Ashleigh Brown
- Domestic Landscaping
The Renaissance of Denmans Garden
An award-winning, Grade II registered garden, Denmans is renowned for its 50+ year-old gravel gardens, horticultural diversity, strong layout and planting design, and peaceful year-round interest. The contemporary country garden, located on the edge of Fontwell, West Sussex, lies sheltered by the South Downs. It features well-drained alkaline soil, good light, and a mild climate, ideal for growing a large range of plants. “The diversity of its plants and its unique planting style have resulted in a garden with year-round interest, structure, and colour,” says owner Gwendolyn van Paasschen. Far from a traditional English garden composed of carefully considered proportions,…
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Little Interviews Expanded – Dave Solly
As the House of Lords’ Horticultural sector have recently opened an inquiry and subsequent report into the future of horticulture, just one of the many questions being investigated by the twelve committee members explores the affiliation between horticulture and mental health. This inquiry will also consider the challenges, opportunities and risks faced by the horticultural sector acknowledging the potentially isolating nature of horticultural work and the bearing this can have on a professionals’ mental health, while also recognising the therapeutic opportunities that gardening can offer everyone. At Pro Landscaper, we wanted to investigate further. Speaking with a few key members…
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Nearly 90% of teenage park users are males, finds Make Space for Girls
Make Space for Girls has released the results of its Parkwatch Report September 2023 which looks at the diversity of those using their local parks. The Parkwatch project took place between 27 and 29 May 2023. Participants were asked to fill in an online form asking them to look at the teenage facilities in their local park and count how many teenagers were using them, identifying their genders. Research shows that 88% of the teenagers using these facilities were boys, whilst for multi-use games areas 92% was male and for skate parks or BMX tracks, 84% were male. Only 15%…
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Little Interviews Expanded – Robert Myers
At Pro Landscaper, we have been investigating the link between therapy and horticulture. Speaking with a few key members of the community and getting their opinions and perspectives on how horticulture could be contributing to the nation’s mental health, and how the industry could take this further. Read the full article in the September issue of Pro Landscaper Magazine. Name: Robert Myers Job title: Landscape Architect In your opinion, how does horticulture help provide therapy? We came to understand the importance of gardens and green spaces for wellbeing and recovery in the course of designing our Florence Nightingale Garden – a Celebration of…
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From Chelsea to the Biome, the Fauna, and Flora Garden
Working closely with conservation partners in over 40 countries, saving nature and boosting awareness, Fauna and Flora focuses on protecting and restoring habitats, saving species from extinction, and developing sustainable livelihoods for those living closest to nature. Cornish-based Garden designer, Jilayne Rickards approached Fauna & Flora to design a garden to best portray their work and messages. It was hard to encapsulate all of its work in just one garden since it does so many wonderful projects, says Rickards, so they “decided to focus in on the gorilla project, because of the link to their vice president, Sir David Attenborough.…
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Redfields Landscaping completes the Thames Path Challenge
The Redfields Landscaping and Design team has completed the Thames Path Challenge. Setting off at 5am on Sunday 10 September, seven members walked 50km to Henley-on-Thames across 11 hours and 47 minutes (one, Charlie Parker, whilst wearing Crocs), whilst four members walked 25km within five hours and 40 minutes. The total of 97,741 steps raised £2416 for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity. Rachel Straughan, business development & marketing manager at Redfields Landscaping, says: “I definitely underestimated how hard it would be but I am so grateful to the team for keeping me going and for so many laughs…
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Invasive fire ants spread across Europe for the first time
The red fire ant, Solenopsis Invicta, has been identified across 88 ant nests spread over 12 acres in the city of Syracuse, Italy. The invasive non-native ant species is thought to have spread from the US or China. Now established in Italy, studies warn of its rapid spread through Europe and the UK as it is one of the most invasive and destructive species. The red fire ant has a ravenous appetite, with the ability to destroy crops and known to pose a risk to native ecosystems, farming, and human health. With a painful sting, injecting venom to its victim if…
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Little Interviews Expanded – Rachel Platt
As the House of Lords’ Horticultural sector have recently opened an inquiry and subsequent report into the future of horticulture, just one of the many questions being investigated by the twelve committee members explores the affiliation between horticulture and mental health. This inquiry will also consider the challenges, opportunities and risks faced by the horticultural sector acknowledging the potentially isolating nature of horticultural work and the bearing this can have on a professionals’ mental health, while also recognising the therapeutic opportunities that gardening can offer everyone. At Pro Landscaper, we wanted to investigate further. Speaking with a few key members…
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The HTA promotes new T Level courses
