SEPTEMBER 2026
NATURALISTIC GARDEN TRENDS
James Scott, The Garden Co
PUBLIC SPACES SPECIAL
Urban greening opportunities
LET'S HEAR IT FROM John Little Care Not Capital
See us at 13 - 14 October 2026
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Welcome T
his month’s issue is a special one, as Pro Landscaper celebrates 15 years since it was launched. When we sent out our first issue, we had one important goal: to bring the industry together. Achieving that goal has now gone far beyond the pages of a magazine. It’s on stages spotlighting young, emerging talent with our 30 Under 30: The Next Generation initiative. It’s recognising the success of companies with Pro Landscaper Business Awards. It’s celebrating projects, from large to small budgets, with Pro Landscaper Project Awards. It’s in conference halls and seminar theatres sharing knowledge and insight with Pro Landscaper Premium Plus. And it’s in the exhibition halls of FutureScape. Over the last 15 years, we’ve been lucky enough to build up an incredible network of experts, many of whom we can genuinely call our friends. With the support and guidance of the industry, we’ve created a community that continues to grow and evolve. We’re celebrating our journey with special features throughout the magazine, including a timeline of some of the highlights of which many of you will have played a part. The September issue is also our Public Spaces Special, where we explore how green space is transforming our towns and cities. Whether for flood reduction, heat mitigation, commercial value, people’s health and wellbeing, or biodiversity, the benefits are almost endless. As seen in this issue, landscape-led schemes aren’t as foreign as they perhaps once were and the opportunities for the sector are there for the taking. The build-to-rent market, in particular, seems to be having a boom as more people look for long-term rentals, leading the developers to invest in quality green spaces. As we look ahead to the next 15 years, we will continue to make Pro Landscaper, quite frankly, all about you. We have been, and always will be, for the industry, by the industry.
Rachael
Pro Landscaper is proud to be an Accredited Supplier member of BALI
The Association of
Professional Landscapers
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Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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CONTENTS
BUSINESS
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Pro Landscaper’s 15th anniversary timeline As Pro Landscaper celebrates its 15th anniversary it takes a look back at some of its milestones over the years.
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Speak the Architect’s Language Mark Latchford, director at HollandGreen, offers advice on articulating the benefits of early intervention from garden design and landscaping.
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Let’s Hear It From: John Little John Little introduces us to one of the most important projects he’s ever worked on and gives advice on making spaces biodiverse.
CONTENTS September 2026
INSPIRE
FEATURES
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Green Community At a social housing community in Pimlico, a redevelopment scheme saw Frosts introduce new play equipment and enhanced recreational facilities.
Fit for the Future As part of Beresford Square and Powis Street's regeneration, Elite Landscapes rejuvenated the public realm.
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Living Art With clients who love art and beauty, Maïtanne Hunt designed a roof terrace and balconies which created the perfect views.
Success Beyond Water Management Introducing some of its SuDS retrofit projects, Groundwork London describes how to make these both natural and interesting.
Greening Our Towns and Cities Experts explore how successful landscape-led schemes can happen and the opportunities for the industry within public realm.
A Recipe for Playgrounds Showcasing some of the most innovating new playgrounds, experts explore how they contribute to successful placemaking.
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CONTENTS
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
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Allyship in Action Gamiel Yafai explores what action looks like, after the conversations around EDI have been had, and why shame has no place.
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Inside the Nursery In the first of this new feature, Crowders explains how it has grown over two centuries and how it is focusing on growth today.
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Creating Safer Spaces 71% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment, so Holcim and Ask for Angela explore what safe spaces look like.
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PEOPLE
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What’s Changed in 15 Years? In honour of Pro Landscaper turning 15, key figures from the industry reflect on what’s changed over the years.
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Is It Time to Rethink How We Build Patios? Gareth Wilson asks whether, as the effects of climate change become more apparent, we should rethink how we build patios.
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Little Interviews These Little Interviews celebrate the first-ever quick-fire Q&As in Pro Landscaper with some familiar faces.
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BUSINESS
RHS ANNOUNCES NEW ‘SPECTACLE’ EVENT IN BRISTOL
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he Royal Horticultural Society has confirmed its 2027 shows, including a new festival in the city centre of Bristol. “Our new event in Bristol will bring the spectacle of an RHS Show to a bustling city centre providing inspiration for all gardeners, whether they have a small city garden or just a windowsill,” says James Wren, RHS director of development and shows.
DROUGHT SPREADS IN ENGLAND AFTER DRIEST JULY ON RECORD It will be hosted within The Prospect Building in the centre of the city, featuring indoor spaces and an outdoor courtyard. Visitors can expect pop-up plant displays, expert talks and advice, hands-on workshops and immersive experiences that reflect ‘one of the UK’s most creative cities.’
ROUNDUP Industry Updates
RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES GROW DESPITE UNEMPLOYMENT RISING, FINDS SURREY BUSINESS
S
urrey-based horticultural business CS Gardens has recorded 45 candidates who have either failed to turn up for interviews or their first day of work over the last 12 months. The gardening and landscaping business says applicants have dropped out across the entire recruitment process, in some cases after formally accepting positions. It adds that repeated no-shows have left vacancies
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Pro Landscaper | September 2026
unfilled and placed pressure on existing staff. According to the Office for National Statistics, the unemployment rate stands at 4.9% across the UK and 4% in the Southeast. While these remain relatively low by historical standards, unemployment rates are increasing from recent lows and they are now closer to levels seen for much of the past decade.
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t has been revealed that almost threequarters of England is officially in drought as conditions worsen after the driest July ever recorded, while Wales is completely in drought. The National Drought Group met this week and has warned that all regions of the country are experiencing pressure on their water resources. Sunshine and record-breaking temperatures coupled with dry weather has parched the land, flora and fauna. “Climate adaptation requires long-term investment in water storage, infrastructure and planning, alongside ongoing investment in the green infrastructure that makes our communities more resilient to extreme weather,” says Fran Barnes, chief executive of the Horticultural Trades Association. “Drought conditions and wildfires we’re seeing this year remind us that we need to take action to improve our connection with the natural world and support nature to recover,” says The Eden Project's chief executive, Andy Jasper. These weather conditions are putting gardens and landscapes under pressure at the National Trust. At Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden in North Yorkshire, cared for by the National Trust, the summer’s heatwaves have led to a boom in pond weed in the World Heritage Site’s ornamental ponds, lakes and canals. Removing pond weed is a typical summer job for the charity’s gardeners, but this year’s repeated heatwaves have made it a weekly task. Barnes urges for a long-term water resilience strategy that addresses the realities of a changing climate. There are warnings of more dry weather and another heatwave on the way before summer comes to an end.
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BUSINESS
lite Landscapes has announced its new maintenance contract with British Land, a UK property development and investment company, across three years.
The team will look after and maintain some “of the capital’s most prominent public realm spaces,” says Elite Landscapes. The portfolio includes Paddington Central, Regent’s Place, Broadgate, Canada Water Wetlands and Norton Folgate. Works will include maintaining lawns, formal gardens, biodiverse planting, mature trees, roof terraces, seasonal displays and urban wetlands by a team of 12 gardeners.
GROSVENOR SQUARE REOPENS FOLLOWING £25M TRANSFORMATION
PERENNIAL LANDSCAPES APPOINTS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR
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Online exclusives Head to prolandscapermagazine.com
©RHS/Ian Christopher
ELITE LANDSCAPES TO MAINTAIN ‘CAPITAL’S MOST PROMINENT PUBLIC REALM SPACES’
RHS YOUNG DESIGNER SWEEPS HEADLINES WITH GRIEF GARDEN AT BADMINTON
Freelance garden designer Sophie Leo has been crowned RHS Young Designer of the Year at RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026.
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©Hallie Aduke
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at in the Mayfair district of Westminster in London, Grosvenor Square has officially reopened to the public after undergoing a £25m transformation. The transformation marks the fourth time the garden has been redesigned over its 300-year lifespan. Designed to support biodiversity, improve wellbeing and absorb up to 1.4 million litres of stormwater, it offers a new model for how historic public spaces can be adapted for the future. The planting design, led by Nigel Dunnett, who sadly passed away before the garden opened, features 70,000 new plants, 80,000 bulbs, 44 trees and two new wetlands introduced. This takes the planting from having a less than 1% coverage to almost half. Maylim delivered the construction works, led by contracts manager Gareth Kinsella. The design was originated by London-based architecture and landscape architecture practice Tonkin Liu and delivered by leading design practice BDP.
MUSEUM OF THE HOME’S HEAD GARDENER SHARES CONCEPT BEHIND NEW DISCOVERY GARDEN
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erennial Landscapes is entering its next phase of expansion and has announced the appointment of a new managing director to drive this growth. Tony Cammiss has been appointed and will oversee the strategic direction of the business, with a focus on sustainable growth, strengthening client relationships and investing in the people who continue to drive Perennial Landscapes’ success. The appointment comes at a time of continued investment for the business, following several significant contract awards and an increasing demand for high-quality commercial landscaping solutions across sectors including industrial, logistics, healthcare, residential and commercial developments. Cammiss says he is "delighted to be joining" at "such an exciting stage."
The only Museum of the Home in the world, the Hoxton-based organisation champions accessible community space for children and young people.
THE ROLE OF LANDSCAPERS DURING EL NIÑO WITH BALI’S AMY COBBETT
BALI’s Amy Cobbett draws attention to the looming issue of climate change and how landscapers can address upcoming challenges.
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BUSINESS
COMMUNITY FUTURE GARDENERS CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY On 30 July, Future Gardeners celebrated its 10-year anniversary at Red Cross Garden. The programme gives participants the core skills to gain entry level jobs in the horticulture industry As part of these celebrations, attendees heard from guest speakers including Paul Rochford, managing director of Rochford Nurseries, who spoke about the founding and growth of Future Gardeners as well as his recent MBE. Other guest speakers included: Angela Oliver, CEO of British Florist Association; Lexi Gee, vice chair of Garden media Guild; and Louisa Mansfield, Future Gardeners programmes manager, who wrote a poem to honour 10 years of the scheme. Future Gardeners alumni also gathered for a panel discussion to talk about their journey into horticulture and onto the Future Gardeners scheme and how their careers have grown since graduating. The message from the alumni was unanimous: horticulture is healing and never be afraid to ask questions. Alongside these presentations, the new Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Claire Sheppard, presented certificates to the graduating students. Celebrations continued into the afternoon with maypole dancing, light refreshments and plenty of networking.
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Keep up to date with the @ProLandscaper team over on Instagram!
Highlights INTRODUCING PRO LANDSCAPER’S MOST INFLUENTIAL TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS As technology continues to transform the landscaping sector, Pro Landscaper introduces a brand-new awards initiative to spotlight the companies and individuals driving that change. Pro Landscaper’s Most Influential Technology Providers recognises the software platforms, digital tools and innovators helping landscape professionals work more efficiently, deliver better results and grow their businesses. From design and visualisation software to business management systems, field tools and emerging AI-powered solutions, the awards shine a spotlight on those shaping the future of the industry. By launching these awards, Pro Landscaper aims to recognise innovation, highlight best practice and celebrate the technology leaders making a lasting impact across the landscaping profession. Winners will be announced towards the end of September and will collect their awards on 14 October at FutureScape, which is taking place at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.
TALKING PLANTS WITH SCOTTISH JOHN Take a sneak peek into our meeting with plantsman John Cunningham (also known as Scottish John)
WARMING UP FOR THE ROYAL PARKS HALF MARATHON As the team prepares for the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October, early morning runs and evening tempo sessions are taking over. Taking place on 11 October, the 13.1-mile event route goes through many of London’s iconic landscapes and four of The Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens. Running for horticultural charity Perennial, content director Nina Mason, chief executive offer Jamie Wilkinson, commercial director Dan Green and portfolio director Tom Proudley prepare for the long run just days before FutureScape takes place. “We’re just two months away, so it’s time to up the miles – which is slightly daunting, as the last time I ran a half marathon, it led to a fracture in my foot," says Mason. Proudly is also committing to the preparation, adding, “I've bought some new running trainers, and I've got a training plan,” while urging people to donate to the industry’s only charity, Perennial, which continues to support those in need. See you on the track!
A PLAYFUL OUTING Explore the newly reopened Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens with us
HEAR FROM THE WINNERS Hear from the Most Influential Decking Suppliers winners after picking up their awards at our Summer Showcase
Phone image ©Mynhear/Shutterstock.com
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BUSINESS 2012
2018
NOVEMBER The first FutureScape event was held over one day at Kempton Park Racecourse, with 30 exhibitors and 300 visitors. This year, the event will be a two-day show at its new venue in Farnborough.
APRIL The Pro Landscaper Business Awards is held for the first time, celebrating the companies that are setting the benchmarks and continuing to raise the bar.
2020
2011
FEBRUARY Eljays44 was founded by three original directors, including former managing director Jim Wilkinson and his wife Lisa and current CEO Jamie Wilkinson.
MARCH Pro Landscaper’s first dedicated Green Issue was published exploring how to be more environmentally complaint and sustainable.
2015
NOVEMBER The inaugural Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30: Next Generation initiative launched. The idea for this came from a discussion at FutureScape the previous year, where the need to recognise rising stars and growing talent became evident. The award ceremony took place at FutureScape, and continues to do so.
2018
NOVEMBER small project, BIG IMPACT Awards launched, which later became the Pro Landscaper Project Awards and has now transformed into part of the annual Summer Spectacular.
2014
SEPTEMBER The launch of Pro Arb, Pro Landscaper’s sister publication, which today is an engaging digital platform.
2011
SEPTEMBER Pro Landscaper magazine was launched, quickly establishing itself within the industry.
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2017
DECEMBER Pro Landscaper Most Influential launched to celebrate the successful, inspirational and experienced people who are still guiding the progression of the industry today. Pro Landscaper now also runs these awards for products, to celebrate the suppliers and individuals going above and beyond.
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BUSINESS
THE CHANGING FACES OF PRO LANDSCAPER
2023
JUNE The Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards were introduced to recognise and reward the environmental benefits that companies and projects in the sector deliver.
2026
APRIL Rachael came on board as Pro Landscaper’s new editor, joining Holly and Dan, creating the dream team.
2025
APRIL Pro Landscaper International Awards launched and were held at FutureScape Global in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
SEPTEMBER 2011
MARCH 2016
JUNE 2019
2025
JANUARY Pro Landscaper launched across the pond, and later that year we held the first FutureScape USA in Los Angeles in December too.
2025
2023
NOVEMBER Unsung Heroes launched to celebrate individuals that keep companies and the industry going but don’t always get the wider recognition that they deserve.
prolandscapermagazine.com
NOVEMBER Pro Landscaper Premium Plus was introduced to provide the sector with a year-round programme of insight, intelligence and leadership events.
SEPTEMBER 2022
NOVEMBER 2023
Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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BUSINESS
PLAY FOR ALL WORDS: HOLLY CHAPMAN
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground project team reveal how the recent transformation creates an accessible play space for all
I
n 2000, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground was created as a space for children to play, explore, learn and engage with one another. Nestled in the corner of Kensington Gardens, the Peter Pan-inspired playground closed its gates in November 2025 to undergo a major transformation after its well-loved equipment deserved a spruce up. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is one of 14 playgrounds across London’s Royal Parks. “Play is really important to us,” says Kensington Gardens park manager Andy Williams, “including playgrounds that provide play value, physical play, social play, cognitive and imaginative play. Overall, it's central to who we are as an urban park.” Now reopen to the public, a full-scale £3m refurbishment stretches over the free-toaccess playground. Headed up by The Royal Parks charity, senior landscape architect
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Rhona Harley talks about the importance of Richter Spielgeräte, to present a range of designing and building the playground and over 750 play products, all engineered for surrounding landscape for its visitors. She performance and durability. Featuring says: “What was really key in this project was equipment that evoke imagination, the involving the playground manager, Ryan Gill, playground has been designed to encourage and the attendants who are here every day. If adventure, collaboration and imaginative you don’t listen to people, you won’t get the play, “it offers something for children of best outcome.” all ages and abilities,” explains managing Both regular and new visitors were key director Paul Collings. considerations for the playground, Moored on a sandy beach, a especially when it comes to brand new 17m by 12m galleon the longevity of the space. sits proudly, featuring In response, the team above-deck climbing Making sure organised a visit from crow’s nests, a tunnel this playground Accessible UK, to slide and an accessible truly understand below-deck kitchen. serves all children what an all-inclusive The ship also hosts has really been space would look level, accessible at the heart of like and need. “We walkways around and all of our design thought we knew underneath the ship, decisions a lot,” starts Harley, offering opportunities “but we could only learn for children to interact. more.” In response to the On top of this, the ship hosts recommendations given, the several interactive elements, team set out to create a truly accessible including conveyor pipes and a ball run. playground, working alongside play Another major addition to the equipment manufacturer Timberplay. playground is the new and improved Timberplay works in partnership with treehouse, featuring multi-level play German play equipment manufacturer, opportunities that challenge children of
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BUSINESS
different ages and abilities. From wheelchair accessible gangways and a seesaw, the entire structure has been created to include something for everyone. “Making sure this playground serves all children has really been at the heart of all of our design decisions,” says Williams. Sensory play was also an important consideration. To the left of the galleon, a crocodile swims beneath and above the surface, winding through a new water play area. Featuring water pumps at varying levels, including wheelchair height, the space offers a water play experience for children of all abilities. “The sensory play is important because if children haven’t got much physical capacity, the area can offer them all sorts of play opportunities,” adds Collings. The water used here will then be reused for irrigation, as plenty of biodiverse planting adorns the playground. “Interweaving
biodiverse planting throughout the space was crucial for us. In our plan to create a space for the future, increasing all types of planting has given us an opportunity to create mixed planting with a high proportion of native species,” explains Harley. Notably, the space delivers a 16% measurable increase in biodiversity. “For me, this is one of the best playgrounds in the world. What sets it apart is the landscape. 26 years ago, when it first opened, the playground became a reference site worldwide on good play design. That’s why it’s been so important to get KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN it right again, and why the CREATING ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC SPACE landscape has been improved
Play value being as inclusive as possible
again,” explains Collings. It was also important to replicate the spirit that ran through the space when the playground first opened back in 2000. “The playground opened to commemorate the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her love for children. This playground brings joy to all of the children who visit,” says Williams. A playground where each area has fully accessible features, including wheelchair-friendly picnic benches, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is sitting in Kensington Gardens with open arms to children with all abilities. In honour of the late Princess, the space is ready to be filled with life and adventure.
