Jessica Dean-Hill
- IQ Features
£1.1bn in social value delivered across UK construction industry in H1 2022
New research has revealed that the UK construction industry delivered £1.1bn of social and local economic value in the first half of 2022, providing a 30.33% return on investment. Published by public sector procurement authority Scape, the new report highlights how social value delivery is evolving and becoming more sophisticated across the construction industry. A total of 520 construction contracts with a combined total value of £3.6bn and ranging from £12,000 to £130m, were analysed to establish the scale and scope of social value delivery across the UK. The findings show that ROI is up by more than 10% compared…
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Three cost-of-living effects that may be here to stay
From Brexit to COVID-19 to the cost-of-living crisis, businesses worldwide have had to adapt to a host of unpredictable, evolving economic conditions. For instance, as lockdowns came to a close, over eight in ten employees who had been working from home said they planned to adopt a hybrid model. Pro Landscaper looks at which changes are here to stay. Mental health awareness Mental health has been at the forefront of society’s mind for some time now, so it is no surprise that this is one of the predictions on the list! With resources such as Perennial’s free Health and Wellbeing…
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RHS Malvern Spring Festival unveils 2023 plans
‘Gardening for Everyone’ is the theme of the 2023 RHS Malvern Spring Festival at Three Counties Showground from 11-14 May. The show organisers are said to be keen for visitors to “feel inspired to make the most of their outside spaces, regardless of their gardening expertise and size of their plot”, and for the event to maintain its reputation for welcoming both established and newer designers, and encouraging creative freedom. As usual, the show will host a range of classical, contemporary, conceptual and experiential show gardens. Villaggio Verde, Leaf Creative’s Peter Dowle and Stonebarn Landscapees Jon Wheatley will deliver feature…
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Bognor Regis Sunken Gardens receives council progress visit
Councillors from Arun District Council made a progress visit to Bognor Regis Sunken Gardens to see how works are advancing. Blakedown Landscapes, the appointed contractor, is said to have completed works to the southern entrance and new ramped footpaths, reconstruction of the stone walls, grading soil to adjacent shrub beds and removal of vegetation, which will aid accessibility and open up the views. Improvements are now focused on the play area renovations where existing play equipment, such as the swings and climbing equipment, will be refurbished and new play elements added. Further upgrades will see new paving and brightly coloured…
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‘Noah’s Ark for plants’ surpasses 40,000 species
A seed conservation programme led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is celebrating a major milestone in its efforts to preserve “rare, threatened, and important” wild plants. As of 1 March, the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) is said to have banked more than 2.4 billion individual seeds representing a total of 40,020 different species of wild plants. Described by scientists as ‘Noah’s Ark for plants’, the MSB is the world’s biggest wild seed storage facility, situated at Kew’s ‘living laboratory’ and wild botanic gardens, Wakehurst, in Sussex. Within the bomb- and flood-proof building are 98,567 seed collections sourced from 190 countries…
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RHS People Awards winners announced
The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the winners of its RHS People Awards 2023. The awards range from the Veitch Memorial Medal, which is awarded annually to persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the science and practice of horticulture, to the Harlow Carr Medal, awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to horticulture in the North of England, through length of service, commitment to projects or unique capabilities, combined with reliability and professionalism. A few awards that have been announced this year are: The 2023 Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH)…
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Marshall CEO named Supplier Influencer
Marshalls CEO Martyn Coffey has been named a Supplier Influencer by the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF). Coffey has led the hard landscaping, building and roofing products supplier for over nine years and is joined on the prestigious list by National Sales Manager Victoria Fiddies. It comes after Nick Sharpe, Managing Director of the Marshalls domestic business, was added to the list in January. “I’m very pleased to be nominated as a Supplier Influencer,” said Coffey. “I want to thank my exec team and all staff at Marshalls for their continued hard work, drive, and determination.” Fiddies added, “I’m delighted to…
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Pro Landscaper’s Top 10 Most Influential Women
For International Woman’s Day, Pro Landscaper has compiled a list of its Top 10 Most Influential Women in the industry. All 10 women below were shortlisted for Pro Landscaper’s Most Influential Awards 2022. In no particular order: Sarah Eberle – Garden designer: Eberle is a decorated garden designer across RHS shows, with 20 Gold medals to her name as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the SGD. Jane Findlay – Director, Fira & Immediate past president, Landscape Institute: Findlay laid the foundations for a modern Landscape Institute and a more forward-thinking profession, with a focus on the next generation.…
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In conversation with Mollie Higginson
Mollie Higginson, co-founder of the Young People in Horticulture Association, sits down with Pro Landscaper as she reflects on building a community, redefining the perception of horticulture and being a woman in the industry. Mollie Higginson is fast becoming a household name within horticulture. Having been named among Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30 in 2022, she is one of the founders of the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA), as well as an operations supervisor and sales representative at New Leaf Plants. The YPHA – founded by Higginson, Natalie Porter and Liam Cleary, set out to create a network and…
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Q&A with Tessa Johnstone
