THE LANDSCAPER 225 FEBRUARY 2018 digital

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COVER STORY: EUROFLOR BANQUET

BTME REPORT COMPACT TRACTORS | ARBORIST | SEEDS THE UK’S NUMBER 1 LANDSCA PIN INDUSTRY G MAGAZIN E

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Educate Exhibit, Evolve 22-24 January 2019 | Harrogate Convention Centre The BTME experience is like catching lightning in a bottle, where innovation, excitement and education light up the cold, winter days. Thirty years after it began, BTME is evolving to accommodate its incredible and ever-growing popularity, and to bring our record-breaking Continue to Learn education programme right to the heart of the experience.

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Wood from the trees You may value a tree, in your garden or in the for horticulture street, for any number of reasons: for the wildlife businesses. it supports, or for it’s shade on a hot day, or The UK has also simply because it’s beautiful. Trees also increase become less biodiversity, keep soils moist - just to name a few of attractive to the advantages they offer the planet. seasonal workers The cultural value of trees, woods and forests mostly from is becoming an increasingly important aspect of Romania and sustainable forest management. Measures of this value Bulgaria because are now included in European Commission impact of the fall in the assessments, the Montreal Process and pan-European value of sterling indicators of the Ministerial Conference for the against the euro Protection of Forests in Europe. since Britain voted to leave the EU. At last we have woken up to the fact that trees have far Last year tons of fruit were left to rot in farms across the more value than providing timber. country – including in Kent, Scotland and Herefordshire – In the UK alone we are going to plant 50 m trees. More because of problems recruiting European pickers. than 120 countries promised in Skills shortages are still landscape 2015 to plant and restore large contractors’ biggest concern and areas of forest as a response would be made worse should to the climate crisis which will free movement end. Europeans result in a new area of forest employed by garden design firms are the size of India. considering whether to leave.

Trees are good for business.

Theresa May has frequently said They increase property values she would like to see net migration EUROFLOR BANQUE T as well as footfall in shopping fall to the “tens of thousands”, despite or business areas, all of which warnings over the economic cost. helps to boost the local Xenophobic madness. economy. Whatever the A packed issue this month. We reason, trees are a valuable report on a successful Harrogate BTME, asset and deserve to be find out what’s new in the world of celebrated. compact tractors, we also investigate BTME REPORT COMPACT TRACTO The NFU’s monthly labour wildflowers, lighting, and the new RS | ARBORIST | SEED S survey showed a 29 per cent Mercedes-Benz X-class.

THE UK shortfall in seasonal workers Have a good month.

NUMBER’S 1

LANDSCAPER

INTERESTING TIMES

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FEBRUARY 2018

ISSUE 225 | £3.95

COVER STORY:

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Front cover Following some dramatic displays of Euroflor sown flower seed mixtures throughout the UK, Rigby Taylor is undertaking a major initiative to help reverse the national decline in pollinating insects. In particular, a new mixture

named Euroflor Banquet has been introduced to the landscape industry that contains the best species for pollinators, whilst delivering high performance flower displays.

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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NEWS

Soil biology reaps rewards

General manager Terry Crump said: “Our key priority is to deliver the best possible course conditions and clubhouse facilities for our members. They will go elsewhere if we cannot provide golf whenever they want it. It’s no exaggeration to state the club might have struggled if we had persisted with our existing maintenance strategy, which relied heavily on chemical and physical treatments.”

Year-round course playability has helped the club double the greens team’s maintenance budget, allowing it to introduce improvements across the site.

“We are raising standards off course as well as on to boost presentation around the playing areas,” says Sean, “We have also been able to recruit an apprentice greenkeeper.”

Harpenden Common applies Soil Biology products across the course to raise quality throughout. “The zeolites add structural integrity to the turf and retain then release nutrients over time,” Sean explains. “It also encourages a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the rootzone.

Members agree the state of the course is the best it has ever been.”

Hillery Murphy says: “Harpenden Common is a great testimony to soil biology. Zeolites deliver consistent results, creating a honeycomb in which beneficial microbes can thrive and metabolise nutrients for the grass plant to take up. This is the future for course maintenance practices.”

A greens team has seen its maintenance budget double and recruitment rise after introducing soil biology methods across the course.

Harpenden Common Golf Club swept aside its existing greens renovation programme in favour of a less intrusive, environmental one based on applying compost teas, fertilisers, trace elements and zeolites.

“The old system of digging up our waterlogged greens twice a year to try to improve drainage had failed,” reports head greenkeeper Sean Brocklehurst. “So we invited an agronomist specialising in soil biology to take a look at the problem.”

Soil Biology Ltd’s Hillery Murphy recommended an extensive programme of boosting the microbial count across the 18-hole private members parkland course in a bid to reduce thatch and strengthen the rootzone.

Now in its fourth year of the soil biology strategy, Harpenden Common is reaping the benefits inside and outside the clubhouse, says Sean: “Poor drainage on the greens made them unplayable sometimes, forcing us to close the course and risking loss of members. Playing surfaces have improved so much that we can stay open year-round.”

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Plant health and Brexit Imports of high-risk plants and firewood must be brought to an end within five years, to safeguard the health of UK forests, according to a new report by industry body Confor.

The UK’s elm, larch and ash trees have been devastated by imported pests and diseases, and there are many more that threaten both timber businesses and native wildlife.

Confor’s new report outlines the problems and identifies how to resolve them.

One of the threats is imported plants in soil-filled pots, widely used by gardeners and landscapers. These enter the country with few checks or regulations and pose serious risks of containing invasive beetles, fungi, bacteria or other pathogens.

Another challenge is the 3,000 tonnes of firewood imported into the UK every month. This can be done safely if the bark is removed and the wood fully dried. However, in a sample of consignments inspected last year, more than a

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Phasing out firewood imports will have wider benefits for the health of the UK’s native broadleaf woodlands, as well as protecting them from disease. A scheme to bring woodlands into management for firewood would supply this product from home-grown sources.

Confor England manager Caroline Harrison said, “Managing native woodland by thinning makes them better for wildlife by diversifying their structure and allowing in light, and encourages remaining trees to grow better to capture carbon and provide quality timber.”

Any seedling trees imported for the forestry sector are covered by the Forest Reproductive Material regulations, ensuring traceability and control. But the sector is committed to working with policymakers to phase these out within five years.

Fiona Angier of the Confor Nursery Producers Group said: “Forest managers, forest nurseries and landowners represented by Confor are agreed that the only plant material we should be importing is seed, but achieving this requires improvements in the way forest planting is approved.

“It takes 2-3 years to grow the young trees for a new forest.

But the uncertainty of forestry grant schemes often means that millions of trees must be planted within a window of a few months, and the number of trees planted fluctuates wildly from year to year. Nurseries, who often have to burn stock at the end of the season, cannot maintain large-scale surpluses in case of a shortfall, so the industry is obliged to import plants to fulfil orders.” www.confor.org.uk

London T-Charge, and ULEZ Landscaping companies working in Central London were recently warned to check if their vans are liable for the new T-Charge, and to prepare for the upcoming Ultra Low-Emission Zone (ULEZ) coming into effect on 8 April 2019.

The warning comes from commercial vehicle rental specialist Enterprise Flex-E-Rent. It advises that these charges could cost businesses hundreds, even thousands, of pounds if they own older vehicles and drive them into the capital.

Introduced in October, the T-Charge applies to all vehicles entering the Congestion Charge zone and means an extra £10 a day for vans that don’t meet the Euro IV emissions standard. This is most likely to hit anyone driving vans

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registered before 2006.

The ULEZ, which comes into force in fifteen months’ time, is even stricter and means an extra £12.50 daily charge for businesses with diesel vans that don’t meet the Euro VI standard. Many vans registered before 2015 will not be Euro VI-compliant.

Given that the average van on UK roads is more than seven years old, the ULEZ charge could affect hundreds of thousands of British van drivers.

Danny Glynn, managing director of Enterprise FlexE-Rent, comments: “Vans are essential for keeping the landscaping industry mobile, especially in the South East.

However, many businesses working in London need to check now if their vehicles are Euro IV-compliant, or else they’ll get hit by the T-Charge with every trip into the Congestion Charge zone. And the ULEZ is even more likely to affect those businesses because it requires much newer vehicles with the Euro VI standard.

“Upgrading to a new van can be an expensive additional outlay if you purchase the vehicle outright. However, flexible rental can make this a much more manageable transition, as the costs can be spread over a number of years. Costeffective options such as short-term rental and leasing ensure drivers are in modern vehicles that meet all the necessary emissions rules. Plus, they can be adjusted to meet the requirements of the business, including external branding, and are regularly maintained.” www.enterprise.co.uk

Thirtieth birthday celebration Essex-based Holland Landscapes is celebrating 30 years of creating amazing gardens.

It all began in the 1980s when Chris Baker (currently Holland Landscapes Director) was living a different life as manager of a betting shop, working indoors in a smoky

NEWS atmosphere. At weekends, he would help friends and neighbours with gardening and home maintenance. In 1988, Chris gave up the day job, bought a truck and started his own gardening and property maintenance business.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Today, Holland Landscapes is a thriving business, creating quality gardens throughout Suffolk and Essex. Directors Chris and Paul Baker head up a team of seven full-time employees and regularly use the services of local bricklayers, electricians and other specialists.

Director Paul Baker is probably better known in the wider landscape industry than his father: where Chris helps oversee the daily running of the business, Paul works with suppliers to ensure gardens are delivered seamlessly.

Paul is also the networker of the family, on most of social media platforms and a respected APL member. Paul juggles the challenges of raising a young family with his tireless work to promote the landscape industry. He strives to overcome damage done by ‘cowboy traders’ to the public’s perception of landscapers; Holland Landscapes has won 10 APL awards including the prestigious Supreme Award and the Young Achiever Award.

1_Spald-LScaper-hlf-1117.ps 25/10/17 08:55 Biggest challenge in the last 30 years? “It’s always been hard

to recruit really high quality staff,” says Paul. “In recent years, colleges have tried to attract a higher calibre of student, but there’s still a way to go before landscaping is recognised as a varied and rewarding career rather than a last resort. Having said that, the team at Holland Landscapes is amazing. I’m incredibly proud of them.”

Will Paul’s young son join the family firm? “He’s only 3,” says Paul. “He loves helping me in the garden, but he loves Paw Patrol more. So I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.” www.hollandscapes.co.uk

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The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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NEWS

Trees flourish at university

bark for top dressing.

Revisiting two years on, Barry Browne who heads up the gt Specifier team comments: “This was a great project to work on. Nottingham Trent University is one of the UK’s most environmentally friendly universities and we were thrilled to be able to help them to create a sustainable, ecologicallysound campus. The provision of green grass and open spaces were pivotal to the University’s redevelopment plans to provide places to unwind and reconnect with the outside world. We are always keen to follow up on any project that we have been so heavily involved with and see how the trees are doing. We were thrilled to see that all the trees are thriving. The landscape looked lush and green, and the campus looked very smart. Several months after the initial project, the ArboRaft System was specified once again when the adjoining car park was revamped. Here too, the trees are healthy and flourishing.”

The ArborRaft system has been used in many high-profile projects across the UK. green-tech.co.uk

Record-breaking show Nottingham Trent University city site has 30 buildings surrounded by 5.1 hectares of open space. The heart of the campus underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in 2015, which included two new buildings in the Clifton complex with landscaped outdoor spaces.

Green-tech supplied the landscaping materials.

The landscaping works included planting 50 large, established trees to maximise aesthetic and biodiversity value. The landscaping contract was awarded to Ulyett Landscapes Limited, based in the East Midlands, which turned to gt Specifer, the specification team of leading landscape supplier, Green-tech, for advice on the most suitable products for planting, securing and encouraging the healthy growth of the trees.

Taking into account tree size, and inclined site, the team recommended the ArborRaft Tree Planting system.