Promoting the accessible features Being free to access Having toilets open to the public
Go to page 87 to read more about creating play spaces for all
Safe atmosphere Adult-focussed areas that entice them to stay longer
All images ©The Royal Parks
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See us at 13 - 14 October 2026
BUSINESS
Go and See at Paving TRADE Superstore Super Brands at Super Prices
Returning this year at its brand-new home, FutureScape takes place at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre on 13 - 14 October 2026. Here are some of the unmissable stands you'll find at the show. PAVING SUPERSTORE | STAND E30 Paving Superstore brings together leading landscaping brands, expert support and an extensive product range for trade professionals nationwide. On its stand, discover what’s new for 2027, including standout paving collections, bespoke solutions such as cut-tosize porcelain, steps and copings, plus its growing outdoor living range. Visit it for fresh inspiration, new products, project ideas and expert advice for your next landscaping scheme, all in one place. pavingsuperstore.co.uk
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EGO POWER PLUS | STAND OD30
MOOBBA | STAND OC21
EGO is set to make its FutureScape debut showcasing the breadth of its 56V battery platform. Leading the exhibit is EGO’s first PRO X zero-turn ride-on mower, the new ZTX4800E. Visitors can experience the mower’s capabilities by taking it for a test drive in the outdoor demonstration area. On the stand will also be EGO’s new ARC Lithium MAXTM battery, designed to reduce interruptions through faster charging, fewer battery changes and improved performance. EGO will also be running a competition to win an LMX5300SP PRO X self-propelled lawn mower. egopowerplus.co.uk
Moobba supplies sustainably sourced bamboo and tropical materials for homeowners, landscape designers, architects and contractors. Its bamboo is ethically sourced from plantations across Colombia and Southeast Asia, combining natural beauty, strength and versatility. From bamboo fencing and screens to poles and tiki thatch, its carefully selected range helps transform gardens, landscapes and commercial spaces with natural texture, character and a distinctive tropical style for projects of every size. moobba.co.uk
Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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BUSINESS
OASE | STAND C21
KYEBURN DESIGNS | STAND I40
Visit Oase at FutureScape to discover how it is helping landscapers create exceptional experiences with water. Explore its latest products and innovations, meet its team and learn more about the support available to professionals. Oase will also be showcasing the new Oase Academy, giving landscapers access to online and inperson training, product expertise and opportunities to connect, learn and grow as part of a wider professional community. oase.com/en
Kyeburn Designs creates bespoke metalwork from its Cotswolds workshop, serving designers, landscape architects and private clients nationwide. From initial consultation and concept sketches to detailed drawings and expert fabrication, it helps bring ideas to life. With over 250 years of combined craftsmanship, Kyeburn Designs metalsmiths create pieces for heritage, period and contemporary spaces. Its collaborative approach, meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality deliver enduring, beautifully crafted solutions. kyeburn.com
DALTEX | STAND F30
LANDSCAPEPLUS | STAND D10
DALTEX Resin Bound manufacturers resin bound materials for domestic driveways, paths and patios. With over two million square metres laid every year the DALTEX Resin Bound System is manufactured to the highest industry standards and is BBA approved. A 15-year Product Quality Guarantee on the DALTEX Resin Bound System is available, as well as a six-year No-Crack guarantee for DALTEX Base. There are 60 colour blends to choose from, meaning there is an option for every type and size of property. resinbondedaggregates.com
Landscapeplus is a trade-only supplier of lighting, irrigation and water feature systems. Its aim is to help industry professionals create beautiful gardens, with as little hassle as possible, by building long-term, trust-based relationships and putting gardens at the heart of what it does. It is excited to showcase new products and host two panel discussions at FutureScape. Its stand has been designed with community in mind, with plenty of open space for genuine conversation and learning. landscapeplus.com
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ADVICE
ASK THE EXPERTS Chris Wellbelove Blakedown Landscapes
What should contractors consider when working on sensitive sites?
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J rea ©And
orking on a sensitive site starts may not simply slow an excavation. Excavated with understanding both material may need to be retained in a the site and what makes it designated area until it has been inspected sensitive. Those sensitivities and released, creating additional hold points may be ecological, environmental, historical or and restricting available working space. architectural, and quite often several of those Likewise, working within or adjacent to a considerations will overlap. root protection area (RPA) can influence Before works begin, contractors machinery selection, access routes, need to establish the restrictions excavation methods and A relatively that apply, the permitted material storage. on es small, protected working methods, and These constraints can also area can have where approval or specialist affect site logistics more widely, a much greater supervision will be required. including access, deliveries, impact on how Archaeologists, ecologists, temporary works, storage areas the overall site arboriculturists, conservation and the sequencing of other operates specialists and statutory activities. A relatively small authorities can all influence how protected area can therefore have the works are delivered. Engaging a much greater impact on how the with them early allows those requirements overall site operates. to be incorporated into the programme rather A good programme needs realistic than becoming a constraint once work is already allowances for these controls, clear hold underway. points where specialist approval is required, It is also important to consider the wider and enough flexibility to move activities effect of individual restrictions. An archaeological elsewhere if something unexpected watching brief, for example, is discovered. Just as importantly, the site team needs to understand what is being protected and why. Clear inductions, toolbox talks, exclusion zones, training and well-defined stop-work procedures help operatives recognise when something is not right and seek advice before proceeding. Ultimately, working on a sensitive site is not simply about proceeding with greater caution. It is about allowing what needs to be protected to determine how the project is planned and delivered.
prolandscapermagazine.com
The panel 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.
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.
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ADVICE
Digital
DRAWING BOARD
DEVELOPING LAYERED GARDEN PLANS AND ELEVATIONS DIRECTLY WITHIN MORPHOLIO TRACE ON IPAD
gradually expanded far beyond introductory tutorials. The resulting course now covers workflows including scaled plan drawing, John Wood introduces a new training resource which helps tracing systems, topographic survey analysis, custom stencil libraries, planting graphics, build practical workflows that are useful day-to-day palettes, title blocks, vector DXF export, elcome to this regular Morpholio Trace is an exceptionally wellfile sharing and presentation rendering column, where I share designed professional drawing environment techniques – all taught specifically from practical, iPad-based digital that translates the traditional architectural the perspective of garden and landscape workflows, tools and drawing drawing board into a modern iPad workflow. design practice. techniques to help make your landscaping and The software combines the immediacy and The intention throughout is not design work easier, faster, and more efficient. freedom of hand drawing with increasingly simply to demonstrate software features I wanted to introduce a new training sophisticated technical capability beneath the in isolation, but to build practical resource that I have recently developed surface. What particularly interests me, and workflows that feel useful in day-tospecifically for garden designers and landscape forms the basis of this course, is how effectively day project work. In my experience, professionals using Morpholio Trace on iPad. these workflows can be aligned specifically many professionals are not resistant to Over the past few years, I have taught to the needs of garden designers and digital tools themselves; they Morpholio Trace through webinars, CPD landscape professionals. are resistant to fragmented sessions, live workshops and one-to-one One especially useful systems that interrupt the The intention development is Morpholio design process rather throughout is... Trace’s ability to automatically than supporting it. to build practical recognise and scale imported One advantage of this workflows that feel PDF surveys. In practice, this format is that designers useful in day-to-day means that a topographic can work through the project work survey imported at 1:100 can material at their own pace often be read and scaled almost and revisit topics whenever immediately within the software needed. Whether that is a quick itself, allowing designers to begin sketching, refresher on survey workflows or a more annotating and analysing the space with very detailed session on presentation graphics, little setup time. the entire training structure is available WORKING DIRECTLY FROM AN IMPORTED Layer management is another area where as a permanent resource. TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY WITHIN MORPHOLIO TRACE ON IPAD the software becomes especially valuable. Further details about the complete Different layout ideas, circulation options, Morpholio Trace course, along with the wider tuition. One thing became increasingly clear: planting concepts and client revisions can Create Visual training platform, can now be many professionals were trying to learn all be explored quickly while preserving found via the courses section of my website. the software in fragments. Short tutorials, previous design thinking beneath. Rather than isolated demonstrations, and scattered online repeatedly redrawing concepts from scratch, JOHN WOOD videos can certainly help, but they often leave designers can develop ideas progressively in a important workflow gaps, particularly when fluid and highly visual way. John Wood runs Create Visual, a CPD training trying to apply the software within real garden The portability of the iPad also changes the platform for garden and design projects. nature of site work considerably. Photos can be landscape professionals The aim of this new on-demand course is marked up directly on site, concept sketches specialising in iPad-based digital to bring everything together into one resource, developed during meetings, and design ideas workflows and presentation graphics. For more focused specifically on the practical realities of communicated immediately in front of clients. information, please visit the website. create-visual.co.uk garden and landscape design. As the training evolved, the material
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ADVICE
PLAYING THE LONG HAUL This month Phil Jones explores the similarities between starting a business and a test match
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he current summer in many parts of the UK has been challenging for landscapers, but at least it has meant more guaranteed live cricket, giving way to an ideal summer for me. I have been thinking about the similarities between cricket, the Test match format in particular, and starting a business. Both are normally a long game, and both can learn from each other. The morning of a Test match and the launch day of a startup could feel identical – a nervous hum in the air, seemingly endless possibilities, and a profound sense of vulnerability. Standing at the crease as an opening batsman or sitting at a desk as a solo founder requires the exact same psychological architecture. Both tasks demand that you confront immense risk, survive an initial onslaught, and build something substantial out of nothing. First up is that initial ‘new ball’, pure survival in the first hour for an opening batsman. The ball is hard, the bowlers are fresh, and the pitch is unpredictable. One misjudgement means a walk back to the pavilion. Similarly, the early days of a startup are defined by existential threat. Your product is unproven, cash reserves are low, and market forces are unpredictable. The immediate goal is simple: do not lose your wicket. For the batsman, this means leaving the dangerous balls outside
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off stump alone. For the founder, it means conserving capital and saying no to foundation laid during the tough hours now distracting opportunities that pull you away pays dividends. from your core mission. Time now to build a narrative and a legacy. As the session progresses, the pressure A great innings does not always save a match; intensifies. A great opener absorbs this it sets up a victory. When an opener reaches pressure without panicking, trusting that a century, they have changed the entire conditions will eventually ease. landscape of the game. Establishing Startups face their own version. a company from scratch follows Competitors launch similar the same trajectory. The Standing at services or products, key ultimate reward for the the crease as an employees walk out, or founder is creating opening batsman initial sales pitches fail to an institution that or sitting at a desk hit the mark. survives independent as a solo founder This phase is a test of its creator. You build requires the exact of sheer resilience. If a systems, culture, and founder loses a client, value that endure. same psychological they must analyse the Both journeys architecture mistake and move on prove that monumental swiftly. You must learn to find achievements are not built in comfort in discomfort, knowing that a single flash of genius. They are every minute spent surviving softens the assembled brick by brick, ball by ball, decision opposition. by decision. Whether you are facing a fiery The shine eventually wears off the ball, the spell of fast bowling or navigating a volatile bowlers tire, and the pitch flattens out. The market, the secret remains the same: respect opener can finally play with freedom, driving the new ball, trust your technique, and play through the covers and pulling with authority. for the long haul. In business, this mirrors incremental achievements as products and services begin PHIL JONES to fit the market. The brand gains traction, Phil Jones is the founder of Apple processes become repeatable, and early Tree Bay Consultancy Ltd and customers turn into advocates. brings long-standing director-level experience from the landscaping, This transition requires a shift in mindset grounds management and facilities services from defence to offence. The disciplined sectors. He now works with landscape businesses survivalist must now become a confident to strengthen strategic planning, refine operational growth driver. For the batsman, this means systems, and support effective implementation. punishing the bad balls. For the entrepreneur, Email: phil@appletreebay.co.uk it means scaling up marketing, expanding Instagram: apple_treebay linkedin.com/in/phil-jones-4197b5b5 the team, and maximising revenue. The
Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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ADVICE
ALLYSHIP
in Action
Gamiel Yafai explores what happens after the conversations around EDI, when it's time for action
I
n my last column, I made the case for inconvenient. In between are the bystander, the why EDI matters to horticulture and performative ally who talks a good game but landscaping, drawing on real feedback doesn't act, the active ally who steps in when from Access All Areas' "Creating a Culture asked, and the proactive ally who doesn't wait to of Inclusion" webinars. This time, I want to talk be asked. Most people, honestly, sit somewhere about what happens after the conversation, in the middle. The point of the programme isn't when people decide to actually do something to shame anyone for where they start. It's to give with it. people a practical route to move one Over the past few years, we've step further along. run the trainer programme What's struck me most If people say EDI and now have 60 Allyship is how ordinary the shifts trainers who have trained have been. Not grand matters to them, a further 60, giving a gestures, but people what does that look total of 120 trained changing how they like on a Monday Allies across the sector. lead, communicate and morning, on site, in It didn't start as a grand challenge behaviour. a client meeting, or strategy. It started with a Paul Downer, MD of Oak in the office? simple question: if people View Landscapers, told say EDI matters to them, what me that before taking part does that look like on a Monday in the Allyship programme, his morning, on site, in a client meeting, or understanding of EDI was mainly limited in the office? to race, sexual orientation and religion. The The programme is built around a training, he says,“really opened my eyes as a straightforward idea. Allyship isn't a fixed leader” to subjects including neurodiversity, identity – you either have or don't. It's a scale, socio-economic status and privilege. It changed and most of us move up and down it depending his way of thinking, leading him to introduce on the day, the room, and how much energy a new approach and methodology, which was we've got left. At one end sits passive awareness: subsequently recognised during the company's knowing something isn't right but staying quiet. Investors in People Platinum accreditation. At the other end sits upstanding: consistently If you're reading this and you work in EDI, using whatever influence you have to challenge whether that's a formal role, a project you've exclusion when you see it, even when it's taken on alongside your day job, or something
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EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CHARTER
you've found yourself doing because nobody else was, I'd genuinely like to hear from you. This industry is still working out what good practice looks like, and the people doing the work on the ground know more than any consultant sitting outside it. Get in touch. I'll be featuring some of your experiences in future columns. My email address is gamiel.yafai@diversitymarketplace. co.uk. We can then compile a catalogue of existing good practice in the sector. Access All Areas, the sector's EDI Charter Group, is currently running its industry-wide EDI survey, covering both employers and employees across horticulture and landscaping. It only works if enough of us take part, on both sides. If you haven't completed it yet, please do. It takes a few minutes, and the findings will shape the sector's understanding of where we actually stand, not where we assume we stand. surveymonkey.com/r/M3V2L3W. Allyship at scale isn't complicated. It's 120 people, and counting, deciding that noticing isn't enough.
GAMIEL YAFAI Gamiel Yafai is CEO and founder of Diversity Marketplace, helping organisations along their EDI journey. He was recently awarded an MBE for services to diversity and inclusion.
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ADVICE
SPEAK THE
Architect’s
LANGUAGE Landscape designer Mark Latchford gives a guide to early project integration where garden design and landscaping are fundamental
T
o create truly exceptional homes, the garden design and landscaping should be integral from the start of every project. Yet, we still see that it is treated as an afterthought. Shifting this perspective requires us to speak the language of architects and clients, framing the value of having a well-designed and landscaped garden in terms of strategy, logistics and investment. Here are 10 points to help articulate the benefits of early integration:
external works receive the same rigour as the architecture.
higher when landscape designs are included in applications. Biodiversity net gain requirements also make early collaboration with experienced designers increasingly important. 6. A functional ‘spatial programme’ Move beyond aesthetics and demonstrate how the garden functions as an extension of the home. Show how outdoor rooms for dining, relaxation and play respond to the client’s brief, making the landscape essential to their lifestyle. 7. Communicate the return on investment Frame a well-designed landscape as ‘asset enhancement’, demonstrating how it is an investment that can increase property value. Creating a memorable first impression is key; this starts at the drive or front garden. Buyers are often drawn to the setting as much as the house itself, making a cohesive landscape one of the most effective ways to enhance appeal and long-term value.
3. Create visual connections People spend approximately Emphasise how 70% of their time inside integrating garden looking out. Show how features and ecological their garden can improve enhancements into the the interior experience. main house application Consider how views and strengthens the window placement can be planning case optimised to frame vistas.
1. A site-wide ‘masterplan’ Frame your work as a masterplan for the entire plot, not just ‘the garden’. This shows how the building’s form and orientation are informed by the landscape. A focus on contextual integration positions you as a strategic partner, anchoring the project from the outset.
4. Optimised construction Highlight your role in de-risking the build. By planning for drainage, utilities and machinery access early, you prevent costly delays and retrofitting. This proves your value in ensuring the project runs efficiently.
2. Holistic budgeting Position the landscape budget as an integral component of the total project investment, not an optional extra. This protects the vision from late-stage compromises and ensures the
5. Leverage planning and compliance Emphasise how integrating garden features and ecological enhancements into the main house application strengthens the planning case. In our experience, the success rate of approvals is
8. Link to biophilic design principles Align your work with contemporary wellness narratives.‘Biophilic design’ demonstrates the proven health benefits of bringing a garden closer or even inside a house, connecting homeowners with nature.
9. Focus on year-round performance Think about the garden’s performance and architectural structure. Explain how evergreen frameworks, hardscape and lighting create a composed landscape that remains engaging all year. 10. Provide a framework for evolution Present your masterplan as a ‘strategic framework’ that ensures long-term resilience. This communicates foresight, positioning you as the guardian of the property’s legacy and demonstrating the garden will mature gracefully.