For International Woman’s Day, Johnstone Landscapes’ director sits down with Pro Landscaper to talk diversity, education and authentic changes. What has been the most exciting change for Johnstone Landscapes and/or the British Association of Landscape Industries in recent years? Johnstone Landscapes’ ability to work on projects we choose and want to undertake and work with clients we enjoy working with. I never take it for granted that the projects keep coming, but I am no longer inclined to accept a project if we are not happy with the elements that I know will make it a fun and worthwhile…
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Yorkshire School of Garden Design launches new diploma in planting design
The Yorkshire School of Garden Design is launching a diploma in planting design offering students the opportunity to learn about the craft and science of designing with plants. The diploma will be launched at the school’s Spring Open Day on 11 March, with the event offering the “ideal opportunity” for those with a passion for plants to explore the route to a career in garden design. According to the institution, the one-year part-time course will be delivered by “leading experts who all have successful careers in the fields of horticulture and garden design”. The course will run alongside the “extremely…
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Princess Eugenie casts thumbprint for RHS Chelsea Flower Show at Horatio’s Garden
Princess Eugenie of York, Patron of Horatio’s Garden since 2019, has cast her thumbprint to be featured in the charity’s show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023. The clay thumbprint will join thousands of others including Horatio’s Garden patients, staff and volunteers within its gardens in spinal injury centres – as well as those involved in bringing the show garden to life. Her Royal Highness’ thumbprint will be displayed as a piece of artwork in a woodland room within the charity’s garden designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg from Harris Bug Studio in collaboration with architects…
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Plans submitted for redevelopment of Blackbird Leys
Catalyst, part of the Peabody Group, and Oxford City Council have submitted plans to build affordable homes, retail space, and new community facilities in the heart of Blackbird Leys. The planning application contains detailed plans for 294 new rented and shared ownership homes across two sites, the district centre and Knights Road. It also contains outline plans for a new community centre and community square. Plans for the district centre include 210 new homes, 83% of which will be for rent and 17% shared ownership. The site will also provide green open spaces including a community garden, shops, a community…
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New funding for National Parks announced
England’s national parks are set to benefit from new funding announced by the government this week. £4.4m will be provided to the country’s ten National Park Authorities to support services such as visitor centres and park rangers. The funding award is in recognition of the vital role that our national parks play in protecting our precious wildlife and landscapes and the importance they have for tourism, the regional economy, and public access. Each authority will be awarded an equal share of the grant. Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said, “Our National Parks are the jewel in our cherished landscapes. They support…
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Studio Moren greenlit for residential development in Essex
Studio Moren has gained planning consent from Tendring District Council for a scheme of 86 new homes on the edge of the village of Great Oakley, Essex. The 3.7ha development, for Great Oakley Development Ltd, features a mix of bungalows, terraced, detached and semi-detached homes. The development design is said to have involved various stakeholders such as the Parish Council, the Tendring Planning Authority and members of the local community. Studio Moren partner Mark Wood said the result will be a “highly contextualised extension to the local village, with architecturally rich and varied streetscapes, acting as a positive contributor to…
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Royal Foundation supports Life at No.27’s mental health mission
The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales is collaborating with horticultural therapy and mental health counselling provider Life at No.27 to create therapy allotments and gardens in South Wales. Their Royal Highnesses visited the site where the first garden will be developed at Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre, near the town of Pontyclun. The project will form the second in a series of “community impact” pilots from The Royal Foundation, designed to leave a “lasting legacy” in the communities Their Royal Highnesses visit. The allotments and garden are being developed over the coming months and will offer free and…
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Five great reasons to choose British Stone
Indigenous British natural stone is in high demand, and why wouldn’t it be? The UK offers a great range and variety of stone which has been used in UK architecture and landscaping for centuries due to its myriad of admirable features. In this article, we go through just some of the reasons we at Stoneworld love working with Great British stone. The weather It’s no secret, the weather in the UK could be more stone-friendly. With frosts in winter and constant variations in temperature and rainfall, the weather can take it out of a hard surface. However, over years of…
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Pro Landscaper March 2023
Welcome to the Green Issue of Pro Landscaper! This issue focuses on the industry’s dedication to its sustainability and environmental credentials. Pro Landscaper explores to what extent show gardens are ‘going green’, and addresses the ever-increasing controversy surrounding the green credentials of artificial grass. We also hear from Alexandra Noble, a 30 Under 30 alumna and award-winning landscape designer, as part of our Let’s Hear It From interview series. Here, she reflects on her career and how “green spaces have never felt more vital for our wellbeing”. Our March 2023 edition additionally provides an update on the state of play…
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UK Landscape Barometer: December 2022 findings
This month, the barometer has brought to light some positive news: confidence is on the rise from last month, and enquiries and turnover from December 2022 are either the same or on the up from the previous year. With spring around the corner, could the rise in the confidence this February compared to January be an indication of a spring market boost? This February saw 29% of respondence claim that they felt more confident (graph below) which is 12% more that the 17% we saw in January. Despite this jump being lower than last year and in 2021 – when…
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Could the Four-Day Week Pilot change the horticultural industry?