The Horticultural Trades Association is promoting the new Agriculture, Land Management, and Production T Level which have opened enrolment. Technical Levels, introduced in 2020, are equivalent to three A levels. They include 80% classroom-based learning and 20% industry placement, allowing for nine weeks of practical experience, as 56.6% of job seekers identify their main barrier to employment as a lack of work experience. The two-year course offers 16-19-year-olds a range of occupational specialisms: livestock production, crop production, horticulture, land-based engineering, trees and woodlands, or floristry. They cover sustainability, climate change impact, health and safety, business management, professional responsibilities, attitudes, and…
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BALI Chalk Fund announces Student of the Year
The BALI Chalk Fund has announced its Garden Design Student of the Year for 2023. Garden designer Catharine Beck has been recognised by KLC School of Design having passed her diploma with distinction. Now working at Ann-Marie Powell Gardens, Beck is “putting her talents to great use, creating planting plans, tree plans, concept presentations, lighting plans, construction detail drawings and specifications, maintenance and plant schedules, plant nursery quotations, materials research and selection,” say the British Association of Landscape Industries. Course leader Humaira Ikram says: “An excellent student, Catharine was quick to learn and her projects, especially her construction file, were…
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The Wildlife Trusts’ big wild walk takes on new ambassador
Rhiane Fatinikun, founder of Black Girls Hike, has been announced as the new ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts. Fatinikun will champion the Big Wild Walk this October. Participants can create their own adventure, whether that’s by walking, running, cycling, wheeling, or swimming. The challenge is to walk three kilometres in a week – the same distance a hedgehog travels each night. Money raised will go towards helping wildlife recover and contribute towards The Wildlife Trusts’ goal of protecting 30% of UK’s land and sea for nature by 2030. The Big Wild Walk takes place during half term from Monday 16…
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Furnitubes launches new outdoor showroom
Furnitubes has announced the launch of its new outdoor showroom at the London Design Festival in partnership with Atrium Ltd, which will be opening on 19 September. The new showroom will showcase the company’s new products and materials for outdoor furniture and lighting, alongside offerings from The Outdoor Deck Company and Green Envee Ltd. “Beside a space to show our products, we are looking to create a hub to test materials and discuss ideas about transforming our cities in a positive way,” says Andres Carpinelli, design team lead at Furnitubes.
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The Plant Based Podcast reaches 200 episodes
The Plant Based Podcast, which has been running for 12 series, released its 200th episode on Sunday. It is run by Michael Perry, director of Mr Plant Geek, and Ellen Mary, founder of People Plants Wellbeing Nature Therapy Consultancy. “More people than ever are appreciating the importance of plants in our day to day lives. The Plant Based Podcast is about anything that can be traced back to plants… with subjects ranging from foraging for medicinal plants and baking with edible flowers, to plant-based body builders and clothes made from bamboo… This is not just another gardening podcast.” – Michael…
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Yorkshire’s “first” drive thru concrete collection announced
Palmer Landscapes announces the arrival of Yorkshire’s first fully automated self-service collection points for concrete, mortar, and screed. The drive thru service is suitable for landscapers, builders and DIYers, offering as little as 0.25m3 of material with no minimum order charge. The fully automated Fibo collect machine fulfils orders in less than five minutes using a touch screen terminal. Reducing waste, the automated mixing technology ensures all recipes are high quality and consistent, lasting between one and three days. “When we spotted the technology earlier this year, I was immediately drawn to the potential it had to help our local…
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World Suicide Prevention Day
Winners of the Best Show Garden award at Tatton Park 2023 are raising awareness for the struggling mental health within the construction industry for World Suicide Prevention Day, taking place on 10 September. Jon Jarvis and Carolyn Harden designed and built the Constructing Minds garden, to highlight the message. There are 2.6 million workers within the construction industry. On average, in the UK, two construction workers die each day due to suicide. In 2022 there were 507 suicides. Mates in Mind is “aiming to provide clear information to employers about the available support and guidance on mental health and wellbeing,…
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Nine Elms Park phase one opens
Thames City has opened the first portion of the 2.5-acre Nine Elms Park. Designed by Gillespies and delivered by R&F Properties (UK) and C C Land, it includes water features, a nature inspired children’s play park, interactive trails, and intimate seating areas. A range of tree species, shrubs, and herbaceous plants have been planted to support biodiversity and to futureproof the park to withstand unpredictable weather patterns and the challenges of the urban environment. The park has multiple access points for pedestrian walkways and cycle paths, creating connections between Vauxhall to the east, through to Battersea Power Station and Battersea…
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Land Studio supports record-breaking triathlete
An associate landscape architect at Land Studio swam with triathlete Sean Conway to support him in his challenge to complete 105 triathlons back-to-back across 105 consecutive days. Kate Richards accompanied Conway for a series of early morning swims throughout his world-record breaking challenge, as the 42-year-old Zimbabwean endurance adventurer completed Ironman distances of 2.4-mile swim followed by 112-mile bike ride and finished with a 26.22-mile run across the roads in North Wales and Cheshire – totalling 140.62 miles per day or 14,765.1 miles in total. Richards says: “I swam with Sean eight times throughout his challenge, which entailed getting in…
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