MARK LATCHFORD ©HollandGreen/Lucy Walters
Mark Latchford leads the landscape studio at multidisciplinary design practice HollandGreen, working alongside architecture and interior design teams to create transformative outdoor spaces. An award-winning leader in sustainable design, his story-led gardens reflect a commitment to ecology, biodiversity and landscapes that enhance wellbeing. hollandgreen.co.uk
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Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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with Transform sustainably your projects grown Transform with sustainably your projects grown with sustainably grown edplants upon from by thethe country’s UK, relied plants upon from by the thecountry’s UK, relied upon by the country’s Transform your projects with sustainably grown Transform your projects with sustainably grown plants fromthe theUK, UK, relied upon by the the country’s nd housebuilders. top landscapers and housebuilders. top landscapers and housebuilders. plants from relied upon by country’s toplandscapers landscapers and and housebuilders. housebuilders. top
seExpect Wyevale excellence, and makechoose an Expect Wyevale excellence, and make choose an Wyevale and make an Expect excellence, choose Wyevale and make an choose Wyevale and make an ssion.Expect excellence, impression. impression. impression. impression.
ADVICE
WHY CLIENTS
Don't Say Yes
Denise Quinlan explores why clients don't say yes, even when they love your work
T
he real barrier isn't always quo but are 1) having difficulty sifting price. One of the most puzzling through the different options 2) don’t feel moments in garden design they have the right information to make a is this. The prospect decision or 3) are uncertain about seems genuinely excited. The the outcome. meeting goes well. They So, what does all of this One pattern I see love your ideas. And mean for designers and is communication then… nothing. It's landscapers? In short, that assumes clients easy to assume it's the we need to make it already understand fee. Often, something easier for more of how it all works far more subtle is the 56% of indecisive happening. clients to say yes. and will naturally Research shows As we know, design connect the dots we're more comfortable and build are complex, for themselves making no decision than high-value professional risking the regret of making services. Most clients have the wrong decision. In other never commissioned one before. words, we have a preference to avoid They don't yet know what's involved, making a mistake and a deep-seated bias for what to expect or, importantly, where much things to remain as they are. (The Inaction of the value actually lies. Which means much Paradox*). of that value remains invisible until clients This isn't just an interesting psychological understand why it matters to them. trait. It has a measurable impact on To add to this, clients have also become commercial buying decisions too. When much more discerning, and there is an looking at a breakdown of opportunity losses, overwhelming amount of choice and 44%* of deals are lost due to the customer’s information. This issue is only going to preference to maintain the status quo – become more challenging for all of us. either not believing things are bad enough to So how do we make it easier for clients change or not agreeing the solution presented to say yes? I've reviewed hundreds of represents a more compelling alternative. proposals and client conversations. One But the remaining 56%* of opportunities pattern I see is communication that assumes are lost due to the customer’s indecision. clients already understand how it all works That’s to say they want to change the status and will naturally connect the dots for
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Pro Landscaper | September 2026
themselves. Many conversations still focus on process rather than outcomes. Proposals expect clients to work out why the investment is worthwhile. All of which make the decision harder than it needs to be. The answer isn't to sell harder. It's to make the decision easier. That means helping clients recognise the value of the work in ways that reflect how they make decisions today. When this happens, saying yes becomes far less of a leap. While there is no silver bullet, there are multiple ways to reduce uncertainty and build confidence in the client's decision. Together, these transform how consistently clients say yes. To discover how to make buying decisions easier for clients, join Denise Quinlan in the Business Theatre, 10.00am, Wednesday 14 October at FutureScape 2026. *Source: The Jolt Effect, M. Dixon & T. McKenna
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DENISE QUINLAN Denise Quinlan is an awardwinning business coach and founder of The Insightful Collective.
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ADVICE
HOW AI CAN HELP CONTRACTORS PROVE THE WORK THEY DO
From site notes to client reports, Steven Higginbottom explains how AI can help as clients increasingly expect comprehensive project updates
M
ost grounds maintenance style summaries or contractors are good at report wording that delivering work. They cut a client can actually grass, maintain spaces, clear understand. Used sites, manage trees, respond to issues and well, this all amounts keep outdoor spaces safe and presentable. The to hours, potentially problem is that doing the work is no longer saved. enough. Clients increasingly expect evidence. It's the same with They want updates, reports, photos, KPIs, audit audits. A supervisor results, completion data, complaint trends, site may visit 10 sites and notes and clear communication. For housing record rough notes: providers, commercial clients, local authorities grass long in one area, and managing agents, the question isn’t just, hedge missed on "has the work been done?" It's, "can you show another, litter present me what has been done, when, where and to at a third, resident what standard?" raised access issue at And for many contractors, that’s where a fourth. AI can help turn those rough notes into the pain starts. The information often a structured audit summary, highlight themes, exists…somewhere. Maybe it's in job sheets, identify recurring issues and create an action list. spreadsheets, photos, WhatsApp messages, It can also help with internal management. audit forms, emails, app data or the contract Contractors can use tools to analyse complaints, manager’s head. Or all of the above. summarise staff feedback, prepare meeting The challenge is turning all that notes, review customer comments information into something or compare performance across AI should not professional and useful. AI teams, regions or contracts. invent performance: can help. It doesn’t require the it shouldn’t be used A contractor could contractor to become a data to dress up poor delivery. take basic visit data and analyst. It just needs them But it can help good ask a tool to produce a to use the information they short client summary, i.e. have more effectively. contractors evidence how many scheduled visits AI is becoming great good work more were due, how many were at spreadsheet work, too. effectively completed, what percentage It can help create trackers, was achieved, where access calculate percentages, suggest issues occurred, and what follow-up formulas, structure tables and explain actions are needed. An AI tool can also help what the numbers are showing. For small turn that information into tables, dashboard and medium-sized contractors who don’t have dedicated admin or reporting teams, this is huge. There are also opportunities around I'M SPEAKING AT FUTURESCAPE THIS proposals and presentations. AI can help turn YEAR, SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE! knowledge into a more polished proposal, create a structure for a presentation, improve wording, Paving reduce word count and make documents more Superstore client-friendly. TRADE
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Pro Landscaper | September 2026
*Image made using AI
The important point is that AI should not invent performance: it shouldn’t be used to dress up poor delivery. But it can help good contractors evidence good work more effectively. In a competitive market, professionalism matters. A contractor who can clearly show what has been completed, what has improved, what issues have been found and what actions are being taken will often stand out from one who simply says, "We’ve done the visits". AI gives contractors a practical way to move from activity to evidence. And in today’s market, evidence wins confidence.
Scan the QR code to find out more about the ‘AI for Contractors' course designed to get you using AI confidently. The 3 weekly hour-long sessions start 3 September.
STEVEN HIGGINBOTTOM Steven Higginbottom, founder of Morada, built one of the UK’s leading grounds maintenance businesses. Today he helps contractors grow smarter. linkedin.com/in/dlodoctor
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Getting out of
ADVICE
YOUR OWN WAY
Diana Catrinoi-Cornea shares a personal lesson on why business owners are often their own biggest obstacle
I
’m a marketing consultant, and one of the services I offer is web design and development. So, I want to talk about the irony of my own website taking three months longer than I planned. It wasn't a delivery problem. My team was ready, the work was done. I was actually the project's biggest problem. Why? Because for the first time in my career I was both the client and the person marking the homework. And that made the process… complicated. When a business hires us, the whole thing works because there's objectivity built in. We agree the scope, we set the timeline, and we protect the client from the most expensive habit in marketing: the endless, anxious tweaking. I’m sure you know what I am talking about. But when it was my own name on the site? All that objectivity vanished. I changed things constantly. I obsessed over a perfect one six months details nobody else would ever down the line. notice. I second-guessed To every I obsessed decisions I would have business owner over details happily signed off for a reading this: the problem nobody else would client. And I didn't let is almost never whether ever notice. I secondmy own team get on something’s good and do the job they're enough. The problem guessed decisions brilliant at. is that you're too close. I would have Yes, I didn’t follow When something has happily signed off what I preach. I always your name on it, you lose for a client say that a website, a product the distance you need to or a campaign live, right now, make good decisions. You see makes more commercial sense than problems where there aren’t any. You dress up your insecurities as doing things the right way, and having high standards that your team doesn’t ‘understand’. And you end up slowing down the one thing your business actually needs, which is to be out there, visible. So, if you're sitting on something that's nearly ready, but not quite perfect
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in your eyes, here's what I'd say to you: go live. Trust the people you've hired to do their jobs. Stop perfecting the things your customers will never even notice, because while you're in private tweaking the details, your competitors are out there being seen and winning business. Your business doesn't need you to be perfect. It needs you to be visible.
DIANA CATRINOI-CORNEA Diana Catrinoi-Cornea is a chartered marketer, Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30 winner, and founder of Add-On Partners. She spent ten years driving growth in the landscaping industry and now helps more businesses grow.
Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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BUSINESS
“WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE GREEN SPACES IMPORTANT AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE LOOKED AFTER AS PART OF THE PLANNING CONSENT, OTHERWISE IT'S ANOTHER POINTLESS EXERCISE” WORDS: RACHAEL FORSYTH
John Little is well-known for his impressive Essex garden, Hilldrop, but here he explores another of his projects which he says has informed everything he talks about now
J
ohn Little's home in south Essex, Hilldrop, can often be found in the pages of magazines – and for good reason. The experimental garden is a treasure trove of biodiversity. But however deserved the attention may be, Little has a lesserknown project which he says is the most important work he's ever done. Back in 2000, Little signed a contract to undertake the grounds maintenance at Clapton Park Estate, in Hackney, East London. The contract was standard: cutting grass, trimming hedges, removing weeds. But it was the work done outside of this which was the most impactful. "The whole contract had no soul because it didn't connect to the people that were there," explains Little. "There is nothing worse than a white middle class bloke turning up and telling them what they need. That is the biggest kind of arrogance. It's a lesson you learn pretty quickly if you're going to be effective. My job was 30% horticulture, 70% communication. It was about understanding what people wanted and changing things to suit them. The kind of nuance that comes from having the time to talk to people. Because there's no reason you can't get biodiversity in and do what people want." Clapton Park Estate was home to a large Kurdish community so the team planted grapevines that residents could use to make dolma. "While the labour was expensive, because they're incredibly vigorous, the grapevine wasn't. But what it meant was that the residents were heard."
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Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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BUSINESS
The team also created space for growing food – another big request from residents, which the team kept tidy. In fact, food planting became the default for any planting. "If you put food in, then people notice it and you get a connection," says Little, "Eventually people start to take the food, too. Food planting in social housing, it's such a cool thing and it's great for biodiversity – just put it in everywhere." What the estate became known for, though, was the planting along the railing edges. "It's a cool place to have flowers," says Little. "You get protection, because people don't walk across them, the railing supports the plants, and it's an area that would typically be sprayed." The estate became so synonymous with the flowers that grew along these railings that it was affectionately renamed The Poppy Estate. "Now, don't get me wrong, I'm making out this is a perfect setup. It's obviously not," Little stresses, "there's chaos involved in public space, but there's definitely opportunities." Those opportunities are outside of the contract, though. "No one cared very much about much of the things within the contract," explains Little. "But they did care when we grew flowers outside their house, gave them somewhere to grow food, or reported the fact that their gas
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Pro Landscaper | September 2026
boiler was broken. Those are the actual things that make a difference and they're not in the contract because there's no budget for it."
looking after them. People often want me to talk about the stuff we do at Hilldrop, and that makes sense in a lot of ways. But everything we've learnt at Hilldrop is reliant on people Funding in the right places looking after it. Otherwise, it's all pointless. It was only because of Little's design "My wife was a social worker, and and build business, which could she explained it doesn't matter subsidise this work, that he how much policy, care plans Everything was able to give so much to and directives are in place, we've learnt the estate for free. "We were it all concertinaed down at Hilldrop is fortunate enough that I – it all depended on the reliant on people had the time and energy quality of the person that looking after it. to do that," expresses went into the house to Little. "But you can't expect do the care. It literally just Otherwise, it's hardworking people to do pivots on that – and they all pointless all that stuff for free. It's like get paid the worst. It's exactly relying on the volunteer sector to the same with landscapes. Look fix everything – no good. You've got to how many landscapes, especially have a paid system to prop all those things up. public funded landscapes, that get built, have I don't think we can expect councils to do this no aftercare, look rubbish, get redesigned, get at the moment because they don't have the built again, have no aftercare... all of the money money. They're really struggling." is up front in the same way that all the money Currently, Little says money often goes in social care is with the higher ups. It would to the big, shiny, capital projects which don't be the game changer in our industry, and account for aftercare. "The temptation, probably the game changer in social care, to flip especially for politicians, is to spend up front that. Landscape stops flooding, reduces urban and get the photo opportunity. I'd say don't heat island effect, it makes people happy. So, build the projects in the first place if you're not the people that look after it, I would say, are the
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BUSINESS
most important people. But the budget's not filtering down to them." Greening up towns and cities After spending time speaking with Little, it's no surprise that when asked how to make our towns and cities more biodiverse, he doesn't hesitate when he responds, "funding for those on the ground – simple as that. It's the subtle changes," explains Little. "All that subtle decision making is only possible if you have more time – time to notice what happens, time to look up the local ecology, to connect with community groups and local ecologists and time to understand what might be possible." Little argues this money could be redistributed from the overall budget, "If you have a fairly average design and put really good gardeners in, the project will be good. Design makes a difference, and creative design
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is important, but we could be slightly more modest about the amount of money and energy that goes into the design and then move that money into the people looking after it. Then it would be incredibly successful. Nigel Dunnett, Dan Pearson, Piet Oudolf, they wouldn't design something without guaranteed aftercare – and their projects have become iconic." Creating biodiverse spaces The aftercare issue rears its head in tree planting too. "A lot of tree planting goes on just to make people feel better," argues Little. "Tree planting without any follow-up management is usually pretty sad. You see a lot of woodlands that are 20-30 years old and they're full of tall, thin trees which haven't been maintained, so all the biodiversity is at the top, where the sunshine is, and at the base there's very little. Woodlands are good if there's some understanding of what's going to take place and how they're going to be looked after – it's like everything else." It's often where habitats overlap, Little says, that are the most biodiverse. Hedges, in particular, "The great thing about hedges is they're on a boundary so they usually stay – if everything gets ripped out, it's very rare that they're going to take the hedge on the boundary out," Little explains. "Hedges are also typically mixed species, rather than single species, which is another good thing. And, obviously, they're linear corridors between places. That's a big deal because if you look at our landscape you do wonder how the hell wildlife even exists." Little has become known for his exploration of the ecological potential of brownfield sites and it's down to their mix of materials. "The more diverse the landscape, topography and soils, the more mixed they are, the more mixed the biodiversity will be. It is a simple principle. The complicated places are usually rich in wildlife. That's why brownfields are good." But despite this potential, Little doesn't draw a hard line when it comes to the UK's National Planning Policy Framework's brownfield-first approach to housebuilding. "I'm not one of those people that say, don't build houses anywhere. We definitely need to build affordable houses. But if we're going to build the house, we must insist that landscape goes in and around, and the biodiversity net gain (BNG) mitigation is really good. We have to force that because it won't happen otherwise. We have to make these green spaces important and make sure they're looked after as part of
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BUSINESS
we're doing is offering an alternative. You don't want that binary attitude of, I only plant in sand, or I only plant natives. This is just another choice for people to have in their armoury."
the planning consent. Otherwise, it's another pointless exercise. We've been campaigning to change BNG for ages to move creatively gardened spaces further up the metric." Lessons from Hilldrop Little himself has learnt a lot. Driving up towards his home, it's hard to keep your jaw closed. But while it's beautiful, it's not just about the aesthetics. "We've learned that creating places that are good for biodiversity is not all about plants. We tend to focus on pollinator plants or planting trees, but invertebrates need places to nest or hibernate and if they don't
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Training a modern gardener At Clapton, Little learnt what a modern gardener should be, what social housing green space could be and why it needs to be invested in. "The best thing I've ever done is to try and make that place a bit better," expresses Little. "Learning from the people that are living there rather than turning up with my own views has informed everything I talk about now." In particular, it's fed into Care Not Capital. "We're training people in everything other than horticulture," explains Little, "in all those other things which I think, for public space work, is really important." Students learn about creative maintenance and the importance of have those, it doesn't matter how many flowers ecology – and how to record it. They also learn you have, you won't attract invertebrates." from other experts, such as Duncan Nuttall Because of this, the changes at Hilldrop who teaches dry-stone rubble wall building have been about structure, topography and and Becky Little who is a cob maker. dead materials. "There's a huge amount of The training is specifically for public spaces our ecosystem that's reliant on dead and helps those gardeners position vegetation in some way. That's themselves differently. "They the bit that's missing. You've are horticulturalists, but been taught to talk about they're also an ecologist, Learning from live things all the time, a community worker," the people that are but actually, the dead Little says. "If we promote living there rather stuff is just as important. the different skills they than turning up It's the same with have, there might be with my own views bare soil, which has more opportunities has informed always been a taboo in for different funding everything I talk horticulture – it's one of channels." about now the most important places The course produces for invertebrates to nest. And individuals with the right skills, as soon as it becomes vegetated, but the issue is the roles aren't they don't use it." always there for them to move into. Care Alongside this, Little encourages making Not Capital is working towards sponsoring an simple topography changes. As soon as you extra gardener on a social housing estate and make a mound, for example, you've got the has funded a gardener, of their choosing, to top which is free draining, the bottom which offer advice to a community group. But these is damper, and you have a north and south opportunities aren't abundant. "There are no side. This simple change and the plant choice public space jobs that pay them enough to do suddenly widen. "As soon as you put the same those things," Little explains. stuff back and make it all flat then, unless you But with a new government, and potentially garden it intensively, the plant species are going new priorities, now could be as good a time to want to be the same because the conditions as ever. After all, Clapton Park Estate shows are the same," explains Little. what can be achieved if funding were put in Through work with etymologist James different places and, as Little surmises, the McGill over seven years, Hilldrop is now home people are ready too, "If we can somehow move to 1,530 species of recorded invertebrates and some investment into the care on the ground from 60 species of bees and wasps it now has then there's a whole bank of really incredible, up to 195. And pretty much all of that is down creative young gardeners that are absolutely to structural changes, not plant changes. "All busting the gut to do good things."