The results are in for the UK’s Four-Day Week Pilot. The results were positive overall with many companies keeping the four-day week, staff reporting an increase in work-life balance and less fatigue, and revenue seeing a small increase. Of the 61 companies that participated, 56 are continuing with the four-day week (92%) with 18% confirming the policy is a permanent change. Companies’ revenue stayed relatively the same, seeing a 1.4% increase on average, weighted by company size, across respondent organisations. When compared to a similar period from previous years, organisations reported revenue increases of 35% on average – which indicates…
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Expertise sought for new horticulture inquiry
The House of Lords Horticultural Sector Committee, chaired by Lord Redesdale, invites submissions to its new inquiry. This special inquiry committee will consider the challenges, opportunities and risks faced by the horticultural sector, including the impact of rising input costs and labour and skills shortages, and how innovative technologies might address these issues and other pressing challenges such as the impact of climate change on productivity and food supply. In addition, it will explore how policy can support the sector in meeting the Government’s ambitions for levelling up and post-Brexit trade policy. It will publish its report by the end…
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BMF confirms Mike Tattam as commercial director
Mike Tattam has been appointed commercial director for the Builders Merchants Federation with effect from 1 April 2023. Tattam has a career spanning over 35 years working with manufacturer brands in senior commercial roles. He brings experience across heavyside and lightside sectors, and with national and independent merchants as well as specialist stockists and buying groups. Tattam joined the BMF in August 2022 in an interim capacity to recruit and develop a new regional team and introduce initiatives to grow membership and enhance value to existing members. BMF CEO, John Newbomb says: “I am extremely pleased that Mike is joining…
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Plans revealed for transformation of 40-acre site
The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) unveiled its draft plan to bring the wonder back to Earls Court. The redevelopment aims to reinstate the 40-acre site in Zone 1 London as a destination for entertainment, innovation, and excitement. The plan would deliver up to 4500 homes. The landscape-led development aims to go beyond net zero and become a climate-positive neighbourhood. Rob Heasman, CEO of ECDC said: “We want to create a place which reinstates wonder in this incredible part of London. We will help to create a more inclusive and equitable piece of the city with homes for all incomes…
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Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2023 shortlist announced
The shortlist for the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2023 has been announced. 78 submissions have been put forward to the esteemed panel of judges. The winners of the 16 categories will be announced at Old Billingsgate on Friday 21 April 2023. The shortlisted entries are: Apprentice of the Year, in partnership with The APL Maxwell Dingley-Butt, Artemis Tree Services Chloe Ryman, Azpects Ltd Tommy Garland, Graduate Landscapes Ltd Bailey Flood, Oakmore Green Ltd Max Nardone, Utopia Landscapes Owen Williams, Wright Landscapes Ltd Arboriculture Company, in partnership with Beechwood Trees & Landscapes Ltd Connick Tree Care Glendale Countryside Ltd Groundlord Ltd…
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Vigilis Tree Shelters: The Future of Sustainable Forestry
What steps has your company already to made to become more environmentally friendly? Vigilis Tree Shelters are committed to sourcing sustainable materials where possible. It is important to us that our timber products are PEFC and FSC Certified, originating from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. We have also invested heavily in researching and developing our own range of biodegradable Vigilis tree shelters. We have invested over £500k in research and development, laboratory testing over 750 samples for mechanical properties, weathering and biodegradation over a simulated 7-year period. Our commitment to biodegradable tree shelters extends beyond…
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