This system combines nutrient-rich ArborRaft soil with exceptionally strong geocellular units, which create a healthy growing space for trees in urban areas. Green-tech supplied an anchoring system for each tree, the mona treeirrigation system, rootbarrier, subsoil, and ArboRaft soil and

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After an independent audit confirmed a record-breaking SALTEX attendance at the NEC, the show’s visitor survey revealed insight into the 8,909 attendees.

With over 300 exhibitors and more show features, 89 per cent of SALTEX 2017 visitors (with age range of 31-60) rated their overall SALTEX experience as being either very good or excellent; the wide variety of businesses and organisations included sports clubs, local authorities, schools, colleges and universities. More than 70 per cent of visitors held a senior position within their respective companies, and over 80 per cent were either solely responsible or contributed to the purchasing process.

Almost 60 per cent attended SALTEX with a view to buying and 40 per cent said that they placed orders on the show floor. In terms of product categories, interest was as follows: • Machinery, power and hand tools – 84 per cent • Seeds, turf, aggregates and treatments – 49 per cent • Sports surfaces, facilities and equipment – 43 per cent • Arboriculture and horticulture – 40 per cent • Landscaping and materials – 38 per cent Primarily, attendees came to search for innovations and new products, while 84 per cent said they attended due to the number and mix of exhibitors. 67 per cent said they

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NEWS improve operations and boost team morale. It can also help budgets go further. Turf Rewards provides the opportunity for customers to earn points from purchases that can be exchanged for a selection of agronomic or turf-related items and learning opportunities The updated Turf Rewards website has a similar feel to the previous version, with new features such as product trackers and promotion trackers, designed to help end

attended SALTEX with the main objective of networking; 74 per cent said the location of the show was a determining factor and nearly 50 per cent of attendees made use of their visit for training and educational opportunities.

European visitors came from Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Czech Republic and Spain.

Further afield, visitors from Sri Lanka, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia also made the journey to the NEC. SALTEX 2018 will be at the NEC, Birmingham on 31 October-1 November, 2018. www.iogsaltex.com

Enhanced turf rewards New rewards for the ICL and Syngenta Turf Rewards loyalty scheme in 2018 include: Beepol Hive and Villa; 3M Peltor WS Protac XP Headset; iPad Pro 12.9” 64BG; MacBook Air 13.3” 128GB; and £150 Machine Mart voucher.

Turf managers across the UK and Ireland have benefited from the scheme since its creation five years ago. The scheme can enhance education,

users maximise the number of Turf Rewards points that can be collected. Extra points for promotions will now be automatically added to user’s points totals.

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NEWS A new Turf Rewards App will be soon available to download from both the App Store and Google Play.

It will feature the same tracking bars as the website.

Turf Rewards users can now upload their invoices as proof of purchase (blanking out any information not relevant to the claim, including prices and other products not relevant to Turf Rewards). The app will make the verification process easy, and the current points total will be available at a touch of a button. www.turfrewards.com

APL Awards 2018 – Speaker Chris Collins of CM Horticulture will be returning to The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) Awards 2018 as the speaker and co-presenter.

With 25 years of practical hands-on experience in parks departments, four different botanic gardens, Westminster Abbey and many private gardens in the UK and in Japan, Africa and Israel, Chris was awarded the Duke of Edinburgh medal in 2007 for his services to horticulture.

At this year’s awards, Chris will tell ‘Part 2’ of his larger-than-life journey through the world of horticulture and landscaping, giving an insight to some of his more unusual projects, as well as hosting the awards alongside Raoul Curtis-Machin, HTA Director of Horticulture.

APL Awards 2018 takes place on Friday 16 March at The Brewery, London.

The event is proud to recognise and reward the high standard of landscape contracting carried out by APL registered members, and the awards give an opportunity to promote members’ commitment to quality landscaping and keeping their customers completely satisfied.

Alongside the high-quality presenters, the Awards lunch will provide opportunity for networking with key players from across the industry, and a chance to view a snapshot of all shortlisted projects in the reception room before the event.

Set in The Brewery, the venue occupies the site of the former Whitbread Brewery in East London, and the awards are set in a brick-lined room with a 170-foot king post timber roof, with an unsupported span of 65 feet giving an uninterrupted view across the room. It will provide a fantastic setting for this year’s APL Awards. www.aplawards.co.uk

Specialist training: Natural pest control Bionema has developed specialist training programmes to help maximise the potential of a biologically benign way to protect and enhance crops, plants and amenity areas. The key message to leading commercial distributors and end users (grower, farmers, greenkeepers and foresters) is that natural pest control makes even more sense as traditional pesticides lose efficiency and many are delisted. The use of biopesticides across many land-based sectors is a crucial subject, with legislative changes necessitating awareness in agriculture, horticulture and amenity managers of the latest best practice solutions.

“Professionals need to know how to handle living organisms such as nematodes, fungi, bacteria, beneficial insects and others,” says Dr Minshad A Ansari, MD of Bionema Limited, based in Swansea University, Wales.

Continued on page 15 >>

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Nick Gladstone, Hurrell’s Seeds, Managing Director said: “This mix is proven to grow in extremely low soil temperatures when

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Dr Ansari adds there is a need to understand how best to use, store and handle such organisms to deliver efficaciously.

Bionema training courses (developed by biological experts) includes presentation, practical workshops and demonstration about different biopesticide products and their correct application to help maximise the benefits of biopesticide products in agriculture, horticulture, turf amenity and forestry sectors. Users will develop a complete understanding of biopesticide application through a practical integrated pest management system within their own environment.

The next courses will be on March 14-16 at Lantra headquarters at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. https://bionema.com/training-course-signup-page/

comments Rob. “The unit’s weight means it penetrates the surface, rather than bouncing over it. Spring and autumn/ winter are peak times for the Verti-Drain.”

With the Verti-Drain 7626 taking care of the deep aeration work, the pair of Verti-Quake 2516’s work on compaction within the top 6-8 inches. “These come into their own when the ground is too firm or when the surface is wet, requiring lighter units to be used,” says Rob. “The smaller, lighter Verti-Quake 2516 runs on a compact tractor, which gives us the flexibility to choose the most effective machine.

Another plus point is the range of tine options. We’ve been working on some polo fields this year, using ½ inch finger tines, but we also carry tines suitable for hollow coring.

These machines give us the versatility to deal with whatever surface comes our way, and even more importantly, the customers are pleased with the work. That’s the main thing!” www.charterhouse-tm.co.uk/

Versatile aeration adaptability For R J Jochimsen Contractors, a Verti-Drain and a pair of Verti-Quakes from Charterhouse Turf Machinery fit the bill for aeration versatility and adaptability. The company does maintenance and renovation projects for councils, utility companies and sports clubs in the West Sussex area.

Managing director Rob Jochimsen says: “Week to week we’ll be working on different surfaces – football, rugby, polo fields, gallops. They all require different maintenance techniques, but aeration is one that goes across the board.

Having the two different machines and working them in conjunction with one another means that no matter the requirement, conditions or sports surface, we have the machine to suit.”

The company’s Verti-Drain 7626 is now into its 5th season.

“We chose this machine initially as it was a good match for our tractor and since then it’s proved to be a real workhorse,”

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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NEWS

Greens maintenance The first of the 2018 Dennis and SISIS bowling green maintenance seminars will be at the Ipswich & District Indoor Bowls Club on Tuesday 13th March. The seminars combine practical tips, demonstrations and key information from industry experts, and are designed to ultimately help club greenkeepers and volunteers maintain their bowling greens.

The programme details provide delegates with a taste of what to expect throughout the series of seminars.

Chris Humphrey from Collier Turfcare will deliver a presentation entitled Chemicals and Fertilisers, in which he reveal how to get the best value and best results no matter what the budget. Luke Hunt from Barenbrug will then advise on Choosing the Correct Seed for a Bowling Green.

Following a mid-morning break, Chris explore ideas and methods, titled Controlling pests in the future.

Before a complimentary lunch, an open question and answer session ‘Turf Clinic’ will give delegates the chance to

ask questions.

The afternoon will see all attendees head outside to witness an On-Green Demonstration, which provides an opportunity to see some of the sport’s latest turf maintenance equipment in action, offer guidance in the preparation of greens, and advice on how to get the best from the equipment.

The seminar registration is at 9am. To register for the free seminars, please contact Roger Moore on 01332 824777 or email roger.moore@dennisuk.com. www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com

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NEWS

Synthetics maintenance Founded in 1572 under a Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth 1, Harrow School is on a 300-acre estate, surrounded by acres of sports fields ranging from Astroturf pitches, 2G hockey and tennis, 3G rubber crumb, sixteen winter pitches and nine cricket through to a 9-hole golf course. Maintaining such large areas of synthetic turf takes a special mix of machinery and each pitch demands its specific type of maintenance. Grounds Manager Michael Kemmett heads the team of eleven, surfaces and after using the Quick Clean,” says Michael. “It’s and he began with the GKB Quick brush in the summer excellent for getting pile to stand up and it’s also very good of 2017, followed by the introduction of a Quick Clean in for the cricket outfields and pitches.”

November. Quick Brush is a modular brush that can be The Quick Clean is used on sand and rubber crumb and adjusted to each task, choosing between a rake, double was chosen for its powerful in-depth cleaning of all types brush and rubber finishing rag. There is a ‘flip-over tool’ of synthetic turf pitches. With the wide variety of sports to enable infill material to be easily added to new fields. surfaces at Harrow School, the extraction of debris needs to “We liked the Quick Brush for its ability to carry out be adjusted to suit the technical characteristics of each pitch. the correct synthetic turf maintenance, whatever the “We first saw the Quick Clean at the Cologne show and requirements. We use it every couple of weeks on the it looked the part to fit our criteria,” Michael adds. “We Harrowden_Landscaper_Jun16_Layout 1 14/06/2016 11:33 Page 1

Local service Nationwide reach Harrowden Turf brings together the country’s finest turf growers. So wherever you are, you won’t be far from one of our excellent farms. Our range is suitable for all grass surface requirements from the finest greens turf to the toughest sports and general amenity turf.

We also supply Enviromat sedum green roof matting and Meadowmat wildflower turf. Call us today for a quote or brochure.

01638 742 901

www.harrowdenturf.co.uk

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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NEWS were looking for quality and stand-out of the patterns after cleaning, and it needs to work fast and be reliable. We have all that, and you can tell from the quality build the machine is going to last. That makes it very competitive as well as achieving precisely what we need to maintain our surfaces.

We’re very pleased with the great results we’re getting from the GKB machines.” www.gkbmachines.com

Great escape at flower show The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), working on behalf of the UK garden industry, will exhibit within the Discovery Zone in the Great Pavilion at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. ‘The Great Escape’ will be educational and inspiring, demonstrating the benefits of plants, gardening and outdoor space, and highlighting ways in which people of all ages enjoy outdoor spaces.

Designed by Chris Collins (Chris Collins Horticulture) it also showcases the role of UK garden centres and initiatives such as National Children’s Gardening Week, in spreading the message about the wider benefits of plants, gardens and gardening.

The exhibit has been designed with four spaces: • The Orb Den, a garden kitchen to propagate and grow micro-crops featuring a bug hotel, compost robot, solar panel, stepping stones and an alternative water saving device • The Urban Garden, a pot garden to encourage the amateur gardener with tiered hanging baskets, containers, mounted bat box, bird boxes, weather station, hedgehog house, insect tower, barbecue, stepping stones and reconditioned decking • The Outdoor Gym, a hub to promote family health and well-being with exercise equipment, containers, fruit area, mounted tool rack and mounted bird boxes • The Summer House, a place of serenity and relaxation to enjoy the garden all year-round, with a summer house,

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birch trees and horn beam, herbaceous planting, seating, mounted bird boxes and camomile lawn areas.

Adam Taylor, HTA President comments: “We are excited to be back at RHS Chelsea Flower Show to showcase the UK garden industry. This year, situated in the Discovery Zone, we have a great opportunity to educate, engage and inspire the public on the benefits of plants and gardening.”