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60 years of land-based skills Since 1966, Lantra has been supporting the people behind the UK's land-based and environment industries. Our new Landscape Tools training suite offers flexible certification pathways for liquid-fuel-powered tools, battery-powered tools, or both, supporting businesses as they embrace new technologies, sustainability goals and evolving industry demands.
Gr ee n COMMUNITY FROSTS LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION
PORTFOLIO
PROJECT DETAILS Build time 5 months Size of project 1,000 m2 Project value £500k+
TACHBROOK ESTATE
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BEFORE
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ocated in Pimlico, central London, Tachbrook Estate is an established social housing community whose development evolved from the area’s 19th-century urban expansion. One of London’s first working-class housing estates, Tachbrook was first designed by architect F. Milton Harvey and developed in phases between the 1930s and 1950s. A particularly notable estate of its time, these were the first working-class homes in London to incorporate self-operating electric lifts. In 1972, the estate was transferred from the Westminster Housing Trust to Peabody, the client on this project. Today, it comprises 427 homes across 14 buildings while remaining a long-established community. A space once filled with outdated and unsafe play and sports facilities, Tachbrook Estate’s redevelopment looked to establish accessibility, safety and community. A range of elements Guided by consultation with the local community, the scheme introduced new play equipment and enhanced recreational facilities, including an upgraded MUGA, resulting in a welcoming environment that encourages play, social interaction and everyday community use. Split into a series of reorganised areas, the space now features an equipped play space, refurbished ballcourt, community garden, planted garden and an informal lawn. Inside the play space there is a range of physical and sensory experiences that are accessible for different abilities. From a wheelchair-accessible roundabout and inclusive swing seats to timber multiplay structures, the space also features carefully
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coordinated safety surfacing to make the space easier for children with different needs and abilities to use together. The adjoining ballcourt has been renewed with new surfacing, line markings, goal ends, fencing and seating. Its relationship with the wider landscape was carefully considered so that sports, play, gardening and quieter social activity could take place alongside one another. Living willow structures introduce nature directly into the children’s play environment. The transformed space also hosts a new community garden. Lined with raised planters constructed from reclaimed timber, the garden provides accessible food-growing opportunities. Intended to give residents an active role within the landscape, the garden encourages the community to engage with one another, as well as nature. Natural stone tables and informal gathering spaces weave between the space. Throughout the space, existing walls, railings, boulders, trees and areas of sub-base were retained or reused to help preserve familiar features of the estate, reduce unnecessary replacement and ensure that the renewed landscape remained rooted in its setting.
2.9 litres per second. This reduces peak flows during heavy rainfall and allows the play and community spaces above to perform as part of the site’s wider drainage infrastructure. According to Frosts, the main contractor on this project, careful coordination was required to accommodate this system beneath the play equipment, safety surfacing, paths and planting while working around
Integrated drainage Sitting beneath the landscape is a concealed sustainable drainage and attenuation system. Designed to manage surface water within the constrained urban site, the below-ground geocellular attenuation tank temporarily stores water collected through permeable surfacing and rain gardens. A flow-control chamber then restricts discharge into the existing drainage network to approximately
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PORTFOLIO
existing drainage infrastructure, trees, walls and underground services. “The result is a landscape that provides recreation, biodiversity and social value at the surface while delivering important climate-resilience infrastructure below ground,” says Frosts. Planting strategy Overall, the planting strategy was designed to increase biodiversity, reinforce the structure of the play space and create a robust landscape capable of adapting to a changing climate. Selected for their resilience to heat, drought and challenging urban conditions, trees such as Celtis australis and Ginkgo biloba are planted across the landscape. While Ginkgo biloba is highly tolerant of pollution, compacted urban conditions and periods of drought, Celtis australis is also suited to warm urban environments while providing shade with its broad canopy. Alongside Ostrya carpinifolia and Ulmus ‘Lobel’, the trees provide greater species diversity and future canopy cover while reducing reliance on species that may become less suitable as London experiences ©CUBE Street Furniture Ltd
hotter, drier summers and more frequent extreme weather. The wider planting combines ornamental grasses, flowering perennials and robust shrubs to provide year-round structure, colour and ecological value, such as Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’. The planting palette blends climate resilience, biodiversity and visual quality with the practical demands of a heavily used communal landscape in the centre of London. It also supports localised cooling by introducing additional shade, vegetation and
PLANTING • Celtis australis Drought-tolerant tree • Ulmus ‘Lobel’ Dutch elm disease-resistant cultivar • Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ Seasonal structure • Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ Value to pollinating insects
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PORTFOLIO
REFERENCES Designer
Trees
Swing and trampoline
Railings
Roundabout
Turkington Martin
Combinatie Mauritz
Kompan
Alpha Rail
Sutcliffe Play
turkingtonmartin.com
combinatiemauritz.com
kompan.com
alpharail.co.uk
sutcliffeplay.co.uk
Natural stone table
Curved benches and
Reclaimed sleeper
Tectonix
platforms
Ashwells Reclaimed
tectonix.co.uk
CUBE Street Furniture
Timber
cubestreetfurniture.co.uk
ashwelltimber.com
Keyline
Ball stop fencing
Safety surfacing
keyline.co.uk
Lang + Fulton
DCM Surfaces
langandfulton.co.uk
dcmsurfaces.com
Civil and structure engineer
Barcham barcham.co.uk
Civic
Soil
civicuk.com
Bourne Amenity
Hedging plants
bourneamenity.co.uk
and shrubs
Play equipment
Greenwood Group
Timberplay
greenwood-group.com
timberplay.com
Drainage
Goal Ends Lightmain lightmain.co.uk
permeable planted surfaces around the play and social areas. Overcoming challenges “The principal challenge was delivering a complex landscape project within an occupied residential estate with very restricted access and limited space for storage, plant and materials,” says Frosts. This required careful logistical planning, controlled deliveries and close coordination with Peabody and residents. Resident participation helped to shape
the project from design and concept, all the way to completion. Consultation events informed both the layout and equipment selection, helping ensure the completed space reflected how local families wanted to play, meet and spend time outdoors. Another challenge was to ensure consistent safety throughout the estate’s transformation. Clear segregation, advance communication and carefully planned vehicle movements allowed the works to progress while minimising disruption to residents, which was fundamental.
The site also contained existing trees, walls, drainage infrastructure and underground services. Trial investigations, service verification and coordination between the landscape, civil and structural designs were used to resolve conditions as they appeared. Also, work close to retained trees was undertaken using appropriate root-protection measures and sensitive construction techniques. The finished project officially opened on 17 July 2026, with a celebratory community event. Residents, families, local representatives and members of the project team came together to mark the occasion. “The play space was full of children with happy faces, which was a delight to see,” explains Sue Forsyth, project manager at Peabody. The completed landscape provides Tachbrook Estate with a safer, more accessible and inclusive green space. Children can play, neighbours can meet and residents can enjoy the landscape every day, creating a renewed green heart for the estate.
ABOUT Frosts Landscape Construction designs, builds and maintains landscapes that balance human experience, biodiversity and performance – benefiting communities and ecosystems today and for future generations, while creating a workplace where ownership, learning, and wellbeing thrive. frostslandscapes.co.uk ©XES Drones
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Boom & Bonheur: Trees with character
L
ooking for a true statement piece? Welcome to Boom & Bonheur. Our expansive nursery offers a striking selection of distinctive trees and plants, bringing instant maturity and atmosphere to your outdoor space. Take the stunning Tilia henryana: a perfect blend of beauty and biodiversity. This tree stands out with its unique, finely toothed foliage, while its late, fragrant blossoms make it an absolute favourite for bees. Want to explore our inspiring collection? Get in touch and pay us a visit! Boom & Bonheur – because trees give life and bring happiness
Boom & Bonheur BV
boombonheur.com
WELCOME TO ARBOR, THE LARGEST TREE NURSERY IN BELGIUM. And one of the leaders in Europe. With over 500 hectares of open field and container nurseries across Belgium and France, Arbor is proud to offer a wide range of trees and shrubs, including semi-mature and mature specimens and expertly pretrained topiary forms both in open ground and containerised. Our scale and expertise allow us to support large-scale projects with consistent availability and competitive pricing.
Website: www.arbor.be
Contact: adam.wolczynski@arbor.be
PORTFOLIO
PROJECT DETAILS Build time Approx. two years on site from Aug 2023 to June 2025, having taken over as principal contractor midproject. Size of project 8,250m2 Project value £11m Awards The Pineapples Public Space 2026 Award Winner, BALI Principal Award for Hard Landscaping Construction (nondomestic) - Over £500K and BALI Principal Award for Community & Schools Development
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FIT FOR THE
Fu tu re ELITE LANDSCAPES
WOOLWICH HIGHSTREET
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REFERENCES Designer LDA Design lda-design.co.uk Studio Weave studioweave.com Paving Marshalls marshalls.co.uk Pre-cast concrete street furniture Evans Pre-Cast evansconcrete.co.uk Architectural and street furniture Vestre vestre.com Urban Concepts urbanconceptsltd.co.uk Street lighting Urbis urbisdesign.co.uk Water features Fountains Direct Ltd fountains-direct.co.uk Feature and specialist lighting Smartwave Electrical Solutions smartwave-es.com Building works (Market Pavilion) Macai Projects macai-limited.co.uk Planting and trees Van den Berk vdberk.co.uk Robin Tacchi Robintacchiplants.com
I
n 2018, the government launched Our Plan for the High Street, which included £675m for a Future High Streets Fund. The aim was to renew and reshape town centres and high streets to drive growth, improve experience and ensure future sustainability. In south-east London, Woolwich High Street, Beresford Square and Powis Street's regeneration was part of this fund, as well as a wider £25m town centre strategy. Appointed at principal contractors, Elite Landscapes' brief was to deliver a full hard and soft landscaping package. This covered high-specification paving, street furniture, drainage, lighting, water features and complex public realm detailing, together
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with a new Market Pavilion housing a café and toilet block. Some key objectives were to restore Woolwich’s civic heritage, improve safety and footfall, and to create a flexible space for community and cultural events. They also had the challenge of completing this while keeping more than 70 shops and market stalls fully operational throughout. Elite Landscapes was appointed following the administration of Geoffrey Osborne Ltd in April 2024, taking over the £13m landscaping package mid-project. Working in historic conditions The site sits within the Woolwich Conservation Area and includes the
historic 19th-century high pavement and the Grade II-listed Royal Arsenal Gatehouse. The historic high pavement was restored and the Royal Arsenal Gatehouse gates reopened for the first time in nearly 25 years. During installation of the water feature tank, the remains of a Victorian toilet block were discovered underground. Working within the Conservation Area alongside a pre-construction archaeologist, the team carefully lined and preserved the remains in place. The underground pump room originally planned for that location was redesigned and relocated into the Market Pavilion, a solution developed with the design partners.
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PORTFOLIO BEFORE
DURING
DURING
PLANTING • Betula lenta Suited to urban conditions • Alnus glutinosa ‘Laciniata’ For structure, habitat and yearround interest • Liriodendron tulipifera For seasonal colour and character
Soft landscaping for biodiversity The scheme delivers over 30 trees, around 1,200 shrubs and a new urban garden, with rain gardens providing sustainable drainage and habitat. All planting meets BS 5837:2012. The palette was selected to enhance biodiversity and support native wildlife, with a mix of perennial and pollinator species chosen partly to help declining urban bee populations. Key trees include: •S weet Birch (Betula lenta) and Field Maple (Acer campestre ‘William Caldwell’): hardy, largely native species well suited to urban conditions and valuable for wildlife. •C ommon Alder (Alnus glutinosa ‘Laciniata’)
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and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris): for structure, habitat and year-round interest. • Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) and Purple Plum (Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’): for seasonal colour and character. • The existing London Plane (Platanus x hispanica): retained on site. Challenges The site was busy, with a high footfall of up to 19,000 daily visitors and more than 70 businesses trading throughout. In order to work around this, Elite ensured works were phased to minimise disruption, using just-intime deliveries, clear signage and extended weekend working to complete key phases outside peak times.
Other site challenges were below ground. The site carried extensive UKPN, BT, Openreach, British Gas and Thames Water services, often inaccurately recorded on drawings. Because of this, vacuum excavation and hand digging were used to expose services safely. All underground works in the conservation area were carried out with a pre-construction archaeologist, including the careful preservation of the Victorian toilet block remains. Transforming the town centre Earlier public consultation had described the town centre as unsafe, tired and in need of greener, safer, better-lit space. A flexible, welcoming spaces for daily use and for
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community events has now been accomplished, with a new water feature and cafe pavilion installed, alongside rain gardens and new planting. A subtle variation in paving colour at each side-road intersection along Powis Street aids legibility and wayfinding. Sustainability is built into the scheme through rain gardens and a sustainable drainage (SuDS) strategy following CIRIA C753, energyefficient lighting, and improved, safer pedestrian access. There is wildlife benefit too, with new tree, shrub and rain-garden planting, including perennial and pollinator species, designed to enhance biodiversity and benefit birds and invertebrates, delivering a net gain in biodiversity in line with London Plan Policy G6 and the NPPF. The result was this feedback from Lisa Melloy, HomeStart Greenwich, "this will make a huge difference to all our children and families. I love the design of the raised beds and the bench, and what a difference the fencing has made so the children can now use the whole area." It's clear this project has successfully achieved what the team, and the Future High Streets Fund, set out to do – it's helped local leaders implement a bold new vision to transform this town centre and make it fit for the future.
ABOUT Founded in 1999, Elite Landscapes is a multi-award-winning commercial landscape construction and maintenance contractor. Its 300-strong team delivers soft and hard landscape works across London, the South of England, and the Midlands, on projects up to £10m and over, transforming ambitious designs into reality through exceptional quality and meticulous detail. elitelandscapes.co.uk
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In conversation with...
HARRY NORMAN ALLGREEN
Harry Norman on creating a successful business that fills a gap in the stone market How did you get into the industry? I have always had a passion for the outdoors. When I was young, my family were in landscaping in South London, where I was working as a labourer and cutting grass for domestic clients at the age of 15. Looking back, I realise how clients trusted us young guys to work in their treasured gardens, which taught us how much it meant to provide a service to them. It taught me how to care for people. After relocating to Somerset over 20 years ago, I got into a sales role for a couple of years, which taught me a lot about the skills I needed to listen and how to negotiate. What gap in the market led you to set up Allgreen? My brother, Aleks, and I looked at ourselves as relatively new and young guys to the industry when we set up Allgreen in 2005. We found we had to spend a considerable amount of time sourcing different stones from multiple quarries before narrowing down to a final stone of choice. So, we decided we would bring lots of stone together in a way that no one's really seen before to create a range which is unique, while sticking with natural products. We're surrounded by quarries in Somerset. From Mendip Hills to Portland stone, we've got limestones coming out our ears around here! That gave us a massive advantage because the quarries' waste products could be turned into unique products, and that's continued to today where we crafted a niche. We're all about the possibilities with stone. Starting with a raw boulder and you can utilise the natural faces, or you can carve it, cut it, work it, finish it, profile it, and then be creative with the waste to create new formats and styles. In the last 15 years, we’ve focused on designers and what they needed, listened and worked closely with them, and then shaped a business around what their needs were.
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What's been crucial to building the business since then? The crucial bit is getting the team to work cohesively and passionately together. A solid management team is important, and a team that is happy to find new ways to tackle challenges and take on everything that's thrown at them. It basically comes down to developing a vision that people want to be part of.
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Q&A
How do you maintain a successful business and create trusting relationships with clients? Successful, trusting relationships mean everything to us but sometimes things don’t go to plan and I'll be the first one to put my hand up and say this. But we hate letting people down and we focus on continuous improvement. It is vitally important for us to build and maintain strong relationships with our clients by listening to them. We also want to consistently demonstrate that we are proactively making a difference. Tell us about your range of products. We have a unique range of natural stone products sourced, but the bespoke products make up half of our business. It’s heavily technical and involves workshop drawings, CAD saws and specialist knowledge in what the stone can handle or how we can finish it. We also continuously run Know Your Stone Workshop sessions. They vary from interactive one-to-one sessions or taught to a classroom of 50 people. We talk about how to use stone, the right applications, which stones are good for what areas, comparing bad and good profiles and what you can and can’t do with stone.
What's your favourite part about the industry? It takes us to places that you could only dream about. So, for example, working on projects for the Royal We decided household gives us an opportunity to be part we would bring lots of a legacy, or a HNWI owned country estate of stone together where you'd never normally get access to.
in a way that no one's really seen before to create a range which is unique, while sticking with natural products
How do you work to improve environmental impact? This goes right to the heart of what we do. We don't officially own a piece of land where we can just quarry any stone we like, but we partner with quarries and work closely with them ensuring ethical and responsible practice while understanding what their byproducts are. We reuse masonry offcuts or quarry scraps into stackers, mallets or create organic formats such as ‘crazy paving’, stepping stones and steps. We work closely with the local agricultural community who readily collect our offcuts to use as a substitute for quarried
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aggregates for making tracks and bases in their barns. There is not a single bit of waste that is not used. Even the dust from the saws is collected up and blended, so it can all help bind and lock it down. We're also working to reduce carbon, using the Elemental tool to establish a generic carbon measure. We'll then measure specifically depending on what stone and format it is, and even down to how it's delivered.
What outdoor design trends do you think we'll see in 2027? We're seeing and looking to embrace more natural shapes, such as working with stone as they form organically. This is often seen in ‘crazy paving’ or organic shape paving where the stone is literally used in its natural form but also in cladding, cobbles and mosaics. Hospitality and wellness spaces are responsible for driving trends. The use of stone in these public areas can spark inspiration.
What's on the horizon for Allgreen? We've been growing steadily for a while, but it's exciting with some new investments we are making in technology and machinery, on top of the potential of new transfer hubs in different locations. We’re trialling the implementation of AI in our reporting, administrative tasks and processes for accuracy and enhanced efficiency. If we don't embrace it, we're going to become extinct. We will only implement something when we're happy as a team that it is going to make a difference.
