or prevent natural root growth of trees. CIS SUDs compliant resin bound tree grilles are a great way of enhancing the sustainability of your project for future generations. Find out more at our website below.
Tel: 01483 203388 www.cis-streetfurniture.co.uk
A complete sub-structure, paving or decking and terrace planter & seating system for rooftop spaces. Wallbarn’s high performance Class A fire-rated sub-structure and Bespoke Metal Planters’ solutions creates the perfect one-stop shop for hard & soft landscaping projects. Tel: 020 8916 2222 www.wallbarn.com
Society of Garden and Landscape Design council member and garden designer, Julianne Fernandez, delves into what the Society’s upcoming symposium has in store
What is the theme of this year’s symposium?
This year’s theme is strategies for meeting the challenges of climate change, whether through changing established approaches to garden and landscape design, using more sustainable methods and materials, or adopting completely new ideas.
How does the theme align with your own design ethos?
a destination in itself, with plenty of space for our delegates to take part in talks, discussions and socialising with fellow members.
What talks and activities can people expect?
This event in particular has much to offer landscapers who are looking to make their own business practice more sustainable
I focus on extraordinary planting design and sustainable, wildlife-friendly gardens, so this is very much aligned with my own concerns as a designer. I’m really looking forward to being inspired by our fantastic array of speakers and panellists.
What was the inspiration behind hosting the event in Sheffield?
We have been listening to feedback from our members. What they asked for were more events outside London, opportunities to learn outside the conference room, and more time for discussion and socialising.
Sheffield has groundbreaking urban regeneration schemes, some of which we will be seeing on guided tours on the first day of the Symposium. The art deco Sheffield City Hall is an amazing venue,
As well as the guided tours on the Friday afternoon, hosted by Nigel Dunnett and others closely involved in the urban regeneration projects, there will be an evening reception with a talk by John Little and a panel session discussing the respective roles of the gardener and garden designer.
We have a world-class lineup of speakers and panellists including Tom Massey, Nigel Dunnett, Jihae Hwang and Loretta Bosence. I think there will be some really thoughtprovoking and maybe provocative discussions.
What do you hope people take away from the symposium?
Inspiration, maybe some challenges to how they see garden design and sustainability, and practical solutions to apply to their own practice.
How is planning for the event going?
We are really pleased with ticket sales, which are ahead of expectations, and we are on track with all the preparations for what promises to be a really exciting event.
Any final comments?
Tickets are open for everyone, not just SGLD members; I think this event in particular has much to offer landscapers who are looking to make their own business practice more sustainable.
Julianne Fernandez @chasingarcadia_design
Extreme! Designing Sustainably for a Changing Climate 17 – 18 October | Sheffield City Hall, Barker's Pool, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2JA