He adds: “It will be possible for many of the ideas featured to be replicated within garden centres and this will be a great way of joining in with the activity and the buzz around the show.” https://hta.org.uk/event_listing/rhs-chelsea-flower-show.html

Square conversion Following a successful trial, Sportsturf Management’s owner Jamie Foyster is exclusively using Limagrain’s MM50 grass seed across every cricket square.

Jamie joined Sportsturf Management in 2008, taking sole ownership of the business in 2012, when he became acquainted with Limagrain UK. “I wasn’t happy with my existing supplier, as the seed wasn’t performing as I wanted it to,” he says. “We had an incredibly wet season and in the autumn I trialled MM50 on two cricket squares. The germination rate, the development and the root density was fantastic. However, the real test came in the summer of the following year, and the wear tolerance and the recovery rate was superb. Since then I have converted all my squares to MM50.”

NEWS MM50 possesses exceptional shoot density along with tolerance to close mowing making it particularly suitable for cricket squares. As Jamie reports, other key features of MM50 include fast recovery from wear and damage and high disease resistance.

Limagrain is a major supporter of research partnerships with universities and institutes.

“Products and technology have come such a long way in the past decade,” says Jamie. “For example, look at germination rates now compared to a few years ago. In this respect, I would have to single out HEADSTART® GOLD seed coating.”

MM50 is treated with HEADSTART® GOLD, Limagrain’s unique seaweed based seed treatment, which helps to ensure rapid and even germination.

Jamie adds: “Others have seen how well MM50 has performed on our squares. I recommend MM50 all the time and quite a lot of clubs and schools I know of have switched to it. Richard Sheppard (Amenity Seed Sales Specialist) will often come and see me, to see how everything is going and offer advice and support. I don’t even have to ask for that but it is a great service to have.” www.lgseeds.co.uk/amenity

Brushless power harnessed Makita has harnessed the power of the successful 18v brushless motor to reduce the back-breaking task of pushing a fully laden wheelbarrow across a rocky, bumpy building site, a muddy commercial garden or rough pasture towards a favourite fishing lake.

Designed principally to reduce the physical demands in the construction industry, the new Makita DCU180Z can carry 130kg of blocks on the tubular frame, or similar amount of ballast in the barrow bin option, with the brushless motor

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Professional quality PEDESTRIAN, RIDE-ON and REMOTE CONTROL machines

Distributed in the UK exclusively by STM For more information or to arrange a demonstration: Call 01789 488450 or e-mail info@st-mach.com The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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NEWS integrated into the front wheel to ensure maximum traction to the heavily ribbed agri-tyre. With two forward speeds, the wheelbarrow can climb a 12° maximum incline. Main braking is provided by the front disc brake controlled by the hand lever on the steering handles. The wheelbarrow weighs 32.5kg, has three-height-adjustable handles that fold for easy storage. The detachable rear trailing wheels with kick down brake can be adjusted from a width of 480mm to 760mm, which further improves stability and reduces operator effort.

Powered by any of the Makita 18v LXT Lithium-Ion batteries, the new Makita DCU180Z power-assisted wheelbarrow has soft start to ease the load away, constant speed control, twin LED driving lights and locking brake lever for maximum site safety. For site security, an individual ignition lock key is provided. The DCU180Z is a body-only machine, with optional accessories including the pipe frame set and bucket frame set. www.makitauk.com

New roots in Warwickshire Award-winning garden design and landscape company Isola Garden Design has moved to Stoneleigh Park’s Rural Innovation Centre, Warwickshire.

Isola Garden Design was founded by James Brash in 2006, and is known for innovative, thoughtful designs in traditional country to contemporary townhouse gardens. Its accolades include a Silver Gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for the build of a rooftop garden with Warwickshire College. and a Gold Medal from the regional heats of the BALI Landscape Skills Competition.

Managing director James said: “The business has evolved significantly over the last decade. We began offering a generalist landscaping service, and soon realised there was a real need for a premium full design and build proposition aimed at the high-end domestic market, outside London.

We have seen the biggest turnaround in the business in the last few years and our rebrand, including a new website has really taken us from strength to strength. We’ve worked hard to build a strong reputation and people come to us for our comprehensive offering, from design and build through to after-care. Our on-going preservation support is highly regarded by our clients and is a real focus for us this year.”

He added: “Gardens are living things and need to be continually cared for. Not only do we want our clients to

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enjoy their gardens all year round, we want to ensure their investment is protected. It has been our ambition for some time to move to Stoneleigh Park.”

Amy Rogers, manager of the Rural Innovation Centre, said: “Isola is one of Warwickshire’s most respected garden design and landscape companies, and is a great addition to the Rural Innovation Centre. Stoneleigh Park is a great fit with its rural setting and focus, and its strong association with landbased organisations, and we look forward to supporting Isola with its further development.” www.isolagardendesign.co.uk

SGD Awards 2017 winners At The Society of Garden Designers’ sixth annual award ceremony in London, Robert Myers was presented with the Grand Award, Matt Keightley won three awards, and Spanish designer Fernando Caruncho got the Lifetime Achievement Award. In total, 17 designers were presented with awards across 19 categories, including accolades for the best Large Residential Garden, Healing & Learning Garden, International Garden and Roof Garden.

Robert Myers’ contemporary playscape (created for the Historic Royal Palace at Hampton Court) was described as ‘truly magical’ by the judging panel. The garden was also named best Public or Commercial Outdoor Space.

An unanimous decision gave the Judges’ Award to Tyre Hill House Garden by Matt Keightley. The panel said the design had ‘a clarity, simplicity and purity that was simply beautiful’, calling it ‘contemporary, peaceful and very, very accomplished.’ The garden also won the Planting Award, and was a joint winner in the Medium Residential category with

NEWS

Ian Kitson. The latter also picked up the award for his Estuary Garden, which also received the Hardscape Award.

Emily Erlam won the Roof Garden Award, Jane Brockbank and Sue Townsend were joint winners of the Garden Jewel Award, and Helen-Elks-Smith won the Small Residential category. Newcomer to the awards Anne Windsor triumphed in the Big Ideas, Small budget category, while Ann-Marie Powell received the Healing or Learning Award, James Basson won the International Award, and Debbie Roberts of Acres Wild won the Large Residential Award.

The Historical Garden Restoration Award was won by Christian Sweet, Carolyn Willitts won the Paper Landscapes Award, and Fiona Stephenson won the People’s Choice Award.

Student Sheila Jack won in the Student Design – Domestic category, for two of her submitted projects, and Nicky Burridge, from the London College of Garden Design, won the award for Student Design – Commercial.

The SGD Lifetime Achievement Award was given to international landscape designer and philosopher Fernando Caruncho.

SGD Chair, Sarah Morgan said: “The SGD Awards are all about celebrating the very best in landscape and garden design and recognising the incredible talent being brought to bear across the industry. It’s clear from tonight just how much fantastic work is being done within the sector. Each and every one of these awards is richly deserved and I congratulate everyone on their achievements.’

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The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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NEWS

Reviving fairways Pete Smith, Course Manager at the Birch Grove Estate in Sussex, has reported ‘phenomenal’ results using Sherriff Amenity’s Aqua-Zorb wetting agent to bring the fairways on the 18-hole, 7000-yard golf course back to life.

When the current owners purchased Birch Grove in 2011, and decided to return the course to its former glory, Pete Smith (an experienced greenkeeper and previously course manager at the Cavendish Club) was brought in to reinstate the course.

The course has greens and tees constructed to USGA specification, is ‘purely by invitation only’, and has maximum of 150 rounds of golf (annually) played on it.

Trakm8 Prime’s dash cams Trakm8 Prime, the fully online vehicle tracking solution, now includes the company’s RoadHawk dash cams. Designed for small to medium-size fleets, Trakm8 Prime can be bought online and selfinstalled, eliminating installation/removal fees, and keeping vehicle down time to a minimum.

Customers can add a dash cam to their package with Trakm8 Prime Protect, also easy to self-install. Dash cams can cut insurance premiums by up to 10 per cent, with some brokers offering discounted insurance premiums to firms that fit dash cams to all company vehicles.

Colin Ferguson, Managing Director of Fleet and Optimisation for Trakm8, said: “Dash cams give businesses an added level of security and peace of mind, as well as saving them money.”

The RoadHawk DC-2 HD GPS Dash Cam provides hard evidence that is accepted by police and insurance companies, including the exact data and time an incident occurred, as well as vehicle speed and precise GPS location. www.trakm8prime.com

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“We have irrigation on the greens, tees and approaches, but we don’t have fairway irrigation and I have never really used a wetting agent on them,” says Pete. “However, it got to the stage in early July that we were starting to lose large parts of the fairway where we hadn’t had any irrigation or rainfall. Joseph Dormer, Amenity Specialist for Sherriff Amenity, suggested using the Aqua-Zorb Liquid as a curative effect and we thought we’d give it a go.”

Aqua-Zorb Liquid from Sherriff Amenity is a concentrated non-ionic turf wetting agent, and one application can last all season. It is renowned for treating the cause of Localised Dry Patch.

On applying Aqua-Zorb, it is recommended the operator should immediately irrigate with a minimum 3mm of water, or spray during rainfall. “Without fairway irrigation, I was reliant on rainfall,” Pete says. “I waited until it started raining before applying the Aqua-Zorb. It ended up chucking it down, and I ended up with about 16mm of rainfall, which is pretty, much four times the required water volume. At the time I was convinced it wasn’t going to work, that it would just wash off and I had wasted all of the product.”

Two days later, Pete was amazed to see the fairways ‘greening up’.

“I will absolutely, un-questionably, use Aqua-Zorb in the spring next year as my six-month fairway wetting agent.

I will put it down with 100% confidence because I know how heavy that rainfall was. It was quite incredible seeing the results from this year and I know I won’t have to worry anymore about my fairways burning off or be concerned about losing them if we have another dry spell.”

Pete was also quick to praise the customer service he receives from Sherriff Amenity’s Joseph Dormer.

“Customer service is excellent,” says Pete. “Joseph is relatively new in his role and having previously been a greenkeeper he is extremely knowledgeable. I took his advice and I’m pleased I did!” www.sherriffamenity.com

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Complete portfolio Scamblers, based in Bourn, Cambridgeshire, believe they now have a complete portfolio of groundscare machinery after they were confirmed as Etesia UK’s newest dealer.

With immediate effect, Scamblers will now supply the full range of Etesia grounds care equipment which includes the Duocut range of pedestrian mowers; the Atilla range of brushcutters, the Hydro and Bahia range of ride-on mowers and all new innovative products which feature the latest generation of robotic and remote controlled technology such as the Atilla SKD ExxDrive, Hydro 80 MKHP4 E-Connect

and the Bahia Joyride.

Ed Scambler - company director told The Landscaper “Etesia is a brand that I have been wanting to sell for around twenty years now,” I had been looking to complete a whole portfolio of good quality commercial and domestic equipment and I think that with the addition of Etesia, we have finally completed that portfolio.

“Until very recently, previous agreements have dictated what we sell but now we are in a position to sell what we think is best for the customer.

We have been able to go out and hand pick the products that we want and I am confident that with Etesia onboard, it now means we have the most comprehensive range of equipment.” www.scamblers.com www.etesia.co.uk

Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. has purchased three new Dennis G860 cylinder mowers. “We use them on a daily basis,” says Anthony Parker, deputy head groundsman. “With three mowers we now double cut on match days, and the G860’s are perfect for presentation and getting a quality finish every time. They create the ideal pitch suitable for how the owners want the team to play.” www.dennisuk.com

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NEWS

Increase air flow to achieve green grass Even the best cared for lawns can need a helping hand to encourage new growth and revitalise them. The colder months can have a significant impact on turf, grounds and gardens; if not looked after properly, grounds could struggle in spring.

A key way of lending lawns a helping hand is through aeration. The days of traditional aerating with a garden fork are gone, particularly for those maintaining larger areas.

Plugr aerators from Billy Goat can improve drainage and promote new growth with absolute ease. By making holes throughout the turf, the aerators increase air circulation through the roots, helping to restore lawns to their perfect green condition and creating healthy grass growth and stronger turf.