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A PRETTY PLOT “A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!” So wrote a local playwright, and whilst it’s unlikely he was referring to this particular plot, he might as well have been. Just outside his native Stratford-upon-Avon, this ‘pretty plot’ backs onto the Avon itself. An immaculate, steeply sloping lawn rises to a patio and a traditionally constructed solid-oak pergola, the whole scene bathed in dappled sunlight filtering through the stately boughs of a vast cedar. One can think of few better places to spend a long evening with friends, food and fire – somewhere “a summer’s day will seem an hour but short”. Project and photos by Bidford Landscapes.
Taking the pain out of outdoor kitchen design and build. grilloliving.com/trade
Living Art
PROJECT DETAILS Build time 9 Weeks Size of project 78m2 Project value £170k Awards Pro Landscaper Project Awards 2024 Design Between £100,000 to £250,000 – Winner
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PORTFOLIO
EATON SQUARE TERRACE & BALCONIES MAÏTANNE HUNT
P
rior to Maïtanne Hunt and her team’s intervention, these spaces felt uninviting and underutilised. Despite a spiral staircase leading to impressive views of London, the terrace itself was stark and barren. Grey decking and railings dominated the area while existing trees and plants were crammed into dark planters – either diseased or dead. The building's plant rooms left much to be desired too. Exposed to both the sun and through lack of privacy, the space was unwelcoming and not conducive to relaxation. Meanwhile, the narrow balconies were home to dying pot plants against the grey-clad backdrop. All of which was a stark contrast to the client's aesthetic interior.
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PORTFOLIO
As lovers of art and beauty, the clients wanted to transform their exposed penthouse roof terrace into a stylish, functional, and welcoming space, ideally offering some protection from the sun and wind, with areas for entertaining, cooking, and relaxation. The brief also included transforming the six narrow balconies – which lead off the reception, dining and bedrooms – into plant-rich works of art. A roof terrace for different occasions The roof terrace needed to accommodate two quite different uses. The first was a seating area for socialising with a fully equipped kitchen unit, including an electric grill or ‘plancha’, bar, fridge and ice dispenser – doubling as a bar for the teenagers. The second was a seating zone for quiet relaxation – positioned for privacy and comfort. Both needed to sit under dappled shade, though, and the planting scheme had to withstand harsh sun and wind. The bespoke planters on the terrace were made of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) which has good green credentials, is longlasting, lightweight and does not conduct heat. This protects the plant’s roots from extremes of temperature. The planters were
fitted with integral reservoirs which reduced evaporation and water usage and secured to the decking substructure. The colour was powder-coated to resemble Corten steel but without the weight – a colour which also showed off the drought-tolerant plants. Planters for the pines were also GRP in RAL 7013 which blends into the background and creates the impression of space. The kitchen/bar unit was bespoke and constructed of lightweight powder-coated aluminium in RAL 7021 with a black granite worktop chosen to withstand wear and tear and environmental exposure. The bespoke pergola was crafted from Corten steel and affixed to the decking substructure for stability. The storage unit was an off-the-shelf product, which was topped off with a green roof planted with several mint varieties. The client wished to retain the existing decking, furniture and lighting on the roof terrace. Tough yet striking plants were chosen which would thrive in the exposed conditions of the site as well as offering year-round interest, privacy, and shade, while contributing to a harmonious colour palette and supporting local wildlife. A series of square planters framing the terrace housed half-standard Ilex ‘Nellie Stevens’ trees were
underplanted with billowing cascades of Erigeron karvinskianus, Helianthemum ‘Wisley Pink’. Pinus mugo 'Humpty' and Euphorbia myrsinites draped over the boundary wall behind the skylight, screening off the building’s plant rooms from the seating area and visually softening the boundary. Near the kitchen and bar area, herb and holly planters combined bronze fennel, rosemary, and fragrant thyme for culinary use. A grapevine was trained over a trellis above the second seating area, introducing vertical greenery and a final layer of seasonal interest. The rest of the terrace was bordered by rectangular planters bursting with movement and texture – grasses and light perennials such as Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’, Pennisetum ‘Hameln’, Verbena bonariensis, and Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’. Rusty-hued Iris ‘Kent Pride’ and pink Echinacea purpurea added bold, seasonal pops of colour. Creating art on the balconies On the balcony, Maïtanne Hunt replaced the wall cladding and installed new lighting to highlight the cloud-pruned trees and miniature landscapes that curve seamlessly around the pots. Inspired by
BEFORE
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PORTFOLIO
oriental landscape art, these scenes were set in bespoke, low-profile planters on castor wheels, custom-shaped to fit the pots. Statuesque evergreen trees, framed by large windows, rise above verdant miniature landscapes – each scene appearing like a living painting. The sinuously trained ornamental apricot, Prunus mume, cloudpruned Chamaecyparis obtusa and Laurus nobilis are underplanted with mind-yourown-business. The landscapes are carpeted with ferns like Asplenium scolopendrium and Polystichum setiferum. Charcoal rocks form jagged peaks, and white pebbles traced riverlike paths. Delicately lit, these landscapes draw the eye away from the grey decking and narrow balconies, transporting viewers to serene, imagined vistas.
BEFORE
PLANTING Roof terrace • Juniperus virginiana ‘Hetzii’ Focal shade tree. • Ilex ‘Nellie Stevens’ To attract birds and
Sustainability Within every project, Maïtanne Hunt aims to create gardens that are long-lasting, lowmaintenance, and largely self-sustaining. While all gardens – especially rooftop and container plantings – require some care, this project prioritised selecting the right plants for their environment to ensure they thrived with minimal water and maintenance. A crucial step was upgrading the existing
enhance biodiversity. • Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’ For movement and texture Balconies • Cloud-pruned Chamaecyparis obtusa • Asplenium scolopendrium Chosen to create a living painting.
irrigation system, which had leaks and lacked efficient scheduling. This ensured plants received only the water they needed. The planters were designed with built-in reservoirs to provide a water backup during hot, dry months, and constructed from GRP to prevent root overheating. Aside from seasonal upkeep, the garden largely looks after itself. Balcony lighting was designed to highlight plants without causing overillumination or light pollution. Wherever possible, perennials grown in peat-free media were selected and planted in recyclable pots. All plants and products were sourced from suppliers dedicated to strong environmental practices. Overcoming challenges Administrative challenges arose early on with the building landlord who imposed a lengthy list of conditions – along with a neighbourly issue beyond our control – before considering the licence to alter. Strict building regulations meant that almost every design idea was vetoed, particularly those pertaining to irrigation and weight/height
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PORTFOLIO
REFERENCES Contractor The Garden Builders gardenbuilders.co.uk Structural Engineer Thierry Suc thierry@kiosque.co.uk Pergola T Brown and Sons tbrownandsons.co.uk Planters on terrace Livingreen Design livingreendesign.com Planters on balconies Torc Pots torcpots.com AF Hussey afhussey.co.uk Juniper and hollies Deepdale Trees deepdale-trees.co.uk Pines, weeping apricot and
limitations. Maïtanne Hunt's structural engineer devised solutions to address these, which were approved after much debate, subject to a postworks review. The irrigation system on the balconies was hidden behind wooden panels, proving difficult to access for setting up and servicing. After several leaks, many of the existing irrigation points had to be reworked. To enable access to vital services secreted below the balcony decking, Maïtanne Hunt designed the mini-landscape planters on castors, allowing them to be moved for utility access. Logistically, access to the roof terrace and balconies was a major hurdle. All deliveries had to be carefully scheduled for a one-off craning session, however access for landscapers was limited to steep ladders, tiny skylights, and narrow stairs through a tradesman’s entrance. Ricky Goodwin, partner at The Garden Builders said, "The biggest challenge here was access, no lifts for the team, external stair-access only, and a compact scaffold lift for materials, most materials had to be either trimmed or further broken down after delivery to fit in the scaffold lift, or if they couldn’t be, then walked up
manually. Other constraints such as time frames, structural issues and the weather, all contributed to a very complex project, with the result being an exquisite rooftop garden that all involved should be very proud of." An incredible number of insects and birds now visit the spaces, a testament to the biodiversity the planting scheme supported. The team were especially relieved that the dimensions of the juniper, in combination with the height of the planter, provided shade exactly where the seating area was located. The balcony designs were a bold creative concept that took time to refine, blending Hunt’s vision with the team’s practical expertise to bring it to life. After Maïtanne Hunt and the team’s work on this scheme, the view which meets the client on arrival from the staircase is now one of abundant planting, welcoming spaces and sanctuary from the sun. The clients were so taken with the result that they chose to work from the rooms with the best views of the balconies – and perhaps the greatest compliment came when they cancelled their summer holiday just to spend more time enjoying their new roof terrace garden.
Chamaecyparis obtusa topiaries Paramount Plants paramountplants.co.uk Kitchen/bar AF Hussey Ltd afhussey.co.uk Stoneworks London stoneworkslondon.co.uk Plants Knoll Gardens knollgardens.co.uk Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens bethchatto.co.uk Claire Austin claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk
ABOUT Maïtanne Hunt Gardens, Roof Terraces & Landscapes is a multi-award winning, London-based design studio serving clients in the UK and abroad. It transforms outdoor spaces into elegant, functional and sustainable gardens that elevate urban living. The studio has particular expertise in the conception, development and build of roof terrace gardens. maitannehunt.com All after images ©Joanna Kossak
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Trussel’s Together Garden Designed by Rob Hardy | Built by Peter Gregory Landscapes | © Ellie Walpole
TRENDS
Natural Stone and
NATURALISTIC GARDENS James Scott describes why natural stone, and naturalistic gardens make the perfect pair
N
aturalistic gardens continue to shape contemporary residential landscape design. Defined by informal planting, greater biodiversity and a stronger connection to nature, they often contain less hard landscaping than traditional schemes. Yet the hard landscaping they do contain plays an even more important role. Every terrace, paved surface and path must provide structure, guide movement and create a coherent framework. Material choice is therefore crucial, with natural stone particularly well suited to planting-led landscapes thanks to its authenticity, subtle variation and ability to age gracefully. At the heart of every successful naturalistic garden is a careful balance between planting and hard landscaping. While planting brings colour, movement and seasonal interest, natural stone provides structure, permanence and a sense of place. Together, they create landscapes that feel both natural and purposeful. The aim is not to minimise hard landscaping, but design it carefully. Although naturalistic gardens may contain less paving, achieving the right balance often requires greater investment in materials, detailing and planting to deliver an effective, enduring result. Every project begins with understanding
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how clients want to use their garden. Only then can the extent of hard landscaping be determined. For example, terraces should be sized around activities, furniture and circulation rather than simply filling available space. A dining terrace need only be large enough to accommodate its intended use. Why natural stone works so well As planting becomes more expressive, hard landscaping should become quieter. Its role is to provide structure, durability and coherence, allowing the planting to take centre stage without sacrificing functionality. Natural stone works well because its subtle variation in colour, texture and character sits comfortably alongside planting-led schemes, while its ability to weather and develop a natural patina helps it to age gracefully. In the Chilterns, for example (where our business carries out many projects), limestone often complements the local chalk landscape, while Yorkstone continues to offer a timeless choice. Ideally, materials should feel rooted in their surroundings. Local and vernacular stone can create a stronger sense of place, but specification decisions are rarely straightforward. Designers often balance beauty, performance, sustainability and budget, and these priorities do not always align. While local stone may offer environmental and contextual benefits, availability can be limited and costs higher than imported stones.
In naturalistic gardens, where hard landscaping is often used more sparingly, every material choice carries greater weight. Wellspecified stone provides a calm, understated backdrop that enhances the planting rather than competing with it. With fewer paved areas overall, clients can often focus their investment on higher-quality materials that deliver greater longevity, authenticity and long-term value. Careful specification Sustainability should be part of every specification, but achieving sustainable outcomes requires informed decision-making rather than simple rules. The most sustainable choice is not always the most obvious. Designers must weigh environmental impact alongside longevity, maintenance, functionality, aesthetics and cost.
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TRENDS
Where possible, I favour retaining existing with future resilience. The redesigned garden materials, reusing stone on site and sourcing replaces high-maintenance seasonal bedding locally. These approaches can reduce embodied with climate-resilient planting, delivering yearcarbon while strengthening a garden's round interest and enhancing biodiversity. The connection to its setting. However, they are not hard landscaping plays an equally important always practical or affordable, which is why supporting role. Replacing artificial grass material selection often becomes an pathways with Yorkstone has improved exercise in balancing priorities accessibility while providing a rather than pursuing a calm, understated framework Although single objective. Tools that allows planting and such as Elemental historic sculptures to naturalistic gardens help designers make remain the focus. may contain informed decisions For this project we less paving, by quantifying selected Appleby achieving the right a project's Stone from Allgreen. balance often environmental footprint and The value of requires greater comparing specification specialist suppliers investment in choices. Knowledgeable suppliers materials Aggregates also play an are invaluable. Long-term important role in naturalistic relationships with specialist gardens. Local gravels can provide stone suppliers often lead to better permeable pathways, informal seating areas specification decisions, access to unique and driveways that sit comfortably within materials and practical solutions that might planting-led landscapes. Increasingly, gravels otherwise be overlooked. In naturalistic are being combined with mineral mulches to gardens, where hard landscaping is expected to soften the transition between hard and soft perform for decades, that expertise can make landscaping, creating a more seamless visual all the difference. connection between paving and planting. This approach also allows a gradual hierarchy of Conclusion aggregate sizes across a scheme, helping hard Naturalistic gardens may be planting-led, but landscape elements feel more integrated. they are not planting-only. Successful schemes Ultimately, sustainable specification is depend on a balance between soft and hard about making informed, balanced choices. The landscaping. As planting becomes more goal is to create landscapes that are beautiful, immersive and paving is used selectively, the functional, sustainable and deliver lasting value. quality of hard landscaping matters more, not less. Natural stone provides the enduring Case study: Cliveden’s Long Garden framework that allows naturalistic gardens to One recent project that illustrates this approach mature well. When hard landscaping takes a is the Long Garden at the National Trust’s quieter role, its quality often determines the Cliveden estate. Our challenge was not to garden's long-term success. recreate the past, but to evolve it. This required I'M SPEAKING AT FUTURESCAPE THIS every design decision to balance heritage
YEAR, SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE!
Pro Landscaper's PICKS
CED Stone Product: Banded Gneiss Paving Price: £87.55/m2
Lovell Stone Group Product: Purbeck Ragstone Paving Price: POA
©Ellie Walpole
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JAMES SCOTT James Scott FSGLD MBALI is managing director and principal designer at The Garden Company. He is an Accreditor for the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers and Head Judge for the SGLD Design Awards. He also serves on the judging panel for Pro Landscaper Project Awards. thegardenco.co.uk
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FEATURE
PUBLIC REALMS
in the making From local streets to global cities, these transformative projects are developing spaces for communities
TRAFFORD COUNCIL UNVEILS MANCHESTER’S NEW LANDSCAPE-FIRST STADIUM DISTRICT
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MONACO REINTRODUCES NATURE WITH NEW VISION ALONGSIDE GRANT ASSOCIATES
Monaco’s Bringing Nature Back into the City vision plan kicks off with a collaboration between the government and landscape architects Grant Associates. The initiative establishes a strategic framework for strengthening biodiversity, improving public space, enhancing pedestrian connectivity and increasing climate resilience across an extremely populated urban environment. Through a network of green and blue corridors, the vision explores how landscape can become an integral part of Monaco’s future evolution. The corridors will link the limestone mountains behind the city to the Mediterranean Sea, it demonstrates how nature-based solutions can improve quality of life while supporting biodiversity and climate adaptation. The vision aligns with Monaco’s National Biodiversity Strategy and considers how biodiversity, mobility, climate resilience and public health can be addressed together through landscape-led design.
Plans for Manchester’s new stadium district have been revealed by Trafford Council, drawn up by lead masterplanners Allies and Morrison. SLA, lead landscape and public realm planners, have outlined the plans, describing it as a landscape-first public district. The transformation of Trafford Wharfside is centered around Manchester United’s proposed new stadium which looks to transform 150ha of former industrial land into a new mixeduse district for more than 30,000 residents and millions of yearly visitors. The masterplan reconnects waterways, green infrastructure and neighbourhoods through a coherent network of parks, streets and public spaces that support biodiversity, climate resilience, active mobility and everyday life. The centre of the vision lies a new three-hectare city park, connecting Manchester United’s proposed stadium with the Imperial War Museum North while stretching together the Manchester Ship Canal and Bridgewater Canal landscapes. The new stadium, built for both the women’s and men’s teams, will seat 100,000 visitors.
©SLA/Allies and Morrison
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FEATURE
IN
AFRICA’S NEWEST LANDMARK COMBINES PUBLIC SPACE WITH BIODIVERSITY
Plans for City Walk Abuja have been revealed by Link Developments featuring a public space masterplan designed by Benoy. Located on the principal corridor linking Abuja’s central business district with Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Nigeria, within a government-designated Free Trade Zone, City Walk Abuja has been conceived as a “world-class destination where businesses, residents, and visitors can live, work, and connect within a sustainable, technology-enabled urban environment,” says Link Developments.
Spanning over 200ha, the landmark will host Africa’s tallest tower, reaching 450m, alongside an international arena, designed around a dramatic natural ravine that forms the project’s ecological spine. City Walk Abuja will combine landscaped public space, biodiversity corridors, and sustainable water management systems with smart infrastructure and walkable neighbourhoods.
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Link Developments appointed Broadgate Developments Group Ltd as development and construction management advisor. The new district will be designed to support Nigeria’s long-term economic growth and reinforce Abuja’s position as one of Africa’s leading capitals.
©CO-RE/Vista London
PLANS REVEALED FOR FIRST PHASE OF TRANSFORMING FORMER TYPHOO TEA SITE
BIODIVERSE PLANS FOR GREENER SOUTH BANK REVEALED Vista London has unveiled plans for a greener South Bank, a cultural hub in the heart of London. The landscape design will be spearheaded by bath-based landscape architects Grant Associates, featuring landscaped terraces and balconies which will provide easy access to fresh air and greenery throughout the day. A wetland roof will be positioned with bird nesting boxes to encourage nature into the centre of the site, while new walking routes will connect Upper Ground with Queen’s walk and the river Thames. Across the site, extensive planting will be evident, amounting to a 60% biodiversity net gain, “helping to create a healthier place to send time,” says Vista. Completion for a greener South Bank is expected during the second quarter of 2029.
A new canal-side quarter is at the heart of proposals for the first phase of public realm at Typhoo Wharf in Digbeth, Birmingham. Plans unveiled by landscape architecture firm Grant Associates would reconnect the site of the former Typhoo Tea factory to the waterway that once served it. A new public square would allow access to the water’s edge and would act as a flexible, hard-working space for workers, residents and visitors. The development would also see the refurbishment of the former factory into the BBC’s future Midlands headquarters, with a pedestrian-focused environment connecting this to HS2’s new Birmingham Curzon Street station. A landscape framework for a 10-acre mixed-used neighbourhood would ultimately deliver up to 800,000 sq ft of residential, workspace and hospitality space too. The practice worked as landscape architect across the wider masterplan for Typhoo Wharf, led by architects Howells, with Stoford as developer, BAM as main contractor, and BDP as delivery architect. Future phases will build on this initial framework.
©Howells
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PROMOTION
INSIDE THE NURSERY
Crowders
C
rowders was acquisition has meant big founded by skilled things for Crowders. "It's given nurseryman us access to a lot more systems William Crowder. and investment." The business began life as a This investment saw the walled nursery in Cagthorpe, creation of a new Keder Lincolnshire. It has seen more Polytunnel that can hold over than a few events over its life, 500,000 native cells. It is also opening a shop, growing home to an Urbinati lander food to help feed the seeding machine that nation during the can sow over 25,000 Second World cells per day. Cell-grown War, opening a The investment trees are becoming garden centre, was driven by an increasingly significant part and even the increasing of our young donating a significance of tree range Pyrus salicifolia cell-grown trees ‘Pendula’ to be which come with planted by Her Royal the soil around the Highness Princess Anne. root still attached. Following two years of trials Crowders Cell grown trees officially launched cells to all its In 2023, Crowders joined the customers this year. Cell-grown RSK group, a multidisciplinary trees offer better reliability, business which provides easier planting and a longer environmental and engineering planting season. solutions. Danny Green, senior “Cell-grown trees are account manager, says this becoming an increasingly
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Founded in 1798, Crowders has evolved over more than two centuries, but has kept customers at its heart.
significant part of our young tree range, driven by strong demand from customers who recognise their advantages. Unlike the winter bareroot stock we produce at our nursery in Woodhall Spa, cells can be planted all year round and develop stronger, more resilient root systems. This gives them better survivability, around 90-95% compared to bareroots, making them a valued option for successful establishment.” Small- and large-scale projects Operating from three locations around Horncastle and Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, Crowders also cultivates a wide variety of ornamental container plants, including ornamental shrubs, and trees, larger specimen plants and herbaceous and perennial varieties. Crowders is also one of the UK’s leading commercial
growers of bareroot forestry products; including native trees and hedging. While Crowders does sell locally, it is also involved in large-scale planting. The first large order for the company came in 1883 from the Borough of Grimsby where about 700 trees were supplied for the new People’s Park. In 2012, it helped create a parkland setting at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. In Swindon it has helped
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PROMOTION transform the public space As well as local authorities, with 150 trees, 20,000 shrubs the nursery's clients and 100m of instant hedging. also include commercial At Lincoln Cathedral, Crowders landscapers, landscape has improved the outdoor space architects, estates and private of one of the largest medieval developments. buildings in Western Europe. Crowders is a Plant Healthy It is also the supplier of plants -certified nursery, which helps to HS2, The Mersey Gateway, protect plants and trees from and Crossrail. harmful pests and diseases. For It is no surprise that tree Crowders' clients, "it's more planting has seen a reassurance," emphasises growing demand Green. "You can be All our over the past few sure the plant customers years, and Green sourcing, quality, have one dedicated says Crowders and the growing account manager has experienced conditions throughout the whole just that. "We around and quotation and now supply for on the nursery order process a company called are to a certain Tomorrow's Forests, standard. Anyone which started focusing could put a polytunnel on high-volume reforestation in the garden and grow a few when I was in college. I did plants, but we take pride in some tree planting for them being Plant Healthy." at the time, so those trees are probably coming up to 10 Maintaining founding years old. principles "Local councils are also Despite this growth, Green doing a lot more regenerative stresses that the business hasn't planting and reforestation lost its personal touch, or the through government grant ethos it was founded on, "While schemes. Even commercial joining RSK has meant more companies are now planting investment and better systems, more trees and hedging when improving the customer they build a new warehouse, experience, we haven’t lost shop or factory, for their carbon that personal touch; customers offset and biodiversity net are still at the forefront of the gain commitments." business," he explains.
The process for a client is indeed straightforward and quick, ensuring they always have a point of contact. "Even if there's an issue with an order weeks later, they can still go back to that account manager," says Green. "All our customers have one dedicated account manager throughout the whole quotation and order process which just makes it so much easier and ensures better communication." Looking after its customers and staff is key, and Crowders’ skill at both is evidenced through its two Trade Nursery of the Year wins at the Pro Landscaper Business Awards. "It's a company you can join and make a career out of," says Green. Investing in its people has also helped Crowders build a team with a depth of knowledge that is difficult to replicate. It is this combination of experience, continuity and commitment that has helped the business evolve while staying true to its roots. Crowders is built on centuries’ worth of expertise, and as it navigates the opportunities and challenges of today, this is helping to steer it straight all while prioritising its customers.
Meet the team
JENNY HALL
Head of sales and estimating
DANNY GREEN
Senior account manager
HANNAH SMITH Account manger
SIMON NAGLE
Account manager
TARA BALLANTINE Account manager
RAY TREW
Account manager
Contact enquiries@crowders.co.uk 01507 525000 crowdersnurseries.co.uk
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ROB GODDARD
Business development manager
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PRODUCTS
A HELPING HAND Explore the installer schemes which are supporting professional landscapers and garden designers
MARSHALLS
MILLBOARD
For landscaping businesses,
Millboard's Approved Installer
reputation is everything. High-
Scheme goes well beyond training
quality workmanship is essential,
and certification, with commercial
but in a competitive market
benefit built in from the start.
installers also need to build trust,
Every installer begins with a
demonstrate professionalism and
personalised, hands-on training
show homeowners what sets
day at its dedicated centre, led by
them apart.
a Millboard specialist, and is then
The Marshalls Accredited
supported by Millboard's technical
Installer Scheme helps landscaping
team and named account
professionals showcase their
managers.
commitment to quality, while
A new partner portal is rolling
giving customers added confidence
out across the network, bringing
in their choice of contractor. As
project tracking, quoting tools and
part of the Accredited Installer
a points-based rewards model into
network, members are promoted
one place.
LONDON STONE The Landscape Specialist Scheme is London Stone’s helping hand to
through Marshalls’ online installer
Millboard has also just
search, helping generate quality
launched Advanced Installer, its
professional landscapers and
homeowner enquiries and connect
highest level of accreditation,
garden designers. Benefits include
customers with trusted local
awarded on recent project volume
a business webpage on our website,
professionals.
and quality, training record and
where you can showcase your work
trading history. Advanced Installers
and highlight your experience
business support, marketing
get first refusal on qualified leads
while gaining greater visibility
resources, technical training and
in their area, Millboard's enhanced
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expert guidance designed to
warranty on their projects, priority
social media exposure and the
support growth and professional
technical support and featured
SEO benefits of a link from its
development. Dedicated regional
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high-ranking, trusted website direct
Marshalls Assessors work closely
search. Places are limited by region,
to yours.
with members to help maintain
so the status retains its value.
Installers also benefit from
standards and provide ongoing advice.
There's a charitable element
Email installers@millboard.
too. For every registration, London
com or call 02476 439943 to find
Stone donates £10, split between
out more about becoming an
charity partners Perennial and
the exclusive Marshalls 10-Year
Approved or Advanced
Greenfingers, which support
Hard Landscaping Guarantee,
Millboard Installer.
professionals in need and create
giving homeowners added
millboard.com
gardens for children in hospices.
Accredited Installers can offer
reassurance and installers an
Free to join, it’s quick and easy
additional benefit to offer
to fill in the online form. London
customers.
Stone looks forward to welcoming
marshalls.co.uk
you aboard.
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Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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PRODUCTS
Top Five
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN LIGHTING PUBLIC SPACES Neil Parslow, landscape lighting designer and director of Light Visuals, offers his expertise.
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Design on paper, but validate after dark. Photometric software is invaluable, but a calculation is not the finished experience. Glare, contrast, shielding, reflections and visual adaptation are best judged on site. Fittings should be aimed and commissioned after dark, not simply installed during daylight.
Create hierarchy, not uniform brightness. Good lighting helps people understand a space intuitively. Entrances, routes, level changes and key landscape elements should have different visual priorities. Lighting everything equally can flatten a scene. The eye responds to contrast, not simply measured light levels, so darkness has an important role.
Control glare before adding more light. More light does not automatically mean better visibility. Poorly shielded or badly aimed luminaires can create discomfort and disability glare, reducing contrast and making surrounding detail harder to see. In public spaces, particularly for older or visually impaired people, careful shielding and aiming are essential.
LIGHTING THE WAY What are some of the innovative products on the market for public spaces?
Paving Superstore Product: NAIL - Low Mushroom Light (455mm) Black - 1.5VA - 12V w/white (360°) Brand: in-lite Price: £173.00 including VAT and delivery NAIL is an elegant, freestanding outdoor light delivering warm, glare-free illumination with exceptional colour clarity. Available in two heights, it's perfect for beautifully lighting paths, borders and planting areas.
Landscapeplus Product: in-lite ACE DOWN – 240v Price: from £159.00 including VAT The mains-voltage in-lite® ACE DOWN wall light delivers a focused single-sided beam of light. Its recessed light source helps reduce glare, keeping walkways, entrances and courtyards comfortably and safely lit after dark.
Consider light from above. Mature trees and suitable structures can provide excellent positions for controlled downlighting. It can illuminate routes naturally, reveal texture and planting, and keep the source out of the normal field of view, reducing the need for numerous ground-level fittings.
Design for a landscape that will change. Trees grow, canopies thicken, and planting moves into beam paths. A landscape lighting scheme should allow access, adjustment and recommissioning over time. The landscape you commission today will not be the landscape you are lighting five years from now.
Pro Landscaper | September 2026
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Turn Your Quietest Months Into
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PRODUCTS
MAINTAINING
Meadows Take on some advice from the experts on wildflower aftercare
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JOHN CHAMBERS WILDFLOWERS
tillersturf.co.uk
DUAL PURPOSE 100% MIX WILDFLOWER SEED The Dual Purpose 100% Mix Wildflower Seed is widely used for landscaping, public parks, roadside verges, and biodiversity net gain projects. To maintain, cut once or twice a year, depending on your objectives, and always remove the cuttings to prevent nutrients building up. Avoid fertilisers and minimise disturbance to encourage a diverse, resilient meadow year after year.
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FEATURE
CREATING SAFER SPACES Jo Roberts, head of product management at Holcim, and Iwona Kossek, director of Ask for Angela, explore what safe, accessible and inclusive spaces look like.
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eventy-one percent of women of all ages in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space, according to UN Women UK. This number rises to 86% among 18-24-year-olds. The most common place to experience sexual harassment, according to YouGov research from 2017, is the street and in pubs, clubs and bars. The figures are concerning – but, looking at the statistics, probably not surprising to many of us. Importantly, they show why visible support schemes matter, especially when looking at a recent YouGov survey which found that 49% of people, and 63% of women, would be more likely to visit a venue that had measures in place to improve women’s safety. It's why Jo Roberts, head of product management at Holcim, decided to explore how products can play their part in making spaces safer. When Roberts had children, it shifted the way she saw spaces and
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WORDS: RACHAEL FORSYTH
how safe she felt within them. “It brought and trained staff will understand that the another element to what safety meant. person is asking for help. They will respond I started seeing places alongside their risk calmly and appropriately with the support factor. There was a degree of that person needs and wants. vulnerability when I had "I thought it was really key somebody to look after.” that there is something to If the light Later, when Roberts help me out if I did get is a spotlight that returned to university, lost or felt vulnerable." doesn't expand somewhere which Years later, when seemed very safe Roberts began outwards, what during her youth working at Holcim, you've done is revealed its risks – the she started exploring made an isolation nooks and crannies, how the company instead of a really the dark nights which could help make safer welcoming draw to a close early spaces. She engaged with space in the winter, the dark Ask for Angela as well as staircases, the lack of signage. other experts. "We wanted to That’s when she first heard about understand what safety means, Ask for Angela. different people's perspective on safety and Ask for Angela is a simple, discreet way how we can give safety more of a voice. I've to ask for help in a public space, without learnt a lot about how spaces were built. having to explain yourself. In participating I've spoken to people like Dr Anna Barker, venues, an individual can ask for "Angela" from the University of Leeds, and Romy
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Rawlings, a trustee of Make Space for Girls, and have come to understand how our cities were once designed – and it wasn't really for women and children." Today, Roberts is an Ask for Angela ambassador.
I might feel vulnerable because there's not much greenery around but somebody else might feel safer because there isn't greenery around. It's about how the community uses those spaces, so everywhere is going to be slightly different. Making public realm safer "We need to see spaces through the lens So, what do safe, accessible and inclusive of women and vulnerable communities spaces look like? A number of elements and how they are using those spaces. Do need to be considered – accessibility, they want one entry and one exit to their lighting, signage, transport, toilets, park? Do they want to be closed seating, language. in? Are big fences and big And when it comes bushes something that to lighting, getting the makes people feel more Everything right kind is crucial. vulnerable? This is is connected. If "What you run the really why data is we don't make risk of with lighting extremely key; it’s is making it too about how spaces are safety a first priority, bright in one space," used and who's using how will we ever explains Iwona Kossek, those spaces.” become a sustainable director of Ask for community? Angela. "If the light is Assessing safe spaces a spotlight that doesn't The Purple Flag expand outwards, what you've accreditation done is made an isolation instead recognises town of a really welcoming space." and cities that The same can be said for town and have safe and city centres where the main street is lit up thriving but the side streets are in darkness. "That locations at can often lead to a feeling of being less safe because you can't see what's coming out on the side of the main street. It's about looking at how you make the lighting aesthetically really pleasant without creating those dark spots." Kossek adds that too much concrete and too many hidden corners or blind spots can also add to this feeling of unease. Analysing sightlines and visibility is important so that these spaces feel easy to walk through. Signage is also key. As Robert experienced when she returned to university, not knowing where you're going can make you vulnerable. But Roberts stresses that there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. "Data is key.
night for all users and assesses different aspects of evening and night time economy. "What's great about that accreditation is it's not just one organisation which does it – it's a partnership. One part asks, do you have university students, residents, police, the council, businesses, transport – all these different partnerships – in? "That award brings people to the table that need to be around it in order to achieve the goal of making spaces safer. Then we can look at how we keep the great history of the UK while doing some creative things in the nighttime and daytime economy to encourage more people out and make that safety a big priority." Because unsafe spaces have a ripple effect. "If I don't feel safe, I'm more likely to take my car and less likely to use public transport, and I'm less likely to be physically active," says Roberts. "What impact might that have on the environment? On the NHS? Everything is connected. If we don't make safety a first priority, how will we ever become a sustainable community?" Because by designing spaces for the most vulnerable in our communities, the benefits will ripple out too.
RESOURCES Ask for Angela askforangela.co.uk
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Make Space for Girls makespaceforgirls.co.uk
Safer Parks Project futureofparks.leeds.ac.uk/safer-parks
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of its garden buildings, from horizontal and vertical cladding panels to bespoke trims and canopy soffits. Here’s why it has become their material of choice: • Weather resistance: All Bakers’ structures must withstand yearround exposure to wind, rain, sun, and moisture. MTX offers dimensional stability, even in exposed environments. • High-end finish: The ultrasmooth surface of MTX takes paint beautifully and evenly, helping Bakers achieve a consistent, premium finish across their signature exteriors. • Design freedom: MTX can be CNC-machined to deliver the intricate details and precision joinery required in Bakers’
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FEATURE
SUCCESS BEYOND
Water Management Groundwork London reflects on its SuDS retrofit projects, creating rainwater management solutions that feel natural, interesting and inviting
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oday, if you take a walk down Hillingdon’s Croyde Avenue estate and the broader Pinkwell ward, you may question whether you’re in a London borough, finding yourself in the company of over 100 trees and 350m2 of mixed native hedges, ornamental shrubs and herbaceous perennials, and areas of meadow. These attract a great number of pollinators, wildlife and insects. Unlike many urban spaces, this one doesn’t flood thanks to its recent adaptations with Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). Spearheaded by Groundwork London in collaboration with Hillingdon Council and funded by the Green and Resilient Spaces Fund from the Mayor of London, the project improved the management of surface water runoff to reduce the impact on the community. The result: a network of 16 SuDS features, each tailored to their unique setting and reflecting the needs of its users.