The Plugr aerator range consists of two models, each available with the choice of two petrol engines. These are the PL1800 (with either a 205cc Briggs & Stratton engine, or a 118cc Honda engine), or the PL2500 (with a 163cc Honda engine, or a 196cc Honda/Hydro Drive).

The PL1800 has an 18” working width, along with four tines and weighs just 109kg. It is ideal for smaller properties or rental scenarios, and places cores 2.75” deep and aerates 22,000 square feet per hour. It has an easy folding handle that allows for compact use, transportation and storage.

The PL2500 is suited for more intense usage on larger areas. It has a 25” working width and eight reciprocating cam driven tines that punch to core depths of 2.75”. It can deliver

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Glee at Spring Fair has been a success for Woodlodge, UK supplier of pots and planters. Launched on World Cancer Day and with a pledge of at least £20,000, Woodlodge’s Marie Curie range of pots was the bestselling product at the show. Woodlodge also unveiled a bespoke terracotta pot printing service that scooped the third-place runner-up prize at the first New Product Showcase Award. Available on terracotta pots of all sizes, customers can print logos, images or slogans onto the pots. www.woodlodge.co.uk

• Ground reinforcement products: Bodpave 40, Bodpave 85 • Ground stabilisation and tree root protection system: Terram Geocell T: 01423 369732 E: sales@terramdirect.co.uk www.terramdirect.co.uk

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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NEWS

aeration to up to 42,500 square feet per hour.

The Plugr machines complement Billy Goat’s turf maintenance range that consists of sodcutters, overseeders and power rakes, all designed to provide customers with the most innovative, productive, simple to service and easy to use line up of turf renovation equipment in the industry.

Prices of the Plugr aerators start from £2439.99 including VAT. Billy Goat products are exclusively available in the UK through Henton & Chattell dealers nationwide. www.billygoat.co.uk.

Roof Gardens with trees and shrubs There is substantial demand for genuine roof gardens containing trees and shrubs. However, not all roofs are suitable for a roof garden construction.

The roof must be able to carry the weight of the soil and plants. Fytodak Europe B.V. has introduced a lightweight roof garden system called Hydrocell RG30 onto the market. This system may be laid-out on almost all flat roofs.

Hydrocell is the ideal substrate for every roof garden laid outside or on balconies due to the large capacity to

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retain moisture.

Approximately 1.6 million m2 of roof gardens have been laid out in Western Europe during the 40 years that this foam has been on the market. Furthermore, Hydrocell RG30 has a very long life span. With a heavy rooting development and without maintenance the life span can reach up to 25-30 years.

Some of the advantages of Hydrocell RG30: • Non-toxic.

• Inert.

• Fireproof.

• High compressive strength.

• Empty space percentage amounts to 80% as a result of the open cell structure.

• Very durable and solvent-proof even under extreme climate conditions.

• H ydrocell RG30 applied in a layer of 10 cm, has a water absorption capacity of max. 80 litre/m2 (80 vol%).

• T he water absorbed will be supplied gradually and completely to the plants which grow with their roots in the hard foam. This in contrast with poly-acrylamides, expanded clay or lava which are buffering quite a lot of water, but supply only a small part of it to the roots.

• A safe and suitable system for architects and developers.

• N o further maintenance of the system after installation and therefore profitable.

• S elf water regulating throughout the year.

• Biodegradable.

Fytodak’s roof garden system is on a whole very light in comparison with other systems. Due to this roofs with a lighter structure may also be considered when planning a roof garden www.fytogreen.com

MACHINERY UPDATE

MACHINERY UPDATE

www.blec.co.uk The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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MOTORING

The X-Factor

LIAM CAMPBELL AUTOMOTIVE EDITOR

The world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer has, at long last, launched a pickup truck. Developed in conjunction with its partners, the Mercedes-Benz says the X-Class raises the bar in terms of style and comfort and invited The Landscaper to the global launch in Chile, to test it for ourselves.

Liam Campbell reports

X-APPEAL Mercedes-Benz has made no secret in that it is aiming the X-Class at the premium, one-man bands, and it has therefore been sculpted and finished accordingly. While most pickups strive for the ‘macho’ and ‘rugged’ look, Mercedes has opted for beauty.

With its distinctive twin louvre grille, sleek design and the three-pointed star, the vehicle brings a touch of class to the pickup segment. The 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome detailing in the bumper and grille and LED lights add to its luxury presence, but would it be the same story on the inside?

LOOKS AREN’T DECEIVING With the standard set high on the walk up to the vehicle, I was surprised to find that the designers had managed to replicate, and possibly exceed, the high-quality feel inside. The dashboard has concave trim design that runs the will width, creating a spacious and ‘purist’ feel, while the dash top is made from leather, although we note a distinct lack of useful storage spaces and pockets.

There are many features that have been plucked out of the passenger car line, like the round ventilation outlets, the round dials in the instrument cluster and the multifunction

touchpad for the infotainment system.

The touchpad itself takes some getting used to but, once cracked, the COMAND Online multimedia system is easy to navigate and responsive. It’s 8.4-inch touchscreen display is the largest in the segment, and it comes with satellite navigation and 360-degree camera, which was a great help on the tight Santiago streets.

IN AND AROUND SANTIAGO The 2.3-litre powerplant is the same unit in the Nissan Navara and there are two outputs currently offered, the X220D (161hp/403Nm) and X250D (188hp/450Nm). Our X250D model achieves 0-62mph in 11.8 seconds - which isn’t exactly hair raising - although a vigorous 3.0-litre V6, producing 258bhp/550Nm and reaching 62mph in around 8 seconds, will be available later in the year.

The X-Class is outpaced by less powerful pickups due to its weight at over 2.2 tonnes, making it the heaviest pickup.

A lot of the weight gain is down to the increased lead soundproofing, which has helped give the X-Class the most refined ride in the pickup segment.

Handling is also second-to-none thanks to coil-springs at the rear and well-optimised steering, which is accurate and provides ample feedback. Unlike most pickups, the X-Class isn’t plagued by exaggerated bodyroll in the bends, either.

HANDY IN THE ANDES After the run around the city, we headed east out of Santiago and into the Andes. At around 2,000 metres we leave the tarmac roads behind us, and I engage four-wheel drive using the electronic switch. The smaller engine (X220 and X250) models use part-time, or selectable, 4WD, but the 3-litre V6 X350 will be permanent 4WD. The independent rear suspension takes to the

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MOTORING

inconsistencies and bumps of the dirt track much better than the traditional solid live rear axle with leaf spring arrangement for a number of reasons. The most obvious advantage is that there isn’t the loud ‘bang’ and ‘shudder’ when you hit bumps, although the second is a little more obscure.

The X-Class is a lot more stable and the braking is more effective on these types of roads due to the coil springs pushing the individual wheels down into the divots much faster than leaf springs. This increases the amount of contact between the wheel and the ground and gives the driver more confidence to put their foot down.

The independent suspension, however, becomes a bit of a hinderance on more rugged terrain as its not able to articulate to anywhere near the degree of a solid rear axle - but then again, how many people will take their X-Class rock climbing?

The X-Class rides fairly low (201mm ground clearance), but the approach and departure angles are quite high (29 and 24 degrees) – which helps avoid nasty bumper scrapes.

The 500mm wading depth came in handy as we crossed the Mapacho River.

CAN IT GRAFT? Sadly, there wasn’t any opportunity to test its loading and towing capabilities in Chile but, according to the tech specs, payloads vary between a respectable 1,066 and 1,087kg and there’s an industry-leading 3.5t towing capacity. However, we have our reservations about going anywhere near that with coil-spring suspension so you’ll have to wait until we get one back to our farm for a real assessment.

SUMMING UP After the arduous trek across a broad expanse of Chile’s rugged landscape, the new kid on the block has earned our respect as a tough cookie. No squeaks, no rattles, no hissing.

But, perhaps the biggest surprise is the effect that it’s had on our mental state, or lack of.

While most modern pickups look the part nowadays, the high levels of road and engine noise, accentuated body roll and dentist waiting room seats is enough to drive anyone mad after such a long time in the vehicle – but the X-Class doesn’t have any of that. This is the first pickup that ticks all the boxes in terms of looks, luxury and refinement.

QUALITY COMES AT A COST The X-Class has been in UK dealerships since December and our version is priced at £34,100 plus VAT – making it by far the most expensive pickup on sale. The X-Class, however, is expected to hold its value well and it is backed by the most respected LCV dealer network with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

One of the downsides of the X-Class’s weight is its fuel economy. Combined figures on the smaller 2.3-litre engine vary between 35.8mpg and 37.2mpg, depending on transmission and output, which falls slightly short of pickups with a similar performance.

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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BTME 2018

BTME 2018 Across four halls at the Harrogate Convention Centre, BTME 2018 offered product launches, seminars and workshops, with 3,000+ individual education experiences during Continue to Learn. BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: “We’ve had a great few days with record numbers in the education. It’s been really buzzing in the seminars and workshops.” Other event highlights included the BTME Breakfast Club: Cutting Edge Turf Management, the first Young Greenkeepers Conference, and the BIGGA Welcome Celebration.

For BTME 2019, planned event restructure will provide a 25% expansion of exhibition floor space.

Bringing welcome spring colour to the show, Cambridgeshire-based Barcham Trees’ stand included a flowering cherry tree. “We hoped the buds would open in the warmth,” commented Warren HolmesChatfield, the company’s Operations Director. He added that the company does consistently well from BTME, with regular orders beyond the show from a loyal market.

Warren Holmes-Chatfield, Operations Director www.barcham.co.uk

Wildflower Turf’s Toby James (Sales Manager) believes there’s a “huge opportunity for this kind of wildflower environment”, adding that the Basingstoke-based company’s wildflower turf’s grasses are native to the British Isles, chosen to complement the flowers and not to compete with them. While Wildflower Turf can be a simple way to create a wild flower meadow and its associated benefits, Toby says there is need to further explain the practical aspects of using the turf. The company works with organisations to help create wildlife-friendly environments for (among others) bees, butterflies, voles and slow worms.

Toby James and the bees at the Wildflower Turf stand www.wildflowerturf.co.uk

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BTME 2018

Baroness Kyoeisha UK is based in Basingstoke.

Taking a break from a busy stand at BTME, Andy Darley (Baroness Sales) commented on attendees’ interest in the lawn mower LM3 series, especially the LM331 (Surround & Trim mower), and the new LM101 pedestrian mower, with its 22” floating head, and Honda GX120 engine.

Andy Darley, Baroness Sales www.baroness.com

Germinal launched a perennial ryegrass cultivar at the BTME show. Joe Hendy (Amenity Technical Sales Representative) explained that the Cabrio perennial ryegrass promises tougher, harder wearing and more attractive swards, with a fineness of leaf score of 9.2 and a mean score of 8.3 as a new cultivar on Table L1 of the Turfgrass Seed booklet for 2016. It will be available exclusively from Germinal as part of the company’s ‘Grade A’ range of grass seed mixtures. The company’s three new wildflower mixtures offer an increased choice of environment and habitat-specific wild flora options, as a food source and habitat for bees and butterflies.

L-R: Matt Hawker chats with Joe Hendy at Germinal www.germinal.com

Holland-based GKB Machines (a separate division within the GKB Group) is known for developing innovative maintenance machines designed for the laying, maintenance and redevelopment of sports fields. At BTME, the company hosted the inaugural #BTMETweetUp, along with coffee and goodie bags.

Tom Shinkins, Operations Manager, answers visitor’s questions www.gkbmachines.com

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BTME 2018

Recognised for its commitment to the industry, and a winner in the BALI National Landscape awards 2017 ‘Affiliate Exceptional Service category, the Greentech stand was continuously busy with BTME visitors. In 2017, the North Yorkshirebased company purchased Flexible Lining Products (FLP), online distributor of Terram, pond and lake liners, erosion control products and porous paving systems.