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July. Retrofitting SuDS plays a key role in nature-based solutions (NBS) and delivers beyond improving drainage. Swales, tree cover and plant abundance also offer a smart, sustainable solution to keeping urban spaces cool and improving air quality. The hidden challenges of SuDS retrofit On paper, a site may appear to offer clear opportunities for retrofitting SuDS – adding a rain garden or making hard surfaces permeable. However, there are often many barriers to overcome which can affect feasibility The biggest and design progress. challenge facing Retrofit briefs urban SuDS come with none of retrofitting isn’t the the flexibility of a new drainage engineering For over 15 years, development – existing – it's everything Groundwork London's buildings, mature trees, around it Landscape Design Service – a underground cabling team of chartered landscape networks and traditional architects – has designed and drainage pipes are all fixed points delivered SuDS retrofit projects across that every design has to work around. housing estates, schools, parks and public Here's where the real work happens. spaces throughout the capital and south of Successful projects rely on understanding England. Along the way, they’ve found that the site and its wider landscape through the biggest challenge facing urban SuDS topographical and underground surveys, retrofitting isn’t the drainage engineering – infiltration testing and, importantly, gaining it's everything around it. local knowledge from site visits and speaking with local people. SuDS beyond drainage The team uses the unique on-site The principles of SuDS are well established conditions as design tools to create bespoke and almost every new development will designs, which result in successful, accessible contain some form of SuDS; but they are less spaces with a sense of place which are common in established urban areas, where resilient to climate change. Projects are often the need is often more acute. exercises in creative problem-solving as well As our climate changes, communities as good design. face increased annual rainfall, more intense Flexibility is integral to SuDS retrofit storms and prolonged hot, dry weather and and is part of a dynamic design process heatwaves in the summer. Summer 2026 that can sometimes even extend into was the hottest summer on record with the construction period. Having a good temperatures reaching 35C in May, June and contingency plan is vital.
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FEATURE
What are some examples of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDS)? • Specially designed porous paving such as permeable tarmac or block paving systems that allow the surface water to permeate through to the sub-grade, and can in heavy rain, store water in the sub-base for short periods of time. • Soak-a-ways • Rain gardens • Attenuation ponds or underground attenuation tanks with controlled outflows to the main drains which allow the water to be stored until the peak flow, created by the heavy rain, has passed.
The SuDS retrofit project in Gloucester Avenue, Margate was carefully designed around existing services identified through GPR surveys, utility searches and CAT scans. However, once the contractor broke ground, the adjacent existing cabling turned out to be in poor condition. The team rapidly adapted the design to prevent further deterioration whilst ensuring an effective SuDS scheme was still delivered. The completed scheme significantly reduced pressure on the local drainage network – a great result. "It's like archaeology," associate landscape architect Nicola Keen explains. "You won't know exactly what's down there until you start digging. You need to be able to adapt if it's not as expected."
maintenance. Highways, parks and housing teams, each with different priorities, need a shared understanding to ensure systems function, but SuDS can be part of everyday grounds maintenance. They should not be seen as specialist or difficult to manage. Volunteers, e.g. Friends groups, can often be actively involved in caring for spaces that include SuDS, which further builds community cohesion and provides connections to nature in some of our most urban areas.
Building SuDS on collaboration No retrofit project succeeds in isolation. At John Burns Primary School, Wandsworth, the project came together in collaboration with the London Borough of Wandsworth, Thames Water and the Department for Education to reduce surface water runoff from the 0.32ha site. The project combined raised flow-through planters, rain gardens, a detention basin, an attenuation tank and plenty of opportunities for outdoor learning – a "wiggly" downpipe among them. None of it would have landed without councils, funders, contractors and school staff pulling together. Design and construction are only the beginning. Sustainability and collaborative responsibility go hand in hand with SuDS
ABOUT
Making SuDS work for water and people Groundwork London’s SuDS retrofit projects focus on improving the places with communities and people in mind. They take a landscape-led
It's not about designing something and then making it accessible; it's about designing in an accessible way
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approach resulting in projects that have lasting impact. The team operates where people live and work, shaping spaces where nature can thrive, treating every design feature simultaneously as an opportunity for play, connection, education or exploration. This achieves rainwater management that doesn’t feel like infrastructure; it feels natural, interesting and inviting. Three retrofitted sites across Queen Caroline Estate saw success well beyond managing rainwater, reporting on positive results in community engagement, accessibility and equality. The team explains, “It's not about designing something and then making it accessible; it's about designing in an accessible way."
Groundwork London works with communities across the capital to improve their lives and the places they live. We have been at the forefront of social and environmental regeneration in London for over 35 years, and today we have a simple mission: to create a better future where people, places and environment thrive through practical action. groundwork.org.uk/london
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PROMOTION
IRRIGATION
winterisation Waterscapes explains why irrigation shutdown is a date, not a reaction
T
he most common happens on a plan with the mistake in commercial right people and equipment irrigation winterisation on site. Exposed or northern is not a technical one. It is letting locations, and sites with shallow the first cold morning of October pipework, should plan earlier. decide when the system gets The preparation matters switched off. as much as the date. Before A shutdown carried out in anything is drained, confirm a rush is a shutdown where the location of every isolation something gets missed, and what valve, drain point, backflow gets missed rarely announces device and manifold, and check itself until April. Backflow which zones feed which areas. devices drained partially rather On systems that have been than fully. Sections added to the extended over the years, the system over the years that never newer sections are the ones made it onto a drawing, and most likely to be forgotten, and a so never get drained. Dripline zone that never gets drained will blown down at sprinkler keep failing every spring while pressure, which is enough to looking like bad luck. damage emitters while still “Nearly everything we repair leaving water behind them. in April traces back to Reacting to the something that was forecast also cuts not done properly Nearly everything autumn watering in October,” says we repair in short. On sites Ed Harwood, April traces back with new maintenance to something that planting or contracts was not done recently laid turf, manager at properly in September and Waterscapes. October early October can be “Usually, it is water dry, and young planting somewhere it should still needs water. Switching not have been. It is a cheap job off early to be safe has a cost to do well and an expensive one that turns up in establishment to do quickly.” failures the following year. The final step is a written The better approach is to record of what was drained, book a fixed window, usually late when, by whom, and anything October into early November found or deferred. It turns across most of the UK, and hold spring recommissioning from the system in a reduced-run an investigation into a checklist, configuration until then. Planting answering the question of gets what it needs through whether the fault was there in autumn, and the shutdown itself October, or arrived over winter.
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Waterscapes provides specialist irrigation and water feature maintenance, repair, refurbishment and technical support, including a full design facility, for commercial and publicfacing environments across the UK. maintenance@waterscapes.co.uk waterscapes.co.uk.
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FEATURE
Greening our
TOWNS AND CITIES Dr Saira Ali explores how Bradford has benefitted from being landscape led while John Wyer explains the opportunities for the industry as more local authorities and developers adopt this same approach. WORDS: RACHAEL FORSYTH
T
he way town and city centres "At Bradford, we are driving that are used has changed. People placemaking agenda as a local authority," are shopping more online, so explains Ali. "We see it as a way to kickstart the draw of the high street out the economy by helping businesses, as a way of everyday necessity is declining. Instead, to make sure our population is healthy, to these spaces have to be valued for the increase biodiversity, and as a way to address experiences they foster. That's what Dr Saira climate change." Ali, president of the Landscape Institute At the heart of its proposal was creating a (LI) and team leader for landscape, greener and healthier city. "It was about design and conservation at the revival of city centres, but I Bradford Council, had at the saw this as an opportunity to forefront of her mind when be a bit bolder and a bit more At Bradford, Bradford began building its ambitious." The result? 2.1km we are driving business case for how to of traffic being removed. that placemaking use the Transforming Cities agenda as a local Fund resources.
What was once a fivelane highway dividing the city centre is now a park – and it was transformed within two years. UK City of Culture 2025 While building its business case for the Transforming Cities Fund, Bradford was also bidding to host UK City of Culture, and so the vision of what Bradford was going to feel and
authority
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FEATURE
look like fed into this. "You're selling a vision. Because you're going to be on show, there for the world to see. It's your shop window and you've got an opportunity to get money to make a change to your city and people's lives through events and activation. And it's the spaces between the buildings, the landscapes, which makes these things successful." Bradford led a cultural programme of 5,000 events – over 75% of which were free – that pulled in three million people, involved over 650 local artists and organisations, and resulted in capital investment for more than 30 local cultural organisations. Rather than just focusing on the city centre, Bradford took a much broader view, "It was about how our whole district was going to be activated and on show. We have a strapline – one landscape, many views – and we wanted it to encapsulate that." The first UK City of Culture 2025 event took place in a cold and snowy January; but even so 10,000 people gathered in City Park to celebrate Bradford. On Ilkley Moor, an orchestra played in the rising sun, while sculptures led people across Worth Valley as a walking exhibition. Landscape-led projects It was a joined-up initiative which involved and celebrated what makes Bradford, Bradford. It's
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an approach that wasn’t just for UK City the results speak for themselves. But how of Culture. "We've got a good relationship were Ali and her team able to get people on as landscape architects within the local board with this way of working at Bradford? authority, so when decisions are being made "Anybody that knows me knows that when about spaces we're there from day one, I'm determined to do something, I find ways working collaboratively so we can help to do it. But what I do is take people on shape things. that journey with me.". "Quite often, even now, you When a scheme is over The way have engineers or architects budget and the solution seems spaces look and or quantity surveyors leading to be to remove the green feel determines on schemes. Landscape infrastructure – as is often whether they're architects are part of the the way – Ali says they think successful team, but they're not the creatively and hold firm. "It's or not decision makers. In Bradford, happened in Bradford where engineers, planners, our public a project goes over budget. The health team, our neighbourhood scheme changed, trees started to team, give me the space to lead. I'm joint come out, SuDS came out. But we were leading on projects and that's really what able to redesign it and actually make it we need across the country because the way greener – because what people forget is spaces look and feel determines whether green infrastructure actually is the cheapest they're successful or not." element and there's ways of doing it to make This model of having landscape it cost efficient but not compromise at all. We architects as key decision makers in multiwere a little bit later delivering the core part disciplinary project teams is not common of our city centre transformation, because throughout other public authorities across we wouldn't budge until we got sign off on the country, but is a way of working that Ali the scheme, and we weren't prepared to believes should be the standard. back down. But it was a delay that we were It's a dream scenario for prepared to accept so as to not compromise." our industry and Ali is also smart when it comes to getting funding. "I've never put in for a bid or put a proposal in and not got funding because
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FEATURE
you've got to be creative and innovative in how you do things, not just give a bogstandard tick box application. I've got a business background so I will find the business case for funding." In 2008, she secured £1.1m of economic benefit money for Bradford to deliver public realm on high streets, making the business case that green infrastructure has a huge economic benefit – which wasn't so widely talked about then. It took seven months to research and put the business case together, but it paid off. In 2017 Ali was making the argument for health. In 2014, it was climate resilience, which has now come back around. "As a local authority, we don't have much money, but we will always find the opportunity to get money from places. I can write bids. I will find a way that we are eligible." This has benefitted landscape-led schemes in Bradford because colleagues within the council now know that if they bring Ali into a project earlier, while they might have a set budget, she can find other opportunities to bring in money to deliver all the outcomes that they want – and ultimately the scheme will be better.
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"I'm not shy when it comes to getting funding. I have some really good relationships, and I have trust. So, when I tell people they should come onto a project they know that the money they're putting in will have enormous outputs. I would also take people from the council to see what good looks like in Europe or other UK cities to show them what it's all about." This is something Bradford now facilitates itself, so that others can learn from its successes.
parking. We're even seeing a tightening of roads to discourage people from driving into city centres; post Covid-19 there were lots of areas where roads got much narrower and those have not been fully explored, meaning opportunities for small-scale designers." Examples of this are scattered throughout London. At Exhibition Road the street was given back to pedestrians. Here, a "shared space" has been created, with kerb-free surfaces, the removal of a gyratory, and a 20mph limit imposed to create a safer and Opportunities for the landscaping calmer environment that puts pedestrians sector first. A project at Sloane Street It's promising to hear about saw the creation of wider We're landscape-led local pavements, a planting increasingly authorities like Bradford, scheme designed by Andy seeing a trend and this way of thinking Sturgeon and improved around reducing and working is opening pedestrian crossings. traffic in city centre up opportunities for "Ten years ago, the areas as well contractors and designers. transport department, as a reduction "There are multiple or even local authorities, in roadside reasons why landowners or would block projects like parking investors or local authorities this. Now, it's reversed. They're are starting to look at public space quite keen on encouraging differently," says John Wyer, founder of that sort of thing. So that's a set of Bowles and Wyer. "It could be about flood opportunities, and it's up to individual reduction, greening, temperature mitigation, firms, whether they're design practices or better mental and physical health, better contractors, to think how they would commercial value. benefit from those opportunities, "We're increasingly seeing a and it may be forming close trend around reducing traffic relationships with in city centre areas as well developers or a local as a reduction in roadside authority."
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FEATURE
UK CITY OF CULTURE 2029 LONGLIST The 2029 UK City of Culture nine longlisted locations are: • Blackpool • Inverness-Highland • Ipswich • Middlesbrough • Milton Keynes • Portsmouth • Sheffield • Swindon • Wrexham All nine longlisted places will receive £60,000 each to help them to develop their full bids for the competition - up from £40,000 since the last competition. The UK City of Culture 2029 winner will be announced later this year and will follow Bradford’s tenure as UK City of Culture 2025.
JOHN WYER IS SPEAKING AT FUTURESCAPE THIS YEAR, SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE!
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Heatwaves are also pushing cooling up the agenda. London has even created a map which provides details of the cooler places within the city, with one overlay showing the tree canopy cover. Bowles and Wyer has been engaged with Westminster on several small sites and dealing with the development department has been quite different to dealing with a housing department, says Wyer. "They're, understandably, very development minded and the sites move very rapidly. Instead of dealing with an asset, they look at opportunities." This relationship began because of a project manager Bowles and Wyer had previously worked with. Raising standards with green spaces London Plan Policy G5 also requires all major developers to include urban greening as an element of a design, and the Urban Greening Factor (UGF) evaluates the quantity and quality. "UGF started off as a proposal, then became a recommendation from the mayor's office, and then became mandatory as the boroughs took it on board. The mayor recommends 0.4 for developments that are predominately residential, and a target score of 0.3 for predominately commercial development. But developers chase it and try to exceed it. "UGF is having a similar effect that BREEAM has had. It has generally driven up standards
because it's measured and no one wants to say they're not an excellent rating. The only way to achieve a high UGF and good returns on the investment, in most cases in central London, are by putting in serious landscape on top of buildings and up the facades of buildings and in the public realm." Opportunities on the horizon Considering house affordability, Wyer says there will be movement into a stronger build-to-rent market. Research from Savills shows the sector attracted £2.2bn of investment in Q2 this year. "Developers are seeing it as a better way to work long-term. It's more predictable, and it allows them to get penetration into parts of the market that they weren't previously able to. There are generations that distrust buying or think they're never going to be able to afford a place, so they're more interested in good quality long-term lets. From a landscape point of view, it works because instead of just doing the minimum, developers have a longterm interest in the site." The way our towns and cities are being used has changed, and there's a shift in the way they are being designed as a result. Local authorities are considering what will draw people back to the high street, with public realm at the heart of this. Bradford is arguably leading the charge, and building good relationships is allowing it to succeed.
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FEATURE
A RECIPE FOR
Playgrounds
Experts explore how the development of playgrounds contributes to successful placemaking and bettering children's quality of life
I
n an era teeming with technology and accessible streaming platforms, screen time is becoming a real concern for parents today. According to recent government figures, 98% of two-year-olds are watching screens daily. While it can’t be completely unavoidable, spending time outdoors might just be the answer to drawing young eyes away from that blue light. In recent advice set out by the government, parents and carers are advised to reduce a child’s screen time.1 Instead, children should have access to quality play spaces which encourage social interaction, imagination and improve overall quality of life. “Creating imaginative, inspiring and exciting play spaces that generate a sense of awe and delight is more important now than ever as we look to encourage children and families to spend less time on screens and more time playing outdoors, close to nature,”
prolandscapermagazine.com
WORDS: HOLLY CHAPMAN
©HTA Design
says Natalia Roussou, landscape design destination along Paxton’s journey through director at HTA Design. time. Now featuring an immersive play space In June 2023, the London Borough of designed as a ‘palaeontological dig’ site, the Bromley appointed HTA Design as the area encourages children to explore, discover, landscape architect and lead consultant and create their own prehistoric adventures. to develop the first phase of the Crystal Inspired by the park’s Victorian geological Palace Park regeneration plan, including the illustrations, stratified rock outcrops have creation of a large destination play been designed using stone sourced space. Originally designed in from UK quarries, relating to the 1850s by Sir Joseph the rock formations of the Paxton as a ‘journey secondary island in the Destination play through time’, Crystal Geological Court across areas celebrate the Palace Park follows the park. Planting history and heritage a timeline dating around the play back to prehistoric space draws on of a place, drawing dinosaurs, pastoral prehistoric species inspiration from the landscapes, the such as Ginkgo, pine, site's context to create Victorian era and ferns, and grasses, experiences that are the palace itself. illustrating the both meaningful and evolution of plants and memorable Celebrating site environments over time. heritage Just a few tube stops “At their best, destination play away, Cator Park is situated areas celebrate the history and heritage within Kidbrooke Village, a 5000-home of a place, drawing inspiration from the site's context to create experiences that are both 1. gov.uk/government/statistics/the-childrens-people-andnature-survey-for-england-2025-update/themeaningful and memorable.” Building on childrens-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-2025the park’s legacy, HTA Design created a new update#access-to-green-and-natural-places
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FEATURE
spaces, each with their own character and amenities. The lawn space, which can be used for events, also hosts a children's play yard. It was important to honour Manchester's industrial past, so the play yard draws inspiration from the foundations of octagonal chimneys uncovered on site. Designed by Massey & Harris, the firm also manufactured and installed the dynamic play space as part of the wider regeneration project. Massey & Harris developed six bespoke stainless-steel towers. Each tower is connected by a network of rope bridges, crawl tunnels, and a variety of exciting
©HTA Design
neighbourhood which is part of a major site's context or history," explains Roussou. regeneration scheme set to be officially Leaning into site history and culture, both completed by 2032. Appointed by Berkeley parks combine play with learning and Homes to work with the London Wildlife discovery, creating an outcome that is both Trust on the rewilding of the park, stimulating and a celebration of place. HTA Design created a 3,000m² Further afield, Mayfield Park biophilic playground inspired in Manchester landed in by the historic lower the city as its first public Kid Brook that runs park in over 100 years. Elephant Springs, through the site. The 6.5-acre park, at the heart of The playground, part of one of the Elephant Park Kite Park, is UK's largest urban in London, is a designed as the regeneration strong example start of a dry projects, has riverbed with been designed of play conceived rock outcrops as a sequence of as an immersive and boulders, landscape rather which form the than a conventional source of the river, playground providing play and seating opportunities for people of all ages. A series of slides connect the top of the outcrop to a dry riverbed play feature that runs across the play space with bridges, decorated with traversing balancing beams and playful trails. The park's brief also specified the need to recycle 30,000m³ of demolition arisings, diverting waste from landfill and using it to sculpt playable mounds around the source of the river. "We design play spaces that are integrated into the landscape, often developed around a narrative rooted in the
©HTA Design
play features, offering a truly immersive experience for children of all ages. "There's reference to the industrial heritage with the colours that have been chosen as well," explains Huw Pritchard, lead designer at Massey & Harris. "From red brick for the satellite play equipment, and then Staffordshire blue brick for the main play towers, which kicked off the process for the aesthetics of the equipment." "Elephant Springs, at the heart of Elephant Park in London, is a strong example of play conceived as an immersive landscape rather than a conventional playground," begins Neil Matthew, senior associate at Gillespies. Designed by Mel Chantrey, The Fountain Workshop and Gillespies, the playscape is integrated into the wider park.