Busy event for the Green-tech team www.green-tech.co.uk

At the Grillo Agrigarden stand, Field Sales person John Priestley said there was much interest in the company’s out-front FD900 4WD mower. He added the machine’s performance and cutting quality, makes it ideal for areas such as caravan parks, or larger estates. The machine is powered by a Yanmar diesel engine, with electric start, and per hour mowing capacity of 900m2/h (indicative).

John Priestley, Field Sales www.grilloagrigarden.co.uk

The busy Kubota stand at BTME Making machines compact while remaining effective is the challenge, according to Andy Southerton (Dealer Manager, Tractor & Groundcare Division). It’s a challenge that Kubota is aiming to meet with its new machines, including the BX and B2 compact tractors and ZD1211 zero-turn ride-on mower. The company’s product range includes ride-on mowers, sub-compact, compact and mid-range tractors and petrol and diesel-fuelled utility vehicles.

Busy Kubota stand at BTME www.kubota.co.uk

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BTME 2018

For Kent-based Lastec UK, the BTME event was busy and successful, with the sale of a 3300 Articulator zero-turn mower, which cuts 100” of grass, with the accuracy of a 21” push mower. It can also trim close to ponds, banks and other obstacles with its 21” outside deck side reach, and the mower’s outer decks fold to reduce transport width to 78”.

L-R: Andy Taylor (UK Sales Manager) and Scott Dufek, General Manager www.lastec.com/en

Privately held company Rain Bird has more than 4,000 product offerings, and over 130 patents. The first Rain Bird patent was granted in 1935, and that original impact sprinkler was designated a historic landmark in 1990. Rain Bird is committed to the Intelligent Use of Water™.

Answering questions at the Rain Bird stand www.rainbird.eu

Displaying the T393 compact tractor, the company’s newest addition to its TYM range, Steven Haynes (TYM Sales Manager) said he was very pleased with the response, adding that two machines were sold at the Saltex show. He added that the T393 (brought to the UK by Reesink Turfcare) has a ‘big tractor’ feel with a range of attachments, yet is relatively lightweight machine and sits between gap the compact utility range and the mid-duty range in the TYM line up. Reesink’s two stands at BTME 2018 included one dedicated to TYM tractors to accommodate the range as it expands.

Steven Haynes, TYM Sales Manager Sales www.

ReesinkTurfcare.co.uk

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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BTME 2018

At BTME, Sherriff Amenity launched its InterMix Tank, with stand visitors asking many questions about the new product. It enables the user to mix products to meet a range of nutrient requirements, and the 1200-litre capacity tank has a Honda GX engine and centrifugal high-output pump to ensure rapid and thorough mixing. Sherriff Amenity is a wholly owned division of Agrovista UK Ltd. Busy Sherriff Amenity stand, showcasing Inter www.sherriffamenity.co

Show visitors to the busy Dennis/Sisis stand had a number of products to inspect, including the SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid 1500 tractor-mounted vertical-action aerator and the SISIS TM1000, a tractor-mounted scarifier with a choice of five contra rotating quick release reels for maximum thatch removal and minimum surface disturbance.

The floating unit follows ground contours closely without scalping, while depth of operation is easily adjusted with a ‘no tool’ depth setting.

Productive and versatile equipment on the Dennis/Sisis stand www.sisis.com

Syngenta UK’s Proactive Fungicide poster attracted attention the BTME event. The wall-mounted display is designed to help create a personalised strategic approach to season-log disease control. It highlights potential risk periods, and the tools to protect turf quality.

Syngenta wall display attracts visitors www.syngenta.co.uk

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BTME 2018

‘It’s a busy show, with lots of value” was Phillip Hubbard’s (Technical Director) comment at the Team Sprayers stand at BTME. The Ely-based family owned company manufacturers sprayers and associated equipment for agriculture, groundcare and horticulture. Its Team Vixen power sprayer is a new model for 2018, in a more compact and more lightweight design.

Philip Hubbard with the power sprayer www.team-sprayers.com/

At The Grass Group stand at BTME, Megan Dransfield (Sales & Marketing) said it was a good, busy show, with many qualified sales leads. She noted the Progressive ProFlex 120 as ‘the mower for the job’, with five floating decks, the unique four-way rotating swivel hitch, and 10’ cutting width. Suffolk-based The Grass Group supplies equipment and expertise including mowers, blowers, scarifiers, turf harvester, seeders, soil renovators, top dressers, stone buriers and vacuums.

Megan Dransfield at The Grass Group stand www.thegrassgroup.com

Visitors to the Toro stand at BTME were drawn to the company’s latest UK launch, the GreensPro 1260. It takes all the excellent features of the previous Toro GreensPro models and adds a hydraulic drive system to eliminate leaks and prevent potential contamination of the grass.

The Reelmaster 3575-D at Toro www.toro.com/en/

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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COMPACT TRACTORS

Small but mighty

TYM’s productive TS25 in action with a 60-inch mid-mounted mower attachment Tym’s TS25 is one of the few sub-compact tractors on the market available with either a manual or hydrostatic transmission and that means the tractor can be tailored to specific turf maintenance needs. For example, for loader and mid-deck work, the simple-to-use hydrostatic transmission is the best choice, whereas for aeration and sprayer work, which requires a set working speed, the manual transmission machine will deliver the best results.

Adding to its versatility is a wide range of accessories including a spool valve kit, backhoe, mid-mounted mower, front weight kit, front loader and a rear counter balance.

Others in the TYM compact tractor range can also be fitted with an optional, fully-air conditioned cab, so the British weather never gets in the way of your work day.

Transporting tools, towing trailer, moving tasks (logs, rubble, soil) the TS25 can do it all! Bring this nimble machine onto your site and it will become your left-hand man. There’s no need for a dedicated mower, as it has the stamina to pull Branson Tractors UK are the UK importers for the Branson range of tractors from 19HP to 75HP. The Branson brand of tractors have been made in South Korea by the Company Kukje Machinery since 1968 and are now part of the TYM group, the largest tractor company in South Korea.

The design characteristics of a Branson tractor are: A well built, modern, robust machine A professional 2 year warranty A specification focusing on needs instead of frills A great price www.bransontractor.co.uk

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one across vast stretches of grass.

Plus, its lightweight credentials mean it’s the perfect choice for fine surfaces. Its 25hp three-cylinder engine gives it enough power to perform its tasks with ease without being detrimental to turf.

Whether you are after small and mighty or big and tough, there’s a tractor for every landscaping requirement in the TYM range.

Specification: Engine size (hp): 25 Engine type: Yanmar Transmission: 6F/2R manual or 2-range HST Rear lift capacity: 600 kg Mid PTO speed: 2000 rpm Rear PTO speed: 540 rpm Maximum hydraulic flow: 26.3 lpm For more information or to demo the TS25, please visit www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.

COMPACT TRACTORS

John Deere’s 2026R is ideal for operating in more confined spaces, while the 2036R has a wider footprint and longer wheelbase, combined with increased tractor weight for better stability. Both models are designed for comfort and reduced operator fatigue during long working days, with ergonomic controls, a tiltable steering wheel and cruise control.

The 2036R also offers a premium air suspension seat and the industry exclusive CommandCut mower deck lift system. Both tractors are also available with a choice of open operator station or cab, offering good all-round visibility.

“Our customers are looking for efficient, durable and easy-to-use solutions that allow them to do more work in less time with less effort,” says Jared Lowe, John Deere’s product marketing manager for compact utility tractors.

“When designing the new 2R Series models, we focused on improving machine stability, comfort and implement attachability to meet those needs.”

Project1_Layout 1 28/06/2016 13:44 Pagethrough 1 The 2R Series tractors improve productivity

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SEE THE EARTH MOVE ON VIDEO W: WWW.TERRAINAERATION.CO.UK T: 01449 673783 The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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COMPACT TRACTORS several easy-to-use features. The all-new CommandCut system for the mid-mounted rotary mower deck on the 2036R provides quick and accurate cutting height adjustment with the turn of a dial and the nudge of a lever.

Both models also have Twin Touch foot controls, which simplify the selection of speed and direction of travel.

An eThrottle feature allows the machine to automatically increase or decrease engine speed as required, while standard cruise control keeps ground speed consistent.

Fully independent ptos allow front, mid and rear-mounted implements to be attached at the same time and combined in different ways, to increase the equipment’s versatility.

AutoConnect mid-mounted mower decks are easy to attach and remove for higher productivity, while new QuikAttach 120R and 220R front loaders are designed specifically for the 2R Series, for maximum performance.

Additional benefits are provided by the new John Deere designed and manufactured front hitch options. The 2036R also features an electric lock-out valve so that the operator can easily lock the hitch in the transport position with the flick of a switch from the tractor seat.

Intuitive maintenance features include extended fluid service intervals and improved access to the engine compartment. Standard service indicators alert the operator when maintenance is required, such as when the air filter needs to be cleaned or replaced.

In addition, the engine oil dipstick has been moved to a more convenient location, making it easier for operators to check oil levels. Onboard diagnostics and Service Advisor connectivity also allow service technicians to quickly and easily monitor the health of the machines. www.JohnDeere.co.uk

Kubota has introduced its new B1 (standard spec) and B2 Series (premium spec) tractors, which supersede its existing B Series range of compact tractors.

Adrian Langmead, Groundcare Business Development Manager for Kubota UK, said: “The launch of the B1 and B2 Series is all about evolution

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COMPACT TRACTORS not revolution. Our B Series has been one of the most popular compact tractors on the market for years based on its performance, reliability, comfort and ability to cross different markets. The B1 and B2 Series capitalise on this even further, with a host of enhanced features to benefit our end-user customers.

“The premium B2 Series builds on from the industry leading B50 Series. The four new models, ranging from 20-31kw, boast a wide range of features, including Kubota’s Bi-speed turn. This enables operators to achieve a significantly reduced turning radius for increased maneuverability in tighter spaces. Three of the models feature Kubota’s renowned 3-cylinder diesel engine, whilst the 31hp model is powered by Kubota’s powerful 4-cylinder diesel engine.

“The introduction of the B2 Series is all about raising the bar in the compact tractor sector. Kubota invests heavily in research and development and talking to the market, to ensure our products and solutions meet and exceed the requirements of our customers. The B50 was the first tractor in its class to feature an integrated cab design, giving operators 5% more interior space and

reduced noise. The range also includes a rear 3-point hitch for substantial lifting capacity across a wide range of implements.”

For those looking for more of a standard spec machine, the new B1 Series is the ideal choice. With three models ranging from 16 to 24hp, this latest series is an evolution of Kubota’s most iconic and long standing B1 utility tractor range. Featuring refreshed styling, with a new slanted bonnet offering a clear view of all operations, the new B1 significantly enhances safety, control and comfort, whilst also reflecting the power and dependability the series has long been associated with.

Adrian concluded: “Kubota has been synonymous with innovation, performance and reliability within the groundcare industry for many years. Our latest standard and premium compact tractor ranges are a further reflection of our continued commitment to providing the industry with the best machines on the market that don’t let users down and enable all professionals to get the job done, time and again, efficiently and effectively.” www.kubota.co.uk

For all your compact tractor requirements from 21-74HP

Awarded the prestigious 2017 GOLD award for tractor manufacturer by the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA) t: 01789 774089 www.bransontractor.co.uk e: sales@bransontractor.co.uk The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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COMPACT TRACTORS A front-end loader for the new McCormick X2 Series compact tractor line-up has been introduced by distributor AgriArgo UK with mechanical parallel linkage fitted as standard for ease of use and added safety.

The McCormick MClassic 25 loader adds to the versatility and usefulness of the 43hp, 47hp and 54hp mechanical drive X2 Series tractors, giving them the ability to load and rehandle materials from manure and feed to gravel and soil, or to lift bales, pallets and small bulk containers.

“The X2 Series tractors – which replaced our GM models – are small but durable machines that are often used as scraper tractors on dairy farms and for different paddock management and grounds maintenance applications,” says Ray Spinks, general manager and sales director.

“With a loader fitted, the little tractor becomes even more useful, especially as it can get into buildings and other locations that are denied to larger, more powerful tractors and handlers.”

With a lift capacity of 740kg from the ground to the full lift height of 2.60m, the McCormick MClassic 25 loader will typically handle a 530kg payload (measured from the load centre) when equipped with a multi-purpose bucket.

To minimise the risk of spillage back on to the operator –

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harrywest.co.uk 01948 840 465

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especially important on X2 tractors without a cab – mechanical self-levelling of the attachment is fitted as standard.

“This feature also makes the loader easier to use, of course,” notes Ray Spinks. “Once the bucket or fork has been crowded back, it will remain in the chosen position as the loader arms are raised.”

A quick-attach faceplate makes it easy to switch between different implements and a hydraulic third service is installed for operating attachments such as a muck fork with grab or a four-in-one bucket.

Boom and implement carriage movements are controlled by a cable joystick, making it easy to manipulate the loader and position it accurately.

The lack of joint welds in the loader’s one-piece curved arms adds to the durability of a design that, in its lowered position, keeps the attachment as near the front of the tractor as possible for compactness and good lift performance.

And the matching shape of the combined parallel linkage arms and tip/crowd cylinders not only gives the loader a neat appearance but also ensures the best possible forward visibility.

Two drop-down legs, and quick-attach mechanical and hydraulic couplings, make it easy to remove and mount the MClassic 25 loader, which is available with a selection of performance-matched attachments.

The McCormick X2 Series tractors come with a 12x12 or 16x16 speed transmission, synchro shuttle, and four-wheel drive with a rear diff lock and front limited slip differential.

They can be had with an open operator’s platform and ROPS roll-over protection or with a fully enclosed cab to provide added comfort in all weather conditions.

The new loaders can also be fitted to their predecessors in the McCormick range, the GM Series tractors. www.mccormick.agriargouk.co.uk

Greenscape

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MANS Location Services - Tel: 01249 816181 - mansls.com - sales@mansls.co.uk Unit D, Beversbrook Centre, Redman Road, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 9PR

SAFETY FIRST With all of the work that goes on at commercial sites and residential properties today, it is more important now than ever before to make sure that everything is done properly for the safety of the crew you have onsite. Each day workers are injured in some way because proper detection was not done regarding the placement of gas pipelines, and cables for power That is why it is so important that you are able to detect these lines, know just where they are on the job site and avoid them. It is also a legal requirement.

MANS Location Services offer the finest cable locators to allow for proper cable location on each job.

they can be discovered properly. They also provide a line of CAT and Genny (Signal Generators) so that you are able to properly and safely avoid any and all pipes and cables that may present.

Not only will you find that Mans the ideal source for all of the equipment for your cable detection needs, but we at MANS Location Services can help you with repairs of any equipment you may own, re-calibration of your equipment (which should be done every twelve months) and training on the correct use of the equipment. You will get all of their experience and knowledge in the industry with every product that you purchase from them.

Cable Location Equipment Mans offer a full range of equipment that can provide you with cable and pipe location capabilities like never before.

The locators available are among the best in the industry and make use of the latest in technological advances so you can be sure that you are getting the most accurate information possible regarding the placement of all of the cables and pipes that potentially are on the job site.

This allows you to proceed with the job without the worry of harm coming to any equipment that you may be using or to any of your crew.

Other services provided by Mans • Water Leak Detection • IBG Lateral Cutting Systems • Site Survey • Torches • Nite Site Spotter • FLIR Thermal Imaging cameras • Specialist Cutting Systems • Reconditioned Equipment • Inspection Cameras • Cable Test and Fault Location • Generators • Pressure Washers • Water Pumps • Heaters • Hire • Calibration / Service

CAT Scan Tools Mans offer the latest in CAT scan tools, also known as Cable Avoidance Tools, which are designed to detect the signals that emanate from the cables so that

Tel +44 (0) 1249 816 181 sales@mansls.co.uk www.mansls.co.uk

HARDSCAPER

Yesteryear Bridge

an award, and thank you to everyone who took the time to submit an entry. Each and every submission demonstrated fantastic examples of amazing landscape design using Bradstone products and we wish all our installers every success for a promising 2018.”

The judging panel included National Sales Manager Peter Montgomery, and Technical Customer Services Manager (and previous owner of MB Landscaping and Paving) Mark Brown. Host Peter Montgomery announced the winners during the awards ceremony, with members of the Bradstone team presenting the trophies to the winning businesses.

With its subtle hues and authentic weather-worn appearance, Monksbridge is a distinctive block paving that offers the rustic flair of a bygone age. Monksbridge is perfect for driveways of traditionally styled properties and the ideal solution if you are looking for a rumbledlook paving without the added cost. Available in five variations of colour options, including the new shades for 2018 of Grey-Green and Woodland, the packs consist of four different sizes so you can achieve your desired driveway design. www.bradstone.com

Paving the Way Paving manufacturer Bradstone’s 2018 national installer awards include Best Patio Transformation and Best Driveway Transformation, and Installer of the Year award.

Urban Earth was hailed as the 2018 Installer of the Year, with the judges unanimously impressed with owner Phil Yolland’s highly technical and inspiring landscaping designs, and thorough execution and attention to detail.

Andrew Singleton, sales director for Bradstone, comments: “Every year, we are inundated with hundreds of inspiring landscaping entries and this year was no exception.

It’s been fantastic to see the exceptional creativity and outstanding projects our Assured installers have been working on throughout the past 12 months. Congratulations to all the immensely talented landscapers who received

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2018 BRADSTONE ASSURED AWARD WINNERS Category: Installer of the Year Winner: Urban Earth Category: Best Patio Transformation using Contemporary Products Winner: PB Landscapes Highly Commended: Alfresco Landscaping Highly Commended: Dynamic Landscapes Highly Commended: Brymarts Landscape Ltd Category: Best Patio Transformation using Traditional Products Winner: Urban Earth Highly Commended: Highgrove Landscaping Ltd Category: Best Patio Transformation in Contemporary and Traditional using 2017 Products Winner: Urban Earth Highly Commended: Dynamic Landscapes Category: Best Driveway Transformation Winner: P Halliday Ltd Highly Commended: AM Developments Category: Apprentice / Employee of the Year 2017 Winner: Ryan Hynes from Down to Earth Category: Best Merchant Laid Display

HARDSCAPER Winner: SJF Contractors Ltd Category: Best Use of Marketing/Social Media Winner: Alfresco Landscaping Category: Judges’ Choice Award Winner: Lee Harvey Designs Ltd. www.bradstone.com/assured

Expansion Plans Acquisition The latest company to be acquired by leading landscape supplier, Green-tech, is Flexible Lining Products (FLP), an online retailer of pond liners and geotextiles. The acquisition is a perfect fit for Green-tech, offering complementary products to the company’s current 6,500 product lines.

1520

With a strong merchant-only policy, the Talasey Group is keen to proactively support all of its merchants. The Group has once again demonstrated this policy through its recent partnership with Allisons Services and Supplies in Castleford. The partnership has contributed to the independent merchant, boosting its landscaping sales by 20%.

The Talasey Group is the UK’s largest independent supplier of high quality, ethically sourced landscaping products, and began its partnership with the independent merchant Allisons Services and Supplies in 2016. Talasey Group supplied more than £2,000 worth of products free of charge to help create a stunning external display area in collaboration with the merchant, which features a wide variety of paving products laid in-situ at their premises in Castleford. www.talasey.co.uk

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The FLP product range covers pond and lake excavation products, geotextiles and geomembranes, erosion control aids and ground reinforcement products. It is also the specialist online distributor of Terram, which designs and manufactures innovative geosynthetics including geocomposites, geotextiles TECHNICAL DATA: MAS RC - 02 and geocells.

Through a programme Dry weight 540kg of continuous product Cut Width 1015mm – 2 x 4 swing tip blade holders 20.5” diameter development, Terram provides value-engineered solutions that Deck lift Actuator controlled from Handset – 65mm up to 150mm Speed help minimise the environmental 0.9m/s impact of construction.

Measured noise 105dB (engine running with blades engaged) The acquisition VEHICLE MATERIALSwas part of Green-tech’s ambitious Deck, chassis, axles & cage expansion plans, as the business isSteelseeing record annual growth Control & battery boxes Aluminium overall, particularly within its tree planting and Green-tree Drive wheels Steel Track wheels UHMW-PE soil product sectors.

The sales team re-structure resulted in ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS Model: Honda head GXV630 20.8Hpcount, and Green-tech’s Fuel type: Petrol new home at Rabbit increased Remote throttle & start/stop control Max. RPM: 3200RPM Hill Business Park provides much-needed additional warehouse ALTERNATOR 48V 100A Electric Motor Power – 4 x 22Ah 12V to give 48V DC spaceBATTERY and improved links to the motorway network to support TRACTION this recent acquisition.

2 x Motor (2Kw 48V) 50:1 gearbox & 24V DC failsafe brake Max current measured working on slope: 200A at 48V Motors are fan cooled: 24V DC 1.74A 2 x 300A motor controller with in line contactor Rachel Kay, Green-tech Managing Director comments: BLADE CONTROL Electromagnetic clutch & a blade stop time of <5s “ThisSAFETY is the third acquisition Green-tech has made within the E-STOP & ON/OFF switch on vehicle – Hardwired Warning beacon on vehicle – orange last four years. find for the business, the Battery connector on vehicleFLP has been a great Warning horn on vehicle REMOTE CONTROL - HANDSET CONTROLS products have a natural fit and will provide us with unlimited Forwards, backwards & turning Vehicle stop Engine start/stop height lift opportunities to expand into newDeckmarkets.

It complements and Blade clutch control RANGE 100m (line of sight) enhances our extensive product offering which is great news POWER 7.2V 2100mAh rechargeable for our customers.”

FREQUENCY 2.4GHz www.flexiblelining.co.uk 825

Partnership Boosts Sales

REMOTE CONTROL SLOPE MOWERS FOR THE TURF OR LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL

McMurtry Ltd, Park Farm, Stancombe, Dursley, Glos, GL11 6AT www.mcmurtryltd.co.uk www.mcmurtryltd.co.uk 01453 544135

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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ARBORIST

Chipper Ticks the Boxes Kevin Patton, Tree Surgeon, purchased his first woodchipper in 2002, and has a few different makes and models in his fleet. However, towing capacity was a major challenge when it came to purchasing new equipment. To satisfy the company’s requirement for a powerful, versatile, but lightweight chipper, they turned to GreenMech and its sub 750kg QuadChip 160.

“Our work is very diverse, a pretty even split between commercial and domestic jobs, both large and small projects,” says Kevin. “Because of the range of work and material we handle, we needed something that the lads could take out, without me always being there to supervise.”

Established in 1999, Tree Surgeon carries out a wide array of tree work and woodland management for a range of customers in the Guisborough area.

After seeing the GreenMech machines at various trade shows, and having one on demonstration, the company settled on the QuadChip 160. The sub 750kg QuadChip160 features a full 360o turntable allowing definitive infeed chute positioning for convenient and safe loading at the kerb-side or in restricted spaces.

“Having a turntable is essential for us, it makes the

machine versatile to suit whatever situation it’s in,” comments Kevin. “We were also particularly impressed with a drop chute for more convenient storage and the new health & safety bottom bar.”

Since they took delivery of the QuadChip from local dealer Lloyd Ltd, Kevin estimates it’s taken on over 70% of their work: “With this machine, the lighter weight certainly doesn’t mean less power. It ticks so many boxes for us, as well as complying with towing regulations. It’s user friendly, the infeed hopper has no sharp edges ensuring a smoother intake of material and it’s braked, which you don’t always find. The guys are using it on almost a daily basis with no grumbles. For me it’s been a great addition to our fleet.” www.99log.co.uk

Mitigating HS2 Impact A green spaces expert is calling on landowners to plant trees to lessen the environmental impact of the new High Speed Two (HS2) rail network.