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FEATURE
PLAY EQUIPMENT IN MAYFIELD PARK Mayfield Park kids’ play yard ©Mark Waugh
Water channels, fountains, pumps, waterfalls and interactive jets are set among landforms and rock formations created using 300t of natural porphyry stone. Much like Mayfield Park, Elephant Springs "brings different ages and activities together within a shared landscape, rather than separating children’s play from the rest of public life," says Matthew. Accessible and inclusive spaces Not only can playgrounds create bold spaces inspired by their surroundings, they're also becoming increasingly accessible. "There is a lot more of a focus on inclusivity and accessibility," explains Pritchard. A space used by all children, playgrounds should be accessible for all, too. "We're driving to reach complete inclusivity. We're doing this by designing specialist play equipment that easily integrates with other play equipment," he adds. There is a wide range of play equipment within Mayfield Park's kids play yard. Across the stainless-steel towers, there are
prolandscapermagazine.com
Massey & Harris supplied play equipment for the kids' play yard in Mayfield Park • Six bespoke stainless-steel towers • Wheelchair-accessible roundabout • Wheelchair-accessible slide • Powder-coated I-beam swing • Rope bridges • Crawl tunnels
wheelchair accessible slides, ramps, located aside a wheelchairaccessible roundabout and nest swings. "We designed a space which allows everybody to access and play within the towers and main play area, because that's where everybody else is going to be. We didn't want to segregate the areas by ability," he explains. For example, the company's wheelchair-accessible roundabouts can be used by all, "whether you're in a wheelchair or not." Similarly, the playground in Crystal Palace Park was built as an inclusive space, codesigned with local children and accessibility specialists. It was also developed from concept to on-site delivery with PlayEquip, featuring large play structures, inspired by deconstructed dinosaur sculptures, which emerge from the ground intended to spark curiosity and imaginative play. A giant Hylaeosaurus skull forms a central play feature, while its spines,
vertebrae, and winding tail create routes for climbing, balancing, and play. Slides are embedded within the embankment, as well as dinosaur claw marks and a dinosaur footprint sandpit, to complete the immersive setting. Integrating nature within playground design also creates an accessible point for children to explore the environment. "It's all about getting in and amongst the planting and nature while you're playing and having fun as well," says Pritchard. Not only does this soften the entire area, "it makes it more relaxing for both children and the parents," he adds. "If parents can get stuck in and play with their children or sit down on a bench and be able to watch the bees or other insects or look at the flowers and the trees, it creates an appeal for a lot of people."
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Driving the change The idea of a plot of land with a few swings and a plastic slide is falling out of favour; the tide on playground design is turning, and fast. Creative, bright and bold spaces are cropping up across the whole country. "As urban populations and the scale of new neighbourhoods continue to grow, so too does the demand for quality play space, particularly destination play areas,” says Roussou. “These tend to be larger, high-quality and distinctive facilities designed to offer diverse and engaging play experiences, drawing families from a wider catchment area beyond the local neighbourhood." Matthew reminds us of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020, and how it changed expectations of parks and public spaces. "Access to fresh air, nature and places to meet became more visibly important, particularly in urban neighbourhoods where private outdoor space may be limited. As a result, communities are rightly asking more of their local landscapes. They need to support active play but also offer comfortable places where families and carers can spend time, meet others and feel part of the wider community."
Carefully integrated within the landscape and public realm, playgrounds are one of the key ingredients of successful playmaking. From year-round activation, community cohesion and collaboration, playgrounds build the profile of areas that have previously gone unnoticed, also gaining fresh attention. Pritchard mentions that the Mayfield play yard is attracting investment for further phases. "Rather than having the play area as an add-on at the end, Mayfield
WHAT’S TRENDING IN PLAYGROUNDS RIGHT NOW?
Park Partnership blends it into the park as a whole. It's using that as a real publicity driver to attract investment," he adds. Overall, children will return to highquality spaces that offer something for everyone, including the parents. Rather than spending time watching blue-lit screens, children can create a strong connection with the outdoors with interesting playgrounds – whether they feature sculptural dinosaurs, massive towers or riverbed trails.
©Mark Waugh
Accessible and inclusive equipment Integration of nature Providing a space or attractive attributes for parents Celebrating history and heritage of a place
©HTA Design
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FEATURE
WHAT'S CHANGED
in 15 years?
As Pro Landscaper celebrates its 15th anniversary, it takes a look back and asks the industry for its biggest takeaways from the last 15 years
MALCOLM CATLIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, PLANT HEALTHY "If we could turn the clock back 15 years, numerous new plant pests and diseases might not have entered this country. We now have wider awareness of the problem, but we still need more people to implement robust measures. Border checks on EU imports may come and go, but pest threats continue to grow. Let's ensure that when we reflect in 15 years’ time, we're not rueing missed opportunities to protect our plants, landscapes and businesses."
KATE COONEY, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER, PERENNIAL "Wow, 15 years of Pro Landscaper, and I’ve been part of almost eight of them! Thinking back to my first FutureScape in November 2018, it was very much, “Perennial, who are you?” Now people actively come looking for us. We’re not there yet, but thanks to the support organisations such as 44Group provide, we’re getting closer to our goal: an industry where everyone knows Perennial is there when they need us."
MARK GREGORY, MANAGING DIRECTOR, LANDFORM CONSULTANTS "From a landscaping and technical point of view, the things that we learnt 15-20 years ago are now outdated. The thought of burying inert materials in gardens 20 years ago would have made you the ultimate cowboy. Now, you're the guy who's saving the planet. A British standard soakaway was a cubic metre, and that was it. Fifteen years forward, we know that's insufficient. We're digging bigger holes, creating bigger attenuation areas and using crushed concrete to minimise our waste. There's also been an increase of environmental awareness and water has become pivotal. Overall, the way that we were taught to build has changed. We're moving on from out-of-date specifications and thinking in a new, environmentally conscious way."
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KARL HARRISON, LANDSCAPING CONSULTANT AND INDEPENDENT EXPERT WITNESS, FOUNDER OF THE DECKING NETWORK "Fifteen years ago, landscaping still felt like an industry finding its professional identity. Today, the best businesses combine design, engineering, horticulture, construction and serious project management. Clients expect more and rightly so. For me, the biggest change has been seeing landscaping recognised as a skilled, technically demanding profession in its own right. Let's get it licenced…"
RUPERT KEYS, FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, TASK ACADEMY LTD “Having been fortunate enough to feature on Pro Landscaper’s very first cover, it’s been fascinating to see how much our industry has evolved over the past 15 years. Standards, professionalism, technology and expectations have all moved forward. But perhaps the biggest change I’ve seen is a growing recognition that good training, development and investing in people are essential to building a stronger future for landscaping.”
TRUDY MARTIN, FOUNDING DIRECTOR, TRUGROWTH "Social media has changed massively over the last 15 years. LinkedIn has gone from something we did on the side to becoming part of our everyday working lives. It’s now our shop window, where we showcase projects, show what we can do, build relationships and, importantly, generate new leads and opportunities."
PHIL TREMAYNE, THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPERS (APL), GENERAL MANAGER “Landscaping has become an increasingly professional and technically demanding industry. A new generation of landscapers are pushing the boundaries, using many refined techniques and a range of new materials. However, client expectations have risen as more information is available to them, alongside a greater emphasis on standards and sustainability. The biggest introductions were first, CDM 2015, followed later by BS753-102. Both of these have enabled skilled landscapers to be recognised as professionals delivering complex, high-quality outdoor spaces.”
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OPINION
Is it time to rethink how we build patios? With the effects of climate change becoming more apparent, Gareth Wilson considers whether it's time to rethink how we build patios
A
fter the most successful summer I’ve ever had building paving, clay pavers and sett construction, but could larger paving units RHS show gardens, it took its toll and rest was required also become part of that conversation? – however, winning three gold medals at three different As paving manufacturers continue to develop stronger, thicker shows, two Best Construction awards, and one Best in Show products, perhaps we will see thicker porcelain paving, thicker natural award, I could not be more pleased. stone and thicker concrete paving specifically designed for unbound Now, I’m back! And I’m exploring a growing trend in expert witness installation. That would require changes to current standards, product work. Increasingly, I am being asked to inspect patios that design and installation methods, but the concept is certainly have moved, cracked, or become uneven, despite some worthy of discussion. being installed using recognised bound-construction This is not to suggest that bound construction As weather methods. In some cases, the workmanship is good, is obsolete, far from it. Where paving is installed patterns become the materials are suitable, and the installation over a reinforced concrete slab, movement more extreme, we may broadly follows current guidance. So why are more is significantly reduced, making a bound need to ask whether our construction an excellent solution. Likewise, patios failing? The answer may lie beneath our feet. The UK many existing bound patios continue to perform construction methods is experiencing more frequent, longer periods exceptionally well. are keeping pace with of hot, dry weather followed by intense rainfall. However, when paving is laid directly onto the the conditions they Clay soils, which cover a significant proportion of unbound type 1, especially over shrinkable clay soils, now face England, naturally shrink when they dry and expand we may need to think differently. Here, it is crucial when they become saturated. This process, known as that contractors familiarise themselves with BS7533:102, shrink-swell or ground heave, has always existed, but climate particularly clause 4 and Table H1 in the annexes, which change appears to be making the movement more pronounced. help with subgrade assessment and the design of the base and The traditional bound-over-unbound patio construction consists of a foundation layers. compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base/base, a mortar bedding laying course Climate change is forcing almost every construction sector to and rigidly jointed paving. It creates a strong, durable surface but also adapt. Landscaping should be no different. We have already embraced a relatively inflexible one. If the ground beneath moves, the paving has permeable paving, Sustainable Drainage Systems and changing little ability to accommodate that movement. The result can be cracked foundation design in response to environmental pressures. Perhaps the joints, rocking slabs, lipping, tenting or complete failure of the paved area. next evolution is recognising that flexibility, rather than rigidity, may As weather patterns become more extreme, we may need to ask offer greater long-term resilience. whether our construction methods are keeping pace with the conditions I'M SPEAKING AT they now face. Perhaps it is time to challenge the assumption that every FUTURESCAPE THIS patio should be built as a rigidly bound system? Paving YEAR, SCAN TO Superstore An unbound construction offers something that a bound system FIND OUT MORE! cannot: flexibility. Individual paving units can accommodate minor ground movement far more effectively, and if movement does occur, repairs are generally localised, quicker and considerably less expensive. GARETH WILSON A contractor can lift the Gareth Wilson is a leading paving installation expert affected area, re-level in the UK. He has won 14 RHS Gold medals and five the bedding and relay Best in Show & six Best Construction Awards, and he is a member of multiple professional bodies. He the paving without provides technical advice to large companies, and he demolishing large mentors and trains contractors and garden designers in landscape construction sections of the patio. and on show garden logistics. He also provides on-site training, expert witness Historically, unbound reports and mediation services. He is a B/507 modular paving committee paving has largely been member, BS7533:102 panellist, and an industry awards judge. gkwilsonlandscaping.co.uk paving.site associated with block TRADE
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LAST WORD
INTERVIEWS Pro Landscaper asks quick-fire questions to gain a small insight into the people who make up our industry. To take part, email content@eljays44.com.
JAMIE WILKINSON
JIM WILKINSON
LISA WILKINSON
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, 44GROUP
CO-FOUNDER AND FORMER DIRECTOR, 44GROUP
CO-FOUNDER AND FORMER DIRECTOR, 44GROUP
What’s your favourite thing 44Group
What’s your favourite thing 44Group
What goals did you have for the company
has launched?
has launched?
when it was set up?
The Pro Landscaper Project Awards and
My favourite in my time has to be the
Our vision was to bring all the sectors of the
magazines, closely followed
industry together. It was quite fractured at
and how different it feels to
by the Business Awards
the time, so we felt that bringing together
traditional awards, while
and then 30 Under 30
and creating a ‘landscape community’ would
still celebrating the
Awards. The magazine
strengthen and give greater gravitas to the sector.
industry.
was the fundamental
Summer Party. I love how fun it is
What goals did you have for the company
foundation and the first
How has the industry grown or changed
step in bringing all sectors
over the past 15 years?
of the UK landscaping industry
It is now seen as a stable and rewarding career
together.
when it was set up? together the different parts of the industry and
What goals did
promote all the positive things it has to offer.
you have for the
What was the best part of building this
That’s still at the heart of what we do today.
company when it
business with your family?
was set up?
The obvious answer is spending every day
Unite all sectors of the
with Jim and the boys, when most people I
industry and, of course, for
knew would have been waving their children
What has been your biggest learning curve over the last 15 years?
the business to be profitable.
That things often take longer than I want them
off to university or seeing their partners for just a
to. I think being impatient and wanting to make
couple of hours a day!
things happen quickly is a good thing, but I’ve
How has the industry grown or changed
also learnt that sometimes taking a little more
over the past 15 years?
time can be a good thing too.
The big change was how much green space
What has been
impacts all of our lives, environment and
your biggest
What is coming up
quality of life.
learning curve over the last 15 years?
at 44Group that you
There have been many
are most looking
What was the best part of building this
forward to?
business with your family?
learning curves! I am generally rather risk
There’s so much – a new
Just seeing everyone grow and add their value
averse, whilst Jim and Jamie are much less so
venue for FutureScape, new
in different ways.
– I learnt that sometimes it’s okay to lean into ideas without worrying about the outcome.
people joining the team, seeing
98
path, and with the right guidance, training and commitment, the sky’s the limit.
The intention was always to bring
our existing team develop, and continuing our
Who are you inspired by?
international growth. It feels like we’re entering
Jamie Wilkinson and his management team –
What would be the title of your biography?
a really exciting stage of the business.
they have really driven the business forward.
The Life We Designed, Built and Maintain.
Pro Landscaper | July 2026
prolandscapermagazine.com
LAST WORD
In celebration of our first-ever issue in 2011 hosting Little Interviews, we’ve spoken a few familiar faces that featured in the debut edition of Pro Landscaper to answer some updated questions. From reflections over the last 15 years, to what’s coming up next, 44Group founders and industry members alike give us the downlow in this issue’s quickfire questions.
KARL HARRISON
LIZ HUGHES
LUCY BRAVINGTON
DECKING GUY, DECKINGNETWORK.COM
MARKETING MANAGER, PROVENDER NURSERIES
GARDEN DESIGNER, LUCY BRAVINGTON DESIGN
What has been a highlight for you over
What has been a highlight for you over
What has been a highlight for you over
the last 15 years?
the last 15 years?
the last 15 years?
It has to be working with Mark Gregory on the
The main highlight is still being in the industry;
The top one would have to be creating my first
design and construction of the decking within
it has been a lifetime of plants and excellent
show garden and being awarded a Platinum
the moat for Superbloom at the Tower of
people, I could not think of a better trade.
Medal and Best Construction Award for my High Line garden at BBC
London. To create something at the Tower of London as part of the celebrations for the late
Have challenges in your job remained the
Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee was an
same or changed over the last 15 years?
absolute privilege, and one of those
So much has happened in the last 15 years;
projects that will always stay
Covid-19, Brexit, extreme weather and more
with me.
Gardeners’ World Live in 2019. How has the
frequent temporary use bans. Each of these
industry grown
brings challenges, and the appropriate
or changed over the past 15 years?
Have the challenges
message to our clients needs to be considered,
in your job
constructive and informative. With the above
remained the same
challenges – which can move and, indeed,
years since I completed an interview for the
or changed over the
change direction on a daily basis – the
very first issue of Pro Landscaper! The industry
challenge remains the same; research, absorb
feels like it has grown massively, but in many
and inform.
ways the core people within it haven’t changed.
last 15 years? Nope. Remarkably, many
©R
ose
m ary D e sp r
es
I can’t believe it’s been 15
It has always been a very welcoming industry,
of the challenges are exactly the same. There are heaps of regulations, standards,
What’s one innovation or change you
structural requirements and manufacturers’
hope to see in the next 15 years?
installation instructions surrounding decking,
I would like to see a change in the availability to water, with more reservoirs
yet a surprising amount of the industry still
and that still feels very much the same. What’s one innovation or change you hope to see in the next 15 years?
appears blissfully unaware that many of
being built and more
I hope AI complements our industry rather
them exist.
government funding and
than becoming a nuisance! I do worry that it
support for the growers.
could become the new version of the garden
What’s one innovation or change you
The industry needs more
TV show – creating unrealistic expectations
hope to see in the next 15 years?
stability in water availability
and convincing clients that they can have
and pricing in order to be able
I would like to see decking properly recognised as a construction discipline.
everything for nothing.
to continue to provide plants for domestic and commercial designs.
What would you say is the best thing about your job?
What would the title of your biography be?
What is the best thing about your job?
The variety. No two gardens or briefs are ever
For Deck’s Sake. Although my publisher may
Plants and people. The ever-changing scenery
the same, and I also get to be involved in so
have other ideas.
of the seasons.
many different aspects of the industry.
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