Deric Newman, general manager of national tree supply, planting and relocation specialist, Glendale Civic Trees, says it’s imperative that planting projects begin as soon as possible along the affected routes to provide the most benefits.

Hundreds of green spaces across the country are at risk of damage as part of the creation of the new high-speed railway network, which has been designed to create better connections between cities, and cut journey times.

Preliminary works are underway on phase one of the £56bn project, which will see high-speed trains running between London and Birmingham when completed in 2026. The second phase will run between Crewe and Manchester, and West Midlands and Leeds, and is expected to complete in 2032.

Deric says trees are extremely effective in providing a visual barrier to related construction work, while helping to reduce noise pollution by absorbing sound.

“HS2 is happening, so we need to protect what we can

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now, and mitigate the overall impact wherever possible,” he said. “Trees, specifically large ones, require a number of years to grow and establish. It’s crucial that they are planted at the largest possible size now, not only to have the best effects once the railway becomes active, but also to reduce the impact of the construction phase. We know that trees have a number of benefits, from producing oxygen and acting as carbon sinks, to creating aesthetically pleasing landscapes, as well as helping to prevent flood damage and providing habitats for wildlife. Where HS2 is concerned, large trees, especially evergreen species can create very effective screens, and when planted in substantial numbers can reduce noise pollution. The key is to begin planning and delivering planting projects in good time, ensuring the correct and most suitable species have been sourced, as there is a finite number available.”

Glendale Civic Trees was founded in 1963 and has provided tree supply, planting and relocation services across the UK for more than 50 years. www.civictrees.co.uk

ARBORIST

Million Tree Forest Michael Gove recently visited the UK’s largest modern forest in the Ochil Hills in central Scotland, where he saw more than 1.3 million trees. Confor arranged the visit to Jerah to demonstrate the wide-ranging benefits of modern productive forestry. Mr Gove, UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was accompanied by Stephen Kerr, MP for Stirling.

L-R: Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive, Confor; Stephen Kerr, MP for Stirling; Michael Gove; Tim Liddon, Forestry Director, Tilhill Forestry.

Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor (the trade body for the UK’s £2 billion forestry and wood-using industry), along with Tim Liddon of Tilhill Forestry, which manages the site.

Jerah was designed as a modern productive woodland which, as well as growing timber, was specifically designed to help reduce flood risks in Menstrie, to the south of the planting site, and help renew black grouse populations in the area. A significant part of the site was designed and planted as a community woodland, enhancing access for walkers, fell runners, mountain bikers and paragliders. Just 41 per cent of the 1000-hectare site is dedicated to timber production, with the balance comprising open ground and native woodland for landscape, environmental and public amenity benefit.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “Forestry is vital to the UK’s economy, and at Jerah I saw first-hand the role tree planting has to play in managing flood risks, helping wildlife to thrive, and simply providing a beautiful place for people to live and work.”

Stuart Goodall said: “Tilhill Forestry worked tirelessly with the local community and all interested parties to get the balance of the site right. The result is a new forest designed very much with the landscape and with people in mind.

Tim Liddon, Forestry Director of Tilhill Forestry, said: “The Tilhill team is very proud of what we have achieved at Jerah and we were delighted Confor was able to arrange the visit

by Michael Gove and Stephen Kerr. We need politicians to visit sites like this to see for themselves what mixed modern

forestry looks like, and what it can deliver.”

Stephen Kerr, Conservative MP for Stirling, said: “Forestry and timber processing are really significant industries in my constituency. The Norbord plant at Cowie near Stirling, which employs 330 people, was the UK’s first manufacturing site for MDF and now operates state-of-the-art production.

It is essential for the future of this plant and other similar facilities across the UK that new productive forests like Jerah continue to be planted in appropriate locations.” www.confor.org.uk

Planning for Trees The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) partnered with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) to deliver Trees in the Planning Process, a half-day seminar on April 13, in Oxford. It will highlight the importance of trees and landscapes in urban greenspace design alongside the considerations of those involved in the planning application process.

While the benefits of trees in urban greenspace projects for health, well-being and alleviating climate-related problems are now widely recognised, the benefits of closer collaboration between those on either side of the planning process is less well recognised. On the one hand, there’s the vision of the tree and landscape professionals while, on the other, the practicalities for those considering the planning submission. Thus, the seminar will also emphasise how professions have to work together in order to understand how this is best achieved.

ICF and RTPI experts will present on topics including: trees in relation to design, demolition and construction; the importance of effective planning conditions and local planning policy; and, examples of best practice in arboriculture and landscaping.

Expected attendees include planning officers, town and country planning officers, arboriculturists, urban greening and landscape professionals, architects and construction planners.

Andy Lederer, ICF Development Director, will chair the first part of the programme. He said: “This seminar will be fantastic for professional collaboration and building best practice knowledge. Professional planners and arboriculturists will be able to improve their technical understanding and discuss key aspects of the planning process with presentations from both sides of the coin.”

Trees in the Planning Process is supported by GreenBlue Urban and Lockhart Garratt. www.charteredforesters.org/event/icf-rtpi-trees-planning-process/

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

49

SEEDS

An Environmental Initiative Project Pollin-8 Following some dramatic displays of Euroflor sown flower seed mixtures throughout the UK, Rigby Taylor is undertaking a major initiative to help reverse the national decline in pollinating insects. In particular, a new mixture named Euroflor Banquet has been introduced to the landscape industry that contains the best species for pollinators, whilst delivering high performance flower displays.

The introduction of this mixture is the result of information obtained from independent research data published by the Urban Pollinators Group (UPG), a national research programme on urban pollinators run by Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, & Reading universities (2010-2013). Such collaborative work has led to the launch of Project Pollin-8 and the subsequent introduction of Banquet. However, it became clear from this research that no one mix could meet the complex ecological demands of the diverse pollinator groups throughout the different stages in their life cycles; from early to late flowering,

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native and horticultural species, plants for egg laying, nectar for energy and pollen for protein.

With this in mind, ten Euroflor Pollin-8 mixtures are now available that ensures a longer seasonal supply of nectar and pollen and a more diverse range of habitats whilst at

SEEDS

the same time providing incredible flower displays.

The ten Euroflor mixtures are Banquet, Flora Britannica, Fragrant Lawn, Green Roof, Honey, Native Pollinator, Rainbow annuals, Rainbow Perennials, Spring Flower and Super Blue Bee. Sown from March through to June, flowers will appear 50-55 days after seeding and will provide a riot of colour throughout the early/mid summer until the first frosts in late Autumn.

Wildlife trusts, charities and the RHS all publish lists of recommended flowering plants to support habitats for bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and other pollinating insects. The strength and success of Euroflor flower mixtures is their suitability for a wide

range of urban and rural landscapes, including street scenes, housing estates, open spaces, recreational facilities, country estates and golf courses. This has been achieved through a combination of innovation, extensive mixture trials across the UK and Europe, workshops and site visits to provide technical support and practical advice and importantly, feedback from clients on performance. www.rigbytaylor.com

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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Next month in THE LANDSCAPER PRESS DATE FRIDAY MARCH 9 2018

SPRING SPECIAL

PLUS n Patios and paths ots n Mowers special report: Rise of the rob EDITORIAL - DAVID CURTIS  020 8891 4850 / 07780 967735  david@landscapermagazine.com ADVERTISING & MARKETING - MATTHEW CURTIS  020 8891 4850  matthew@landscapermagazine.com

Put the ‘zing’ into spring with a carpet of colour

Introducing Attracts bees, birds & butterflies

PROJECT

POLLIN-8

“Hundreds of complimentary letters received from residents” says Phillip Evans, Supervisor of Newport Street Scene City Grounds Team, “The public reaction has been tremendous.”

Euroflor mixtures for spring sowing Euroflor provides eye-catching displays of colour and a season long food source for pollinators. Choose from over 25 different flower seed mixtures and sow from March to early June for spring flowering. First flowers will appear after 50 days and continue flowering until the early frosts.

Urban Meadows Freefone 0800 424919 www.rigbytaylor.com

LIGHTING

Wall-washing for dramatic ambiance Wall-washing is a popular lighting technique with landscape professionals for illuminating large architectural and landscape surfaces.

By Martin Bennett The most impressive examples of this are often seen on commercial cultural buildings such as, museums, churches and galleries. At night, these buildings often take on a fantastic beauty and dramatic ambience, usually created with simple LED Wall Washers. For maximum dramatic effect I suggest Blue or even Red. Green is great for Garden walls.

A Wall Washer consists of a row of bright LED lights encased in an Aluminium watertight enclosure. This can be directed at 90 degrees or angled dependant upon the desired effect.

In gardens, large walls or hedges can be ‘washed’ with light to gently create a focus feature. ‘Washing’ in this way also gives overall anti-glare illumination to a space that will be enjoyed as evening draws in.

The most suitable LED Wall Washers are weatherproof, Wash the Landscape with Light

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adjustable, and powerful enough to do the job. The robust 12w ‘Litecast’ by Lumena is available in Warm or Daylight white as well as single colours of Red, Green or Blue. It’s supplied with a detachable 24v DC Driver, and has an impressively high lumen output - over 100 lumens per watt!

Extension cables are available to place the Driver remotely from the Wall washer. If pointing vertically, the light diffuses over more than 4 metres. Importantly, the angle of the Litecast adjusts to suit the effect you desire. There are two adjustable foot brackets that fix to any flat surface.

Also, Aluminium ground spikes are available for in-ground mounting. The Plug and Play aspect of the Litecast makes it extremely easy and quick to install.

Martin Bennett is the founder of Lumena Lights. www.lumenalights.com

LIGHTING

Church Walls Washed in Light

Gently Highlight Specific Features

Tree uplit with green light

Blue Litecast

The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

55

HORTICULTURE

Butterflies and elm trees White-letter Hairstreak butterflies are under serious threat, directly linked with the substantial decline in the number of elm trees over the past 40 years. However, one of the UK’s leading tree specialists and growers, Hillier, has a solution that could save this rare butterfly from extinction.

Taking its name from the letter “W” that is created by the white zig-zagged lines found on its hindwing, the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly is a vital contributor to the wider environment as a natural pollinator and has become a priority species for conservation bodies such as Butterfly Conservation. It was this organisation that recently discovered White-letter Hairstreak successfully breeding on Hillier elm trees in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, London.

White-letter Hairstreak butterflies find habitats solely in elm trees, but the widespread reach of Dutch Elm Disease (DED) since the 1970s has seen the UK population of elm trees staggeringly drop by more than 30 million. In correlation with this, the population of the White-letter Hairstreak has dropped by 96%, leaving it at a critically low level.

Hillier, with its expertise in horticulture and tree development, is the exclusive UK grower of Ulmus New Horizon (UNH), an elm tree which is part of the resister elm breeding program, that is proven to be 100% resistant to Dutch Elm Disease and subsequently supports the Whiteletter Hairstreak butterfly.

Hillier’s vision is to bring the return of elm trees to the British landscape while saving the endangered butterfly species. The UNH is a versatile, hardy elm that can thrive anywhere. Derived from the Ulmus japonica and the Ulmus pumila, the UNH has been extensively tested and exposed to vast quantities of the fungus that causes Dutch Elm Disease – in much larger quantities than would be naturally encountered.

Account manager, Jim Hillier, commented: “We are incredibly excited about this discovery. Dutch Elm Disease

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has wreaked havoc among the tree population for years, and we believe that Ulmus new Horizon is the answer to providing mature elms for the future. It’s also key to the survival of the threatened White-letter Hairstreak butterfly.

This discovery will increase the long-term habitats for the rare butterfly, providing food and breeding grounds, which will ultimately increase the population. At Hillier, we continue to focus on the natural world whilst also meeting customer demand for DED resistant trees and introducing new plants and trees.”

Hillier promotes horticultural development, innovation and inspiration which is reiterated in this project as each tree is micro-chipped to allow Hillier to track the development while continuing its ongoing research quest. www.hillier.co.uk/trees

Driving Business Forward Following the untimely death of Tony Hewitt, Executive Chairman of the Parkwood Group, in late December, Glendale Horticulture is reorganising and bolstering the senior management team.

“Tony had been actively involved in managing the business, and it’s important that additional resource is added to the team to ensure we drive the business forward and exceed our commitments for the coming season,” says Mike Brunskill, Director.

Andrew Bennett is being welcomed back to the business as Sales Director. Well known in the industry, Andrew will contribute his substantial experience and key customerfacing skills to the team, while Munya Verenga now heads up the production team. Other members of the senior management team include Mike Brunskill, a long-term senior executive in the Parkwood Group, Phil Denman who remains as Finance Director, Simon Pearson, who has been Non-Executive Director for two years, and Tony Milne, who provides systems and process support to the business.

“Andrew will fill an important role for us during the coming season, and with further positions being recruited to support the sales team, we are looking forward to a strong performance in 2018. We have a clear strategy and the team and systems to really drive the business forward,” says Mike Brunskill. www.glendale-horticulture.co.uk

Readyhedge.

The home of variety.

The Readyhedge range of instant hedging is unrivalled in the UK, giving designers and landscapers all the choice they need from over 25 varieties, available at varying heights in one-metre troughs or in our unique Readybags, ready-spaced and ready to plant.

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HORTICULTURE

Business Awards Winner Landscaping supplier Green-tech is the winner of the supplier category in the ProLandscaper Business Awards 2017.

Sales Director, Richard Gill comments: “This is absolutely brilliant news. I am delighted Green-tech has won the Supplier category. The team gives 100% to our customers all the time and it’s always nice to know that our work is recognised.

We had some strong competition in this category, so to win this award is confirmation that we are getting it right. This is a great start to 2018 and I’m hopeful this will be another fantastic year for Green-tech and the team.”

This category received a large number of entries and tough competition. Green-tech showcased what Judges’ described as: “Great commitment to staff, understanding of training and development needs.” The landscaping supplier was also said to have: “Broad-reaching expertise, enabling support in broad reaching client circles.”

Chairman, Richard Kay, adds: “Rachel and I are over the moon to win this award. It is for each and every one of the

Green-tech team who all strive and are relentless in their desire to get the job done and provide amazing customer service, which they deliver every day. We have a super team at Green-tech and this award reflects that.” www.green-tech.co.uk

Richard Gill, Chris Swan, Barry Browne and Drea Questari

Turf Available Now PM Turf is designed to give all the benefits of our perennial mixes in a product that is easy to lay and quick to establish.

Seeds • Turf • Advice

Call 01142677635 or visit www.pictorialmeadows.co.uk

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HORTICULTURE

Key Garden Design Trends

Acres Wild - Winner of the Large Garden Award SGD Awards 2017

Inspiration for garden design trends are found in the award-winning gardens at this year’s Society of Garden Designers Awards, which celebrated some of the best landscape and garden design projects.

PLANTER GARDENING Bold, multi-layered steel planting systems were key features in two of the award-winning gardens at the Society of Garden Designer Awards this year. Designer Emily Erlam used blocks of angular steel planters, filled with plants, shrubs and trees to create a densely planted roof terrace, while Ian Kitson FSGD snaked sculptural Corten steel planters around wooden boardwalks in his design for an estuary garden, with single plant specimens in each.

SPECIMEN POT PLANTING Garden designer Jane Brockbank MSGD bedded plants in individual pots and elevated them centre-stage on a bespoke bench. Set against a custom-made wooden fence, these eye-catching garden exhibits added instant impact to her contemporary garden design, which was joint winner in the ‘small residential garden’ category.

PINE TAKES CENTRE STAGE Pine was the feature tree of choice in the winning gardens designed by Matt Keightley MSGD and Emily Erlam. Cloudforming dwarf Mountain Pines (Pinus mugo) planted deep among Mediterranean-style planting were used by Emily Erlam in her design for a London roof garden, while Matt Keightley chose bonsai-form Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) and the slow growing Pinus sylvestris wateri in his modern gravel garden.

DECONSTRUCTED TOPIARY Horticulture met art in the winning gardens by Matt Keightley

MSGD and Debbie Roberts MSGD of Acres Wild with precise placement of sculptural box ball (Buxus sempervirens) and mound-form pines (Pinus sylvestris wateri). www.sgdawards.com

Follow The Landscaper @landscaper_ed

LANDSCAPER

SEASON’S GREETINGS

TH E

MONOCHROMATIC GREEN GARDENS Lush, all-green gardens were evident in two of the awardwinning gardens designed by Robert Myers MSGD and Matt Keightley MSGD, with contrasting foliage and textures.

Monochromatic foliage creates a perfect backdrop to the bold spherical sculpture in Robert Myers’ Magical Garden at Hampton Court, and is the ideal complement to the soft grey landscaping and reflective pool in Matt Keightley’s contemporary garden.

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The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

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HORTICULTURE

Exciting new varieties

Zantedeschia Calla Lilies Mixed J Parker Dutch Bulbs have produced a bumper 148 page catologue of plants and bulbs which includes some exciting new varieties as well as some great special offers.

Their summer flowering bulb range is as comprehensive as ever incorporating both the traditional favourites as well as many new products. They have also sourced some new introductions to their nursery stock.

Most notably this year they have introduced a new size

Freesias Mixed

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Dahlia Dinner Plate of plant to their bedding trailing and patio range with their large seed raised garden ready plants. These robust plants are ready to be planted straight into their final location and will establish themselves rapidly.

If you sign up for their regular newsletter you will receive regular, exclusive discounts.

TEL 0161 848 1124 www.dutchbulbs.co.uk

Gladioli Butterfly Mix

HORTICULTURE

Blooming and Learning Hampshire-based Wildflower Turf has provided the University of York with a biodiverse boost to newly built campus facilities.

At the start of the project, the University developed a biodiversity plan and the project’s landscape contractors, J Palmer Landscapes, commissioned Wildflower Turf to provide a wildflower solution to enhance the existing natural environment.

Wildflower Turf (which recently expanded operations to include a new growing site in Yorkshire), worked closely with the University’s landscape partners to enhance the area around the recently completed Piazza Learning Centre.

More than 1,800m² of Wildflower Turf s unique Native Enriched Turf product was installed in November 2017, and the wildflowers have provided a wonderful, aesthetically pleasing space. As well as requiring little maintenance, the Native Enriched Wildflower Turf contains more than 50 different native and naturalised species and will help the project qualify for excellent BREEAM standards.

Situated within a picturesque lakeside setting, the Centre

is sympathetic to the natural landscape and fully accessible to the University of York’s student population. The new building contains learning spaces and facilities for those living and studying on the University’s Campus East.

Other key parties involved with this project include Interserve Construction Ltd (Design & Build contractors), Race Cottam Associates, (Architects), J Palmer Landscapes (Landscape contractors), and Martin Woolley Landscape Architects. www.wildflowerturf.co.uk

CREWS HILL WHOLESALE PLANTS LTD

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get 15% Discount off your first purchases when you register as a trade only customer Parkview Nursery, Theobalds Park Road, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 9BQ tel: 0208 363 7411 email: info@crewshillwholesaleplants.co.uk - www.crewshillwholesaleplants.co.uk The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

61

PRO-FILE Nationwide

Drainage & Irrigation Buy online at www.lws.uk.com

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Tel: 0208 - 462 - 4630 www.cityirrigation.co.uk South Coast Branch City Irrigation Ltd. Chalcroft Nurseries, Chalcraft Lane, Bognor Regis, PO21 5TS

All products BS EN ISO 9001:2015 and BS EN ISO 14001:2015 certified.

01904 757300 www.rolawn.co.uk Grass

Rainbow Plants specialises in the production of hardy nursery stock in pots from 1.5L up to “instant gardening” specimens in 250L pots.

FOR ALL YOUR IRRIGATION NEEDS

It’s a one stop service for landscapers and commercial clients looking for evergreen or deciduous shrubs and trees. We can also source roses, herbaceous plants, climbers and conifers from specialist nurseries that we work with and larger specimens from Italy.

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FARNHAM COMMON NURSERIES Crown Lane Farnham Royal Nr Slough Bucks SL2 3SF sales@fcn.co.uk 01753-643108

www.fcn.co.uk Trees | Shrubs | Hedging | Specimen shrubs | Herbaceous | Bamboo Grasses | Ground cover | Bulbs | Climbers | Compost | Topiary

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HEDGING PLANTS Growing Laurels, Leylandii, Taxus, Thuya and More...

We have been growing hedging plants at our 9 acre nursery in Surrey for more than 25 years. We specialise in growing evergreen hedging plants most of which are over 2 metres high to give an instant screen. Most of our plants are in containers, although our 7 – 8 metre Leylandii are grown in root control bags.

Otterhill Farm, Rowtown, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 1HD Phone: 01932 855 918 Email: ron.transplant@gmail.com

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The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

63

PLANT SEEKER Cheshire

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Sussex A Climbers B Shrubs C Conifers D Heathers E Bamboos FNationwide Patio plants G Trees J Hedges K Liners L Cash & carry M Nationwide N Water plants O Herbaceous P Herbs Q Hostas R Perennials S Ferns T Roses U Soft fruit V Alpines W Buxus X Tree ferns Y Palms & tropical Z Hanging gardens

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Autumn 2013 Price List

Suppliers of Bulbs Nursery Stock and Christmas Trees

01252 714552

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All from one place...

All from Coblands Email: plants@best4plants.co.uk

Amenity Sales: 01732 770999 www.best4plants.co.uk/trade Over

30 acres of field grown trees from 6-8cm to 25-30cm, bare root and rootballed.

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The Landscaper | Issue 225 | February 2018

65

THE

LANDSCAPER

By Tabitha Grammaticus-Smythe

Dear Fans Thank you for the many Valentine cards and the many other expressions of admiration that I received.

My work station was a blaze of colour. I work with men that don’t have a romantic bone in their bodies – I have always known that they are not the norm.

I have my faults, but being wrong isn’t one of them.

In a survey of 500 van drivers, commissioned

by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, reveals van drivers up and down the country are not afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve.

A third (34%) of van drivers regularly tell their partner they love them. And three in 10 van drivers

nearly one in five (18%) women saying they do so compared to just one in 10 (10%) men. Of the 500 people surveyed, 43 per cent were women.

When our Dear Leader read the results of this essential research he returned to his office opining that people should concentrate on their work and not ‘arse around’ and that VW should spend their time working out how they are going to put together the £30 or so billion they will have to fork out for dieselgate.

The ten most romantic roads in Britain are: Bouquet Close, Prestwood, HP16 Bride Street, London, N7 Date Street, London, SE17 Flowers Way, Luton, LU1 Kissing Tree Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 Love Lane, Pinner, HA5 Marriage Lane, Sturminster Newton, DT10 Ring Street, Stalbridge, DT10 Sweetloves Grove, Bolton, BL1 Valentine Drive, Burgess Hill, RH15 Ok guys, have a good month, see you soon. tabitha@landscapermagazine.com

(30%) will treat their other half to flowers and chocolates regularly.

One in six (17%) van drivers will be in constant communication with their partner, texting or phoning all day long. And when it comes to enjoying time together, a third (33%) of van drivers will arrange romantic dinner dates.

Researchers also found that on average more than one in 10 (13%) van drivers still write love letters to their partner, although female van drivers are more likely to pen romantic notes to their partners, with

66

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THE

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The Landscaper is the UK’s No. 1 landscaping industry magazine.

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As well as the printed magazine, The Landscaper has a comprehensive digital offering, including newsletters, a free-to-read page turner and a busy website www.landscapermagazine.com.

We are now looking for another freelance sales associate to help continue our growth and work on an exciting new expansion development we are planning for 2018.

The successful applicant should have an interest in landscaping and be committed to providing our advertisers and potential advertisers with information in a professional friendly manner.

Please send CV to david@landscapermagazine.com or call 07780 967 735 for an initial discussion.

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